Saturday, March 5, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Montgomery Gentry Resigned By New Label- Ready New Project
“We couldn’t be happier to be signing with Shannon [Houchins] and Tom [Baldrica] and the guys at Average Joe’s,” says Eddie Montgomery. “Those guys are cut from the same cloth we are and man, they are so creative. We can’t wait to get this new project out there to our fans!”
Troy Gentry added, “We love the team they have in place and the passion and excitement that they bring.” Their first single on the new label is due Spring 2011.
They'll join a number of other artists on the label including Colt Ford, Josh Gracin and Matt Stillwell.
Country Music Hall of Fame 2011 Inductee Video
Congratulations to all of the newest inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame: Jean Shepard, Bobby Braddock and Reba McEntire. You can watch the entire press conference for the induction below:
Video streaming by Ustream
Video streaming by Ustream
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Emmylou Harris Readies Hard Bargain For April 26 Release
The upcoming disc includes 11 original new songs and 2 cover songs. A deluxe edition of the album, which includes a DVD featuring six performances interspersed with interviews, will also be available.
"We did the whole record in about a month, which is quite unusual for me. But I had all the material beforehand. I'd written 11 of the 13 songs and I really wanted to include two more by other writers," Harris said. "One of the covers is Ron Sexsmith's Hard Bargain, which I absolutely love. The other is by Jay Joyce, called Cross Yourself.Track Listing:
"We did the whole thing with just three musicians, me being one of them. Jay, the producer, and Giles Reeves play everything between them. It's not a stripped down record though; there's only one song that's a little bare bones. I'm basically a slow ballad-y person, but Jay managed to really move the songs up a bit. But they still have the same emotional feel."
1. The Road
2. Home Sweet Home
3. My Name Is Emmett Till
4. Goodnight Old World
5. New Orleans
6. Big Black Dog
7. Lonely Girl
8. Hard Bargain
9. Six White Cadillacs
10. The Ship on His Arm
11. Darlin' Kate
12. Nobody
13. Cross Yourself
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Video Replay- American Idol Alum Crystal Bowersox Makes Her Grand Ole Opry Debut
Crystal Bowersox attended the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Friday night and wound up making her debut appearance on the Nashville radio show.
Bowersox initially went just as a fan, but Pete Fisher, the show's general manager, asked if he could announce her presence to the audience. When he did, the response was so enthusiastic that Opry member Vince Gill decided to bring her on to perform.
"We do things out here for an awful lot of different reasons, but one is spontaneity, one is fun," Gill said as he introduced Crystal. "I went to the management and said, 'Why don't we do the Southern gentlemanly thing and invite her to sing a song on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry?'"
You can watch the performance below:
Bowersox initially went just as a fan, but Pete Fisher, the show's general manager, asked if he could announce her presence to the audience. When he did, the response was so enthusiastic that Opry member Vince Gill decided to bring her on to perform.
"We do things out here for an awful lot of different reasons, but one is spontaneity, one is fun," Gill said as he introduced Crystal. "I went to the management and said, 'Why don't we do the Southern gentlemanly thing and invite her to sing a song on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry?'"
You can watch the performance below:
James Otto Splits From Warner Brothers
He announced the news via Twitter. "Hey y'all Warner Brothers Records & I have mutually agreed it's time to part ways. More news to come shortly," he tweeted Tuesday morning (March 1).
He later added, "No worries Ottomaniacs this is not the last you've seen/heard from me. Just a new chapter. Thanks for all the support & well wishes."
Otto's debut album, Days of Our Lives, was released on Mercury Records in 2004. Otto's second album, Sunset Man, was released on Warner Bros. and featured tracks produced by John Rich and Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus.
After his number one hit, Otto has been unable to match that singles success, with subsequent singles like "For You," "These Are the Good Ole Days," "Groovy Little Summer Song" and "Soldiers & Jesus all reaching right around the top thirty mark on the Billboard Hot Country charts.
