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USA TV adding REAL COUNTRY USA to its weekly line-up

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Jake Owen, Shania Twain, Travis Tritt — hosts of USA TV’s Real Country series.

12.1/18 UPDATE:

The finale (8th episode) will include Copper Chief (Texas), Kylie Frey (Texas), Jaida Dreyer (Tenn), and Larry Fleet (Tenn)

Texas’ Copper Chief took the first night of Real Country by storm. Travis Tritt added them to the contest, and he said about them being from Texas “Where all this dirt road country stuff is coming from right now, which I think is an absolute breath of fresh air to this business that has gotten somewhat stale in the past few years… ” For winning last night, they will be playing The Stagecoach Country Music Festival in California next summer, and took a little bit of money home with them. They Also, will be playing in the 8th episode, the finale, for top dog honor.
Next week, (Nov. 21) the Texas group, also picked by Tritt, will be Scooter Brown, along with Savannah Keyes (state of residence unknown) and Kylie Frey of Louisiana. 8 from Tennessee, 6 from Texas, and the rest from elsewhere..

11/10/18: Adapted from press release from The Press Office, two courtesy photos and one by Mary Jane Farmer.

Mary Jane’s Notes:  It’s wonderful when Nashville artists, such as the three icons who are hosting the new USA TV series called REAL COUNTRY. Travis Tritt, Shania Twain, and Jake Owen are calling for more real country music, and providing, through their producers, a way for the music and the musicians to get heard. I have also included a link here to Tony Brown’s video coverage of George Jones “The Grand Tour.” Click here

More comments and lists of all contestants, including several Texans, at the bottom.

Nashville, Tennessee – REAL COUNTRY is a new country music showcase series featuring multi-platinum, five-time Grammy Award®-winning trailblazer Shania Twain, ACM Award-winning and platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jake Owen, and multi-platinum, Grammy Award®-winning country music legend Travis Tritt. Each selected, sometimes even hand-picked, 7 of the 21 performers/contestants in this eight-part series. Premiering on USA, the series was filmed in Nashville and produced by Wilshire Studios.

In each hour-long episode, Twain, Owen and Tritt feature these emerging solo artists, duos, and groups to perform in showcases which spotlight the rich traditions, songs and themes of specific country genres. The best artists from each showcase will perform in a grand finale, for the chance to be named one of country music’s next breakout acts.

Tony Brown

The series begins at 9 pm CST, November 13, on the USA TV Network.

One of the most talked about singers in Nashville today, Tony Jackson, will appear on REAL COUNTRY as contestant/performer. Jackson’s debut album Tony Jackson yielded 4 chart singles, and his viral video, for the recording of the George Jones classic “The Grand Tour” reached over 39 million Facebook views!

Tony Brown traveled as pianist with Elvis Presley’s band until The King’s death, and has produced music for country music legends Vince Gill, George Strait, Reba McEntire, and others of that ilk. There is a 36-minute YouTube.com video of him in interview with The Producer’s Room (Episode No. 19) in which he talks at great length about his entire professional career in just about all aspects of country music. Worth the watching.

Bri Bagwell, taken at LJT Texas Music Festival

“I’m humbled to have been selected by Travis Tritt for REAL COUNTRY,” Jackson proclaimed. The former marine fell in love with country music as a young man after seeing Randy Travis perform on an army base in Spain. His passion for writing, recording, and delivering traditional country flourished into his original music has reached more than 62 million fans across his social channels.

Contestants include: Texans-Bri Bagwell, Copper Chief, Scooter Brown, Billie Jo, Riley Thompson, Frank Ray; and (poor them-non-Texans): The Davisson Brothers Band (W.V.), Kylie Frey (Louisiana), Porter Union, (Missouri), Cody Purvis (Virginia), and Tony Jackson, The Young Fables, Jaida Dreyer, Regan Stewart, Jamie Floyd, Adairs Run, Larry Fleet, Dave Kennedy (all of Tennessee), along with Tiera, Micah Woods, Savannah Keyes (whose cities of residence weren’t found).

 

 

Stephenville becomes “Music Friendly Community”

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Story by Mary Jane Farmer, courtesy graphic

The Texas Music Office, a division of the Governor’s Office, will designate Stephenville as a Music Friendly Community at a public ceremony and reception being held Tuesday, November 13, at 6-8 p.m. This is being held at the Twisted J Live venue, including its backyard area.

Stephenville’s city fathers, Texas State University faculty and staff, music leaders including those who produce the yearly Larry Joe Taylor music festivals, are gathering with others in the community for this festive occasion.

