Ryan Star lands record deal, 'Tonight Show' gig

Ryan Star landed a new deal with Island Records and a guest spot on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" next week thanks to the surprise success of his single "Stay Awhile."

The Dix Hills native believed in the catchy, quiet rocker so much that he paid to record the song and film a video for it when his former label, Atlantic Records, didn't want to support it.

"I put all my cards on the table with this song," he said Tuesday.

"I decided I would be a free agent and I found a believer beyond believers for it in Island Records."

The company signed the singer-songwriter Tuesday and announced "Stay Awhile" -- already at No. 38 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 charts -- would be released Aug. 14, the same night Star is set to make his "Tonight Show" debut.

Star starts recording his new album next month for an early 2013 release.