Country- & Jazz-Flavor Originals, Old-Time Tunes, Full-Blown Talent

Fill Band’s IT’S ABOUT DAM TIME

 Austin, TX — Marshall Ford Swing Band — the “young and refreshing” Austin five-piece whose vocals, piano, guitars, bass and beat combine for a swing sound that sometimes goes country and sometimes scatters some jazz — releases its first studio album, the bright and buoyant IT’S ABOUT DAM TIME, on February 16 with CD release shows across the state.

 Marshall Ford Swing Band members — Emily Ann Gimble (vocals and piano), Greg Harkins (guitar and vocals), Jeremy Wheeless (guitar), James Gwyn (drums) and Kristopher Wade (upright bass) — give it their all, onstage and now in the studio.

 Word of mouth in Austin music circles and gigs in some of the city’s most popular restaurants and other venues, as well as time at the fiddle camp of legend Johnny Gimble (yes, Emily’s grandfather), have pushed the band’s evolution from its traditional country start to one embracing Western swing and its most engaging elements: retro shout vocals, twin guitar leads (by Harkins and Wheeless), an animated piano, and lyrics simple and straightforward.

 Like the album, the band’s shows are full of up-tempo old-time swing tunes that band members love and love to play and country- and jazz-infused originals — all of which set toes to tapping and couples to dancing.

 “This group’s tunes are reminiscent of the early days of swing music, where the bass kept the beat and the mandolin was a prominent fixture,” said the Austin American-Statesman.

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Exclusive new George Jones CD includes two previously unreleased songs

LEBANON, Tenn.' (August 17, 2009) ' It took forty years to bring them together, but now a country music legend is joining forces with a leading restaurant for good country cookin' to offer up some songs that really cook!  George Jones had already hit the country music charts and won several big awards by 1969, the year that Cracker Barrel Old Country Store' opened the doors of its very first location. And to help celebrate Cracker Barrel's 40th year anniversary, George's newest album goes on sale August 31st exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations.

A Collection Of My Best Recollection has 12 tracks and features some of George's most memorable songs, including 'White Lightning,' 'Finally Friday,' and, of course, 'He Stopped Lovin' Her Today,' which many people consider to be the best country music song of all time. This special CD also includes two songs that have never been released before, 'I Don't Want To Know,' and 'I'm A Long Gone Daddy.'  

'When the idea of working with Cracker Barrel on a CD first came up, I was all for it,' says two-time Grammy' Award winner George Jones. 'I've been eating there for as long as I can remember. I love the idea of having my music right there in their retail store!'

The Country Music Hall of Famer was named Billboard magazine's Most Promising New Country Artist back in 1956, and he has lived up to that promise, earning a number of honors over the years. He won both Billboard's and Cashbox's Male Vocalist of the Year award in 1962 and 1963. He's received two Grammy' Awards and Kennedy Center Honors for his lifetime contributions to American culture. George's biggest hit, 'He Stopped Lovin' Her Today,' won the Country Music Association Song of the Year Award twice, in 1980 and in 1981. George maintains an active touring schedule throughout North America.

One of the previously unreleased songs on this new CD, 'I'm A Long Gone Daddy,' was produced by Buddy Cannon, who is well-known as Kenny Chesney's record producer, and who won the Academy of Country Music's award for Producer of the Year in 2006. Cannon also produced 'I Don't Want To Know,' George's favorite song on the album. 'They never released it because they thought it was 'too country',' says George, 'but since Cracker Barrel's happy to satisfy the cravings of real country music fans, we're putting it on this record.'

'What a great honor to work with George Jones to share his music with Cracker Barrel guests on such a terrific CD,' says Cracker Barrel's Vice President of Marketing Peter Keiser. 'George is an artist who the newer generation of country singers reveres and his songs resonate with anyone who gives them a listen.'

A Collection Of My Best Recollection goes on sale at all Cracker Barrel locations on August 31st and is the latest project in an impressive collection of exclusive music available only at Cracker Barrel. It follows May's release of Montgomery Gentry's For Our Heroes, which debuted at #5 on Billboard magazine's Top Country Album Chart, and March's release of Dolly Parton's Collectors' Edition of Backwoods Barbie, which debuted at #9 on that chart. The series also includes a number of exclusive releases in 2008 - November's release of Bill Gaither's Homecoming Hymns, the August release of Kenny Rogers: 50 Years, the July release of Ricky Skaggs' The High Notes and the April release of Aaron Tippin's He Believed. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.

Darius Rucker Celebrates Album Success and Third No. 1 Single With Free Show at the Grand Ole Opry for Jimmy Kimmel Live!

NASHVILLE, TN - August 11, 2009 - Life is "Alright" for Darius Rucker since having  won-over critics and fans alike with his debut country album LEARN TO LIVE.  His 2008 debut country album on Capitol Records Nashville now marks Rucker's first RIAA-certified platinum country album.

