News Update…
AND NOW FOR THE NEWS…
Chris Gaffney has been diagnosed with liver cancer
Our good friend Chris Gaffney has been diagnosed with liver cancer and has been forced off the road. Please visit his web site to leave messages for Chris and his family and donate to the ‘Chris Gaffney Recovery fund.’ http://www.helpgaff.blogspot.com/
Tejano Singer In Critical Condition After Bus Crash
Doctors in Houston says Grammy-winning Tejano singer Emilio Navaira may not survive a brain injury suffered when his tour bus hit traffic barrels. The accident happened last Sunday in the Houston area. Doctors operated to remove a blood clot that was putting pressure on Navaira’s brain. The 45-year-old singer and six members of his band and entourage were hurt in the accident. Doctors say Navaira was in a coma when he arrived at the hospital but the surgery went well. Navaira also had fractures to his back. Officials say Navaira was driving the bus. Navaira won the 2003 Grammy for best Tejano album. His first English album debuted at Number 13 on Billboard’s country chart and sold more than 250,000 copies. In all Navaira charted six country singles.
Hospital officials in Houston say Tejano star Emilio Navaira is slowly regaining consciousness. The Grammy-winning singer was severely injured after his tour bus crashed Sunday. Navaira has opened his eyes and moved his arms and legs. The hospital says, “While his condition has improved, he remains in critical condition.” Navaira was thrown through the windshield and suffered severe injuries. Doctors have performed two brain surgeries on him. The bus accident remains under investigation.
Aaron Robinson
Singer/songwriter Aaron Robinson has truly taken to heart the notion of doing whatever is necessary to pursue one’s dream. He’ll finally issue his debut solo CD WE ARE RACING GHOSTS April 15, and it contains several evocative, quite personal numbers that offer striking tales about things taken directly from Robinson’s own family history, particularly “Dreamers and Preachers” that talks about the loss of a very close uncle.
Once part of the Imaginary Baseball League, Robinson sold many possessions to finance this disc, including the guitar that he used to write all its compositions. With several distinguished guests aboard like Garrison Starr, Eamon McLoughlin from the Greencards and producer Neilson Hubbard, Robinson’s work is alternately beautiful, haunting, mournful and quite effective.
Kate Voegele
Kate Voegele has become quite prominent on television this season, with a principal role in the CW show One Tree Hill. But she has also gotten plenty of notoriety for her singing, attracting so much attention for early demos “The Other Side” and “Louder Than Words” that she eventually landed a deal with Myspace Records, becoming one of the new label’s first signees.
A singer/songwriter, guitarist and pianist who can write both atmospheric, folky material and more edgy, rock-oriented fare, Voegele’s debut CD Don’t Look Away has gotten ample attention since its release last May.
Even before having a deal, Voegele was a featured performer at Farm Aid in 2004 and 2005, and won the New York City Songwriters Circle award for her song “I Won’t Disagree” in 2006. This February she appeared on CBS’ The Early Show and also served as opening act for the Wreckers on a couple of Midwest dates.
Shooter Jennings
At one point Shooter Jennings departed Nashville for Los Angeles and became a member of the rock band Stargunn. He spent some six years polishing his Southern rock skills and became quite popular on the West Coast. But after growing tired of that phase, Jennings left that band and relocated to New York City, where an acclaimed gig at the House of Blues led to a decision for Jennings to go back to what he did best — rocking country.
Now with such CDs as Put The “O” Back In Country, Electric Rodeo and his most recent release The Wolf, Shooter Jennings has found a musical home. He performed the single “This Ol’ Wheel” on the Late Show with David Letterman in January, and also got critical raves for portraying his father Waylon in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line. He also entertains thousands of listeners each week as the host of Shooter Jennings Electric Rodeo, a two-hour weekly music show heard on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Outlaw Country channel.
Martina Mcbride Will Play Outdoor Venues During Her Summer Tour
Enjoy Martina McBride by moonlight. McBride is taking her “Waking Up Laughing Tour” outdoors this summer. She’s slated to play over twenty-five amphitheaters. Joining McBride on the road will be Jack Ingram and newcomers Chris Young and Jason Michael Carrol.
Mel Tillis’ Elektra Years Reissued On Collectors’ Choice
Three of Mel Tillis’ classic records are being reissued on a Collectors’ Choice. The three long-out-of-print Elektra albums - “Me and Pepper,” “Your Body Is an Outlaw,” and “Southern Rain,” are being made available as re-mastered CDs, slated for release on April 29th. Some of Tillis’ biggest hits were created during his tenure at Elektra Records, from 1978-to-1982.
Trent Tomlinson weds in N.C.
Country singer Trent Tomlinson wed girlfriend Jessica Lowman in a ceremony at her church in Catawba, N.C., on March 22. While family and friends were present, unfortunately the flowers were not.
“The ceremony was great,” Trent said. “We had a wedding planner that dropped the ball. There were thousands of dollars spent on flowers that didn’t make it to the church. It was really beautiful, but all in all, things didn’t pan out the way she wanted them to. There were a lot of things that were missing, but all in all it was our day and it was great.”
They honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas for a week, but their return airline flight was overbooked and they got bumped from the Sunday-night flight. Then the newlyweds’ Monday flight got cancelled. The airline offered to put them up in a five-star hotel for their troubles.
