Huey Lewis & The News Prep Spring Release Of First Album of All-New Material Since 2001

Grammy award-winning, chart-topping rock and rollers Huey Lewis and the News have signed a new recording agreement with BMG to release their forthcoming 10th studio album in spring 2019. Following their last album release in 2010, a Stax/Volt tribute album, the upcoming studio album is the bands eagerly awaited first set of all new original music in 18 years.

Entering their 39th year together, Huey Lewis and the News’ contagious brand of music has outlasted countless trends and is as fresh today as ever. They incorporate a variety of musical influences including R&B and soul to create their own unique sound. Formed from two rival Bay Area bands in 1979, they continue to thrill audiences worldwide, selling over 20 million albums in the process, earning them the right to mark their place on the pop history map.

The new album announcement casts some hope that the hearing challenges that Lewis was facing this past year might be behind him. Less than a year ago, Lewis was forced to cancel a 40-date tour after experiencing sudden hearing loss. “I haven’t come to grips with the fact that I may never sing again,” Lewis told the Today Show in May. “I’m still hoping I’m gonna get better. They say a positive attitude is important.” Doctors believe that he is suffering from Meniere’s, which causes severe disorientation, feelings of intense vertigo and hearing loss. Lewis first experienced the symptoms at a show in Dallas last March. “As I walked to the stage, it sounded like there was a jet engine going on,” he said. “I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t find pitch. Distorted. Nightmare. It’s cacophony.”

Lewis said, "We’re very excited about our new album, and honestly feel that it’s among our best work – we cannot wait to get it out to fans! We’re equally excited to be with BMG, whose reputation as a ‘music-first’ label precedes them admirably."

John Loeffler, EVP, Marketing & Repertoire, New York, said, “In the time we’ve grown closer with Huey and the band it became clear that this is a perfect match. We’re thrilled to welcome Huey Lewis and the News and proud to call BMG their new label home. We look forward giving the band more opportunities to take advantage of all we have to offer and working alongside them to develop some new creative endeavors.”

Huey Lewis and the News are Huey Lewis (vocals and harmonica), Johnny Colla (saxophone, guitar and vocals), Bill Gibson (drums, percussion and vocals), Sean Hopper (keyboards and vocals), Stef Burns (guitars and vocals) and John Pierce (bass). The live show features their long-time horn section of San Francisco bay area luminaries including Rob Sudduth (tenor saxophone), Marvin McFadden (trumpet), and Johnnie Bamont (baritone saxophone).

Live at the Opry - Alabama Performs "Feels So Right"

Late in 2018, Alabama performed "Feels So Right" live at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. The Opry just released the performance video and it's a reminder of the truly great timelessness of this band.

A Look Ahead To What's Coming In 2019- New Album Release Dates

The landscape looks bright for numerous new releases that promise to engage listeners lyrically and musically. From legends like Garth Brooks and Martina McBride to current stars like Jack Ingram and Tim McGraw, there is lots of new music planned in the new year. Here is a just a partial list of projects that have firm release dates and a long list of projects that are rumored to be released in the coming year. What are you most looking forward to?

January 4
Balsam Range/Aeonic/Mountain Home Music Company

January 11
Randy Houser/Magnolia/Stoney Creek
Kentucky Headhunters/Live At The Ramblin' Man Fair/Indie
Richard Schroeder/Skyline/Amplifier
Jason Michael Carroll/Strings Soundtrack/For The Lonely Records

January 18
Ronnie Milsap/Ronnie Milsap: The Duets/Riser House-Sony
Cody Johnson/Ain’t Nothin’ To It/CoJo Music-Warner Music Nashville
Steel Woods/Old News/Woods Music
Carolina Blue/I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me/Pinecastle
Danny Burns/North Country/Bonfire Recording Co.
John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert/Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Steven Tyler & More/Blackbird Productions

