That Nashville Sound

Jason Eady To Release AM Country Heaven On April 10

2012-02-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

Upcoming Release: AM Country Heaven
Landing Date: April 10, 2012
Previous Releases: When The Money’s All Gone (2009), Wild Eyed Serenade (2007), From Underneath the Old (2005)
Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi to Forth Worth, Texas
Website: jasoneady.com

Mississippi native Jason Eady has been a Texas resident for a decade now and it's clear that those old country blues have now seeped into his soul. His previously released- and critically acclaimed- albums have delivered southern gospel stomps, New Orleans soul, and the heartbreaking tide of sin and redemption through his rich baritone voice and a raucous band. Jason’s music has clearly been shaped and influenced by the environment of Southern culture so deeply engrained in him. Be on the lookout for Eady’s soon to be released studio album AM Country Heaven, a collection of 12 brand new country songs featuring some of the greatest Texas country players around today. Album number four has Eady turning back the radio dial and giving a modern twist on some classic country feeling songs. Think a more Texas flavored Jamey Johnson. You can listen to some sample tracks for yourself HERE.

TNS Video History- Minnie Pearl and Dolly Parton on the CMA Awards

2012-02-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

TNS Video History- Minnie Pearl On The Johnny Cash Show

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

New Johnny Cash Museum Set To Open In Nashville in 2012

2012-02-10T05:46:00.001-08:00

A new museum dedicated to the life of Johnny Cash is set to open in Nashville later this year. The new museum will be operated by Bill Miller, a collector of Johnny Cash memorabilia, and will contain items donated by Cash’s family as well as items from The House of Cash, the Johnny Cash museum in Henderson, Tennessee which closed in 1999 after a damaging flood; the former museum features prominently in the video for Cash’s single “Hurt.” The new museum will be located in the city's tourist-oriented Lower Broadway section.

When asked about Miller’s collection, Rosanne Cash (daughter of Johnny Cash) said, “If anybody has the whole structure to put up a museum, he does. So I have a lot of trust in him and I think it’s great at this point. I think he’ll do something with dignity and class that’s historically important, not some kitschy thing. I’m very interested in seeing what he does.”

A project to preserve Cash’s childhood home in Dyess, Arkansas is also currently underway. The house will be restored to what it looked like when Cash was a child in the 1930s and 1940s.

New Music Video From Sugarland & Matt Nathanson- "Run"

2012-02-09T21:20:00.001-08:00

Rebecca Lynn Howard Invites Fans To Catch Her In Her Pajamas

2012-02-09T05:43:00.000-08:00

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.

Johnny Cash Bootleg Album Number Four To Come Out April 3rd- New Unreleased Material Included

2012-02-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

On what would have been Johnny Cash's 80th birthday year, Columbia/Legacy Records will be releasing a new collection of Cash tunes with Johnny Cash - Bootleg Vol. IV : The Soul of the Truth. The album focuses on songs of faith recorded in the 1970's and 1980's. It's a 2-CD, 51 track collection that gathers released and previously unreleased studio material recorded in Nashville and The House of Cash in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The album included all twenty songs on A Believer Sings The Truth plus:

•5 Outtakes from A Believer Sings The Truth sessions
•Entire 12-song previously unreleased album recorded in 1975
•Entire 10-song, out-of-print album Johnny Cash-Gospel Singer, recorded 1982, plus 4 previously unreleased outtakes

It includes duets and collaborations with June Carter Cash, Rosanne Cash, Cindy Cash, Anita Carter, Helen Carter, Rodney Crowell, Jessi Colter, and others.

It is available everywhere starting April 3, 2012.

New Music Video From New Warner Music Nashville Band, The Farm- "Home Sweet Home"

2012-02-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

New Music Video From One Tree Hill's Jana Kramer- "Why You Wanna"

2012-02-07T05:43:00.001-08:00

Why Ya Wanna - Jana Kramer - Jana Kramer Videos

Jack Ingram and Kix Brooks Headline Sixteen-Act Children's Charity Fundraiser in May's Golf & Guitars

2012-02-06T04:59:00.000-08:00

Country superstars like Jack Ingram, Kix Brooks, David Nail, Bryan White, Jerrod Niemann and Jimmy Wayne may be busy with national tours and more, but they're never too busy to help those in need. These country stars can always be counted on to bend their schedule to lend a hand. As such, The 5th Annual Golf & Guitars Celebrity-Am Tournament and Children's Charity Concert- hosted by Jack Ingram- is set for Tuesday, May 22nd at the legendary Alister MacKenzie Golf Course at Haggin Oaks in Sacramento- held in conjunction with KNCI 105.1 FM Hot Country. This year's event includes a celebrity golf tournament, silent auction and concert. Jack Ingram will be this year's event host.

