Crystal Gayle releases first new album in 16 Years

Crystal Gayle Releases First New Album In 16 Years:  'You Don't Know Me' Including First Ever Recording With Sister Loretta Lynn

"The pristinely produced 'You Don’t Know Me' album beautifully showcases her elegant vocal delivery and a deep, abiding connection to vintage country music." - Stephen L. Betts, Rolling Stone

“Her stature [as a queen of country pop] long ago permanently secured, Gayle is now enjoying the freedom to return to her roots with 'You Don’t Know Me,' an album made up entirely of classic country.” - Nancy Kruh, People Magazine

"emotive vocals from each sister..." "stunning harmonies..." - Annie Reuter, Billboard

"singer Crystal Gayle immediately established a winning sound..." - Steven Gaydos, Variety

"This new collection is a ringing declaration of her loyalty to the style and to the songs she was born to sing.” — Robert K. Oermann, Author/Journalist

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Crystal Gayle 'My Musical Family Reunion' Feature in Closer Weekly (9/16 issue, p. 22) Pick up a copy today!

Crystal also featured in Variety's 'My First Time' (9/3 issue, p. 94)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Grammy, AMA, ACM and CMA award winning country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member Crystal Gayle released her first new album in nearly 16 years today; You Don’t Know Me which includes the first ever recording with her sister, the legendary Loretta Lynn. Available everywhere, the new album is released by Southpaw Musical Productions, and distributed by BFD in partnership with The Orchard. Co-produced, recorded and mixed by Crystal's son Christos Gatzimos, You Don’t Know Me has already received critical acclaim. Billboard Magazine premiered "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," the song which finally brings Crystal together with sisters Peggy Sue Wright, and country music icon Loretta Lynn, on a highly anticipated, first-ever recorded trio of them singing together. "Loretta and Peggy made this album very special by singing "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" with me. It is a song that we have performed together throughout the years. This is the one and only trio performance on record. We’ve done the Boston Pops together. We performed together in Lake Tahoe and Reno and a few things like that. But we’ve never actually made a record together. Peggy Sue still comes out on the road with me, singing backup harmonies. I recorded the track, then Patsy, Loretta’s daughter, asked her to sing on my album. Loretta is such an incredible singer. She got through the song right away and then went, “What’s next?” We should have recorded the whole album together!" (6 Sept 2019) Crystal Gayle - You Don't Know Me (BFD) 15 Tracks/ Time: 44:07 Amazon UK - iTunes - Amazon.com TV & Radio Appearances: Gayle recently made appearances on Larry's Country Diner on RFD TV (watch at RFD TV Country Club), TBN's Huckabee (8/31 and 9/1), with upcoming appearances on Honky Tonkin' with Tracy Lawrence (airing 9/6-9/8), Big D & Bubba (airing 9/12), Country Gold With Terry Clark (airing 9/14 & 9/15), a SiriusXM Prime Country special with host Storme Warren (airing 9/20 at 12p ET) and more! You Don't Know Me Spotify Playlist Inclusions: NPR's New Music Friday added "Ribbon Of Darkness" to their Spotify playlist for Sept. 6. "You Don’t Know Me" on 'New Traditions: Country Heroes' "I Cried the Blue (Right Out of My Eyes)" on 'New Music Nashville' Follow Crystal at crystalgayle.com or on social media @TheCrystalGayle for the latest news. You Don't Know Me Track Listing: 1. Ribbon Of Darkness (Gordon Lightfoot) 2. You Win Again (Hank Williams) 3. Please Help Me I’m Falling (Don Robertson, Hal Blair) 4. Am I That Easy To Forget (Carl Belew, W.S. Stevenson, Shelby Singleton) 5. Hello Walls (Willie Nelson) 6. You Never Were Mine (Jay Lee Webb) 7. Just One More (George Jones) 8. There Goes My Everything (Dallas Frazier) 9. That’s The Way Love Goes (Lefty Frizzell, Sanger D Shafer) 10. Cryin’ Time (Buck Owens) 11. I’ve Seen That Look On Me A Thousand Times (Harlan Howard, Shirl Milete) 12. Walkin’ After Midnight (Alan Block, Donn Hecht) 13. You Don’t Know Me (Eddie Arnold, Cindy Walker) 14. Put It Off Until Tomorrow featuring Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens)      BONUS TRACK: I Cried The Blue (Right Out of My Eyes) Album Name: You Don’t Know Me Release date: September 6, 2019 Pre-sale date: August 9, 2019 Label: Southpaw Musical Productions / BFD UPC: 8-19376-01872-0 DISC: BFD187 Produced by: Christos Gatzimos & Crystal Gayle Buy/Stream/Listen at orcd.co/CrystalGayleYouDontKnowMe About Crystal Gayle: Grammy-winning singer Crystal Gayle is an award-winning country music icon whose reign in the music business includes 20 No. 1 country hits, six albums certified Gold by the RIAA and the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. Her list of platinum and gold was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA's "Female Vocalist of the Year," for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy Award Winner for "Best Female Vocal Performance," thanks to her beloved "Brown Eyes" - a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Crystal swept the Academy of Country Music Awards for three of their "Top Female Vocalist" statuettes. She is the recipient of three "American Music Awards," voted by the nation as America's "Favorite Female Artist." Perhaps nothing sums up Crystal's career achievements as well as being awarded with a star on the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2009. Also famous for her nearly floor-length hair, she was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine in 1983. Gayle also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near Lynn's star. In August 2016, the Academy of Country Music honored Crystal with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors. Gayle was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in January 2017 by her sister and Opry legend Loretta Lynn.

