Lee Greenwood “God Bless the USA”
Don Williams
Billy Ray Cyrus
{ Publicizing Entertainers & Entertaining Our Readers }
Country Entertainment USA CONTENTS
STAFF 4 Bobby G. Rice Allen Karl & Donna Cunningham Guest on Our Show for February
5 Lee Greenwood “God Bless the USA”
Managing Editor: 7 CD Reviews Roy Skropits
Editor: 9 HTi Music Cindy Gordon Still Going Strong
Writers: Brenda L. Madden 11 Billy Ray Cyrus The Insiders & Don Williams
CD Reviews: Brenda L. Madden 12 IndieWorld Top 40 Chart Video Reviews: Steven B. Riley Riley's Reviews 15 {Music Videos} ADVERTISING & RATES: [email protected]
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Country Recording Artists
Allen Karl and
Donna Cunningham
New Single “Ain't That A Lovin' Shame”
Allen Karl Donna Cunningham www.allenkarlproductionsllc.com www.donnacmusic.com
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Sponsor Bobby G. Rice www.bobbygrice.com
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"GOD BLESS THE USA" CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
& ITS ENDURING MARK ON AMERICAN CULTURE
From times of great national tragedy to times of joyous patriotic celebration, the words of “God Bless the USA” have stood as one of our country’s most beloved anthems and the cornerstone song of those that best encompass pride in America. So much so, that CBS.com called the song, “the most recognizable patriotic song in the country.”
Written by Grammy Award winning country star Lee Greenwood in 1983, the iconic song marks its 30th anniversary this year. Its life to date includes the distinction of being the only song of any genre to skyrocket up the sales charts multiple times since its original release in 1984. Radio stations and fans alike returned to the song in 1991 during the Gulf War, in 2001 following 9/11, in 2003 during the war in Iraq, and in 2009 following Hurricane Katrina.
“God Bless the USA” had a resurgence in 2011, when Beyoncé recorded the song offering proceeds of the download to benefit the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund. That same year, it was the winning song on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and performed on “American Idol.”
Greenwood wrote “God Bless the USA” in response to the hurt and anger he felt following the downing of a Korean jet on a flight from New York to Seoul with 269 passengers aboard, including 63 Americans. Russian authorities shot the plane from the sky, killing all aboard because “they thought the airliner was on a spy mission.”
“I saw the senseless strike as a personal attack against our countrymen and it moved me to put pen to paper,” says Greenwood. “The song came so easily, it nearly wrote itself.”
The song hit an emotional chord with the American populace as well and “God Bless the USA” was named “Song of the Year” in 1985 at the CMA Awards.
“After 9/11, it was a song of unity and rebuilding and after Hurricane Katrina, it was a song for life and hope. It just makes me really proud that I've done something for the country and for my family. It's my family's heritage,” Green- wood told AOL’s The Boot.
ABOUT GREENWOOD: Throughout his expansive career, international country music star Lee Greenwood has earned multiple CMA and ACM Awards as well as a Grammy Award. His discography includes twenty-two studio albums, seven compilation albums and thirty-eight singles including hits like “Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands,” “Dixie Road,” and “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” among numerous others. He’s been honored with the prestigious National Pa- triot’s Award, presented by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and entertained troops on more than 30 USO Tours. In November 2008, President George W. Bush appointed Greenwood to a six-year term as a council member on the National Endowment for the Arts. The California native wrote his second book in 2012, a collection of inspi- rational essays titled “Does God Still Bless the USA; A Plea for a Better America” (Tate Publishing). His latest pro- ject, a seven song EP, I Want to Be In Your World, features more songs penned by Greenwood as well as him on saxophone. Lee and his wife, Kimberly, a former Miss Tennessee, currently reside in Nashville and have two sons.
www.LeeGreenwood.com
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PG 6 www.countryentertainmentusa.com by Brenda L. Madden
Mail CD's or DVD's for Reviews To: We Review Movies Too Country Entertainment USA So Send Us Your DVD's P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 7 Star Rating System
Amanda Nagurney • Gone • www.AmandaNagurney.com
Amanda Nagurney’s Gone CD displays her progressive sound on six contemporary country songs. From the opening uptempo song, “That’s What I Love About This Life” to the ballad “You Can Make It On Your Own,” Amanda delivers strong and entertain- ing vocals amid a solid production. The high point is “It Ain’t Just Music,” which Amanda sings with sincerity and believability - it obviously ain’t just music to her!
