Happy Holiday's Clint Black Bob DiPiero Bill Anderson Publicizing Entertainers & Entertaining Our Readers Country Entertainment USA CONTENTS STAFF 4 “The Christmas Song” Performed by Lisa Matassa Featuring the Broadway Youth Ensemble 5 CD Reviews 6 CMA Songwriters Managing Editor, Marketing, Sales & Distribution Manager: Series expands Roy Skropits 9 Editor: Julie Roberts Cindy Gordon Releases Christmas EP “Who Needs Mistletoe” Associate Editor: Holly Marie Tong 12 Deborah Allen CD Reviews: Inspiration For Brenda L. Madden The Holidays GENERAL INFORMATION: [email protected] PH: (615) 474-0162 ADVERTISING & RATES: [email protected] PH: (615) 474-0162 PRESS RELEASES: [email protected] By Mail Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 DISCLAIMER: Country Entertainment USA is not liable for any inaccura- cies submitted by freelance writers, advertisers or publicists. Office (615) 474-0162 Opinions and claims made by advertisers and writers are their own, and do not represent Country Entertainment USA Magazine or Publisher. PG 3 www.countryentertainmentusa.com N E W S B I T S CMT Is Home to “The Christmas Song” Performed by Lisa Matassa Featuring the Broadway Youth Ensemble This holiday season will be celebrated when Lisa Matassa’s video of the timeless Christmas classic, “The Christmas Song,” featuring the New York City Broadway Youth Ensemble, makes its CMT debut be- ginning with the programs December 5th holiday schedule. Bringing her voice to the often subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” Lisa had always wanted to record her favorite Christmas song. As a fan herself, BYE’s involvement in her recording made it much more special. "I still get so excited about the holidays and to sing with the children of the Broadway Youth Ensemble was an amazing moment for me,” says Lisa. “I felt like a kid again singing my favorite holiday song alongside these incredibly talented kids. You can feel the holiday spirit flowing throughout the song and it truly was a magical moment for me." The Broadway Youth Ensemble is a New York City based select group of professional and aspiring child perform- ers. BYE was formed in 2005 and directed by veterans Joseph Baker and Amelia Demayo for a special concert with renowned international Irish Tenor Dr. Ronan Tynan benefiting SMILE TRAIN, an organization dedicated to help- ing children with cleft palate and other reconstructive surgeries from around the world. BYE has been seen and heard in an impressive list of Broadway shows, national tours, film and television, including The Lion King, White Christmas, West Side Story, Sesame Street, and Elf. “What a lovely surprise when our friend Cory introduced the idea of our group singing with Lisa Matassa for VETS ROCK,” expresses Baker and Demayo. “That was certainly lovely, but working with Lisa on this amazing rendition of a Christmas Classic was one of those events no one will forget. It’s the perfect combination of fun and the high- est degree of professionalism. “ Written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells in 1944, “The Christmas Song” was originally performed two years later by Nat King Cole. Throughout the years, music’s most notable artists have covered the song, including Barbara Strei- sand, Tony Bennett and Celine Dion. The video can now be viewed online at www.cmt.com “The Christmas Song” is now available for download through all major online music distributors We Want To Hear From You We value our readers’ opinions, so if you have an idea for an article or story, suggestions, comments, compliments Country Entertainment USA or complaints, don't hesitate to tell us. P.O. Box 100985 We Hope You Had a Great Year to Remember Nashville, TN. 37224 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 Sent Us Your DVD's P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 Up To 7 Star Rating Madonna Nash • Madonna Nash • www.madonnanash.com Madonna Nash’s self-titled album may be contemporary, but her roots in country music run deep - back to her Great, Great Uncle Connie B. Gay, the founding President of the CMA. And much like her ancestor, she is expanding the limits of country music with a modern production that compliments her heartfelt yet sassy vocals. Her songwriting skills also shine on this project, particularly on “Dirty Little Secret” and “Whiskey Whispers.” Music with attitude. Bradley West • Slow Train • www.freedomtracks.com Bradley West brings traditional country music home in his CD, Slow Train. There is a hint of Hank Williams, Sr. in his haunting vocals. Singing songs that touch the lives of the working man, this troubadour’s convincing performance mixed with strong lyrics reso- nates with values and tradition, particularly in “Grandma’s Wishes” and “Some Things Daddies Can’t Fix.” True