Hit Songwriter Gerald House Passes Away

Songwriter Gerald House, also known as Jerry and Tubman, passed away this last week at the age of 69. House first sang on the Grand Ole Opry stage at the age of 16. He spent his working career in the printing business and he wrote country songs, some of which were made popular by other artists. His “Midnight, Me and the Blues” (1974) and “I Got the Hoss” (1977) both became top-10 hits for Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis. He also spent a decade learning the art of violin making. He has authored books and invented “Dial-A-Chord,” a way to learn the musical “Nashville Number System.”

He is survived by his wife, Faye Booth House, his son Michael, daughter Lisa, and several grandchildren.

TNS Video History- Alison Krauss & John Waite- "Missin' You"

Glen Campbell's Farewell Album Ghost On The Canvas Gets Artwork & Release Date

Nearly three years in the making, Glen Campbell's final album Ghost On The Canvas has just been given a release date of August 30, 2011. Campbell was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and is out on his final music tour this year. From the press release:

During his 50 years in show business, Campbell has sold 45 million records with hits like "Witchita Lineman, " "Gentle On My Mind, " "Rhinestone Cowboy, " and tons more. Ghost On The Canvas is his "farewell album, " a deep, meaningful look back at his career/life with contributions by the artists he continues to inspire. We re proud to be an integral part of the legendary Glen Campbell s final studio album featuring collaborations with Jakob Dylan, Paul Westerberg, Chris Isaak, Bob Pollard (Guided by Voices), Dick Dale, and Billy Corgan, among others.

Track Listing:
1. A Better Place
2. Ghost On The Canvas - written by Paul Westerberg
3. The Billstown Crossroads
4. A Thousand Lifetimes
5. It s Your Amazing Grace
6. Second Street North
7. In My Arms - featuring Chris Isaak, Dick Dale, and Brian Setzer
8. May 21st, 1969
9. Nothing But The Whole Wide World - written by Jakob Dylan
10. Wild And Waste
11. Hold On Hope - written by Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices)
12. Valley Of The Sun
13. Any Trouble
14. Strong - featuring Dandy Warhols
15. The Rest Is Silence
16. There s No Me...Without You - guitars by Billy Corgan, Marty Rifkin, Rick Nielsen, and Brian Setzer

New Funny Videos From Blake Shelton- The Most Interesting Man In The World

This Day In Country Music History

Nashville's WSM 650 posted this on their Facebook page this morning and I thought I'd share it with my readers.

On this day in history... in 1956, After Carl Smith's introduction, Johnny Cash made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the Ryman Auditorium, performing "I Walk The Line," "Get Rhythm" and "So Doggone Lonesome." Backstage, Cash also meets his future wife, June Carter, for the first time!

New Music Video from Donna Ulisse- "Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground"

At the end of the day while working on her album "An Easy Climb" Ulisse & the musicians did this in-studio performance of the song " Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground" off the album. The song was written by: Donna Ulisse, Marc Rossi & Irish singer songwriter Ben Glover. Musicians: Acoustic guitar: Keith Sewell, Mandolin: Andy Leftwich, Banjo: Scott Vestal, Upright Bass: Viktor Krauss, Dobro: Rob Ickes, Harmonies: Tony King and Rick Stanley.

Country Music News Round-Up- McBride Teams With NASCAR & Yoakam Returns To WB

* Dwight Yoakam is returning to the Warner Brothers music label after doing his own independent thing for nearly a decade and will be releasing a brand new album in early 2012. It will be produced by Yoakam and Joe Chiccarelli, who has worked with such alt-rock acts as My Morning Jacket, the Shins and the Strokes. Yoakam also has been recording some tracks with Beck.

 “When I heard his current music, I was blown away,” Warner Music Nashville’s President and  Chief Executive John Esposito said in a statement. “I think that it is some of the best music he has ever done,  and I’m incredibly proud to have him back at Warner Bros. Records.”

 * The 2001 Grammy Album of the Year, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is celebrating its 10^th anniversary with an expanded two-CD deluxe edition with a new bonus disc that includes 12 previously unreleased recordings.  Legendary original producer T Bone Burnett is personally involved in all aspects of this release.

* Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott got engaged.

* Martina McBride has a brand new music video that she’s done in collaboration with NASCAR called “One Time.”

“The fans seemed to be so up close and have a lot of access. It reminded me of country music in a lot of ways. I know there are a lot of NASCAR fans who are country music fans too, because there is a lot of accessibility.”

* Actress Charlene Tilton ("Dallas") and country legend Johnny Lee who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame had a daughter together named Cherish Lee and she is following in Dad’s footsteps. The native Californian is currently writing and recording a solo country-rock album and is looking forward to performing her rendition of her dad’s hit song "Lookin’ for Love" from the hit motion picture "Urban Cowboy" at the concert.

