Country Music News International

Country Music News International May 23. 2013

2013-05-23T06:45:00.001+02:00

Here is your Country Music News of the day from Country Music News International http://www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.com . Your Country Music News is supported by, Courtyard Nashville Downtown http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnadt-courtyard-nashville-downtown , Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitmusiccity.com , Dellenbügler, http://dellenbuegler.de , Tennessee Tourism, http://www.Tennessee.de , Steel Guitar Nashville, http://www.SteelGuitar.net , HelpCharity, http://www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity

You can publish the Newsletter to your websites or forward to your friends. If you want to publish some of the interviews, please contact me.

Hier sind jetzt Eure Country Music News des Tages von Country Music News International http://www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.de . Eure Country Music News werden unterstützt von Courtyard Nashville Downtown http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnadt-courtyard-nashville-downtown , Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitmusiccity.com , Dellenbügler, http://dellenbuegler.de , Tennessee Tourism, http://www.Tennessee.de , Steel Guitar Nashville, http://www.SteelGuitar.net , HelpCharity, http://www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity

Der Newsletter darf auf Euren Internetseiten veröffentlicht und an Eure Freunde weiter geleitet werden. Solltet Ihr gerne einige der Interviews veröffentlichen wollen, kurze Rückmeldung an mich.

Country Muisc News:

Interview with Joe Pickering, Jr. http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/interview-with-joe-pickering-jr.html

2013 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL FILLED WITH FREE LIVE MUSIC http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/2013-cma-music-festival-filled-with.html

THE BAND PERRY TELEVISION APPEARANCES http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/the-band-perry-television-appearances.html

TRACE ADKINS KISS YOU ALL OVER http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/trace-adkins-kiss-you-all-over.html

George Strait with next Number 1 http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/george-strait-with-next-number-1.html

Darling Parade Artist of the Year http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/darling-parade-artist-of-year.html

TIM McGRAW OFFERS LIVE TRACKS TO FANS http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/tim-mcgraw-offers-live-tracks-to-fans.html

New Album by Mike Scott & Friends http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/new-album-by-mike-scott-friends.html

Musik News Allgemein:

Information for all new Newsletter readers:

Advertise at Country Music News International http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/03/advertise-at-country-music-news.html

Country Music News International has a high ranking at Google.de http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/country-music-news-international-has.html

Autographed Photos by your favorite Country Star for sale to support HelpCharity http://www.countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2012/10/autographed-photos-by-your-favorite.html

We need You! Wir brauchen Euch! http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2012/12/we-need-you-wir-brauchen-euch.html

Looking for Writers http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2011/08/were-looking-for-writers.html

Nashville Music Guide honors Christian Lamitschka http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2012/02/nashville-music-guide-honors-christian.html

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Warm regards

Viele Grüße

Christian

Country Music News International

Editor / Publisher

Christian Lamitschka

An der Pfingstweide 28

61118 Bad Vilbel

Germany

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Interview with Joe Pickering, Jr.

2013-05-23T06:28:00.003+02:00

An interview with Joe Pickering, Jr., Songwriter and Music Publisher, by Christian Lamitschka, Country Music News International.

Lamitschka:

There's a classic country song by Roger Miller called: "King of the Road". His destination was Bangor, Maine. Tell us about Bangor, Maine. Isn't it far from Nashville and the music scene?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

Bangor is over 1,300 hundred miles from Nashville. Not as far as Europe, but a big distance. Still Bangor and Maine is a hot bed of Country and all kinds of music. Bangor and the State of Maine attract many people as it is a beautiful recreation area. As you point out, the King of the Road depicted in Roger Miller's wonderful song made its destination in Bangor, Maine! A couple of years ago a German tourist thinking he was going to Las Vegas ended up in Bangor, loved it, and stayed two weeks! He may like it more because now there is a casino! Although Bangor is a small city it has an international airport with the longest airport runway on the East Coast. Many Country, Pop, Folk and major Rock stars play in Bangor. At the Bangor Auditorium I've seen Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Rebe MacEntre, the Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers, and so many more. Kenny Rogers once played on a round revolving stage in the old Bangor Auditorium. It was raining hard and the roof leaked and Kenny danced and sang with an umbrella! What a trooper! Note: Bangor in October will open a brand new larger Auditorium which should attract more major Country and other music stars. There is also a famous water front music series which attracts major acts like Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Charie Daniels, Jason Aldean Sting, Phish and an equally famous international Folk Festival. Both draw tens of thousands of fans. The Country stars can be accessible in Bangor. I pitched one of my songs to the Oak Ridge Boys and personally met Ricky Skaggs just a few days after he won Country Singer of the Year. So the big stars do come, but is it easy being in Bangor or in Germany or other places far from Nashville? Of course not but, it isn't easy in Nashville either! Just before Ricky Skaggs shook my hand and spoke a few words someone approached him to give him some songs. Ricky politely declined by raising his hands up saying, ”I've got 5,000 of those in Nashville". If you're not a singer but do write songs the odds are difficult. They are even more so when you are primarily a lyric writer and you need to practice what I call the UP principle which is U..nrelenting P..ersistence. Passion and persistence is not enough, you have got to have a plan which starts with the song! Some thoughts below.

First, you need to learn how to write about the various structures of songs such as verse/chorus which is the most common song form.

Second, if you are a lyric writer pair up with someone skilled who writes melodies for your lyrics. Make sure that the song penetrates the heart of people. I have had more than 8 singers doing creative work on what is called a Work for Hire Basis. Simply put I pay them for their creative work and then I own the total rights to the song. Some of the singers have been on TV shows such as Laugh in, Movies, have 3 platinum records and two gold singles have been and members of the Grand Old Opry. I have two music publishing companies King of the Road Music which is affiliated with BMI (Broadcast Music Institute) and Paul Bunyan Music affiliated with ASCAP. I own the music publishing on nearly all of the songs I have written. I then put them out on single CD's through CD Baby which has affiliations with most of the major digital download companies such as Apple I Tunes, Amazon, Napster, Spotify and also physical CD's which I sell through CD Baby and Amazon.

Lamitschka:

Why did you make your destination Bangor, Maine? Why are you there?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

My family and I moved to Bangor from Bellevue, Washington, some 3,000 miles away back in 1978. I become the Executive Director of Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS), a large home health and mental health organization serving over 8,000 children and adults yearly through much of Maine. I did it for more than thirty years but still managed to write songs and develop my music career.

Lamitschka:

It's tough enough being a singer/songwriter, you are a lyric writer only and living in Bangor . How difficult is that and why do you write?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

Like so many others who write, the impulse to create is within all of us and it comes out differently with each one of us. Anyone who has a deep desire to write will do it regardless of whether fame knocks on their door or not. Anything worthwhile takes time and effort. You probably just described tens of thousands of your magazine readers who do not sing or are lyric writers only, but have deep within them a urge to create in words a story or a moment in time that brings us all together. I have been writing song lyrics for decades. All of us store up memories that sustain us in life. So I try to write song lyrics that penetrate the heart. Meaningful songs make us think. They make us feel. They make us be. By capturing these memories in song we are all brought together. I have written on many topics about Sports Heroes: baseball, football, and rodeo. Heroes too who have fought in wars or faced discrimination, war and peace, patriotism, personal tragedy, gospel, love, romance, loneliness and redemption, comedy fantasy and so many other subjects.

Finally, we all can't live in Nashville, but that should not stop any of us. It certainly hasn't stopped you from all your successful efforts in the music business nor should it stop anyone.

Lamitschka:

Tell me about some of your success in the music business.

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

Songs of mine have been in an Emmy award winning HBO film narrated by Ben Affleck, played on national and international networks both radio and television. Four of the CD's are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Sound Library.

”The Ballad of Paul Bunyan" was named the Comedy Song of the Year by the Country Music Association of America in Las Vegas. This song is also the official song of the Bangor Chamber Region of Commerce. (Paul Bunyan, the mystical American folk hero, was born in Bangor). Bangor has a giant statue of him in which Paul stands 37 feet high including the pedestal.

The “bible” of the Music Industry, The Green Book of Songs by Subject (www.greenbookofsongs.com), is a resource book which has more than 116,000 songs and album track listings recorded during the past 100 years. Only a small percentage of the songs in their database are ever featured in their Lists of the Week . I am honored by their featuring six of my songs.

This is very rare but I have had one song lyric reprinted in the U.S. Congressional Record about the life of Harry Agganis, “the Golden Greek”, one of America's greatest all around athletes.

Two of my funny songs have played on the Doctor Demento show when at the height of its nationwide popularity. One of them was co-written with the late great songwriter Paul Hotchkiss who wrote a number of songs for Mickey Gilley. The song was a response Christmas song called "Reindeer Don't Run Over Grandmas!" I hope someone out there will cover this song! I bet there has to be a singer from Texas with a funny bone who will cover my co-written song with Joe Terry called "Santa, You're Just An Old Texas Cowboy!"

All of my single song albums and major albums are on major digital download companies such as Apple I Tunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Napster. CD Baby and Amazon sell my physical CD songs. My songs are available world-wide through these companies. Today more sales come from digital downloads then CD sales, so it is important for those in the music industry to adjust to that growing reality and take advantage of it!

I do have my own website www.kingoftheroadmusic.com and have gotten as many as 363,000 hits a year. Many come from Europe ,with Germany, France, and the Netherlands having the largest number of visitors. As I mentioned, I have two music publishing companies, King of the Road Music affiliated with BMI, and Paul Bunyan Music affiliated with ASCAP. Whenever possible if you can own your own publishing it can be helpful in negotiating for opportunities.

I am also affiliated with Music Supervisor located in Los Angeles which works to get songs into films. Through CD Baby I am affiliated with Rumblefish, the world's largest synchronization license company in film, TV and in other venues.

In addition, TouchTunes, the world's largest downloading pay-per-play jukebox network, also has my songs in their catalog. I appreciate all these business relationships. Reaching out to make people/music connections is vital.

Many other websites carry stories about my songs or interview me. This is an excellent way to help promote one's songs. I've also been interviewed on many TV/radio stations from many states. I really appreciate the opportunity to interview at Country Music International News.

Regarding your readers who are songwriters, I hope they try to be as creative as possible in giving exposure to their various songs. The internet is a vital present and future resource to showcase your songs. Your songs are your “creative imaginary children”, so give them the best chance that you can for them to succeed in the music world. If they do, you will too.

Lamitschka:

You have titled your main CD's after sports and baseball. Why? Many of your songs aren't about sports.

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

Christian, there are multiple millions of songwriters out there writing a billion love songs. That's like a competition between one drop in the ocean and the rest! I try to separate myself by creating a relatively unique niche. There are many sports fans out there, so I put one focus on sports. Also, many people are interested in hearing stories about life, so I often use a sports background to tell a story about life. Furthermore when I put out a main CD I add many “bonus songs” with the hope that the listeners will come to love these songs that aren't about sports.

Lamitschka:

What's your latest CD?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

My latest CD is "Baseball Songs Sports Heroes 4" which is out right now! I've used Disc Makers to manufacture the physical CD, and the digital downloads are through CD Baby and their affiliates like Apple I Tunes, Napster, Amazon, etc. There are 20 songs in all. Many are written within the background of the beautiful game of baseball, but go well beyond any sport. Some songs on this newest CD I hope will more than touch hearts. Some I hope will bring smiles, laughter, or tears. All of them are about life.

One song asks Willie Mays, the Hall of Fame baseball player, to come back and play and catch and return to yesterday (when we were young). Another song refers to Hall of Fame Pitcher, Bob Feller, who says of those who have died in war, "Heroes Don't Come Back!". Then there is romance in "That Seventh Inning Stretch" at Fenway Park, to the sadness of suicide and the war machine. There are more tales of love of life songs and funny tales of Santa Claus. Many of these songs will make you feel, think, and pause. I love writing songs that inspire or contribute to life.

