Phil Vassar Takes Mexico As A Yes
Early this week, Phil Vassar headed down to Puerto Vallarta with nearly 500 fans from Milwaukee and Madison, WI for a little rest, relaxation and fun. In true beach resort style, Phil and a couple of his band members took the stage with no shoes and no set list. The informal concert quickly developed into a two hour set of all of Phil's hits as well as any requests being shouted out from the audience. In the warm Mexican winter things heated up as the barefoot crowd serenaded Phil with the theme song from Grease.
Phil continues his US touring this Friday with a show in Burgettstown, PA (see itinerary below) and will appear on USA Network's Nashville Star as a celebrity judge starting in March. Phil's February Tour Dates
Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum's BANJO MAN HONORING THE CONTINUING LEGACY OF BANJO MASTER EARL SCRUGGS
Almost by definition, a museum’s exhibits document the past. Yet when the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum’s cameo exhibit, Banjo Man: The Musical Journey Of Earl Scruggs opens on March 4 (remaining open through June 2006), it will celebrate not only the immense accomplishments of the world’s greatest banjo player, but it will also spotlight a career that continues to this day. For, while the musical revolution he began more than 60 years ago would have earned him the distinction on its own, Earl Scruggs has given the world much more.
While visitors to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are exploring Banjo Man’s summation of his career, Earl Scruggs himself will be carrying on, appearing this year at the trifecta of youthful roots music celebrations—North Carolina’s Merlefest (April 30), Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music Festival (weekend of June 10) and Colorado’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival (June 19) —sharing the stage, as he has for more than 40 years, with a dazzling array of younger artists, virtually all of whom recognize his unique stature as a musical visionary—a stature so great that when pop-rock singer Melissa Etheridge was asked by a Boston reporter why she participated in Earl Scruggs And Friends, she replied simply, “because he’s Earl Scruggs, that’s why.’” More...
Zona Jones Seeks A Little R&R In Southern Florida While "Two Hearts (One Love)" Continues To Climb The R&R Chart
Country artist, ZONA JONES, continues to draw listener interest for his love song, "Two Hearts (One Love)," which recently charted at No. 52 R&R, No. 52 Music Row Chart, and No. 9 Texas Music Chart.
With Valentine's Day approaching, Zona's song guarantees listeners plenty of love, with or without a valentine. "Two Hearts," written by Ed Hill/ A.J. Masters, became a staple of Zona’s performances back home in Texas. Now the single is quickly becoming a staple in country radio programming with major markets like Boston, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Des Moines, Stockton, Ft. Myers and Colorado Springs on board. More...
Jamie O’Neal Goes To New York
Jamie O'Neal’s new single, "Trying To Find Atlantis," is paving the way for the release of her album Brave on March 1. O’Neal recently offered print and TV media folks a live preview of her new songs at standing room only events in New York and Los Angeles.
While she was in New York, O’Neal was invited to stop by auction house Sotheby's to take a look at the signed guitars up for bids to benefit Musicians on Call, an organization devoted to bringing music directly to patients in hospitals.
O’Neal, who was a three-time Grammy nominee herself a few years ago, heads out to Los Angeles this weekend for the Grammy Awards where she will be a presenter at the pre-telecast ceremony.
Dierks Bentley is Leavin’ and Losin’
Dierks Bentley’s latest single, "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do," jumps to #34 in Billboard and #33 in R&R. The first single from his upcoming album has reviewers comparing his style to the great Waylon Jennings. Bentley reports on his website journal that he's been doing a lot of losing lately. He recently lost his Blackberry cell phone, his favorite trucker's hat and a Bible he left behind in his Austin hotel.
"Thinking about adding a chain to every single accessory I own," he wrote.
Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire to Perform Live at the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS Friday February 11, 3:50 pm ET
The star-studded performance line-up for the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is shining bright with the addition of Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire. With over 90 million albums sold between them, superstars Jackson and McEntire will join the previously announced Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson as they perform live on country's only fan-voted awards show. Hosted by comedy kingpin Jeff Foxworthy, and this year's only country awards televised from Nashville, the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will be telecast on CMT Monday, April 11 at 8:00-10:00 PM, ET. More...