New Music Video From Rebecca Lynn Howard - "Strong"

New Music Video From Rebecca Lynn Howard - "I Am My Mother"

New Music Video From The Loving Mary Band - "With A Little Help From My Friends"

Loving Mary To Release Their Debut Album, Little Bit of Love

Artist: Loving Mary
Album: Little Bit of Love
Label: Round Hill/Sony RED
Release date: Oct. 28, 2016

When you lock accomplished songwriters in a room, magic tends to happen. Born one night out of that magic was the band Loving Mary. Marti Frederiksen, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Suzie McNeil, Elisha Hoffman, Andrew Mactaggart and Sarah Tomek fuse their talents and experiences together into six-piece harmonies that dip from rock to country music.

Individually, they've written songs for the likes of Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow and more. They're currently the touring band for Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith). Howard is the voice behind the smash country single "Forgive." Now, they'll release their debut project next month.

Track listing:

1. Little Bit of Love
2. Right Now
3. Take It and Run
4. Where There's Fire
5. Knock Knock
6. Broke But Note Broken
7. Pick It Up
8. Drinking With You
9. Hungover
10. Tennessee
11. Alone With You
12. Good Thing
13. We Got Love
 

Rebecca Lynn Howard Starts Four-Piece Band Called Loving Mary

Although country music fans will recognize Rebecca Lynn Howard her frequent Grand Ole Opry appearances and from her smash radio single "Forgive", she hopes to gain attention from a whole new music project called Loving Mary.

 

Nashville-based group Loving Mary began as a fun, organic departure from the pop/rock world for noted producer Marti Frederiksen, Canadian pop star Suzie McNeil, and for some back-to-band fun for country artist and Grammy winner Rebecca Lynn Howard and songwriter/producer Elisha Hoffman.

 Featuring the four lead vocalists and gorgeous four-part harmonies, Loving Mary has an album’s worth of materia...l written and an EP recorded, including such songs as the haunting “Knock Knock,” the stompin’ “Get Your Love On Me” and sweet sentiment “We Got Love.”

Suzie, known to international audiences as the last girl standing on Mark Burnett’s Rock Star: INXS TV series, is a successful singer in Canada with four albums and 13 national top 20 hits. Marti, the voice behind Almost Famous band Stillwater, has written and produced for such heavyweights as Aerosmith, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill.

 When Marti moved from Los Angeles to Nashville, Suzie would go there to write and really enjoyed the scene. “We started writing a bunch of songs for a duo project in the vein of Lady Antebellum,” says Suzie, “but then one day we thought, ‘The world needs a Fleetwood Mac again,’ so let’s do a band — two guys, two girls.”

As fate would have it, Suzie had an outside writing session scheduled, and the writer brought along a third collaborator — Kentucky transplant Rebecca. “When I met Suzie, the first thing I noticed was her fiery red hair and her tattoos and I was like, ‘We're gonna get along just fine,’” recalls Rebecca. “We started writing and the musical chemistry was electric, like we'd known each other for years. I love how our voices blend together like we're family.“

After the writing session Suzie went back to Marti and said, ‘You know who would be amazing for this…?’”

Rebecca is a country-pop artist and two-time Grammy Award winner, whose compositions have been recorded by such singers as Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Julianne Hough, John Michael Montgomery and Clay Aiken. Recently, she started producing other artists, such as Australia’s Dianna Corcoran — whose singles have hit No. 1 — which she did with her husband, Eilsha.

“It just made all the sense in the world to do something like this,” says Rebecca. “In addition to writing, the four of us would get together and jam and goof off playing some of our favorite cover songs, until it really just became so obvious that we should do this for real. I'm having the time of my life.”

So is Elisha. “For me, the combination of these people who are my friends make it a real family band, which is fun,” he says. “I don’t write songs like this on a daily basis, so they feel really fresh to me.”

Elisha, a.k.a. Big E, has been a part of the Nashville music scene for 15 years, first as a drummer and session player and then as a producer and songwriter. He has written and/or produced songs with a slew of major label artists, including Faith Hill, New Medicine and The Academy Is. He is currently producing Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. 