Crystal Gayle returns with first new album in 16 Years, 'You Don't Know Me'

Crystal Gayle returns with first new album in 16 Years, You Don't Know Me on Sept. 6

Buy/Stream/Listen at orcd.co/CrystalGayleYouDontKnowMe

New album features classic country standards, plus a highly anticipated trio

 with sisters Loretta Lynn, and Peggy Sue Wright

Pre-sale & first single "Ribbon of Darkness" available Aug. 9

"She has had her share of success on the pop charts, but Crystal Gayle is, was and always has been a country-music artist. This new collection is a ringing declaration of her loyalty to the style and to the songs she was born to sing."
-- Robert K. Oermann

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Grammy award winning country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member Crystal Gayle is delighted to announce the release of her first new album in nearly 16 years, You Don’t Know Me. Available everywhere September 6, with a pre-sale beginning August 9, the new album is being released by Southpaw Musical Productions, and distributed by BFD in partnership with The Orchard.

Co-produced, recorded and mixed by Crystal's son Christos Gatzimos, You Don’t Know Me is a collection that finds the acclaimed stylist exploring the songs of such country legends as George Jones, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens and Eddy Arnold.

The album might come as a surprise to those who associate Crystal with an uptown sound that made her a star on both country and adult-contemporary pop charts. But she has known this repertoire of hardcore country standards all her life.

“This wasn’t a stretch at all,” says Crystal. “This project is a labor of love that my son, Christos, and I produced together. It is filled with country classics that I grew up singing. They are very much a part of my history and I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I feel very lucky to have known and worked with many of the artists who had the original hits.”

Each of the selections was chosen because it played a role in her musical development. Two of them point to the importance that her family had in bringing her to fame.

The album’s opening track is “Ribbon Of Darkness,” a song originally written by Gordon Lightfoot. Originally released in 1965 as a single by Marty Robbins, it became his eleventh #1 hit. The song holds a special place in Crystal’s heart because it was the first song she performed at her Grand Ole Opry debut.

"This was the first song I ever sang on the Grand Ole Opry. I was 16," said Gayle. "Loretta was sick. Mooney [Lynn] did something; I don’t know what. But they let me sing in her place. In my early years in Nashville, when I was on Decca, I opened for Marty Robbins. So I’ve heard him sing this many times. Connie Smith also had a hit with it. So the night I was inducted into the Opry cast in 2017, I asked Connie if it was okay with her that I sing “Ribbon of Darkness."

Another popular classic country hit on the album is “Crying Time,” a song originally written and recorded by Bakersfield sound pioneer Buck Owens. The song was also recorded by Ray Charles, who won two Grammy Awards in 1967 for his version.

"I do a medley of Buck Owens songs in my shows," says Crystal. "When I was a kid, he worked Buck Lake Ranch in Indiana. I would go whenever he was playing there, and he’d let me sing on his show. When I was 16, he wanted me to become a regular on his TV show. He asked me, but it didn’t work out."

The album's closing track is “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” which brings Crystal together with her sisters Peggy Sue Wright, and legendary country music icon Loretta Lynn, for a highly anticipated first-ever recorded trio of them together. The song also just happens to be co-written by another country music legend, Dolly Parton.

"Loretta and Peggy made this album very special by singing "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" with me. It is a song that we have performed together throughout the years. This is the one and only trio performance on record. We’ve done the Boston Pops together. We performed together in Lake Tahoe and Reno and a few things like that. But we’ve never actually made a record together. Peggy Sue still comes out on the road with me, singing backup harmonies. I recorded the track, then Patsy, Loretta’s daughter, asked her to sing on my album. Loretta is such an incredible singer. She got through the song right away and then went, “What’s next?” We should have recorded the whole album together! Loretta had her stroke not long after we recorded this."