Darin & Brooke Aldridge • Live At Red, White And Bluegrass! www.DarinAndBrookeAldridge.com
Darin & Brooke Aldridge’s CD, Live at Red, White and Bluegrass! is brimming with toe -tappin’ bluegrass with a slight country edge! From the instrumental, “Foggy Mountain Rock” to the more country-flavored “Making Plans,” Darin & Brooke and band deliver a dynamic live performance. The Jerry Salley, Gina Boe & Lee Black song, “Every Scar” is particularly appealing. This group has a winning sound.
Erich McMann • American Songbook • www.erichmcmann.com
Erich McMann composed all 10 songs on this CD, American Songbook. The project, originally conceived in Branson, Missouri, was cut “in a spontaneous, old-school-style manner and environment” - recording 9 songs in one day with only a few overdubs added later. His music is a throwback to times past with songs like “Keep Me Loving You” and “Back On The Farm,” creating a distinctive project.
Mike Bryant • I Need You Strong For Me • www.mikebryant-nashville.net
Mike Bryant’s CD, I Need You Strong For Me is comprised of 17 thoughtfully selected songs, including the poignant and personal song, “Watching Over Me” which Mike wrote about his two best friends as well as a re-make of the Charley Pride song, “Amy’s Eyes.” A solidly traditional country album, there is plenty of steel guitar, fiddle and mandolin wrapped around Mike’s rustic vocals.
PG 7 www.countryentertainmentusa.com HTi Music Still Going Strong
by Brenda L. Madden
Music production businesses in Nashville, Tennessee are much like the singers and song- writers that walk the sacred streets of the dream - filled Music Row - here today and gone tomorrow; however, there are a small number of companies that have stood the test of time and HTi Music is one of those mainstays still going strong. Currently relocating their offices to Goodlettsville, Tennessee, just a few miles north of Nashville, HTi Music is continuing an already lengthy and successful 53 year legacy.
At the core of HTi Music is Harrison Tyner and Tom K. Pick, two well-known and re- spected names within the music community. Harrison Tyner has worn many hats throughout his entertainment career including re- cording artist, music producer and video director. As a recording art- ist, he had national success with “Blow A Kiss” and “Once Again The Sun Will Shine.” Donning the producer hat, he produced the classic Songs I Sang For Elvis by Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen - a double LP released on Adonda Records shortly after the death of Elvis - a timeless album that has since been re-mastered and will soon be re- leased under the new title, Treasured Memories Of The King. Among his early film credits was a documentary entitled “Olympic Cowboy,” based on two-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner and Dallas Cowboy NFL Super Bowl Champion, “Bullet” Bob Hayes.
On the other side, Tom K. Pick has an impressive music resume as a recording engineer. After graduation from DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago, Tom worked for Boulevard Studios and RCA in Chicago, later landing in Nashville at the request of Chet Atkins and serving as RCA’s Chief Engineer for over 15 years. Later, he took on the role of studio manager as well as engineer for Porter Wagoner’s Fireside Studios, Merit Recording Studio and Belden Enterprises. The list of artists that Tom has worked with over the years is a virtual Who’s Who in Nashville including Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Eddy Arnold, Donna Fargo, Mickey Gilley and Janie Fricke, just to mention a few. Those sessions have garnered him 8 Grammy Awards to date, not to mention the numerous Grammy winning award “paper notifications” presented to producers/engineers and the mul- tiple gold and platinum records to his credit.