 And so Loving Mary was born.

“What a breath of fresh air to be in a band that doesn’t sound like anything that’s going on right now in music,” says Frederiksen. “It’s exciting to be able to take all your influences from your musical past, like The Who and Tom Petty, into an acoustic sound.”

 “It’s not easy to write with four people in a room,” says McNeil. “That’s a lot of opinions, but everything we’ve done has come really naturally.”

Loving Mary’s originals dip and dive between feel-good songs about love and material with more swampy edge. Each song features a different lead vocalist, but they all provide lush harmonies and all play instruments. Rebecca is on bass; Marti is on guitar, Elisha is playing everything from mandolin to banjo; and Suzie plays harmonica, tambourine and guitar.

“We were all just craving a real band with real live instruments and a real vibe,” says the band.

TNS Video History- Kenny Rogers & Rebecca Lynn Howard- "Joy To The World"

TNS Video History- Rhonda Vincent and Rebecca Lynn Howard- "The Angels Rejoiced"

Songwriter/Producer Tim Johnson Loses Battle With Cancer

Nashville singer/songwriter Tim Johnson passed away from liver and colon cancer much too soon early Sunday morning with over 100 major label album cuts to his name. Johnson served on NSAI’s Song Camp faculty and served as a longtime board member of NSAI. Artists like Daryle Singletary (“I Let Her Lie”), Collin Raye (“Someone You Used to Know”), Kellie Pickler (“Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind”) and Mark Chesnutt (“Thank God for Believers”) all recorded Johnson’s songs. Tim's song, "To Do What I Do," was recorded by Alan Jackson and inspired the title of his 2004 release, What I Do. Tim also co-wrote the song, "When I Think About Leavin,'" on Kenny Chesney's quadruple platinum selling album, When the Sun Goes Down. Johnson grew up in the tiny logging community of Noti, Oregon and was fortunate enough to learn about the power of music from one of the best, songwriting legend Mickey Newbury. Johnson also founded Giantslayer Records with Joey + Rory's Rory Feek in 1994. Feek featured Johnson on his RFD-TV television series, The Joey and Rory Show, earlier this year. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. Numerous songwriters and performers were on Twitter and Facebook shortly after his passing to recognize the man.

o    Jimmy Wayne- “Prayers for Tim Johnson's kids & wife . Tim wrote the lyrics to "Do you believe me know". He passed at 1:30 this am.”
o    Heidi Feek - “We lost Tim Johnson last night. So so so sad. Please send some thoughts/prayers/vibes out for his family and friends right now.”
o    Jesse Lee - “Music row lost a very talented and sweet man today. Tim Johnson, RIP”
o    Victoria Banks – “RIP Tim Johnson. In your own words: "God only cries for the living/ 'Cause it's the living that are so far from home"”
o    Erin Enderlin – “I just heard we lost the great singer songwriter Tim Johnson today, thoughts and prayers with his family and friends. He was kind enough to let me sit in a room with him a couple time, true brilliance...”
o    Chely Wright – “Rest In Peace, Tim Johnson. One of Nashville's best songwriters, but most importantly… a good guy. #LIVESTRONG”
o    Rebecca Lynn Howard - "Just got news that my friend Songwriter Tim Johnson passed early this morning. Heaven got a good one today. Our hearts are heavy.....RIP buddy."
o    Rory Feek- "I lost one of my best friends today-and the world lost one of the greatest songwriters of all time...Tim Johnson."

Rebecca Lynn Howard Invites Fans To Catch Her In Her Pajamas

Rebecca Lynn Howard is known best for her smash hit single "Forgive" and her three country albums that have all been received well critically. Perhaps you've caught her in one of her nearly 100 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry as a guest star, usually doing some classic country covers from one of the Opry's leading legends of the day. What you haven't seen, however, is Howard performing from her home in her pajamas. But that can all change next Tuesday, February 13 at 7pm Central time.

Utilizing a new web-based technology called StageIt (along with a number of other artists as well), Howard has scheduled a live streaming concert that will be filmed straight from her own home. She's calling it her Pajama Show.

