Your Chance To Own Some Johnny Cash Memorabilia

You can own a little bit of Johnny Cash’s legacy during “Rock the Auction”, offered by Alexander Autographs on September 30th and October 1st. “Rock the Auction” is available for online bidding exclusively through Artfact Live! and is presented in conjunction with Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. This extraordinary auction offers over 700 lots from Rock and Roll legends such as Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Don Henley, Prince and many others. Original items offered in the sale include documents, musical instruments, personal clothing, promotional materials, albums and more. Benefiting VH1’s Save the Music Foundation, this is an auction for any rock and roll enthusiast or pop culture collector.

The top lot of day one is lot 249, a custom-made walking cane belonging to Johnny Cash. As Cash’s health began to decline in the 1990’s he came to require the use of a cane. This is an intricately carved wooden walking cane with an owl perched at the top and a rattlesnake wrapped around the base. First sold in 2004 at Sotheby’s Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash estate sale, the cane is now available starting at $10,000.

You can also bid on Johnny Cash's Honorary Dodge City Marshal's Badge. Johnny Cash was presented with this six-pointed Dodge City Marshal's badge engraved with his name during a concert tour stop in Dodge City, Kansas, on Mar. 16, 1988. At the same ceremony, Cash was also named an "honorary citizen" of Dodge City. Incidentally, Cash was in good company, as legendary lawmen, Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson were former marshals of Dodge City. In 1996 Cash released his version of the 1962 Hank Snow hit, "I've Been Everywhere," in which Dodge City is included in the final stanza among the 91 places mentioned: "...Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity, I've been everywhere, man..." The badge was amongst items from the Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash estate sale, held at Sotheby's in September 2004.

TNS Contest Time- Larry The Cable Guy's Tailgate Party

Larry The Cable Guy's new CD Tailgate Party was recorded before 50,000 fans at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE during Independence Day weekend. The appearance – the first ever at Memorial Stadium by a comedian – was in conjunction with The City Of Lincoln’s 2-day event, “Uncle Sam Jam.”

The special will also air in early 2010 on Comedy Central and will be available on DVD shortly after. In a first for Larry The Cable Guy, immediately following the event, stadium attendees could purchase a digital download of the show (with a collectible LTCG laminate). Released digitally via Basecamp Productions, the collectible laminate/download set is still available for purchase at http://www.larrythecableguy.com/.

That Nashville Sound is giving away one of these funny CD's to FIVE lucky TNS email subscribers on 9/20/09. Email subscriptions are free- you can sign up towards the top right of our home page.

Kellie Pickler Releases Brand New Music Video- See It Here

A beautiful blonde, curvaceous dresses and gorgeous beach scenes- what’s not to like about Kellie Pickler’s new music video for “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You?"

See Country-Music-Convert Uncle Kracker’s Terrific New Music Video For “Smile”

Count Uncle Kracker as another country music convert. The rapper-turned-country crooner notched a big a co-writer credit on one of last year’s biggest singles (his old pal Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long”). This month, he has a brand new album called Happy Hour, and he’s just released the new music video for it called “Smile.” He’s no stranger to the country charts, hitting the top of it with Kenny Chesney on “When The Sun Goes Down.” See the video below...

Jypsi Releases First Music Video- "Mr. Officer"

Jypsi is an eclectic country band composed of four siblings, all with the surname Rische: Amber-Dawn (fiddle, vocals), Frank (guitar, vocals), Lillie Mae (lead vocals), and Scarlett (mandolin, vocals). They don't look like or sound like anything else out there in country music right now. We had the opportunity to host them in Golf & Guitars II here in Sacramento this May and they put on an energized show that blends bluegrass, country and rockabilly themes. Their newest single, "Mr. Officer," has been just released to radio and their new music video has hit CMT and GAC this week. Watch it below...

A 9513 Interview With The Beautiful Sherrie Austin

I had the opportunity to interview the lovely actress, singer and songwriter, Sherrie Austin this past week. The interview has just been released HERE at the 9513, another site I write interviews for.

Sherrie's first big break occurred very early-on. By 14, she was touring with Johnny Cash. Then, in 1987, NBC asked her to appear on one of their longest running hit shows; she was to take on the role of Pippa McKenna on The Facts Of Life. She moved to Nashville in the mid-90s, and in 1997, was signed to Arista Records. She released two albums for the label, charting several hits including “Lucky In Love,” “One Solitary Tear,” “Put Your Heart In It,” “Never Been Kissed,” and “Little Bird.” On her fourth album, this one on Broken Bow Records, she would have her biggest hit, a top 20 tearjerker called “Streets of Heaven.” She's appeared in two major Broadway productions and has now become a sought-after songwriter in Nashville. She’s recently had songs recorded by George Strait, (“Where Have I Been All My Life” from of Twang), Blake Shelton, (the title track off of Startin’ Fires), Emily West, (“That Kind Of Happy” from her upcoming disc), and others including Trick Pony, Danielle Peck, Blue Country, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, Tammy Cochran, Hal Ketchum, Joe Nichols and Tim McGraw.

