Wednesday, 8 October 2014

Country Bites News snippets Sept 15 – Sept 21, 2014

Country Bites News snippets September 15 – September 21, 2014

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

UK Tour dates added for The Mavericks, Katie Armiger, Mike Ward, Mary Black, Cherry Lee Mewis, Red Sky July, Callaghan, Nils Lofgren, Albert Lee, The Toy Hearts, Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay, Jess Morgan, Lisbee Stainton and Sasha McVeigh

Taylor Swift's POP single “Shake If Off” remained on the BBC Radio 2 "A" Playlist for week commencing Saturday 20th September. She also climbed from the “B” to the “A” Radio 1 playlist.
First Aid Kit with “Stay Gold” stayed on the “B” list. Lady Antebellum with “Lie With Me” were added to the “C” list.
Kacey Musgraves "Keep It To Yourself" was removed from the Radio 2 "C" list (first added week 16th August 2014).

Herefordshire singer/songwriter Sasha McVeigh tweeted @sashamcveigh I'm on a UK tour at
the moment before heading to Nashville to record my album! Yes, having released her first (acoustic) EP last year, Sasha is about to embark on a mini UK tour before returning to Nashville to record her first full-length album in November. What’s more, she has three months of tour planned for the UK at the beginning of 2015, and a 45-date tour in the US later on that year. Things are looking bright for the 20-year-old, and she’s just getting started. Her new single ‘Two Ships’ will be released in January, with the album following in March (launching a Kickstarter project). Some of the songs on from the EP will get full studio versions on the new album, in addition to
featured track >> ‘Mr Brown Eyes’….. Read More

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending September 27, 2014)
Taylor Swift'sShake It Off” drifted 4-5 (45,294 sales; 5 weeks sales 203,895)

Official UK Top 100 Album Chart (Week Ending September 27, 2014)
Dolly Parton with BLUE SMOKE/THE BEST OF (Masterworks) fell 13-14  (6,000 estimated sales + 14-week total 208,000).

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending September 27, 2014)
Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK  rebounded 3-1 in her 75th chart frame
The UK’s Ward Thomas with FROM WHERE WE STAND (WTW Music) held at No.2 in their nineth week.
Red Sky July made their debut at No.3 with SHADOWBIRDS
Brad Paisley with MOONSHINE IN THE TRUNK fell 1-4 in his fourth week.
The Earls Of Leicester  with their self titled album (Rounder) arrived at No.6  which is a tribute to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs by Bluegrass all-stars: Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp, Johnny Warren, Charlie Cushman, Barry Bales, and Tim O’Brien.
THREE BELLS a collaboration project consisting Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, and Rob Ickes made a debut at No.14. Longtime fans of country and bluegrass will, no doubt, snatch up this collection upon its release, but those unfamiliar with the dobro, or resonator guitar, will find this an excellent introduction to the instrument’s distinctive sound and to three of its most talented players. Auldridge passed away in 2012 just after these recordings were completed.

On the Hotdisc Chart (September 21, 2014 Chart)

Ray Scott held onto No.1 on the Top 40 for a second week with "Drinkin' Beer".
Old timers Barry P.Foley & Doug Adkins were a non-mover at No.2 with “Pretty Girls
Former No.1 “It Ain't All Good But It Ain't Half Bad” from Tony Stampley held at No.3 in its seventh chart frame.
UK artist Tony Clarke with his self-penned "I Am What I Am" moved 5-4 and secured No.1 on the British & Irish Chart for a second week. His nearest challenger are The Diablos, whose "Right By Your Side" made a 9-8 climb
Newbie USA act Bruce Larson, climbed 6-5 with his debut European release, "Fishin' Pole Dancin'" whilst duo Native Run with "Good On You" lifted 7-6.
UK singer songwriter Mim Grey enters the upper tier as “Travelling Star” improved 13-9.

