TNS Video History- Jim Reeves- "The Blizzard"

Seeing as the Northeast part of the U.S. is getting kicked around like a rag doll by Mother Nature this year, it only seemed appropriate that we kick off this weekend's TNS Video History for this hauntingly somber song by Jim Reeves called "The Blizzard." Thanks goes out to my bud, Juli Thanki, for tracking down a video for it.

The Impact On Country Music By Rufus Payne

In light of the fact that February is African Americans In History Month, I put together a little piece on the black man that taught the legendary Hank Williams to play the guitar over at The 9513. It's interesting to think that country music might not be the same had it not been for Rufus Payne. You can read a snippet down below but see the entire article HERE.

Payne’s nickname was “Tee-Tot” and everyone who knew him called him this in lieu of his namesake. The tag is a pun on “teetotaler.” A homemade mixture of alcohol and tea that the musician carried with him nearly everywhere he went helped cement the nickname. Tee-Tot exposed Williams to blues and other African American influences that eventually helped Williams successfully combine hillbilly, folk and blues into his own unique style–a style that would eventually change the landscape of country music forever. Remarkably, the Williams music legacy deserves much of the credit from a man who was never known past his local community in southern Alabama during his lifetime. It was only after his death, and the subsequent death of Williams, that this unique story has really been told in any real meaningful way.

New Music Video From Taylor Swift- "Fearless"

New Music Video From New Duo Coldwater Jane- "Bring On The Love"

Coldwater Jane is an up and coming country duo comprised of sisters, Brandon Jane and Leah Crutchfield. Their new music video for their single “Bring On The Love” is being featured on the Homepage of CMT.com.

Jason Michael Carroll Dropped By Arista Label

Jason Michael Carroll, the singer behind "I Can Sleep When I'm Dead," “Hurry Home” and “Livin’ Our Love Song,” has parted ways with his record label, Arista Records.

“First of all, I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had to work with Arista Records! I’ve learned a lot and made some great friends! Unfortunately, Arista & I have decided to go our separate ways. They called & said that they would be moving forward without me!”

Jason says he is still working on his next album, and plans to shop that to other labels in Nashville. “Now, that being said, there are plans being made to go back into the studio & record new music, the second week of March! We will still be touring this year as much as we can! Nothing is over, just planning the next move…”

Fresh Music Fridays

Roseanne Cash To Stream Free Online Concert Tonight

Rosanne Cash will be broadcasting a free live concert via BillboardLive.com tonight- Thursday, February 18th at 9pm EST. The concert will be aired live from The Foundry in New York City, in hopes of uniting fans worldwide. For those of you tech happy folk, the concert will also be available to view via your iPhone or iPod touch.

Rosanne's "Sea of Heartbreak" single, featuring Bruce Springsteen, was a 2010 Grammy nominee for "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals". The song itself comes off of her 12th studio album release The List, which was released late last year.

Rockabilly Legend Dale Hawkins Passes Away

Dale Hawkins, best known for his 1957 hit "Suzie Q" (also known as "Suzy-Q"), has died in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 73, of complications from colon cancer.

He had been undergoing treatment at the Arkansas Hospice Center at St. Vincent's Doctors Hospital in Little Rock.

Born Delmar Allen Hawkins on August 23, 1936 in Goldmine, Louisiana, Hawkins was a singer, guitarist, and songwriter called "the archictect of 'Swamp Rock Boogie.'"

From his website: ""His swamp rock classic, 'Susie Q,' crackles with the manic energy of that restless time, and conjures instant images of steamy Southern nights. It features a 15-year-old James Burton on guitar, the first of many guitar wizards Dale would discover and nurture. Others included Scotty Moore, Joe Osborn, Roy Buchanan, Fred Carter, Jr., and Kenny Paulsen.