"The music business is like climbing Mount Everest every day. I’m just writing and writing and trying to get cuts on albums just like every other writer in town. If you get a cut one day, you have to do it all over again the next day. I’d love to do Broadway again. I go up there every once and awhile and hang out with my New York friends. I think when the right thing comes along, I’ll definitely do that again. "

Charlie Daniels Plans Big Children's Benefit Concert On November 23rd

Based on such a wide geographic readership here at That Nashville Sound, we don't normally do posts on specific local concert events. The rare exception is when it benefits kids- and this one does in a big way.

Charlie Daniels announced his annual Charlie & Friends Christmas For Kids Concert slated for November 23rd at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Joining The Charlie Daniels Band will be CMA Female Vocalist Gretchen Wilson and Gold-selling artist Phil Vassar. More incredible acts will be added to the special evening's line-up as the event approaches.

The Charity event raises money for the Christmas For Kids, Inc. organization. Tickets for the best available seating may be obtained by visiting www.Christmas4kids.org. Other reserved seating will be available October 26th through any Ticketmaster Outlet, or going to www.Ticketmaster.com, or calling 1-800-745-3000.

The Christmas For Kids Organization has been in existence for over 25 years providing special children the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season. Each year, the organization brings the spirit of Christmas to hundreds of children throughout Middle Tennessee allowing them to participate in festive activities organized just for them. Other events like the Tour Bus Show raise money by allowing visitors to tour the home-away-from-home of more than sixty stars. Fans may actually meet many of the artists who bring their buses to the Hendersonville Wal-Mart from 5:00-9:00 p.m. The date for the Tour Bus Show is Monday, December 14, 2009

Funds generated by the Concert and The Tour Bus Show are used to treat children from 28 different schools, a total of 400 children, to a day-long excursion. The special day consists of a chauffeured trip from their school aboard an entertainer's luxury tour bus, lunch and a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus at College Heights Baptist Church, and finally a trip to the Hendersonville, TN Wal-Mart where they are accompanied by a volunteer to participate in their very own Christmas shopping spree.

CMA Award Nominees Revealed This Morning

Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban were nominated Wednesday for the 43rd annual Country Music Association awards for Entertainer Of The Year this morning. The awards will be handed out on November 11th in Nashville. The nominations were announced from New York by Lee Ann Womack and Darius Rucker during this morning’s Good Morning America show.
Other nominations included:

New Artist: Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker and Zac Brown Band.

Female vocalist - Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood

Male vocalist: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait and Keith Urban

Musical event of the year: Cowboys Don't Cry by Brooks & Dunn with Reba McEntire, Down the Road by Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally, Everything But Quit by Lee Ann Womack and George Strait, I Told You So by Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis and Old Enough by The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs.

Universal Records South artist Randy Houser will join CMT personalities Cody Alan and Alecia Davis as they reveal the remaining CMA Awards finalists on CMT’s Insider Special Edition: 2009 CMA Awards Nominations, which will premiere at 9 a.m. (Central) later this morning.

9513 Interview With David Lee Murphy

I had the opportunity to interview one of the hottest songwriters in country music, David Lee Murphy for the other site I work on, the 9513. Murphy’s debut album, Out with a Bang, was released in early 1995, producing two smash singles–”Party Crowd,” which became the most-played country song of the year, as well as “Dust on the Bottle,” his first and only Billboard #1. He would go on to record four studio albums and land 13 hits on the charts, with five of those climbing into into the top 10. He has written or co-written album cuts for artists including Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Randy Houser, the Lost Trailers, Brad Paisley, James Otto, John Berry, Chris Young, Aaron Tippin, Montgomery Gentry, and Hank Williams, Jr. Within the last two years, he’s written Kenny Chesney’s number one single “Living in Fast Forward,” Gary Allan’s “A Feelin’ Like That,” Blake Shelton’s “The More I Drink,” Eli Young Band’s “Always the Love Songs,” and another number one in Jason Aldean’s “Big Green Tractor.” Click HERE to read the whole interview.

"That’s how it happened with “Big Green Tractor.” I was out bush-hogging on my farm one night and I had the lights on. It was about 8 o’clock and I was driving along in this field. I was cleaning up this fence row and just started singing this melody and then this chorus of driving this big green tractor I was on. I was singing just little bits and pieces. The next day I was writing with Jim Collins who had written “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” for Kenny. I walked in there and asked him if he’d be willing to tackle another tractor song. And he said, “Yeah.” So we sat down and wrote that. I never know if it’s going to be starting a song with a line and it turning into something or a song. It just never happens the same way twice."

