Forget the Novelty, Bering Strait is a Great Band - November 29, 2005
By Crystal Caviness
Yes, Bering Strait is a Country Music band from Russia. More to the point, Bering Strait is a great Country Music band. A listen to the band's music, including their single "You Make Lovin' Fun" (a remake of the Fleetwood Mac hit), makes it clear that Bering Strait is a group of highly talented, versatile musicians who make music worthy of the GRAMMY nomination they have received. As the band heads into its 12th year in Nashville, with a second album released in August, the musicians are comfortable with the city they now call home and the many veteran Country Music songwriters and producers they call friends... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Craig Sellers - October 25, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
Craig Sellers grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, steeped in music and farming. His father was a local Country Music performer, and his mother played piano and sang in church. Sellers began playing guitar at 10, learning a variety of styles. He began singing in earnest in high school, when he fronted his first band. He became a regular on the Knoxville circuit, opening for national artists who toured in the area. After years of balancing music and a law enforcement career, Sellers left his job as a police officer in the spring of 2004 to concentrate on music. Sellers co-wrote... Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Ragsdale - October 18, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
Growing up in the picturesque Mississippi towns of Natchez and Vicksburg in a home without a television, siblings Joshua and Shi-Anne Ragsdale learned to entertain one another with music. Now, as the duo Ragsdale, they're ready to entertain the rest of the world. Joshua and Shi-Anne began playing music as children in their father's church and each eventually found individual favorites; Country artists Lyle Lovett and Don Williams for Joshua, pop and gospel singers Anita Baker and CeCe Winans for Shi-Anne. A life in showbiz wasn't the first plan for either of them. When the family eventually.. Read full story
New Artist Spotlight: Teresa Wade - November 22, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
Teresa Wade is a self-described mass of contradictions. Part beauty pageant queen and part tomboy as she counts fishing trips with her father and horse shows among her greatest childhood memories. Wade grew up in Stone Mountain, Ga., where she studied classical piano for 12 years and often performed in church. She aspired to be a multi-instrumentalist like one of her heroes, Barbara Mandrell, and eventually added guitar to her arsenal. Her other influences include Norah Jones, Keith Urban and unfortunately, her dream duet partner, Ray Charles, passed away last year. "I'm not sure who could ever... Read full story
Jon Randall Is Back 'Walking Among The Living' - October 25, 2005
By Lorie Hollabaugh
For Jon Randall, Walking Among the Living isn't just an album title. The inspirational title track of the album rings true to an artist who felt like he was through not too long ago. At the moment, the chart-topping hit "Whiskey Lullaby," a 2005 CMA Song of the Year nominee, and new album released Sept. 20, have Randall in a guardedly optimistic mood.
Randall arrived in Nashville nearly two decades ago as another fresh-faced, talented kid seeking his fortune. He hasn't taken the traditional trajectory up the ladder of success, but his twisting path has brought him to the place where rich songs such as... Read full story
MusiCares and Opry Trust Fund Can Provide Help to Musicians - November 22, 2005
By Bobby Reed
Pursuing a career in the music industry is often a rocky journey. Everyone in the business - whether it's a musician, producer, bus driver, engineer or stagehand - faces personal difficulties from time to time. Thankfully, music industry professionals have within their reach numerous organizations willing to offer aid. Established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), MusiCares helps music industry workers cope with personal, medical and financial hardships. All phone calls made to MusiCares' four toll-free telephone numbers are confidential. MusiCares... Read full story
Walter Miller Celebrates His CMA Awards 35th Anniversary - November 15, 2005
By Holly Gleason
They say you can tell how much Walter Miller likes you by how much New York abuse he heaps on you. And through the years, he's rattled, prattled and teased Country Music's biggest luminaries - from Johnny Cash to Vince Gill, the Dixie Chicks to Rosanne Cash - on his way to creating indelible television in the name of Country Music. "They all know my rough and gruff way," laughed the hard-boiled teddy bear of a man. "But deep down, there's another person. . I really care. The artists know that, and I know they know it, so we're free to carry on to break the tension." Miller, waist deep in his 35th CMA.... Read full story
Brooks & Dunn: The Game's Just Getting Started - November 15, 2005
By Michael McCall
For weeks now, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have fielded question after question about hosting "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 8-11 PM/ET on the CBS Television Network from Madison Square Garden in New York City. They meet each query with a sly grin. "The one thing we've got going for us that no one expects anything from us," said Brooks, with trademark wicked glimmer flashing in his eyes. "People don't expect us to be funny. We're just talking heads. We're not comedians. We're a Country Music act that's been asked to introduce other Country Music acts. That's all." His partner shakes his head, acting about as eager as a teenager getting ready for a trigonometry test. "I will be the first to tell you I am not at all comfortable at this," Dunn said. "I think the allure is that people know for a fact that we're going to walk... Read full story