"Dale's early experiments in production in the studios of Shreveport's KWKH with Merle Kilgore and Johnny Horton developed the skills that would later produce hits for the Uniques, Five Americans, Jon & Robin & the In Crowd, Michael Nesmith, Harry Nilsson, and others. Along the way, he even found time to host "The Big Big Beat" aka "The Dale Hawkins Show" on WCAU-TV in Philadelphia."

"Suzie Q" was covered by among others, the Rolling Stones in 1964, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, who recorded an 11-minute quasi-psychedelic version on their first LP in 1968.

Among Hawkins' other hits were "La Do Da Da," later recorded by the Blue Things. He has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and The Lousiana Music Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller Band & Kenny Chesney To Record CMT Crossroads Together

Superstar Kenny Chesney returns to CMT CROSSROADS to share the stage with one of his musical influences, rock icon Steve Miller, in the latest episode of the hit CMT series. CMT CROSSROADS: THE STEVE MILLER BAND and KENNY CHESNEY will tape before an invitation only audience in Nashville next month and will premiere later this year on CMT.

Longtime friends, Miller and Chesney have shared the stage in front of thousands during summer concerts, performing classic Miller hits. Now, the two will perform each other’s songs and swap stories for what will be another landmark episode of CMT Crossroads. Chesney is making his second appearance on the series, his first premiered in October 2003 with John Mellencamp.

With songs such as “Rockin’ Me,” “Jet Airliner,” “The Joker,” “Fly Like An Eagle,” “Livin’ in the USA,” “Take the Money and Run” and “Abracadabra” blues/rock singer-songwriter-guitarist Steve Miller is one of the cornerstones of classic rock. Born Milwaukee, WI, Miller grew up in a home frequented by musicians such as Charles Mingus, Les Paul and T-Bone Walker and formed his first band at age 12 with friend Boz Scaggs. After stints in Madison, WI and Chicago, IL blues bands, he moved to San Francisco and The Steve Miller Band (known initially as the Steve Miller Blues Band) emerged from San Francisco’s summer of love with a sound that was distinctively different from its peers. With his 1973 No. 1 hit, “The Joker,” Miller moved into a different category and by the time he had released his multi-million-selling albums Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams within a year of each other, Miller was playing to sold out crowds at football stadiums and universally recognized as one of the great names in the golden era of rock. Over 40 years later, the band has sold over 25 million records and is still a mainstay of the summer concert season. Miller’s album tracks have been used in movie soundtracks and commercials all over the world and his greatest hits album is one of the best-selling records of all time.

CD Reviews- Lady Antebellum- Need You Now

The Background-
The sound that Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood cooked up while hanging at the Nashville-area home of Charles’ brother throughout the summer of 2006 is a unique blend that mingles classic country, 1960s R&B soulfulness and the heart-on-the-sleeve openness of 1970s singer-songwriters, all presented with a razor-sharp contemporary edge. It’s a sound that had Lady Antebellum, as the threesome dubbed itself, generating deafening buzz as one of modern country’s brightest hopes even before the release of their latest album.

The Review-
I really like Lady Antebellum. Their debut album was one of my favorite ten of 2008 and they put on a terrific live show. Outside of Little Big Town, their XX XY XX chromosomial harmonies are unique and rich with harmony. It was with great anticipation then that I received their sophomore effort- particularly after the emotive and angst-filled title track that was first shipped to radio. Surely, with their newfound popularity, exposure to many more songwriting partners, more life experience, inspiration from Kelley’s marriage and more juice at the label, they’d be able to stretch their artistic wings on album number two, right? Unfortunately, in an effort to reach the most amount of people, they’ve created an album that’s fairly devoid of personality. Take radio release number two, “American Honey,” for instance. While sonically pretty, what does it mean? Who does it apply to? And that’s the challenge I have from keeping this album from being rated more superiorly. While the songs list the three members as songwriters on most of the tracks, I don’t see them personally revealing themselves through the music. If country music is a storytellers art form, Lady Antebellum is accomplishing it by telling other’s generic stories, just not their own. It’s safe. It’s radio-friendly. What it’s not is revealing. The group is best on the before-mentioned title track, “Hello World”- a big ballad backed with orchestra strings- and “If I Knew Then”- a beautiful melancholy ballad that’s both introspective AND radio-friendly. Like her or hate her, Taylor Swift has proven that songs written from a personal perspective can be hugely successful at retail. Hopefully, we’ll hear more of Lady Antebellum’s rich harmonies AND their personal stories on album number three.

