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BLACKHAWK
Through three million-selling albums, ten consecutive country hits, three years of breathtaking concerts, numerous award nominations, and even recognition as country's favorite new group of the year, BlackHawk has forged a national reputation for energetic live performances and recordings with powerful harmonies and rocking country instrumentation.
On their new album, Love & Gravity, BlackHawk takes their familiar sound and pushes it a little further. This album contains more of the trio's songwriting than either of its predecessors. For Henry Paul (lead vocals/guitar), Dave Robbins (keyboards/harmony vocals) and Van Stephenson (guitar/harmony vocals) there is a chest-bursting joy you can feel as you listen.
PATSY CLINE
SORRY I COULDN'T FIND A PICTURE OF PATSY
It has been said that "the light that shines twice as bright, burns half as long." The truth of that assertion seemed evident in 1963, when Patsy Cline, who had become the first huge, female country-to-pop crossover star, died in a Tennessee plane crash barely six years after her first chart appearance. Except that Patsy has since proved that a bright light cut short, can sometimes shine brighter that ever. That is because Patsy's sophisticated "country-politan" sound that hit in the late '50s and early '60s is more popular in the '90s than it was during her lifetime. She sells over a hundred thousand albums a year and continues to inspire new female country artists with a remarkable, seemingly endless career.
Patsy (b. Virginia Patterson Hensley, Sept. 8, 1932, Winchester, Va.) once credited a near-death experience for her million dollar voice. As a young girl she experienced a throat infection so severe, it briefly stopped her heart. A Washington, D.C. newspaper quoted her as saying, "I was placed in an oxygen tent and brought back to life. I recovered from the illness with a voice that boomed forth like Kate Smith." She grew up in a rural setting with parents wise enough to recognize her talent and provide her with music and dance lessons. She had to leave school as a teenager to help support the family after her father deserted them. She supplemented her drugstore wages by singing in area clubs and on a local radio show for station WINC.
Patsy was very confident of her talent and aggressive enough to take advantage of opportunities when they came along, such as the performance in her home town of Grand Ole Opry star Wally Fowler. She talked him into giving her an audition and he hired her to become part of his road show that eventually got her to Nashville.
In spite of wrangling an appearance on WSM Radio, she never cracked the Opry or a record company and soon returned to Virginia.
Patsy persisted and thanks in part to the door-opening success of Kitty Wells, she landed a contract with Four Star Records in '54. The first three years of her recording career were not happy ones as she battled over the kind of music she wanted to record. Trying to sound like Kitty Wells wasn't working and she didn't want to be recorded pop. In '57 she was about to lose her contract when she reluctantly recorded a song called "Walkin' After Midnight." According to the Don Hecht who wrote the song, Patsy balked at recording the tune yelling, "It's nothin' but a little old pop song!" Like most female artists of the time who had no control over the songs they recorded, Patsy relented and was soon glad she did. Before the song was released, she used it to audition for the nationally broadcast Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show. She ended up singing that song and winning the contest. It sparked a nationwide demand for her and the song and her label, that had gone in partnership with Decca Records, had to rush to get the record out to radio stations and the public. "Walkin' After Midnight" became a huge country and pop hit, but Patsy's career didn't really take off until 1961 when she was signed exclusively to Decca. She released "I Fall To Pieces" that year and it became her first number one hit. She followed that up with a song written by a struggling writer named Willie Nelson called "Crazy." That was her third big country/pop hit and she had become one of the biggest stars in all of American music.
Patsy was certainly the biggest female act of the early '60s and was happy to help and encourage other aspiring artists like a young Barbara Mandrell and Loretta Lynn. Loretta was pretty green when they met and she says the Patsy became her closest friend in Nashville. Loretta told the American Countdown with Bob Kingsley show, "She helped me so much. She taught me how to go on and come off stage and advised me about what clothes to wear. She said, 'Don't wear a dress that's too sexy, too tight or revealing. Always leave enough for the imagination.".
