50 Years Ago: Kris Kristofferson Famously Rides Motorcycle On Stage
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Alright, it wasn’t officially Kris Kristofferson. It was his character John Norman Howard from the 1976 version of the music film A Star Is Born. But it still has gone down in history as a legendary moment.
On Margo Price Leaving Country Music Behind
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Margo Price’s new album That’s How Rumors Get Started was described by American Songwriter as “very un-country.” Talking with The Nashville Scene, Price herself foretells how people will still try to sell her new album as country by trying to use “fancy words.” But she states decisively, “Nope, I made a rock ’n’ roll record.”
Album Review – Brett Eldredge’s “Sunday Drive”
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Lo and behold, Brett Eldredge delivers a record in Sunday Drive worthy of all the promises in the run up. It’s is more adult. It does feel fairly Americana. He doesn’t fall back on drum loops or snap tracks, and many of the songs are really well-written. In short, Sunday Drive feels decidedly non mainstream.
Willie Nelson Turned Down Kenny Rogers Offer to Cut ‘The Gambler’
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In a recent interview, Willie Nelson said he has a Roger Miller tribute album on the way. He also told the story of how he once turned down recording “The Gambler.” Written by Don Schlitz, it became the signature song for Kenny Rogers when Kenny released it in 1978.
Alan Jackson Updates 2020 Tour, Moves Some Dates to 2021
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Alan Jackson remains one of the few major acts in country music who continues to try and navigate COVID-19 concerns to keep 2020 dates on the calendar, but there hasn’t been a lot of updates from his camp, or much clarity in rescheduled dates. So here’s a run down of what we know at this point.
Album Review – Joshua Ray Walker’s “Glad You Made It”
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Eschewing the hipness of east Nashville and Austin to instead walk the culture hungry streets of Dallas, Texas, Joshua Ray Walker is a big man with a high lonesome voice and heartfelt songs who is quickly rising up the independent country music depth charts. A songwriter and honky-tonker with a head full of words and […]
Charlie Daniels Funeral to Stream Online – Details
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Country Music Hall of Famer and Southern rock icon Charlie Daniels passed away on Monday, July 6th at the Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83-years-old. On Friday, July 10th, funeral services will be held at the World Outreach Church, and will be streamed online.
The Lady A Name Change Is Officially a $hit Show
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Lady A started by changing their name to erase what some considered the racist connotations of “Antebellum” and to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Now that action has resulted in them publicly suing a well-respected black member of the music community and receiving a massive backlash for it.
There Should Be No Shame For Musicians Who Took PPP Loans
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There should be no shame in major music outfits taking money through the government’s Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, to keep their road crew and support staff financially stable, despite it being characterized as the cash grab of millionaires by some, aided by certain embellished and misleading headlines in the media.
Album Review – Bo DePeña (Self-Titled)
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Whether it’s tried-and-true traditional country, more modern Texas-style country with a little rock ‘n roll swagger, singer-songwriter stuff, or something in between, Laredo, TX-native Bo DePeña has you covered in this new self-titled record, and in only nine songs. Bo DePeña is a name on the rise.
Billy Strings, Michael Cleveland Lead 2020 IBMA Bluegrass Noms
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The 2020 IBMA Awards will go forward as scheduled, sans audience of course, but with an exceptional list of nominees for 2020. Leading all nominees is fiddle player Michael Cleveland with seven nominations total, and entirely worthy after releasing the weal-received album Tall Fiddler. He’s followed by the wondrous Billy Strings.
Tyler Childers Streaming Concert from Pickathon Scheduled
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The Pickathon Festival near Portland, OR has been helping to make the quarantine a bit more bearable over the last few months by tapping into its vast archive of high quality concert footage and streaming full sets from past years. The 2019 set from Tyler Childers on Pickathon’s Mt. Hood stage is streamed in its entirety.
Country & Southern Rock Legend Charlie Daniels Has Died
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Country Music Hall of Famer and Southern rock icon Charlie Daniels has died. The 83-year-old passed away unexpectedly Monday morning (7-6) after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. Daniels’ death has been confirmed by his publicist, Don Murry Grubbs.