Sounds Like-
Little Big Town Singing Rascal Flatts

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Need You Now
Hello World
If I Knew Then

The Verdict:
Three Stars Out Of Five

Music Video For Easton Corbin's "A Little More Country Than That"

Mindy McCready Prepares New Album for 3/23 Launch

Country music recording artist Mindy McCready, whose career has lived and died by her own trials and tribulations, resurrects her platinum-selling talent and hard-fast commitment to her music with her latest CD release, I’M STILL HERE. Available March 23, 2010, I’M STILL HERE* (Iconic Records/Linus Entertainment/E1 Entertainment) showcases McCready’s brazen can-do attitude engaged with her subtle, womanly vulnerability.

Since her breakout more than ten years ago with “Ten Thousand Angels” and the monumental success of “Guys Do It All The Time,” McCready has been drenched in public scandals. Despite personal issues and speculation about her new record, she announced her plans to record in May 2008. A proven self-help method, music is clearly McCready’s therapy. Having battled personal demons, Mindy McCready returns from her eight-year hiatus, and in her first album since 2002, she shines. Her steadfast yet fiercely feminine voice rises again.

“We have always been confident in Mindy’s talent,” Michael Fancher, Iconic Records label head, states. “This album shows she’s at the top of her game musically; she’s the best she’s ever sounded and we look forward to reintroducing her music to fans new and old.”

With contributions by producers Christopher Jak, Trey Bruce and Jimmy Nichols, the nine new tracks (along with an acoustic “By Her Side,” her dramatic, orchestrated rendition of “The Dance,” and modernized versions of “Guys Do It All The Time” and “Ten Thousand Angels”) highlight the vocal talents and natural ability that made McCready a top-selling female recording artist years ago. Her authentic, raw emotions embrace and resonate each musical sentiment reminding both her fans and critics that Mindy McCready continues to have a home in country music.

Dolly Parton Writing Autobiographical Screenplay For Big Screen

Country legend Dolly Parton is eyeing a musical movie of her life - she's currently working on bringing her biopic to the big screen.
The superstar, 64, is putting plans into place for the story of how she went from a poor girl living in the mountains of Tennessee to one of the biggest-selling country singers in history.

And Parton, who has previously hinted she'd like Scarlett Johansson to play her in a movie, is on the lookout for an actress with similar charms to hers.

She says, "I'm working on my life story. I'm not decided if it's going to be a musical or a movie with music in it. I've not thought about who will play me - but we need someone little.

"And if they don't have enough up top we'll have to give them a big old boob job."

