THE COUNTRY CLUB |
Honest as a robin on a springtime windowsill.
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 Josh Turner’s wife Jennifer surprises him at at Ole Red in Nashville with a plaque to commemorate “Your Man” being certified 3x platinum
by Melissa Coker During the Saturday night Opry broadcast for June 19, "man of the hour" Josh Turner shared that his forthcoming album re-release will see updated liner notes and even updated videos for the project. (WATCH him, along with performances from Sawyer Brown, Elvie Shane and Kyle Petty IN THIS CircleTV video, embedded below AND featuring commentary by Nan Kelley). Turner has turned some pages in his storied career, from beseeching audiences against a ride on that “Long Black Train” on his debut in 2003 (or criminally-underrated follow-up “What It Ain’t” complete with video wherein Turner charmed as host of pretend match game show Love, Not Love) to recording with Randy Travis to showing off his husky, come-hither narrative with selections such as “Your Man” to fun-lovingly booming about his better half with “Firecracker” or extending a hand in “Would You Go With Me?” Award-nominated across genres, this artist is a guy who knows how to navigate a story song. He's shared his sunny spiritual side with mostly-gospel album I Serve a Savior (which wisely contains his previous single release “Me and God” and a live recording of “Long Black Train”) and gotten back to the basics with established classic country hit takes on Country State of Mind (released in August). CSoM’s collaborations on country throwbacks feature artists including Randy Travis on “Forever and Ever, Amen,” Kris Kristofferson on “Why Me,” Chris Janson on the title track, John Anderson and Allison Moorer. Turner takes on well-known standards cut by Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Patty Loveless, Vern Gosdin, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jennings and both the Jr. and Sr. varieties of Hank Williams. “I knew the artists I wanted to represent,” explains Turner, “and I chose songs that exemplified who each of these artists was from my perspective.” In March “Your Man”—written by Chris Stapleton, Jace Everett and Chris DuBois—was certified as a 3-times-platinum single. On June 25 (one day before his Murfreesboro, TN show), Turner will release Your Man: Deluxe Edition, featuring three additional live tracks not on its original release. Pre-orders are available now and the release will also be available on vinyl. Josh Turner will perform Saturday, June 26, at 7 p.m. Find tickets for this and more tour dates on ticketmaster.com. #opry #countrymusic #newmusic #countrystateofmind #yourman #manofthehour
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William Lee Golden, member of GRAMMY® Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame group The Oak Ridge Boys, tells all with the release of his new autobiography titled Behind the Beard, written with Scot England. “When you write your life story, and you decide to bare everything, it’s kind of scary. It feels a lot like getting naked…in front of the entire world. Now that I’ve committed to it, there is one thing going through my mind…if I was going to get naked in front of everyone, I probably shouldn’t have waited until I was 82 years old,” shares William Lee. “William Lee is the face of The Oak Ridge Boys to many people. When people think of the Oaks, they think of that guy with the beard. Of course, he’s much more than that…as you are about to find out.”– ORB Joe Bonsall The amusing, poignant, and brutally honest memoir takes readers on a journey from William Lee’s humble Alabama childhood and teenage roots to singing on stage with his favorite group (and many of the details in between). “I am honored to be a part of William’s book, and I look forward to reading it. Imagine that…I’m with the guy almost every day of the year, and I’m still looking forward to finding out things that I don’t know about the man.”– ORB Richard Sterban ""I know William has a lot of stories he wants to tell in this book, and I support him 100 percent. He has a lot of fans who want to read about the interesting life he has led.” – ORB Duane Allen Behind the Beard not only takes readers on an exclusive look into William Lee’s vision of turning a gospel group into one of the biggest acts in country music history and stories of 50 years on the road with The Oak Ridge Boys, but dives deeper into personal hardships he faced throughout his life. William Lee divulges the real reason he was away from the group for nine years, his first wife’s one-of-a-kind reaction when she learned he had been unfaithful, and how he made his return to the Oaks. He also addresses the burning questions about his iconic beard such as when and why he started growing it and if he will ever cut it? “William Lee Golden is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But he is a person who knows who he is. He has dedicated his life to helping people. William is a man of integrity and honesty, and you will read his very honest words in this book,” shares Jim Halsey, Manager of The Oak Ridge Boys. Fans will want to reserve their copy of Behind the Beard, which includes over 200 rare, never-before-seen photos from William Lee’s personal collection, read about his past, and learn about his vision for the future with his family and The Oak Ridge Boys. Autographed copies, personally signed by William Lee, are also available and will ship as soon as he autographs yours! To order Behind The Beard, visit www.williamleegoldenbook.com or Amazon.com. To Order Autographed Copies of Behind The Beard visit www.williamleegoldenbook.com Along with the launch of his autobiography, William Lee is involved in several other upcoming projects, including the release of The Oak Ridge Boys’ new album Front Porch Singin' on June 11, which is the group's fourth collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb. William Lee is also working with his sons, ‘The Goldens,’ to release three new rock, country, and gospel albums.