Lamitschka:

What impact do you think your songs have had Joe?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

Lots of people have written, phoned, or emailed me about my songs. Over the decades I've received many letters and quotes on my songs.

Former President George H.W. Bush wrote saying the Bushes thoroughly enjoyed my Cowboy Santa songs, apparently, referring to my co-written song with Joe Terry, "Santa, You're Just An Old Texas Cowboy".

Mr. Marty Markowitz, President of the Brooklyn City Council, loved my songs about Ebbets Field, Gil Hodges, and Howlin Hilda. Mrs. Joan Hodges called to express her deep appreciation about my song about her husband.

Mr. Eddie and Ann Marie Feigner, of the world famous King of his Court, a four man softball team seen by millions all over the world, wrote and spoke several times to say they loved my songs about them.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins humorously wrote on a photo, “I'm humming your songs in the Halls of Congress.” I haven't seen or heard her “humming” yet but I hope she will one day!

Many members of the Agganis family have spoken and written about my song and how it touched them. The late great John Buck O'Neil praised my songs about the early black baseball players and the discrimination they fought against. Ed Rice, the author of the book about the great Louis Sockalexis, admired my song about him.

Major and award winning sports writers, such as the late great Maury Allan, gave great quotes on my songs about Ebbets Field and Gil Hodges. Nick Tsiotis, author of his great heart-felt book about The Golden Greek, and Jerrold Casway, author of his excellent book "Ed Delahanty in the Emerald Age of Baseball" admired my songs about each of those two great Athletes.

My song lyrics have been reprinted in several of Harvey Frommer's Sports Book, and the Toronto Star and other publications, including several articles by Juliana L'Heureux in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Even Mr. Francois Gauthier, the former Consul General of France in Boston, wrote in a letter to me, “Listening to "If This Rifle Could Talk" song is a moving experience and your song a beautiful tribute to those who liberated my country from tyranny. France will never forget the sacrifices of those American heroes.” I was deeply touched by Mr. Gauthier’s remarks.

The quotes are too many to mention here, but one will suffice.

Sean Holtz of Baseball Almanac (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/), whose comprehensive baseball history site receives more than 40 million hits per month said:

“Honestly Joe, you are to baseball music, what Elvis Presley was to rock and roll. A true pioneer in a field full of controversy staying miles above the rest and creating a path all your own – a path many will try to follow and few will even come close.”

Lamitschka:

What has been your biggest failure in the music business?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

The one that got away!! Andy Wilson and I, a friend and co-writer and publisher of Nashville Sound Publishing, had a song called "Fallin' Out of Love (Can break your heart.)" It was a beautiful song and we had a song hold on it by the Garth Brooks office, but, alas Garth didn't select it!

Lamitschka:

What is your biggest music success?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

By far my biggest music success is the music my wife has made in my life since 1965. I wrote a romantic song about her called "That Seventh Inning Stretch" which is on my newest album.

Lamitschka:

What is your most imaginative and whimsical song?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

It's a tie! One is the song "Ben the Bull" a whimsical piece about rodeo bulls standing up (or rather, sitting down) for their rights. It strikes my funny bone! The other is "The Cowboy With A Hundred Gallon Hat". There is a mystique about the cowboy. I remember when I was in France visiting John and Denise Simonot and their children Annick and Genevive. They asked me to make a lasso for them. After all I was an American and didn't every American know how to do a lasso? When I told them I couldn't make a lasso, disappointment spread rapidly over their their little faces. That image of two disappointed little girls has stuck in my memory. Many years later I did write this wonderful zany tale about a Cowboy with a Hundred Gallon Hat who does far more than tie a lasso. This Cowboy does the impossible!!! Both Annick and Genevive are grown up now, but wherever you are in Europe this song is for you! May the song "The Cowboy With A Hundred Gallon Hat" make you smile like the two pretty little girls you were!!

Lamitschka:

Since you write many songs on many topics, are you open to co-writing with others?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

I am always open to new opportunities.

Lamitschka:

What would you like to say to all those country singers in Nashville, Texas and beyond?

Joe Pickering, Jr.:

Be open to all those songwriters out there. Don't be quick to close the door. That songwriter could walk in or send you an email and open a world of opportunity for you. Country music and all music is changing rapidly. The world is opening up to all kinds of music created by many people. Doing the same old, same old ...will take a toll! (of your career!)

Second, hope you all will consider singing/covering some of my great songs. I have many rodeo, love, country story songs, comedy, Christmas, sports songs etc. A couple of examples are: "A Home Full of Memories", a song about breakup, gathering strength from what was, and redemption. All the songs are on the CD "Sports Songs and Beyond" as bonus songs (partial song lyric below).

"A HOME FULL OF MEMORIES"

THE MOVERS ARE COMING THIS SATURDAY

TO TAKE ALL OUR FURNITURE AWAY

BUT THEY CAN’T MOVE WHAT THEY CAN’T SEE

NO MOVER CAN MOVE MY MEMORIES

HERE’S OLD LETTERS THAT PLEDGE LOVE ETERNALLY

HOW SHORT THE TIME ETERNITY CAN BE

WAS IT ALL THOSE ROSES I NEVER SENT

OR LATER ALL THOSE KISSES WE ONLY HALF MEANT?

CHORUS

I’M SITTING HERE ALONE IN THE FIRELIGHT

RELIVING MY MEMORIES TONIGHT

SOME HEAVY AS HEARTACHE, SOME LAUGHTER LIGHT

SOME WARM AS FIRE’S GLOW, SOME LIKE WINTERS’ NIGHT

BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE AWAY FROM ME A HOME FULL OF MEMORIES

Then there is the heart-warming Rodeo story. (Partial song lyric below.)

"RODEO CLOWN"

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY MY DAD TOOK ME TO SEE

MY VERY FIRST RODEO IN ALL ITS PAGEANTRY

THERE WERE COWBOYS AND INDIANS, AND COWGIRLS TOO

WAVING FLAGS AND BANNERS ALL RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

CHORUS

HE’S A RODEO HERO THE RODEO CLOWN

HIS LIFE’S ON THE LINE WHEN THE COWBOY IS DOWN

THE RODEO CLOWN

THAT COWBOY’S IN TROUBLE BUT THE BULLS' CHARGE WILL FAIL

‘CAUSE THE RODEO CLOWN’S GRABBING ONTO HIS TAIL.

ARMED WITH BARRELS AND PLENTY OF GREASE PAINT

THE CHANCES HE TAKES MAKES A BRAVE MAN FAINT

I thought your readers might enjoy a few of the lines of "Santa's Red Long Johns" sung by the late Bob Stamper, a wonderful singer and friend. It is on my latest CD "Baseball Songs Sports Heroes 4" as a bonus song. Maybe a singer out there who has a sense of humor might want to cover it and defend and hail the value to Santa of his Red Long Johns!

It was first released by on King Records on Texas Greetings No 8. Compilation CD. Joe Pickering, Jr. is the song writer and he owns King of the Road Music, which has the music publishing and all other rights to this song. The song also played on the Doctor Demento show worldwide. The chorus and first verse will hopefully entice you to listen to this funny Christmas song. Just remember get BEHIND Santa's Red Long Johns he needs all the support we can all give him! (Partial song lyric below.)

"SANTA'S RED LONG JOHNS"

Chorus:
THERE ARE CHRISTMAS SONGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS SNOW
REINDEER, ELVES, AND EVEN MISTLETOE
WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE WRITE A SONG ABOUT ME?
I'M SANTA'S RED LONG JOHNS, I SERVE FAITHFULLY

WHO'S THE CLOSEST TO SANTA'S BIG HEART
WHEN DOWN THE CHIMNEY HE GOES WITH A START?
IT AIN'T THOSE REINDEER HIGH ON THE ROOF
ASK MRS. SANTA CLAUS, SHE'LL SHOW YOU PROOF

A Special Note about the late Bob Stamper. Bob was a dear friend to me and all who met him. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry widely respected for his voice and the quality he gave to his thousands of recordings for thousands of songwriters.

A great songwriter and friend, George LaFlame, and I wrote "Johnny Silver". (Partial song lyric below.)

"JOHNNY SILVER"

WRITTEN FROM SOMEWHERE HE DROPPED HER A LINE

JUST WHERE DOESN’T MATTER HE HAD SOMETHING ON HIS MIND

ANOTHER WOMAN’S IN HIS LIFE, THE ONE HE NEEDS SO MUCH

HE THOUGHT SHE SHOULD KNOW HE’S BEEN LOVIN’ LADY LUCK

HE SAID, DARLIN’ DON’T CRY JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND

THERE’S NO WAY ON EARTH TO CHANGE A GAMBLIN’ MAN

GOD KNOWS SHE TRIED BUT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH

BECAUSE HE LET HER DOWN AND TURNED TO LADY LUCK

CHORUS

JOHNNY SILVER IS HIS NAME KING OF THE GAMBLIN’ SCENE

HE NEVER CHASES WOMEN HE ONLY CHASES GREEN

A DECK OF CARDS, A ROLL OF DICE, HE’S GOOD AT ANY GAME

HE LOVES LADY LUCK JOHNNY SILVER IS HIS NAME

One final note: King of the Road Music is the music publisher on Those Old Forty Fives. Just wanted to introduce this song to the world via Country Music News International 1.

The song "Those Old 45's" is wonderfully sung by Jim Davis. He and George La Flamme are the co-songwriters of this Traditional Country tune which has echoes of Crossover Country and Country Pop. The instruments are varied and include Piano (Upright), Keyboard/Synthesizer, Drums, Saxophone, and Guitar (Electric). King of the Road Music is the music publisher of this song.
"Those Old 45's" song vibes are Heartfelt, Nostalgic, Heartwarming, Reminiscent, and Romantic. The main band track recorded & mixed at Dixiana Studio Nashville, Tenn. Vocals and some instrumentation and engineering and further mixing at Smoke House Studios Nashville, Tenn. Produced by Lonnie Ratliff Steel Guitar player Perley Curtis played and was in Loretta Lynn's Band. Jim Davis was once a backup singer for Country Music Star Connie Smith. Jim Davis and his wife Linda Davis also make up a duo called Hearts in Harmony.
Song lyric below:
"THOSE OLD 45's"

I WAS SURE FEELING LONELY ON ONE SATURDAY NIGHT;
SOFT RAIN WAS FALLING, AND THE SETTING WAS JUST RIGHT.
THOSE OLD SONGS WERE PLAYING FROM OUR RECORD ARCHIVES.
THEY BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF YOU DEAR
WHILE PLAYING THOSE OLD 45'S.
JUST LISTENING TO ELVIS AND THE KINGSTON TRIO
MADE ME THINK OF ALL THE GOOD TIMES DARLIN
WHEN OUR LOVE WAS REAL.
THOSE WORN OUT SCRATCHY RECORDS KEEP THESE MEMORIES ALIVE.
HOW WE LOVED DANCING AND ROMANCING TO THOSE OLD 45'S.
YOU LOVED MOST OF THE POP SONGS WHILE PURE COUNTRY WAS MINE.
WE BOTH HAD OUR FAVORITES WHEN YOU WERE MY VALENTINE.
YES, I WILL ALWAYS THINK OF YOU DEAR SEARCHING THROUGH OUR RECORD ARCHIVES.
WHAT A WONDERFUL PASTIME WE HAD DEAR, SPINNING THOSE OLD 45'S.

JUST LISTENING TO ELVIS AND THE KINGSTON TRIO
MADE ME THINK OF ALL THE GOOD TIMES DARLING WHEN OUR LOVE WAS REAL.
THOSE WORN-OUT SCRATCHY RECORDS KEEP THESE MEMORIES ALIVE.
HOW WE LOVED DANCING AND ROMANCING TO THOSE OLD 45'S.