country. Clay Dustin • I’ll Take That Job • www.claydustin.com Clay Dustin’s album, I’ll Take That Job is for the workin’ man that likes to do a little honky tonkin’! He delivers songs that the common man can relate to - especially in these hard times - particularly fitting is the song, “I’ll Take That Job That Johnny Paycheck Shoved,” referencing the old Johnny Paycheck classic, “Take This Job And Shove It.” From “Too Much Tequila” to “Queen Of The Dairy King,” Clay offers up a solid honky tonkin’ project. Fun! PG 5 www.countryentertainmentusa.com N E W S B I T S THE CMA SONGWRITERS SERIES EXPANDS TO THE U.K. AND IRELAND IN FEBRUARY 2012 The Country Music Association's very popular CMA Songwriters Series is coming to the U.K. and Ireland for the first time with special performances in February 2012 scheduled for London, Belfast, and Dublin, CMA Chief Ex- ecutive Officer Steve Moore announced today. The international tour will be known as CMA & BMI Present the CMA Songwriter Series. "The CMA Songwriter Series began in 2005 in New York and has expanded to cities across the United States including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Washington D.C.," Moore said. "The popularity of our music overseas and the appreciation the audience in the U.K. has for our songwriters made this a good fit and an opportune time to travel the series abroad. And it is terrific to have BMI as a partner in this exciting initiative." The CMA Songwriters Series showcases the best of Nashville's mega-hit songwriters and songwriter artists. The series features successful songwriters and artists from Nashville, who line up on stage and, with guitar in-hand, take turns telling the stories behind their hit songs and performing them in the raw as originally written. Songwriters participating in the CMA & BMI Present the CMA Songwriter Series include Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, former CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Clint Black, and host Bob DiPiero. Anderson is one of the most awarded songwriters in the history of Country Music, a million-selling recording artist many times over, a former television game show host, network soap opera star, spokesman for a nationwide restau- rant chain, a consummate onstage performer, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, a 50+ year member of the Grand Ole Opry, and a member of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame. Recent Country hits written by Anderson include "Whiskey Lullaby" (performed by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss), which won CMA Song of the Year in 2005; and "Give It Away" (performed by George Strait), which won CMA Song of the Year in 2007. He's known as "Whispering Bill," a nickname acquired years ago as a result of his breathy voice and his warm, soft approach to singing a Country song. "I think it's great," Anderson said of the Series traveling to the U.K. and Ireland. "I've toured there several times as an artist, and have always been amazed at the fans' depth of knowledge concerning Country Music. This will be my first time appearing as a writer. I have a feeling that I'll find great interest in how the songs are created, as well as per- formed." Anderson, who has appeared at CMA Songwriter Series events in New York City, said he doesn't plan on changing the winning formula of telling stories and singing songs. Anderson admits that the musical connections between the U.S. and U.K. are closer than they appear - especially between the bluegrass roots of the format and traditional Celtic sounds. "Put on a Bill Monroe record, close your eyes, and you can feel yourself being transported back to an earlier time in Ireland and Scotland," he said. "Those folks dug the wells from which our music sprang." Photo courtesy of Black is a prolific singer-songwriter who has written and recorded more than 125 songs, Essential Broadcast Media PG 6 www.countryentertainmentusa.com 22 No. 1s, and 30 Top 10s, including his hits "Killin' Time," "State of Mind," and "When I Said I Do" (a duet with his wife Lisa Hartman Black). In addition, Black has sold more than 20 million albums, and has won four CMA Awards. Black said it is a completely different experience for the audience to not only hear a hit song performed by the song- writer, but to also get the interesting or funny stories behind a song you know and love. "It's as close to sitting around with a bunch of songwriters as you can get without sitting around with a bunch of songwriters," he said. One of Nashville's most consistent and prolific writers of hits, DiPiero's hits include "Southern Voice" re- corded by Tim McGraw, "Blue Clear Sky" recorded by George Strait, and "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" recorded by Brooks & Dunn.