"To have an album sell a million copies today is really an achievement.  I feel so blessed to have been embraced in the country music community with this album, and I couldn't have done it without all the support from country radio and country music fans," Rucker says before adding a sincerely stated, "Thank you!"

Rucker's third release from LIVE, "Alright,"  has helped push the album to platinum status, as well as establish Rucker as the first artist in nearly 17 years to top the Billboard Country Chart with three consecutive No. 1 singles.

In celebration of LIVE's success, Rucker will be giving a free performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee on August 24th that will air on Jimmy Kimmel Live!--slated to air August 27, 2009.  You can also look for Darius August 31st on ABC's CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock, as well as upcoming "Unstoppable Tour" dates with Rascal Flatts.

For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com. 
 

With their first set of new studio material since 2003's Vicious Cycle, legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd returns with God & Guns, due out September 29 on Loud & Proud / Roadrunner Records. Recorded in Nashville in 2008-2009 with noted rock producer Bob Marlette, input from guitarist John 5, and a wealth of material written by the band and a cadre of elite Skynyrd-minded songwriters, a remarkable album emerged. 

With a backbone of Southern rock and country, passionate Van Zant vocals, and trademark layered guitars, God & Guns manages to maintain the iconic Skynyrd punch while sounding completely contemporary. Sure to attract attention in these politically divided times is the title track, which harbors a sense of menace and unwillingness to back down that hearkens back to Skynyrd's earliest days. God & Guns, along with the unmistakable Skynyrd bite of the first single 'Still Unbroken,' which was shipped to rock radio this July, form thematic songs for an album laden with attitude, heart and purpose.

The band knows the song, and others like 'That Ain't My America,' will have their critics, but Medlocke says listeners should get beyond the titles.

'Skynyrd's about tradition,' says Medlocke. 'In this record is personal tragedy, personal relationships and being on the road, all under that umbrella of real life. That's what we think, that's what we believe, and we stand next to that title, God & Guns.'

Beyond the tragedy, the history, the raging guitars and the killer songs, ultimately, Lynyrd Skynyrd is about an indomitable will. About survival of spirit; unbowed, uniquely American, stubbornly resolute.

'A lot of people probably expected us to say enough is enough,' admits Medlocke.  But that would not be the way of this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame powerhouse.

'We wanted to show the people that not only are we doing the old material, keeping the music going, but we still have some new tricks up our sleeves, too,' says founding guitarist Gary Rossington.

With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales beyond 30 million, Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that appeals to all generations, and God & Guns is a fitting addition to the canon. The Skynyrd Nation awaits.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will be wrapping up the co-headlined, 22 city Rock & Rebels Tour with good friend Kid Rock in late August, while continuing on their own headline tour into Fall.
**Skynyrd headline dates not with Kid Rock / Tour dates are as follows:

7/24/2009  Time Warner Pavillion @Walnut Creek  Raleigh, NC 
7/25/2009  Verizon Wireless Music Center  Virginia Beach, VA 
7/26/2009  Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre  Charlotte, NC 
7/29/2009  Comcast Center  Mansfield, MA 
7/31/2009  Hershey Park Ampitheater  Hershey, PA 
8/1/2009  Nissan Pavilion  Bristow, VA 
8/2/2009  Jones Beach Amphitheatre  Wantagh, NY 
8/13/2009  Mid-America Center  Council Bluffs, IA **
8/14/2009  Illinois State Fairgrounds  Springfield, IL **
8/15/2009  Spirit Bank Event Center  Tulsa, OK **
8/18/2009  The LC Pavilion  Columbus, OH **
8/21/2009  Meadowbrook ' US Cellular Pavilion  Gilford, NH **
8/22/2009  Comcast Theater  Hartford, CT **
8/28/2009  Fort McCoy Army Base  Sparta, WI **
8/29/2009  Minnesota State Fair  St. Paul, MN 
9/7/2009  Inn Of The Mountain Gods Casino  Mescalero, NM **
9/8/2009  Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre  Tuscon, AZ **
9/9/2009  Celebrity Theatre  Phoenix, AZ **
9/11/2009  Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa  Kelseyville, CA **
9/12/2009  Fantasy Springs Resort Hotel & Casino  Indio, CA **
9/13/2009  Los Angeles County Fair Grounds  Pomona, CA **
9/15/2009  The Mountain Winery  Saratoga, CA **
9/17/2009  Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino  Lemoore, CA **
9/18/2009  Ironstone Vineyards Amphitheatre  Murphys, CA **
9/19/2009  Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa And Casino  Henderson, NV **
9/20/2009  Sandia Casino  Albuquerque, NM **
10/30/2009  Coushatta Casino Resort  Kinder, LA **
10/31/2009  Moody Gardens  Galveston Island, TX **