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New Book On Legendary Songwriter Townes Van Zandt Hits Shelves Dec 1

A new book about Townes Van Zandt, legendary songwriter of classics “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You” and “For the Sake of the Song,” will be arrive on book shelves on December 1. Brian T. Atkinson, from Texas A&M University Press, has titled it I’ll Be Here In The Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt.

 From the press release:
The writer of such influential songs as “Pancho and Lefty,” “To Live’s to Fly,” “If I Needed You,” and “For the Sake of the Song,” Townes Van Zandt exerted an influence on at least two generations of Texas musicians that belies his relatively brief, deeply troubled life. Indeed, Van Zandt has influenced millions worldwide in the years since his death, and his impact is growing rapidly. Respected singer/songwriter John Gorka speaks for many when he says, “‘Pancho and Lefty’ changed—it unchained—my idea of what a song could be.”

 In this tightly woven, intelligently written book, Brian T. Atkinson interviews both well-known musicians and up-and-coming artists to reveal, in the performers’ own words, how their creative careers have been shaped by the life and work of Townes Van Zandt. Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams, and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the established musicians who share their impressions of the breathtakingly beautiful tunes and lyrics he created, along with their humorous, poignant, painful, and indelible memories of witnessing Van Zandt’s rise and fall.

 Atkinson balances the reminiscences of seasoned veterans with the observations of relative newcomers to the international music scene, such as Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Josh Ritter, and Scott Avett (the Avett Brothers), presenting a nuanced view of Van Zandt’s singular body of work, his reckless lifestyle, and his long-lasting influence. Forewords by “Cowboy” Jack Clement and longtime Van Zandt manager and friend Harold F. Eggers Jr. open the book, and each chapter begins with an introduction in which Atkinson provides context and background, linking each interviewee to Van Zandt’s legacy.

 “I don’t envision a very long life for myself,” Van Zandt once said. “I think my life will run out before my work does. I’ve designed it that way.”

 “Townes is a Christ-like figure in Texas,” says country singer Jack Ingram at the book’s close. “He is the one. He was writing on another plane.”

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Lionel Richie Reveals Details of Upcoming Album Tuskegee

Lionel Richie will release Tuskegee, his much-anticipated country duets album, in March on Mercury Nashville, after debuting songs on the national broadcast of the 45^th Annual Country Music Association Awards, airing live Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network.

During the broadcast Richie will perform select duets of his runaway hits with Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts.

Surpassing his creative and personal boundaries, Richie comes full circle with the innovative and personal Tuskegee, performing 13 of his most revered “anthems of our day” with some of the biggest names in country music, including Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town and Jason Aldean.

On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

Tuskegee is an exciting and transcendent arc in a career that has seen album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards from virtually every major entertainment organization.

“As my songwriting progressed, I realized that my songs perfectly translated to the country genre,” says the living legend as he taps on the keys of the piano in his state-of-the-art recording studio.

 It was when Conway Twitty sang “Three Times a Lady” along with songs such as “Lady” and “Deep River Women” that Richie knew country music was clearly omnipresent in the lyrics he wrote.

“I was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama. I am a country boy and proud of it. To do this project just felt natural,” says Richie.

“Growing up with country, R&B, gospel, and classical music from my grandmother and pop, Tuskegee was the perfect melting pot for my influences as a writer,” he says, “and the title, Tuskegee, is a validation of my growing up there—the place I call home.”

Envisioning and bringing Tuskegee to life with such grace and passion has been a rewarding, revelatory time for Richie.

“What began as a collaboration of talented people ended up being a great group of friends getting together to make great music,” says Richie.

“Tuskegee is a state of mind as it is a place,” he adds, “…a place of possibility, hope, promise, self-empowerment, and where dreams come true.”