Cherish started singing at the age of 5 when she performed with superstar Michael Jackson on his "BAD" tour. She studied musical theater while going on the road with her father, and has performed with several bands throughout Los Angeles. She recently spent 8 months out of town performing with her band "Charlie." Cherish is also an accomplished actress and her credits include: "Wilde Salome" playing opposite Al Pacino, "American History X" playing opposite Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, "The Salon" with Vivica A. Fox, Terrance Howard and Brooke Burns, etc.

 * Two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Riders In the Sky will release their long awaited Inspirational CD on Aug. 9.  "The Land Beyond The Sun" presents a collection of songs of inspiration recorded in the western tradition that their legion of fans expect, along with a poem indicative of “America’s Favorite Cowboys’” left-field humor which has been their trademark for nearly three and a half decades.

“The stillness of the desert, the majesty of towering mountains, the endless skies; all these things have developed a deep and abiding spirituality in the westerner and the cowboy” explains Ranger Doug, Idol of American Youth and the group’s baritone vocalist and guitar player.   “The CD appeals to all generations, and welcomes all who are as inspired by the great outdoors, as are Riders In The Sky.”

* The Zac Brown Band released this quick little video highlighting band member Clay Cook, mulit-instrumentalist.

Longtime Country Songwriter Charlie Craig Passes

 

Charlie Craig was born and raised in Watts Mill, South Carolina, a cotton mill village two miles from the city square in Laurens, South Carolina. He performed on a Saturday morning live radio show at age 15 in Laurens singing as a duet with a high school friend. Charlie began working clubs, high school auditoriums and theaters after graduating from high school. In 1968 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began a 40 year songwriting career that lasted until his passing last Friday, July 1, 2011.  He was 73 years old and still working in the music industry.

Charlie wrote his autobiography in 2009 and titled it Old Memories and Me.  It contains such things as him hiring Charlie Daniels to play guitar while he was still unknown, Charlie's relationship with Alan Jackson and how Charlie was the first songwriter in Nashville to co-write and pay Alan to sing a demo. Charlie and Alan collaborated on 11 songs over the course of Charlie's career.  It also includes the times Charlie spent with Roy Rogers, particularly when he introduced Roy to Johnny Cash. Charlie was directly responsible for the signing of The Wilkinsons to their record deal.

Charlie says in his book, "Looking back on my life in this dazzling world of country music, I sometimes wonder if I am somebody else and not that kid from Watts Mill, South Carolina that used to sit up on an iron rail across from the cotton mill and daydream about the life I have been living in this business of country music for more than forty years. How could I possibly have known that the Sears & Roebuck Silvertone guitar I got when I was about fourteen years old would lay the musical path to Nashville, Tennessee and pair me up with the likes of Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and a lot of other great stars. It still amazes me how this all happened. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I didn't know anybody important. I didn't even have a rabbit's foot. So why me? I don't honestly know. I do believe that God gave me a gift and something inspired me to take that gift and make it my craft."

Wanted - Alan Jackson
Bring on the Night - Alan Jackson
Tropical Depression - Alan Jackson
All American Country Boy - Alan Jackson
What a Day Yesterday Was - Alan Jackson
She's Single Again - Janie Fricke, Reba McEntire
Between an Old Memory and Me - Travis Tritt, Keith Whitley
Lay a Little Lovin' on Me - B.J. Thomas, Wayne Newton, Del Reeves & Bill Medley
I Would Like to See You Again - Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Don Williams & Del Reeves
Miss Mis Behavin' - Aaron Tippin
She's Got a Way - Aaron Tippin
Every Time it Rains - George Strait
Let's Get Over Them Together - Mo Bandy & Becky Hobbs
Following the Feeling - Mo Bandy & Judy Bailey
Chicken Every Sunday - Dolly Parton
Rainy Days and Stormy Nights - Billie Jo Spears
Leavin's Been a Long Time Coming - Shenandoah
The Generation Gap - Jeannie C. Riley
I'll Take The Memories- Lorrie Morgan, Tanya Tucker
Waking Up With You - Waylon Jennings
Love Is Alive - Mark Wills
I Think I'm In Love - Keith Stegall, Conway Twitty & Ed Bruce
Your Memory Finds A Way - Moe Bandy
Nickel Bar Candy - Kitty Wells
Every Step Of The Way - Kitty Wells

CD Album Review- Randy Travis- 25th Anniversary Celebration

The Review:

For a former kid that cut his teeth on 1980’s country music sitting in the back of his mom’s baby blue Lincoln Continental, the 25^th Anniversary Celebration album from Randy Travis is a major guilty pleasure. Back in the day, he captured this particular audience member with a deep, rich honky-tonk voice and some stunning songs.