January 25
Dee White/Southern Gentleman/Warner Nashville
Amelia White/Rhythm of the Rain/White Wolf
Mindy Smith/One Moment More [vinyl re-issue]/Craft Recordings
Farewell Angelina/Women & Wine/FAM Records
Clay Walker/Long Live the Cowboy/
Sundance Head/Stained Glass & Neon/Wildcatter Records
King Calaway/King Calaway/BBR
Amelia White – Rhythm of the Rain (self-released)

February 1

Cassadee Pope/Stages

Lonely Heartstring Band/Smoke & Ashes/Rounder
Jesse Dayton/On Fire in Nashville/Blue Elan

February 8
Spencer Koehler/Country & Western/Indie
Sister Hazel/Fire [EP is Volume III of Elements]
Chuck Shaw/Chuck Shaw/Indie
Amy McCarley/Meco/Meco
Jason Ringengberg/Stand Tall/Courageous Chicken
Gurf Morlix – Impossible Blue (Rootball)

February 15
Hayes Carll/What It Is/Dualtone
Florida Georgia Line/Can’t Say I Ain’t Country/BMLG Records
Bellamy Brothers/Over The Moon/Bellamy Brothers Records
Robert Ellis/Texas Piano Man /Indie
Shook Twins/Some Good Lives/Dutch Records
Robbie Walden Band/When the Rooster Crows/Floating Records
Ganstagrass/Pocket Full of Fire/Rench Audio
Tedeschi Trucks Band/Signs

February 22
Dom Wier/Wayward Skies/Prairie River Records
The Waydown Wanderers/Illusions/ORG
The Golden Roses/Terlingua Graveyard/Indie

March 1
Sarah Darling/Wonderland/Indie
Della Mae/The Butcher Shoppe/Rounder
Brad Hines/Brad Hines/Indie
Gary Clark Jr/This Land

March 8
Patty Griffin/Patty Griffin/Thirty Tigers
Chatham County Line/Sharing the Covers/Yep Roc
Scott Slay/The Rail/Pinecastle Records
Townes Van Zandt/Sky Blue/Fat Possum

March 15
Lauren Jenkins/No Saint/Big Machine Records
Todd Snider/Cash Cabin Sessions Vol. 3

March 29

Steve Earle/GUY/New West Records
Uncle Walt’s Band/Uncle Walt’s Band/Omnivore

April 5
Molly Tuttle/When You're Ready/Compass
Infamous Stringdusters/Rise Sun/Tape Time Records
Silver Lake 66/Ragged Heart/Saw Tooth Monkey Music
Jimbo Mathus/Incinerator/Big Legal Mess via Fat Possum

April 26

Dylan Scott/Nothing To Do Town [EP]/Curb Records

May 3
Caroline Spence/Mint Condition/Rounder

Albums with "to be announced" release dates but presumed to be 2019:

Darryl Worley - Feb Release

Trisha Yearwood - Let's Be Frank
Love & Theft - TBD (Curb)
Joe Diffie - I Got This
Old Dominion - TBD
Marc Cohn - TBD
Sam Hunt - TBA (MCA Nashville)
Julie Roberts- I Think You Know
Jack Ingram - An Album & Two EPs- Thirty Tigers
Justin Moore
Sarah Buxton
Maren Morris
Garth Brooks - Triple Live
Jake Owen
Deana Carter
Chely Wright - Revival
George Strait - Honky Tonk Time Machine
Tim McGraw — (Columbia)
Billy Ray Cyrus The SnakeDoctor Circus (—)
Marty Brown - TBD (Plowboy Records)