Track Listing:
1. Ribbon Of Darkness (Gordon Lightfoot)
2. You Win Again (Hank Williams)
3. Please Help Me I’m Falling (Don Robertson, Hal Blair)
4. Am I That Easy To Forget (Carl Belew, W.S. Stevenson, Shelby Singleton)
5. Hello Walls (Willie Nelson)
6. You Never Were Mine (Jay Lee Webb)
7. Just One More (George Jones)
8. There Goes My Everything (Dallas Frazier)
9. That’s The Way Love Goes (Lefty Frizzell, Sanger D Shafer)
10. Cryin’ Time (Buck Owens)
11. I’ve Seen That Look On Me A Thousand Times (Harlan Howard, Shirl Milete)
12. Walkin’ After Midnight (Alan Block, Donn Hecht)
13. You Don’t Know Me (Eddie Arnold, Cindy Walker)
14. Put It Off Until Tomorrow featuring Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue (Dolly Parton, Bill Owens)
      BONUS TRACK: I Cried The Blue (Right Out of My Eyes)

Album Name: You Don’t Know Me
Release date: September 6, 2019
Pre-sale date: August 9, 2019
Label: Southpaw Musical Productions / BFD
UPC: 8-19376-01872-0
DISC: BFD187
Produced by: Christos Gatzimos & Crystal Gayle

About Crystal Gayle:
Grammy-winning singer Crystal Gayle is an award-winning country music icon whose reign in the music business includes 20 No. 1 country hits, six albums certified Gold by the RIAA and the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. Her list of platinum and gold was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA's "Female Vocalist of the Year," for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy Award Winner for "Best Female Vocal Performance," thanks to her beloved "Brown Eyes" - a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Crystal swept the Academy of Country Music Awards for three of their "Top Female Vocalist" statuettes. She is the recipient of three "American Music Awards," voted by the nation as America's "Favorite Female Artist." Perhaps nothing sums up Crystal's career achievements as well as being awarded with a star on the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2009. Also famous for her nearly floor-length hair, she was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine in 1983. Gayle also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near Lynn's star. In August 2016, the Academy of Country Music honored Crystal with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors. Gayle was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in January 2017 by her sister and Opry legend Loretta Lynn.

Crystal Gayle inducted into Grand Ole Opry by sister and Opry Legend Loretta Lynn

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 21, 2017)

CRYSTAL GAYLE INDUCTED INTO GRAND OLE OPRY 
BY SISTER AND OPRY LEGEND LORETTA LYNN

Loretta Lynn & Crystal Gayle |
Photo Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Grammy^®-winning songstress Crystal Gayle was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry^® on the evening of Sat Jan 21, 2017 at the Ryman Auditorium by her sister and Opry legend Loretta Lynn. Gayle made her Opry debut 50 years ago on the Ryman stage, singing the country classic “Ribbon of Darkness” at age 16. She had been publicly invited to join the Opry by Opry member Carrie Underwood in November.

BLOG POST: Crystal Gayle Invited to Join Grand Ole Opry (15 Nov 2016) 

“We’ve been together a long time, honey. And we’ve never had a fight,” Lynn said. “It was the greatest moment of my life when they made me a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1962. I know she is just as happy as I was then.” “Being a member of the Opry is just incredible,” Gayle beamed. “It’s really hard to comprehend. I have felt like a part of the Opry for all these years. Now, I’m official.”

Loretta Lynn & Crystal Gayle | Photo Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Grammy-nominated duo Dailey & Vincent is set to be formally inducted into the Opry on Saturday, March 11.

About Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle is an award-winning country music icon whose reign in the music business includes 20 No.1 country hits, six albums certified Gold by the RIAA and the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic.

Her 1977 country-pop crossover hit song, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (1977; #5 UK Single), became an iconic staple and solidified her as one of the top female vocalists during the 1970s and 1980s.

Her list of platinum and gold was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA's "Female Vocalist of the Year," for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy Award Winner for "Best Female Vocal Performance," thanks to her beloved "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (1977; #5 UK Single) - a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Crystal swept the Academy of Country Music Awards for three of their "Top Female Vocalist" statuettes.

She is the recipient of three "American Music Awards," voted by the nation as America's "Favorite Female Artist."

Perhaps nothing sums up Crystal's career achievements as well as being awarded with a star on the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2009.

Also famous for her nearly floor-length hair, she was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine in 1983.