Patsy became one of the chief purveyors (along with Brenda Lee) of the "Nashville Sound", a pop oriented sound that was dubbed "country-politan." Her record producer Owen Bradley was one of the architects of the sound and he says that pop oriented sound may be the reason for the longevity of her music. "She sounded like a pop singer in a lot of ways," says Bradley. "That was a minus for a long time and now, 30 some years after her death, it has become a plus! My bosses used to tell me to make albums that would last 10 years and I don't think anybody in their wildest dreams thought they'd last this long. A while back a got a platinum album for her Greatest Hits package that was full of old standards," he remarks.
Bradley, like all who loved or worshipped Patsy, was devastated by her death in March of '63, he says, "It was an unbelievable loss and it was a very terrible thing for Nashville and country music." From her vantage point in Hillbilly Heaven Patsy Cline can see that hers was not a wasted life. She only recorded a hand full of albums, but in the last three decades she has sold more than ___ million copies of her original titles and over forty re-packaged compilations of her songs. No surprise then that she has inspired nearly every female artist from Loretta to Reba McEntire to Trisha Yearwood.
Top Albums
Patsy Cline Story (Decca, '63)
Patsy Cline Portrait (Decca, '64)
Greatest Hits (Decca, '73)
Top Songs
Walkin' After Midnight (Decca, '57, 2, Pop 12)
I Fall To Pieces (Decca, '61, 1, Pop 12)
Crazy (Decca, '61+, 2, Pop 9)
She's Got You (Decca, '62, 1, Pop 14)
Sweet Dreams(of You) (Decca, '63, 5)
Faded Love (Decca, '63, 7)
DIXIE CHICKS
There's old country. There's new country. Then there are the Dixie Chicks.
Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel and Emily Robison have taken the Texas-bred sound of a fiddle, banjo, dobro and crystal-clear vocal harmonies into whole new territory. They are the rare act that comes along a few times in a generation that is destined to shake things up, rewrite the rules and become the new musical trendsetters.
FAITH HILL
In just six years, Faith Hill has sold more than 11 million records, garnered eight No. 1 singles and ten No. 1 videos. This past year alone, she received countless nominations and statues from the Country Music Association, the Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, Blockbuster Awards and TNN Music City News Awards. She celebrated the enormous crossover success of her first platinum single, This Kiss, which culminated with her appearance on the 1999 VH1 Divas Live, where she shared the same stage with Tina Turner, Cher and Whitney Houston. She was named the newest face for CoverGirl Cosmetics and graced the cover of numerous magazines as diverse as Country Weekly, People, TV Guide and Glamour. After completing a 50-city tour�her first headline series of performances�she found herself back in the studio with barely six weeks to finish Breathe, the follow-up to the now quadruple-platinum 1998 release, Faith.
"This past year has been a complete whirlwind," explains Hill. "I haven�t had time to take a breath. But I was on a creative high, I already had a few songs that I had recorded, and if you can believe it, I felt that the time was right to make another record."
SAMMY KERSHAW
Sammy Kershaw sings his songs with such raw emotion that you tend to recall exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard them. Listen closely to his rich and knowing voice and you will hear a short history of the human race, with all its grief's and joys, disappointments and spiritual triumphs. His familiar, intimate sounds sets him apart from everyone else in country music.
But the ever-reliable Kershaw is always good for a few musical surprises. Politics, Religion And Her, his sixth album for Mercury Nashville, finds him working for the first time with producer Keith Stegall, the studio wizard behind Alan Jackson and newcomer Terri Clark's albums. Stegall produced seven of the 12 cuts in the new collection. Norro Wilson and Buddy Cannon, who have been with Kershaw since he started at Mercury, masterminded the other five. "I thought it was time to bring somebody else in on part of the album to explore a new feeling in the music," explains Kershaw of his work with Stegall, "I think we were successful."
THE KINLEYS
The wait is over. The Kinleys are back, with an album full of life, energy, and undeniable passion. Since their debut, there has been a sea of female vocal groups, but none with the unique sound of the Kinleys. As twin sisters, Jennifer and Heather possess an innate sense of harmony, and their vocals have never sounded better than on their latest release, The Kinleys II.