Other Projects Rumored To Be In The Works:
Ashley Gearing - TBD
Blue Sky Riders - TBD
Breaking Grass - TBD (Mountain Fever)
Brooke Eden - TBD (Red Bow Records)
Candi Carpenter - TBD
Carolina Chocolate Drops - TBD
Catherine Britt - TBD (Universal/Lost Highway)
Chase Bryant - TBD (Red Bow Records)
Clare Dunn - TBA (MCA Nashville)
Clay Walker - TBA
Craig Campbell - TBA (Red Bow Records)
David Fanning - TBA
Del McCoury - Woody Guthrie tribute album
Drew Baldridge - TBA (Cold River Records)
Ego Brothers (Corb Lund, Hayes Carll, and John Evans) - TBA
Eric Paslay - TBA (EMI Nashville)
Florida Georgia Line - Feb 2019 Release
Gary Allan - TBA (MCA Nashville)
Haley Georgia - TBA (EMI Nashville)
Hayes Carll - TBA
Holly Williams - TBA
Jackie Lee - TBA (Broken Bow Records)
Jake Owen - TBA
James Otto - TBA
John King - TBA (Black River Entertainment)
Jordan Rager - TBA
Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice - TBA
Kellie Pickler - TBA
Lucas Hoge - TBA
Maren Morris - TBA
Mark Collie - TBA (101 Ranch Records)
Mickey Guyton - TBA (Capitol Nashville)
Morgane Stapleton - TBA
Noel McKay - TBA
Oak Ridge Boys - Dave Cobb Produced Album
Pam Tillis- TBA
Rick Trevino - TBA
Rita Wilson - TBA
Robbie Fulks - TBA
Rodney Atkins - TBA (Curb Records)
Roland White - TBA
Ryan Kinder - TBA (Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville)
Secret Sisters - TBA
Steve Wariner - TBA (project with Duane Eddy)
Tanya Tucker - TBA
The Railers - TBA (Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville)
Thompson Square - TBA
Trace Adkins - TBA (Wheelhouse Records)
Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart - TBA
Trick Pony - TBA
Wesley Dennis - TBA
Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Merle Haggard - TBA

Bellamy Brothers To Release Over The Moon On 2/15

Artist: Bellamy Brothers

Album: Over the Moon
Label: Independent
Release date: 2/15/19

Ahead of joining Blake Shelton on his "Friends & Heroes 2019" tour, country music veterans and duo Bellamy Brothers announce their new album, Over The Moon, set for release February 15.

Between filming season two of their reality series, "Honky Tonk Ranch," and gearing up for Blake Shelton's arena tour, the brothers found time to record fourteen all-new tracks for Over The Moon, produced by David and Howard Bellamy along with Randy Hiebert, and recorded at Bellamy Brothers Studio in Darby, Florida.

Audiences nationwide will hear the duo perform fan-favorite hits including, "Let Your Love Flow" and "Redneck Girl" as well as songs off their new album when they hit the road for the more than 75 tour dates in 2019. “Friends & Heroes 2019” will kick off on February 14 in Oklahoma City, Okla. and will span 18 dates across the country (full list below). Bellamy Brothers join special guests John Anderson and Trace Adkins for Shelton's tour with Lauren Alaina.

"We're very blessed to have had many hits over the years but our real passion is creating new music," said David Bellamy. "We hope everyone enjoys this new album as much as we enjoyed writing and recording it."

OVER THE MOON TRACK LIST:

1. If You Ever Leave
2. Over The Moon
3. Dream The Dream
4. Wings To Soar
5. Redneck Rockstar
6. Mr. Wrong
7. My Body Fell Apart
8. Every Beauty Needs A Beast
9. All Kinds Of Wounds
10. Old Dixie Highway
11. Rock N Roll Soul
12. Monkey In The Kitchen
13. Heart Of My Heart
14. Gambler's Heart

New Music Video From Old Dominion - "One Man Band"

New Music Video From Brent Cobb - You Don't Know How It Feels (Tom Petty Cover)

Legendary Songwriter Townes Van Zandt Has Posthumous Blue Sky Scheduled For 3/7 Release

Artist: Townes Van Zandt
Album: Blue Sky
Label: Fat Possum Records
Release date: March 7, 2019

Sky Blue, a collection of unreleased songs by one of the most revered country songwriters of the twentieth century, is a time capsule that Townes Van Zandt created forty-six years ago. Scheduled for release by TVZ Records and Fat Possum Records on March 7, 2019—which would have been his 75th birthday—this album shows the artist working out some of his most iconic songs in an intimate, comfortable setting with one of his lifelong confidantes.

