20 Years Ago: The Career of Randy Travis is Born Again with a #1 Song
31 Comments20 years ago today, Randy Travis hit #1 with the song “Three Wooden Crosses,” revitalizing his career at a time when Nashville had put him out to pasture.
Independent Music Makes Its Case to Congress
21 CommentsOn Wednesday, The United States House of Representatives’ House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet took up the issue in an open hearing, specifically taking up the matter of music licensing Under Title 17 – Part 2 of the current law. Multiple members of the independent music community came to testify, including Rosanne Cash.
Willie Nelson Hits #1 with New “Band of Brothers” Album
46 CommentsWillie Nelson, who just released his latest record Band of Brothers on June 17th though Sony’s Legacy Recordings, has crested at the very top spot on Billboard’s Country Music Album’s chart, landing at #1. It is Willie’s first #1 in 28 years, since his 1986 album The Promiseland. It is also his second-best showing ever on Billboard’s all genre Billboard 200 chart, coming in at #6.
Marty Stuart Center Hopes to Become Country Music Landmark
4 CommentsOne of the largest and most important collections of country music memorabilia is finally going to get a permanent home, and it’s part of much bigger plans for a historic building in Marty Stuart’s hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi. Marty’s “Congress of Country Music Hall” will include a theater for musical performances, and classroom space.
Ben Folds Is Trying to Save Nashville’s Historic Studio ‘A’
3 CommentsSinger, songwriter, and record producer Ben Folds is trying to save what is arguably the most important, and most historic studio in the history of country music. RCA’s famed “Studio ‘A'” located on Music Row in Nashville is were many of country music’s finest classic records were recorded by a dizzying list of the genre’s stars.
Lack of Information on Randy Travis Leading to Unnecessary Speculation
9 CommentsSince Randy Travis was transferred to the impatient rehabilitation facility, any information that has come out has been in bits and pieces, much from unnamed sources, some of which has contradicted itself, and none of which has been confirmed by anyone officially from the Randy Travis camp, leading to an environment of rumor, misinformation, and conjecture about Randy’s condition.
Song Review – Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids”
64 CommentsPrefacing “American Kids”, Kenny Chesney says all of the right things. “There is so much more to being alive than partying, tailgates and bonfires.” Okay, that all sounds good …. And then here comes the song. It still relies heavily on the listing off of artifactual staples daisy chained by buzzwords, while favoring a rhythmic delivery instead of a melodic one.
Tom Hiddleston Talks Playing Hank Williams in Upcoming Biopic
24 CommentsActor Tom Hiddleston was announced on June 12th as the leading role in an upcoming biopic about the life of Hank Williams called I Saw The Light. Tom Hiddleston recently spoke to The Daily Mail about the film, reassuring concerned country music fans about the reverence with which he will approach the role. “I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”
Caleb Klauder Recovering After Vocal Chord Surgery
7 CommentsWhen it comes to country music artists still making country music the right way, and doing it criminally under-the-radar in a selfless manner, Caleb Klauder might be at the top of the list. That is why is was so alarming to hear that the long-time touring musician had developed vocal chord polyps from years of performing.
Huge Mess Left in Wake of Luke Bryan Pittsburgh Concert
82 CommentsIt happened again. For the love of God, it happened again. Despite last year’s public outcry, despite movements to ban the event from happening again this year, despite an aggressive effort by organizers to attempt to stem the littering issues by handing out garbage and recycling bags to tailgaters as they entered the grounds it all transpired again: mounds of trash, multiple arrests, and many fights.
Country Legend Jimmy C. Newman, “The Alligator Man” Passes Away
8 CommentsThe bayou cries out in mourning, but the music will live on. Jimmy C. Newman, the ‘C’ standing for “Cajun,” known as one of country music’s most passionate champions of the Cajun influence and nicknamed “The Alligator Man,” passed away on Saturday, June 21st due to Cancer. He was 86-years-old. Jimmy C. Newman, “The Alligator Man”, is now sitting on the banks of the great bayou in the sky.
Dex Romweber’s Influence Lingers on “Images 13”
4 CommentsAll the silly talk about who was first and who ripped off who is mute when you bury your nose in the music catalog of the prototype of that predatory, aggressive, two-piece sound that blends blues, rockabilly, rock, country, surf, and a cavalcade of other obscure influences into the wild-eye concoction Dex Romweber has been throwing down for going on 30 years.
Miranda Lambert Punched That Nickelback Dude in the Face
41 CommentsThe rumors of a drunken interlude between Miranda Lambert’s knuckles and the face of Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger have been lurking out there for a couple of years now, transferring mouth to mouth amongst the unclean masses like an unwelcome oral herpetic strain. Nothing had ever been confirmed though, leaving a few to speculate that the whole incident was mere urban myth.