Outside of the Top 10:
Singer-songwriter Dave Sheriff amade a big stride northwards with a 18-11 leap for his self penned number “Highway Number Nine” .
Germany’s Mandy Strobel with “Corner Café” climbed three rungs 19-16.
New USA Hotdisc act Beau + Luci  advanced seven slots as their single “Fire” made a 25-18.

Outside of the Top 20:
David Hingelfeldt Project nudged up 24-22 “Powder Keg” and Philip Claypool’s title cut single “Come On Back Home” (Claypool/ Swatner) climbed four 27-23.
US singer Sarabeth second Hotdisc single “Nowhere With You” has got little traction so far with a 29-27 shift. The same came be said for fellow Inde US Ashliegh Lisset with her sophomore single, “Target On My Heart” with a 37-34 move.
Prime cut “If I Love You” (T Randell Karber) from Luanne Hunt made an eight place jump 40-32.
There was a first appearance for duo Cameron Troy with “Just Kiss Me” (writers Ann Cameron and Steven Troy) with a No.37 debut, an act which is getting heavy promotion on CMR Nashville so a little concerning for Django Promotions who are pushing their European profile.

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

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(17 June 2014) Veronica Ballestrini - Flip Side (Timbob Records)
10 Tracks UK iTunes - Amazon.com

(29 July 2014) Bari Leigh - Tonight, I'm Unchained (Burnside Distribution)
10 Tracks/ Time: 36:22 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

(12 August 2014) The Elbow Jake Acoustic Band - There Are No Miracles Around Here (Catzpaw Music) 15 Tracks/ Time: 55:13 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com The Nottingham-based band, made up of John Merry (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Kevin Davenport (bass, vocals), Barrie Storm (guitar, mandolin) and Andy Berwick (percussion) play country rock, blues and folk and feature four-part harmonies. This debut album contains 15 self-penned tracks.

(2 Sept 2014) Karyn Rochelle - Karyn Rochelle
9 Tracks/ Time: 34:03 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

(15 Sep 2014) (Decca) Three Bells - Rob Ickes Jerry Douglas Mike Auldridge

(22 Sept 2014) Tim McGraw - Sundown Heaven Town (Decca (UMO))
18 Tracks (Deluxe Edition) Time: 1:09:54 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music  - Amazon.com

(22 Sept 2014) Kenny Chesney - The Big Revival
11 Tracks/ Time: 39:49 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music  - Amazon.com 

(22 Sept 2014) Lee Ann Womack - The Way I'm Livin' (Sugar Hill Records)
13 Tracks/ Time: 46:10 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music  [16 tracks, Walmart US Exclusive Deluxe, £17.99] Amazon.com  Vinyl / Autographed Poster - Sugar Hill Records Store

(23 Sep 2014) Big & Rich – Gravity (B&R Records)
11 Tracks CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

(23 Sep 2014) Josh Abbott Band -  Tuesday Night EP
5 Tracks UK iTunes

(23 Sep 2014) Lori McKenna - Numbered Doors (Hoodie Songs)
10 Tracks/ Time: 37:11 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  ($3.99!)

(22 Sep 2014) Justin Townes Earle - Single Mothers (Loose Music)
10 Tracks/ Time: 29:46 CD - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com

CANADIAN NEWS
CCMA  Award winningSinger-songwriter Victoria Banks: For the Love, Not the Money...(Facebook Post)

NEWS
Country Aircheck's Insider Artist News

September 19, 2014: Eric Church (Singing To The Choir), Lee Ann Womack (Country Crossroads), Luke Bryan (Farm Team), George Hamilton IV (Chronicle: Condolences),

September 23, 2014: Tim McGraw (Story Behind The Album Cover), Jerrod Niemann (Niemann's Nuptials), Taylor Swift (House Party), Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (Two-Part Harmony), The Grand Ole Opry (89 Years Young), 

Warner Music Nashville (WMN) artist Faith Hill has inked a management deal with SANDBOX ENTERTAINMENT in Nashville.
They currently rep other Country artists, including Shania Twain, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Dan + Shay. Faith has not released a non-holiday album since "Fireflies" in 2005, but has been active as of late

