ANNOUNCING GIBSON RECORDS

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A New Record Label From Gibson

Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators

For the past 127 years, Gibson – the iconic American instrument brand – has been synonymous with creating and shaping sound across genres of music and generations of players. Gibson today announced the launch of Gibson Records, headquartered in Music City, Nashville, TN alongside a strategic label partnership with BMG.

Over the past two and a half years, Gibson has launched successful music initiatives built around their iconic brands, premium guitars, and amazing artists. Not to mention initiatives that have re-energized the Gibson fanbase and the music community at large including Gibson Artist Collections, Gibson TV, the Gibson App, the Gibson Generation Group (G3), Gibson Gives, and the newly opened Gibson Garage in Nashville. Gibson Records is the next major step contributing to the evolution of collaborative artist partnerships.

Iconic music that inspired generational movements has been recorded with Gibson guitars since the inception of recorded music. Gibson Records will work with Gibson artists to produce, record, and promote their music to fans around the world, spreading the power of their music, creating, building, and delivering guitar centric music, across genres to fans across the globe.

“Launching a record label that is in service to our artists is the natural evolution of our 127 years of history. Gibson Records will work with Gibson artists to capture, record and promote their music under an artist friendly partnership,” says Cesar Gueikian, Brand President, Gibson Brands. “Gibson Records will keep all of us at Gibson focused on our artist-first culture that is engaged and connected to music. We are excited to launch Gibson Records, to announce that Slash is our first signed artist and that we have entered into a label partnership with BMG.”

Gibson Records has also announced that it has entered into a strategic label partnership for the release with BMG, the world’s fourth-biggest music company.

“It’s an honor to be the first release on the new Gibson Records,” says SLASH. “It’s a zenith in our partnership for sure and having worked so closely with Gibson for so long, I know they will be a label that genuinely supports their artists creatively. Not just me, but all the artists they choose to work with. It’s perfect.”

“Partnering with Gibson Records and BMG presents an exciting and unique opportunity to explore new ideas for marketing and promoting a record,” adds Jeff Varner, Co-Founder of Revelation Management Group (Slash’s longtime manager). “It shows a real commitment on the part of Gibson towards the artist community, and it will serve as a model for future artist releases.  Working with Cesar and the Gibson team has provided a fresh approach to how we can support an album release.”

“BMG congratulates Gibson on the launch of their new label and is proud to collaborate with Gibson Records on its inaugural album release,” says Thomas Scherer, President, BMG Repertoire and Marketing, New York, and Los Angeles. “This is the perfect match between two global brands with an unrivaled reverence for iconic artists and respect to service their creative talents. We are excited to be the worldwide partner for Slash’s new album with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators and look forward to delivering their new music to fans everywhere around the world.”

About Gibson:

Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, and KRK, behind great music for over 30 years. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram.

About Slash:

Slash – the iconic, GRAMMY-winning, American rock guitarist, songwriter and film producer-has amassed album sales of over 100 million copies, garnered a GRAMMY Award and seven GRAMMY nominations and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Slash landed on the top of the charts with his first solo album, Slash (2010) which featured Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie, Myles Kennedy and more. Shortly after, he formed his current band Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators-which features Myles Kennedy (lead vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass/vocals) and Frank Sidoris (rhythm guitar)-who’ve been touring worldwide and making music for a decade. The group released the critically acclaimed Apocalyptic Love (2012) which stormed the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart debuting at #4 as the top rock album and spawned Slash’s first-ever #1 solo radio hits “You’re A Lie” and “Standing In The Sun.” Slash released Nothing Left To Fear (2013) the soundtrack to the first theatrical film co-produced with SLASHfiction, his film/TV production company specializing in the horror genre. The band’s second album, World On Fire debuted to global praise and the album’s title track, “World On Fire” ascended to #1 at U.S. Rock Radio. In 2016, Guns N’ Roses re-united and Slash joined Axl Rose and Duff McKagan for the historic and ongoing “Not In This Lifetime Tour” which Billboard now ranks as the third highest grossing tour of all time. Slash and his band’s most recent release is their critically-acclaimed third album Living The Dream (2018) which Rolling Stone declared “a biting blues filigree at the end of a riff, weeping solos full of long notes and boogie-woogie riffs” and the Los Angeles Times added is full of “unexpected funk, boogie, blues and garage rock influences.” Fueled by the  Top 5 song “Driving Rain,” and the single “Mind Your Manners” as well as,  the best critical praise of their career, Living The Dream debuted with 10, Top 10 chart placements worldwide and by the end of their world tour in 2019, the group had achieved seven consecutive, Top 10 Hit singles at radio. www.slashonline.com

About BMG:

BMG – est. 2008 – is the world’s fourth-biggest music company, the first new global player in the music business of the streaming age, and a record label and music publisher in one. Named in 2020 one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, BMG’s pitch is unique – a relentless focus on fairness and transparency and service to its artist and songwriter clients. BMG’s 20 offices across 12 core music markets now represent over three million songs and recordings, including many of the most renowned and successful catalogs in popular music history. BMG’s fresh approach includes production music, films, books, artist management, merchandise, neighboring rights, and live as well as music publishing and recordings off the same service platform. BMG is owned by international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, whose other content businesses include the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House and the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr. With its multi-platform perspective, integrated technology platform and commitment to help artists maximize their income, BMG aims to be the best company in music to do business with. www.bmg.com

RICKY SKAGGS REVEALS NEW KENTUCKY THUNDER BAND MEMBERS

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Skaggs Welcomes Mike Rogers and Billy Contreras as Paul Brewster Retires and Mike Barnett Recovers from Brain Injury

 Ricky Skaggs has added new Kentucky Thunder band members to its roster of first-rate musicians with Mike Rogers performing tenor vocals and playing rhythm guitar and Billy Contreras on fiddle. This comes as Paul Brewster retires from the band and Mike Barnett recovers from a brain aneurysm sustained in 2020.