Jim Davis Artist. Jim Davis and George La Flame co-writers and owners of the song. King of the Road Music, music publisher C 2007.

Thank you, Christian, for the opportunity to interview with your great Magazine!

Christian Lamitschka ( CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com )

www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.com

2013 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL FILLED WITH FREE LIVE MUSIC

2013-05-23T06:16:00.002+02:00

2013 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL FILLED WITH FREE LIVE MUSIC
Weeklong CMA Social Network Giveaways Provide Fans Chance to Win Tickets in Rows 1-5 to Sold-Out LP Field Nightly Concerts

NASHVILLE - The 2013 CMA Music Festival will take over downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9, with six free stages in the outdoor footprint and countless activities.

Tickets for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field sold out a record-setting six weeks in advance of the 2013 Festival, but fans will still have innumerable opportunities to watch Country Music’s best and brightest perform at CMA Music Festival. Performance lineups for the previously announced Chevrolet Riverfront Stage and Bud Light Stage at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza are available for fans to view at CMAfest.com, but those schedules merely scratch the surface of what fans can experience throughout the four-day Festival.

Downtown Nashville will be full of unique fan experiences, including free outdoor areas offering everything from autograph signings, meet-and-greets, cell phone charging stations, product demonstrations, auctions, giveaways, and more. All outdoor spaces are free and open to the public. These areas include:

Transitions Performance Park

New in 2013, Transitions® adaptive lenses – the Official Sponsor of Sightseeing™ – will host Transitions Performance Park where fans can get an enhanced view of the CMA Music Festival by checking out the sights atop Transitions' two-story viewing platform. Fans will be able to test the Transitions family of products, look through customized viewfinders, and star in their own professional photo shoot – complete with a set, crew, props, and a photographer.

In addition, Transitions Performance Park will be filled with other fun activities. Come relax in oversized eyewear cabanas providing protection from the sun and grab a variety of eye-healthy snacks, all while enjoying free concerts on the Transitions Performance Park Stage. The legendary Marshall Tucker Band will make their first-ever CMA Music Festival appearance and kick things off on Thursday, June 6 at 11:00 AM. Other artists participating in the daily concerts include (alphabetical order; artists and schedule subject to change):

Thursday, June 6: Ash Bowers, Tim Dugger, Flynnville Train, Marshall Tucker Band, Old Dominion, Chad Warrix, Holly Williams, and Jon Wolfe

Friday, June 7: The Cleverlys, Due West, Clare Dunn, Hudson Moore, Danielle Peck, Julie Roberts, Gwen Sebastian, and Phoenix Stone

Saturday, June 8: Jeff Bates, The Cadillac Three, Cowboy Troy, Jaida Dreyer, Morgan Frazier, Old Southern Moonshine Revival, Frank Ortega, and The Stickers

Sunday, June 9: Blackjack Billy, The Brothers Road, Kristy Lee Cook, High Valley, Carly Pearce, Stephanie Quayle, Sweetwater Rain, and A Thousand Horses

Transitions Performance Park is located in the Walk of Fame Park on Demonbreun between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. The park is free and open to the public from 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 7 and from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on Sunday, June 9.

The Buckle

Covering three bustling blocks of Broadway, legions of ultimate fans know that The Buckle is where the excitement and thrills of CMA Music Festival come together.

The Buckle Stage will host a variety of free performances and activities beginning with concerts presented by ASCAP on Thursday, June 6 and Sunday, June 9 from 11:00 AM–4:30 PM. Performers include (alphabetical order; artists and schedule subject to change):

Thursday, June 6: Brent Anderson, Brian Burke, Karli Chayne, Steven Clawson, Clare Dunn, Josh Grider, Curtis Grimes, Austin Jenckes, Cody Johnson, Michaelis, Dylan Scott, Madeleine Slate, Two Story Road, Allison Veltz, Zane Williams, and Trent Willmon

Sunday, June 9: Chris Cavanaugh, Corey Crowder, Kalisa Ewing, Victoria Ghost, Adam Hambrick, JT Harding, Kris Hitchcock, Camaron Ochs, Brent Rupard, SaraBeth Taite, and Hailey Whitters

On Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, the ABC Television Network returns to the CMA Music Festival with the ABC Summer Block Party. There will be special appearances by ABC fan favorites including Jason Thompson and Nancy Lee Grahn (“General Hospital”) and Chef Carla Hall (“The Chew”), musical performances, autograph signings, games, photos, free giveaways and much more! On Saturday, Nashville’s own Grilled Cheeserie Truck will be serving up free grilled cheese sandwiches inspired by ABC’s "The Chew.”

In addition to these special events, The Buckle will play host to wall-to-wall activities including The History Channel’s “Cross-Country Cookout” and appearances by the stars of the network's hit TV series "Swamp People" in both The History Channel and Gander Mountain booths. Fans can pinball between scrumptious free food samples, one-of-a-kind trip giveaways, killer karaoke, competitive games, and more from other exhibitors including AT&T U-verse, Bad Boy Buggies, BIC FlameDisc, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Carl Black Chevrolet, Cracker Barrel, Diet Mountain Dew, GAC, Jelly Belly, U.S. Marines, Martin Guitars, Transitions, and Wrangler.

The Buckle is located on Broadway from First to Fourth Avenues. The area is open to the public from 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 7 and from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on Sunday, June 9.

Fan Alley

If CMA Music Festival is the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience, then Fan Alley is where that experience gets cranked up to the maximum level!

Tucked into the area in front of the magical Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Fan Alley welcomes its namesake (the fans!) into a warm community where memories will be shared and friendships made.

The Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage in Fan Alley will feature daily concerts with two dozen of Country’s best rising talent from Noon–3:00 PM each day. Hit-maker Carolyn Dawn Johnson will kick off the performances with other additional performances from (alphabetical order; artists and schedule subject to change):

Thursday, June 6: Kenny Foster, Friends of Lola, Johnson,Pete Kennedy, Lisa Matassa, and Sundy Best

Friday, June 7: Tyler Barham, Eric Lee Beddingfield, Weston Burt, Courtney Cole, Striking Matches, and Carrie Zaruba

Saturday, June 8: Dakota Bradley, Brianna De Alba, Lyndsey Highlander, Rachel Holder, Kingston, and Austin Webb

Sunday, June 9: Cerrito, Zach Lockwood, Joanna Mosca, Josh Mullins, and Pierce Avenue

Lipton Iced Tea will host a “tea” ball competition for prizes while offering up samples of the brand’s refreshing iced tea flavors. Fan Alley will also offer exciting experiences for fans over 21. Jack Daniel’s will offer free mobile distillery tours, trivia games, and opportunities to purchase merchandise. Team Cocktail will be serving up tasty cocktails, awesome apparel, artist autograph signings, and the opportunity to win a Caribbean cruise for two.

Fan Alley is located in front of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Fourth Avenue South. The area is open from 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 7 and from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on Sunday, June 9.

BMI Tailgate Party

Returning to the CMA Music Festival for a second year is the BMI Tailgate Party. Located right off the Cumberland River outside LP Field, the stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters, artists, and DJ Du warming up the audience before they enter LP Field for the Nightly Concerts beginning at 4:30 PM.

Performers at the BMI Tailgate Party include (alphabetical order; artists and schedule subject to change):

Thursday, June 6: Joel Crouse, Joey Hyde, and Thomas Rhett

Friday, June 7: Lindsay Ell, David Fanning, and Josh Thompson

Saturday, June 8: Native Run, Jon Pardi, and Westbound Rangers

Sunday, June 9: Brazilbilly, Curious Band, and The Railers

Ninth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade and Eighth Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party

Everything gets started with the Ninth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:00 AM. The parade will make its way down Broadway from Tenth to First Avenue with Country Music superstar Kix Brooks serving as Grand Marshal. In addition to numerous Country Music artists and other celebrities riding in a wide variety of Chevrolet vehicles, the parade will feature the Keep the Music Playing All Stars Marching Band, which is made up of high school musicians representing several Metro Nashville Public Schools, the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, balloons, and more.

Following the procession, the fun will kick into high gear with The Eighth Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party. Fans can gather at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage for the kick off with The Henningsens followed by Brazilbilly, The Lacs, The Cadillac Three, and headliner Joe Diffie. Lyndsey Highlander will perform the national anthem.

CMA Social Media Ticket Giveaways

Despite tickets to the LP Field Nightly Concert series being sold out, fans can win their way into the best seats in the house for CMA Music Festival's star-studded showcases. Between Monday, May 27 and Friday, May 31, CMA will give away a pair of tickets each day across the organization’s social media channels starting with fifth row seats through Google+ on Monday; followed by fourth row tickets via Instagram Tuesday; third row seats via Pinterest Wednesday; second row seats Thursday via Twitter; and culminating with front-row seats Friday via Facebook. In addition, CMA will run a weeklong contest during the same window to give away 50 pairs of passes to the all-new AT&T® U-verse® Fan Fair X experience at Music City Center. Full details on how to enter can be found at Blog.CMAfest.com beginning Monday, May 27. And for access to CMA Music Festival details, news alerts and special promotions, fans should connect with CMA across all digital platforms.

With 11 total stages and many free lifestyle exhibits to explore throughout the Festival footprint in Nashville, CMA Music Festival is a fantastic, family-friendly entertainment value. It all officially kicks off Thursday, June 6 with "Lady A Day at FFX" featuring Lady Antebellum performing, signing autographs, and cutting the ribbon when Fan Fair X officially opens to fans. Fan Fair X is free to four-day ticket holders, but tickets to this exciting new attraction are available to fans for $10 a day or $25 for four days Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9, with children 12 and younger admitted for free.

Daily and Four-Day tickets for AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X are available through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com, the CMA Music Festival Box Office by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378), or onsite at the registration area of Fan Fair X (price includes handling fees).

Additionally, four-day tickets to the 2014 CMA Music Festival, held June 5-8, 2014, went on sale nationwide Monday, May 20, at Ticketmaster.com and 1-800-CMA-FEST. Fans will also be able to purchase 2014 CMA Music Festival tickets at this year’s event by visiting the . Following four years of consecutive LP Field sellouts, fans are encouraged to buy early for best-available seating. Visit CMAfest.com for details.

Fans can stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news. Fans can also connect with CMA at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Pinterest.com/CMAworld, and Instagram.com/CMA_Country_Music_Association.

“If You See Something, Say Something” at CMA Music Festival

At CMA Music Festival, the safety of our attendees, artists, staff, and volunteers is of utmost importance. Therefore, CMA will be utilizing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” program to raises public awareness of indicators of terrorism-related crime and the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper local law enforcement authorities.

All of those in attendance at CMA Music Festival are asked to be vigilant in reporting suspicious behavior and situations and are encouraged to text ALERT (space) and the LOCATION of the suspicious activity to 66937. There will also be a special Festival law enforcement phone number posted throughout the event area for attendees to call to report suspicious activity. See CMAfest.com for more information.

THE BAND PERRY TELEVISION APPEARANCES

2013-05-22T22:17:00.001+02:00

Photo Credit: Ben Krebs

FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE

THE BAND PERRY WRAPS UP WEEK OF COAST-TO-COAST NATIONAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES

Sibling Trio’s Trek Encompasses Major Events On ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC Networks

Nashville, TN (May 22, 2013) – Republic Nashville Superstar trio The Band Perry just wrapped a weeklong trek from coast-to-coast with national television appearances, which were broadcast across ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC networks.

The Band Perry kicked off the media blitz in Los Angeles at the season finale of FOX’s American Idol (Season 12) where Top 5 Finalist Janelle Arthur joined the trio for a show-stopping performance of “DONE.” The tune was co-written by Neil and Reid Perry – along with John Davidson and Jacob Bryant – and is on the cusp of Top 10 at Country radio.

