Travis Tritt & Tyler Reese Ricky Skaggs Dion Pride { Publicizing Entertainers & Entertaining Our Readers } PG 2 www.countryentertainmentusa.com CONTENTS Country Entertainment USA STAFF 4 Travis Tritt & Tyler Reese 5 CD Reviews Brenda L. Madden Ricky Skaggs Managing Editor: 6 Roy Skropits Kentucky Traveler Editor: 7 George Jones Cindy Gordon 28 Entertainment Writers: Brenda L. Madden 8 Traditional Country Opry & Video Reviews CD Reviews: Brenda L. Madden 9 Dion Pride Video Reviews: Traditional & Contemporary Steven B. Riley ADVERTISING & RATES: 10 IndieWorld [email protected] Top 40 Chart PH: (615) 474-0162 GENERAL INFORMATION: [email protected] PRESS RELEASES: [email protected] By Mail Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 DISCLAIMER: Nashville, TN. 37224 Country Entertainment USA is not liable for any inaccuracies submitted by freelance writers, advertisers or publicists. Office: (615) 474-0162 Opinions and claims made by advertisers, writers or publicists are their own, and do not represent Country Entertainment USA Magazine or Publisher. PG 3 www.countryentertainmentusa.com Travis Tritt and Daughter Tyler Reese Duet "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" Travis Tritt, one of Country music's most-beloved "bad boys," has released a cover of "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough," which he performs in a duet with his 15-year-old daughter, Tyler Reese. Written by Patti Smyth and Glen Burtnik, the famous rock ballad first appeared on Smyth's self-titled 1992 album, on which she sang the successful single with Don Henley. Along with his daughter Tyler, Tritt takes a Country turn on this new version, which is the first single the entertainer has released on Country radio in five years. Recalling the inspiration that lead to the collaboration with his daughter, Tritt reflected, "We were driving back from a family trip to Florida when this song came on my iPod. I naturally started singing along, and when Tyler joined me I knew it was a song we just had to record together. It was magical." - "Sometimes" is the first single from Tritt's upcoming album, THE CALM AFTER, which will be out July 9 on his Post Oak Recordings label. www.TravisTritt.com PG 4 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 Kathy Ross • This Is Home • www.kathyrossmusic.com Kathy Ross developed her own musical style as a child; however, this CD, This Is Home, highlights her now mature vocals blended with a hearty Texas flavor. The project has a very distinctive mix which melts the music to her impassioned vocals. The opening song, “Late Night Ramble” is particularly intriguing. While her voice has been heard behind the scenes on commercials for Revlon and Blue Bell, Kathy shines in the spotlight. Joanna Mosca • Let It All Begin • www.joannamosca.com Opening the CD with the uptempo, uplifting song, “Dream On Savannah,” Joanna Mosca immediately makes a statement with her clear and crisp vocals telling the story with be- lievability and heart. The 6-Song EP, produced by Bryan White, brings attention to her ability to take a song and make it her own including “Keep On Driving” and “Where Does Good Love Go” (a duet with Richie McDonald), both of which are captivating. Victoria Ray • Read My Lipstick • www.victoriaraymusic.com Victoria Ray‟s CD, Read My Lipstick, is sure to garner her much attention from contem- porary country music fans The project is well-produced and her vocals are on target. The edgy, attitude-driven title-cut, “Read My Lipstick” is progressive and should get some ra- dio play. She slows it down on “Just A Dream” and her vocals are haunting and appeal- ing. Bobby Yates • Have You Ever Really Listened Bobby Yates CD, Have You Ever Really Listened, is a lesson in traditional country music. His style is immersed in heritage and is surrounded by the musicianship of Hank Williams Drifting Cowboy Band (Jerry Rivers, Don Helms, Bob McNett and Hillous Butrum). The song, “‟Neath A Cold Grey Tomb Of Stone” is particularly chilling. There‟s plenty of tradition here for anyone who likes Hank Williams. Gator and the Sundown Band • A Chill Coming On Gator and the Sundown Band‟s CD, A Chill Coming On delivers eleven traditional coun- try music favorites like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Working Man Blues” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The title cut “A Chill Coming On” was written by Gator and is a likeable song. While there‟s not a lot new here, it is a gracious tribute to traditional coun- try music and the legends of the past. PG 5 www.countryentertainmentusa.com Ricky Skaggs Sets Release Date For "KENTUCKY TRAVELER" Bluegrass and Country Music icon RICKY SKAGGS has just