 Experience a night with music industry's biggest hitmakers! The last Thursday of every month LIVE from the Glen Campbell Museum. Southern Nights host Galen Griffin with award-winning songwriters Larry Cordle & Buddy Owens take over the Rhinestone Stage at the Glen Campbell Museum on May 27th from 7:00-8:30 pm CST. Listen to the trio of songwriters play their biggest hits like "She Won't Be Lonely Long" by Clay Walker, "Red River Blue" by Blake Shelton, "Murder on Music Row" by George Strait and Alan Jackson, and many more! Don't miss this extraordinary night of music. Doors Open at 6:00 pm CST Limited Tickets are available: General Admission or VIP Tickets (VIP Tickets include preferred seating and Meet & Greet with the songwriters). This show is also available via LIVESTREAM. Click the link below for livestream tickets. https://glencampbellmuseum.veeps.com/stream/schedule 
New Single “Home Run” Available Digitally Worldwide 4/23
Impacts Country Radio on 5/10 NASHVILLE, TN (April 23, 2021) – Multi-platinum Quartz Hill Records artist Joe Nichols returns with new single “Home Run” available digitally worldwide on 4/23. The song ushers in a new era of classic-influenced country music from Nichols. “Home Run” impacts country radio on May 10. Stream/ buy “Home Run” HERE. “Home Run” was penned by award-winning songwriters Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ross Copperman. The song explores the need for human reconnection and for new beginnings, serving as an anthem for anyone looking to turn life’s curveballs into a straight shot toward the center field seats. That message is what ultimately drove Nichols to record the song. “It’s more than a great hook; it’s a great message, too,” says Nichols. “After the year we’ve had, we could all use a little bit of a break, just to step away from the rat race for a while and get back to our roots. We could all use a reminder of what home feels like.” “Home Run” marks Nichols’ first new music since his 2018 EP, Never Gets Old: Traditional Country Series, and the first music since reuniting with veteran label head Benny Brown with whom Nichols enjoyed two multi-week No. 1 singles, the RIAA Gold-certified hits “Yeah” and “Sunny and 75” from the critically-acclaimed album, Crickets. Nichols is currently in the studio recording his inaugural full-length album for Quartz Hill Records, reuniting with acclaimed music producers Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, who helmed Nichols’ much-lauded Crickets. Cones also produced Nichols’ follow-up album, Never Gets Old, which was named one of All Music’s “Favorite Country Albums of 2017” alongside projects by Willie Nelson, Margo Price and Chris Stapleton. For the latest news on Nichols visit: www.JoeNichols.com and follow him (@JoeNichols) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Track listing (including songwriters) below!
Country Music Hall of Fame legend Ronnie Milsap follows up his all-star Duets, featuring Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Billy Gibbons, Luke Bryan and George Strait with A Better Word for Love - to be released 4/30. Teaming with longtime co-producer Rob Galbraith, the pair sought to celebrate the genre-blurring kind of country that Milsap defines. In fact, the title track has been recorded by other artists - even recorded on supergroup Alabama's album Cheap Seats - but Milsap's held on to the rich song for some time himself. Mike Reid (“Stranger In My House,” “I Can’t Make You Love Me”), Gary Nicholson (“One More Last Chance,” “The Trouble With The Truth”), Al Anderson (“All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” “The Cowboy In Me”), Jim Weatherly (“Midnight Train To Georgia,” “Best Thing To Ever Happen To Me”), Brent Maher (“Why Not Me,” “Lesson In Leavin’”), Allen Shamblin (“Life’s A Dance”, "Don't Laugh at Me"), and David Ball are among the renowned writers featured. “I have been blessed to work with some of the very best songwriters in the world,” Milsap reflects. “Over the years, they’ve kept bringing me unbelievable songs, and in some cases, they’ve let me hang onto them because I loved them so much. When Rob and I started this project a few years ago, we decided some of those songs were so special… We wanted to build this album around them, so they wouldn’t be treasures only Joycee and I could hear. “We got to go back to Ronnie’s Place, the studio I built all those years ago, just dig in and cut them – and some songs that have the same kind of heart, the soul and that joy that I’ve always loved. You know, even a sad song when you do it sad enough’ll make you feel better.” Along the way, Milsap received a special package from Carl Perkins’s widow. “Big Bertha” was the last song the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer had written. She’d sent it to Milsap thinking he’d do it right. Not only did the Academy of Country Music Pioneer Award winner bring his signature slow burning blues to the song, he enlisted Vince Gill for the quick-hitting, fiddle-punctuated country portion of the ode to more than a woman, but a driver. And they hit it out of the (golf) park. “Singing a song about a golf club without