Pioneering Hispanic Country Music Star Johnny Rodriguez Has Died
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Any serious fan of 1970’s country music worth their salt will know the name, the hits, and doesn’t need to be sold on the importance of Johnny Rodriguez. Six #1 songs, fourteen Top 5’s, twenty Top 10’s…
Black Lives Matter Vandalism Hits Memphis Music Landmarks
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Tuesday, September 1st was supposed to be a day of celebration in Memphis, Tennessee. Vandals hit Graceland, the city-owned nonprofit Levitt Shell music venue already struggling after being shut down to performances due to COVID-19, and the “I (Heart) Memphis” mural.
William Elliott Whitmore to Release New Album “I’m With You”
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Legacy folk country punk blues artist William Elliot Whitmore will be releasing a new record via Bloodshot Records. A couple of things make the announcement of new album I’m With You especially interesting.
Justin Bieber Gets 3 CMA Nominations (and other observations)
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Oh CMA’s. How 2020 of you to nominate Justin Bieber for three CMA Awards. Now he can compete with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who won his first in 2019. But hey, the 2020 CMA nominations aren’t all bad. Ashley McBryde received three nominations. You know, just as many as Justin Bieber.
Justin Townes Earle On What To Say to Someone Struggling w/ Drugs
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On May 30th, 2018, Justin Townes Earle stopped in Raleigh, North Carolina to perform at Stag’s Head. The concert itself worth seeing, but the moment he addresses what to say to someone struggling with addiction is especially important.
Why Kane Brown Is Credited on Florida Georgia Line’s New #1
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Florida Georgia Line has the #1 song on country radio this week with their latest single “I Love My Country.” But buried deep in the songwriting credits and the history of this song is one of the most uncovered scandals in country music in 2020.
Album Review – Karen Jonas “The Southwest Sky & Other Dreams”
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Her latest album The Southwest Sky and Other Dreams is an imaginative and inspired work of involved stories and finely-woven songwriting, with intermissions of enjoyable romps through country and roots escapism, influenced from treks through desert California and West Texas.
Chris Stapleton Announces New Album & Song “Starting Over”
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The new record will include 14 new songs, 11 of which Stapleton wrote or co-wrote himself, along with a few notable covers, specifically John Fogerty’s “Joy of My Life,” and two covers of Guy Clark songs—“Worry B Gone” and “Old Friends.” He also collaborates with members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Album Review – Colter Wall’s “Western Swing & Waltzes…”
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Cowboy and Western artist Colter Wall from Saskatchewan, Canada is not cutting or diluting his music to conform to anything. His songs don’t just veer toward the most authentic and unfettered versions of Western’s music’s legacy, it’s the very embodiment of them. Often, they’re the very legacy songs themselves.
Album Review – Zephaniah OHora’s “Listening to the Music”
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“Perfection” is a very hard metric to measure when it comes to music. But if your measure of perfection is how well you re-interpret and reinvigorate the classic styles of country music, then Zephaniah OHora’s second record—similar to his first one—scores a 10.0.
Ashley McBryde’s “One Night Standards” Goes Gold
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Ashley McBryde has a knack for writing and performing songs that defy the odds and do surprisingly well in spite of the mainstream radio world dragging their feet, or outright getting in the way. Regardless, people are still listening, and the same goes for her current single “One Night Standards.”
The Petersens – The Enduring Bluegrass Family Band Gone Viral
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There’s nothing more wholesome, heartening, grounding, and historically elemental to the country and bluegrass realm than the family band. When it feels like the world is upside down, hearing or watching a family band perform can be a great way to help you find a compass point and equilibrium.
BJ Barham of American Aquarium Signs Publishing Deal
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BJ Barham of the North Carolina-based band American Aquarium has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Reservoir and One Riot. The deal includes the entire American Aquarium catalog, along with BJ Barham’s solo efforts. “BJ Barham is the quintessential country songwriter,” says One Riot.