Congratulations to Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard, who popped the question to girlfriend Hayley Stommel Monday (9/22). Hubbard tweeted a photo of the couple celebrating in a helicopter post-"yes," saying "This is what a lucky man looks like right here. Image - Image - Instagram Image
She tweeted hayley christines Blessed to call this amazing man my fiancé @thubbmusic #Godgavemeyou #loveisintheair
Follow Hayley on Instagram

TOURS
Justin Moore is firing his Off the Beaten Path tour back up starting October 23 in Columbia, Missouri. Thomas Rhett and Colt Ford are joining him for select dates of the 11-city trek.

Carrie Underwood covered one of R.E.M.'s signature songs Saturday night at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City. The pregnant artist delivered a sweet rendition of "Everybody Hurts." The rest of her set in Central Park was packed with hits such as "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "Blown Away" and "Before He Cheats." At one point, Carrie told the audience that her appearance at the event represented one of the top highlights of her career. The festival included a couple of special guests: Beyoncé joined her husband, headliner Jay Z, for two songs, and Sting paired up with No Doubt for a cover of The Police hit "Message in a Bottle."

AWARDS

Country music fans, superstar Music City talent and industry elite turned out in force for the Academy of Country Music’s 8th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  The sold-out special event, hosted by Jake Owen, was held in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium and was sponsored by City National Bank.
The evening included a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews with industry veterans honoring Special Awards recipients Bob Beckham (posthumously), Steve Buchanan, Jack Clement (posthumously), Dean Dillon, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Milsap, Paul Moore, BuckOwens (posthumously), Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. Shane McAnally was honored as Songwriter of the Year. Read The FULL Press Release for information on the artists who performed, who presented and full awards list at: acmcountry.com and a report at billboard.com

BMI has named Vince Gill the 2014 BMI Icon. The country star will be honored at the upcoming 62nd annual BMI Country Awards on Tuesday, Nov. 4, which celebrate songwriters and publishers of this year’s greatest country hits. The award is given to “songwriters who have had a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers,” and Gill certainly fits that bill.

Americana Honors & Awards Highlights
Jason Isbell picks up Artist, Album and Song of the Year Awards Show Propelled by Performances from Loretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Flaco Jimenez, Robert Plant, Cassandra Wilson, Marty Stuart, Sturgill Simpson, Valerie June, Parker Milsap, Patty Griffin, Devil Makes Three, Ry Cooder and More
Nashville, Tenn. — Sept. 17, 2014 — Jason Isbell was the big winner at the 13th Annual Americana Honors & Awards show held at the historic Ryman Auditorium, picking up honors for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (for Southeastern, produced by
Dave Cobb) and Song of the Year (for “Cover Me Up,” which he performed with his wife Amanda Shires).
Isbell stood tall among a cross section of legends and upstarts that performed on the show, among them Lifetime Achievement honorees Loretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Flaco Jimenez and Taj Mahal, as well as Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Patty Griffin, Robert Plant, Cassandra Wilson, Marty Stuart, Hurray for the Riff Raff, the McCrary Sisters, Devil Makes Three, Hard Working Americans, Sturgill Simpson, Valerie June, Parker Milsap, Ry Cooder and more. Jim Lauderdale hosted.
Read more and see the list of the 2014 Winners - Press Release

TV
Emily West came in second on America’s Got Talent. The singer is currently raising funds for a new album via Pledge Music.
It has already reached its target raising 166% of its goal with over 90 days to go.

Lady Antebellum is taking their 747 album launch to your TV. They'll perform three songs on NBC's Today on Tuesday when 747 lands in stores and online. Look for them to stop by NBC's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday.