Less than 12 hours later, the troupe landed on the East Coast to perform on Friday before a record-setting, sell-out crowd of 5,400 at Solomon, MD's Calvert Marine Museum and Saturday’s (5/18) Preakness in Baltimore. The event coincided with Armed Forces Day, giving The Band Perry a special opportunity to salute the military during NBC’s telecast of the race. Later Saturday night, The Band Perry headlined a show for nearly 15,000 fans at the Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Following the late-night concert, The Band Perry made their way across the US for the Billboard Music Awards (5/19), which aired live on ABC. During their high-energy performance of the Platinum-certified, multi-week #1 smash “Better Dig Two,” the trio executed a rousing drum line, which had the audience on the edge of their seats and online fans engaged as “The Band Perry” began trending on Twitter.

The Band Perry was also featured on CBS Sunday night during the ACM Presents: Tim McGraw Superstar Summer Night television special. TBP showcased another electrifying performance of “DONE.,” which was taped last month in front of a packed house at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Today, the band picked up a nomination for the 2013 Teen Choice Awards in the category of Choice Country Group. The awards will air on Sunday (August 11) on FOX. Fans can vote once daily here. The Band Perry also garnered a nomination for Group Video of the Year from the 2013 CMT Music Awards for their video for "Better Dig Two." Fans have the opportunity to vote through June 2 on CMT.com.

Later this month, they will hit the road as special guests on Rascal Flatts' LIVE & LOUD TOUR.

ABOUT THE BAND PERRY: Since releasing their self-titled debut album on Republic Nashville in 2010, The Band Perry has ascended to dizzying heights. Fronted by Kimberly Perry and rounded out by her younger brothers Neil and Reid, the band has notched a string of hit singles, including the quadruple-platinum “If I Die Young” (which climbed to #1 on Billboard’s Country and AC charts), the platinum “You Lie,” and the gold-certified Country #1 “All Your Life” as well as “Better Dig Two,” from their sophomore release PIONEER, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and #2 All Genre. The project, produced by Dann Huff, sold nearly 130,000 copies in the first week and has received acclaim from top critics across the country. They’ve also enjoyed sold-out headlining dates and a showering of honors, including multiple ACM, CMA, and CMT Music awards, as well as Teen Choice, AMA, ACA, and Billboard Music award nominations — all of which has cemented the sibling trio as one of the hottest acts in recent history. The Band Perry is currently the face of Outnumber Hunger, which is in its second year and helps secure meals for the 1 in 6 Americans who struggle with hunger.

For more on The Band Perry, visit thebandperry.com and "join the family" at thefansperry.com.

TRACE ADKINS KISS YOU ALL OVER

2013-05-22T21:29:00.001+02:00

"KISS YOU ALL OVER" ON NEW TRACE ADKINS PROJECT

And New Band Biography On The Shelves

NASHVILLE -- May 22, 2013 -- Trace Adkins enthusiasts will have one more reason to cherish his new Love Will album when they hear him chime in with the band Exile on the group’s 1978 classic, Kiss You All Over. There’s more lyrical testosterone in this 5-minute seduction smoothie than can be absorbed in a single listening. Adkins is such an Exile fan that he’s also included in Love Will the song “Come See Me,” which Exilers J. P. Pennington and Sonny Lemaire co-wrote with Kenny Beard.

Also new on the shelves is a band biography -- Life In Exile: A Journey Home. Penned by Eve Nicole Lemaire (daughter of Sonny Lemaire), the book covers the band's 50 years from an insider's perspective, and includes interviews with founding, past and current members of the band.

Now celebrating its 50^thyear of performing, Exile was recently inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of
Fame.

George Strait with next Number 1

2013-05-22T21:21:00.001+02:00

GEORGE STRAIT’S LOVE IS EVERYTHING DEBUTS AT NO. 1

ON BILLBOARD COUNTRY ALBUMS CHART

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- (Wednesday, May 22, 2013) – Love Is Everything, the new album from MCA Nashville recording artist George Strait, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart this week, selling 119,843 units in its first week. That also earned Strait the No. 2 position on the Billboard Top 200. The album contains the hit single “Give It All We Got Tonight,” which Mediabase named as the most played song on country radio this week, earning Strait an unprecedented 60th No. 1 song. Love Is Everything is Strait’s 40th studio album.

“This has been a fantastic birthday week,” said Strait, who turned 61 last Saturday (May 18). “I’m thankful that my fans are excited about the new album and enjoying the music.”

Love Is Everything, which Strait co-produced with longtime collaborator Tony Brown, continues to receive great reviews, including:

“His voice is in superb form and … the album sparkles. Among the highlights is ‘That’s What Breaking Hearts Do,’…. conjuring sensibility similar to Bruce Springsteen’s ‘All That Heaven Will Allow.’ ‘Blue Melodies’ is a reminder of how effectively a heart can be broken by a voice, an acoustic guitar, and lyrics that succinctly summarize when a sentiment is ‘too sad to sing.’” - Boston Globe

“Since he began churning out country hits in 1981…Strait has cultivated a kind of stoic dependability unmatched among his peers. On Love Is Everything, his stirring new album…. [Strait’s] vocals feel newly vulnerable, particularly in ballads like ‘Blue Melodies’… and the gorgeous ‘I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This,’ which Strait wrote back in the mid '70s….He's putting more of himself in the music, too....There's the unusually vivid language in ‘That's What Breaking Hearts Do,’ which Strait co-wrote with his son Bubba…. But neither of those cuts prepares you for ‘I Believe,’ another song by George and Bubba Strait (with Dean Dillon) that appears to be about the shooting last year at Sandy Hook Elementary School. ‘The night's as clear as a big desert sky / But it's hard to see stars with these tears in my eyes," Strait sings over delicate acoustic fingerpicking, "Yeah, it's hard not to cry / There's 26 reasons why.’ ‘I Believe’ goes on to ponder ‘broken hearts that'll never beat the same’ and ‘shattered lives still reeling from the pain,’ yet insists in a chorus swollen with strings that ‘there's someone who's looking after me.’ Carefully rendered and unabashed in its optimism, it's as personal as anything Strait has ever recorded. And it's completely devastating. Three stars.” – Los Angeles Times

Strait kicked off 2013 in high gear for the first leg of his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. Only the June 1 show in San Antonio’s Alamodome remains in the sold out tour. Known as the “house they built for George,” the Alamodome sold out within an astounding six minutes of going on sale. The Country Music Hall of Fame member is the highest ranked country act on Pollstar's 2013 Worldwide Tickets Chart. Dates for the second leg of his tour, taking place in 2014, will be announced later this year.

For more information on Strait, Love Is Everything, The Cowboy Rides Away Tour and more, visit www.GeorgeStrait.com.

Darling Parade Artist of the Year

2013-05-22T21:15:00.003+02:00

Darling Parade Lands Nomination in
"Make a Band Famous" Category at O Music Awards

Band named Channel One’s 2012-2013 "Artist of the Year"

Nashville, Tenn. (May 22, 2013) – Darling Parade marches onto a nomination at this year’s O Music Awards in the “Make a Band Famous” category. The winner of the inaugural award will be named one of MTV's coveted Artists to Watch and have the opportunity to perform at the O Music Awards, plus get a shot to perform during VMA weekend in August. To cast your vote for Darling Parade and to see the full list of nominees, head over to: OMusicAwards.com.

There are currently 10 bands up for the honor, and on May 31 only five will remain. The awards, which honor innovators in music, culture and technology, air June 19 at 7 p.m. ET as part of "Live Music Day," a 24-hour, live-streamed party featuring performances from around the country. More than 50 bands will perform and Roots drummer ?uestlove will host an all-day drum-a-thon to serve as the party's heartbeat.

“Being nominated for the OMA's ‘Make a Band Famous’ award is a huge opportunity, and could really be a game changer for our band,” said Nate McCoy. “We can't wait to see who comes out the winner!”

With millions of votes cast, Channel One News, the leading television news network for teens nationwide, has announced Darling Parade as the winner of their their 2012-2013 "Artist of the Year" competition. Channel One is a digital content provider focused on encouraging young people to be informed, digital-savvy global citizens. The Peabody and Telly award-winning news program is broadcast to more than 5 million young people in upper elementary schools, middle schools and high schools across the country. Darling Parade beat out 32 other acts that have been featured as “Hear It Now” artists of the week for the honor.

“We’re thrilled to showcase emerging musicians on the show each week as a part of our Hear it Now program. Artist of the Year is an especially fun way to find out which band is the fan favorite of the season. We’re happy to support Darling Parade during this exciting time in their careers,” said Karen Knapstein, Managing Editor, ChannelOne.com.

"Winning ‘Artist of the Year’ is an amazing thing to us since we all grew up watching Channel One every day,” said Kristin Kearns. “Our fans were incredibly supportive, and we're honored to be this year’s winner."

Darling Parade's music and other information is available now at video.channelone.com.

About Darling Parade:
Darling Parade’s music has been featured extensively on ABC Family’s "The Lying Game," The CW’s “Flygirls," Syfy's "Stargate Universe," and Showtime's "Shameless." They’ve shared the stage with Cassadee Pope, Chevelle, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Stephen Jerzak, Plumb, The Ataris and more. Their music has been reviewed and featured by AOL, MSN, Billboard, Pollstar, Last.FM, Metrolyrics.com, RDIO, Spotify and more. Darling Parade was chosen to star in Supercuts’ national “Rock the Cut" campaign that will begin airing in summer 2013.

For more information, visit www.darlingparade.com.

TIM McGRAW OFFERS LIVE TRACKS TO FANS

2013-05-22T21:09:00.002+02:00

TIM McGRAW OFFERS LIVE TRACKS TO FANS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH "McGRAW OVERDRIVE SERIES LIVE"

Nashville, TN - May 22, 2013 - Superstar Tim McGraw will be releasing live tracks from his TWO LANES OF FREEDOM 2013 Tour, powered by Pennzoil, for the first time ever this summer as part of his new program "McGraw Overdrive Series Live." The first track, "Southern Girl," will be available starting this Friday, May 24 exclusively at timmcgraw.com with four other live songs to be released on June 7, June 21, July 12 and July 26. Fans will be able to purchase tracks individually or all five together. All of the songs featured will be from McGraw's Big Machine Records debut, TWO LANES OF FREEDOM.

"The sound and energy from a live show gives an entirely new perspective to any song," said McGraw. "I'm always looking for ways to give the fans something extra. If you're at the show, it's a cool memory to add to your playlist. And if you couldn't get a ticket to the show that night, you can still hear some of what happened and maybe feel like you were there. It's a first for me to release live tracks this way, and that's exciting."

"McGraw Overdrive Series Live" is powered by nugs.net, the premier platform for live music distribution and webcasts for artists ranging from Metallica to Pearl Jam to Phish. Founder and CEO Brad Serling adds, "No major country artist has ever released live tracks direct to fans during a tour like this, and we're thrilled to help McGraw break new ground."

Coming off sold-out shows in Pittsburgh and Detroit this weekend, McGraw's TWO LANES OF FREEDOM 2013 Tour continues to heat up the summer with Tampa Tribune commenting that, "While some artists tend to appeal to a particular fan base, McGraw continues to grow new audiences, who enjoy his shows for the same reasons fans launched him on the path to megastardom 20 years ago." The tour continues this weekend with stops in St. Louis, MO (5/23); Chicago, IL (5/24); Cincinnati, OH (5/25) and Darien Lakes, NY (5/26).

New Album by Mike Scott & Friends

2013-05-22T21:02:00.001+02:00

New Album by Mike Scott & Friends

HOME SWEET HOME Now Released

May 22, 2013 (Nashville, TN) — Home Sweet Home by Mike Scott is Now available on iTunes, Amazon and other fine digital and CD retailers. The album is also available now to radio programmers and DJ’s via. AirPlay Direct.