"This is my first StageIt.com show! It's called the Pajama Show, because i will be showing up in my "jammies"! I'm so excited! See you soon!"

For those fans that would like to pony up the $5 and see her play live, click HERE and make your reservation.  

TNS Video History- Ronnie Dunn & Rebecca Lynn Howard- "If I Could Only Win Your Love"

Jim Brickman Reveals Country Side On New Album Home

Best-selling pop and New Age pianist Jim Brickman is showing off is country chops. After previously working with Rebecca Lynn Howard and Collin Raye, Brickman's new album Home reveals his seldom heard country music skills.

Brickman has performed on concert stages the world over, but never on one of the most famous stages of them all, The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. In November, Jim made his debut at the country music landmark with Victoria Shaw singing his hit song "The Gift." He also accompanied network news anchor Robin Meade, who sang "Welcome Home" for U.S. troops returning from deployment overseas.

"Welcome Home" is one of 18 originals from Jim's new album, alongside tunes featuring Australian pop singer Delta Goodrem, Canadian vocalist Mark Masri, country star Ty Herndon, and "American Idol" finalist Matt Giraud.

Jim Brickman first studied classical piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music. The release of his debut album, "No Words," came at the height of the New Age music boom in 1994, marking the first time in seven years that legendary New Age music label Windham Hill Records offered a contract to a solo artist.

TNS Video History- Rebecca Lynn Howard- "Out Here In The Water"

TNS Video History- Rebecca Lynn Howard- "No One'll Ever Love Me"

CD Reviews- Emma Jacob- 2232 Miles

The Background:
Emma Mae Jacob grew up in Costa Mesa, Calif., and as a child, she enjoyed listening to Aretha Franklin and Patsy Cline. She took vocal lessons from the legendary Seth Riggs- she once ran into Ray Charles at a lesson- and earned a spot as first soprano in the Pacific Symphony Children's Choir. At age 11, she sang a Franklin song, "You're All I Need to Get By," on Showtime at the Apollo and received a standing ovation. The family was living in Colfax, Calif., when Jacob and her parents took over the ownership of a local theatre owned by Jacob's grandfather. Music producer Paul Worley heard her perform there and encouraged her to move to Nashville. Worley also pitched a song that would become the teenager's first single, "What If We Fly," included on her debut album, Breaking All the Rules, in 2008. Her new digital album on the Black River Music Group label is titled 2,232 Miles. The album represents the distance between Emma Jacob’s hometown in California and Nashville, Tennessee

The Review:
Dolly Parton once said that “country music is ordinary stories told by extraordinary people.” For young Emma Jacob, she has half of this equation nailed. She has the pipes for the job- Jacob is a very talented vocalist. Anyone who has seen her perform live (as I have on multiple occasions) knows that she has a big strong voice that has a Rebecca Lynn Howard type of sassy inflection. The part she is missing on the album, however, is the story part. Her label-mate, Sarah Darling came out with an album in 2009 that was full of great storytelling of personal and revealing prose that gave some insight into her own soul. On 2,232 Miles, Jacob is more the performer instead of the songwriter/storyteller. And as a perfomer, she does terrific. But it sure would be nice to have both sides of that coin. ”Julianna” is the lead single from the album and easily the one big exception to the comments above. It’s a story of woman empowerment that has a strong protagonist in a story of esteem, personal validation and the ability to feel beautiful. “Julianna, you don’t have to do that to be loved, Julianna, Oh I wish you knew you were enough.” The Rachel Proctor penned “Didn’t I” also turns the camera inwards on a song about love lost- but not too personally. It seems a little more about hitting notes than revealing her soul. And on an album with a title that represents her journey from Northern California girl to Nashville star potential, that’s the story I want to hear in some of the songs. What she has created is a showcase for her vocals and some fun uptempo dance numbers like “Sunday Paper”- a fun blow-off song of all the places her man should put his apology including billboards, informercials and the newspaper. Overall, it’s a good album that has signs of lots of potential from Jacob. She’s worked extensively with longtime and celebrated Nashville songwriter Karen Staley and hopefully, with more time with great songwriters like her and more life experience in Music City, we’ll hear more of Jacob in her music.

