Publicizing Entertainers & Entertaining Our Readers Country Entertainment USA CONTENTS STAFF 4 Two Local Rising Stars Editor: of 2011 Cindy Gordon 5 World Famous Associate Editor: Tootsies Orchid Lounge Holly Marie Tong 6 Marshall Tucker Band Managing Editor, Sales, Marketing 40 Years of Music & Distribution Manager: Roy Skropits 7 CD Reviews Writer: Doug Dyer 8 Interview with Country Artist CD Reviews: Matt Bailie Brenda L. Madden 10 Pop Star Tiffany Releases Country Album GENERAL INFORMATION: [email protected] 12 TN Wraith Chasers ADVERTISING & RATES: 14 The Whippoorwill [email protected] 15 Country Entertainment PRESS RELEASES: April Theater Roundup [email protected] Festivals & Back By Mail Music Venues 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) 977-1734 Opinions and claims made by advertisers and writers are their own, and do not represent Country Entertainment USA Cell (615) 474-0162 Magazine or Publisher. PG 3 www.countryentertainmentusa.com Two Local Rising Stars of 2011 Ben Stillwater and Robert Burgeis Ben Stillwater Sound Of Country Rhythm Ben Stillwater a big man at 6' and 7" from Montana now resides in Tennes- see. Ben is a true talent of true country music with his trademark "Sound Of Country Rhythm". Fans and listeners have taken a shine to Ben's fresh and exciting music. Ben has just signed with Alan's Music Group for promotion, marketing and bookings. If you haven't seen Ben Stillwater perform or hear his songs you will and if you like good country music then you'll love Ben Stillwater. www.benstillwater.com • • • • • • • www.alansmusicgroup.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robert Burgeis Well known local Country artist Robert Burgeis and his label "Hit Monster Records" will soon release his first single "Burn It Down" The video and Radio tour are also in the works. There is no doubt Robert Burgeis is one of the 2011 rising stars... Robertburgeis.com Facebook.com/Robertburgeis [email protected] PG 4 www.countryentertainmentusa.com World Famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge THIRTY-FOUR STEPS AND FIFTY YEARS!! The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor a Nashville institution, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, with a new photographic exhibition, Tootsies Orchid Lounge: Thirty-Four Steps and Fifty Years. The exhibit, which opens April 1, will be presented in the Museum’s West Gallery and will run through September 30, 2011. In 1960, Jeff and Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess bought a small restaurant on Broadway in Nashville and rechris- tened it Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. With its proximity to the Ryman Auditorium, the club became a haven for many Grand Ole Opry stars, who would run over and grab a drink between sets. As Willie Nelson described the trek, “It’s 17 steps to Tootsie’s and 34 steps back.” Through the years, Tootsies regulars included country stars such as Patsy Cline, Webb Pierce, Charley Pride and Faron Young, as well as up-and-coming songwriters Bill Anderson, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristof- ferson, Roger Miller and Mel Tillis. When the Opry moved to the Opryland complex in 1974, Tootsie’s fell out of favor. And by the time Tootsie Bess died in 1978, downtown Nashville was experiencing the urban blight that affected many cities in the 1970s. In danger of closing, Tootsies was brought back to life by entrepreneur Steve Smith, who bought the club in 1992. Smith’s structural renovations and canny musical bookings, which included future country star Terri Clark, breathed new life into the club. Coinciding with this was the re- emergence of downtown Nashville as an entertainment district. Today, Tootsie’s provides a historic anchor amid a thriving entertainment scene. Tootsies Orchid Lounge: Thirty-Four Steps and Fifty Years features a dozen photographs that capture memora- ble moments at Tootsies, both onstage and off, including shots of Jamey Johnson and Mel Tillis performing to- gether; Kenny Chesney and rocker Steve Miller onstage; and Kid Rock admiring the club’s décor, featuring walls plastered with 50 years of artist photographs. The exhibit will also include text panels and additional his- toric photos detailing the venerable club’s half-century of history. www.countrymusichalloffame.org THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF MUSIC MTB Set to Release The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits on April 5 Forty years ago the Marshall Tucker Band roared out of Spartan- burg, South Carolina, at the dawn of the '70s, spurred on by cama- raderie and a hunger for adventure. They began forging a musical legacy that quickly turned into a legend. Their ability to blend rock, country, jazz and blues won them a fervent following and changed