It is somewhat fitting that his 25th anniversary in country music is marked with an array of distinguished singers joining Travis to make this album. The line-up of guests includes such artists as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. While Travis’ signature voice has frayed around the edges- it’s more nasally and not nearly as crisp as you’ll remember- it is a welcome walk down memory lane nonetheless.

Those artists that have distinctive and deep tones to match Travis do the best as duet partners. Aritsts like Zac Brown, Paisley, Shelby Lynne, Kristin Chenoweth and Eamonn McCrystal get swallowed up vocally by Travis. Travis, set against some stronger and more distinctive vocalists like John Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Josh Turner and even Carrie Underwood make better suet foils for certain.

There are some great new songs on this album that deserve mention. The Randy Travis and Don Henley duet- which is more Henley doing harmony than a true duet- named “More Life” is a classic Travis song with a strong protagonist lying in the hospital wishing he had spent more time with the important things in life. James Otto effectively transfers his funky brand of country soul over to Travis on “Too Much.”  The closer, added as a bonus track, is a who’s who of the Grand Ole Opry offering. “Didn’t We Shine” brings Travis together with George Jones, Gene Watson, Connie Smith, Lonnie Morgan and Ray Price, who set about singing about how they were once on top of the world. These last guest stars sing with varying degrees of quality in their waning years, but the message is appropriate as a closer to the album.

Although it contains one of the weakest album covers of recent memory, this album makes a decent case for the dying art of liner notes. Included are some great photographs of Travis recording with many of this album’s duet partners and in nearly every photo, mutual admiration is on display.

At the end of the day, this album makes an appropriate auditory case for Travis’ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Travis has recorded more than a dozen important studio albums and single-handedly started the neo-traditionalist movement in the 80’s. He charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, of which sixteen have reached Number One. Hopefully, an induction in the next decade will be forthcoming.

Sounds Like:
An older Josh Turner

Stand Out Tracks
More Life

Road To Surrender

Didn’t We Shine

Too Much

A Few Ole Country Boys

The Verdict:

Four stars out of five

New Music Video From Dolly Parton- "Together You And I"

Together You and I - Dolly Parton - Dolly Parton Videos

Country Music News Round-up- New Red Foley Book & Cash In The Courts

• It came out a little while back, but a book about Red Foley came out under my radar. Troubles, Faith and Peace in the Valley: The Red Foley Story was written by Reta Spears-Stewart and follows his successes — he sold more than 25 million records during his career — in spite of many personal and professional trials that seemed to plague him.

• Kellie Pickler unveiled her new single “Tough” for the first time live on stage at the Opry last week.

• I didn’t get my Waylon Jennings birthday party invite, did you?

• 50 years after their original recording, two iconic songs written by Johnny Cash are in the courts. Sun Entertainment claims Compadre Records owes it half the money Compadre made from selling remixes of two 50-year-old Cash songs, "Country Boy" and "Get Rhythm."

• Talented singer/songwriter Ruth Collins has been signed by Curb Records. Hopefully, this one ends better than the messy Curb/Tim McGraw divorce going on.

• Toby Keith's kid Krystal Keith has finished college and as part of dad's promise to daughter, Krystal will have an opportunity to release a record on the Show Dog Universal music label.

Krystal’s forthcoming album will be produced by her dear ol’ dad and Show Dog executive Mark Wright. According to a report from Row Fax, the music men are looking for “fun, young tempo [songs] and rangy ballads in the vein of Jo Dee Messina, Pam Tillis [and] Martina McBride” for the 26-year-old to belt out on her record.

• Nashville songwriter Kenny Foster lost his family home in Joplin, MO when destroyed by a tornado that struck the city on May 22nd. In an effort to encourage healing and raise some money in the process, he's written a new song called "Hometown." 100% of the proceeds of the song will aid relief.

“‘Hometown’ was written to bring some solidarity between those directly affected, and the nation that stood aghast. It was a way to bring those communities together, no matter the distance, to rebuild stronger communities and stronger people,” says Foster.

All proceeds from the purchase of Kenny’s single “Hometown” benefit United Way to aid in the relief efforts in Joplin. Visit www.kentonfoster.com or here on iTunes to purchase. You can listen to the song below:



• Eli Young Band is set to release their new album Lift At Best on August 16th - Produced by Mike Wrucke and Frank Liddell- they’re releasing a free download of a song called “Room Goes Dark.” The download widget is below.

TNS Video History- Waylon Jennings- "America"