Sky Blue includes eleven unreleased recordings made in early 1973 with the late Bill Hedgepeth, a journalist, musician, and most crucially a close friend of Townes. The singer-songwriter was splitting his time between Texas, Colorado, and a shack outside Franklin, Tennessee: an itinerant life that informed many of his most famous tunes. Throughout his life he would often return to Hedgepeth’s home studio in Atlanta, later with family in tow, to record, re-work, and experiment with new songs as well as old favorites.

In addition to a handful of old favorites, Sky Blue also includes two new songs that have never been heard before—”All I Need” and “Sky Blue”—as well as covers of songs by Richard Dobson and Tom Paxton. There is a smoky version of “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues” and a scarred and scarring interpretation of “Hills of Roane County,” an East Tennessee murder ballad from the 1880s that was popularized by Tony Rice. Van Zandt performs them deftly, sings them intuitively, and displays his delightfully twisted sense of humor on the devious “Snake Song” and the vicious “Dream Spider.”

The project was conceived by Townes’ surviving family—his wife and literary executor Jeanene, along with his children, J.T., Will, and Katie Bell.  From the press release:

Sky Blue sounds like an entirely new album rather than a reissue of old recordings. That’s how urgent and invigorated these performances sound, offering a revealing glimpse into Townes’ process, the evolution of his songs as well as the myriad versions he had in his head.

Sky Blue Tracklist:

1. All I Need
2. Rex’s Blues
3. Hills of Roane County
4. Sky Blue
5. Forever For Always For Certain
6. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (Smoky Version)
7. Pancho and Lefty
8. Snake Song
9. Silver Ships of Andilar
10. Dream Spider
11. The Last Thing On My Mind

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer Whitey Shafer Passes Away At 84

K.F. Raizor, author of the website Raizor's Edge and the book We Can't Sing and We Ain't Funny: The World of Homer and Jethro is our guest writer today on That Nashville Sound. She's ever so gracious to provide wonderful tributes to honor those to whom the music we treasure just wouldn't be the same without. Thank you, K.F.


One of the things that has made George Strait such an enduring figure in country music is his ability to find the great songs by the great songwriters. He did that with "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind;" and, later, "All My Ex's Live in Texas."

The songwriter responsible for those songs, Sanger D. "Whitey" Shafer, died earlier this week (1/12) after an illness. His wife, Tracy, was at the funeral for her mother when Shafer passed, according to songwriting friend Corey Frizzell's Instagram post.

After serving in the Army, Sanger D. Shafer worked odd jobs and decided, finally, to move to Nashville, home of his favorite type of music. He met other songwriters, including "Doodle" Owens and Dallas Frazier, and began writing songs. The first major success was when George Jones recorded "Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong" in 1970, soon followed by Johnny Russell recording what has since become a country gospel classic, "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor."

A longtime Lefty Frizzell fan, Shafer struck up a friendship with the legendary singer. Their collaborations included two of the most enduring songs of the 70s: "That's the Way Love Goes" (originally a hit for Johnny Rodriguez), and "I Never Go Around Mirrors," one of Frizzell's final top 40 country hits.

Shafer went through a series of divorces, leading to songs such as "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" and "All My Ex's Live in Texas." George Strait turned both into country gold. Another one of Sanger's heartbreak songs, "I Wonder Do You Think of Me," was a posthumous hit for Keith Whitley in 1989.

In 1989 Shafer was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame. His songs continued to be covered by the greats, the up-and-comers, the local musicians, and anyone who appreciated a great song.

Whitey Shafer was 84.

TNS Video History - Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson - "If I Can Find a Clean Shirt"

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes: New Cassadee Pope & Patty Griffin Projects On Way

That Nashville Sound would like to send all our loyal readers out there wishes for a fun and safe weekend- and would like to share some new music videos and new music out there on the horizon.