Vince Gill just didn’t feel right,” Milsap laughs. “And he was able to bring that thing he does like nobody else to Carl’s song.” To further honor these songs, Milsap enlisted some of Nashville’s finest to play: guitarists Brent Mason, Steve Gibson, Mark Casstevens, and Chris Leuzinger, bass player Michael Rhodes, drummer Lonnie Wilson, double steel players Mike Johnson and Paul Franklin, and Milsap’s longtime musical director Jamie Brantley. As a further homage to his longtime musical compatriots, Milsap includes “Civil War,” recorded live at Atlanta’s Chastain Park in 1993. Capturing his longtime touring band in their prime, the Cindy Richardson/Carol Chase song weaves Southern gospel into a song of marital dissolution – and demonstrates the vocal dynamics, keyboard stylings and drama onstage. "The state of our union is one of confusion" he sings in his trademark tremble. A Better Word for Love Track Listing: “Big Bertha” featuring Vince Gill -Randy Moore, Carl Perkins, DJ Perkins “Wild Honey” – Jim Weatherly, Nigel Wright “A Better Word for Love” – Al Anderson, Gary Nicholson “Almost Mine” – David Ball, Randy Goodrum “Fool” – Thomas Cain “This Side of Heaven” – Brent Maher, Allen Shamblin, Mike Reid “Civil War (Live),” recorded at Atlanta’s Chastain Park in 1993 – Cindy Richardson, Carol Chase “Fireworks” – Steve Dean, Don Gatlin, Mike Ulvila “Now” – Thomas Cain, Tim Nichols “Too Bad for My Own Good” – Joe H. Hunter, Jim Whitehead, Jim Weatherly #countrymusic #RonnieMilsap #Opry #VinceGill #CheapSeats Let's be honest - April Fool's Day jokes aren't often met with much enthusiasm. But fooling around has frequently been a smart choice when it comes to music. Here, we list a few favorites - having some fun with tunes that range from the rock-bottom somber variety to the extremely not-so-much. Feel free to comment with your own suggestion for tunes of tomfoolery below! (A note: this list does lend to an essentially endless amount of cover/other versions not covered here, so please keep that in mind). -TCC In no particular order.
#AprilFools #CountryMusic #FoolSongs #FoolsGame
 Photo credit: ANDREW NELLES
by Melissa Coker
Ready to take a musical cue from Travis Tritt and put some drive in your country? Maybe just take an ever-so slightly out of the city drive to the (sort of) country to catch a concert from a legendarily country artist? Look no further than Hop Springs. It's true - no pshtt. Tritt and his world-renowned country clubbing style are taking to the large outdoor stage at thumbe local beer park/music venue this month as one of many stops among a plethora of new concert dates in the coming months. He and his band (this date is a full band one although not all on the tour are) are sure to bring the Southern rock and country classic heat along with new music too - after some delay last year, Tritt's new album Set in Stone is set for release on May 7. Plus, appropriately enough for a brewery, his new nostalgic single (following the first, the reassuring Aaron Raitiere co-write "Ghost Town Nation") from the project is titled "Smoke in a Bar." PRE-ORDER HERE: https://amzn.to/3w9Dpp6 So put some drive in your country. When the music gets you dancing, you know that can't be wrong. Accomplished director David Abbott directed "Smoke" ("he's the best!," exuded Tritt) and directed the fun-loving all-out brawl of a video "You Can Have Him Jolene" for CMT's "Next Women of Country" family girl group Chapel Hart too. "It's getting back to that classic, no-frills, outlaw-country sound" Tritt says of Stone. Not that he ever left such a sound, but still it's refreshing to say that after a long hiatus of full-length original projects from the artist, the whiskey is still working plenty. Released through Big Noise Label Group and produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Shooter Jennings, The Highwomen, Sturgill Simpson and even The Oak Ridge Boys), the new album features eleven new songs, eight of which were co-written by Tritt. Set In Stone marks Tritt’s first original full-length studio album in over a decade. He pays homage here to all sides of his musical personality along with the trademarks of his originality - be it through opening with the rowdy “Stand Your Ground” or powerful love songs like “Leave This World” with searing country rockers like the first single “Ghost Town Nation." Some of the most landmark moments of Tritt's iconic career have Murfreesboro to thank. His memorably heart-wrenching trilogy of music videos ("Anymore", "Tell Me I Was Dreaming," and "If I Lost You") still feel like mini-movies as they vividly follow the story of Tritt portraying war veteran "Mac", his best friend and the love of his life, Annie. Some of the moments in these stories were filmed at Murfreesboro's Tennessee State Veterans' Home. To this day, Tritt holds the utmost respect for veterans and it's no doubt in large part to these videos. (Potential YouTube viewers beware if you haven't watched before. Be prepared). "The thing I love most about this particular song is the video that we did for it," Tritt candidly shared of "Anymore" at a show in 2019. "This turned out to be one of the biggest hits