January Country Music Column 2014
Send me music stuff, I love to get it! / Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com TN/USA. Google “Preshias”
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.” - Unknown
ALBUM NEWS: Five-time Grammy nominee Rhonda Vincent, the New Queen of Bluegrass as deemed by the Wall Street Journal, is clearing the lane for her upcoming 2-Disc combination release that includes six-songs of Bluegrass and six Country. The project, appropriately titled ONLY ME, is set to release on January 28, 2014. Sticking with her musical roots, Rhonda is joined by (one of my favorites) Daryle Singletary on “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds,” while Willie Nelson adds vocals and a guitar solo to the title track.
ARTIST NEWS: Garth Brooks will return to Las Vegas in 2014 and this time he’s bringing his band. The Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas will host Garth Brooks: The Man, His Band And His Music for two days; Jan. 3-4. The shows will focus on Brooks’ own catalogue instead of featuring songs by artists that influenced him, as he did with his one-man show. Garth’s Six Disc Box Set CD exclusive to Walmart, sold 166,000 off the shelf during Thanksgiving weekend. Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Rod Stewart, Patsy Cline, Elton John, Stevie Wonder are just some of the 44 artists, Garth covers on this deluxe collection.
He was certified by the RIAA in 2000 as the number one selling solo artist in US history; Garth Brooks has sold in excess of 128 million albums and has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist. In January, 2012 he was named the best selling artist of the last two decades by Billboard, Nielson and Soundscan, with a whopping 68.5 million sales. Garth was recently inducted into the International Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In October, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Performing for his induction were his heroes George Strait, James Taylor and Bob Seger.
TRIVIA NOTE: Garth was turned down twice by the same major record label executive and he was told by another, “Go back to Oklahoma”.
BABY NEWS: Congrats to Lee Brice and his wife Sara who welcomed their second child a beautiful baby boy! Ryker Mobley Brice was better than a Grammy,” said Lee.
CD RELEASES: On January 14: Jennifer Nettles That Girl (Mercury); Jon Pardi Write You A Song (Capitol) and Roseanne Cash The River & The Thread (Capitol/Blue Note); Charlie Farley Hog Heaven (Average Joes/Backroad) and On January 21: Jenna Jentry Jenna Jentry (EP) (Circle 4/Sony Red) Singles hitting radio in January 2014 are: Blake Shelton /Doin’ What She Likes (Warner Bros./WAR)Brantley Gilbert /Bottoms Up (Valory)Kayla Calabrese /This Is How It Feels (GTR)
Keith Urban /Cop Car (Capitol) Lexi James /Stop (Spin Doctors) Rasal Flatts /Rewind (Big Machine)
CHARITY NEWS: The Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, which has provided a wide array of occupational, physical, and speech therapy to children since 1973, has recently undergone a 7,000 square foot expansion. This expansion has added a Motional Analysis Lab to the center, which is currently the only one in the state of Missouri. In addition, The Kenny Rogers Children’s Center has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. With the help of this grant and its current resources, the center is able to serve more than 350 children with special needs up to the age of 21 with no charge to the families. Kenny Rogers, the Gatlin Brothers, and other stars participated in benefit concerts throughout the ‘70s, which eventually generated enough funds to lay the foundation for the new Kenny Rogers United Cerebral Palsy Center of Southeast MO. The center officially changed its name to Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in 2000.
CRB NEWS: Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr, Cassadee Pope, Thomas Rhett and Charlie Worsham were named for the 2014 New Faces Show. The event is sold out.
DEEPEST SYMPATHY: To the family, friends and fans of Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Price.
Mr. Pricedied last month at his Mt. Pleasant, TX home (12/16) following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
GRAMMY NEWS: Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and Kris Kristofferson’s self-titled debut album are among the recordings to be inducted into the 2014 Grammy Hall Of Fame. They’ll join Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women,” U2’s “The Joshua Tree” and more from the 2014 class, which marks the GHoF’s 40th anniversary. A 150-plus-page collector’s edition book to commemorate the event is on sale now.
LABEL NEWS: (BIG MACHINE LABEL GRP) Marking their third career chart-topper, Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” catapulted to #1 on the Billboard Country Chart last month. The GOLD-certified lead single symbolizes a successful introduction to their forthcoming album on Republic Nashville with Taste of Country raving, “the chorus and production breathe new life into the band’s sound.”
(MCA Records) Kip Moore extinguished his BURN THE WHOLE WORLD DOWN tour wrapping up with a sold-out show at Cleveland’s House of Blues. His headlining run resulted in sold-out dates thrilling thousands of fans with a preview of new music and what is to come from “one of Nashville’s breakout stars…” (Washington Post) in 2014. Moore’s album UP ALL NIGHT was the best selling debut album from any solo male country artist released in 2012 and 2013, and produced three back-to-back No. one singles with “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck,” “Beer Money” and “Hey Pretty Girl.” As he heads into 2014, Moore is armed with the recently released lead single, “Young Love,” from his upcoming sophomore album. A constant road warrior, Moore will pick up with Lady Antebellum on their TAKE ME DOWNTOWN TOUR on Jan. 10 in Peoria, IL. For a full list of tour dates and information, visit www.kipmoore.net.
MUSIC NEWS: Superstar Tim McGraw charged into 2013 with his Big Machine Records debut TWO LANES OF FREEDOM, which spawned three consecutive No. One hits bringing his career tally to 35 number one songs. McGraw nabbed two CMA Awards, was deemed one of CMT’s “Artists of the Year” and McGraw picked up two GRAMMY nominations for “Best Country Album” and “Best Country Duo/Group Performance” for the PLATINUM selling all-star collaboration “Highway Don’t Care” with Taylor Swift, featuring Keith Urban on guitar. 2013 is proof that 20 years in, McGraw is just hitting his stride, and critics agree.
NEWS NOTE: Red Bow Label /Nashville has their first number one record with Joe Nichols. “Sunny and 75” had the new label celebrating just in time for Christmas….Check out the new single “Scarecrow” from one of Nashville best love award winning songwriters, Bernie Nelson. Go to iTunes or CD Baby to digitally download.
NUMBER ONE NEWS: Republic Nashville’s Florida Georgia Line and Valory’s Thomas Rhett gather with friends at a double No. 1 party for “Round Here” and “It Goes Like This. This is was a special day for Thomas Rhett. He celebrated number 1’s as a songwriter and as an artist. Knowing him since he was a teenager, it was so moving to see him where I knew one day he would be. With the love and support of his parents and Nashville family, it was truly a special day for Thomas and for the Nashville Music Community.
TOUR NEWS: The Cowboy Rides Away Tour kicks off January the 18th. Here are January dates for George’s last go around. January 18: Lubbock, Texas (United Spirit Arena) January 19: Oklahoma City, Okla. (Chesapeake Energy Arena) January 25: Salt Lake City, Utah (Energy Solutions Arena) January 26: Nampa, Idaho (Idaho Center) January 31: Sacramento, Calif. (Power Balance Pavilion)
WWWEBSITES TO CHECK OUT: bouldercreekguitars.com / savethemusivamerica.org / musiccityradio.com / www.borrowedbluemusic.com / globalsongwriters.com / bernienelsonmusic.com
WHO’S LOOKING * WHO’S CUTTING: Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Michael Ray, Lauren, Alaina, Rusty Williams