Sounds Like:
Sass Jordan and Rebecca Lynn Howard

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Julianna
Wrong
Sunday Paper

The Verdict:
Two & A Half Stars Out Of Five

Songs 4 Worship Country Live Features Ricky Skaggs, Richie McDonald, Collin Raye, Bryan White, Rebecca Lynn Howard & More

Time Life Records is releasing a new project today, Songs 4 Worship Country Live. Recorded live at the famed Ryman Auditorium, this unique album showcases Country music stars performing the best-loved and most well-known Praise and Worship songs. Each tune was personally selected by the artists which provides a unique passion that each one brings to “their” song.

Songs 4 Worship Country Live follows Time Life’s highly successful studio album, Songs 4 Worship Country, which debuted in 2007 and has remained on Billboard’s Top Country album chart since its release. The Songs 4 Worship series has sold more than ten-million units since its launch in 2000.

Songs 4 Worship Country Live spotlights remarkable appearances that were recorded last summer on the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The location for the concert was a perfect choice since the Ryman originally was a church before it was transformed into the “mother church” of Country music. The pairing of the two genres of music is a natural given Country gospel roots. Such popular Country artists as Ricky Skaggs, Richie McDonald, Collin Raye, Bryan White, Susan Ashton and Rebecca Lynn Howard showed their strong Christian backgrounds by delivering powerful, uplifting performances of favorite Praise and Worship songs including; Above All, Holy Is The Lord, Heart Of Worship and the #1 Christian hit, Revelation Song, which has stayed at the top of the Christian radio charts for an incredible thirteen weeks. The live show is enhanced with additional performances from Alabama, Diamond Rio, Alison Krauss & Union Station and a previously recorded live performance by Randy Travis of the Praise and Worship classic, “Open The Eyes Of My Heart.”

“Praise and Worship music at its very essence is about community,” says Mike Jason, Time Life Senior Vice President. “This intimate and powerful album gave each artist the opportunity to record in what was originally a place of worship, the Ryman Auditorium. The place, the artists and music combine to create a very special experience.”

CD Reviews- Rachel Proctor- What Didn’t Kill Me

The Background:
For those not familiar with Proctor, before signing to a record deal, she co-wrote Martina McBride's 2002 single "Where Would You Be". By 2003, Proctor had signed to BNA Records, releasing her debut single "Days Like This" that year. This song, which peaked at #24 on the country charts, was the first of four singles from her 2004 debut album Where I Belong. Proctor's only album for the label, it also produced her highest-charting single in the #18 "Me and Emily". Although she has not charted a single since 2004, she has written charted singles for Jessica Simpson (“Come On Over”) and Jesse Lee (“It’s A Girl Thing”). This October marks the return of this young singer/songwriter with a new indie release, What Didn’t Kill Me.

The Review:
How Rachel Proctor hasn’t hit it big is a puzzle. The beautiful blonde released a generally critically well-received album earlier this decade and has proven to have some serious songwriting chops with mid-level hits by herself and songs covered by bigger artists. On What Didn’t Kill Me, Proctor does a great job striking an equilibrium between fast propulsive numbers and those introspective ballads that marked her radio success the first go-around. Her appearance belies her music. She sounds older and wiser, singing stories about life's journey with a “kick butt and take names” attitude. Says Proctor, “This album is a collection of songs from the last 5 years of my life. There have been a lot of ups and downs & loves and losses that have made me grow both as singer and as a songwriter. I've always believed in writing from the heart about my own life experiences…” Each of the 11 songs of the album are written or co-written by Proctor and that life experience from the last years is poured out best on the first and title track of the album. She uses the loss of her major label record deal and her scrape for musical relevance as inspiration on a great autobiographical song about getting stronger from the stuff that knocks you down. She gets very sensual on “Your Hands On Me” and the album has great production elements like the very cool electric guitar bridge on “Why Wait.” Her voice is a versatile alto and a powerful instrument. She displays emotional depth matching that high quality songwriting. The West Virginia native’s vocals rival that of any of her contemporaries with all the sincerity and emotion to convey the meaning of these songs and really pull the listener in. Imagine a Carrie Underwood album written, produced and sung by Carrie Underwood with all the personal connections to each and every track. That is what you can expect on Proctor’s What Didn’t Kill Me album. Overall, it’s a fantastic CD that belongs in your collection for sure.