- GRAMMY Award winner Patty Griffin has announced the release of her long-awaited new album. The acclaimed singer-songwriter's 10th studio recording and first-ever eponymous LP, Patty Griffin arrives Friday, March 8 on her own PGM Recordings label via Thirty Tigers. The album was recorded predominantly at Griffin's home in Austin, TX, with Griffin and longtime collaborator Craig Ross co-producing, while the band is made up of a number of friends and frequent accompanists, including Ross, guitarist David Pulkingham, drummer and percussionist Conrad Choucroun, cellist Lindsey Verrill, pianist Stephen Barber, and Robert Plant, who contributes backing vocals to the tracks "What Now" and "Coins."

- Cassadee Pope is set to release her new album, "Stages," on Friday, February 1st. The album, produced by Corey Crowder, is a representation of Pope's journey throughout the past year, from heartbreak to empowerment. Fans can pre-order the project here.  “It’s a validating feeling to look back at a painful moment, and see how I was able to put the pieces back together and come back stronger,” Pope said. “For the first time in my life, I’m confident in the way I navigate things thrown my way, and I hope someone listening finds the same strength.”

- Jon Pardi played his new single "Night Shift" live on the Opry stage and they caught it on film.

- Ben Rector debuted a funky new music video for his song "Duo." 

- Cody Johnson released a new music video shot live in a concert for his new single, "On My Way To You." 

- This week's Song Suffragettes performance video is the talented Madeline Merlo singing "Unraveling." 

Hear It Here - New Music From Sarah Buxton - "Only The Truth"

"It's time to let go. I have no plan. I have no help. I'm just releasing a song and clearing space for whatever wants to happens next." ~ Sarah Buxton on the new release of her new song "Only the Truth."

For Sarah Buxton, the last fifteen years have been a roller-coaster ride. The singer/songwriter has realized huge successes and at the same time has questioned at times where music would take her. Today, that journey aims to all points north with the release of a brand new independent song, "Only The Truth."

Buxton moved to Nashville following high school graduation both to attend Belmont University and follow her musical dreams and ambitions. The early 2000’s found her the lead singer of a southern rock band called Stoik Oak. But after that group called it quits- it was John Rich and others that encouraged her to find her country music voice and after singing back-up vocals from everyone from Kenny Rogers to Cowboy Troy, she landed her own record deal with Lyric Street Records back in 2006. Keith Urban recorded the Buxton co-write "Stupid Boy" on his album Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing- which he took to #3 on the country charts in 2007. Buxton got her own self-titled album released in 2010 and chart four singles.

But with the exception of a side project titled Skyline Motel and a slew of hits written for other artists such as Gary Allan, The Band Perry, Chris Lane, Trisha Yearwood, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line and more, we hadn't heard any new music from Sarah herself.

Until today...

Steve Earle To Release Album Dedicated To Mentor Guy Clark In March

Artist: Steve Earle & The Dukes

Album: Guy

Label: New West Records

Release date: March 29

Steve Earle & The Dukes have announced that their new album Guy will be released by New West on March 29.

A sequel to his 2009 album Townes, on which he covered the songs of Townes Van Zandt, Earle’s new effort comprises 16 songs by his other songwriting mentor Guy Clark.

“No way I could get out of doing this record,” says Earle. “When I get to the other side, I didn’t want to run into Guy having made the Townes record and not one about him.”

“Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark were like Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg to me. When it comes to mentors, I’m glad I had both. If you asked Townes what it’s all about, he’d hand you a copy of Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. If you asked Guy the same question, he’d take out a piece of paper and teach you how to diagram a song, what goes where. Townes was one of the all-time great writers, but he only finished three songs during the last fifteen years of his life. Guy had cancer and wrote songs until the day he died… When he was sick – he was dying really for the last ten years of his life – he asked me if we could write a song together. We should do it ‘for the grandkids,’ he said. Well, I don’t know… at the time, I still didn’t co-write much, then I got busy. Then Guy died and it was too late. That, I regret.”

Guy was produced by Earle and recorded by his long-time production partner Ray Kennedy. The Dukes on this record include Kelley Looney on bass, Chris Masterson on guitar, Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle & mandolin, Ricky Ray Jackson on pedal steel guitar, and Brad Pemberton on drums & percussion. Guy also features guest appearances by Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Terry Allen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mickey Raphael, Shawn Camp, Verlon Thompson, Gary Nicholson, and the photographer Jim McGuire.