“To be honest, it was so nasty we took showers in our flip flops. It was a complete lie, and it was a lot of expense out of my pocket. But you know what? We got to stay a few more days and enjoy each other’s company.”
Clint Black Is Hitting The Comedy Clubs Ahead Of His Cbs Reality Show
Clint Black recently hit the stage in Nashville, but it was hardly things as usual. He had no guitar and instead was telling jokes. Black’s been performing stand-up comedy in preparation for his role in a new CBS reality series called “Secret Talents of the Stars.” Black says his first practice comedy gig went surprisingly well. He says, “I got enough laughs to feel good about the performance.” Blacks admits though that he did use a cheat sheet because he had eight minutes of material he hadn’t memorised. He says the performance boosted his confidence, adding “everything but about two of my jokes got laughs.” Black says he’s been working hard to transform himself into a comedian. He says, “I’ve been writing like crazy trying to get enough material to have all ‘A’ material.” Clint Black will be among the first stars to compete live on “Secret Talents of the Stars” when it premieres Tuesday on CBS. Viewer votes will determine which performers move on.
Trace Adkins Appears In New Comedy Film
Fresh off his stint on “Celebrity Apprentice,” Trace Adkins is headed back in front of the cameras. He’s joining the cast of a comedy film currently shooting in Los Angeles. The movie is called “American Carol.” Adkins plays The Spirit of Christmas Future — the Grim Reaper — who uses his special musical abilities to bring insight to Scrooge in an effort to help him avoid an inevitable and tragic end.
John Rich Offers Nashville Music Community An Opportunity To Get Rich
John Rich says he remembers when he was 17 and trying to break into the music scene in Nashville. So that’s prompted him to help other people get “the start and the break they need to do what they love.” Rich is now the host of a monthly talent competition called the “Get Rich Talent Search.” Monday night, a packed crowd gathered to check out 10 Nashville musicians that were hand-picked by Rich to perform for Music Row executives. The “Get Rich Talent Search” takes place on the final Monday of each month. Contestants compete for a top prize of 300 dollars. For future talent searches, artists can submit entries to GetRichTalentSearchgmail.com.
Vince Gill Concert Raises $100,000 For Elementary School Auditorium In Oklahoma City
It was back-to-school night for Vince Gill as he returned to his Oklahoma City elementary school to put on a charity concert. During the show, Gill helped raise $100,000 to renovate the auditorium at the Cleveland Arts and Science Speciality School. The school also renamed the auditorium in honour of Gill. The singer reminisced that it was the site of his first stage performance. As a 7-year-old he performed “House of the Rising Sun.” Gill let the crowd guide his set list by taking requests directly from audience shout outs. Gill’s mom and sister Gina were in the audience. Gill’s wife, Amy Grant, performed two songs while seated on the first row with daughter Corrina fast asleep on her lap.
Montgomery Gentry’s New Album Drops In June
Montgomery Gentry will release their new album on June 10th. It’s the band’s seventh album. The lead-off single and title track is “Back When I Knew It All.” The guys cut the project in Memphis. Troy Gentry says, “We wanted to do something different. I think it came together well down there, and it shows.” Eddie Montgomery co-wrote two of the 11 tracks. The duo also got help from Toby Keith on vocals for their song “I Pick My Parties.”
Jamie O’Neal Signs New Deal
Known for hits including “When I Think About Angels,” “Trying To Find Atlantis” and “Somebody’s Hero,” Jamie O’Neal has signed a deal with 1720 Entertainment. O’Neal joins Rissi Palmer on the 1720 roster.
Neal Mccoy Coming Out With Best Of Album
Neal McCoy is coming out with a greatest-hits album. The disc contains 19 of McCoy’s best songs. The compilation also debuts “Rednecktified,” a new song McCoy co-wrote. “The Very Best of Neal McCoy,” is slated for release June 3rd.
Ricky Skaggs On Line-up For NYC Earth Day Concert
Ricky Skaggs will headline an Earth Day concert in New York’s Central Park this month. It’s part of eight simultaneous Earth Day festivals planned for April 20th. Free shows will also be staged in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. The flagship show will be on the National Mall in Washington. Organisers are hoping to get more people talking about global warming. Los Lonely Boys will be the headline act in Dallas. Junior Brown is on the same bill.
Darryl Worley And Wife Are Parents Of A Baby Girl
Darryl Worley is a dad. His wife gave birth to their daughter. They’ve named her Savannah Gail. She weighs 6 pounds, 6 ounces. A posting on Worley’s Web site says “Mom and baby are doing great.” Worley goes on to say, “There are no words to describe what has come into our lives. All I can say is thank you Jesus.”
Sara Evans Is Engaged
Sara Evans’ nasty divorce battle hasn’t put her off marriage. People magazine reports Evans is engaged. She’s set to marry Jay Barker, a former quarterback at the University of Alabama. They’ve yet to set a wedding date. Evans has three children with her ex-husband. Her fiancé has four children from his previous marriage. The pair began dating before Thanksgiving last year. Evans’ divorce was finalised in September. Her split with her ex was a nasty one. She alleged her husband committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home. He denied all the allegations and accused her of having an affair.