of my career and that was a wonderful thing to see happen, especially since I was one of the writers on this song. But the video actually gave me my first acting job. In this video I played the part of a disabled American veteran. And I knew as soon as I read the script, it was going to be something special. But I was also nervous. I was nervous because we were going to film it in an actual veterans' hospital, a veterans' clinic in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. And everybody in the video with the exception of myself and about four other actors were all veterans...they were either veterans that were actual patients or they were veterans that were staff members. And I was afraid, because I had never served...I was afraid that those people were going to hate me. I was afraid that I was going to go in there, sit down in a wheelchair and try to portray myself as one of them and they were going to look at me and go 'Who does this guy think he is?'" "And I was very, very concerned about that" he continued to recall. "...Right up until the very morning that we started filming. And the morning that we started filming, I walked in the gymnasium of this clinic and I sat down in a wheelchair. All of the cameras were around and they were getting ready to start saying 'action!' and as soon as I sat down in that wheelchair, I found myself surrounded...by all of these actual veterans. And I found out very quickly, they did not hate me at all. Quite the contrary. They were just happy that someone was there to tell their story. Before the day was over, I knew every single one of them by first name. They told me very personal stories...it was just a very special experience. So a few weeks later when we finished up the video we brought it back, to debut it at the VA - to debut it for the world, but more importantly to debut it for all of the people that had been a part of helping us make it happen. And as I was sitting to the side of the stage, watching the video play on the big screen, I wasn't watching the screen. I was looking out into the audience as the video played. And as it played, before it ended I looked out into the audience and I did not see one person in the audience who didn't have a little bit of a tear rolling down their cheek. That really touched my heart. It touched my heart so much that as soon as I got home, I called my Senator and my Congressman and I said 'listen, I don't know if there's anything that a country music singer like me can do - but if there's any way that I can be of service to veterans or veterans' issues in this country, I would like to volunteer for that. And as a result of that phone call, I had the wonderful privilege and honor of being able to serve as the celebrity chairman and the celebrity spokesperson of the Disabled American Veterans Association for four years in a row. And for two years after I had the opportunity to serve in that same capacity for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). That six year period was one of the greatest times of my life...if you look up the word 'hero' in the dictionary, you should see the faces of all of these men and women right there next to that word." On that note, take the time to get out and enjoy this Hop Springs experience in an open field...as Tritt sings in "Where Corn Don't Grow" - "hard times are real, there's dusty fields no matter where you go, but you may change your mind, 'cause the weeds are high where corn don't grow." And here's a quarter's worth of free advice (call someone who cares): don't let the term "pod" keep you away from the socially-distanced event, it might sound other-worldlyish but really all it means is that you and your present company will be ever-so-slightly separated from others and perhaps surrounded by a small fence. We reached out to Tritt for comment regarding his thoughts on this show stop, but evidently he was busy (we think we heard he had rice cooking in the microwave and a three-day beard he doesn't plan to shave) so we have to imagine that if asked his answer would be this: "It's a goofy thing but I've just gotta say, hey! I'm doing alright. There's some hard times in the neighborhood. But why can't every day be just this good?" Travis Tritt with opener Frank Foster play Hop Springs Beer Park Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. Options include both "pod" seating and general admission. #countrymusic #veteransawareness #veteranssupport #22for22challenge #travistritt #newmusic #cmt #musicvideos BUY TICKETS: ticketmaster.com/travis-tritt-with-frank-foster-murfreesboro-tennessee-04-23-2021/event/1B005A5AE5B736F4 ANYMORE AuthorMelissa Coker is a journalist, publicist, slightly attempted successful songwriter and successfully attempted proofreader who loves country music despite being born in the Nashville area (thereby surrounded by the stuff!). She has contributed to numerous magazines and other publications/music sites. She contributed to The Tennessean and their weekly entertainment publication "All the Rage” regularly. She can't add money worth a dime but if you misspell a songwriter or artist's name, then God have mercy on your soul.. 
