New Artist Spotlight: Cowboy Troy - September 27, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
As a boy, Troy Coleman (Cowboy Troy) didn't realize he was listening to Country Music. "I just knew it was what my parents listened to before they went to work in the morning," he said. That was back in Fort Worth, Texas where his dad took him to rodeos and stock shows and exposed him to musical favorites including Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson, Jerry Reed and Kenny Rogers. Then Cowboy Troy's teen years arrived, and with them a new influence: the rap and hip hop music he heard on MTV. "That's where Run-DMC came in," he said. Then, as a freshman psychology major at the University of Texas... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband - September 13, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
The title of "Dream Big," the first single from Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand, could also be the group's motto. "Our songs are a celebration of life," Shupe said. "A lot of our songs are hopeful, overall. There are some sad songs, but you come away from them seeing the positive side. That's the spirit of the RubberBand." It's a spirit that binds bandmates Shupe (lead vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar), Roger Archibald (guitar), Colin Botts (bass), Craig Miner (banjo, bouzouki, guitar, mandolin) and Bart Olson (drums), whose collective sound carries influences from Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash to The Police... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Catherine Britt - September 6, 2005
By Amanda Eckard
Catherine Britt may be considered a newcomer by industry standards, but the Australian already has one very famous fan - Sir Elton John. John was touring in Australia when a friend called to tell Britt that the British pop singer was mentioning her name on all the talk shows. Apparently, John walked into a record shop where the clerk recommended Britt's 2001 independent album Dusty Smiles and Heartbreak Cures. After the first listen, John was hooked and couldn't help but spread the word. That reaction seems to follow Britt everywhere she goes. When she was 11, Britt went to a Bill Chambers... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: The Hacienda Brothers - August 16, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
The duo of Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez - together known as the Hacienda Brothers - joined forces to explore their shared love of classic Country and early soul. But over time, they have integrated roots-rock, blues and a Southwestern flavor into the style heard on their self-titled Koch Records debut album. "We can absolutely turn on a dime and play whatever we want," declared Gaffney, "and that's how we made the record." Gaffney, formerly of Dave Alvin's band, plays accordion, acoustic guitar and carries most of the vocal duties for the Brothers. Gonzalez, previously the primary singer and... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Lauren Lucas - August 9, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
Lauren Lucas got started on her music career when she was 3-years-old. By 7, she had debuted on the Grand Ole Opry. While still in her mid-teens, she established her first Country band, made a follow-up appearance on the Opry and won Teen magazine's "Superface Search." At 16, Lucas had a production and publishing deal with Sony ATV/Tree in Nashville. As a youngster, Lucas gave a performance at a fundraiser for Palmetto Place Children's Shelter. That led to the formation of Kids A.C.T. (Kids Accepting Challenges Today) in 1993, with the mission of inspiring young people to... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Jace Everett - August 2, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
Epic Records' new artist Jace Everett wrote or co-wrote six of the 10 songs on his self-titled debut album to be released later this year. "I think it's really interesting how half of the songs are about just having a good time with no remorse. The other half seems to be about growing up and trying to redeem yourself from your past. I can definitely say this is an honest record from top to bottom," Everett said of the project, which was produced by Mark Wright and Greg Droman. The singer has had a varied career. "I've been a ditch digger, framer, photographer, truck washer, mover, waiter, bartender, bus boy... Read full story
Lee Ann Womack Hails Classic Influences On New Album - August 23, 2005
By Bobby Reed
Lee Ann Womack is pushing her career forward by taking a look back. As the title suggests, Womack's new album, There's More Where That Came From, is heavily influenced by classic Country Music of the '60s and '70s. Critics have fawned over the album, and radio programmers warmly embraced the lead single, "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," which added another Top 10 single to her career list that includes "You've Got to Talk to Me," "The Fool,'' "A Little Past Little Rock" and "Ashes by Now." Womack is best known for "I Hope You Dance," a song that topped the Country charts.... Read full story
Jo Dee Messina Makes a Delicious Return - August 16, 2005
By Wendy Newcomer
It's been five years since Jo Dee Messina released an album of all new music. But with the success of "My Give a Damn's Busted" - her fastest-rising No. 1 single - the long absence has hardly tarnished her career. In fact, the award-winning, multi-Platinum star now finds herself once again in the national spotlight. Just don't call it a comeback. "I see it as a saving grace," said Messina, who spent the last year undergoing a public and personal overhaul; she ended a nine-year relationship, sought treatment for alcohol addiction and replaced her manager and publicist. "It was just time," she said of the... Read full story