1. Dublin Blues
2. L.A. Freeway
3. Texas 1947
4. Desperados Waiting For A Train
5. Rita Ballou
6. The Ballad Of Laverne And Captain Flint
7. The Randall Knife
8. Anyhow I Love You
9. That Old Time Feeling
10. Heartbroke
11. The Last Gunfighter Ballad
12. Out In The Parking Lot
13. She Ain’t Going Nowhere
14. Sis Draper
15. New Cut Road

16. Old Friends

New Music Video From Brad Paisley - "Bucked Off"

Interview Flashback - Making The Call With Matt Kennon

I have been blessed to write contributions/reviews/interviews/opinion pieces for several country music and roots-oriented websites and publications over the years including Saving Country Music, Nashville Scene, Country California, Country Weekly, American Noise, The 9513 and Engine 145. As a regular contributor to the last two in that list, I did close to a 100 interviews with different artists- and since both of those great sites have come down, I will reprint some of those interviews here to give them a home in perpetuity. This interview was originally published in April 2010 on The 9513.

Matt Kennon is blessed with one of those voices that, good or bad, sets him apart from the rest of the radio dial. From the minute he opens his mouth on his new song “The Call,” it’s clear that the gravelly and deep voiced Kennon is working with a different instrument than most. It took nearly half a lifetime to find out the genetics of where it came from, however.

He tells a little bit of that story in his brand new song on radio. The second chorus of “The Call” deals with a young mother grappling with the heart wrenching decision of keeping a baby or not and it was from his own personal experience of being that baby that the song’s lyrics took root.

Matt’s birth mother was in an unfortunate economic situation and had made the painful decision to abort him. The doctor that was seeing his mother knew of another patient, a mother who had lost three of her children in a terrible house fire, who had just found out she was unable to conceive more children. The doctor matched up the two mothers and the new family adopted Matt. It makes the fodder for a great country story.

The 9513 had an opportunity to sit down and make a call with Matt Kennon and talk a little about genealogy and about his upcoming album release on BamaJam Records.

KEN MORTON, JR.: With “The Call” racing up the charts, we’ll start there. As I was reading through your bio, I was surprised to learn that part of that song is autobiographical with your own adoption and own birth mom. Would you mind giving some background on that?

MATT KENNON: Actually, there have been a lot of phone calls in my life that have changed me. Not only in my personal life, but in my career as well. My birth mother couldn’t afford to bring me into this world and take care of me. Through the divine intervention of The Lord, there happened to be a family out there waiting to take care of me. They had lost three children in a house fire. So I was very blessed to be placed in that home with that doctor agreeing to carry me to full term. That’s what that second verse of “The Call” was about. I wrote the song with two guys, both of them that had serious illnesses. Jeremy Campbell had had lung cancer at the age of fourteen. He had it for six years and beat it. Noah, my other co-writer has Crohn’s disease. So when I had this idea for this song for a phone call, we had friends that had lost things like jobs and that- and we all had had phone calls that have changed our lives. When they were dealing with their illnesses and all that, a lot of calls kept them hanging on. We decided we hadn’t heard too many songs about a phone call and especially one that changed so many things.

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "Chasin' You"

The Tractors' Steve Ripley Passes Away From Cancer at 69

Steve Ripley, leader of the country-rock band The Tractors, died peacefully at his home Thursday, January 3 in Pawnee, OK at the age of 69, surrounded by his family. He had been suffering from cancer.

In addition to his work as a recording artist, Ripley was also a songwriter, producer, engineer, studio owner, radio host and inventor of the “stereo guitar” favored by such fellow musicians as Eddie Van Halen, Ry Cooder and Dweezil Zappa.

Owner of The Church Studio in Tulsa for 19 years, Ripley additionally distinguished himself by playing guitar with Bob Dylan and producing and/or engineering projects for Leon Russell, J. J, Cale, Roy Clark, Johnnie Lee Wills, and many others.