Rogers is a vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist, which includes playing drums, acoustic guitar, banjo, and steel guitar. In the past, he has performed as a band member of multiple country and bluegrass acts, including Kevin Denney, Craig Morgan, and Doyle Lawson. Rogers is also a songwriter and producer, having penned songs for Morgan, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Lonesome River Band and Jimmy Fortune, and producing Fortune’s album, Lessons.

Contreras is a fiddler as well as an educator, session player, arranger, and producer. He studied with Buddy Spicher and Rachel-Barton Pine and has performed or recorded with a host of talent including Lionel Hampton, George Jones, Doc Severinsen, Hank Thompson, Hank Jones, Crystal Gayle, Grady Tate, Charlie Louvin, Al Grey, Ray Price, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and the Nashville Symphony, along with teaching at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

As both Rogers and Contreras are welcome additions to Kentucky Thunder, missing from the lineup will be long-time band member Paul Brewster, and for now, Mike Barnett.

Brewster was with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for 26 years, winning many GRAMMY® and IBMA awards during his tenure with Skaggs and the band.

“As Paul’s been with me for more than 25 years, he made a huge impact in the sound and makeup of Kentucky Thunder,” says Skaggs. “He’s one of the best tenor singers in bluegrass music, a first-class musician and a good friend. Paul is a wonderful Christian brother as well, which has been more important to him than his great singing gift. His presence on stage and off will be missed!”

Fiddle virtuoso Barnett’s career includes a GRAMMY® nomination for his highly acclaimed album Portraits in Fiddles. The gifted band member is working towards recovery from a brain injury which occurred in the summer of 2020.

“Our hearts were heavy upon hearing the news of Mike’s brain aneurysm back last summer,” explains Skaggs. “He has overcome so much and is working hard towards recovery. We can’t wait to see him get back to fiddling, of which he is a master at such a young age. My wife Sharon and I, along with the band and crew, look forward to seeing him perform again soon and all of our prayers are with him at this time for God to heal him completely.”

“We congratulate Paul on his retirement and wish him all the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Mike during this phase of his recovery,” adds Skaggs’ longtime manager Charlotte Scott.

About Ricky Skaggs
Earning 12 #1 hit singles, 15 GRAMMY® Awards, 13 IBMA Awards, nine ACM Awards, eight CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), two Dove Awards, the ASCAP Founders Award, three honorary Doctorate degrees, inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame, IBMA Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, National Fiddler Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the 2013 Artist-In-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in the Instrumentalist category along with countless other awards, Ricky Skaggs is truly a pioneer of Bluegrass and Country music. Since he began playing music over 60 years ago, Skaggs has released more than 30 albums and has performed thousands of live shows. He started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997 and has since released 12 consecutive GRAMMY®-nominated albums. His latest release, Hearts Like Ours, with his wife, celebrated artist Sharon White of The Whites features the couple dueting on handpicked country love songs. And the Grand Ole Opry member has released his first-ever autobiography, “Kentucky Traveler.” The book details the life and times of Skaggs and provides a descriptive history of Country and Bluegrass music, as told by the master himself. In addition to his regular touring schedule with his band, Kentucky Thunder, he has added country tour dates as he plugs in and plays full shows of his chart-topping hits. Skaggs was a 2020 recipient of the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.

BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP + CREATIVETS RELEASE “WAR AND PEACE” FEATURING LANCE CARPENTER

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 Big Machine Label Group and CreatiVets announce today the release of “War And Peace” featuring Lance Carpenter. Written by Jay Thurin, Richard Casper, Chris Ferrara, Lance Carpenter and Brian Walsh, the song’s lyrics express a deep love and appreciation for veterans’ partners, who face the challenges of returning home from war alongside them:
I’m your war it’s plain to see
Through it all I don’t know how you stay with me
You could go you could leave but you carry me
I’m your war
You’re my peace
“I’m so honored to be involved with CreatiVets and proud is an understatement to see how it’s evolved and grown over the years and the massive positive impact it’s made and continues to make for veterans and their families,” says Carpenter. “I never served in the military so I’m humbled at the opportunity to use my talent as a singer/songwriter to, in a small way, serve those who have served for me.”
This month also saw the release of “Old Glory” featuring Chris Ferrara in alignment with the 4th of July. Written by Chris Hamilton, Richard Casper, Chris Ferrara, Joe Bachman, the upbeat song is the perfect addition to your summer playlist.
About Lance Carpenter
Singer/Songwriter Lance Carpenter pens hits of contemporary Country radio, while still staying true to his traditional background. Growing up on a farm in Ozark, Arkansas, Lance moved to Nashville in 2011 and within 18 months, he signed his first publishing deal and secured 2 major cuts. Lance achieved his first No. 1 hit by co-writing Kelsea Ballerini’s single “Love Me Like You Mean It.” He released his self-titled debut album LANCE CARPENTER in 2013 with follow up albums HAY DAYS in 2015 and MUSTANG in 2018. Lance has performed with Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Randy Rogers Band and more as well as cuts on albums by Dylan Scott, Tyler Farr and Richie McDonald. He continues writing music that inspires, memorializes and captures his own zest for life while remaining true to his laid-back country boy persona. In addition, Lance continues to astound with the work ethic and humbleness that determined his early successes.
About CreatiVets
CreatiVets is a veterans organization dedicated to helping wounded veterans heal through the arts and music. The organization was inspired by executive director Richard Casper, who discovered firsthand just how transformative the arts can be to veterans after military service.Casper served for four years as a Marine, including a 2006 tour in Iraq where he watched his close friend and comrade, Luke Yepsen, fall to enemy snipers. There he also sustained four IED blasts in the span of just four months, leaving him with a major left traumatic brain injury and significant PTS, depression and anxiety upon returning home. His experiences in art classes at Heartland Community College, and later the Chicago Institute for the Arts, revealed to him the power of art and music to transform the “warrior brain.” Casper’s vision for CreatiVets was to give veterans a way to talk about their experiences in combat.CreatiVets was founded in 2013. The organization hosts a number of free songwriting and visual arts programs through its sites in Dallas, Chicago, Nashville and partnerships with the Grand Ole Opry and the Chicago Art Institute. Major artists including Brantley Gilbert, Craig Morgan and Love and Theft, as well as brands including Amazon and The Nashville Sign, have helped CreatiVets spread its message to Nashville and beyond. Amazon partnered with CreatiVets and Big Machine Label Group last July to release the album VETERAN SONGS, which can be accessed on any Amazon Alexa by speaking the command, “Alexa, play music by veterans.”

About Big Machine Label Group
Led by Founder, President and CEO Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Label Group encompasses Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., BMLG Records, Big Machine/John Varvatos Records and publishing company Big Machine Music as well as its own digital radio station, Big Machine Radio. BMLG artists include superstars Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Sheryl Crow, Thomas Rhett,  Rascal Flatts, Brantley Gilbert, Lady A and Sugarland; chart-topping acts Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Brett Young, Midland, Carly Pearce, Riley Green, Aaron Lewis, Badflower and “The Voice” winner Danielle Bradbery. BMLG artists have received multiple GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, AMA, CMT, Teen Choice, MTV, Billboard, People’s Choice and Brit Awards. Big Machine is the first-ever American label to align with terrestrial radio for performance royalty rights for its artists and is an industry leader in fighting for artist, songwriter, publisher and record company rights. Big Machine Label Group created the Music Has Value Fund to provide assistance to nonprofit organizations that make music, aspire to make music, and access and appreciate music. Visit BigMachineLabelGroup.com for more information.

TODD SNIDER ANNOUNCES 2021 TOUR: “RETURN OF THE STORYTELLER”

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Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter Reveals 50+ 2021 Concerts; Snider Plans to Harvest Audio From Tour for Special Live Album

Todd Snider, who Rolling Stone hails as “America’s sharpest storyteller,” is headed back to the live music circuit following a year-long hiatus due to Covid-19. Beginning this month, Snider will embark on his “Return of the Storyteller” tour, an extensive cross-country trek that includes more than 50 live concert dates taking place throughout the remainder of 2021.
Snider plans to capture audio from the tour to create a special live album, The Comeback Special. The compilation will be recorded in over 50 music venues that are reopening across the country with select songs released in 2022. After a long break from the road, Snider will return to his storytelling roots filled with freshly inspired folklore and a new interactive concert experience.
“After Coronavirus, I knew I wanted to release a live album of this tour and call it The Comeback Special,” explains Snider. “Being unable to tour for more than a year has given me the opportunity to work on new songs and covers and practice old material. I want the people to be part of my upcoming album and to release something special for those that missed live concerts as much as I have.”
Snider has long been recognized as one of his generation’s most gifted and engaging touring musicians, so it’s no surprise he has returned from the pandemic with a new comeback tour. He will hit the road on July 24 with a sold-out performance at The Caverns in Pelham, TN.
Fans are invited to come out and be part of the live record as Snider takes audience requests, shares stories and performs songs from his extensive catalog, including the brand new studio album, First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder.
Very Special Guests Darrin Bradbury, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Jamie Lin Wilson, Reed Foehl, Jack Ingram, Lilly Winwood, David Lindley, Chicago Farmer, Steve Poltz, Spanish Love Songs, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott will join Snider on select dates.
 