Rural Rhythm Records is saluting the 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War (1861-1865) with an instrumental album titled Home Sweet Home, which contains 14 songs that were popular during the Civil War Era.

Mike Scott (producer & performer) has assembled an all-star group of musicians to pay tribute to the popular parlor songs, minstrel songs and marching songs from this era, which are now known as traditional standards. Joining Scott on this album are awarding winning players Adam Steffey, Rob Ickes, Bryan Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Tim Stafford, Mike Compton, Ben Isaacs, Jeff Taylor and Scott Miller.

“I am so excited about this Civil War Era project. My own banjo heritage traces back to both of my grandfathers. Also, my great grandmother “Verdie” on my dad’s side played banjo and was born during the 1860’s Civil War period. I never had the opportunity to meet any of them, but I am proud to carry on the banjo legacy in our family”, says Mike Scott.

The songs on Home Sweet Home could be heard during the 1860’s in America’s major cities, small towns, rural areas and soldier encampments during the Civil War. The song “Ashokan Farewell”, written by Jay Ungar, and heard throughout the Ken Burns Civil War TV series was included in the collection due to its familiarity to this period in time based on the TV series popularity. 150 years later, these 13 American musical treasures can be enjoyed again on this special collection. These songs should not be lost and forgotten, but passed down to future generations as a part of America’s musical heritage.

Mike Scott says, “I dedicate this project to those who broke through the pages of our nation’s history and paved the way for a better America. I hope these tunes will touch you and give you a reminder of a period of time captivated as part of our nation’s journey to unity and freedom. May it bring you joy, put a smile on your face and put some ‘giddy-up’ in your step”!

Mike Scott is seen by millions of TV viewers each week during prime-time on RFD-TV, (72 million households), performing with Ronnie Reno & Reno Tradition on the RENO’S OLD TIME MUSIC SHOW. He also is the host of the new music TV series BEHIND THE DREAMTM currently airing on BlueHighways TV.

Country Music News International May 22. 2013

2013-05-22T06:24:00.001+02:00

You can publish the Newsletter to your websites or forward to your friends. If you want to publish some of the interviews, please contact me.

Country Muisc News:

Interview with High Valley http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/interview-with-high-valley.html

Michael Martin Murphey On ABC TV http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/michael-martin-murphey-on-abc-tv.html

Darius Rucker Does It All http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/darius-rucker-does-it-all.html

HANK WILLIAMS JR. KICKING OFF SUMMER WITH "OLD SCHOOL, NEW RULES" TOUR http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/hank-williams-jr-kicking-off-summer.html

Kenny Chesney 43,314 Sell-Out http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/kenny-chesney-43314-sell-out.html

JOANNA SMITH TO MAKE OPRY DEBUT http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/joanna-smith-to-make-opry-debut.html

CHRIS YOUNG INVITES FANS http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/chris-young-invites-fans.html

Dave Adkins & Republik Steele Head to Nashville With Hot New Album http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/dave-adkins-republik-steele-head-to.html

Musik News Allgemein:

Information for all new Newsletter readers:

Advertise at Country Music News International http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/03/advertise-at-country-music-news.html

Country Music News International has a high ranking at Google.de http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/country-music-news-international-has.html

Autographed Photos by your favorite Country Star for sale to support HelpCharity http://www.countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2012/10/autographed-photos-by-your-favorite.html

We need You! Wir brauchen Euch! http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2012/12/we-need-you-wir-brauchen-euch.html

Looking for Writers http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2011/08/were-looking-for-writers.html

Nashville Music Guide honors Christian Lamitschka http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2012/02/nashville-music-guide-honors-christian.html

Subscribe & Like Country Music News International on:

http://www.Facebook.com/Christian.Lamitschka

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Warm regards

Viele Grüße

Christian

Country Music News International

Editor / Publisher

Christian Lamitschka

An der Pfingstweide 28

61118 Bad Vilbel

Germany

Phone: ++49 6101 544613

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Fax: ++49 6101 544622

CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com

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www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka

http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de

Interview with High Valley

2013-05-22T06:13:00.000+02:00

Interview with High Valley

Lamitschka: Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?

High Valley: We are a three-part harmony country band with rocking country vibes and some bluegrass influence with mandolin and banjo.

Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?

High Valley: Last year was amazing! We were nominated for a JUNO Award and got to play in the JUNO Cup. Our second single, “Let It Be Me,” went to #1 on CMT and we were able to be a part of a world record-breaking harvest. All kinds of amazing things happened!

Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the name?

High Valley: We chose Love Is A Long Road as the name of our album because we believe love is something that lasts forever. Love is unconditional. But we wanted to use "Country terms," so we called love a "Long Road".

Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?

High Valley: We actually write most of our own music. However, when we don’t, we listen to tracks that songwriters send to us and narrow it down to those that resonate with us the most. It’s really important for us to write and perform songs that we feel a real connection with.

Lamitschka: What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what's the story behind it?

High Valley: One of my favourite songs is called "Never took Her Dancing". It’s a pretty sad song about making sure you love people while they are around. You have to listen to it!!

It combines the sounds of an accordion and a banjo. Pretty unique and pretty awesome if you ask me!

Lamitschka: Who inspires you musically and how deep do your musical roots run?

High Valley: I would say that our musical inspiration comes from bands like Diamond Rio, Blackhawk, Alabama and also bands like Eli Young Band and Little Big Town. A lot of harmony groups because what we grew up on.

Our family also inspired our love for music. Our parents and our three sisters taught us how to sing and play. Music has always been a huge part of our family life.

Lamitschka: What was your big break that got you into the music business?

High Valley: Paul Brandt really helped us out and continues to help and mentor us. He really encouraged his fans and the industry to take us seriously and they did. Our big break was probably when Paul had us perform with him at the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards.

Lamitschka: Fans are always hungry for good road stories. Do you have one you can share with us (come on don’t be shy)?

High Valley: One time, Brad’s pants ripped wide open during a show. It was horrible and awesome all at the same time. We fixed the problem with duct tape and then forgot the words to the rest of our songs.

Lamitschka: Describe what a perfect day is like for you.

High Valley: Wake up, eat chocolate with ice cream, play guitar, eat a bacon cheeseburger, play mandolin, put on nice cloths, eat a cookie, do a show, sit on the bus and eat nachos and salsa.

Lamitschka: Most careers don't last as long as yours. What's given your career the staying power?

High Valley: The fact that we love music, don't know anything else and don't want to know anything else. It really is our life and passion!

Christian Lamitschka ( CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com )

www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.com

Michael Martin Murphey On ABC TV

2013-05-22T06:01:00.001+02:00

Michael Martin Murphey To Appear This Weekend
On ABC TV’s Born To Explore with Richard Wiese

PIERRE, South Dakota — Michael Martin Murphey, whose new album, Red River Drifter, is set for release on July 9, will appear on the Emmy-nominated Born To Explore with Richard Wiese when the program rebroadcast their segment, “Where The Buffalo Roam” on Saturday, May 25 on most ABC television stations. (Check local listings for times.)

Murphey was in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota, participating in the popular annual event, “The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup” last fall, and visited with Wiese for the program.

The 71,000 acre park, filled with lush forests, quiet and serene meadows and majestic mountains boasts one of the largest publicly-owned bison herds, nearly 1,300 strong. Each fall, the ground rumbles and the dust flies as cowboys, cowgirls and park crews saddle up to bring in the thundering herd. The annual roundup is scheduled for the weekend of September 27.

In addition to discussing the history of the area and the roundup with Wiese, Murphey also performs his hit, “Wildfire.”

Murphey’s forthcoming Red River Drifter marks a return of sorts for the genre-busting artist. Drawing from a deep well of influences that includes classical to country, blues to bluegrass and folk to jazz, Murphey is perhaps best known for his huge hits, “Wildfire,” “Carolina In The Pines,” “What’s Forever For,” “Long Line of Love” and “Geronimo’s Cadillac” among others.

In recent years Murphey has been exploring the similarities between bluegrass and American cowboy music. But for Red River Drifter, he brought in some very eclectic and unexpected elements to the writing process. “I wrote songs that drew from what is inspiring me at this point in my life,” he says. “Every style was fair game. We intentionally did not follow formulas or rules.” The result may well be his finest album yet!

A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has earned six gold albums and performs more than 150 shows per year. As a songwriter, his work has been covered by John Denver, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Lee, Kenny Rogers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jerry Jeff Walker, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and a host of other recording artists.

Wiese is the host and an executive producer of the television program Born to Explore with Richard Wiese™, which airs weekly on ABC and debuted September 3, 2011. Its second season premiered October 6, 2012. In a successful first season, Born To Explore’s™ positive cultural and environmental message reached viewers around the world, and resulted in several awards. The show was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Children’s Television Series,[2] and garnered a SABRE award for "Product Placement" along with Travel Canada.[3] Wiese has continued to receive acclaim alongside the show, and gained more accolades of his own.

As an extreme adventurer, his stated goal is to inspire young people and spark their interest for discovery and the love of outdoors.[4] He says that Born To Explore™ is a way to encourage this growth and environmental activism, as well as educate his audience on exotic cultures and animals.