Steven Curtis Chapman Announces New Album & Releases New Single

The most awarded Christian singer in history, Steven Curtis Chapman, has announced the date of November 3rd for his brand new album release, Beauty Will Rise. The album is a collection of 12 new songs created in the past 18 months in his darkest of days following the tragic death of his adopted daughter Maria.

“Part lament, part praise, part grief, part hope, part wresting, part pondering, these tracks resonate as Steven’s personal Psalms. It is a desperately hopeful, raw, personal, and honest recording that is likely the most important of his already incredible 20 plus year ministry.”

The very first single off of the album, “Heaven Is The Face,” was released to digital musical outlets like iTunes this week. You can click HERE to listen to part of this beautiful new song.

Listen To Brand New Phil Vassar Song Here

Universal Records South's Phil Vassar is releasing his next single "Everywhere I Go" this week from his fifth studio album entitled Traveling Circus being released in November. The song, written by Vassar and Jeffrey Steele, is a touching, emotional song about healing and remembrance and appeals to many situations. Listen to "Everywhere I Go" HERE.

Phil Vassar says, "This is the first song Jeffery Steele and I wrote together. We all experience loss in our lives. And this is a song about loss and how certain things can trigger memories both good and bad. Sometimes you can't avoid the memories flooding back to you. Those memories can make you smile and make you cry and everything in between."

Stream Free Concerts From Dan Tyminski, Rodney Crowell & Patty Loveless

National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage has three great recent performances from some of country music’s most critically acclaimed artists that you can stream live right on your computer. Listen to performances from Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell and Dan Tyminski (of Union Station fame). Click HERE to listen to these great performances.

One of the most distinctive voices in modern bluegrass, Dan Tyminski visits Mountain Stage for the first time with his own band to perform songs from his second solo release, Wheels. The set closes with "Man of Constant Sorrow," the bluegrass standard prominently featured in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Loveless has built a 20-year career by choosing great songs to complement her charming twang. On her fourth visit to Mountain Stage, she performs music from her latest release, for which she dipped into the classic country songbook and recorded some of the genre's most enduring and endearing songs.

Houston-born songwriter Rodney Crowell took his talents to Nashville in the 1970s and has been evolving ever since. His 1988 album Diamonds and Dirt garnered five No. 1 country singles, including one with his then-wife Rosanne Cash (with whom he still works today). In this Mountain Stage appearance, he performs music from some of his most recent albums, including this year's Sex & Gasoline.

Bryan White Offers New Single To Radio & Free Download To Fans

Bryan White's newest single, "The Little Things" has been shipped to radio. His eighth studio album, Dustbowl Dreams, is set to be digitally released on September 28th.

"The Little Things" co-written by White, James Dean Hicks and Erik Bledsoe was inspired by a post-it note and a guitar lick. White explains, "Since back before we were married, sneaking post-it notes to each other has been a big thing with Erika and I. Since day one it's still a surprise to find one in my bag, my wallet, or even on my steering wheel. During the week it took to write this song, my wife and I went out on a date one night where she handed me a post-it note that read, 'It's looking like you're going to be a Daddy...' After that, the song finished itself."

Download the new single below:



White has just completed his eighth studio album entitled Dustbowl Dreams, which he co-produced and co-wrote eight out of the ten songs. Set for a digital release September 28, Dustbowl Dreams is a sonic sensation infused with stories about real life, coupled with pocket-grooves, rootsy acoustic parts, soaring pop-country melodies, and a passionate and energetic delivery that reaches into your soul touching on subject matter we all can relate to.

Miranda Lambert Previews Her New Revolution

Miranda Lambert has her new album Revolution coming out at the end of September. Click HERE to watch a behind-the-scenes video of Miranda discussing the new album and spending time in the studio putting on the finishing touches. You’ll also get to preview all of the songs on the album.

Dierks Bentley Launches Brand New Music Video

Dierks Bentley has launched his brand new sexy video for his new radio single, “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes.”

Up & Coming New Nashville- County Line Junction (With Exclusive Interview)

Colt Records of Nashville has announced that they have reached a new two year agreement with the Central Ohio Duo of Alisha Sheely and Michael Clark known as County Line Junction. Their first release on Colt Records will be coming out at the end of August with a single entitled “Crossroads” from their new CD.

Soulfulness prevails in lead singer, Alisha Sheely’s vocal delivery and songwriting for County Line Junction. Specializing in lead vocals, backing vocals and rhythm acoustic guitar, Alisha has played venues across the region. Her lead vocals have been described as a hybrid of Martina McBride and Dusty Springfield. Performing solo in the past as Alisha Lynn, her album, “Even the Angels Knew”, gained popularity across Europe and reached the top of the independent charts in the late 90’s. Alisha then joined the band Jericho and toured Ohio and the regional area as a backing and lead vocalist. Alisha’s songwriting continues to be heard and reviewed by top artists.