Born Paul Steven Ripley on January 1, 1950 during his parents’ brief residency in Idaho, Ripley grew up on the family’s Oklahoma Land Run homestead in Pawnee County. On his radio show, he recalled his earliest musical memory came when he was only three years old while listening to his dad enthusiastically singing along to Bob Wills’ “Roly Poly” in the family car. He said his “most impactful” musical memory was hearing Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” blasting from his Aunt Babe’s radio when he was six. “It just slayed me,” he marveled. “Nothing would ever be the same.” Seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show was yet another “cosmic moment.”

New Music Video From Dillon Carmichael - "Dancing Away With My Heart"

Dean Dillon Producing New Sundance Head Album Release, Stained Glass & Neon

Artist: Sundance Head
Album: Stained Glass & Neon
Label: Dean Dillon's Wildcatter Records
Release date: January 25, 2018

Sundance Head's Stained Glass and Neon, will be released on Dean Dillon's Wildcatter Records on January 25, 2018. Dean Dillon is one of country music's most iconic songwriters, with over 62 songs cut by George Strait alone ("The Chair," "Ocean Front Property," etc), plus other hits like "Tennessee Whiskey" (George Jones/Chris Stapleton), "I'm Alive" & "A Lot Of Things Different", hits for Alabama, Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womack & many others. He is also producer on this album by The Voice winner and self-proclaimed "soul country" singer.

Dean Dillon on Sundance Head, “With the help of some business associates in Texas, I had the opportunity to create my own record label, Dean Dillon’s Wildcatter Records, and I knew that wanted to work with him. I’ve been in this business all my life, and with the exception of a couple of people, I’ve never heard anybody sing the way this man does. I think the most amazing thing to me is his vocal range and control. He is extremely special,” 

The 40-year-old Texan Head talked about what fans can expect from his album, "It’s not rock, it’s not country, it’s not blues. But I think once this record comes out, people will understand. It’s kind of a throwback to when songs meant something. It’s real music, and we’re not trying to compress it and put beats on it. It’s a really old-school modern country record. That’s my style, man. I’m an old cat. I don’t really identify with the country that’s currently on the radio.”

New Live Performance Music Video From Keith Urban - A Musical Tribute To Those Lost in 2018

On New Years Eve, Keith Urban put together a tribute mashup of songs together to honor some artists we lost in 2018 and which showed off his undeniable musical talent. Included were:

"Zombie" by The Cranberries, in honor of Dolores O'Riordan
"Respect" by Aretha Franklin
"Rolling In My Sweet Baby’s Arms" in honor of Roy Clark
"Wake Me Up" by Avicii
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, in honor of Ed King

Up & Coming New Nashville - Meet Alexis Taylor

Canadian born singer and songwriter Alexis Taylor was raised in the small town of Huntsville, Ontario. From a young age she showed a great love and passion for music through her songwriting and acoustic guitar playing. “Both my parents are songwriters, and are very musical. Music is a part of me - it has always been in my blood.”

It wasn’t until Alexis had graduated high school that she decided to make a visit to Nashville, Tennessee in 2012. Upon walking along the streets of Broadway, Alexis fell in love with the city and decided to move to Nashville and pursue music full time.

Summer 2016 saw the launch of Alexis' international career with a tour throughout Scandinavia opening for renowned singer/songwriter Doug Seegers. "Being able to open for someone as talented and genuine as Doug Seegers along with his incredibly gifted band has been an experience of a lifetime," she says. "The opportunity truly allowed me to grow as a performer, and I am so grateful that Doug took me under his wing."

At the beginning of 2018, Alexis released her debut single "Blame The Whiskey" which allowed her to appear live on numerous radio stations throughout North America, and take part in events such as Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and CMA Fest in Nashville. The release of "Blame The Whiskey" also lead to Alexis taking home the award for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2018 Tennessee Music Awards, performing at the USO Northwest Gala, and take the #1 position for six consecutive weeks on Reverb Nation's provincially ranked country artists charts.

Currently Alexis is continuing to follow her dream as a musician; performing at a variety of venues all over North America, and working on writing new music in the studio which she is planning on releasing shortly.