The 411 Country Connection 11.01.08: Country 101

Posted by Stormin Norman on 11.01.2008

Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley share the NSAI’s Songwriter/Artist of the Year Award, Craig Morgan’s childhood dream comes true, Bucky Covington puts himself on the map, The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame welcomes three new members, former pro-baseball player Derek Sholl makes his country music debut and the 2009 MerleFest dates and performers are announced. And a new edition of Country 101!

the Express

Songwriting sensations Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley were awarded the prestigious Songwriter/Artist of the Year honor at the Nashville Songwriters Association International Awards last week. The NSAI Awards took place at Muic City's Renaissance Hotel and featured a host of country music celebrities who received awards for their hard work this year. This award comes on the heels of Jackson's 17 song album, which for the first time he wrote all himself, Good Time and on the horizon of Paisley's highly anticipate album Play, which he also wrote every song on. Casey Beathard who earned Songwriter of the Year for his hits "Cleaning This Gun (Con On In Boy)," "Don't Blink," "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," and "Ready, Set, Don't Go." While Trace Adkins secured the Song of the Year award for his hit single "You're Gonna Miss This."





Craig Morgan has reached a milestone that all country music artist strive for, membership to the Opry. In a special ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville last week, Craig was officially welcomed by one of his longtime country music idols Mr. John Conlee. Morgan has performed over 100 times at the Grand Ole Opry since his April 2000 debut. Former service man Craig Morgan is responsible for the Most Played Country Song of 2005 "International Harvester," as well as the hits "Almost Home," "That's What I Love About Sundays," and "Redneck Yacht Club."





American Idol alum, Bucky Covington continues to make a name for himself with his third consecutive Top 10 single. "I'll Walk," broke the Top 10 on the Mediabase charts and has put him into a category that has only two other members, Jason Aldean and fellow American Idol alum Josh Gracin. The song is featured on his 2007 self-titled debut album, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. It also had the biggest first week sales for any debut Country artist last year and in the last 10 weeks, digital sales of this track have increased alittle over fifty percent.





The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame welcomed its three new members last week. Songwriters Matraca Berg and Tom Shapiro and musician John Hiatt were inducted at the 39th Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony. Berg is most notably known for her hits "Wild Angels" and "Strawberry Wine." Shapiro's top ventures were "You Look Good In My Shirt," which he co-wrote with Keith Urban and "If There Hadn't Been You." While Hiatt produced the hits "Icy Blue Heart" and "Have a Little Faith In Me."





Former professional baseball player Derek Sholl is making waves with his debut country album Here. Sholl's most recent single "(I'll Be) Here" has just reached the #1 spot on Germany's Country Music Airplay Charts. Derek's music got its start on the Southern California bar scene before making his way to Vegas and eventually to Nashville. Country music and Vegas don't seem to go hand in hand, but after wowing Jay Leno he began opening up his and entertaining Vegas crowds for three years. He is currently on tour promoting his debut album.





Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart are back at it again, the duo will be reuniting for an 11 date tour beginning in California Nov. 1 at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula and will wrap up on Nov. 21 at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE. The guys will do acoustic versions of the hits that they created together including "Hony-Tonkin's What I Do Best," "This One's Gonna Hurt You (For A Long, Long Time) and "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'." Tritt will play 5 shows on his own which began on Oct. 18 in Marksville, LA at the Mari Center and will end on Nov. 7 in Oroville, CA at the Feather Falls Casino.





MerleFest will be celebrating it's 22nd year in 2009, the historic event honors the contributions to country music of Eddy Merle Watson, Doc and the entire Watson Family. The 4-day event will take place April 23-26 at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C. and will feature more than 90 acts on 15 stages. Among those acts are bluegrass stars the Dailey Vincet Band, Emmylou Harris, the Grascals and the Del McCoury Band as well as Travis Tritt and many more. MerleFest is reknowned for its surprises and special moments and this year shall be no exception. MerleFest began as a fundraiser for the college in 1988 and is by far the largest fundraiser for the institution.