“Return Of The Storyteller” Tour Schedule:
July 24 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns – SOLD OUT
Aug 19 – Macon, GA – Hargray Capitol Theatre^
Aug 20 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse^
Aug 22 – Hopewell, VA – The Beacon Theatre^
Aug 23 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club^
Aug 25 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theater^
Aug 26 – Nelsonville, OH – Stuart’s Opera House^
Aug 27 – State College, PA – The State Theatre^
Aug 28 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre
Aug 30 – New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre^
Aug 31 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere^
Sept 1 – Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat^
Sept 3 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre^
Sept 4 – Charlotte, NC – McGlohon Theater^
Sept 5 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall^
Sept 8 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center#
Sept 9 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater%
Sept 10 – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Hall Norfolk%
Sept 11 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall Hartford%
Sept 15 – Albany, NY – The Egg – Swyer Theatre%
Sept 16 – Natick, MA – The Center for Arts Natick%
Sept 17 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne%
Sept 18 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
Sept 19 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage
Sept 24 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium&
Sept 29 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater#
Oct 1 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM
Oct 2 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma
Oct 3 – Egyptian Theatre – Boise, ID
Oct 4 – Tower Theatre – Bend, OR
Oct 7 – Seattle, WA – Washington Hall@
Oct 8 – Eugene, OR – Soreng Theater at Hult Center@
Oct 10 – Grants Pass, OR – The Rogue Theatre@
Oct 13 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall@
Oct 14 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall – SOLD OUT@
Oct 16 – San Luis Obispo, CA – The Fremont Theater@
Oct 17 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall@
Oct 20 – Healdsburg, CA – Raven Theatre@
Oct 22 – Paradise, CA – Paradise Performing Arts Center@
Oct 23 – Stateline, NV – Montbleu Resort & Casino**
Oct 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room – SOLD OUT#
Oct 27 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s
Oct 29 – Kansas City, MO – Folly Theater^^
Oct 30 – Omaha, NE – Scottish Rite Hall^^
Oct 31 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s^^
Nov 1 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s^^
Nov 3 – Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre^^
Nov 4 – Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre^^
Nov 5 – Chicago, IL – Park West#
Nov 6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Wealthy Theatre##
Nov 17 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre%%
Nov 18 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
Nov 19 – St. Louis, MO – Sheldon Concert Hall
Nov 20 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre&&
Dec 3 – Greenville, TX – Texan Theater
Dec 4 – Temple, TX – Cultural Activities Center
Dec 6 – Tomball, TX – Main Street Crossing
Dec 7 – Tomball, TX – Main Street Crossing
Dec 8 – Tomball, TX – Main Street Crossing

MICHAEL RAY ANNOUNCES NEW SONG “JUST THE WAY I AM” AVAILABLE FRIDAY, JULY 30

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Tickets On Sale Now for 2021 Just The Way I Am Tour

 

Credit Sean Hagwell.jpg

Hitmaker Michael Ray announces more new music from his upcoming project due later this summer, “Just The Way I Am,” a song that recognizes that people aren’t all good or all bad, balancing grinning self-deprecation with honesty and pride. “Just The Way I Am” is set for release Friday, July 30 and is available to pre-save HERE.

“This song really feels autobiographical for me,” shares Ray. “It touches on the good parts of people while still acknowledging that they have faults and flaws, myself included. I relate to it so fully, that it feels like I could have written it. I hope that when fans hear it, they understand more about me and maybe even relate to it themselves.”

Written by Michael Hardy, Ben West and Josh Miller, “Just The Way I Am” finds Ray’s smooth vocals painting a character that feels like a portrait of someone we all know in the first verse:

Might slow it on down
And wave at a passerby
Hug your neck say I love ya
‘Stead of sayin’ goodbye

Ain’t lookin’ for one
But won’t run from a fight
I got too much pride

Hey I’m the kinda guy
That likes a simple life
The only suit and tie I own
Is for when Heaven calls somebody home

The first of many new tracks from Ray, his current single “Whiskey And Rain”– praised by Rolling Stone for “embracing a natural throwback country sound”– is currently climbing the charts at country radio as it reaches 38 million on-demand streams.

“Just The Way I Am” follows the release of “Picture,” written shortly after the unexpected passing of his Uncle Terry and penned with Michael Hardy and David Garcia. “Picture” is about memories made and memories still to make, with American Songwriter sharing the track “captures both the existential crisis and the understanding to celebrate life that often comes during the grieving process,” while MusicRow boasts, “Because one day all you will have is the memory and a photo. A lovely sentiment, a pretty melody and a sincere performance. What’s not to love?”

Catch Ray out on the road with his Just The Way I Am 2021 Tour, as it continues tonight in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. and wraps in the fall at the Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Tickets are available at MichaelRayMusic.com.

