Top Names Unite for Cindy Walker Tribute Album
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Cindy Walker was one of the most important and prolific songwriters in country music history, penning some 500 recorded songs, and some 400 of them charting in the Top 40.
Eric Church’s Letter to his Fans & the Surprise Album “Mr. Misunderstood”
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What already promised to be an eventful day in the realm of country music with the airing of the 49th Annual CMA Awards and all the parallel pomp and circumstance that entails, turned even more eventful when one of the Entertainer of the Year nominees dropped a surprise album in the mail to his thousands of fan club members Wednesday (11-5).
Saving Country Music’s 2015 CMA Awards LIVE Blog
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Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the official Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog for 2015! As the festivities transpire at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, we’ll be peering in to offer commentary, snark, criticism, and praise when necessary. The 2015 CMA’s actually have a few interesting moments in store compared to previous years, so hopefully there are some opportunities to cheer instead of jeer.
Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory to Release New “Excavators” Album
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The Rusty Knuckles record label has just announced they will be releasing a new album from Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory called The Excavators on Black Friday, November 27th. It features just Leroy Virgil, and the much-beloved lap steel player Rico Peterson in a stripped down setting playing some songs never heard in the recorded context before, and a few released previously in different forms.
49th Annual (2015) CMA Awards Complete Preview
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Usually you have to squint and focus hard to find anything that could be considered classic country on the CMA Awards. This year going in, we already know there will be two classic country performances, and that doesn’t include unannounced songs or surprise guests.
Countrypolitan Crooner Tommy Overstreet Passes Away
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Tommy Overstreet, best known for his hit “Ann (Don’t Go Runnin’),” has died at his home in Hillsboro, Oregon. The countrypolitan singer, who amassed a total of five Top 5 singles and eleven Top 10 singles over his career, passed away on Monday morning (11-2). He was 78-years-old. Known as “T.O.” by many fans, he was born on September 10th, 1937 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
If I Was Chris Cagle, I Would Quit Country Music Too
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The idea of retiring from playing music seems like such a foreign notion on the surface. We like to think that artists make music because they have to—because it’s all they know and it’s in their blood. Some just happen to make money and get famous from it along the way. Quitting music would be like deciding to quit watching sunsets or eating ice cream with your family or something.
The Band Perry’s Big Fat Yellow Mistake
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The color yellow was picked to be the primary backdrop for the relaunch. The image of a diamond shaped like a heart was selected as a logo (even though that’s not the way a true heart-shaped diamond is cut), and everyone had visions of a blockbuster #1 single and sold out arena tours dancing in their heads. . . . and since then, “Live Forever” has flopped.
Yellow Rose Movie Co-Starring Dale Watson Moves Forward with Filming
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Yellow Rose, a film about a 15-year-old Filipino-American runaway with dreams of making it big in country music and co-starring Dale Watson, has begun the filming process, and was shooting Sunday evening (November 1st) at Austin’s historic honky tonk, The Broken Spoke. Details on the film first came to light in the Spring of 2014 after Dale Watson was formally cast as Jimmy Redburn.
Sturgill Simpson Goes Badass & Breaks Up Fight at Ryman Auditorium
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Sturgill Simpson just wrapped up a stint of three sold-out nights at the Mother Church of Country Music in Nashville, also known as The Ryman Auditorium, and the word from the concerts was a good time was had and great music was made. But at one point during the Halloween show, stuff got a little rowdy.
Chris Stapleton to Perform with Justin Timberlake on the CMA Awards. But That’s Just The Beginning.
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Well well well. In yet another bid for you to firmly affix your eyeballs to the boob tube on Wednesday, November 4th for the 49th annual CMA Awards, it has been announced that critic’s favorite and thrice-nominated SteelDriver turned songwriter turned performer Chris Stapleton will be performing with former ‘N Sync member turned solo superstar Justin Timberlake. Though if you’ve been reading Saving Country Music, you probably already knew this.
The American Market Needs Ward Thomas. Now.
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Ward Thomas is Maddie & Tae without the baggage or the need for qualifiers or quips like “Oh, but at least it’s better than Bro-Country.” Ward Davis is First Aid Kit but with a more sensible, positive, and wide-appealing sound that doesn’t shed the intelligence or inspiration from the listening experience to get there.
Review – “Brennen Leigh Sings Lefty Frizzell”
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Tribute records, just like compilations and live recordings, can be a tough sell and a tedious listen. However, by smartly selecting songs that are worthy of being heard again, but are not the obvious “Greatest Hits” of Lefty’s legacy, Brennen avoids the common pitfall of tribute records. And making her renditions that much more compelling and unique is the fact that she’s a woman singing these songs.