NYC Big Events Announces "Country Takes NYC" Week - November 8, 2005
By Wendy Pearl
The CMA Awards Celebration hits the Big Apple with themed day activities highlighting New York City's tourist destinations and world renowned attractions. For the first time, CMA will celebrate its biggest night outside of Nashville when "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" is held on the world's biggest stage, New York City. To commemorate this landmark event, Daniel L. Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding, and Maureen J. Reidy, President of NYC Big Events, Inc., announced last October that NYC Big Events, in collaboration with CMA, is launching a week-long series of celebrations... Read full story
Trace Adkins Supports CMA Awards Initiative in New York - November 1, 2005
By Gary Voorhies
The continuing relevance of Country Music is the subject of the first single and title track of Songs About Me, the new album by Trace Adkins on Capitol Records Nashville. Adkins sings of meeting a stranger who isn't a fan of Nashville's greatest export while on a late night flight. Instead of arguing, the skeptic is invited to a concert where it becomes clear that Country Music is all about the life and values of Americans. The No. 2 hit single written by Shaye Smith and Ed Hill, captures the honest, straightforward way Adkins deals with most things. He does not pander. In his direct lyrics and actions, people... Read full story
Charles Fazzino Helps Weave Country Music Into The Fabric of New York City With CMA Awards Artwork - November 1, 2005 - By Wendy Pearl
Charles Fazzino, noted 3-D pop artist and creator of limited edition fine art serigraphs, was commissioned by CMA to create official artwork commemorating "The 39th Annual CMA Awards." Fazzino is the first artist selected as the Official Artist of the CMA Awards and his creative interpretation of Country Music in the Big Apple will grace the cover of the official CMA Awards Program Book. "I am proud to have been selected by the Country Music Association to commemorate this incredible music spectacular," Fazzino said. "I'm a big fan of Country Music and I'm so happy that CMA is bringing their... Read full story
Terri Clark Finds Her 'Big, Big Ballad' For New Album - October 18, 2005
By Crystal Caviness
Just know, if it's Terri Clark, expect the unexpected. The 36-year-old Country entertainer, who built a career by doing things her own way, including donning a hat and boots and belting out women's anthems such as "I Wanna Do It All," "Girls Lie Too" and "I Just Wanna Be Mad," no doubt has caught some fans and the industry off guard with her new album and its first single "She Didn't Have Time." The single, an uncharacteristic ballad from Clark, was one of the final songs added to her album, Life Goes On, due out Nov. 1.
In fact, without delays caused by major staff changes at her label... Read full story
Musician Spotlight: Jerry Douglas - A Slide Ruler - October 11, 2005
By Rick Kelly
If you ask 50 guitarists, "Who is the most important guitar player ever?" you are likely to get 50 different answers. From Django Reinhart to Chet Atkins to Les Paul to Eddie Van Halen, the list of guitar virtuosos is endless. But if you ask 50 Dobro players about the greatest player of their instrument, odds are one name will come up - Jerry Douglas. The Best Kept Secret, Douglas' new album, was released by Koch Records on Sept. 20. The album features guest vocals from Alison Krauss on "Back in Love," and John Fogerty on "Swing Blues No.1." Some of Music Row's finest musicians perform on. ... Read full story
Rick Schroder Finds New Groove In The Director's Chair - October 11, 2005
By Mark Crawford
In the Hollywood spotlight since age 8, Rick Schroder stepped behind the camera last year to make his music video directorial debut for Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss' "Whiskey Lullaby." The result won the award for 2004 CMA Music Video of the Year. The 35-year-old New York native started his career as a child actor in 1978's "The Champ" and 1980's sitcom "Silver Spoons." Schroder has since starred in films and television including "Crimson Tide," "Lonesome Dove," "NYPD Blue" and most recently, Lifetime's "Strong Medicine." In 2004, he wrote and directed the film "Black Cloud," an... Read full story
Getting Sirius About Country Programming - October 4, 2005
By John Hood
The growth of SIRIUS Satellite Radio is spiking, and Country Music is a major component.
SIRIUS, which is on track to have 3 million subscribers by the end of the year, enjoyed a 184 percent rise in subscriber growth in the second quarter of 2005, compared to 2004. It's the second largest satellite radio network, after XM Satellite Radio. "Our great second quarter results clearly indicate that momentum for SIRIUS is accelerating," said Mel Karmazin, Chief Executive Officer of SIRIUS. "We beat Wall Street consensus expectations on all important metrics through a continuing focus on sound... Read full story
XM Satellite Radio Expanding Country Operations - October 4, 2005
By Edward Morris
Buoyed by its nearly 4 million subscribers, XM Satellite Radio has announced that it will add two more studios to the one it has operated at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum since 2001. The expansion is a clear indication of Country Music's continuing importance to the company's programming. "We use that studio a lot," said XM Satellite Radio corporate spokesperson Anne-Taylor Griffith. She noted that more than 800 Country artists have performed and/or been interviewed there. "Logistically, if you're having artists come in and record shows," she added, "it can be difficult if you just have.... Read full story
CMA Close Up News Service
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