Participation in the “Music Friendly Community” program provides Texas communities with a network for fostering music industry, and sends a clear message to industry professionals that these certified communities are serious about attracting and developing music industry growth.

Stephenville becomes the seventh city to receive this designation, joining Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Denton, and Lindale. Dallas and Corpus Christi are also working through the certification process, according to the Texas Music Office.

The event Tuesday evening is free and includes complimentary refreshments, plus and after-party jam session. The Band Pearl Street Combo will play for the crowd.

 

Dustin Perkins’ first-ever Family Jamm

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Dustin Perkins

First printed in the 11/2/18 issue of Paris News (TheParisNews.com)

Mary Jane Farmer, MaryJane@SceneInTown.com

The first weekend in November will be filled with music in Bells. The Bells on Broadway Stage welcomes home native son Dustin Perkins. Perkins, along with his original band friends from the region, are providing a musical buffet that is family-friendly and welcoming to all ages.

Dustin Perkins is a native to Bells, but doesn’t get a chance to return home often, except maybe a few holidays spent with his mom and dad. He’s living in Oklahoma now, building his own home and working at what many musicians often call “a real job.” But that will change this weekend, with the Dustin Perkins Family Jamm, which begins tonight with a community pep rally to send the Bells High School Panthers over to Whitewright for its game.

Promoter/producer Jason Smith, of Overdrive Entertainment, said he and Dustin began talking about the possibility of taking Dustin’s music back home about two years ago. But, it was just casual talk then. But the idea tucked itself into a corner of Smith’s head, and then began to grow. Smith talked with city leaders who liked the idea, especially when it began to center around the football team and then include a canned food drive for the whole community. Smith went through procedure to obtain official approval; and that done, he set out to find sponsors. Douglass Distributing is the major sponsor.

Jared Mitchell Band

The Family Jamm is being held at a stage already in place, but seldom used — the Bells on Broadway Stage. Smith is excited to be able to use this stage, he said, because of its great access to the public and centralized location. “Bells has this amazing stage, which nobody uses,” Smith said. The festival grounds are right beside Bells City Hall, which is 203 S. Broadway.

Playing Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m., are Chase Bowen and Daniel King, followed by Sons of Fannin, Brad Wayne Purdom, Ed Burleson, Thirties TX, the Jared Mitchell Band (formerly Spur 503), Connor Harris, and lastly, the Dustin Perkins Band.

Sunday, at 1:30 p.m., is a bluegrass jam led by Fred Spears and Brent Frailicks, followed by pot-luck Dinner on the Ground. Spears is originally from Nashville and toured with Nashville icons. He’s now a North Texas regular, playing many instruments. Frailicks has his own band, also, and formerly toured with country artist Janie Fricke.

And when you look at all the Saturday-featured musicians, you’ll note that you are familiar with most of them, since all are from right here in North Texas.

Smith described the new Thirties TX band, led by Nathan Brown, as “a Gram Parsons/ Flying Burrito Brothers sound, with multi-level harmonies.” For this show, they are performing as a duo.

And Chase Bowen, originally from Whitewright, as a “really young Stoney (LaRue).”

Fred Spears

And all it takes to get into the concerts, each time, is one can, per attendee, of nourishing food. All food collected will go into a food bank to be used by those in need. Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs, and Smith added, “bring blankets, coolers, family, and smiles to enjoy a throwback style community event in Bells.”

Dustin Perkins and his bandmates have been practicing for this event. They do before every concert they play, and the live video of their last session clearly records Perkins’ distinctive raspy voice. It also shows these friends, more like family to one another, includes Jarod Mitchell on keyboards, and there are other cross-overs members in the various bands. They will be playing many of their standards which have been recorded on numerous Dustin Perkins CDs.

Oh, and don’t forget to set clocks back an hour after the Saturday night concert, so you’ll be on time for the Sunday bluegrass jam. It is that time of the year, when Daylight Savings Time kicks in.

More details about this unique music festival are on Facebook, Dustin Perkins Family Jamm page.

Dave Rowland, of Dave & Sugar, passes away

Dave Rowland

Press release from 2911 Media

Nashville, Tenn. – Dave Rowland, born Jan. 26, 1944, known to many in the music business as the founder and lead singer of hit-making group Dave & Sugar, died Nov. 1, 2018, in Nashville, due to complications from a stroke.

Before forming Dave & Sugar, Rowland was part of J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet (who was touring with Elvis Presley at the time), and later the Four Guys. The Stamps Quartet was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1988. He also was a prominent member of Country Music Hall of Fame member Charley Pride’s road show.

