13 January 2014

The iconic ‘Gentle Giant’, country music’s Don Williams, is set to debut his new, 10-track studio album, REFLECTIONS on March 11 via Sugar Hill Records. Williams, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, dominated for decades as a country hit maker and earned the name the Gentle Giant because of his unique blend of commanding presence and that laid-back, easy style—cutting across national and genre boundaries. Those personal and musical qualities that stood out strongly across the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, came full circle both in 2012, as Williams delivered the masterful And So It Goes, and now, as he releases Reflections. REFLECTIONS yields Williams at his finest, with his classic, often-copied-but-never-duplicated baritone front and centre. With a healthy touring schedule and his second album in two years, Williams works hard to maintain that voice beloved by so many. His days off from a busy touring schedule are spent on his farm, where his voice is rested and his downtime very quietly enjoyed. Featuring cuts from some of the song-writing craft’s finest including the legendary Townes Van Zandt, Merle Haggard and Jesse Winchester, Reflections finds Williams still incredibly tuned in to finding the songs that will touch his audience. As he has said about selecting songs: “The only description I’ve ever had for songs I choose to do is that they affect me emotionally and that, hopefully, they have something to say that will touch other people.” Don Williams’ greatest asset has always been his impressive and diverse catalogue of songs. The hundreds of memorable tunes in his still-growing repertoire—over 50 of them major hits—whether contemplative ballads, affecting love songs or change-up rhythm numbers, have always been a core Don Williams strength and focus. Williams and long-time producer Garth Fundis, who returns in the co-producer role on Reflections, each nod to the other with having contributed to their own song selection and sequencing skills. Every song honours the storytelling history pure country fans have come to expect from Don Williams. “Stronger Back,” “Back to The Simple Things,” and “Working Man’s Son” celebrate the strength and integrity of everyday men and women and “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” and “I Won’t Give Up On You” are incredible narratives of love, delivered with understated complexity the way only Don Williams can. Reflections, a newly minted part of a nearly 30-album career, proves once again that Don Williams’ music transcends genres and generations. Digging deeper into his natural, everyman approachability and revered musical style, Williams delivers a new collection of songs on Reflections that are sure to become instant classics.

Phil Everly, half of the 1950s and ’60s pop duo the Everly Brothers passed away this month. Everly died at the age of 74, due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to his wife Patti Everly. “We are absolutely heartbroken,” Patti said, noting her husband’s disease was caused by a cigarette smoking. “He fought long and hard.” The Everly brothers were one of the most influential bands of their time – influencing the work of stars including The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel. Together with his brother Don, who survives him, Everly rose to fame in the late 1950s and 1960s for smash hits such as “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do is Dream” and “Bye Bye Love” thanks to the close-harmony singing they are best known for. In 1957, the Everly Brothers signed their first record deal and soon after produced hits that spawned the genres of pop, rock and country. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, into which the Everly Brothers were inducted in 1986, described their harmonies as “one of the musical treasures of the 1950s and a major influence on the music of the 1960s.”

Country Music Hall of Fame group Alabama has signed a new management deal with Tony Conway’s Ontourage Management. After signing with RCA in 1980, Alabama soared to the top with 21 consecutive Number 1 hit singles, a feat most likely never to be equaled in any genre. During their career, they have had 43 singles that have topped the country charts and have sold more than 73 million albums worldwide. They are one of the most celebrated groups, scoring more than 150 major industry awards including two GRAMMY Awards, the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award, Entertainer of the Year Awards three times from the CMA and five times from the ACM, as well as ACM Artist of the Decade. They have earned 21 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum albums and were named the RIAA Country Group of the Century. Band members Randy Owen, Jeff Cook, and Teddy Gentry stated: “We have known Tony Conway for 30 years, and his reputation and major accomplishments in the music industry made this a natural fit. We want to continue our journey, and we feel Tony can help us accomplish that.” Tony Conway, an industry veteran with more than 38 years of experience, spent 33 years with Buddy Lee Attractions, eventually becoming CEO and co-owner. In 2010, Conway launched his own companies, Conway Entertainment Group and Ontourage Management. Through the years, Conway has represented a veritable “Who’s Who” roster of clients including George Strait, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks, George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, The Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean, to name a few. “I have had the pleasure of knowing the members of Alabama for many years, and I am extremely proud they have chosen us to help further their endeavors and work with them on future projects. New music, selected tour dates, a film documentary, and a book are in the plans. Alabama has created an incredible legacy through both music and philanthropy. We are honored to be part of their team,” said Conway. For more information on the band, please visit www.thealabamaband.com.

Fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming Eric Church album The Outsiders are getting another taste of what’s to come on the much buzzed-about project. Church and EMI Records Nashville have released the album’s second single, “Give Me Back My Hometown.” The wistful song, written by Church and Luke Laird, is currently playing on radio stations across the country and available now for purchase at all digital retailers. “Give Me Back My Hometown” follows first single and title cut “The Outsiders,” which Billboard magazine noted in a cover story on the ACM and CMA award winner, “Church was already at the vanguard of contemporary country’s rock movement… Like a modern-day Lynyrd Skynyrd, Church manages to be simultaneously more rock’n’roll and good-old-boy than anyone else out there – no easy task.” Rolling Stone named “The Outsiders” one of the “100 Best Songs of 2013” raving, “Leave it to the classic rock-loving Nashville badass to cook up the heaviest ‘country’ song in years – a radio hit that plays like some demon spawn of Def Leppard, Black Sabbath, and ‘Born to Be Wild.’” Church and longtime producer Jay Joyce once again collaborated on The Outsiders, which will be released on Feb. 11. Fans can pre-order album bundles directly from www.ericchurch.com, which include The Outsiders album and exclusive merchandise. The Outsiders will be Church’s fourth studio album. It follows the Platinum-certified Chief, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, stayed atop the Billboard Country Albums Chart for two weeks, and received the Album of the Year Award from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. Chief spawned five hit singles, including two No. 1 smashes: the Platinum-certified “Drink in My Hand” and Double Platinum-certified “Springsteen.” For more information please visit www.ericchurch.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter @ericchurch.