perceptions of what American pop music could be. On April 5, 2011, marking its 40th Anniversary, the Marshall Tucker Band re- leases The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits (Shout Factory). The 14-track album features original recordings of the songs that made the MTB a household name. MTB traces its beginnings to the late 1960s, when lead guitarist Toy Caldwell and rhythm and blues singer Doug Gray formed the Toy Factory after the two of them returned from military service in Vietnam. In 1971 Toy and Doug assembled a new group, the MTB, with bassist Tommy Caldwell (Toy’s brother), rhythm guitarist George McCorkle, drummer Paul Riddle and reed player Jerry Eubanks. Naming their group after a local piano tuner, Marshall Tucker, they began playing Spartanburg area clubs, sharing the stage with the Allman Brothers and other Southern rock peers. The Marshall Tucker Band built its lasting success on raw talent, inspired live shows and innovative, heartfelt songs. The release of this updated Greatest Hits album and continuing to tour regularly will keep adding to their legendary status as one of Southern Rocks greatest, innovative, and longest lasting bands. www.marshalltuckerband.com Want More Customers or Fans Advertise in the Country Entertainment USA Magazine www.countryentertainmentusa.com Call (615) 474-0162 or E-mail [email protected] Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 Mail CD's for Reviews To: by Brenda L. Madden Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Up To 5 Star Rating Nashville, TN. 37224 Bobby G. Cargill - Ordinary Man www.bobbycargill.com Bobby G. Cargill gets the album rolling with the title cut, “Ordinary Man.” The first few notes feature a sweet country fiddle, which sets the tone for the entire pro- ject. All the songs, written by Bobby, build a solid foundation for this traditional country project. Obviously influenced by his Texas roots, his smooth, easy vocal arrangements match the movement of the steel guitar and fiddle very well. Overall, the CD has an authentic sound and well worth a listen. Ron Tanski - Dragged You Down www.rontanskimusic.com This album was a little surprising, never expecting Ron Tanski’s vocals to turn down a musical path reminiscent of the legendary Louis Armstrong. His rich, blues vocals along with his unique piano style bring each of the twelve self-penned songs to life. Although a sparse production with all but three songs being piano/vocal, his voice captivates and dominates and puts a new spin on an old style with a little bit of jazz, some boogie woogie and a whole lot of blues. Nice. Lathan Moore - Love In Your Life Blue Steel Records www.lathanmoore.com Lathan Moore mined coal to get enough money to come to Nashville - but there are no chunks of coal in this collection - it is chalked full of gems. A nice country “twang” sound makes this a pleasurable listen. Whether singing the ballad “Cornfield Cadillac” or the up-tempo, “I’d Rather Be Lucky Than Good,” Lathan delivers a believable and honest vocal that resonates well with traditional country music. He has made an impression with this - his debut CD - looking forward to seeing what comes next in his career. PG 7 www.countryentertainmentusa.com Interview with Country Artist Matt Bailie by Brenda L. Madden Matt Bailie, a young, hand- line pumping. From the time his foot steps off the some and talented newcomer is bus and he makes his way to the stage, Matt is going making waves in country music full throttle and giving as much to the fans as he can circles. His traditional sound possibly give. He enjoys interacting with fans during mixed with a charisma and and after a show. Prior to the show, he will walk to charm rarely seen is reminis- the farthest seat and ask himself the question, “How cent of an early Garth Brooks. am I going to reach this person?” Commenting about the fans, he says, “Without them, you’ve got noth- That magnetism appeared at ing.” the early age of 15. He was performing with a rock band at the time, but it was a trip to Pensacola and an Although only in his early 20s, Matt Bailie shows a evening of karaoke that determined his musical direc- lot of maturity in his music (as evidenced by his self- tion. Although a fan of country music, it was not until titled debut CD) and wisdom in building a strong life that night that he realized his true calling. He remem- foundation with his wife and three-year old daughter. bers, “When I started singing, everybody in the room While Matt inherited his father’s musical ability, it stopped.” After returning home, Matt left the band to seems Matt’s young daughter may carry on the fam- follow his heart. ily tradition as well. Recently she grabbed a micro- phone and joined her father on stage unexpectedly; it Shortly thereafter, he tried his hand at songwriting.