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Posts Tagged ‘country’

Darryl Worley

Doors 5 PM | Show 7 PM

Ages 14+

The rich, reedy tones and all-American, blue-collar themes in his #1 hits “I Miss My Friend,” “Awful, Beautiful Life” and “Have You Forgotten?” are reminders of the down-to-Earth, Haggard-like Darryl Worley you always knew.

The island vibes and blue-eyed soul in new songs “It’s Good To Be Me,” “Lay It On Me” and “Lonely Alone” suggest there’s another, almost-funky, version of Worley that’s been kept under wraps.

The alternate sides are both on display in Second Wind: Latest and Greatest, a project that mixes the traditional-country history he established in Nashville with the ragged soul that’s deep in the bones of Muscle Shoals, a musical Alabama hotbed where Worley got his start. The area hosted hit sessions for Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, Wilson Pickett and The Rolling Stones, and the sweaty swagger of the region’s recording studios was a perfect fit for Worley as he recorded an album that re-establishes him in country culture.

“It’s like we stumbled onto something in an attempt to stumble onto something,” Worley says. “We were just kind of feeling our way around in the dark.”

Produced by guitarist Billy Lawson (Sammy Kershaw, Mo Pitney), Second Wind was built with a relaxed atmosphere. Little attention was paid to the clock by Worley and his longtime band, who helped bring the hits forward to their 2017 sound while pumping some ultra-human attitude into the new stuff as well.

Born and raised in southern Tennessee by a Methodist minister and a church-choir mom he describes as a “prayer warrior,” Worley started his musical career at the FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, under the tutelage of producer/publisher Rick Hall (Mac Davis, Jerry Reed), where he remained for a solid five years. He played clubs almost nightly, honing his stage craft at the same time he was woodshedding his songwriting skills, and as Worley gained confidence, he found his way to Nashville. There, he secured a recording deal in 1999 on the basis of some demo recordings that showcased his authoritative vocals and his understanding of the hard-working country audience.

End times are estimated and subject to change without notice.

Randall King

Doors 6 PM | Show 7 PM

Ages 14+

A West Texas native and self-described “old soul,” Warner Music Nashville’s Randall King has never wavered in his honky-tonk allegiance–in fact, he’s worn it like a badge of honor, growing with pride into a leading voice for today’s traditional country.

Amassing over 300 Million streams with singles like “You In A Honky Tonk,” “Hey Cowgirl” and “Mirror, Mirror,” he’s kept the twang alive in country’s mainstream while also earning acclaim through deeply personal EPs like 2020’s Leanna, and his 2022 major label album debut, Shot Glass–which landed on both Whiskey Riff’s Top 40 Country Albums of 2022 and Billboard’s All Genre 50 Best Albums of 2022.

Schooled on icons like Keith Whitley, George Strait, Alan Jackson and John Anderson, but inspired by modern masters like Dierks Bentley and Gary Allan, King first built an independent, grass-roots following on the strength of his electrifying live shows–each one a harrowing mix of rowdy roughnecking, romantic tenderness and breathtaking emotion–never asking for permission to explore his creative vision. He has since gone on to headline all across the U.S., the U.K. and Europe, where he continues to play nearly 150 shows a year and hone his craft where it matters most.

Named a Country Artist to Watch by everyone from Pandora and Country Now to Music Mayhem Magazine, his sophomore major label album Into the Neon, available now, takes that craft to the next level, as King’s neo-traditional roots meet the blood-pumping rhythms and sharp, arena-sized grooves of Y2K-era country and beyond. Co-produced by King and Jared Conrad, and featuring 18 tracks, punchy sounds exist side-by-side with timeless swagger, further blurring the line between yesteryear and today–even as King renews his forever-country vows.

End times are estimated and subject to change without notice.

Country Christmas with Cody Cozz

Doors 6 PM | Show 7 PM

All Responsible Ages are Welcome.

Bring the family! Phil Long Music Hall presents the 2024 Country Christmas featuring Cody Cozz and special guest, Matt Heard!

Let’s rock around the Christmas tree to your favorite country classics sprinkled with holiday cheer. The night will feature Colorado artist and musician Cody Cozz with a special telling of the Christmas Story by local pastor, Matt Heard.

End times are estimated and subject to change without notice.

Tracy Byrd

Doors 5 PM | Show 7 PM

Presented by TING

Ages 14+

Tracy Byrd became a household name on the Country Music Scene in 1993 when his third single, called “Holdin’ Heaven”, off of his MCA Records, self-titled debut album, hit #1 on the Billboard Country Charts. The Album also included the remake hit of Johnny Paycheck’s “Someone to Give my Love to” cementing Byrd as a Traditional Country Troubadour!! The Debut Album went on to be certified Gold, a reward signifying sales in excess of 500,000 copies.

Byrd’s second project, “No Ordinary Man”, kept building on the momentum the first album created, the first radio single from it called “Lifestyle’s of the Not so Rich and Famous” reached #4, followed by another top five hit, “The First Step”, then with the release of the smash, chart topping hit “Watermelon Crawl” the second album crossed the half million sales mark and certified Gold. The realease of the 4th and last single on this project moved Byrd to the top of both the Billboard Album and Singles charts. The song was called “The Keeper of the Star’s” and it shot to #1 on the singles charts and pushed the album to Double Platinum Status, which certifies sales of over 2 Million Copies. “The Keeper of the Stars” won the Academy of Country Music’s “Song of the Year” award in 1995. A Keeper Year for Tracy Byrd for sure.