Darius Rucker Does It All

2013-05-22T05:56:00.003+02:00

Darius Rucker Does It All
By Kip Kirby
© 2013 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
Darius Rucker wasn’t expecting interruptions during his Grand Ole Opry set on the night of Oct. 2.
He was nearly through with his performance, playing songs from his upcoming third album True Believers and enjoying the response from the sellout house. Then, Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher stood up in the audience, stopping the show and inviting Rucker to answer questions from fans. When the final audience member took the microphone, there was an audible gasp as Rucker realized it was none other than Brad Paisley. Nothing could have prepared him for what came next: Paisley’s invitation for his good friend to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
That moment, and the audience’s joyous reaction, underscored the Country community’s embrace of Rucker as one of its own. His journey toward this achievement began years ago back in his home state of South Carolina, long before the singer had become a household name as front man for Hootie & The Blowfish. Growing up, Rucker listened to all kinds of music: “Hee Haw” with his mother on Saturday nights, church music on Sunday mornings, big band swing standards, beach music, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll. Rucker’s musical explorations took him into all kinds of genres, and he sang along enthusiastically to them all. It never occurred to him to limit himself to one particular style or format.
“Ever since I was a kid, I was always baffled by the different labels for music because it seemed to be the same notes and the same words,” said Rucker. “I sang everything I heard and let the music take me wherever I wanted to go. I just thought all singers could sing everything. Later on, I realized they can’t.”
Rucker’s vocal versatility extends beyond the ranges of pop, rock and Nashville. In 1995, he received a personal invitation to sing at Frank Sinatra’s celebrity-studded 80^th birthday gala in Los Angeles, where he performed “The Lady Is a Tramp.”
“That was one of the great days of my life! They sent us this great arrangement of ‘The Lady Is a Tramp’ that sounded exactly like ‘I Only Want to Be with You,’” Rucker said, referring to the hit single by Hootie & The Blowfish. “So we started in, but then I said, ‘I don’t want to play it like that. I want to do it exactly like Sinatra did it live at The Sands in ’64. I want Quincy Jones’ arrangement of it. Can we get it?’ They said, ‘Sure.’ So we get there that night, we’re all in zoot suits and we do the Quincy Jones arrangement — and we just killed it. When we got finished playing, Mr. Sinatra stood up and made me come over and shake his hand. It was really a great, great moment.”
Rucker continues to appear as a regular featured guest with the Peter Graves Orchestra, performing big band standards at charity events around the country. Graves admits that in the beginning he was hesitant about bringing in the lead singer for Hootie & The Blowfish to sing American songbook classics. But prior to their first show together, Rucker flew in several days early to rehearse. It didn’t take long for the orchestra leader to change his mind.
“Like everyone else, my jaw hit the floor,” Graves said, whose orchestra was Sinatra’s hand-picked ensemble for 20 years on shows throughout the Southeast. “He doesn’t try to mimic Frank (Sinatra). He’s still Darius, but he does the music justice. He did his homework and he came prepared. I see people all the time trying to work outside their genre and it doesn’t work. Darius is one of the rare ones who can make the programming switch inside his own head. For me, one of the biggest things is his smoothness and the way he phrases. It’s such a distinctive voice. It brings a lot of uniqueness to what he does.”
Frank Rogers has been Rucker’s producer and frequent co-writer since the singer signed with Capitol Records in 2008. “I’ve worked with him on rock tracks for commercials,” he said. “And I’ve seen him do his Sinatra thing. The other day, we did an R&B thing for a rap artist who wanted Darius to do the hook to the song. He’s just a great storyteller and conveyor of emotion in music.”
Rogers is quick to add that in his opinion, few artists should expect to pull off what Rucker does. The producer’s phone rings constantly with calls from what he refers to as “other-genre’d artists” who want to make the jump into Country Music. “I tell them all ‘no’, because it doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “With Darius, the honesty is there. Yes, he was a big rock star, but he comes across as a country boy from South Carolina because that’s who he is at heart. He grew up with Country Music at the same time he grew up with beach music and R&B and rock. He’s had a lot of influences, but when he sings a Country song, it’s honest. He doesn’t have to pretend that he’s got a twang. He sings in his natural voice. You put a rock band behind it, it’s still Darius singing. You listen to an early Hootie record, it doesn’t sound any different than what we’re doing now in terms of his singing or pronunciation. He always sounds like him — and it works.”
Rucker’s love of Country Music runs deep. It also skews toward the unpredictable, the unexpected and sometimes even under the radar. “Don’t get me wrong,” he insisted. “I love Dwight (Yoakam). And Lyle Lovett is somebody I never give enough credit to. But I’ll never forget flipping channels before work at the record store one day and seeing the video for ‘Crazy Over You’ by Foster & Lloyd for the first time. I’ll never forget how blown away I was. And when I heard ‘Mary and Omie’ by Nanci Griffith, from Once in a Very Blue Moon, it began another avalanche of music for me. I thought these guys were big stars. I didn’t know they weren’t.”
It’s no secret that while on tour with Hootie & The Blowfish, Rucker loved to slip Foster & Lloyd and New Grass Revival CDs onto the bus sound system. He also told his bandmates on more than one occasion, “Someday I’m going to make a Country album.” So when Hootie decided to take a break, Rucker did what he had long hoped to do. His plan was to simply lay down some tracks at a studio in his hometown of Charleston. Never did he anticipate being offered a major label Country deal, figuring that his rock reputation might make acceptance from fans and Country radio an uphill climb.
“But I was never afraid of hard work,” Rucker explained. “Mike Dungan, who signed me to Capitol, told me he called the 13 most important people he thought were tastemakers in Nashville and told them he was signing me. Twelve of them told him he was crazy. But Capitol let me make the record I wanted to make, and then they asked me to go to work. All of a sudden, ‘Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It’ (written by Clay Mills and Rucker) comes in and it’s on Country radio. I’m on the radio again — only it’s Country!”
Ask Rucker if he makes any concessions when singing Country Music, or if he changes his approach at all when shifting to Sinatra standards or Hootie hits, and he shakes his head. “Are there any differences stylistically? I’m sure there are,” he acknowledged. “But it’s not something I can really say because it’s here inside. The thing for me is, I love it all and I can do it all. When you know you can do it, you just go out and sing it.”
As for artists in other genres who might be interested in following Rucker’s footsteps into the Country spotlight, his advice is blunt: “If you’re not a Country fan, don’t come here to make a buck, because they’re gonna see right through you.”
On Rucker’s new album, True Believers, he wrote or co-wrote all but two of its songs, including the title cut, which is also the first single. Additionally, he’ll be headlining his own tour for the first time in 2013. With a string of No. 1 singles, award nominations and soaring album sales, Rucker has undoubtedly brought a new range of fans into the Country format — which is where Rucker intends to stay.
“There’s no offer in rock that could financially, spiritually or emotionally make me happy or put me where I am right now,” he said. “It takes years and years to get to the point where you feel you’re actually getting it. I don’t want to be a big pop star. I just want to sing Country Music.”
On the Web: www.DariusRucker.com
On Twitter: @DariusRucker

HANK WILLIAMS JR. KICKING OFF SUMMER WITH "OLD SCHOOL, NEW RULES" TOUR

2013-05-22T05:50:00.000+02:00

HANK WILLIAMS JR. KICKING OFF SUMMER
WITH "OLD SCHOOL, NEW RULES" TOUR

Concert Dates Announced in Celebration of Latest CD

NASHVILLE, TN (May 21, 2013) — Grammy Award winner Hank Williams Jr. is gearing to launch a 2013 summer tour in celebration of his latest album, Old School, New Rules. Cities among the concert lineup include Detroit, Orlando, Atlantic City, Biloxi and many more. Known for his powerfully charged performances and trademark style, Hank will take the stage with a string of hits along with new tunes that showcase his distinctive vocals and extraordinary musicianship.

“I always have fun playing shows. I love to get out in front of my loyal fans and making my mark on this great country,” says Hank Williams Jr.

Hits for the country superstar include "Family Tradition", "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound", "Old Habits", "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," "A Country Boy Can Survive" and "Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues" and more. As a multi-instrumentalist, Williams' masterful playing skills include guitar, upright bass, fiddle, steel guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, drums. Known as driving force in the music industry, Williams continues to be empowered by loyalty to his homeland and remains committed to songs that are patriotic and sung from the heart.

2013 Hank Williams Jr. Tour Schedule
(check website for updates and additional dates)

06/08 Morton, MN- Jackpot Junction Casino
06/21 Alpharetta, GA- Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
06/28 Detroit, MI- The Fox Theatre
06/29 Kettering, OH- Fraze Pavilion
07/12 Pensacola, FL- Pensacola Civic Center
07/13 Orlando, FL- UCF Arena
07/19 Atlantic City, NJ- Caesars Circus Maximus Theatre
07/20 Fredericksburg, VA- Job.com Pavilion
07/26 Southhaven, MS- Snowden Gove Park
07/27 Guthrie Center, IA- Guthrie’s River Ruckus
08/17 Tower, MN- Fortune Bay Resort Casino
08/24 Beaumont, TX- Lamar University
08/31 Portsmouth, VA- Ntelos Wireless Pavilion
09/01 Cherokee, NC- Harrah’s Cherokee
09/06 Concho, OK- Lucky Star Casino
09/07 Newkirk, OK- First Council Casino
09/13 Bossier City, LA- Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
09/14 Biloxi, MS- IP Casino Resort and Spa

For more information, please visit www.hankjr.com

ABOUT HANK WILLIAMS JR:
Williams has no doubt had a long and successful career and continues to make sparks in the industry. In October 1982, Williams had nine albums on the Billboard music charts at the same time, a feat unequaled by any other living artist. Hank has received 16 songwriting honors from Broadcast Music, Inc., had 10 #1 singles, 13 #1 albums, 20 gold and five platinum albums and a double platinum (Greatest Hits, Vol. I). In 1987, Hank won the first of five straight Entertainer of the Year awards voted to him by his peers, and won his first ever Grammy. As a touring artist, Hank was a pioneer in bringing arena rock production values to country music, and he remains one of the most consistent ticket sellers in music, period, as generation after generation gets turned on to one of the most dynamic live performers ever to take the stage.

Kenny Chesney 43,314 Sell-Out

2013-05-21T18:54:00.003+02:00

When I See This Stadium: Kenny Chesney Plays Milwaukee

43,314 Sell-Out, Debuts New Song w Eric Church, Sings for George Strait
The Miller Stadium show anticipation – for artist and fans -- was palpable, as the No Shoes Nation Tour drew 43,314 strong to the stadium, which has not hosted a concert since 2010. As The Milwaukee Journal Sun noted in early in its review: “this felt like the kind of event people have been dying to enjoy for months.”
That newness inspired Chesney to debut a song from his recent Billboard #1 all-genre Top 200 Albums debut Life On A Rock: the potent “When I See This Bar.” He invited tour-mate Eric Church to share the reflective slice of who we were long before we realized how special the moments we’re just living really are.
“’When I See This Bar’ is the kind of song you have to have lived,” Chesney confesses. “Most people do, they just never step back and realize what all those lost nights, afternoon beers and friendships really mean. They make you who are, get you through tough things and get you laughing… Obviously, ‘When I See This Bar’ is important to me; I know Eric’s been there, too, and knows that power of place, so it was great to get him up there.”
Still in the moment, Chesney also had the capacity crowd sing “Happy Birthday” to his good friend George Strait, who was turning 60. Promising the crowd he would email it to King George, the enthusiasm was palpable.
“That’s one of the things about this life – and the people of the No Shoes Nation,” Chesney enthused. “There are so many crazy, nonlinear things you can do… if you can dream them. The fans feed me to dream outside the lines – like singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to George – and that’s one of the best parts of making a life making music.”
And bringing people together in the name of those songs. The Journal Sentinel went on to note, “Busting out to the swagger of "Feel Like a Rock Star," he spent the subsequent two hours proving he was one, running all around the stage, the sweat stain spreading wider and wider on his shirt… it was clear to the revelers this was no mere concert.”
“We’ve played so many places,” Chesney says, “there’s a special thrill when you get to go somewhere new, or different. It’s why we’re mixing it up this year: arenas, amphitheatres, a few Keg shows in clubs, the Tortuga Festival on the beach. But Milwaukee – like Dallas last weekend – had a very special magic to it. Those fans! That stadium! Funny how places that couldn’t be more different both have so much heart.”
Getting ready to shoot a profile with CBS News’ “Sunday Morning,” the 8-time Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year is in full touring gear. But that doesn’t mean his reflective album is getting lost in the shuffle. As the Church debut proves, the singer/songwriter/supernova’s LOAR is – as Billboard wrote – “surely the most personal work he’s ever done,” while The Washington Post added, “It's a bold move, considering that a new crop of country rockers are selling millions of albums modeled on Chesney's pounding arena rock sound. But, Chesney follows his muse and offers an album that exposes his weathered soul… as appealing as it is surprising.”

JOANNA SMITH TO MAKE OPRY DEBUT

2013-05-21T18:51:00.002+02:00

JOANNA SMITH TO MAKE OPRY DEBUT

RCA Nashville singer/songwriter Joanna Smith will have a life-long dream come true when she makes her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
"Playing the Opry is the biggest honor I can imagine," said an elated Joanna. "I can remember watching it on my great grandmother's TV and dreaming of the experience. It's the most hallowed stage in country music and I'm truly humbled and excited."
While she is still working on her set list for the memorable appearance, Joanna is sure to get a little crazy on the Opry stage with her new single "Girls Are Crazy." Co-written and co-produced by Joanna, the up-tempo song shows another side of the multifaceted artist and is quickly making an impact at country radio.
Joanna has been on the road opening dates for Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley on their "Locked and Reloaded" tour, and the experience has been incredible for her. "To get to open for them is just a huge honor," shares Joanna. "To me Miranda is the ringleader of a good time for us girls!"
To hear the new single and watch the lyric video for "Girls Are Crazy" and for more information on Joanna visit www.joannasmithofficial.com.

CHRIS YOUNG INVITES FANS

2013-05-21T18:43:00.002+02:00

CHRIS YOUNG INVITES FANS TO HELP DIVULGE DETAILS OF NEW RECORD
Releases rowdy new single 'Aw Naw' for digital download

May 21, 2013…(Nashville, TN)...RCA Records Nashville vocalist and entertainer Chris Young is known for putting his fans first, and so it should come as no surprise that he is inviting them to help announce news of his upcoming fourth album.

