About a year ago I wrote a two parter called "The Guitarists."  I have had a few ask if I could re-run that  -  so today is the day!

Here are both parts of that series, which is one of my favorite ones I have written over the past three years!

GREAT MUSICIANS!

The Guitarists - Part One

The Guitarists - Part Two

Congratulations to 90 year-old Mr. Pickles and 53 year-old Mrs. Pickles of Houston on the birth of their 3 children! The catch: everyone is a Radiated Tortoise and they live at the Houston Zoo :). The Pickles have been together 27 years and this is a big win for the endangered species native to Madagascar.

The kids are named Dill, Gherkin, and Jalapeno!!! LOL. Now to us, 90 sounds VERY old to become a parent. Think of the species though...there are documented examples of them living to about 190 years old! So if you think about it, this is like a person having a baby around 40.

Again, congrats to the Houston Zoo!

The show is coming up 3/30!

Get your tickets at DUSTYA.COM and like Kolby said a fun night with Dillon Carmichael and him that all benefits NEOPAT.  

Can't wait to see you there!

Jimmie Allen has released his next single to radio! The follow up to his #1 single "Down Home" is called "Be ALright", also from his latest album Tulip Drive. It's a song that reassures things will be alright, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time. 

Walking Away A Winner  - Kathy Mattea - 1994  - (Album - Walking Away A Winner)

M- 26

Kathy Mattea of course is a great vocalist who had a long list of big hit songs for a number of years.  She has recorded classics like, Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses and Where've You Been.  Her voice is very refined and easy to listen to.  But she joins the list of artists that history has not been overly kind to.  As chart wise, commercially successful and as talented as she was and is, much of her music has been lost over time from airplay.  During her run I was a fan, and this one always stuck with me.  It was a reinvention of sorts for her as it was more uptempo and more produced than many of her songs, and I loved it.  It was a #3 hit on the charts and was written by some of Nashville's best song writers.  Great song, great performance and this song ended up in the right hands.  Today she tours and performs with Suzy Bogguss.

Last Week's Selection

My Full Profile On Kathy Mattea

Tim McGraw  - Standing Room Only

It's NEW!   -  After 30 years he's still got it. GREAT new song!  What else can be said?

Martina McBride - Independence Day - 1994

When Martina McBride released this song, country was on a great roll and was a fun, partying, and overall a polite format.  I will not say this song changed history, because that is overstated. But it did open the door a bit further for us not being quite as polite as before.  A few years earlier Garth ruffled some feathers with, The Thunder Rolls and its story line and eventual ending.  Some stations got some guff for it, but it all worked out. This was just as direct and again made some uncomfortable, as there is no doubt this is very difficult subject matter to sing about.  But in fact, this song did give many who needed it the strength to stay away from those who are not good to be around.  This song gave many great resolve to begin again.  Just not in way in the song.  This is the one she will always be remembered for with her soaring vocal performance and daring subject.  Since this song we have become more relaxed on "revenge" songs. Carrie Underwood has made a career out of them, and more recently Hardy with his huge hit, Wait In The Truck.  I love this song by Martina, she's the perfect artist for it, and history has shown it's an important song.

Last Week #40

My Full Profile On Martina

It's been around for generations and they still sell it, Hamburger Helper.  I'll admit, when I first started out in my first apartment, it was a staple of my diet along with Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. They were cheap and I could get many meals out of them. You may have done the same.  BUT as tasty as it is, you can make your own Hamburger Helper at home with stuff you have in the pantry.

EAT!

Do It Yourself Hamburger Helper

When you get sick, how do you handle it? Are you the person that still manages to take care of everyone? Do you just deal with it? Are you the one that whines and complains non stop? Or, are you like Michael Ray and take some medicine (including IV fluids) and proceed to perform on stage at a couple concerts?!

That's right! Over the weekend, Michael Ray was suffering a bout of food poisoning. However, he had shows in Greenville,SC & Greensboro,NC. He did what he had to do. He received treatment from nurse staff and even posted a picture on Instagram just 3 hours before showtime getting IV fluids!!! He still made it on stage for both shows without cancelling or rescheduling.

I don't know about you, but if I had food poisoning I would just want to lay in bed and not move. Let alone get up off my tour bus and play a show on stage!! Good for him for powering through it!

The country world is feeling the effects of the Pandemic.  Some of these artists were at home for the longest stints of their careers.  

Sure we are in the midst of getting some great albums...  Morgan Wallen just dropped 'One Thing At A Time', Luke Combs has 'Gettin Old' this Friday,

Throw in Hardy, Brantley Gilbert, Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Gabby Barrett, Bros. Osbourne Carly Pearce and just about every artist out there has something on the way.  Musically and touring things are great for country fans and artists!

While some artists were home they probably had sometime for more things than just music.  Maybe to focus on additional branches to those family trees...  It is like a Country Baby Boom!

Today John Osbourne's Wife gave birth to twins, congrats to the family!  Scotty McCreery's wife Gabi, Gabby Barrett, Elle King, Jon Pardi's Wife Summer just had Presley, Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne, Maddie & Tae’s Taylor Dye, Sam Hunt's Wife Hannah Lee Fowler, Niko Moon's Wife Anna Moon, Chris Lane's wife Lauren, and Randy Houser's wife Tatiana all had children recently....

Luke Combs announced he and Nicole will have their 2nd boy in September.  Shay Mooney, Jordan Davis, Drake White wives are all expecting also... 

Could we be seeing the next era of country singers?  We'll see...