An Interview With Holly Dunn Over At The 9513

One of the most popular female country singers of the late '80s, Holly Dunn was born in San Antonio in 1957 and was the sister of future country songwriting pro Chris Waters. In high school, she performed with a group called the Freedom Folk, which toured the south and performed at the White House bicentennial celebration. While attending Abilene Christian University, she sang with the school's Hilltop Singers touring choir, and also co-wrote a song with her brother called "Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind." It was recorded by Cristy Lane, which convinced Dunn to try her luck in Nashville after graduation. She worked as a demo singer for a time before joining her brother as a staff songwriter at CBS. In 1984, she moved over to MTM and penned material for several different singers, including Louise Mandrell, who made "I'm Not Through Loving You Yet" a Top Ten hit. In the wake of its success, Dunn landed a record contract in her own right, and released her first single in 1985. Her self-titled debut album appeared the following year and produced her first Top Ten hit, "Daddy's Hands." 1987's Cornerstone contained two Top Five singles in "Love Someone Like Me" and "Only When I Love," and Dunn produced the 1988 follow-up, Across the Rio Grande, herself, resulting in the hits "Strangers Again" and "(It's Always Gonna Be) Someday." MTM subsequently went bankrupt, and Dunn signed with Warner Bros. for 1989's The Blue Rose of Texas, which produced her first-ever number one single, "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me," as well as the Top Five "There Goes My Heart Again." 1990's Heart Full of Love spawned another chart-topper, "You Really Had Me Going," and Warner followed it with the hits compilation Milestones in 1991. One of the new tracks, "Maybe I Mean Yes," sparked controversy over its lyrical content, which some interpreted as an apology for date rape. Dunn's popularity took a hit with 1992's Getting It Dunn, and she subsequently parted ways with Warner. She resurfaced in 1995 on the smaller River North label with Life and Love and All the Stages, and was back on a major (A&M) for 1997's Leave One Bridge Standing.

I had a chance to interview the now-retired Dunn over at The 9513 this last week. You can read a snippet of the interview below but catch the entire interview HERE.

"We had barely scratched the surface when we put out “Daddy’s Hands.” It blew the lid off of everything. It was instantaneously accepted. It didn’t go number one, oddly enough. It went number seven. It was on the charts for over six months which back there was unheard of. I got two Grammy nominations because of that song and had eleven award nominations because of that little song. It was gangbusters for me. I won the Horizon Award at the CMA Awards and I won the New Female Vocalist Award at the ACM’s. All of a sudden, it exploded. Then I felt like I was trying to hold on for dear life."

Up & Coming New Nashville- Kelsey Grose (With Exclusive Interview)

Texas-born and sixteen-year-old redhead Kelsey Grose is not concerned with the fortune and fame of the music industry; instead she truly has a passion for the message of music. The appreciation of her voice alone is self-satisfying. As her talent and humble ways have been recognized by some of music’s most prestigious writers and producers, Kelsey will soon enough have America excited and humming along.

Her tone is soft and fresh, her lyrics are colorful and warm- Kelsey will certainly become the hottest iTunes download within a short period of time. Kelsey has come a long way from singing at church and has already recorded five songs in the studio. That is not to say she has lost touch with what’s most important in her life: the close relationship she has with God and her family.

Musically there is so much more to come from Kelsey, her journey as an artist has just begun, and her fan base is multiplying daily. She is a fun, energetic, and loving young lady who is focused on succeeding in ways beyond glamour and money.

Young girls around the world will be able to connect with Kelsey’s inviting smile and captivating glow.

You can listen to four brand-new songs on Kelsey’s MySpace page- all available on iTunes- HERE.

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

Kelsey Grose- In 8th grade, a fellow classmate and close family friend committed suicide. That was my first close encounter with death and it made me think about my own life. At about that same time, I had really started to get into the lyrics of songs. It's difficult for me to express what I'm feeling or what I want to say in normal conversation, but I can put it in my lyrics. I found that songwriting helped me open up and let go of what I couldn't put in normal words.

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

KG- My music style is pop/country-- it's fun, positive, and uplifting. I like my music to be real and relatable-- comments on my MySpace have been referred my songs as "a breath of fresh air."

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

KG- I have been a competitive and school cheerleader since 4th grade.

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

KG- My favorite song is "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain, but I listen to a broad range of music from Casting Crowns to Taylor Swift, from Yellowcard to Demi Lovato, and from Scott Kemper to Joshua Radin.

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

KG- That is one of the most difficult questions to answer because I am only 16, and life is just happening so quickly. I am letting the Lord lead my life, so at this point there is no way of telling where He will lead.

New Music Video From Gloriana- "The World Is Ours Tonight"

TNS Video History- Patty Loveless- "Blame It On Your Lyin' Cheatin' Heart"