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Hank Williams’ Steel Guitarist, Don Helms, Passed Away Today At 81
Steel guitarist Don Helms, who played on more than 100 Hank Williams recordings, passed away this morning at 81 from an apparent heart attack.
Mr. Helms was the last remaining link to the Drifting Cowboys. His guitar was heard on more than 100 of Williams’ recordings, including “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “I Can’t […]Continue reading "Hank Williams’ Steel Guitarist, Don Helms, Passed Away Today At 81"
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Stop Cutting Hits: The Story of Lefty Frizzell’s “The Long Black Veil”
Lefty Frizzell rivaled and might have been bigger than Hank Williams in 1951, placing four songs in the top ten at the same time, a feat that’s never been matched. Like Williams, he led a turbulent life, mostly due to his own bad habits, but it was his friend Hank who was immortalized by an […]
Continue reading "Stop Cutting Hits: The Story of Lefty Frizzell’s “The Long Black Veil”"
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Julio Iglesias, Jr. - “The Way I Want You”
You knew it was coming–the winner of Gone Country was bound to release the promised single and it has arrived. Julio Iglesias, Jr. was the winner and judging by comments made by the show’s judge, John Rich, he was chosen based on his ethnicity and sex appeal. If Rich had listened to a little […]
Continue reading "Julio Iglesias, Jr. - “The Way I Want You”"
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Jason Boland and Aaron Watson Team Up for Texas Tour
Score 1 for the traditional country fans in Texas. Jason Boland and Aaron Watson announced they’ll be joining forces for a tour across the Lone Star State starting in April.
While discussing past magazine ideas, No Depression’s Grant Alden mentions the issue with Miranda Lambert on the cover was, to the best of his knowledge, […]Continue reading "Jason Boland and Aaron Watson Team Up for Texas Tour"
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Country Singer/Songwriters Are Hot Investments
When someone starts talking about IPOs and investing my eyes gloss over, but if you have some money to blow, I mean invest, then country music is apparently a hot commodity. And by “some money,” I mean a minimum of $500,000.
Country singer/songwriters are the single hottest investment property you can find in 2008. A new […]Continue reading "Country Singer/Songwriters Are Hot Investments"
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The 9513 Mother’s Day Playlist
We’ve come up with a playlist to help you add a more personal touch to that expensive gift that we know you’re lavishing on your mom this upcoming Mother’s Day. Mother’s play a special role in the lives of their children and each one of the following songs pays tribute to that bond between mother […]
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Charlie Robison And Kevin Fowler Return From Iraq And Indie Labels Are Changing The Game
Tim McIntire directed me towards a superb article about the rise of indie labels in Nashville and how they’re changing the game.
Light feet, more frugal approaches to recording, solid distribution channels, and the proliferation of Web-based marketing have all dovetailed nicely for the new Nashville indies. All of which translates to a faster return for […]
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Forgotten Artists: Goldie Hill Had Carl Smith and Goldie Hill been born 30 or 40 years later, they might have been like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw–the dominant married couple in country music.
Forgotten Artist: Wynn Stewart Both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have cited Wynn Stewart as a major influence on their careers, yet somehow, he was never able to translate his enormous talent into extended and consistent success for himself.
Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
Josh Gracin - “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” Despite initial marketing that touted the album as deep and personal, “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” is anything but deep or personal.
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker is the first black artist to chart a single in the country top 20 since Charley Pride last did it in 1988.
News that former Sugarland member and co-founder Kristen Hall is suing her ex-mates, to the tune of $1.5 million, goes a long way towards providing a bit of context regarding the Atlanta singer/songwriter’s sudden departure from the group.
In Memory of Don Helms (1927 - 2008) Helms dated back to a time when an excellent four or five piece band and a good singer were all that were needed to make great country music. No drums, no light shows, no production tricks in the recording studio–just good music.
In this exclusive interview with The 9513, the Show Dog Records trio talks about growing up around Waylon and Jessi Colter, and about how those experiences have helped shaped their music as they set off on their own country music journey.
One of an emerging wave of artists empowered by decreasing production costs and a rapidly changing distribution landscape, Kelleigh Bannen has taken a do-it-yourself approach to her debut album, Radio Skies.Current Discussion
- Paula: well, y'all are just gonna LOVE this little tidbit from cmt.com Rascal Flatts...
- JACK L DAVIS: DAVID ROGERS I could listen to forever and i wish he were still with us and mak...
- Paula: Rick - MySpace and/or my internet arent playing nice tonight so I cant get Shann...
- adhara: kenney chesney was excellent with the wailers. reggae & coutry... grea...
- Jaime: @ John Maglite: You have to have a certain panache to pull off bathroom humor, a...
- Rick: Leeann and Paula, we can start a "Music Cheapskates Club!". (lol) Have you ga...
- Troy: Thank you...
- Matt B.: Re: Billboard Charts: Hot Country Songs charts all the major country markets ...
- Dylan Gramm: Woo-hoo! New Lauderdale!...
- Troy: Like Taylor Swift song Change it is number 10 on the hot 100 but is 50 something...