The sisters first attracted attention with their debut Just Between You and Me. Their first single, "Please," was an impassioned plea and remains the highest debuting single by a female duo in country music history, while the album's title track was a top ten smash. The album was certified gold and has gone on to sell nearly 750,000 copies. They were named the Best New Duo by the Academy of Country Music and garnered nominations from the Grammys, the Country Music Association and the American Music Awards. They also scored a hit with the inspirational "Somebody's Out There Watching," from the Touched By An Angel soundtrack, which to date has sold nearly double platinum. The song has been included as a bonus cut on The Kinleys II.
LITTLE TEXAS
Anyone can tell you that the key to survival and longevity in commercial music is not just creativity, but the capacity for growth, renewal and redefinition.
These are some of the qualities that make Little Texas's self-titled fifth album-their first studio album in nearly three years-such a giant step and such a definitive milestone for the band.
Since Little Texas's major label debut a little over a half-decade ago, the band has already had an incredible run. They've emerged as one of the most popular ensembles in contemporary country music, racking up a string of number one hits, including "What Might Have Been," "God Blessed Texas" and "My Love." Along with platinum and gold records and three Grammy nominations, they've garnered prestigious trophies from Radio & Records ("Group of the Year"), and The Academy of Country Music (1994 "Vocal Group of the Year").
LONESTAR
The best is yet to come.
The musicians who make up country music�s lively band Lonestar have already won award statuettes, earned a Gold Record and have enjoyed a string of chart-topping songs. But with Lonely Grill, Lonestar�s third BNA Records album, they�re experiencing something even more intense and fulfilling.
"For the first time in our career we�re feeling what it�s like to have creative control," says keyboardist Dean Sams.
PATTY LOVELESS
Patty Loveless' music speaks for itself. The shy Kentucky native who has so much truth, honesty and emotion in her singing has become one of country music's most respected and honored performers of the 1990s.
Patty has made us smile and chuckle with such feisty country rockers as "Blame It On Your Heart," "You Can Feel Bad" and "I Try to Think About Elvis." She has touched our hearts and brought a tear to our eyes with such memorable performances as "You Don't Seem to Miss Me," "Nothin' But the Wheel" and "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye." And few have sung as eloquently about the passions and pains of everyday people as Loveless did in "Here I Am," "Lonely Too Long" and "You Don't Even Know Who I Am." These nine performances are on her album Patty Loveless Classics, a collection that is stunning for the sheer consistency of its from-the-heart vocals and from-the-guts lyrics.
REBA McENTIRE
Twenty years of recording some of the finest country music there is, and Reba McEntire is still going strong. On this, her 26th recording, Reba continues to prove her staying power, once again asserting that while trendsin country come and go, true talent always stays. While fans and critics alike have long praised her vocal ability and knack for choosing just the right songs, it is her ability to bring fans of all types of music to this genre that has truly benefited country music. Reba has pushed the envelope and stepped outside the boundaries, while always remaining true to her country roots. Whether she is starring in a major film, television movie, or expanding her horizons - and at the same time country music�s - to European and Australian audiences, Reba is always Reba.
With So Good Together, the singer explores one of her favorite themes - relationships. But the approach is a little different than the norm. �When you listen to this CD, you�ll notice several different attitudes,� she says. �On this recording I worked with three different producers, where in the past I have only worked with one. Tony Brown and I have recorded songs since 1990 and David Malloy and I have also worked together in the past. But this was my first time to get to work with Keith Stegall.
BRAD PAISLEY
"So Brad, what kind of music do you like?" my Grandpa asked. I was four. I really didn't know so I said, "What kind do you like?" "I like Country," he said. "Well then, that's what I like." --Brad Paisley Brad Paisley will be the first to tell you he's led a charmed life - that everything just seems to fall into place for him. What he doesn't say - although it gradually becomes evident - is that his run of good fortune has been enhanced enormously by hard work, astounding musical talent and a clear, unwavering vision of where he wants to go. If ever circumstances conspired to create an all-around country entertainer, the result it surely Brad Paisley.