County Line Junction’s allure is enhanced by the exceptional vocal and guitar talents of Michael Clark. Michael’s professional training in jazz performance gives the duo their distinct, original and bluesy sound. Specializing in bass, lead guitar and lead vocals, Michael has played in venues across the United States. Michael has been a songwriter since the young age of 15. His love of Power Pop music fuels much of his songwriting ideas and has led to many accomplishments as a songwriter, including the purchase of “Without You” by the Fox Television Network for the show Undeclared.

Upon a chance meeting at their church, Alisha & Michael formed an unbreakable bond through their music and began playing out together in 2001. Since then, they continue to believe in the importance of giving back to people by participating in performances that benefit local and national charities such as The March of Dimes, The Komen Race for the Cure, and Special Olympics.

County Line Junction is currently planning their regional summer tour for 2009 and will continue to write and play their music for people across the United States. For booking information, contact County Line Junction at: www.myspace.com/countylinejunction



That Nashville Sound- What brought you to music in the first place?

Michael Clark- Listening as a small child to everything on the radio and realizing that music moved me to such a point that I had to be involved. I paid more attention to detail in songs than I did anything else and just knew that music was going to play a role in my life.

Alisha Sheely: I sang my first solo at church when I was 3 years old (so I'm told). After that, I was hooked on performing so I stuck with it all through school and into my adult years.

TNS- Describe your music- what's the mission behind the music?

MC- The mission? Besides the obvious to 'boldly go where no man has gone before? The mission is to write about experiences and hopefully connect with an audience who has had the same life experiences and share that experience through performances and recordings. We want to really be connected with our listening audience and hopefully develop a fan base that we are really in touch with.

AS- Our music is a combination of the genres that Mike and I love but didn't always appreciate until we met each other. We really wanted to make our own genre but haven't found a way to patent that. So, we combined the "weird" chords that Michael loves and the tight harmonies that I love.

TNS- What might people be surprised to find out about you?

MC- Not sure if there is anything about me that is "surprising".

AS- I think we should have answered this question about each other! That would have been more fun. Seriously though, I have a tattoo and love reading historical fiction. Is that interesting enough?

TNS- What kind of music are you listening to? What's in your iPod?

MC- Everything! Butch Walker, Matt Nathanson, Green Day, The Statler Brothers, and Yo La Tengo!

AS- Everything! The Dixie Chicks, The Indigo Girls, Little Big Town, Fleetwood Mac, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Norah Jones

TNS- If you had a crystal ball and looked forward five years, what do you see for yourself?

MC- Hopefully releasing a full length disc and playing out a lot in different cities to promote and support the new material. Building a fan base and getting bigger/better recognition.

AS- I would love to be playing music full time and meeting the fans in different cities. Another album would be great and learning to hone my songwriting skills is DEFINITELY in the plan!

TNS- Nickname for your guitar or other instrument(s)?

MC- No nicknames for the instruments - but I do drive "Big Blue" which is a Ford Aerostar Mini-van that has close to 200,000 miles on it!

AS- Ahem - he only has that nickname for the van because I named it! My first guitar's name was Oscar. My second was "Irene the Ibanez". I am now playing a Taylor and have YET to name her. Maybe you should let the fans decide!

Sony Nashville Signs Australian Sensation Adam Brand To Roster

Australian country music sensation Adam Brand has inked a deal with Nashville heavyweights Sony Music Entertainment while Compass Bros Records remains Brand’s Australian record company.

This sought-after US deal comes to Brand following a year of highlights starting in January when he was named 2009 CMAA Male Artist Of The Year and CMC’s OZ Artist Of The Year. In March, ‘Hell Of A Ride became his seventh consecutive hit album debuting at No.1 on the ARIA Australian Country Album chart and in July Brand became the first country music artist to appear on Channel 7’s Dancing With The Stars.

‘I’m very excited to have this amazing opportunity with Sony in Nashville, home to some of the biggest country stars in the world’ … said Brand.

‘We’re thrilled to have Adam as part of our stable, we firmly believe he’ll be a tremendous success in the United States’… said Sony Nashville rep.

Conservative Talk Host Sean Hannity Hosts Country Benefit Concert On Satellite Radio Tomorrow Featuring The Charlie Daniels Band & Others

Country legend Charlie Daniels and television host and political commentator Sean Hannity exchange high-fives during a "Hannity Freedom Concert" in Duluth, Ga. The tour raised money for The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships to the children of disabled or deceased U.S. military personnel. SIRIUS XM Radio will broadcast select performances from Daniels, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood and Michael W. Smith on Monday, Sept. 7, as part of "Sean Hannity's Freedom Radio." The one-day broadcast will air on SIRIUS Patriot channel 144 and XM America Right channel 166.