Mark Collie has announced the release of his new album Book of My Blues set for June 4, 2021. The first single, “Born Ready” is available on all digital services today along with an accompanying video (currently airing on CMT) that is one of a series of music videos from the album directed by acclaimed director and screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh and shot by award-winning cinematographer Tom Stern. Stream the new release here: https://bit.ly/MCBR2021 The themes in Book of My Blues, those of love, lust, betrayal, addiction, recovery, damnation, and redemption are derived from the graphic novel Rockabilly Hitman, a long-gestating collaboration between Collie and director Hensleigh (“The Punisher,” “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” “Armageddon” and the soon-to-be-released “Ice Road” starring Liam Neeson) that depicts the exploits of rockabilly singer Jesse Wayne Hardin, who by night is an avenger of evil, as he travels the hard backroads from Muscle Shoals to Memphis, from the Mississippi Delta to Music City. “Writing songs from the perspective of this character has been an enlightening journey. Some of my life experiences are in that character and I have stood at many of those same crossroads,” commented Collie. “Every line and nuance is intended to help bring Jesse Wayne and the Book of My Blues to life. There are a lot of ways to describe the music, maybe Roadhouse Rock, Southern Gothic, Americana, Country, but at its core it’s a reflection of me and many others who came before me.” The album features twelve original songs written or co-written by Collie, plus three rockabilly classics – “Hey Boba Lou” by Ronnie Hawkins, Jacqueline Magill and Robbie Robertson of The Band fame, “Night Train to Memphis” written by Country Music Hall of Fame member Owen Bradley along with Marvin Hughes and Beasley Smith, and the rockabilly standard by Carl Perkins, “Matchbox.” The album was co-produced by Kenny Greenberg (whose producer credits include Allison Moorer, Josh Turner, Toby Keith and the Mavericks) and Chad Cromwell (whose credits include his work with Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Boz Scaggs). The co-writers with Collie include Collie’s long-time friend Billy Bob Thornton who combines with him on the title cut, Tom Douglas, Gary Nicholson and John Scott Sherill, as well as Jonathan Hensleigh and co-producers Greenberg and Cromwell. Track Listing:
Musician Credits:
#Nashville #NashvilleTVshow #MarkCollie #EvenTheManInTheMoon 
“We are thrilled to have Drew joining us," Lonestar shared in a joint statement. "We have been friends and have admired his work and outstanding voice for many years. It will be an exciting new chapter in our storied career and know he will be welcomed by the industry and fans alike. Fans will hear more than 22 combined hits, between the amazing catalog of Lonestar and Sons of the Desert, and even hit songs written by Drew for such iconic Country artists as Kenny Chesney." (Learn more about Drew: http://drewwomackmusic.com/about.html).
Listen to Drew's 2017 album Here's Some Stuff I Wrote here. *Related News: Lonestar lead singer Richie McDonald has departed the group once again in order to pursue a full-time opportunity with his other band, The Frontmen of Country. The Frontmen consists of McDonald, Tim Rushlow, (former lead singer of Little Texas) and Larry Stewart (lead singer of Restless Heart). They have revealed nearly 20 live concert dates set for 2021. This is McDonald's second time leaving Lonestar. He previously quit the band in 2007 to pursue a solo career before returning in 2011. Singer Cody Collins took his place in the interim. “I’ve been with Lonestar for almost 30 years and have enjoyed my time with the guys,” said McDonald. "With everything that has happened in the past year, it has made me think about other things I want to do in life. This opportunity with The Frontmen came up and I’ve decided to go in a new direction. I’ve always enjoyed performing with Tim and Larry and I can’t wait to see how this new chapter unfolds. I want to thank my Lonestar bandmates for a great run. I wish them nothing but the best.” TCC note: The good news (as in, the "No News" kind of good news) is - and yes, you can telephone, tell a friend (maybe don't tell a lie about where you've been), send a pigeon, send a fax, write it on a postage stamp - Lonestar fans are highly likely to still have the opportunity of hearing the band's many hits via the mouth of Richie as he continues to tour with their catalogue of hits with The Frontmen of Country. |
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