His third studio Album, “Love Lesson” is one of Tracy’s favorites. It included the title track, another top five hit single for Byrd, also included were the top 15 singles, “Walking to Jerusalem” and “Heaven in My Woman’s Eyes”, Byrd’s personal favorite.

A 4th top 15 single was released called “4 to 1 in Atlanta” which Byrd performed Live on the David Letterman Show.  The “Love Lesson’s” album also reached sales of 500,000 copies certifying Gold.

“Big Love” became Byrd’s fourth studio album with it’s release in the fall of 1996.  It spawned two more top five singles with the release of the title track and “Don’t Take Her She’s All I’ve Got” The Video’s of both of these songs reached the top of CMT’s Video Chart’s  and also earned Byrd his first TNN Television Special titled “Tracy Byrd’s Big Love” on which Byrd invited guest’s Johnny Paycheck, Mark Chesnutt, and Asleep at the Wheel. The Album “Big Love” became Tracy’s Fourth consecutive Studio Album to be Certified Gold. Tracy said that this meant more to him than anything because he knew Fan’s weren’t just listening to his hit songs on the radio, they were laying down their hard earned money to own a copy of their own and that was flattering.

The fifth project on MCA was titled, “I’m From the Country” and it contained the title track a fun, party song stating what most fan’s already knew, that Tracy Byrd was from the Country and sang Country Music. The CD also contained a Beautiful Ballad called “I Wanna Feel That Way Again” Both of these single’s reached the Top Five on the Charts.  It was at this same time that TNN Outdoors recruited Byrd as the TV Host of their Weekend Outdoor Broadcast.  Tracy, a well known outdoorsman, was perfect for the job and continued his hosting responsibilities for three years.

At this point in his career, Tracy Byrd, was looking for a change in labels, but still was under contract with MCA Records who were preparing a release of “Keepers: Greatest Hit’s” containing all the hit’s from Byrd’s catalog of songs.  The album quickly earned another Gold Record award for Byrd but he was trying to persuade MCA to let him out of his contract so he could pursue a different direction.  MCA finally allowed Byrd out of his contract and he quickly signed with RCA Records and got to work on a new project, “It’s About Time”, that would be released in November of 1999 and would reach the top 10 quickly with the single “Put Your Hand In Mine” Byrd has said that this album is the most Traditional Album he ever released and therefore his favorite.

Tracy Byrd crossed into the new Millineum with the release of his Album “10 Rounds” It took off on the release of a duet with his longtime hometown buddy and hero Mark Chesnutt.  The song was called “A Good Way to get on my Bad Side” and was a milestone for Byrd to finally get to record with his good friend. Then came the release of the party song of the year, “10 Rounds with Jose Cuervo” which shot to the top of the Billboard Charts to notch Byrd’s third #1 single. He also hit the top 10 with his spanish guitar flared “Just Let Me be in Love”.

Next came “The Truth About Men”, which first released the title track which was a comedic look at what Men are really like, it was a team effort with Tracy’s buddies Blake Shelton, Andy Griggs, and Troy and Eddie of Montgomery Gentry lending their talents to the song and the video. This Album also released the top five smash “The Drinkin’ Bone” which became a crowd favorite sing along song.

Byrd was then moved to BNA Records, the sister label of RCA, and they released his second greatest hits project, another feat that not many artists experience, two Greatest hits projects!!! It debuted in the top five of the album charts and became Byrd’s sixth Gold Album, and sent him to over 6 Million Records Sold!!!

Byrd then left the major label and released an album on his own, appropriatelly titled, “Different Things” Although this project was not commercially successful, it garnered Byrd his highest Critical acclaim of his career with Billboard magazine choosing it as one of their Top 10 Country Albums of the Year!!!

Through all of these years Byrd became a promoter favorite on the road, performing over 4000 exciting shows across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia from 1992 until 2009!  He then say’s he needed a break to take care of himself and his most precious thing, his family, wife Michelle, daugter Evee, and son’s Logan and Jared, who had taken a backseat to his career for year’s. He did not perform from 2010-2013, but in 2014 he got back to the music with a new band and a new found sobriety and love of the thing he enjoys so much.  Say’s Byrd, “These day’s my life has great balance, with my music being a part of it, not all of it.  I can honestly say I have never enjoyed it more!!”

Byrd went back in the studio in June of 2016 and started work on his first project in 10 years.  Recorded completely in Tyler, Texas at Rosewood Studios, that album is appropriatelly titled, All American Texan, which is exactly what he is and has always been. This album features 8 tracks written by Byrd, a fact he is very proud of.  The album was released in October of 2016 and has been very well received by his fans and critics alike.

If you get the chance pick up some Tracy Byrd music, and catch a show on the road.  You won’t be sorry that you did!!!

End times are estimated and subject to change without notice.