The event kicks off that morning as tournament participants enjoy a tournament round with a major label country music act. The evening will continue with the chance to bid on an astounding array of celebrity items and one-of-a-kind event packages. Topping the evening is a performance by all of our artists - nearly 4 hours of music. Tickets to the concert are only $30. Click HERE to buy tickets. VIP stageside tickets to the concert and the Monday night New Artist Showcase and Pairings Party are $150. This VIP ticket includes dinner both nights of the event.

What is Golf & Guitars?
Golf and Guitars is a celebrity pro-am golf tournament and concert featuring nationally recognized & major label country music artists that raises money for two key children's charities here in Sacramento. Each golfer in the tournament gets to play with one of the celebrities and then gets a seat next to the stage where these artists put on a tremendous concert underneath the beautiful golf course sky. Each artist will be play 18 holes with a foursome in this scramble event. It’s one of the rare opportunities to spend several great hours with a great musician in a relaxed atmosphere.

Who gets the money?
100% of the net funds are donated between two children's-oriented non-profit charities. The mission of the Morton Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, is to provide funding to 13 different local charities and programs that provide exercise in a healthy outdoor environment, to create a recreational environment that builds lasting personal development and that seamlessly introduces life’s core values of the great game of golf to the youth, disabled and underserved communities in the Sacramento region. Half of the funds will go to JDRF, the Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation, a group hoping to wipe out and create awareness for Type 1 Diabetes. JDRF is at the center of the global T1D community-leading the effort to coordinate and galvanize the many key constituents-families, businesses, government, researchers, and other organizations-in the quest to cure T1D. Over $150,000 has been raised in previous years events.

The Artists
Jack Ingram
Kix Brooks
Jerrod Niemann
Brett Eldredge
Steve Holy
James Wesley
Jana Kramer
David Nail
The Farm
The Dirt Drifters
Canaan Smith
Dustin Lynch
Jason Michael Carroll
Love & Theft
Jimmy Wayne
Bryan White

And we expect one more big name to be announced in early April. Stay tuned. For more information or tickets, go to http://www.golfandguitars.com/.

TNS Video History- Waylon Jennings- "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"

2012-02-05T05:33:00.000-08:00

TNS Video History- Waylon Jennings- "I'm a Ramblin' Man"

2012-02-04T07:33:00.001-08:00

Up & Coming New Nashville- Chris and Johnny

2012-02-03T06:11:00.000-08:00

Chris and Johnny might be a new name for most of our That Nashville Sound readers, but you're most certainly familiar with their work. Chris Roberts and Johnny Bulford both have extensive experience on Music Row as writers for Warner Chappel and individual performing careers and are now hoping for that next step to launch their career into the next stratosphere as a duo.

Chris Roberts, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, was immersed into music by way of New York's Broadway. He starred in a production of the Broadway musical The Civil War, alongside singer Larry Gatlin, in New York City. Gatlin, who had once fronted a trio which also included his two brothers (Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers), mentored fellow actor Royal Reed and Roberts, also suggesting that they should add a third member to complete their vocal-centric group. Initially, they could not find a suitable third member for the trio. Eventually, they befriended Marcus Hummon, with whom they began to write songs.

Chris Roberts

Through Hummon, the two discovered South Carolina native Eddie Bush, who was added to the group in 2005. The three members discovered that they worked well together as a vocal trio, and assumed the name One Flew South. The three all sing lead vocals on their songs. One Flew South's first recording was the song "Friends for Life", which Hummon co-wrote; the trio recorded the song on the soundtrack to the 2006 film The Fox and the Hound 2. After that song was released, the trio began recording demo tapes while seeking a record deal. With Hummon's help, they were signed to a recording contract with Decca Records in 2007, as well as a publishing contract with Sony/ATV Publishing. Their debut album, Last of the Good Guys, was released on May 27, 2008. Unfortunately, while critically lauded, Decca let go of the band from the label along with many other acts in a 2009 multi-act purge.