about done it all over the course of his 50+ years in music. With hundreds of career accolades and countless life experi- ences under his belt, Skaggs certainly has a story to tell. Now, for the first time, Skaggs is ready to tell the story of his life with the release of his per- sonal autobiography, "KENTUCKY TRAVELER" (It Books). Skaggs will release this un- precedented piece of Bluegrass and Country Music literature on August 13, 2013. "Kentucky Traveler" is an honest, deeply American story of the power of faith, family, and mu- sic from one of America's most beloved Bluegrass and Country artists. Unlike other farm boys growing up in the small town of Cordell, Kentucky, Skaggs learned to play the mandolin at five years old. Sure, plenty of other mountain boys plucked guitars or fiddles, or learned the old songs their grandpar- ents taught them. But few tried and fewer still mastered the mandolin. When Bluegrass master and mandolin virtuoso Bill Monroe rolled into a nearby small town, Ricky was there. As the crowd cheered, "Let little Ricky sing one!" so be- gan a storied life in music. With Monroe as a mentor and with a family who supported him at every turn, Skaggs joined the Clinch Mountain Boys band and became a professional musi- cian at age fifteen. By twenty-one he was already considered a star in the Blue- grass world. Skaggs would eventually move away from his roots into the world of mainstream country music - and in doing so, became a country legend and a household name. Despite the hit singles, gold records, and successful tours, Skaggs knew there was more to his mission. With a failed marriage and a sometimes strained relation- ship with his children, Skaggs had to make a choice. He would follow God's plan, and rededicate his life to Christ, to his family, and to the music that made him. He would carry the torch lit by his musical heroes Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs, and Bill Monroe and, most important, live the life and play the music that would make his mom and dad proud. In "Kentucky Traveler," the music legend who revived modern Bluegrass music, Ricky Skaggs, gives a warm, hon- est, one-of-a-kind memoir of decades in music-along with the Ten Commandments of Bluegrass, as handed down by Skaggs' mentor Bill Monroe; the Essential Guide to Bedrock Country Songs, a lovingly compiled walk through the songs that have moved Skaggs the most throughout his life; Songs the Lord Taught Us, a primer on Skaggs‟ most essential Gospel songs; and a bevy of personal snapshots of his musical heroes. About Ricky Skaggs: With 12 #1 hit singles, 14 GRAMMY Awards, eleven IBMA Awards, eight ACM Awards and eight CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), Ricky Skaggs is truly a pioneer of Bluegrass and Country music. Since he began playing music more than 50 years ago, Skaggs has released more than 30 albums and has performed thousands of live shows. Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, continue to keep the tour trail red hot, performing more than 80 live dates each year. Skaggs started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997 and has since released 12 consecutive GRAMMY-nominated albums. www.SkaggsFamilyRecords.com PG 6 www.countryentertainmentusa.com 28 Entertainment Acquires Life Rights To Celebrated Country Music Legend George Jones 28 Entertainment announced today the acquisition of the story rights to George Jones and his wife Nancy for a feature film project about the incredible life and career of the iconic country singer. The project, written by Dennis L. Baxter and produced by Baxter and 28 Entertainment‟s Jay Hoffman and Brian A. Hoffman, depicts George's life as a country music legend while battling his personal demons. “Over the years we have been approached to make George‟s life into a feature film, but it was not until Dennis Baxter became involved that we were confi- dent the story could be told accurately. George and I started working with Dennis six years ago in crafting the life-long story. Knowing George had input in this film and that it will be told the way he wanted it told, I feel we are in good hands to collaborate with 28 Entertainment as we move forward with pro- duction,” said Nancy Jones. Nancy Jones will Executive Produce and consult on the project. Baxter worked closely with Nancy and George on the story before George passed away on April 26th in Nashville at the age of 81. “George had hoped to see the movie before he passed and worked with me to make sure the story was complete.” said Dennis Baxter Jones' story is one of legendary talent, fame and success, while showing the dark side of alcoholism and drug abuse to levels that few people could survive.