That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsybytes- Goodbye To The Gambler, New Albums & Videos

~ Country music lost and icon last night. Kenny Rogers, known around the world at The Gambler, passed away. “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81,” his rep said. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family. The family is planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency. They look forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date. Rogers achieved an amazing 30 Number One singles across the U.S. pop, country, and adult contemporary charts from 1977 to 1999.  He earned three Grammys, six CMA awards, and eight ACM awards, along with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Some of his biggest career hits included “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” "Coward of the County" and “Islands in the Stream."  He was a restauranteur, an actor, a philanthropist and a champion of women singers throughout his career.

~ Sara Evans announced that May 15, 2020 will be the release of her new covers album called Copy That. The 13-song collection, spanning six decades, finds Evans putting her distinctive creative stamp on some of the most iconic songs in country and pop music, songs that have inspired her life and career, as well as shining a spotlight on some little-known gems. Copy That is Sara’s first solo studio album since 2017’s critically-acclaimed Words and is released on her Born to Fly Records, distributed by ADA. The project features collaborations with Old Crow Medicine Show and Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet. 

~ New England songwriter Greg Klyma rewrote a Johnny Cash classic into a song about the COVID-19 pandemic with "I've Been Everywhere."

~ Beloved singer/songwriter Darrell Scott will release a new album called Darrell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams on April 24, 2020.  "I grew up on Hank Williams - it came from my dad who idolized him - as I heard the entire catalogue of Hank from my crib and beyond, I recognized what he loved about Hank: poetic, yet totally understandable, honest, heart broken, love sick lyrics and the possibility of forgiveness from a woman, or from one's self, or from one's Creator. I listened closely" recalls Scott. "I was always struck by the blues in Hank's songs in that beautiful blend of black blues tradition and poor white boy belting, having way more in common than what oughta separate them in lyrics, in voice and in chords. I heard Hank, I heard my dad, and I heard the blues that was only a guitar grab away for me," Scott says. "It did not occur to me to play or sing it like Hank; but, I strive to be true to the spirit and throw my version of blues towards Hank songs. This recording is that."

~ Former Trick Pony lead and singer/songwriter Heidi Newfield is releasing a new album called The Barfly Sessions on June 5. The collection was co-produced by Newfield with Jim “Moose” Brown (Bob Seger/Erin Enderlin). “It’s inspiring to see an artist who’s had the kind of success she’s had be so determined to push new musical boundaries and get outside of her comfort zone,” Brown says. “Heidi and I have been friends for many years and I’ve always been a fan of her music, but I really had no clue as to the depth of her musicianship, songwriting, and general bad-assery until now. She is a deep mix of old school country, Texas twang, blues and straight-up soul, and she absolutely delivers the goods on this record.”

~ Longtime songwriter Ramsey Kearney passed away at the age of 86.  He wrote dozens of cuts over the years including Brenda Lee’s 1961 international pop smash “Emotions.” Other notable cuts included “Nine Little Teardrops” for Sue Thompson (1961), “Lonely People” for Eddy Arnold (1964) and “Big Flicking Baby” for Moe Bandy. 

~ New music videos over the last couple of days:

      LANCO - "What I See"
      Mike and the Moonpies - "Miss Fortune"
      Sarah Siskind - "A Little Bit Troubled"
      Trace Adkins - "Better Off"
      The Wood Brothers - "Little Bit Sweet"

Southern Country Rockers Blackberry Smoke Unveil Upcoming Find A Light Project

Artist: Blackberry Smoke
Album: Find A Light
Label: Thirty Tigers
Release date: April 6, 2018

Blackberry Smoke’s anticipated new album, Find A Light, will be released April 6 on Thirty Tigers and is now available for pre-order. In advance of the release, the album’s lead track, “Flesh And Bone,” is premiering today.

Self-produced by the acclaimed 5-piece band, Find A Light is Blackberry Smoke’s sixth full-length studio album and features 13 new songs written/co-written by lead-singer and guitarist Charlie Starr. In addition to Starr and band-members Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals), and Brandon Still (keyboards), the album also features special guests Robert Randolph (“I’ll Keep Ramblin’”), Amanda Shires (“Let Me Down Easy”) and The Wood Brothers (“Mother Mountain”).

Of the album, Starr comments, “The new album is a melting pot of Blackberry Smoke music with a wide range of sound and emotion. I think it’s our most inspired work yet.”

The release of Find A Light culminates a series of breakthrough years for the Atlanta-based band following the release of 2016’s album, Like An Arrow, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Country and Americana charts.

In addition to their work as musicians, Blackberry Smoke remains committed to charitable work and has raised nearly $200,000 benefiting children’s cancer research.

Track listing:

1. Flesh And Bone (written by Charlie Starr)
2. Run Away From It All (written by Charlie Starr, Keith Nelson)
3. The Crooked Kind (written by Charlie Starr)
4. Medicate My Mind (written by Charlie Starr, Travis Meadows)
5. I’ve Got This Song (written by Charlie Starr)
6. Best Seat In The House (written by Charlie Starr, Keith Nelson)
7. I’ll Keep Ramblin’ feat. Robert Randolph (written by Charlie Starr, Robert Randolph)
8. Seems So Far (written by Charlie Starr, Travis Meadows)
9. Lord Strike Me Dead (written by Charlie Starr)
10. Let Me Down Easy feat. Amanda Shires (written by Charlie Starr, Keith Nelson)
11. Nobody Gives A Damn (written by Charlie Starr, Keith Nelson)
12. Till The Wheels Fall Off (written by Charlie Starr)
13. Mother Mountain feat. The Wood Bros (written by Charlie Starr)

New Music Video From The Wood Brothers- "Shoo Fly Pie"

Watch Southern Ground Artist's The Wood Brothers in their brand new video for "Shoo Fly Pie" featuring the Zac Brown Band's Clay Cook. I'm digging the groove on this one- it reminds a lot of some of the Kentucky Headhunter's best. What do you think?