Just The Way I Am 2021 Tour Dates (headlining unless otherwise noted):
July 21                        Jenks Club                                                      Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
July 23                         Power Plant Live                                           Baltimore, Md.
July 24                        Pinehaven Country Club                                Guilderland, N.Y.
July 25                        Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom                  Hampton Beach, N.H.
July 31                        Cam-Plex Heritage Center                             Gillette, Wyo.
Aug. 6                         Antelope County Fair                                     Neligh, Neb.
Aug. 21                       Brown County Fair                                         Aberdeen, S.D.
*Support to Nelly
Aug. 22                       Central State Fair                                            Rapid City, S.D.
*Support to Kip Moore
Aug. 25                       The Pageant                                                    St. Louis. Mo.
Sept. 3                         Ozark Amphitheater                                       Camdenton, Mo.
*Support to Brantley Gilbert
Sept. 4                         Touchdowns & Tunes                                    Paducah, Ky.
*Support to Brantley Gilbert and Ashley McBryde
Sept. 10                       Washington State Fair                                    Puyallup, Wash.
Sept. 18                       Swine N Dine                                                 Paxton, Ill.
Sept. 23                       Island Hopper Songwriters Festival               Ft. Myers, Fla.
Nov. 14                       Tortuga Music Festival                                   Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
*Support to Jon Pardi

About Michael Ray
For Michael Ray, music is his grandfather singing and sweating on a rural Florida stage. It’s the childhood refuge he found during the pain of his parents’ divorce. It’s family and stories, history and hope. Ray says music saved him, but it did even more: Music made him. In four short years, Ray has built an impressive foundation. Three No. 1 songs – “Kiss You in the Morning,” “Think a Little Less,” and “One That Got Away” – plus “Get to You” and “Her World or Mine,” brings his tally to five Gold-certified singles. The poignant “Her World or Mine” from his sophomore album Amos also produced a video that has captured more than 26 million YouTube views since its debut less than a year ago. Now, two hit albums into that all-too-rare blend of critically acclaimed and commercially successful career, Ray has released “Whiskey and Rain,” the first single off of his upcoming project produced by GRAMMY-nominated song whisperer Ross Copperman. Proof that heartbroken wallowing can feel good if it swings, “Whiskey And Rain” has garnered 38 million streams since its release, cementing Ray as the ideal bridge between vintage country cool and modern country’s best sounds. Catch Ray this summer on his 21-stop Just The Way I Am Tour, kicking off June 13 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Learn more about Ray at MichaelRayMusic.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelRayMusic and Facebook.com/MusicMichaelRay.

LEE GREENWOOD AND BRELAND HOMES PARTNER WITH HELPING A HERO TO BUILD HOME FOR SPECIAL VETERAN

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Wounded Warrior to Receive Home On-Stage During an All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood on October 12th at the Von Braun Center

Lee Greenwood with Patti and Louis Breland (Photo by Austin Smith)

Lee Greenwood along with Louis and Patti Breland of Breland Homes announced a partnership with Helping a Hero to provide a custom-built home for a wounded warrior in north Alabama as part of the All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood event. Helping a Hero has launched the “Nominate a Hero” program where the community can nominate a wounded veteran for consideration to be selected as a home recipient. Nomination forms can be found on Helping a Hero’s website at helpingahero.org.

“Helping a Hero has helped provide over 100 homes for veterans and I have served as an ambassador for them for over a decade. The work they do is tremendous, especially when you get to hand those keys to a wounded veteran. The reactions are priceless,” said Greenwood. “I know that I am being honored on October 12th and it’s very appreciated, however, after I met Louis and Patti, I knew this was a wonderful opportunity to team together and make a difference. I am honored to share the stage on October 12th to honor a special veteran.”

Breland Homes is one of the top home builders in the southeast with a 46-year history of constructing quality homes in exceptional communities and is one of the most trusted names in the homebuilding industry. Breland’s latest projects include two master-planned mixed-use communities, Clift Farms, and Town Madison. Clift Farms is located on Highway 72 across from Madison Hospital and Town Madison is on I-565 in Madison, which features Toyota Field – home of the new Trash Pandas minor league baseball team.

“When Patti and I met Lee Greenwood and learned about his partnership with Helping a Hero to build homes for our veterans we jumped at the chance to help,” said Louis Breland. “Our nation’s military and the heroes that fought for our country have a special place in our hearts and we are always looking for opportunities to honor and support them. I can’t think of a better way to do this than to build a home for a wounded warrior in our community.”

Helping a Hero is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization that has awarded more than 100 homes in 23 states for wounded warriors injured in the Global War on Terror. Helping a Hero raises funds and works with building partners to design the homes so they are specially adapted to the hero’s needs. Most homes include wider doorways and hallways, roll-in showers, roll under sinks and other adaptations to help our military veterans regain their daily independence after suffering combat-related injuries.

“Helping a Hero is excited to partner with Breland Homes to build a specially adapted home for a wounded hero in Alabama,” said Meredith Iler, Helping a Hero’s chairman emeritus and founder of its home program. “We are counting on Alabamians to help us locate a brave and deserving wounded veteran who was injured while serving the country and needs an adapted home. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedom, and this is a way to say ‘thank you for your service.'”

In order to qualify, a veteran must be 100% permanently disabled and injured in combat during the post 9-11 Global War on Terror. Click here for more information on the Nominate a Hero project. Click here for more information on the Selection Process.

ABOUT LEE GREENWOOD:
Throughout his expansive career, international country music icon Lee Greenwood has earned multiple CMA and ACM Awards, a Grammy Award for Top Male Vocal Performance on “I.O.U,” in 1985, and a multitude of other prestigious awards nominations. His discography includes twenty-two studio albums, seven compilation albums, seven No. 1 hits, and thirty-eight singles including songs like “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger Time on Her Hands,” “She’s Lyin’,” “I Don’t Mind the Thorns if You’re the Rose,” “Dixie Road,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “Going Going Gone,” “You Got A Good Love Comin’,” among others. His stand-out hit “God Bless the U.S.A.” has been in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001, and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat. It reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart shortly after 9/11. Known for his stand-out patriotism and support of the U.S. military, Greenwood has been honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s National Patriot’s Award and entertained troops on more than 30 USO Tours.

