Encouraged by his parents, Ian Moore took up the violin at age six, moving to guitar nine years later. The Austin-based blues-rocker's early influences included the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, and Sly & the Family Stone. Moore gained experience touring as a guitarist with Joe Ely; this led the way to a solo tour opening for the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top. He then signed with Capricorn; three records followed from 1993-1995: Ian Moore, Live from Austin EP, and Modernday Folklore.

It was his last Capricorn release, Modernday Folklore, that suggested that the Texan was looking beyond the blues-rock roots of his home state toward a more expansive sound. Hints of Southern soul, gospel and Beatlesque pop shook hands with the blues riffs that Moore had previously traded in exclusively. It was four years before his next album, but when Ian Moore's Got the Green Grass appeared in 1999, the transformation from blues-rocker was complete. His lauded guitar work wasn't abandoned, but was no longer the sole force driving Moore's songs. He continued to explore the blues, as well as highly crafted pop songs with his 2000 release, And All the Colors, creating a unique album dynamic in the process of balancing the two styles.

Always noted for his live performances, Ian Moore released his first full-length live album in 2001, Via Satellite, with his touring band Action Company. Where electric blues and atmospheric songwriting had been juggled on previous recordings, Via Satellite managed to meld the two with excellent effect. In 2004, Moore returned with his first release on the North Carolina-based Yep Roc label, Luminaria. Three years later, To Be Loved was issued on Justice.