The third season premiere of ABC’s Nashville earned an initial 1.5 adults 18-49 rating, down from a 2.0 adults 18-49 rating at last year’s second season premiere, according to zap2it.com. However, it has risen from the 1.3 adults 18-49 rating that season 2s finale earned. Number of viewers live + SD are estimated at 5.6 million. The season 3 premiere featured live performances from Chip Esten (“Deacon”) and Chris Carmack (“Will”), and a special live performance from Florida Georgia Line.

MUSIC NEWS
The Guardian - Jeff Tweedy: Why the album still matters: Romantic about vinyl: Whenever the so-called experts say the album is dying as a format, I think: “Since when have we listened to so-called experts?” Are video games killing chess as well?
I’ve just made a double album, Sukierae, which has two distinct discs. I understand in this day and age there might not be many people who will listen to it that way, but it doesn’t matter – because I want to listen that way......The Wilco man’s latest offering, Sukierae, is a double vinyl album by design. He explains how the format shaped his aesthetic and set him on an ‘inevitable path’.
The decline of the album began with the advent of the CD. The maximum amount of music on a vinyl album is 50 minutes over two sides. The CD format is much longer. I don’t think there are many pieces of music – my own records included – that can sustain interest over 40 minutes without a break, and leaping around from idea to idea for that amount of time gets exhausting.
CD artwork also reduced the album’s impact. If you’ve got a 12-inch album with a picture of somebody’s head on it, it’s the same size as your head. You can sit it up and talk to it.

Billboard Which Music Streaming Service Is the Biggest Worldwide?
Ranking based on number of paid subscribers (if available), global footprint, strongest markets and relative popularity.
Streaming services are proliferating at an alarming rate, as the industry has come to recognize that access -- storing no files locally, but having millions available -- will overtake ownership as the way that most fans will listen to and interact with their favorite music. With so many entrants competing for dominance, Billboard decided to take an overview at each of the most popular.
#1 Spotify / Countries Available 57 / Global Subscribers 10  million/ Strongest Markets Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland

Billboard.com - What Will the Music Business Look Like in Five Years?
The question is: Will streaming help the record business recover its past financial glory? I think not. Regrettably, even if digital streaming services continue to gain subscribers and/or ad income, the Internet and digital apps (including those that enable ripping music and video streams, and others that link directly to pirate sites) make it so easy to acquire free unauthorized music -- especially for young people who are adept at using technology and who are not in the habit of paying for music -- that the recording business will probably never return to its former financial success.  Over the same time frame as this massive industry contraction, income from music publishing (income from songs including public performance, mechanical royalties and synch fees) has been stagnant. Although performance revenue has increased, mechanical income from record sales has dramatically declined. Paradoxically, the only part of the music business that is more successful now than in the pre-digital era is live performance. ….

PRESS RELEASES

  • Priceless legacy of 'Beauty Is…' proves Ray Price's relevancy in a new generation of music
  • Big & Rich teamed with CMT for exclusive World Premiere of "Look At You" music video
  • Tim McGraw Cut-By-Cut "Words Are Medicine" hits all the buttons
  • TG Sheppard launching Fall Concert Tour across U.S.
  • Jim Ed Brown set to release first solo album, IN STYLE AGAIN, in 30 years (out Jan 2015)
  • Kenny Rogers sits down with veteran newsman Dan Rather for an in depth interview where he discusses his legendary five-plus decade career on AXS TV’s THE BIG INTERVIEW, Tuesday, September 24.
  • Charlie Daniels announces the legendary “Volunteer Jam,” which began in 1974 at War Memorial Auditorium when Daniels and his friends recorded a live version of “Fire On The Mountain,” will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 12, 2015, to raise awareness and funds for The Journey Home Project. 
  • Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band & Danielle Bradbery are latest additions to growing 2015 Tree Town Music Festival Line-Up
  • Aaron Lewis safe after a private charter jet he was a passenger on was disabled an error caused the Cessna Citation V jet to veer off the taxiway and become stuck in mud. 
  • Kayla Adams will be flying high with VIRGIN Airlines during the month of October. The carrier will be showing the Country newcomer's debut music video, "Sober & Sorry," on flights to and from Australia, and on all domestic runs in the U.S.
  • Lee Ann Womack's brand new album, The Way I'm Livin' drops (Sugar Hill Press)
  • Donna Ulisse heading to Raleigh for the biggest Bluegrass Week ever!
  • Nancy Jones presents Zaxby's with George Jones Collectibles