“I’ve got the best fans in the world and the cheering crowds give me all this great energy when I’m onstage," shares Chris. "I feel like this new record really captures my live show for the fans and so I want them to be part of revealing info about this new album."

Visit Chris' official website, www.ChrisYoungCountry.com, between now and Friday, May 31 to get in on the fun and help Chris divulge details about his upcoming CD.

The record's rowdy lead single “Aw Naw,” written by Young, Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano, is quickly becoming a party anthem at his live shows. The song is now available on iTunes and other digital music destinations.

Catch Chris performing his 5 #1 hits plus new favorite “Aw Naw” on the “Beat This Summer Tour” with Brad Paisley, with shows booked from May - August. Young has spent the first half of this year headlining his “Liquid Neon Tour”, which kicked off last fall with a sold-out show from Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium. He’s gone global in 2013 with performances in Ireland, the UK, and Australia.

ABOUT CHRIS YOUNG:
Grammy nominated vocalist Chris Young continues to accumulate more career milestones as he heats up the summer on tour with Brad Paisley, after wrapping his headlining “Liquid Neon Tour”, and taking his music to an international level with 2013 performances in Ireland, the U.K., and Australia. Highlights include recent TV appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Talk, Katie, ABC’s Nashville and the ACM Awards. He also added his fifth career topping single, PLATINUM and four GOLD RIAA certified singles, plus a GOLD album for his sophomore release, The Man I Want To Be to his accolades. With his rich, warm baritone and penchant for writing relatable, slice-of-life songs, Young, as described by Entertainment Weekly, clearly “has a long, lucrative future ahead of him.” For tour dates and all the latest information on Chris Young, visit http://chrisyoungcountry.com/ and follow him on Twitter @ChrisYoungMusic.

# # #

Dave Adkins & Republik Steele Head to Nashville With Hot New Album

2013-05-21T18:39:00.001+02:00

Dave Adkins & Republik Steele Head to Nashville With Hot New Album

Nashville, Tenn. (May 21, 2013) – DAVE ADKINS & REPUBLIK STEELE are celebrating their hot new album THAT’S JUST THE WAY I ROLL (Rural Rhythm) with a busy tour schedule and heavy radio airplay. Dave Adkins and Republik Steele member Kenny O’Quinn head to Nashville this week in support of the album. They will appear on WSM 650.AM Radio’s “Coffee, Country and Cody” show with Bill Cody Wednesday morning at 9:15 am before making a stop by the new offices of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Later in the day, they will sit down with Sirius XM Radio Bluegrass Junction Host, Kyle Cantrell for an in-depth interview scheduled for later broadcast.

Wednesday evening, you can hear a live interview with Adkins on Virginia’s WBBC Bobcat Country Radio’s “Sweet Brenda & Him” show at 8:00 pm as the band travels to Mossy Oak Music Park in Guyton, Georgia for a performance Thursday evening. This weekend, Dave Adkins & Republik Steele continue their tour with performances at Dr. Ralph Stanley’s 43rd Annual Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival in Coeburn, Virginia on Friday and at the AMVets Post 61 Bluegrass Festival in Hillsboro, Ohio on Saturday.

The band is receiving significant radio airplay and a multitude of positive album reviews for THAT’S JUST THE WAY I ROLL. The title track and first single release, written by Terry Herd, Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley, is currently #4 on Bluegrass Today’s Top 20 Airplay Chart. Numerous other songs like “Heartstrings” and “Rio” (written by Adkins), along with “Please Come To Boston,” “Get Em Up” and more have become immediate fan favorites at the band’s live shows and are also receiving significant airplay. Radio stations can download the entire album at AirPlaydirect.com.

Dave Adkins can also be heard on another new album, GOD DIDN’T CHOOSE SIDES: CIVIL WAR TRUE STORIES ABOUT REAL PEOPLE (Rural Rhythm) performing the song, “The River Man”.

Country Music News International May 21. 2013

2013-05-21T07:14:00.003+02:00

You can publish the Newsletter to your websites or forward to your friends. If you want to publish some of the interviews, please contact me.

Country Muisc News:

Interview with Josh Thompson http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/interview-with-josh-thompson.html

CD: Chantal Kuegle - Chantal Kuegle http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/chantal-kuegle-chantal-kuegle.html

HANK WILLIAM'S SUPER-STAR http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/hank-williams-super-star.html

ON THE ROAD WITH THE EVERHARTS MAY 21. 2013 http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/on-road-with-everharts-may-21-2013.html

Natalie HOWARD performing at the 2013 CMA http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/natalie-howard-performing-at-2013-cma.html

ARTISTS ANOUNCED FOR FREE CONCERTS ON THE BUD LIGHT STAGE http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/artists-anounced-for-free-concerts-on.html

GEORGE STRAIT 60 NO. 1 SINGLES http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/george-strait-60-no-1-singles.html

LIVE FROM THE ARCHIVES http://www.countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/live-from-archives.html

Musik News Allgemein:

Information for all new Newsletter readers:

Advertise at Country Music News International http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/03/advertise-at-country-music-news.html

Country Music News International has a high ranking at Google.de http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2013/05/country-music-news-international-has.html

Autographed Photos by your favorite Country Star for sale to support HelpCharity http://www.countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2012/10/autographed-photos-by-your-favorite.html

We need You! Wir brauchen Euch! http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.de/2012/12/we-need-you-wir-brauchen-euch.html

Looking for Writers http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2011/08/were-looking-for-writers.html

Nashville Music Guide honors Christian Lamitschka http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2012/02/nashville-music-guide-honors-christian.html

Subscribe & Like Country Music News International on:

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Warm regards

Viele Grüße

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Country Music News International

Editor / Publisher

Christian Lamitschka

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Germany

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Interview with Josh Thompson

2013-05-21T07:04:00.000+02:00

Interview with Josh Thompson

Lamitschka: Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?

Josh Thompson: To folks who haven't heard my music I would describe it as honest real life lyrics put to music that has both a rowdy edge as well as laid back feel

Lamitschka: What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what's the story behind it?

Josh Thompson: My favorite song I've recorded is Sinner. I think it's because it just took on a life of its own as we recorded it. One of those songs where the music is exactly what the song needs

Lamitschka: What was your big break that got you into the music business?

Josh Thompson: I'd say it was a series of "breaks" but the big one was the first song I got recorded. That made a few more people listen

Lamitschka: What inspired you to become an artist?

Josh Thompson: What inspired me to be a singer/songwriter was the affect music had on me and my life. I just wanted to be a part of that

Lamitschka: What moments in your career stand out in your memory as highlights and achievements which you are proud of?

Josh Thompson: Highlights would be the first time I heard my song on the radio, playing the Grand Ole Opry and getting to share the stage with some of my heros

Lamitschka: Is there any place you haven't played that you would like to?

Josh Thompson: I’d like to play Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado

Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?

Josh Thompson: What fans can expect when they come to a show is a rocking time. There is no down time or silence for that matter. We always keep the music going

Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?

Josh Thompson: Yes I do. www.joshthompsonofficial.com. It has tour dates, photos and videos from the road, and music. Make sure you check it out

Lamitschka: What's your favorite song that you wish you could have recorded?

Josh Thompson: A song I wish I recorded would be "The House That Built Me" recorded by Miranda Lambert. Just an amazing song

Lamitschka: What message would you like to send your European fans?

Josh Thompson: To my fans in Europe I would like to say hello, I appreciate the support and I look forward to meeting you one day

Christian Lamitschka ( Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de )

www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka

Chantal Kuegle - Chantal Kuegle

2013-05-21T06:54:00.001+02:00

Chantal Kuegle

Never Alone 3:39 Now That I Get to Drive 3:18

One and Only 4:31 A Simple Kind of Beautiful 3:40 Why 4:09

It’s another one of those worn out, rainy days; if those two descriptive adjectives can even go together. I’ve never heard of this singer before, and to tell you the truth after a nice dinner filled with shrimp, squid and steak I can’t even garnish enough energy to type the name in for a preliminary investigation. So, here it goes:
            Never Alone starts up and instantly I’ve fallen in love with her voice. It could also be due to the fact that my wife and daughter are on the other side of the world (Taiwan) for the summer and I’ve been taking advantage of the time to really finish a book, set up a literary press, and help a few of my friends by editing and critiquing their work. The lyrics of this song really strike a chord with me. I’d love right now for my wife to be pouring this ego-expanding bourbon through my earphones (minus a morning hangover).
            Now That I Get to Drive is next. Hey wait a minute. That sweet voice was given a license. What a shame it also sounds as if she lost her virginity in the backseat before and was then kicked to the curb. She definitely feels like she’s got something to prove in this one. I’d hate to be the unsuspecting guy who did it, this song makes her sound like she’s now infected with some sort of angry ‘stalker syndrome.’
            Yup, I was right. One and Only proves it. I got a bit of advice for this guy she’s singing about, “You better run away fast. Run far, far away. Stuff a backpack and get the hell outa Dodge.” Whoa, I gotta take a break. Let me think, did I ever meet this girl. Because now I’m going to check all the doors and make sure the windows are locked too. I wonder if it’s possible to dead bolt windows, or if it’s too late to board them up. Will the neighbors call the cops if they hear me hammering the concrete nails in?
            Okay, I’m back. I just smoked a few cigarettes and took a look around. We do have neighborhood watch, so I believe I’ll be safe. Simple Kind of Beautiful is the next one. It’s a very calming song with a sweet melody. Now, there’s the girl I met on the first track.
            The last song is Why. The grammar check hit it because I didn’t put a question mark but it didn’t have one in the title. This song lyrically is just scary knowing the second and third tracks. It has those beautiful sounding vocals, but when you listen to them it’s an even scarier kind of stalking.
            Overall, Chantal Kuegle should go back and stick with what best works for her. If she wants to just have an over-obsessed female following than she should stick with those songs. In my personal opinion, The album bounces back and forth like it was all put together during ‘that time of the month.’ She does have a great voice and I believe that sooner or later it’ll come together. On this album it just doesn’t.

Jeremy Frost for Country Music News International

HANK WILLIAM'S SUPER-STAR

2013-05-21T06:50:00.000+02:00

HANK WILLIAM'S SUPER-STAR OPENING ACT COMES TO IOWA

Anita, Iowa..... It was December, 1952. Hank Williams Sr., had already experienced many ups and downs in his meteoric country music career. In Charleston, West Virginia, a huge crowd waited for him in a blistering snowstorm. His opening act was standing by. Because Hank could not make it due to the storm, the show was canceled and all of the performers, including his opening act, was sent to Canton, Ohio, where they were to appear on a New Year's Day matinee. Then they got the news. Hank Williams was dead. An eerie shock-driven hush filled the auditorium. After a time, Hawkshaw Hawkins decided the show must go on, each performer making a tribute to Hank. One by one the acts slowly made their way to the stage, each singing a Hank Williams song. The opening act sang "Mansion On A Hill." That opening act was June Webb.

Before she became the very important opening act for Hank Williams, this young beautiful blonde was asked to audition for Roy Acuff, the king of country music. The night she sang for Acuff, she performed "I Cried Again." to a hootin' and hollerin' crowd. Acuff signed her on the spot. She became known as the 'prettiest Smoky Mountain Boy." From this experience she received Billboard Magazine's prestigious "Most Promising Female Vocalist" award. She performed everywhere Acuff went. She was hugely popular on the USO tours, which gave her an opportunity to show her support for the military.

Webb signed with RCA Records, working closely with Chet Atkins. Atkins considered June Webb to be among the top three guitarists in country music, along with himself and Grady Martin. With her amazing ability to sing, she added her instrumental abilities to her performances. She began touring with Jim Reeves and the Everly Brothers, and a host of other acts produced by Chet Atkins.

