Crystal Yates signs with Silverado Records

TEXAS NATIVE CRYSTAL YATES SIGNS WITH SILVERADO RECORDS

Crystal Yates (circa 2015)

Silverado Records has announced the signing of singer-songwriter Crystal Yates for the second volume of their Silverado Signature Songwriter Series. Hailing from McKinney, Texas, Yates is a student of country music, inspired by the greats like Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton. She’s currently touring heavily in Texas, and can be found Sunday mornings leading worship at some of the nation’s largest churches. 

A songwriting and vocal powerhouse, Yates was the national winner of the 2014 Texaco Country Showdown. She’s released two previous EPs and has amassed a very large and loyal fan base across the country.

 “I am so excited to start working with Silverado Records and to be a part of this amazing series,” Yates said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I thank God every day that I get to be a part of it!”

The series, which recently kicked off its first volume with Nashville based songwriter Zack Dyer, showcases tracks from country music songwriters. The series pays homage to the immense and diverse songwriting culture prevalent in Nashville and country music as a whole. The second volume, featuring Yates, is currently in production and is scheduled to be released this Spring.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Crystal on this series. Her talent is beyond exceptional and our team is fired up about working with her,” said Silverado Records CEO Scott Thomas. “I simply cannot wait to share this music with her fans,” he added.

About Crystal Yates

Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Country, Alt Country

Originally from Niceville, FL

Current Location: Dallas, TX

Favorite hangout:  My kitchen or my friends' kitchens  ;)  Also McKinney Farmer's Market, Pecan Lodge BBQ in Deep Ellum, Thai Noodle Wave in McKinney

Crystal Yates was listening to a sermon at Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas 76226 when she had a musical epiphany. "Stop trying to separate the secular and sacred by treating everything as sacred," implored the pastor, Toby Slough. It was then that the country singer-songwriter from McKinney realized her love of songwriting didn’t require her to compartmentalize her audience or subject matter. On Sunday mornings, you will find Crystal and her husband and guitar player, Will, in front of thousands of worshippers leading the song service for Cross Timbers.

Hank Williams Sr. have influenced Yates more than by any other artist. She grew up on a steady diet of Merle, Waylon and Dolly, is a student of country music in all of its forms, so her songs don’t categorically fall into some sort of contemporary Christian/country hybrid. Such a narrow distinction would undermine the depth she requires from her own creations.

October 2011 saw the release of her 11 track album LOVE WINS (Amazon UK) which garnered rave reviews and led to subsequent performances at SXSW, Sundance Film Festival, and several TV appearances.

In 2012, "Christimastime for You and Me" (Noisetrade) was released, and in 2013, "Live At LoneStar Wine Cellars" was released, which featured an unplugged live performance in an intimate setting in Yates' hometown, McKinney, TX.

Despite some misgivings about the value of talent contests, Yates nonetheless entered the historic Texaco competition in 2013 year and, after a series of local and regional wins, found herself (Jan 2014; Facebook Photo) accepting the $100,000 grand prize on the stage of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the fabled “Mother Church” of country music. 

Crystal Yates at the 32nd annual Texaco Country Showdown National Final 
at the Ryman Auditorium on January 16, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jan 16, 2014 Licence Getty Images

In a nationally televised program, held at the legendary venue and hosted by LeAnn Rimes, Crystal was named the winner in the National Country Showdown the biggest and longest running country music competition, whose past contestants include Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Sara Evans, and many more. In addition to the grand prize of $100,000, Crystal was also named the Best New Act In Country Music.

Embed from Getty Images

William Yates and Crystal Yates are awarded $100,000 by LeAnn Rimes at the 32nd annual Texaco Country Showdown National Final at the Ryman Auditorium on January 16, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee.

January 16, 2014 Licence Getty Images

Watch Crystal Yates performing "Let That Record Play On" for the Texaco Country Showdown at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, January 2014.

Texaco Country Showdown winner Crystal released her powerful, Charlie Peacock-produced album, five-song EP I BELIEVE, on iTunes Oct. 21, 2014. 

(28 Oct 2014) Crystal Yates - I Believe (Crystal Yates)

5 Tracks/ Time: 19:20
Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

A much-in-demand studio maestro, Peacock holds a Grammy for producing the Civil Wars’ Barton Hollow.

Yates, whose songs have been cut by Guy Penrod, Selah and Phil King, among others, wrote or co-wrote all the songs on I Believe.  

