Kings of Leon originally embraced country music. While there, they met songwriter Angelo Petraglia, who helped the siblings hone their songwriting skills and introduced them to the musical influences of Thin Lizzy, the Rolling Stones and the Clash in particular. Their youngest brother, Jared, who had briefly attended public school, was more influenced by the music of the Pixies and the Velvet Underground. When he and their cousin Matthew also moved to Nashville in 1999, Kings of Leon was formed. They named the band after their grandfather Leon, who died in January 2014. By 2002, Nathan and Caleb had received interest from a
Caleb and Sol before ending their athletic careers. Caleb was married in August 2006 to Elizabeth Gerot, long-time friend since high school. Before pursuing a music career, Caleb and Betsie worked for Young Life at the Washington Family Ranch (formally known as Wildhorse Canyon) Sol was married in 2010 and has 3 children. Caleb has one child. Sol started the UFC Good Fight Ministry for college students on the University of Oregon Campus. After walking away from collegiate athletics at age 20, they jointly decided to pursue music. Caleb was accepted on to the University of Oregon's a cappella group "On the Rocks",