Sounds Like:
Rebecca Lynn Howard’s Songwriting with Carrie Underwood’s Voice

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
What Didn’t Kill Me
What Goodbye Looks Like
That’s A Lie
Your Hands On Me

The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five

New Unreleased Music From Rebecca Lynn Howard

New unreleased music from one of our favorites, Rebecca Lynn Howard- man this girl has pipes! "I'm Not Gonna Stay" is a touching ballad song about dealing with an alcoholic and RLH performs it acoustically. It's definitely worth the watch.

I'm Not Gonna Stay


US23


Subscribers can hit the headline to stream the two new songs...

Happy Birthday To Rebecca Lynn Howard- 30 Today

That Nashville Sound wishes one of our favorite underrated artists a very happy birthday wish today- Rebecca Lynn Howard turns the big 3-0.

Howard (born in Salyersville, Kentucky) has charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and has released three studio albums. Her highest-charting single, "Forgive", peaked at #12 on the country music charts in 2002. One of her singles, "I Don't Paint Myself into Corners", was also released by Trisha Yearwood. Howard's accolades also include winning two Grammy Awards - the first in 1998 for her recording of "Softly & Tenderly" for the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack to the Robert Duvall film, The Apostle. Howard earned her second Grammy in 2003 for "If I Could Only Win Your Love," a duet with Ronnie Dunn featured on the Grammy-winning album, Livin', Lovin' Losin' - Songs of the Louvin Brothers.

Celebrate her big day with a watch of her playing a great acoustic tune of her last Time Life album No Rules, “The Life Of A Dollar” here…

New Jim Brickman Album Features Many Country Artists- Including New Lady Antebellum Track

Ultimate Love Songs: The Very Best of Jim Brickman- being released this week on Tuesday, Jan 27th- features 15 of the internationally popular contemporary instrumentalist's greatest vocal collaborations, such as "Simple Things" with Rebecca Lynn Howard, "Never Alone" with country-pop collective Lady Antebellum, "Valentine" with contemporary country superstar Martina McBride, and a couple tracks with his buddy Collin Raye. Brickman has worn many hats throughout his career (jingle writer, new age composer, contributor to both the Muppets and Sesame Street), and this fine collection represents just one facet of his musical output.

Listen to a short clip of the new collaboration with Lady Antebellum HERE.

Below is Jim talking about his music with Rebecca Lynn...

Country Stars Put Their Own Spin On Best 1970's Rock Tunes

If you’re like me and a product of the 70’s, you probably look back at the music of that decade fondly as do I. The music compilation experts over at Time Life have put together a collection of 15 classic 70’s rock tunes and had some of today’s country stars put their spin on it. Gone Country: 70s Rock features the songs you grew up with performed by some big Nashville names. The CD includes Aerosmith's Dream On performed by Deanna Carter, Neil Young's Heart of Gold performed by Vince Gill, Bad Company's Can't Get Enough performed by Lorrie Morgan, Fleetwood Mac's Say You Love Me by Pam Tillis, and many more. At $10, it seems like a pretty unique buy. Here’s the track list…

1 Rock and Roll- Marty Stuart 3:57
2 Takin' Care of Business- John Berry 4:47
3 Say You Love Me- Pam Tillis 4:27
4 Heart of Gold- Vince Gill 7:16
5 Jet Airliner- Joe Diffie 4:02
6 Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)- Raul Malo 3:53
7 Your Song- John Anderson 4:49
8 It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)- Rebecca Lynn Howard 4:00
9 Layla- Collin Raye 5:04
10 Dream On- Deana Carter 4:35
11 Don't Go Breaking My Heart- Tanya Tucker and Ty Herndon 5:18
12 Just Got Paid- Sammy Kershaw 5:40
13 Can't Get Enough- Lorrie Morgan 4:50
14 I Want You to Want Me- John Cowan 5:25
15 Closer to the Heart- Bo Bice 3:42