ARTICLES
The American Songwriter Shovels & Rope: From A Scratch And A Hope -
American Songwriter Analysis: The 13th Annual Americana Honors & Awards (by Jewly Hight)....All told, the awards show veered toward some pretty far-flung sensibilities, but that’s a sign of growth, and of Americana, as a scene, a genre, an industry, living up to its broad-as-Jimmie Rogers potential.

An Open Letter To Garth Brooks (Duncan Warwick, editor Country Music People)  . .....Then why oh why did you end up cutting "People Loving People"? It’s utter rubbish. I know you’ve listened to way too many rock records over the years for my own particular liking but this is worse than bad 80's rock. Even Chris Gaines would have passed on this one!..So Garth, you really could make the record you want to make and I find it hard to believe that this is such a record. I can only assume that you were either poorly advised or your new record deal doesn’t give you as much freedom as it should. Garth, what were you thinking? ….. Facebook Post

The river for Garth Brooks has run dry on this new song "People Loving People." I will try my best not to commit this song to memory, since this isn't the Garth Brooks that I grew up listening to and loved. It garners a D- rating. Let's hope that his upcoming album will consist of much stronger material for his fans and listeners, since this was certainly not a great way to introduce a
new project. Read more: Digital Journal

Grantland.com/hollywood Garth Brooks’s Comeback Single ‘People Loving People’ Is Definitely in a Low Place
Brooks’s new comeback song, “People Loving People,” sounds like it was written by Cartman. The whole thing is like a fake South Park song about awareness…

REVIEWS
Red Molly - The Red Album (Fatea Album Review)
Reg Meuross - England Green & England Grey (Hatsongs) Fatea Review
The Cains Trio - "Be Yourself With Me" (Single Review - Daily Country.com)
Two Way Crossing -  "Deep End" (Single Review - Daily Country.com )
Dierks Bentley "Say You Do" (Single Review - Daily Country.com)

INTERVIEWS

Listen to duo Cameron Troy phone interview with Lee Williams first broadcast on CMR Nashville "Europe's #1 Country Music Radio Station" first broadcast on Sept 19, 2014. They speak about how they first met and formed, their new European single “Just Kiss Me”, their career to date and a remarkable story about how Ann Cameron found her voice:




BOOKS
Rita Coolidge has signed with Harper Collins for a 2015 book release that will offer readers an intimate and fascinating journey into her personal story of survival as well as her professional emergence as an influential force amid the iconic music and musicians that built the foundation of the 60’s-70’s pop/rock universe in American culture – Press Release.

LISTEN
NY Times.com Listen in full to the 2 CD set Marty Stuart - Saturday Night & Sunday Morning. On his 15th studio album, the five-time Grammy winner Marty Stuart paid tribute to two pillars of country music: rowdy Saturday nights and soulful Sunday mornings.

NPR Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives on World Café Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives can melt your heart with four-part harmonies, rock your bones with honky tonk, and dazzle you with picking worthy of their name. They even take you to church on their new, partially gospel-influenced double album, Saturday Night/Sunday Morning.....