She is the younger sister (by 19 years) of singer Loretta Lynn, and a distant cousin of singer Patty Loveless. Gayle also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near Lynn's star. In August 2016, the Academy of Country Music honored Crystal with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors.^™

For more information:

CONNECT with Crystal Gayle:

About the Grand Ole Opry:

The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday Night Opry shows through December 13. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com.

The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.

Marking more than nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.

Crystal Gayle Invited to Join Grand Ole Opry

CRYSTAL GAYLE INVITED TO JOIN GRAND OLE OPRY

Formal Opry Induction to Take Place January 21, 2017

Pictured L-R: Steve Buchanan, President, Opry Entertainment,
 Bill Gatzimos, Manager, Crystal Gayle, Carrie Underwood,
Pete Fisher, VP/GM Grand Ole Opry.
(Photo by Chris Hollo for The Grand Ole Opry.)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 15, 2016)

Grammy-winning songstress Crystal Gayle was surprised during her Grand Ole Opry performance this evening by Opry member Carrie Underwood with an invitation to become an official Opry member. Gayle will be formally inducted into the Opry on Jan. 21, 2017 by her sister, Opry legend Loretta Lynn.

Gayle (born Brenda Gail Webb; January 9, 1951; aged 65) made her Opry debut nearly 50 years ago on the Ryman Auditorium stage, singing the country classic “Ribbon of Darkness” at age 16.

Underwood surprised the sold-out Opry at the Ryman crowd by joining Gayle on the smash hit “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Seconds after finishing the duet, Underwood turned to Gayle and said, “You are an inspiration to so many of us. You are important to country music, and you are important to the Opry, which is why I was asked tonight to ask you if you would like to join our Opry family officially.”

Accepting her friend’s invitation with a hug, Gayle said, “I have always felt like I was a member of the family and this is just so special.”

Video: Watch Carrie Underwood invite Crystal Gayle to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry (credit Juli Thanki) at The Tennessean, click here

 “For more than half of the Opry’s 91 years, Crystal Gayle has been lending her signature vocals to Opry shows and connecting with Opry audiences as well as with everyone backstage,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “She is family, and we are very excited that she’ll become an official Opry member early next year.”

Tonight I had the incredible honor of singing with the one and only Crystal Gayle at the @opry ❤️ I then had the even greater honor of asking her to join the Opry family officially as a member. She accepted the invitation! What an amazing moment with an amazing woman! 🎶 #GrandOleOpry

A photo posted by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Nov 15, 2016 at 7:50pm PST

Tweet:

What a nice surprise @TheRyman tonight. I am honored and thrilled to be invited to join @Opry family by @carrieunderwood Love you, Carrie! pic.twitter.com/BGPLcMV4By

— Crystal Gayle (@TheCrystalGayle) 16 November 2016

Tickets for Gayle’s Opry induction night (Jan 21) and all upcoming Opry performances are available at opry.com.

About Crystal Gayle:
Crystal Gayle made her Opry debut when she performed in place of her Opry member sister Loretta Lynn who had been too ill make her scheduled appearance. To escape musical comparison to her hit-making sister, Gayle developed her own vocal and musical style.

She had 20 No.1 country singles, beginning with "I'll Get Over You" (1976) and including her signature song, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" (1977; #5 UK Single). That song earned her a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and also made her album We Must Believe In Magic the first by a female country artist to go Platinum.

"Talking in Your Sleep" (1978) reached #11 the UK Official Singles Chart.

She was awarded CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1977 and 1978, and the Academy of Country Music honored her with the same award in 1976, 1977 and 1979.

Her chart successes include “Cry,” “Talking In Your Sleep,” “Why Have Left The One You Left Me For,” “Half The Way,” her duet with Eddie Rabbitt, “You And I,” and many more.

Top Charting Albums

We Must Believe in Magic (Released: June 24, 1977; United Artists): #2 Billboard Top Country Albums | #15 UK Official Album Chart

When I Dream (June 2, 1978; United Artists): #2 Billboard Top Country Albums | #25 UK Official Album Chart

Miss the Mississippi (September 1979; Columbia): #3 Billboard Top Country Albums

Hollywood, Tennessee (August 1981; Columbia): #5 Billboard Top Country Albums

Cage the Songbird (October 17, 1983; Warner Bros.): #5 Billboard Top Country Albums

Crystal (Released: August 6, 1976; United Artists): #7 Billboard Top Country Albums

In 2008, Gayle was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, and in 2009 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For more information:

CONNECT with Crystal Gayle:

About the Grand Ole Opry:
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday Night Opry shows through December 13. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com.

The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.

Marking more than nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.