ABOUT BRELAND HOMES:
Since 1975, Breland Homes has successfully developed or built over 30,000 single-family lots and homes. Breland Homes currently has 15 new residential communities across Madison, Limestone and Cullman counties as well as the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast. With decades of combined experience in developing livable communities and quality home construction, the Breland Homes team has established a reputation as one of the premier home builders in the southeast United States.

ABOUT HELPING A HERO:
Helping a Hero is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Texas that has awarded over 100 homes in 23 states to our most severely wounded warriors injured in the Global War on Terror. Helping a Hero is certified by the Better Business Bureau as a transparent and accountable charity and was also one of 12 charities selected by the BBB for the “Award of Distinction” in 2017. Applications are being accepted for 2021 and 2022 homes.

SUPERSTARS DAN + SHAY ANNOUNCE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM GOOD THINGS AVAILABLE AUGUST 13

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Three years after the self-titled album that catapulted the duo into new heights of their career, country mega-stars and pop-crossover phenomena Dan + Shay are back to announce their brand new album Good Things, available everywhere on August 13 (PRE-ORDER HERE).
The highly anticipated LP features 12 imaginatively crafted songs with breathtaking production helmed by the duo’s Dan Smyers, including the newly available title track (LISTEN HERE). “Good Things” provides a glimpse into what fans can expect from the unreleased collection of music. With no shortage of surprises in store, Dan + Shay have also released the track’s accompanying music video (WATCH HERE), directed by frequent collaborator Patrick Tracy.
One month before it is even fully out to the world, Good Things is already proving to be another record-breaking album. Dan + Shay shattered ceilings with multi-week No.1 “10,000 Hours” featuring Justin Bieber, the album’s first single released in October 2019. The 4x Platinum hit had the biggest first-week streaming total in country music history and was the fastest country song to reach one million U.S. track equivalents in 2019. The worldwide smash spent 21 weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (5th longest run in chart history) and landed the duo their third GRAMMY Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, making them the first artist to do so 3x consecutively since the category’s inception. Dan + Shay followed with Platinum-certified “I Should Probably Go To Bed,” which quickly became their fifth consecutive and eighth career No.1, has surpassed 300 million global streams and has garnered over 1.5 million track equivalents. Their current single, “Glad You Exist,” recently became RIAA Gold-certified and has accumulated 800,000 track equivalents so far.
Good Things follows in the massive footsteps of Dan + Shay, the duo’s third album that skyrocketed them into superstardom. The Platinum-certified record features global hit “Tequila” (6x Platinum and more than 1.2 billion global streams), multi-format hit “Speechless” (5x Platinum and more than 1.1 billion global streams), and No.1 country song “All To Myself” (2x Platinum). The album has aided in countless wins and honors including GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, CMT, American Music, Billboard and iHeartRadio Music Awards, among others. It also added to the duo’s nearly eight billion streams globally, 39 RIAA Platinum and Gold certifications and eight No.1 singles at country radio.
Their massive headlining Dan + Shay The (Arena) Tour will resume this fall with new 2021 dates. The 30-stop explosive tour includes a night at the famed Madison Square Garden in NY, NY and will feature Atlantic Records’ The Band Camino and labelmate Ingrid Andress. The (Arena) Tour had major success when it kicked off in March 2020, selling out three consecutive shows, including two back-to-back in Nashville, TN. Following the sell-outs, The Tennessean stated, “Every song was greeted like a single by the packed house.”
GOOD THINGS TRACK LISTING
1. Good Things (Dan Smyers, Ross Copperman, Jason Evigan, Ashley Gorley)^
2. Steal My Love (Dan Smyers, Andy Albert, Ashley Gorley, Jordan Reynolds)
3. You (Dan Smyers, Dave Barnes, Jordan Reynolds)*
4. Body Language (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes, Jordan Reynolds)*
5. Give In To You (Dan Smyers, Julia Michaels, Jordan Reynolds)+
6. Irresponsible (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Julia Michaels, Jordan Reynolds)*
7. Lying (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds, Bill Withers)
8. One Direction (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds)
9. Let Me Get Over Her (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Andy Albert, Kyle Fishman, Jordan Schmidt, Brad Tursi)*
10. Glad You Exist (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Ryan Lewis, Tayla Parx, Jordan Reynolds)
11. 10,000 Hours (with Justin Bieber) (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jordan Reynolds, Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd)
12. I Should Probably Go To Bed (Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Sean Douglas, Jason Evigan)
All tracks produced by Dan Smyers
*Co-produced with Scott Hendricks
^Co-produced with Jason Evigan
+Co-produced with Jordan Reynolds

The Oak Ridge Boys New Album – Front Porch Singin’ Is Available Now

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“The new album by my friends The Oak Ridge Boys is truly magical. It’s easy to capture magic
when you’re one of the greatest singing groups of all time. It’s impossible to beat the harmony of the iconic Mighty Oaks.”
– T.G. Sheppard

 

GRAMMY® Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members, The Oak Ridge Boys have released the music video for their single “Love, Light, and Healing” from their new album Front Porch Singin’. Premiered by CMT, the catchy tune spreads happiness and hope during a time when it is needed the most. With special emphasis placed on friends, family, and faith, The Oak Ridge Boys acknowledge the importance of finding joy in the simplicities of life and being there for one another. The cheerful lyrics come alive in the music video for “Love, Light, and Healing,” which was directed by Brandon Wood of IndieBling. The music video was premiered on CMT, CMT Music, and CMT.com and the single is available to download and stream on all digital services.