SPOTIFY COUNTRY
For users of this online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and recommendations.
When it's free and easy on Spotify who needs music piracy?
Links below require you to have installed SPOTIFY and have the application open

Kenny Chesney – The Big Revival - 11 Tracks (39 mins) released Sept 23, 2014
Big & Rich – Gravity - 11 tracks released Sept 30, 2014
Lee Ann Womack – The Way I'm Livin' - 13 tracks, released Sept 23, 2014
Lori McKenna – Numbered Doors - 10 tracks, released Sept 23, 2014

FREE DOWNLOADS
Sturgill Simpson's authenticity stands out like an island of hope in a sea of tacky. Pure and uncompromising, devoid of gloss and fakery. High Top Mountain’s dozen instant classics evoke the sound of timeless country in its many guises. for an email share Download 4 tracks from noisetrade.com : "You Can Have the Crown", "Railroad of Sin", "Some Days" (all 192kbps MP3's) and a low audio quality "Four Flame Candle" (96kbps MP3)

Justin Townes Earle ahead of the highly anticipated release of his sixth studio release Single Mothers (out 9.9.14 on Vagrant Records) held court at EastSide Manor for a bare bones solo set of new material. for an email share Download 5 tracks from noisetrade.com

Jess Morgan's 'Animal EP' is only available for digital download and comprises a set of tracks/ demos/ alternate versions/ live versions put together because they share an animal theme! The UK contemporary folk/ Americana singer-songwriter has now rolled  some of her animal songs out with a Noisetrade FREE download for an email share. She had a headline show in LONDON (UK) on October 7th 2014.

WATCH
Dierks Bentley "Say You Do"
Veronica Ballestrini "Cookies and Cream"
Lindi Ortega "Lived And Died Alone"
Rose's Pawn Shop "What Were You Waiting For" vevo video http://vevo.ly/03AUz3
Lady Antebellum "I Did With You"

Aussie performer, Courtney Conway has a video for "Girly Girl"

Rising star (?) Sandra Lynn has had previous singles appear on SiriusXM and worked with well known director Trey Fanjoy for the video to her first single “You Belong.” >> “Hangin’ Witchu’” is the follow-up to that track and was written by Brett James, Traci Hale and Caitlyn Smith.

Kacey Musgraves performed >>"Biscuits" and talked hanging with Katy Perry, New Music at iHeartRadio Fest. Might "Biscuits" end up on her next project? "I love that song so much. I don’t wanna make any promises to myself before the whole thing takes shape because anything could change. But I do love that song and I do have a few that I’m really excited about.
Boston singer-songwriter Lori McKenna has a new record >> "Numbered Doors" . Artists who have cut her songs and gained chart sucesss include Faith Hill ("Stealing Kisses", "Fireflies"), Little Big Town ("Your Side of the Bed", "Sober") and Hunter Hayes ("I Want Crazy")

Nothing has changed on the UK Brit Country scene in over 20 years!:
Sarah Jory FLASHBACK! - >>  In her early 20's talking in this 1990's interview
Extract: "I get asked a lot lately about how it feels to be part of this NEW emergence of country music and the way people are taking to it over here, and you've got the traditionalists saying its losing all its values and what the music is REALLY about. I don't believe that because for me I think one of our biggest problems is being as far as British Country Music is concerned and as far as excepting country music in this country [UK] is that we who are involved in it are far too insular about it we haven't looked to the broader spectrum. You get acts now like LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain and Garth Brooks coming over here with great tracks that make the mainstream POP charts and let's face it they are more bordering on soft rock than they are country but at the same time they're not losing that which sits them nicely also in the country music bag and as an artist at this very exciting time I want to make my music accessible to the millions out there who haven't who have never even heard of me…... This preconception of what country music is all about and in this country it has been to our detriment because as soon as you've heard country music they immediately think YEE HAW, straw in the ears, songs about dead dogs songs about being run over by a train that sort of thing. It isn't like that anymore, you've got to wake up this the 90s! ….At 8 mins she talks about working Man's Clubs the music being second place to the BINGO..."Give the poor cow a chance she's doing her best". they are soul destroying or they give you the resilience or backbone to go on or they can absolutely destroy you!  