The lead single, sent to country radio (via Jerry Duncan Promotions / Applause Records), from the collection is the standout “Goodbye Letter” (co-written with Jack Doyle and Jennie Lee Riddle), which the Dallas Observer described as “delicate, folky, heart-breaking.” It’s “a cheating song” Yates wrote for a friend whose husband of 17 years had cheated on her many times. The friend was facing divorce and an uncomfortable swelling of uncertainty in her future. She had a “Deep hurt that needed hope,” Yates said. Such real-life material requires a nuance that can’t typically be found on a close-minded path.

The other songs are “Let The Record Play” (co-written with Jack Doyle), “Good Thing Going” (co-written with Will Yates and Charlie Peacock)”, “I Believe” (co-written with Will Yates) and lovely “Feels Like We’re Flying” (co-written with Don Poythress and Jennie Lee Riddle).

A Florida native, living in McKinney, Texas, Yates was a formidable performer, recording artist and songwriter well before a fan urged her to enter the 2013 Texaco Country Showdown.  She has toured the U.S. and Europe, both as a soloist and opening act, and entertained at such high-profile events as South-by-Southwest and the Sundance Film Festival.

Apart from her own headlining performances, Yates has opened shows for Martina McBride (The 38th Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival October 17-19, 2014 in Niceville, Florida), Gary Morris and Neal McCoy.

I BELIEVE stood as the culmination of what Yates sees as her musical mission.  “I want to connect with people on a heart level,” she said.  “It’s important for me to deliver songs and performances that touch the soul. That’s why I do this.” Yates adds with a smile, “I love to make people cry.”

On May 20, 2016, she released an Indie & Alternative 5 Track EP THE OTHER SIDE (Awaken Love Music)

Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

The EP was recorded in Denton and produced by longtime friend McKenzie Smith of Midlake, who happens to not only be an acclaimed producer, thanks to recent work with Sarah Jaffe, but also the drummer at Cross Timbers.

The five songs on the new record are slated to: “offer Yates' powerful voice a proper stage. But as is the case with the best country music, even the prettiest voices must be heard on songs built upon a foundation of rock-solid storytelling. 
To that end, Yates delves into material not often heard from a mega church’s praise and worship team”.

Published on Jan 25, 2016 watch “Leave Me Alone To Die” (Crystal Yates, Will Yates, Christopher Davis).

Perhaps the EP’s boldest song, “Hell on the Soul,” is a classic country heartbreaker. Yates delivers an aching vocal about needing “smoking, drinking, lovers and pills” to deal with pain and emotional torment, regardless of whether it's the healthiest idea ever. If country music is “three chords and the truth,” as it has been famously described, then this song is imminently country. The truth isn’t usually pretty and it isn’t often G-rated. Yates doesn’t need the truth to be anything it’s not. - WEBSITE

Independent music label, Silverado Records, hoped to fill the homes of country music fans with the joyful music of their holiday season project, A SILVERADO FAMILY CHRISTMAS, on Nov 25, 2016 (Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com)

Crystal Yates recorded “Christmas Time for Just You and Me” described as a “smokin’ hot holiday love song.”

See BLOG POST:

Independent Country Music Label Silverado Records to celebrate Holiday Season with Special Christmas Project

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About Silverado Records

Launched in 2016, Silverado Records hosts offices in Nashville and Las Vegas and has become a haven for established and rising country artists hoping to carve their own path in the music industry. 

Founder and CEO Scott Thomas, a serial entrepreneur and entertainment industry veteran, is also the CEO of Silverado’s parent company, Exegan Music Group, which owns or controls more than a dozen other record label catalogs. The first half of his career was rooted in the radio business, as a radio DJ, production manager, and program director before co-founding Zeo Radio Networks in Denver. Thomas moved to the record side in 2008 with the launch of Jake Records. Thomas is joined on the Silverado Records team by accomplished industry professionals with storied careers at landmark labels and organizations. A&R Director Aaron Chesling formerly served as Logistics Coordinator for Big Machine Records and Heather Cramsie serves as the Marketing Director after a successful run as the Director of Southeast Promotion at Sidewalk Records. Social Media Director Tim Stewart hails from Las Vegas where he did freelance social media seminars for tech start-ups in Silicon Valley, now working out of the Exegan Music headquarters. Silverado's roster boasts talented and award-winning singer/songwriters, musicians and creatives Joe Diffie, HISH, Zack Dyer, Ali Morgan and Melissa Mickelson.

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