In 2011 June Webb was inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame' at the National Old Time Country Music Festival held annually in LeMars, Iowa. She had been retired from show business for about 30 years, but the experience was a delight for her. Now she is returning to Iowa on May 31st, for a very special concert at the Oak Tree Performance Center in Anita. She will be honoring not only the military which she has such high regard for, she will also be paying tribute to her two fellow performing artists, Hank Williams and Roy Acuff. Showtime is 7pm with reserved seats at $10, available by calling 712-762-4363. It should also be noted that Ms. Webb is doing this concert as a fundraiser for the Pioneer Music Museum, also located in Anita. It's to help fix a leaking roof on the building that contains her Hall of Fame display.

joining Ms. Webb, as the opening act, which they treasure, is Smithsonian recording artists, Bob & Sheila Everhart. This is the couple that produce and manage the National Old Time Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa, and are also the proprietors of the Oak Tree Performance Center in Anita, and the ones responsible for bringing Ms. Webb out of retirement. According to Bob Everhart, "June Webb has one of the most magnificent voices I've heard in my lifetime. It is a real pleasure for my wife Sheila and I to be the opening act for this gracious lady."

Also on the program is backing musicians Rick & Harriette Andersen and David Green, and special vocalists Francis Hahn and Marge Lund.

More information is available on the Everhart's website www.ntcma.net

ON THE ROAD WITH THE EVERHARTS MAY 21. 2013

2013-05-21T06:46:00.004+02:00

ON THE ROAD WITH THE EVERHARTS

Anita, Iowa...Sticking pretty close to home, Bob & Sheila Everhart, traveling musicians who are now doing their "Traveling Museum of Music" program for various opera houses and museums in Iowa, are getting ready for one of their most unusual concerts at the Oak Tree Performance Center in Anita. "We were astonished in 2011, when June Webb came to our festival in LeMars for Hall of Fame induction ceremonies," Bob said. "She had been out of country music for quite a long time, nearly 40 years. She makes her home in Sarasota, Florida, and was known as the 'prettiest Smoky Mountain boy' a label pinned on her by Roy Acuff, who she worked for as his lead vocalist. She was also a solo artist, and opened many shows for Hank Williams, Sr. As a matter of fact, she was the opening act on the last two shows Hank never showed up for because he died in the backseat of his car. After that happened, June Webb sort of disappeared from show business, but she's back, and she is an incredibly gifted country singer. She will be at the Oak Tree for a special Memorial Day Weekend concert on May 31st."

"I like June Webb too," Sheila added, "she certainly has a magnificent voice. I just celebrated my 40th birthday, which of course got Bob and Bobbie Lhea all excited, but what really struck me as an incredibly nice birthday present was a case of Timber Ridge wine with my photo on the label from a retired CIA agent. How is that possible. Francis Hahn is one of our regular performers at the Oak Tree, and I can't wait for his special 4th of July presentation. It's quite a nice thing."

"We sure had fun celebrating mom's 40th birthday," Bobbie Lhea was quick to add. "Dad and I got her some nice presents, and of course we had a couple of dinners as well as lunches, but the best one was in Greenfield at the Olive Branch Restaurant. We've been there before, it's the only Greek restaurant near us. So, dad said lets put the 'budget lunch' test on, and see what happens, and much to our surprise we could each have a Gyro sandwich (this is mostly lamb meat) and a drink and still have a budget lunch. We took one of their pizza's home for later, so that didn't count."

The Everharts are also getting ready for their 38th festival in LeMars, Iowa, and according to Bob, the line-up is already looking good. "Appears we'll have Lulu Roman on Aug 29 (she was on Hee Haw), Joanne Cash (Johnny Cash's sister) will be with us on Aug 30, as will her husband Dr. Yates who is the founder of Cowboy Church. Also on that day we'll have Ed Bruce who wrote "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" for Willie Nelson. Kenny Serrat (the guy who apparently gave Merle Haggard his vocal style), and Michael Martin Murphey are set aside for Aug 30, so it's starting to look like a great week in LeMars, Aug 26-Sept. 1.

Natalie HOWARD performing at the 2013 CMA

2013-05-21T06:39:00.000+02:00

Natalie HOWARD performing at the 2013 CMA Global Artist Showcase at The Stage in Nashville on 3rd June.

Natalie has been invited to perform this year at the CMA Global Artist Party and cannot wait to showcase her singles and other tracks from her new album "Under {Love's} Umbrella". The Global Artist Showcase precedes the CMA Music Festival. This is the 10 year anniversary for the CMA Global Artist Party and will include performers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, Sweden and the UK.

"Under {Love's} Umbrella" was recorded in Nashville with 'A' list studio musicians and produced by Jimmie Lee Sloas, a 2 time Grammy Award winning producer, 2 time Music Row Bass Player of The Year and 2013 Academy of Country Music (ACM) 'Bass Player of The Year'.

Natalie's relatable songs cover the gamut of human emotion, from heartache to healing to happiness.

She lures us back to the prominent harmonies of the 70's with her latest single ' Hit The Hay' which is climbing the charts in Australia after very strong support from radio. This third release is the follow-up to Natalie's award winning and chart-topping singles ' You Oughta Marry Me' and 'Feel Like Letting Go'.

Video of the single has been released around Australia and you can view Natalie's 'fun' Behind the Scenes look into the making of the clip by visiting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZcSYxtEvlo It features Australian Actor Cain Thompson and was filmed on the Central Coast of New South Wales by 4 time CMAA Golden Guitar winning Director Duncan Toombs (Filmery)

Natalie was a two time Nominee in the Australian 2013 CMC Awards - " CMC Oz Artist of The Year' and ' CMC Australian Video Of The Year' with ' Feel Like Letting Go', a Top 10 hit on CMC Top 50.

'Under {Love's} Umbrella' is available worldwide direct from Natalie's website : www.nataliehoward.net
Also Bigpond, iTunes worldwide, Music stores in Australia and other outlets worldwide

To view the CMC nominated Australian Video of the Year - FEEL LIKE LETTING GO please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g2ZWEaBO8w OR vimeo.com/33578595 (Filmed by Rusty Gate Films)

To view CMC 'Country Pick of The Week' - 'You Oughta Marry Me' please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WH6Vs468o8 OR vimeo.com/34546725 (Filmed by Rusty Gate Films)

To view the fun BEHIND THE SCENES look into the making of ' Hit The Hay' please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZcSYxtEvlo (Directed by Duncan Toombs @ Filmery)

ARTISTS ANOUNCED FOR FREE CONCERTS ON THE BUD LIGHT STAGE

2013-05-21T06:31:00.000+02:00

ARTISTS ANOUNCED FOR FREE CONCERTS ON THE BUD LIGHT STAGE AT BRIDGESTONE ARENA PLAZA DURING 2013 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL JUNE 6-9 IN NASHVILLE
Country Artist Robin Meade of HLN's "Morning Express with Robin Meade" Announced the Lineup Via CMA’s Social Networks

NASHVILLE – With more than 40 artists confirmed, the Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza will be rockin’ with back-to-back daily concerts during the 2013 CMA Music Festival, Thursday-Sunday, June 6-9, in downtown Nashville.
Free and open to the public, the Bud Light Stage lineups kick-off on Thursday, June 6 at 10:30 AM/CT featuring crowd favorites and up-and-comers entertaining fans each day until 5:00 PM/CT.
“The location of the Bud Light Stage is perfectly situated to provide a place to discover new talent and reconnect with well-known hitmakers,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This stage was one of our most popular destinations in 2012 and I’m expecting the same level of enthusiasm and attendance again this year.”
Artists performing on the Bud Light Stage at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza include: Lauren Alaina; Dean Alexander; Katie Armiger; Frankie Ballard; Kelleigh Bannen; Big Smo; Bucky Covington; Dailey & Vincent; Sarah Darling; Emerson Drive; Rose Falcon; Andy Gibson; JT Hodges; Chris Janson; Angie Johnson; Krystal Keith; LoCash Cowboys; Robin Meade; Randy Montana; David Lee Murphy; Parmalee; Mac Powell; Michael Ray; Chase Rice; Canaan Smith; Joanna Smith; Chris Stapleton; Steel Magnolia; Pam Tillis with Lorrie Morgan; James Wesley; Chuck Wicks; and Drake White.
With 11 stages and many free lifestyle exhibits to explore throughout the Festival footprint in Nashville, CMA Music Festival is a great, family-friendly entertainment value. The concerts at the Bud Light Stage are fun in the sun and within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites, including the all-new AT&T® U-verse® Fan Fair X (FFX) with autograph signings, concerts, lifestyle exhibits, marketplace, live broadcasts, demonstrations and more in the brand new, state-of-the-art Music City Center.
It all kicks off Thursday, June 6 with "Lady A Day at FFX" featuring Lady Antebellum performing, signing autographs, and cutting the ribbon when Fan Fair X officially opens to fans. Fan Fair X is free to four-day ticket holders, but tickets to this exciting new attraction are available to fans for $10 a day or $25 for four days Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9, with children 12 and younger admitted for free. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or the CMA Music Festival Box Office by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) (price includes handling fees). Visit CMAfest.com for details.
Fans can stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news. Fans can also connect with CMA at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Pinterest.com/CMAworld, and Instagram.com/CMA_Country_Music_Association.
“If You See Something, Say Something” at CMA Music Festival
At CMA Music Festival, the safety of our attendees, artists, staff, and volunteers is of utmost importance. Therefore, CMA will be utilizing the “If You See Something, Say Something” program from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“If You See Something, Say Something” is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper local law enforcement authorities.
All of those in attendance at CMA Music Festival are asked to be vigilant in reporting suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack in a public place or someone trying to break into a restricted area).
If suspicious activity is suspected, attendees are encouraged to text ALERT (space) and the LOCATION of the suspicious activity to 66937. There will also be a special Festival law enforcement phone number posted throughout the event area for attendees to call to report suspicious activity.
Factors such as race, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation alone are not suspicious. For that reason, the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack in a public place or someone trying to break into a restricted area) rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions, associations, or speech unrelated to terrorism or other criminal activity.

Country Music News International

Country Music News International May 23. 2013

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Interview with Joe Pickering, Jr.

2013 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL FILLED WITH FREE LIVE MUSIC

THE BAND PERRY TELEVISION APPEARANCES

TRACE ADKINS KISS YOU ALL OVER

George Strait with next Number 1

Darling Parade Artist of the Year

TIM McGRAW OFFERS LIVE TRACKS TO FANS

New Album by Mike Scott & Friends

Country Music News International May 22. 2013

Country Muisc News:

Interview with High Valley

Michael Martin Murphey On ABC TV

Darius Rucker Does It All

HANK WILLIAMS JR. KICKING OFF SUMMER WITH "OLD SCHOOL, NEW RULES" TOUR

Kenny Chesney 43,314 Sell-Out

When I See This Stadium: Kenny Chesney Plays Milwaukee

JOANNA SMITH TO MAKE OPRY DEBUT

JOANNA SMITH TO MAKE OPRY DEBUT

CHRIS YOUNG INVITES FANS

CHRIS YOUNG INVITES FANS TO HELP DIVULGE DETAILS OF NEW RECORD Releases rowdy new single 'Aw Naw' for digital download

Dave Adkins & Republik Steele Head to Nashville With Hot New Album

Country Music News International May 21. 2013

Country Muisc News:

Interview with Josh Thompson

Chantal Kuegle - Chantal Kuegle

HANK WILLIAM'S SUPER-STAR

ON THE ROAD WITH THE EVERHARTS MAY 21. 2013

Natalie HOWARD performing at the 2013 CMA

ARTISTS ANOUNCED FOR FREE CONCERTS ON THE BUD LIGHT STAGE

CHRIS YOUNG INVITES FANS TO HELP DIVULGE DETAILS OF NEW RECORD
Releases rowdy new single 'Aw Naw' for digital download