With such extensive and noteworthy careers, it’s hard to document all the memorable moments, but they do not want to rest on their past laurels, they are enthusiastically look- ing toward the future and the development of new talent. Always searching for artists, Harrison and Tom work together selecting only the best of the best. HTi Music, affiliated with BMI and ASCAP, is poised for production, mastering, manufacturing and distribu- tion of recordings through its Adonda Records division. Also, a new division, BellaVerde Films, will soon be able to produce and edit music videos.
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As active and longtime members of the Nashville entertainment community, Harrison Tyner and Tom K. Pick, know the struggles and triumphs that come with a creative career - and it’s that experience and knowledge that pro- pels them forward to assist the next generation of musical superstars!
www.HTiMusic.com
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APA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF
BILLY RAY CYRUS & DON WILLIAMS
Legendary artists Billy Ray Cyrus and Don Williams return to the talent agency they first called home, APA. Steve Lassiter, Senior VP, announced the signings today.
“We are thrilled to have Billy Ray Cyrus and Don Williams back into the APA fam- ily of artists and very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead,” says Lassiter. “It’s an honor to be representing them again and it’s always a pleasure when former clients come home.”
Billy Ray Cyrus struck it big in June 1992 with his debut album, the eventual 9x- platinum-selling No. 1 Some Gave All, fueled by the best-selling single "Achy Breaky Heart," which spent five weeks atop the Billboard Country chart. Some Gave All (which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart for 17 weeks in a row and became the best-selling debut album of all time by a male solo artist) launched Cyrus’ colorful 20-year career in the spotlight — during which he has sold millions of albums worldwide, charted nearly 30 singles (including three No. 1 country hits), and racked up multiple film and television credits. His new album, Change My Mind (Blue Cadillac Music), Cyrus’ thirteenth studio album, is a stellar collection of ten songs that hearken back to Cyrus’ roots in bluegrass, Southern rock, gospel, and country music. Look for Cyrus to release a book this Spring and tour the USA and Australia (dates to be announced soon).
www.billyraycyrus.com
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They came to call Don Williams “the Gentle Giant” in the decades he was a domi- nating country hit maker because of his unique blend of commanding presence and that laid-back, easy style. With hundreds of memorable songs in his repertoire - over fifty of them major hits - Don can still fill an auditorium. This Country Music Hall of Fame inductee released And So It Goes (Sugar Hill) in 2012 and received a GRAMMY nomination in Best Country Duo/Group category for “I Just Came Here for the Music,” a duet with Alison Krauss.
www.don-williams.com
Catch Williams on tour through April in the following cities.
February 21 February 24 March 1 Austin, TX Houston, TX San Antonio, TX Paramount Theatre Arena Theatre Majestic Theatre February 22 February 28 April 18 Grant, OK Durant, OK Pocatello, ID Choctaw Resort Casino Choctaw Resort Casino Stephens Performing Arts
ABOUT APA: An industry leader in the field of talent and literary representation for nearly fifty years, APA represents many of today's most talented artists in all areas of the entertainment industry, with principal offices in Beverly Hills, New York and Nashville.