Trick Pony Rides A Bumpy Road To Maturity - September 27, 2005
By Crystal Caviness
An interesting thing happened to Curb Asylum recording group Trick Pony, known for its sass and party spirit, during a recent unplanned two-year hiatus. "I think we've grown up," said bassist Ira Dean. "We still like to throw down and have fun, but we've definitely grown up and spread out a little bit." Dean and his bandmates, singer Heidi Newfield and guitarist Keith Burns, showcase their newfound maturity on R.I.D.E. (which stands for Rebellious Individuals Delivering Entertainment), the trio's third album and first at its new label home of Curb Asylum. Trick Pony was Warner Bros. Records' shining star when.... Read full story
Trisha Yearwood Learns Digging Deeper Pays Off - September 13, 2005
By Michael McCall
With Jasper County, Trisha Yearwood's first album in four years, the two-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year proves that a grand entrance more than makes up for an extended absence. In 2001, after 20 Top 10 hits with nine at No. 1 in 12 years, the singer decided that she'd take a year off from recording and touring. One year stretched to two. "I was anxious to get into the studio and get a record done," she recalled. "But I was in such a hurry that we forced it. We started working in the studio before I was ready." Yearwood believes she works best when she takes the time to learn new material... Read full story
Tune In And Watch The CMA Awards Nominees News Conference On Wednesday, Sept. 7 - September 6, 2005 - By Wendy Pearl
Reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Keith Urban and three-time CMA Awards winner Lee Ann Womack will announce the final nominees for "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" during a news conference Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the Stone Rose in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Tune in to CMT Wednesday, Sept. 7 (10:15-10:45 AM/ET) for the live premiere of "CMT Insider Special Edition: 2005 CMA Awards Nominee Announcement" as CMT host Lance Smith covers the event from the Time Warner Center in New York City, while CMT host Katie Cook, back in CMT's Nashville... Read full story
Prilosec OTC Hits the 'Road to the CMA Awards' - September 6, 2005
By Cory Chapman
The Country Music Association is gearing up for "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" with a coast-to-coast bus tour sponsored by Prilosec OTC. The "Prilosec OTC Country Music Tour: Road to the CMA Awards in New York City," which kicks off in Los Angeles Sept. 15 and hits 18 cities in its cross-country trek, wraps its run in the Big Apple days before the CMA Awards airs live from Madison Square Garden on Nov.15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the CBS Television Network, hosted for the second year in a row by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Arista Nashville duo Brooks & Dunn. The promotional tour is... Read full story
CMA Announces New Members of the Country Music Hall of Fame - August 30, 2005
By Scott Stem
The Country Music Association has announced that groundbreaking musical group Alabama, legendary singer/musician/television host Glen Campbell and pioneering Grand Ole Opry star DeFord Bailey will become the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame. Formal induction for the artists will take place during "The 39th Annual CMA Awards," which will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network, Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Bailey will be inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War... Read full story
SESAC Celebrates 75 Years of Service, Tradition and Innovation - August 9, 2005
By Crystal Caviness
The story of SESAC occasionally has been compared to the tale of "The Little Engine That Could." Much smaller than its sister U.S. performing rights organizations, BMI and ASCAP, SESAC has spent three-quarters of a century building its business strategically focused on three principles: service, tradition and innovation - words that now grace the company's 75th anniversary logo. SESAC, headquartered on Nashville's Music Row, opened its doors in 1935 and began a mission dedicated to representing the rights of songwriters and publishers. And like the hero of the classic story... Read full story
Thom Oliphant: A Native Son Makes Good in Nashville - August 2, 2005
By Mark Crawford
He's not as famous as his clients, but Thom Oliphant's talents as a music video director and television producer are in high demand by some of Nashville's biggest stars and record labels. Oliphant is the creative force behind the videos for Terri Clark's "The World Needs a Drink" and Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires." Other hit videos include "Wide Open Spaces" and "There's Your Trouble" by the Dixie Chicks, Aaron Lines' "You Can't Hide Beautiful" and Keith Urban's "It's a Love Thing." Oliphant doesn't just do videos - he also creates commercials, live concert films and television shows. In 2002, he produced... Read full story
CMA Close Up News Service
© 2005 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc
New Artist Spotlight: The Greencards - July 26, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
The Greencards' musical influences include any and all great acoustic music - including works by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Ricky Skaggs. The band got its start in Austin, Texas when Kym Warner (mandolin) and Carol Young (bass) met Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle) at a recording session. The connection was immediate and based on a shared love of traditional acoustic music. They joined forces to crack the Austin music scene, and landed a standing Sunday gig playing bluegrass and Country cover tunes. The trio that played this distinctly American bluegrass style of music was comprised... Read full story