DOLLY PARTON
The artist in question is Dolly Parton and the album is The Grass Is Blue, the legendary singer-songwriter's debut bluegrass collection Parton has been singing mountain music all of her life and has frequently sprinkled her LPs and CDs with bluegrass numbers. She has finally devoted a full album to the music of her girlhood.
"This was really a charmed and blessed project," says Parton. "It was like a spiritual experience. When I would go into the studio and here these musicians play it was like going to the world's greatest concert. Seriously, it would move me so much when Jerry Douglas would take a turn on the dobro, or when I would hear Sam Bush play mandolin or Stuart Duncan play fiddle. It moved my soul. God's bluegrass band is what it was."
SAWYER BROWN
Some things are only fitting. On the doorstep of the next millennium, Sawyer Brown's Six Days On The Road stands as a perfect metaphor for one of the country's most popular and enduring bands. As the world plunges headlong into the age of high technology, the title track of the group's new album is a celebration of simple, old-fashioned hard work and the satisfaction of a job well done. And though "Six Days" -- a country classic for over three decades -- pays homage to the American truck driver, it could just as well be the story of Sawyer Brown.
Having worked the road relentlessly in its nearly 15-year history, Sawyer Brown knows every inch of blacktop from coast to coast as well as any seasoned trucker. And like those hard-driving men and women, with one more load always waiting to be hauled, Sawyer Brown continues to flourish, riding on iron-clad determination and fueled by the anticipation of what lies just beyond the next bend in the road.
GEORGE STRAIT
In today�s 15-seconds of fame celebrity sweepstakes, an entertainer with staying power is a rarity. And one who is at the top of his game, after almost two decades in the business, is rarer still. George Strait not only has staying power, and is not only at the top of his game, but nearly 20 years after galloping onto the charts carrying the banner of traditional country music, he is still riding high in the saddle, and thrilling his legions of fans. Much like his oft-named influence Frank Sinatra, Strait has done it all his way.
SHANIA TWAIN
They say the ladies who sing the country songs are a breed apart. And the ladies who write the country songs, well they're just as rare a breed, too. But the ladies who do both--ah, now there is the heart and soul of it all, the women who give country music conscience and sizzle, with a full portion of romance from the feminine perspective thrown in at no extra cost. "I love to write stories," says Shania Twain, "Songwriting is my favorite part of what I do. I like to give every song its own personality and attitude and to sing each one in its own style."
Shania Twain is no stranger to conscience, sizzle and the woman's prerogative. Come On Over is her third album (Mercury Records), sixteen songs written by Shania with her husband and producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange. This is Shania's first new release in more than two and a half years, since the 9-times platinum phenomenon known as The Woman In Me. That album, which has also sold another 3 million copies outside the U.S., continues its record-breaking run on the Billboard Country Albums chart, 140-plus weeks (and counting) as of the November 1997 release of Come On Over.
LARI WHITE
Albums:
Don't Fence Me In
Wishes
Lead Me Not
Born: 1965, Dunedin, Florida. If she wasn't a country music star she would be: An actress (she acted in a CBS made-for-TV movie). First song: Written on the piano at the age of 8. Earliest Performances: With the White Family Singers, who performed at gatherings and events in her native Gulf-Coast Florida.
"I don't think that commercial and artistic success have to be mutually exclusive," Lari says. "I'm working hard to expand my audience, but what I ultimately want is the respect of my peers as a musician. Commercial success is fleeting, and when I'm 50 years old, I want to still have a career. I want to be scoring films, writing songs, producing other acts. Music will continue to be an integral part of my life."
Lari lost her left-hand pinkie as a child and went on to master the piano, as well as the guitar, which she plays left-handed. She wants kids to know that even problems like hers don't have to get in the way of goals.