By the age of 19, Johnny's earnest and likable personality, natural talent, and passion for music enabled him to open for headliners such as Collin Raye, Josh Turner, Trick Pony, and Emerson Drive. It was during this time that he released his first indie album “Southern Thing”. The title track is a fun tune about spring break and the frivolity of youth.

In 2003 he was faced with a decision, college or music? The problem was that his passion for music could only be rivaled by his love of academics so he chose to do both. Meanwhile he was actively touring and promoting his second album “What Happens Here Stays Here”

Johnny Bulford

2004 had him competing in the prestigious Colgate Country Showdown. This competition starts at the local level, moves to the state level, then on to regional’s and finally, ends at the nationals . Johnny won the state level but didn’t take the regional’s. But that would all change in 2008.

During the next few years he made many trips to Nashville developing relationships with label executives and consistently left them wanting to hear more. He became actively involved in local charities such as the Russell Home for Atypical Children and he was commissioned by the veteran’s group ‘Remembering the Brave’ to write a song for fallen soldiers. That song has been played at numerous events for America’s Gold Star families.

The 2008 Colgate Country Showdown pitted Johnny against some of the toughest talent to date. In all, more than 50,000 artists competed in all states and regions to make it to the finals in Nashville. This was his chance to shine and shine he did. Only 5 artists were chosen for the final competition, and when the smoke cleared, Johnny was the winner of $100,000.

Winning that ‘Happy Gilmore check’ as he likes to all it, did more than just give him some extra spending cash. It kicked open doors to Nashville’s inner circle of writers. Recognizing pure talent when they see it, Warner Chappell Music signed Johnny as a staff writer and immediately put him to work writing and co-writing with some of Nashville’s hottest and most successful writers including Michael Dulaney and Lisa Carver.

2009 saw the release of “Livin It Up”, which features tracks written or co-written and produced by the singer and collaborations with renowned Nashville songwriting heavyweights, the Grammy nominated Charlie Craig (Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton) and Robert Arthur (Brad Paisley, Mark Chesnutt, Jeff Bates). The title track talks of high school and rivalries and just being a kid.

His latest venture has been writing with Grammy Nominated Chris Young. Chris’s next album will be released in the fall of 2011. "Flashlight", a song he wrote with Chris and Robert Arthur will not only be on that album but also Johnny's first cut.

Johnny resides in Nashville and can also be spotted performing at ‘writers rounds’ throughout the city. He also frequently travels with his five piece band across the southeast. His distinctive voice, passionate lyrics and haunting melodies are a shining testament to past country greats like Vince Gill, James Taylor and his childhood idol, Garth.

Hear It Here- New Single From Dean Brody- "Canadian Girls"

2012-02-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Three-time 2011 CCMA winner and JUNO nominee Dean Brody has dropped his new high anticipated single to radio. The song is called ‘Canadian Girls’ and is from his upcoming album Dirt set to be released in April of 2012. You’ll be able to purchase the single world-wide on iTunes starting February 7. You can get a sneak peak below:

New Live Music Video From Jason Eady & Jamie Wilson- "Go Down Moses/Whistling"

2012-02-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

Two of the brightest lights on the Texas Music scene - not to mention good friends that collaborate pretty often - were in the Gibson Austin Backroom last month. And they melded a couple of their songs together - Eady's "Go Down Moses" and Wilson's "Whistling" - into one song that's very cool.

