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ANNE MURRAY: STORY OF A LEGEND
Snowbird, You Needed Me, Could I Have This Dance & I Just Fall In Love Again are just a few of the many hits from Canada's ANNE MURRAY. The numbers say it all: Over four decades, Anne has sold 54 million records, had 30 pop hits, 50 Country hits and has won four Grammy awards, 24 Juno awards and 3 CMA awards. In 2009, Anne released her revealing and entertaining autobiography All Of Me in which she writes about the highlights and defining moments in her life and music career. Tune in to hear Anne Murray share stories & songs on this special edition of In The Country.
JOHN BERRY: WHAT HE LOVES MOST
Country artist John Berry was signed to Capitol Records in 1992. He went on to send a long list of songs up the charts including "Your Love Amazes Me," "She's Taken A Shine," "Standing On The Edge Of Goodbye," and "You And Only You."
The good news for his fans is that he's releasing a new collection of ten songs soon. “With time, I’ve learned that the road to fulfillment is doing what I was called to do, love to do, and then doing it the best I can, regardless of the circumstances. And for me, that is making music and singing for people."
John is here to talk about his music career, the stories behind his hits, wedding proposals at his shows, playing the Opry, his brand new album due in 2016 & much more!
The good news for his fans is that he's releasing a new collection of ten songs soon. “With time, I’ve learned that the road to fulfillment is doing what I was called to do, love to do, and then doing it the best I can, regardless of the circumstances. And for me, that is making music and singing for people."
John is here to talk about his music career, the stories behind his hits, wedding proposals at his shows, playing the Opry, his brand new album due in 2016 & much more!
RONNIE MILSAP: PURE LOVE OF MUSIC
Ronnie Milsap has 40 #1 Country hits, 6 Grammys and a dozen CMA award including 4 for Male Vocalist Of The Year. From "Pure Love" to "Smoky Mountain Rain" to "Lost In The Fifties Tonight", how could you ever pick just one favorite song of his? In 2009, he released his first ever gospel album entitled "Then Sings My Soul: 24 Favorite Hymns & Gospel Songs". I asked Ronnie about meeting Ray Charles for the first time, working with Elvis, what hit song he let get away & what inspired him to record his gospel CD. Tune in and enjoy this conversation with a Country Music legend - featuring a few of his hit songs!
MARK CHESNUTT: IT SURE IS COUNTRY
Country artist Mark Chesnutt's numbers do the talking - he's had 14 #1 singles, 23 top ten singles, four platinum albums & five gold records. His long list of hits includes Brother Jukebox, It Sure Is Monday, Almost Goodbye, I Don't Want To Miss A Thing & his very first radio release in 1988 Too Cold At Home. Now, Saguaro Road Records is releasing Mark Chesnutt’s new collection of classic country songs on an album called Outlaw.
“When I was first approached to record this CD, my reaction wasn’t just ‘yes,’ but ‘hell, yeah,’” Mark explains. “I cut my teeth on this kind of music and it’s an opportunity for me to pay tribute to some of my biggest heroes in country music.”
“When I was first approached to record this CD, my reaction wasn’t just ‘yes,’ but ‘hell, yeah,’” Mark explains. “I cut my teeth on this kind of music and it’s an opportunity for me to pay tribute to some of my biggest heroes in country music.”
MICHELLE WRIGHT: SONGS FROM THE HALLS
Michelle Wright - whose hits include Take It Like A Man, He Would Be Sixteen & I've Forgotten You - is about to begin a new tour in October 2012 across Canada called Songs From The Halls. The shows will feature her biggest hits as well as songs made famous by some of her favourite artists including Anne Murray, Merle Haggard, Aretha Frankin & Al Green. Tune in to this special interview to hear Michelle talk about the songs she has chosen to sing at these shows and why they mean so much to her. This is Michelle's 4th visit to In The Country!
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PAUL BRANDT: JUST AS I AM
Alberta's PAUL BRANDT is the most awarded male Canadian Country Music artist in history. By the age of 21, he had been signed to a 7 album deal with Warner/Reprise Records Nashville, alongside label-mates Faith Hill, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and more. By 1996, Paul had become the first Canadian male country artist to reach the Billboard Top Ten in the US since Hank Snow in 1974, and a string of number one hits and gold and platinum albums followed. He recently (Fall 2012) released his first gospel album entitled Just As I Am featuring I'll Fly Away, Amazing Grace and When The Roll Gets Called Up Yonder.
THE OAK RIDGE BOYS: CELEBRATING ELVIRA
There's no slowing down The Oak Ridge Boys. The legendary, hit-making group was recently inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry. They just released a new album It's Only Natural available exclusively through Cracker Barrel (in stores & online). The project features 7 past hits and 5 brand new songs. A re-recording of Elvira is featured. That song was released in 1981 and went on to win a Grammy and become one of their signature hits. Joe Bonsall from the Oaks joins me on the show to talk about the Opry induction, the new album, stories behind some of their biggest hits & more! You can also catch up with this beloved group at oakridgeboys.com and learn more about Joe at josephsbonsall.com.