BIRTHDAYS
22 September: June Forester (Forester Sisters) (1956) Debby Boone (1956) 
23 September: The late Ray Charles  (Sept 23 1930, died – June 10, 2004 (aged 73))
24 September: Wayne Jacobs
25 September: Ian Tyson (1932),  Joe Sun (1943), Royce Kendall - (1933)   
26 September: Carlene Carter (1955), David Frizzell (1941), Lynn Anderson (1947), the late Marty Robbins (Sept 26, 1925; died Dec 8, 1982 (aged 57)), Olivia Newton John (1948)
27 September: Brian Collins
September 28: Mandy Barnett (1975), Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town (9/28)

R.I.P


George Hamilton IV-Montage CLICK to ENLARGE

George Hamilton had a heart attack on Saturday September 13, 2014, and died at the age of 77 on Wednesday September 17 at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville
  • George Hege Hamilton IV (July 19, 1937 – September 17, 2014) was an American country musician.
  • He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.
  • After an early foray into pop, Hamilton became a country stalwart, scoring 40 hits in the 1960s and 70s.
  • He was inducted into Nashville's Grand Old Opry in 1960 and continued to work until shortly before he was taken ill.
  • In the later phase of his career, Hamilton, who was born in North Carolina, concentrated on gospel music and making recordings of inspiration recitations, a type of spiritual song.
  • He also became a regular guest singer with evangelist Billy Graham on his many rallies around the world.
  • His most recent album, made in 2010, was a gospel-influenced collection featuring a host of guest artists.
International ambassador
  • At the start of his career in 1956, Hamilton had a top five hit in the US with A Rose and A Baby Ruth, which led to tours with pop idols Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. But he was steered into the world of country music, after being mentored by Chet Atkins.
  • In the 1970s, he exported the music of Nashville around the world, becoming an international ambassador for the genre.
  • Hamilton became the first country musician to perform in the the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia; he made his first visit to the UK in 1967.
  • He was a regular visitor to Scotland, and in 2004 produced an album of songs called Hamilton's Other Country.
  • His highest charting albums Steel Rail Blues No.3 (US Top Country Albums) and Folk Country Classics which peaked at #3 in 1967        
Top Singles:
"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" #6 Billboard Hot 100 (1956)
"Why Don't They Understand" #10  Billboard Hot 100 (1958)
"Before This Day Ends" #4 Hot Country Songs (1960)
"Three Steps to the Phone (Millions of Miles)" #9 Hot Country Songs (1961)
"If You Don't Know I Ain't Gonna Tell You" #6 (1962)
"Abilene" #15 Billboard Hot 100 & #1 Hot Country Songs (1963)
"Fort Worth, Dallas or Houston" #9 Hot Country Songs  (1964)
"Early Morning Rain" (written by Gordon Lightfoot) #9 Hot Country Songs (1966)
"Break My Mind" #6 Hot Country Songs (1967)
"Urge for Going" #7 Hot Country Songs (1967)
"She's a Little Bit Country"  #3 Hot Country Songs (1970)

He appeared some 17 times at the Wembley Country Music festivals starting out on April 5th 1969 right up to the comeback festival on Sunday, February 26th 2012 (which returned after a 20-year absence) . After the interval George introduced Lonestar and Ricky Skaggs with Reba McEntire appearing after the second interval.

Video
Watch him perform "Abilene" (Fort Worth, Dallas Or Houston 1966)
George Hamilton IV "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" recorded for Chapel Hill record label, Colonial Records. The song, written by John D. Loudermilk, climbed to No. 6 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart. By 1960 it had attained gold record status for ABC-Paramount.



Hamilton is survived by his wife Tinky , two sons George V and Peyton and daughter Mary. - BBC News
Visitation was held Tuesday, September 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home in Franklin, Tenn. (3009 Columbia Ave.). A memorial service at the Ryman Auditorium was due to follow on Wednesday, September 24 at 11 a.m. (open to the public). - The Tennessean

The Tennessean Read Mr.Hamilton's obituary (by Peter Cooper): George Hamilton IV, 50-year Opry star, dies at age 77

Find George Hamilton IV albums on Amazon.com and remember the music he left us. R.I.P

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