New Music Video From Sarah Darling- Tom Petty's "Wildflower"

2012-02-02T05:45:00.001-08:00

New Theatrical Trailer For Chely Wright's Wish Me Away

2012-02-01T00:20:00.000-08:00

Wish Me Away is the story of Chely Wright, the first country music star to come out as gay. Over three years, the filmmakers were given extraordinary access to Chely's struggle and her unfolding plan to come out publicly. Using interviews with Chely, her family, her pastor, and key players in Nashville interwoven with Chely's intimate private video diaries, the film goes deep into her back story as an established country music star and then forward as she steps into the national spotlight to reveal her secret. Chronicling the aftermath in her hometown of Nashville and within the larger LGBT community, Wish Me Away reveals both the devastation of her own internalized homophobia and the transformational power of living an authentic life. The film came out in limited theatrical release and this is the trailer for an upcoming digital & DVD release

Hear It Here- Richard Marx Sings Keith Urban's "Long Hot Summer" At The Bluebird Cafe

2012-01-31T05:14:00.001-08:00

New Music Video From Elizabeth Cook- "Rock N Roll Man"

2012-01-30T01:04:00.000-08:00

New Music Video From Shooter Jennings- "The Deed and the Dollar"

2012-01-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

TNS Video History- Alabama- "When We Make Love"

2012-01-29T00:49:00.000-08:00

TNS Video History- Alabama- "Feels So Right"

2012-01-28T02:47:00.000-08:00

New Live Music Video From Emily West- "Boys In The Morning"

2012-01-27T17:49:00.001-08:00

Crystal Shawanda Covers The Late Etta James- "I'd Rather Go Blind"

2012-01-26T04:11:00.001-08:00

CD Album Review- Kellie Pickler- 100 Proof

2012-01-25T05:17:00.000-08:00

The review-
American Idol, with rare exception, has a habit of sending artists that can't find a place in other genres to country music. Phil Stacey, Danny Gokey, Ayla Brown and Michael Sarver all come to mind. Kellie Pickler has bled southern Dixie country through and through from the beginning, however. Unapologetically so. (I suspect this has been the cause for her to be more embraced by country radio than most of the artists mentioned previously.) And while her first works have veered more towards the pop-country side of things- and with good success with tracks like "Red High Heels" and "Best Days Of Your Life"- 100 Proof proves to be her coming home party. She delivers a genuine and believable throwback in style and theme that proves that she doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve. She keeps it rooted in classic country.

The album gets right to this point with the opener, "Where's Tammy Wynette?" Steel guitar serenades the love-lorn girl who longs to trade aprons and skillets for short skirts and heels. Pickler's big voice is complimented by her southern twang and sassy attitude. The namedrop of one of country's iconic classic country icons sets the stage for what's to come.

She shouts "don't tell me country's gone" on the fun and groovy "Unlock the Honkytonk." "Stop Cheatin' on Me" is classic steel-driven 70's country theme and instrumentation- albeit with a modern production. The track could easily be in Wynette's own song collection.

The girl has pipes and uses them well. On a soft ballad like "As Long As I Never See You Again," she can belt out a chorus as big and bold as a Carrie Underwood, but can dial back on verses to reveal a fragile tenderness in her vocals.

The steel guitar takes a prominence on the album and acts as the backbone. On the romantic and innocent little number, "Turn On The Radio," it does as much of the work on the chorus as do any Pickler vocals. Even when the drums and guitars come up on "Little House on the Highway," the steel guitar ties the track well to all of the others.

The album's standout tracks are the bittersweet dedication to both parents. The first is to mom's with "Mother's Day." Pickler's protagonist has lost her own mother and she explores the rewards of her blessings of time spent and the love/life experiences never known. It is emotionally fraught and Pickler delivers it appropriately in an almost whisper and restrained delivery. Early into 2012, it's one of the best tracks of the year. The last track is a short and sweet dedication to a father whose alcohol abuse kept him from truly connecting with a daughter. Now sober, the song is a promise to make up for lost time. Soft and tender, it is raw and as open-hearted as you can deliver a song.

Ironically, the song that doesn't necessarily fit with the others is the first radio single, "Tough." It does have the spitfire Pickler has on the other tracks, but the production is more rock-and-roll than the others. It leaves it out of place.

Since her last album, Pickler married fellow singer/songwriter Kyle Jacobs. Perhaps, now more content and secure in her own personal life, Pickler has found the strength to stick to her guns and choose tracks and production she felt more represented her as an artist. Settling down doesn't mean settling as an artist. By staying true to her country roots, she's delivered a personal and authentic album that will hopefully be a career-cementer for Pickler. The genre needs more mainstream artists like LeeAnn Womack preaching the classic country gospel. In 100 Proof, Kellie Pickler delivers one hell of a sermon.

The verdict-
Four stars out of five