By 1975, with Pride looking for a backup band, Rowland hired Jackie Frantz and Vicki Hackeman, and Dave & Sugar was formed.

After signing on with Pride’s management team, Dave & Sugar signed with RCA Records and recorded their first album. The trio’s first single, “Queen of the Silver Dollar” (written by Shel Silverstein) broke into the Top 25 of Billboard magazine’s country singles chart in early 1976. Their second single “The Door Is Always Open,” shot straight to the number one spot on the country charts, a driving, lushly produced track which expertly combined Rowland’s resonant baritone with soaring harmonies.

Two successive singles, “I’m Gonna Love You,” and “Don’t Throw It All Away,” used the same basic formula as “The Door Is Always Open,” and also became huge hits in 1976-77. Their peak run garnered nearly one dozen Top 10 singles, including two more No. 1 hits – “Tear Time” (1978) and “Golden Tears” (1979). Overall, Dave & Sugar charted 16 times on the Billboard country charts.

Dave & Sugar was a slick sounding, soulful vocal trio that, during their heyday, was labeled “the country ABBA.” Although their career was much shorter lived than that of Bjorn and crew, Dave & Sugar did share the Swedish group’s knack for catchy tunes, sparkling production, and full, rich, male/female vocal arrangements. Their touring took them throughout North America, Europe, New Zealand and Italy, where the group played a command performance for the Mayor of Rome.

Rowland also toured with Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, and Barbara Mandrell and was an opening act for Kenny Rogers for two years.

Rowland disbanded the trio briefly during the early 1980s to try a solo career, releasing an album entitled (appropriately) Sugar Free and charting two singles of his own. Rowland later reformed the trio with two new sets of “Sugar” partners.

Surviving Dave Rowland are his wife Terri Rowland, mother Ruby Rowland and sister Donna Fort and her husband Bob, of Palm Desert, Calif.; sister-in-law Angie Billis of Nashville, Tenn.; niece Vicki Martinka and husband John in Pennsylvania; and nephew Bobby Fowler, his wife Belen and their two children in Argentina.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in the name of Dave Rowland be sent to the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. In 2014, Rowland was honored by the Music City Tennis Invitational in recognition of four decades of event participation with proceeds to benefit the hospital.

Arrangements are pending for a Celebration-of-Life service.

Turnpike Troubadours cancels immediate tour

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This from the Turnpike Troubadours and from Billy Bob’s Texas:

Turnpike Troubadours

Turnpike Troubadours was to have played at Billy Bob’s Texas the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 23. They have had to cancel. They will be playing at Choctaw Casino in Durant, Okla., in February.

First and foremost, you are the reason we get to do what we do every single day, and we want you to know how much that means to us. There have been many discussions on what to say publicly, and it is our unanimous opinion that our fans are our family, and there is no need to sugar coat anything. Living this life on the road has so many ups, but, like in all life situations, there are also battles and struggles with which you learn to deal.

The one core thing our band has always had is a tight family unit. The love we share with our entire team: our band members, road crew, business team and fan base feels very much like family. When one of us is down, we are there to lift them up and help them down the road. Right now, we have a situation that needs our complete attention.

For the time being, we need to put our tour on hold through November 29th, and make sure our family member is able to address something much more important than our ability to perform live. We do NOT take this incredible blessing of playing our music for our fans all over the world for granted. As much as we would all would love to keep touring, we love our family member more and need to be there to make sure he is able to conquer the issues with which he is struggling. He has our support 100% and we will be here to walk beside him and carry him if needed, no matter the outcome. We love all of you from the bottom of our heart and hope to get back to doing what we all love, which is making and performing our music for you – Our extended family – as soon as possible. As our good friends always say, “family first,” and we have to be there to make sure that this family is taken care of before getting back to business.

Thank you for understanding, and we are so thankful for the support you have shown us and continue to show us while we take some time to heal.

NOTE: Their Website manager has already removed all the concerts between now and November 30, when they will be at the ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, that and the following Saturday night, December 1.

But, Billy Bob’s Texas, where they were to have appeared on Friday, November 23, has issued a statement explaining that they have enlisted William Clark Green to play November 23 in Turnpike Troubadour’s place. They also have explained to pre-show ticket buyers how to get a refund on their money. Here is Billy Bob’s Texas’ statement:

 Refunds will be available at original point of purchase. Credit cards will be automatically refunded. Cash refunds must be made in person at the Billy Bob’s Texas box office. For additional questions, please email tickets@billybobstexas.com.