Watch the “Love, Light, and Healing” music video on CMT.com HERE.

“We are all stoked and excited about the new music video for ‘Love, Light, And Healing,’” shares Joe Bonsall. “Brandon Wood with IndieBling did a fabulous job, and we really appreciate Logan Rogers at Lightning Rod Records for giving us the opportunity to shoot a video on this incredible song, which is so perfect for the day and age we live in now. We wish you all love, light, and healing and hope you enjoy the video!”

The Oak Ridge Boys’ new album Front Porch Singin’ is available now from Lightning Rod/Thirty Tigers. This is the group’s fourth collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb. The highly anticipated album has been featured in People.com, Entertainment Tonight, Newsmax, Wide Open Country, Taste of Country, Cowboys & Indians, and an in-depth interview with The 700 Club. The Oak Ridge Boys have achieved a decorated career that includes their upcoming 10th anniversary as Grand Ole Opry members, showing no signs of slowing down. Fans will not want to miss the timeless sound that comes with the release of “Love, Light, and Healing.”

About The Oak Ridge Boys:
The Oak Ridge Boys have sold over 41 million units worldwide and are synonymous with “America, apple pie, baseball, and country music.” In addition to their awards and accolades in the country music field, the Oaks have garnered five GRAMMY® Awards, nine GMA DOVE Awards, and two American Music Awards. The group— Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban, members of the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame (2015 Inductees) and the Grand Ole Opry (since 2011)—is known worldwide as one of recording history’s most extraordinary musical successes. They have charted single after single and album after album—gold, platinum, and double-platinum, and more than 30 Top 10 hits, including No. 1 chart-toppers “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Thank God For Kids,” “American Made,” and “Y’All Come Back Saloon,” among dozens more. For more information and to view upcoming tour dates for The Oak Ridge Boys, please visit oakridgeboys.com.

T. Graham Brown Welcomes Lee Greenwood As His Guest On July’s Live Wire On SiriusXM’s Prime Country Channel 58

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With continued airings throughout July, T. Graham Brown’s Live Wire will feature live cuts from artists including Waylon Jennings,
Alabama, Martina McBride, Asleep At The Wheel, and Bachman Turner Overdrive, plus an exclusive interview and live cuts from Lee Greenwood

Country hit-maker T. Graham Brown’s LIVE WIRE on SiriusXM’s Prime Country Channel 58 will debut new episodes for July, starting Wednesday, July 14 at 10/9c PM, featuring an interview with Lee Greenwood. LIVE WIRE is a one-hour show that showcases live cuts & interviews with some of T. Graham Brown’s closest friends and heroes, sharing fun stories about life on the road.

“It’s July in the U.S.A. and we’re going to get American patriot, Lee Greenwood, to sing “God Bless The U.S.A,” shares Brown. “Along with Lee, we will have other great live music from Ol’ Waylon (with Travis Tritt), supergroup Alabama (with Jason Aldean), Martina McBride, Asleep At The Wheel and we’re going to roll on down the highway with one of my favorite bands, Bachman Turner Overdrive. Lots of variety on this edition of Live Wire on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. Tune in and crank it up to 11!”

With continued airings throughout July, the show will feature live cuts from artists including Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Martina McBride, Asleep At The Wheel, and Bachman Turner Overdrive, along with an interview and live cuts from country legend, Lee Greenwood. Listen closely to hear never-before-told stories and rare live performances from your favorite Prime Country superstars! LIVE WIRE is also available on-demand worldwide with the SiriusXM app and Pandora NOW with a standard SiriusXM subscription.

How subscribers can listen:
SiriusXM subscribers are able to listen on SiriusXM radios, and those with streaming access can listen online, on-the-go with the SiriusXM mobile app, and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, devices with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go to www.siriusxm.com/streaming to learn more.

Additional airings in July include:
Thursday, July 15 @ 1 am and 3 pm ET
Sunday, July 18 @ 11 am ET
Tuesday, July 20 @ 12 am and 11 pm ET
Thursday, July 22 @ 3 am ET
Monday, July 26 @ 12 pm ET

For T. Graham Brown’s most updated concert calendar visit tgrahambrown.com.