                                                   

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Track-Listing:

1. “You Are” with Blake Shelton
2. “Say You, Say Me” with Jason Aldean
3. “Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker
4. “Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town
5. “My Love” with Kenny Chesney
6. “Dancing On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts
7. “Hello” with Jennifer Nettles
8. “Sail On” with Tim McGraw
9. “Endless Love” with Shania Twain
10. “Just For You” with Billy Currington
11. “Lady” with Kenny Rogers
12. “Easy” with Willie Nelson
13. “All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett

Lonestar Reunites With Lead Singer Richie McDonald

The group Lonestar has reunited with original lead vocalist Richie McDonald and will tour together in 2012, as well as record an album to mark their 20th Anniversary.

"Five years has come and gone since I left Lonestar," he said. "We've all tried other avenues and the fact remains that some things were just meant to be. With the Lonestar 20 year reunion approaching, Dean, Michael, Keech and I got together and have decided we have some unfinished business to take care of. I miss those crazy nights running around on stage making music with my band of brothers. Looking forward to a new chapter in the book of Lonestar and reliving some old memories  and also making some new ones for the fans that have been loyal to us through thick and thin."

Fellow member Dean Sams says the reunion will please a lot of the group's fans."The music we've created over the years, along with all of the fans we have made along the way, is something we have never taken for granted," he says. "We have so much more music to offer the country music fans, and  truly feel they want us back on the radio and out on the road performing live for them. After a lot of soul searching and long conversations between all of us involved, we are energized and excited to be writing and recording new music together again!"

The band did release one album, "Party Heard Around The World," which featured McDonald's replacement, Cody Collins. Of Collins, the group said they wish Cody the best in his future musical endeavors.

The members of Lonestar include Keech Rainwater, Dean Sams, Michael Britt and McDonald. The first concerts kick off Febriary 26th overseas. Together with McDonald, Lonestar had hits such as, “Amazed,” “No News,” “Come Crying To Me,” and others.

For more on the band Lonestar visit www.lonestarnow.com.

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Country Music News Round-Up- Billy Ray Cyrus, Sugarland, Sarah Buxton & More

• Billy Ray Cyrus claims that he saw a UFO this week.
• Bassist and rhythm guitar player Gene Kurtz passed away at the age of 69. Kurtz wrote the smash 1965 hit “Treat Her Right” and played in a number of different bands including, most recently, Dale Watson’s Lonestars.
• Sarah Buxton announced via Twitter that she and longtime collaborator Jedd Hughes will be releasing an album together “in the very near future.”
• Sugarland pranked Sara Bareilles on the last night of their tour.
• Kellie Pickler has landed a recurring role in the CW series 90210. Pickler also recently announced on stage at the Grand Ole Opry this past week that her newest album is called 100 Proof and will be released on January 24, 2012.
•  “You got the bullets, I got the gun / I got a hankerin’ for gettin’ into somethin’.” Miranda Lambert is back next week with a new album, Four the Record- and she’s got more on her mind than just target practice. Stream the song “Fastest Girl in Town” exclusively on EW.com HERE.
• Check out the review that I did on former IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Laurie Lewis on her new bluegrass album Skippin’ and Flyin’ over at Engine 145.
• American Idol winner Scotty McCreery has a brand new music video for “The Trouble with Girls.”
• Country singer-songwriter Billy Barton has died at age 81. According to Robert Oermann’s obituary: “Barton is best known for “A Dear John Letter.” As recorded by Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard, the song was a huge No. 1 hit in 1953. It launched both artists’ hit-making careers. The songwriter also wrote its follow-up, 1953’s “Forgive Me John.” In 1954, Billy Barton wrote the Jim Reeves and Ginny Wright duet “I Love You.” It rose to No. 3 on the national country hit parade. Webb Pierce scored a top-10 hit with the songwriter’s “You’ll Come Back” in 1958.”
• Alan Jackson, Les Paul and Kix Brooks are among the inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame- permanent plaques that will be embedded into cement on Nashville’s Music Mile.
• A whopping twelve artists were named as nominees for the Top Country Artist category in the People’s Choice Awards. Included are the Zac Brown Band, Sugarland, Kenny Chesney and The Band Perry. 

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