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Monthly Top 40 Chart
1 ONE GOOD FRIEND Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Records
2 JESSE JAMES Clay Walker - Sidewalk Records
3 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Leon Everette - Pretty World Records
4 I AIN’T YOUR MAMA Maggie Rose - RPME Records
5 BORN TO BE BLUE The Mavericks - Valory Records
6 THE COUNTDOWN Lonestar - 4-Star/Triple Crown
7 WHY’D YOU HAVE TO BE SO GOOD Heidi Newfield - Sidewalk Records
8 ONE OF THE BOY’S Kristen Cady - Pretty World Records/MP3
9 HERE’S TO ME AND YOU Kevin Fowler - Average Joes Records
10 TIL MYLAST DAY Justin Moore - Valory Records
11 CAN'T SHAKE YOU Gloriana - Emblem/WAR Records
12 CONFESSIONS Jaida Dreyer - Streamsound Records
13 YOU AIN’T LIVIN YET Allan Ashcroft - MP3 / Martel Promotions
14 MUSTA HAD A GOOD TIME Parmalee - Stoney Creek Records
15 HOW COUNTRY FEELS Randy Houser - Stoney Creek Records
16 THE AUCTION Cheryl K. Warner - CKW WHP Records
17 HAULED OFF AND KISSED ME Steve Holy - MP3
18 HOME TO ME Outbound Road - Lure Records
19 AIRBORNE RANGER INFANTRY Kristy Lee Cook - Broken Bow Records
20 REDNECK RADIO Matt Farris - Skytone Records / MP3
PG 12 www.countryentertainmentusa.com
Monthly Top 40 Chart
21 I WOULDN'T TRADE AMERICA FOR THE WORLD Freddie Hart - Pretty World Records
22 HELL AND HALF OF GEORGIA Bill Gentry - Tenacity Records 23 THE BESTAND WORST OF TIMES Reggie Vinson - MP3
24 PLAYANOTHER GOOD OLD COUNTRY SONG Jerry Johnson - MP3 25 BURN THAT BRIDGE J.D. Micals -Airplay Access/Pretty World Records 26 THATS WHAT LIFE IS Taylor Made - LGR 27 THANK YOU FOR MAKING HER FOR ME David Livingston - Lo Records 28 100% COTTON Brenda Best - Sultry Symon Music
29 SMALL TOWN BIG TRUCK Myrol - Little Red Hen Records 30 ROLLING HOME Jeff Olson - D& T Records /Airplay Direct 31 A RING WHERE A RING USED TO BE Raymond L. Boudreaux - Pretty World Records 32 SHE WALKS ALONE Chakra Bleu - 1746 Records/Bill Wence Prom 33 HELLO MYNAME IS COAL Kathy Mattea - Sugar Hill Records 34 HANG UP AND DRIVE Junior Brown - Ind. Records 35 MY SHAME Travis Herlocker - Tate Music Group 36 ALL PURE COUNTRY Smokey River Boys - Platinum Plus Records 37 IT OUGHT TO BE A SIN Summer Schappell - 615 Records 38 BACK TO THE COUNTRY Beadle Brothers - Lure Records 39 PLEASE MR. PLEASE Julie Richardson - MSR Records
40 DOWN IN TEXAS Bobby G Rice - Century ll Records
PG 13 www.countryentertainmentusa.com John A's • (615) 885-1540
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Good Food & Good Times Happy Hour from 3-7:30pm
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5 Star Rating System
"Riley's Reviews" Want your production video reviewed Then e-mail your video link to: [email protected] We do not review pocket / cell phone camera videos or videos where you just sing or play an instrument in front of a camera.
Michael Lynne ♦ "Missing You"
I really enjoyed the song as well as the video which very closely followed the story lines of the song. I would definitely recommend watching this one.
Brian Mac ♦ "Do I Drive Women Crazy?" http://youtu.be/iNNxJW7NAdM
Well this was a very entertaining video to watch if not taken too seriously. So with that in mind I would give it 4 stars.
Jeff Olson ♦ "Here We Are In This Tiki Bar" http://youtu.be/ifnkRb9AWIE
Here is a fun little tropical song to get you in the mood for a summer vacation. An- other one well worth watching that's on the lighter side.
Kalen Jones ♦ Straight Up Country http://youtu.be/HNvDyqOfhCE
Young Lady here is still learning the ropes I would say. Certainly she has potential but both the video and the song itself was a little lacking in real content.
Todd Berry ♦ Polically Incorrect Redneck http://youtu.be/6fcI6nVV17I
Todd is a great singer and I even like the song. However, the song as well as the singer seemed so out of place in this video. I got this strange image of my high school math teacher singing Sweet Home Alabama in a business suit.
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CE USA March issue deadline
CRS (Country Radio Seminar) Feb: 27-Mar: 1
SXSW March 12-17 Austin, Texas
CE USA April issue deadline
CE USA May issue deadline