Video Replay- Easton Corbin Covers Don Williams' "It Must Be Love"
Easton Corbin covered Don Williams’ "It Must Be Love" as well as performed some of his biggest hits for his Yahoo! RAM Country performance.
Bob Seger Releases First Song Off Upcoming Album
Bob Seger had recorded this song back in the late 80's but opted not to release his version of the song but noted at the time that he had mentioned recording the song to Stewart during a visit to London in the summer of 1989. "The next thing I knew, a month later he recorded "Downtown Train" in London and two months later he recorded it in the same studio I recorded it in Los Angeles," Seger said.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
McEntire, Braddock, Shepard named to Country Music Hall of Fame
Braddock, 70, was named in the new songwriters category. He has written songs, including He Stopped Loving Her Today, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Golden Ring, I Wanna Talk About Me, Time Marches On and People Are Crazy. Braddock also discovered Blake Shelton and has produced his albums. He also was the piano player for Martin Robbins, starting in 1965.
"Oh gosh are you sure?" he asked. "Is this for certain?...I"m still wondering if someone has made a mistake. We songwriters are used to being low profile and traveling underneath the radar and not used to all this excitement. This, I was not expecting. Three of the last 112 inductees - only three have been non-performing songwriting inductions. I'm not sure I deserve it. It doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. I do very much...Right now, I kind of feel like Minnie Pearl. I'm so proud to be here."
Shepard had a slew of hits including A Satisfied Mind with Ferlin Huskey. Her first hit, "A Dear John Letter", a 1953 duet with Husky, was the first post-World War II record by a woman country artist to sell more than a million copies. Shepard, 77, had 44 charted hits between 1953 and 1978 and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years.
"I can't tell you what a thrill it is to be inducted into the hall of fame. "When Mr. Moore (Country Music Hall of Fame Chairman Steven Moore) called, I said,' you're kidding. Where you been all this time?" She said the award was uplifting because she had lost her sister the previous day.
"There were no interstates. We traveled interstates pulling a trailer. Our reward was when we got to the date and we got paid. Boy, that was a chore, getting the money." She talked about doing it for the love of music.
Shepard also talked about not forgetting those who have yet to join the hall including the Wilburn Brothers and Skeeter Davis.
Shepard joined as a veterans nomination.
McEntire was not present because she was in Tulsa, Okla. where her father fell into a coma and was in a hospital. Kix Brooks, who made the announcements, read a note from his friend McEntire. "I'm so appreciative of being selected as one of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is an emotional honor at a very (difficult) time in my life."
"This is a huge blessing for me, knowing how all-important it was to him," McEntire said in the note. Her father is in a comatose state, but McEntire was able to tell him the news a few days ago.
CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to the format with Country Music’s highest honor. Inductees are chosen by CMA’s Hall of Fame Panels of Electors, which consist of anonymous voters appointed by the CMA Board of Directors. As of 2010, there are currently 112 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Members are inducted at a special Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the Ford Theater. During the Medallion Ceremony, friends and colleagues pay tribute to each inductee through words and song. The inductee's bronze plaque is unveiled that will be on display in the Museum's rotunda.
Golf & Guitars Golf Tournament & Children's Charity Concert To Feature Jack Ingram, Clay Walker, Deana Carter, Steel Magnolia, Bryan White, Jason Michael Carroll, Jimmy Wayne, Chuck Wicks & More!
The event kicks off that morning as tournament participants enjoy a tournament round with a major label country music act or sports celebrity. The evening will continue with the chance to bid on an astounding array of celebrity items and one-of-a-kind event packages. Topping the evening is a performance by all of our artists - nearly 4 hours of music. Tickets to the concert are only $30. Click HERE to buy tickets. VIP stageside tickets to the concert and the Monday night New Artist Showcase and Pairings Party are $100.
What is Golf & Guitars?