About T. Graham Brown:
T. Graham Brown has recorded 15 studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard charts. He has had multiple number one hits in country, gospel, and blues. Brown’s voice is also recognized from his singing in advertising campaigns for McDonald’s, Disneyland, Almond Joy, Coca-Cola, Dodge Truck, Ford, Hardee’s, and many others including the Taco Bell “Run For The Border” television spots. In early 2015, Brown released his latest Grammy-nominated album, Forever Changed, which featured collaborations with Vince Gill, Jason Crabb, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Fortune, and more. In 2019, Brown became part of the SiriusXM family as host of Live Wire with T. Graham Brown airing monthly on Prime Country Channel 58. In 2020, Time Life partnered with T. Graham to reissue several of his classic albums and has recently released his latest album Bare Bones. T. Graham Brown still actively tours throughout the year, including multiple appearances on the legendary Grand Ole Opry and television appearances such as Larry’s Country Diner and Country’s Family Reunion. Brown’s uniqueness has made him one of the most beloved and iconic performers of the day.

For more information, visit tgrahambrown.com.

About SiriusXM:
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in the U.S., and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM and Pandora together reach more than 100 million people each month with their audio products. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers and directly to consumers through aftermarket devices. For more about SiriusXM, please go to siriusxm.com.

LEE GREENWOOD + HOME FREE WIN 2021 TELLY AWARD

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‘MOST VIRAL VIDEO’ WITH OVER 200 MILLION VIEWS OF “GOD BLESS THE USA” THROUGH ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

Even as COVID-19 had the music business stalled, America’s well-known patriot LEE GREENWOOD, award-winning vocal group HOME FREE, and members of the UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND collaborated virtually to create a new version of “God Bless The USA,” which was

written by Greenwood in the early 80s. This special collaboration was released during July 4th weekend in 2020 and as we recently celebrated the one-year anniversary with over 200 million views through all social media platforms, the performers are also celebrating the 2021 Telly Award win for “Most Viral Video”.

“God Bless The USA is timeless and five times a year during President’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, 9/11, and Veterans Day I get requests to do events and perform it,” says Greenwood. “This version just happens to be special because it includes the US Air Force Band and was arranged and put together by Home Free, who are an amazing vocal group. I have been inundated with questions about this version and how it came together as people just love the feel of it. Now to win an award and know that almost one-third of our entire US population has heard this version is astounding to me.”

“Working with Lee Greenwood on such an iconic song was amazing and intimidating, at the same time. First off, we didn’t know how to top the original. Secondly, we were in a pandemic situation with members of the group in different states. Then add in the US Air Force Band. All of us had chill bumps on the final outcome that we all immediately were in agreement to make a video,” says Home Free’s Austin Brown. “How could we make a video in so many places was the first thought. Then our team was able to make it all happen and we were thrilled to release it in time for July 4 of last year. It was an honor to be part of this creative work and what an honor now to win a Telly Award for ‘Most Viral Video’ with over 200 million views across all social platforms.”

Founded in 1979, The Telly Awards honor excellence in local, regional, and cable television commercials as well as non-broadcast video and television programming. With the recent evolution and rise of digital video (web series, VR, 360 and beyond), the Telly Awards today also reflects and celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image on and offline. The Telly Awards annually receive over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, showcasing the best work created within television and across video, for all screens.

ABOUT LEE GREENWOOD:
Throughout his expansive career, international country music icon Lee Greenwood has earned multiple CMA and ACM Awards, a Grammy Award for Top Male Vocal Performance on “I.O.U,” in 1985, and a multitude of other prestigious awards nominations. His discography includes twenty-two studio albums, seven compilation albums, seven No. 1 hits, and thirty-eight singles including songs like “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger Time on Her Hands,” “She’s Lyin’,” “I Don’t Mind the Thorns if You’re the Rose,” “Dixie Road,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “Going Going Gone,” “You Got A Good Love Comin’,” among others. His stand-out hit “God Bless the U.S.A.” has been in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001, and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat. It reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart shortly after 9/11. Known for his stand-out patriotism and support of the U.S. military, Greenwood has been honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s National Patriot’s Award and entertained troops on more than 30 USO Tours.

ABOUT HOME FREE:
All-vocal Country entertainers Home Free have made their mark on the music scene, racking up nearly 600,000 album equivalents globally; embarking on major international tours; amassing 466.8+ MILLION views and over 1.2 MILLION subscribers on YouTube; and being declared “Country music fans’ favorite a cappella group” (Taste of Country). Just in time for the Fourth of July, the acclaimed group has served up a special salute to the red, white and blue with their brand-new album, LAND OF THE FREE. Chock full of star-spangled covers, all-star collaborations and one standout original, the 10-track project dropped on June 25 and aims to bring a sense of unity to all those who hear it. Speaking of festivities, Home Free is set to light up this holiday season with their headlining WARMEST WINTER HOLIDAY TOUR – showcasing songs off their festive album, WARMEST WINTER (2020, Home Free Records), which features 12 seasonal staples, memorable collaborations and Home Free originals – all guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit. This project follows the acclaimed group’s DIVE BAR SAINTS album, which arrived at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart. Home Free’s extensive catalog spotlights six Top 10 albums, including TIMELESS, FULL OF (EVEN MORE) CHEER, FULL OF CHEER, COUNTRY EVOLUTION, and their breakout debut, CRAZY LIFE (2014). With praise rolling in from the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone, FOX & Friends, and American Songwriter, the extraordinary showmen have continued to build a loyal fanbase with their harmony-laden versions of hits by John Mayer, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Maren Morris, the Oak Ridge Boys, and more.