New Music Tuesday

This has been an exiciting week of release with Reba's greatest hits box set hitting stores and Toby Keith's Don't Make Me a Bad Guy, but the album that I have been waiting for all year finally hits shelves next week, Brad Paisley's Play. Here is a rundown of the albums being released this week and next week, as well as what happened atop the Hot Country Songs Chart this week.

This Week: Oct. 28
Toby Keith- That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy (Show Dog Nashville)
Reba McEntire- 50 Greatest Hits Oct. 28 (MCA Nashville/UMe)
Rascal Flatts- Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Lyric Street)
Joey & Rory- The Life of a Song (Sugar Hill/Vanguard)
Keni Thomas- Gunslinger ()
Mark Wills- Familiar Stranger (Tenacity Records)

Next Week: Nov. 4
Brad Paisley- Play (Arista Nashville)
Randy Owen- One on One (Broken Bow)

Hot Country Songs Chart Top 5
After one week at number one, Toby Keith has been dethroned by Carrie Underwood whose single "Just A Dream" has climbed from number three right to the top and spends its first week atop the chart. Toby hasn't fallen too far, "She Never Cried In Front Of Me" now occupies the number two spot. But the 18 year old sensation, Taylor Swift is right on his heels as she continues her ascendance to the top. After jumping last week from number seven to number four, she is now one step closer and holds down the number three spot with the first single released off of her highly anticipated sophomore album Fearless. And although his albums sales continue to be high Kenny Chesney's "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" has fallen from number two down to number four. And Tim McGraw's single "Let Go" broke the Top 5 this week and is holding strong at the number five spot this week. Darius Rucker's debut single "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" has finally said goodbye to the Top 5 and is now sitting at number seven, while the Zac Brown Band's single "Chicken Fried" continues to charge toward number one and is just one slot away from a Top 5 appearance.

1. Carrie Underwood- "Just A Dream" (Last Wk. 3)

2. Toby Keith- "She Never Cried In Front Of Me" (Last Wk. 1)

3. Taylor Swift- "Love Story" (Last Wk. 3)

4. Kenny Chesney w/ The Wailers- "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" (Last Wk. 2)

5. Tim McGraw- "Let It Go" (Last Wk. 6)

Country 101

There is no other institution that is more imbedded in the culture and history of country music than the Grand Ole Opry. Debuting on Tennessee's WSM radio station in 1925, it has been stage shared by the who's who in country music, it has primarily been America's introduction to all of the greats of country music. Beginning a show to promote the live appearances of part-time artist throughout the south, it is now one of country musician's greatest ambitions. And with the help of the King of Country Music, Roy Acuff, the Opry became a symbol of professionalism in country music.



Until Roy Acuff suffered a severe sunstroke in 1929, it seemed that he was destine to become one of the baseball greats. That stroke confined him to a bed for almost two years and was the catalyst for his country music career. In 1933 he formed the Tennessee Crackerjacks and it birth the sound that became synonymous with Acuff. In 1936 he recorded two of his greatest hits "Wabash Cannonball" and "The Great Speckle Bird" with ARC, who later merged with Columbia. Acuff made his first Opry appearance in 1938 and soon thereafter became a regular on the show with his original band who changed their name to the Smoky Mountain Boys. They soon became more popular than the then Opry headliner Uncle Dave Macon.



The 40's saw some of his biggest hits "Wreck on the Highway," "Fireball Mail," "Night Train to Memphis," "Tied Down," "That's What Makes the Jukebox Play," and "The Precious Jewel." His recordings were so popular that they rivaled Frank Sinatra atop some of the major music polls. His great strides in and for country were recognized when he back the first living musician to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He continued to be a mainstay on the Opry through the 80's until he fell ill and eventually died in 1992.

OuTrO

As always, I know you have plenty of choices when it comes to getting your steady dose of country music entertainment, so thanks for hanging out with me at The C-squared. Tune back in next week for more express headlines, your New Music Tuesday update and a fierce Stars v. Legends battle. Be sure to check out 411 Music: Fact or Fiction and Quick ‘n Dirty Music News. Until next time, be well.