John C. Reilly to release debut album

Hollywood actor John C. Reilly is spending his summer (13) in the recording studio as he prepares to release his debut album on Jack White's record label.

The Boogie Nights star has already released two singles via White's Third Man Records imprint, and is now busy working on a full collection of folk and Americana covers.

He met White through mutual friends and eventually persuaded the rocker to play Elvis Presley in his 2007 comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

Reilly explains, "We stayed in touch. And he said, 'Well, if you ever want to do anything and want it to be recorded, you should come down to Nashville. I have this recording studio. You can stay at my house and we can have a record out in 24 hours.' I thought, 'This is an opportunity I should not pass up.'"

The star admits he never set out to be a rock star, adding, "It's just kind of a labour of love. It's music I was really interested in and have been playing with friends. It's a really rewarding thing to do - not to make money, certainly, or to get famous or whatever. It's just really moving music to play and share with people. All of a sudden I found myself with a band, and when I started to play out here in Los Angeles with some friends, people immediately started giving us positive feedback."