Golf and Guitars is a celebrity pro-am golf tournament and concert featuring nationally recognized & major label country music artists that raises money for two key children's charities here in Sacramento. Each golfer in the tournament gets to play with one of the celebrities and then gets a seat next to the stage where these artists put on a tremendous concert underneath the beautiful golf course sky. Each artist will be play 18 holes with a foursome in this scramble event. It’s one of the rare opportunities to spend several great hours with a great musician in a relaxed atmosphere.
Who gets the money?
100% of the net funds are donated between two children's-oriented non-profit charities. The mission of the Morton Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, is to provide golf programs that provide exercise in a healthy outdoor environment, to create a recreational environment that builds lasting personal development and that seamlessly introduces life’s core values of the great game of golf to the youth, disabled and underserved communities in the Sacramento region. The Keaton Raphael Memorial, is also a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports children with cancer and their families by providing emotional, educational and financial support, while increasing awareness and funding research toward a cure. Over $100,000 has been raised in previous years events.
The Artists
Jack Ingram
Clay Walker
Jason Michael Carroll
Ty Herndon
Love & Theft
John Berry
Jimmy Wayne
Deana Carter
Edens Edge
Steel Magnolia
Bryan White
Chuck Wicks
Restless Heart's Larry Stewart
And we expect more to be added before the event! For more information, go to http://www.golfandguitars.com/.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Country Music Hall of Fame To Stream 2011 Inductee Announcement Tuesday Morning
"CMA is excited to share the announcement of Country Music's highest honor, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, with our loyal and passionate supporters around the world," said Tammy Donham, CMA Senior Director of Marketing. "The connection between Country Music artists and fans has always been one of mutual love and admiration, and modern technology such as Ustream allows us to strengthen that bond even more with opportunities such as this. We are thrilled to invite our fans to watch live as these trailblazing artists and songwriters are revealed as Inductees for the first time."The live streaming of tomorrow's 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee announcement follows on the heels of CMA's successful partnership with Ustream around the CMA Awards in Nov. 2010. At that event, CMA and Ustream offered fans the opportunity to watch three live feeds from the Black Carpet Arrivals, Pre-Telecast Award Ceremonies, and the Backstage Press Conference for the first time.
CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions to the format with Country Music's highest honor. After tomorrow's announcement, there will be 115 inductees in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Up & Coming New Nashville- The Dirt Drifters
They met in Nashville, five musicians from four states with backgrounds from across the spectrum and a hunger to make music that matters. Their growing suspicion that they had something special was confirmed over and over as they took to the road. Fans in one club after another reacted as they always do in the presence of the real thing, and the Dirt Drifters began attracting a rabid and loyal following.
By name and position they are lead singer/guitarist Matt Fleener, vocalist/guitarist Ryan Fleener, vocalist/guitarist Jeff Middleton, bassist Jeremy Little and drummer Nick Diamond. They bring resumes that embrace country, rock, funk and R&B to bear on a gritty, lyrical roadhouse country that offers something substantial to the heart, the mind and the dance floor. One of the best summations of their brand of magic came from the last member to join the group. Bass player Jeremy Little saw the others live and, he says, "I was floored. I knew this was where I belonged musically. It was fun. It was entertaining. I thought Matt was one of the most charismatic people I'd ever seen onstage. It was everything about music I wanted to be a part of."
After several years together, road-tested, club-polished, they signed to Warner Bros. Records, which is turning them loose on a full-scale national audience with a soon-to-be-released CD called This Is My Blood. Produced by Justin Niebank, the phenomenal musical talent known for work with Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, among others, it comes from that place where world-class songwriting weaves compelling stories from life's good and bad—stories all the more riveting for their truth.
"Everything on the record is our life," says Matt. "Not only are we playing all the music on the album and writing the songs, we've lived them."
“Luckily,” adds Ryan, “we had the opportunity to do our own thing. We weren’t pigeonholed and we’re very happy to be in that position.”
“We’re a country band,” says Jeff, “and I think that comes from the songwriting. We’ve all lived out the lyrics of these songs, struggling from paycheck to paycheck. I think that’s one of the main reasons audiences connect with this music.”
Sunday, February 27, 2011
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