Hometown Country Music –

Barbara Mandrell to Receive 2023 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award

Posted by admin at 10:32 pm on June 6, 2023

Jun 062023

The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced legendary country music artist Barbara Mandrell as the 2023 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award recipient. Mandrell will be honored during the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, set for July 10 at the Virgin Hotel Nashville.

CRB/CRS Board President Kurt Johnson comments, “We are honored to present the Artist Career Achievement Award to Barbara Mandrell, a true icon in the music industry. Her incredible talent, dedication, and passion have inspired generations of artists and fans alike. It is a privilege to recognize her outstanding contributions and celebrate her remarkable career.”

Barbara Mandrell’s exceptional musical talent was evident from a young age. Born into a musical family in Houston, Texas, she began playing the accordion before she could even read and was a steel guitar prodigy by the age of eleven. Her incredible abilities caught the attention of “Uncle” Joe Maphis, who invited her to join his show at the Showboat Hotel in Las Vegas after seeing her perform at a trade show. This led to touring with The Johnny Cash Show and embarking on a successful tour across Asia with her family band.

Despite stepping away from the music industry after marrying in 1967, Mandrell’s passion for music never waned. She returned to the stage as a solo artist and went on to achieve great success in Nashville, scoring a series of No.1 hits and becoming one of the most-awarded country acts in history. Along with her sisters, she also had a celebrated television career that began in the 1980s with the NBC variety show, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.

Mandrell officially retired from the music industry in 1997 and has since been inducted into multiple halls of fame for her remarkable career, unyielding faith, and love of country. Despite the demands of show business, she remains true to her love of God, family, and country, and is truly the embodiment of a consummate entertainer.

The CRB Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act who has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country radio and country music through their leadership, engagement, and creativity. Previous Artist Career Achievement recipients include Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, George Strait, and the Judds, among others.

Also set to be honored during the Country Radio Hall of Fame are six exceptional radio professionals – four off-air broadcasters and two on-air personalities. Pam Green, Charlie Morgan, Wade Jessen, and John Willyard are among the distinguished off-air honorees, while Trish Biondo and Dollar Bill Lawson are recognized for their outstanding on-air contributions.

For more information and a list of past inductees, visit https://www.countryradioseminar.com.

Scotty McCreery to be Inducted into North Carolina Music Hall of Fame

Posted by admin at 10:01 pm on June 6, 2023

Jun 062023

Scotty McCreery

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame announced that Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreery is among the six inductees comprising the 2023 class scheduled to be enshrined during the annual induction ceremony this fall. In addition to McCreery, the other inductees are Betty Davis, Bill “Fatback” Curtis, Fetchin Bones, George Beverly Shea and Loudon Wainwright III.

The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center in Mooresville, N.C. and will feature each artist’s induction into the Hall of Fame as well as live performances from McCreery, Fetchin Bones, Wainwright and more. Tickets are on sale now for the 2023 Induction Ceremony. VIP and General Reserved tickets are available HERE.

“Anyone that knows me knows how proud I am to be from North Carolina,” said McCreery. “It is an honor to be recognized by the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and included with this great 2023 class of artists. It’s also a bit surreal knowing I will be joining some of my musical heroes who are already in the Hall, such as Randy Travis, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Daniels, and James Taylor, as well as friends like Eric Church and Kellie Pickler. I am truly thankful.”

McCreery made history in 2011 when his first album, Clear as Day, debuted at No.1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, making him the first country artist and youngest male artist of any musical format to achieve this feat. The Garner, N.C. native has since established himself as one of today’s top country music entertainers, earning five consecutive No.1 hits, multiple Gold and Platinum albums and singles, and sold-out concerts across the world. In addition to winning “American Idol” in 2011, McCreery has received an array of ACM, BMI, CMT, NSAI and Carolina Beach Music Awards and has executive produced two Hallmark holiday movies based on his first No.1 hit song, the RIAA Triple-Platinum certified “Five More Minutes.” He is currently rising up the charts with his single “It Matters to Her” from his Same Truck: The Deluxe Album, while also touring with Brooks and Dunn on their REBOOT 2023 Tour.

Previous inductees in the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame include Tori Amos, Avett Brothers, Shirley Caesar, George Clinton, Church, John Coltrane, Daniels, Fantasia, Donna Fargo, Robert Flack, Ben Folds, Don Gibson, Andy Griffith, Stonewall Jackson, Big Daddy Kane, Ben E. King, Little Eva, Milsap, Thelonious Monk, Pickler, Tony Rice, Max Roach, Earl Scruggs, Nina Simone, Kate Smith, Taylor, John Tesh, Travis, Doc Watson, Merle Watson and more.

Additional information on McCreery’s fellow Class of 2023 Inductees available HERE.

The mission of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is to recognize, promote and commemorate the musical heritage of the State of North Carolina. For more information, visit www.northcarolinamusichalloffame.org.

Interview with Andrew Jones

Posted by admin at 9:52 pm on June 6, 2023

Jun 062023

Artist Name: Andrew Jones
Hometown: Brackley

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Just about to release my new single “My Old Street”, getting back together with my old band who will be supporting me at some of my bigger gigs. I also have some new singles in the works with my team in Nashville.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I have always been a singer from a very young age, my dad and uncle played guitar so I always wanted to as well but it really progressed from helping my friend write his songs in my late teens, or test them at least, we then played an open mic together and got offered a gig at the end of it, 16 years later I’m still writing and performing in my spare time.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Music is only really a hobby for me, I absolutely love it but I’m actually a Software Delivery Manager by day.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

Weight Lifting and Video Games

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Lainey Wilson

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Arsenal (Football) / Northampton Saints (Rugby)

What is the last movie that you watched?

Pulp Fiction

What is the last album you listened to?

Kip Moore – Damn Love

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Def Leppard – Hysteria

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Raise Em Up – Eric Church/Keith Urban

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Durham or Newark, both beautiful cities.

What is your favorite meal?

I love a great Bacon Cheeseburger with Dirty Fries

Who is your dream duet partner?

Lainey Wilson

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Kip Moore

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

I would love to go out on tour in the UK with one of the big US Artists, Luke Combs, Kip Moore, maybe have the opportunity to go out to the US and tour those landmark stages as well, Grand Ol Opry, Red Rocks, what an amazing opportunity.