STEVE WARINER: THE WEEKEND & BEYOND
At the age 17, Country artist Steve Wariner joined Dottie West’s band as a bass player. A few years later, Chet Atkins (one of Steve’s heroes) hired Steve as his bass player and signed him to his first “singles” deal with RCA Records. Steve soon began a run of successful radio hits with songs like "Kansas City Lights", "Some Fools Never Learn", "The Weekend" and his chart-topping duet with Anita Cochran, "What If I Said". In 1996, Steve was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He released an instrumental album that same year featuring Chet Atkins, Vince Gill, Bryan White and many others. He's a Grammy, ACM and CMA award winner.
CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON: LOVE RULES
Canada’s Carolyn Dawn Johnson first made an impact on the Country Music scene when she wrote the #1 hit “Single White Female” for Chely Wright in 1999 and went on to receive Music Row Magazine's Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Award in 2000. Soon, her own hits followed: Georgia, I Don't Want You To Go and the crossover smash Complicated. She continued to climb the charts & win new fans with her subsequent releases - Dress Rehearsal (2004) and Love & Negotiation (2006). This Alberta-born and raised Country star has won 16 Canadian Country Music Awards, a JUNO Award, an Academy of Country Music Award, as well as an American Music Award for Favorite New Country Artist of 2003. Now, CDJ is back with a brand new album called Love Rules which features the lead single Let Me Introduce Myself.
DAN HILL: A TOUCH OF COUNTRY
Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Hill began writing songs at age 14 and was playing professionally in small gatherings and coffee houses by the time he reached 17. In 1978, he wrote and recorded the smash hit, "Sometimes When We Touch". He went on to write and release a long list of hits including "Never Thought (That I Could Love)", "Unborn Heart", "I Fall All Over Again" & "Can't We Try". In 1997, Dan teamed up with Country producer/songwriter Keith Stegall and the duo soon proved to be a successful writing team. Sammy Kershaw took their song "Love Of My Life" to #1 on the Country charts and then Mark Wills reached the top slot again with the Hill/Stegall composition "I Do (Cherish You)". Other Country songs of Dan's have been recorded by Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and Jamie O'Neal - to name a few.
DEBORAH ALLEN: HEAR HER NOW
Country artist Deborah Allen recently released her new album Hear Me Now featuring the current radio single Anything Other Than Love. She co-wrote that song with hitmaker Gary Burr. In fact, Deborah wrote or co-wrote every song on the album - and is a producer on it. She's had her songs recorded by a long list of acts including LeAnn Rimes, Brooks & Dunn, Patty Loveless, and Conway Twitty. Born in Memphis, Deborah moved to Nashville at 18 years old and was soon discovered by Roy Orbison. Country fans know and love her biggest songs which include Baby I Lied (grammy-nominated), I've Been Wrong Before and I urt For You.
BILL ANDERSON: THE VOICE OF A LEGEND
Bill Anderson earned the nickname 'Whispering Bill' years ago as a result of his breathy voice and his warm, soft approach to singing a country song. His entertainment credentials, however, speak much louder than a whisper. He is one of the most awarded songwriters in the history of Country Music, a million-selling recording artist many times over, television game show host, network soap opera star and an always entertaining performer. At the age of nineteen he composed the country classic “City Lights” and began rapidly carving his place in musical history. In recent years, he's written songs ("Whiskey Lullaby" for Brad Paisley, "Give It Away" for George Strait, "Joey" for Sugarland to name just a few) that have climbed to the top of the charts. Join me for this fun and insightful conversation with a Country Music legend.
BILLY DEAN: A MAN OF GOOD FORTUNE
After attending college on a basketball scholarship, Country artist BILLY DEAN moved to Nashville in 1983 and by 1990 had recorded his first Top 5 hit song (and video) Only Here For A Little While. He went on to the climb the charts & win awards with songs like Somewhere In My Broken Heart, Billy The Kid & You Don't Count The Cost. Throughout his career in Country music, Billy has sold over six million records. In 1992, he was named the Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music (ACM). In 2000, Billy - along with Alison Krauss - sang harmony vocals on Kenny Rogers' smash hit Buy Me A Rose. Now this much-loved artist is releasing an album called A Man Of Good Fortune featuring 10 brand new songs.
LEE GREENWOOD: SINGING WITH HEART
Country artist Lee Greenwood's lengthy string of hits includes such classics as I.O.U., Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands, It Turns Me Inside Out, I Don’t Mind The Thorns (If You’re the Rose) and Dixie Road. He became a working musician at a young age and was very focused on his career. He even skipped his high school graduation ceremony because he had a show to play at the Golden Hotel & Casino in Reno, Nevada. “I needed to put my next foot forward,” says Lee with a smile. “So I skipped graduation and headed for Nevada.” Eventually, he opted for the bright lights of Las Vegas where he became one of the most popular entertainers on the competitive casino circuit. There he perfected his live performance skills and developed his craft as a songwriter.