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WALKIN’ A COUNTRY MILE
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COUNTRY MUSIC COLUMN
by Scott
Stem
Don’t “Stay Gone”
from JIMMY WAYNE…
DreamWorks recording
artist Jimmy Wayne will be
opening for CMA Horizon Award winners Rascal
Flatts on August 22 at
Merrillville’s Star Plaza
Theatre. This is a
great chance to see one of today’s most talented rising stars as well
as a group who is on their way to approaching superstar status at a
great price of $32. Jimmy Wayne, who recently released his
self-titled debut album, is currently on the charts with his song “Stay Gone.” He’s
a triple threat by being an amazing songwriter, a talented vocalist, and
a wonderful entertainer. He
describes his music with this statement: “My music is Country with a
little bit of soul influences added to it. I want to write and sing
songs that people can relate to, songs that have a real heartfelt
message.” People can definitely
relate to the joy and pain found in Jimmy’s songs. He’s a living example of someone who can make the best of a
horrible situation and move forward.
Growing up in poverty in North Carolina,
Jimmy’s mother was in and out of prison and his father was not around.
Frequently the only meals he had were those at his school’s
free lunch program because his stepfather would sell their food stamps
in order to buy drugs. At one point his stepfather tried to shoot him
after beating him. Luckily Jimmy deflected his stepfather’s arm right
before the trigger was pulled and the only casualty was the car’s
front window. As he became
a teenager, he moved through the foster home and group juvenile home
system, sending him into a downward spiral.
But hope was there in the form of an elderly couple who at first
gave him work and later offered a home and a focus on education and
church. Jimmy went on to
graduate high school and college, but also developed his songwriting and
performing skills. After his college graduation he worked as a prison
guard for four years before moving to Nashville to focus on his passion.
After several years
making connections and writing for other artists (including the Tracy
Byrd hit “Put Your Hand in Mind,” which he co-wrote with Skip
Ewing), Jimmy has become a frontrunner for Nashville’s next
sensation. Take a chance on Jimmy Wayne…he’ll prove worthy of your
trust. As for Rascal Flatts,
the platinum-selling group is in the headlines for the sensual new video
for their single, “I Melt.”
The video features RF member Joe
Don Rooney briefly exposing his bare butt after getting out of bed
with a gorgeous blonde woman (who herself is seen in a nude profile
while in the shower earlier in the video).
The video is tastefully filmed and fully captures the romance and
intimacy that lovers in love share.
Catch the video on CMT. Catch the group in performance on August
22. Speaking of Rascal
Flatts, they will join Martina
McBride in a press conference at the Grand
Ole Opry House on
Tuesday, August 26th to announce the final nominees for “The
37th Annual CMA Awards.” Tune in to “CBS
The Early Show” to catch several of the nominations live as anchor
Hannah Storm travels to
Nashville to be a part of the highly anticipated event.
This will be the first time the CMA
Awards nominations will be telecast live nationally, allowing
fans across the country to learn who the nominees are at the same time
the artists, industry and media does. “The CMA Awards” will air on Nov.
5 from 8- 11PM/EST on CBS. Vince
Gill will host the program for his 12th consecutive year. MARTY’S
LOVES...
Marty Stuart has released a new
album simply titled Country Music that is a must for your shelves.
Stuart’s love for Country music is widely felt on this album,
which also features a duet with Merle Haggard on “Farmer’s
Blues” and performances from Earl
Scruggs and Josh Graves
on “Tip Your Hat.”
Stuart has performed all his life.
As a teenager he performed with Flatt
& Scruggs before touring for years as part of Johnny
Cash’s show. He’s
had hits both on his own and with friend Travis
Tritt. Marty continues
to leave his own mark on the music.
Marty’s wife, the
legendary Connie Smith joins
friends Sharon White (of The
Whites) and Barbara Fairchild
for a new album, Love
Never Fails, produced by White’s husband, Ricky Skaggs. It’s a
stellar combination of Country, Gospel and Bluegrass music and finds its
three ladies in superb voice. I knew nothing about this album when I
received it in the mail the other day -- it’s become a new favorite.
These ladies remain at the top of their game.
You may have to look for this album as it’s not on a major
label, but it’s worth your search. MUSIC
NEWS • Trace
Adkins’ Greatest Hits Collection, Volume 1
debuted at #1 on the Country sales charts. • Alan
Jackson will release a second Greatest
Hits album this fall that will include his current hit duet with
Jimmy Buffett, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”
• Jo
Dee Messina has received two Boston Music Awards nominations – one
for “Female Vocalist of the
Year” and one for “Song of
the Year” for her hit “Bring
on the Rain.” Messina
has already received four Boston Music Awards in the past.
Winners will be announced Sept. 4. • Brad
Paisley has established the Brad
Paisley Celebrity Invitational Fishing Tournament to raise money
for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
The first event will be held on Sept. 9th at Nashville’s Percy
Priest Lake. Paisley’s
new album, Mud On The Tires is out
now. •
A tribute album to Dolly
Parton will be released in October.
The artists performing Parton’s songs will be –– Kasey
Chambers, Melissa
Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Shelby Lynne,
Allison Moorer, Me’Shell N’dedgeOcello, Sinead O’Connor, Joan
Osborne, Mindy Smith and Shania Twain.
Parton will provide a new recording of her classic “Just
Because I’m A Woman.” • Tim
McGraw will become the first male to ever be featured on the cover
of Redbook Magazine.
He also is the first performer other than Celine
Dion to perform in the Coliseum at Caesar’s in Las Vegas, filling
in while Dion is on vacation. • Allison Moorer has released her latest album, Show, a live concert from 12th & Porter in Nashville. Why this woman is not yet a superstar is unknown. She has an amazing powerful voice, a wonderful stage presence, and fabulous songs.
A bonus DVD of the entire concert (plus one extra song) is
included in the CD package, making this an incredible buy. Allison’s
sister Shelby Lynne joins her for three songs, including “Is
Heaven Good Enough For You,” a song dedicated to their late
mother.
Kid Rock stops by to
sing along on “Bully Jones,”
while Lonesome Bob joins
Allison on “No Next Time.”
Simply put, Allison is one of the best singers and song
interpreters today. If you aren’t aware of Moorer, find out what
you’ve been missing.
• Brian
McComas has released his self-titled debut CD on Lyric Street
Records. The disc contains
the radio single “99.9% Sure
(I’ve Never Been Here Before)”
• Singer/fiddle
player Andrea Zonn has
release the album Love
Goes On, which combines Bluegrass, Country Celtic and pop
influences into a wonderful mixture.
Alison Brown, Jerry
Douglas, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Marcus Hummon, Alison Krauss and Tim
O’Brien are among the guest performers on this album.
• Speaking
of Tim O’Brien, he has just
released his own new album, Traveler.
The album features songs about, well, traveling.
Journeys to other places, journeys in life and more are presented
in detail on this outstanding album.
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