Tonight's 'New Song Spotlight' is from Nate Smith called "Whiskey On You". Nate says the song is personal for him, that we've all been through breakups and releationships that have ended. This song is an anthem for "I'm going to be ok and I'm going to get through this and it's time to get back out there". 

As I walked to my car today, I looked over and saw something in the bushes.  I now know who the culprit is that made it necessary to go for a second round of plants... and costing me a lot of doe :)

Thomas Rhett just scored his 19th #1 single with "Slow Down Summer" and today he announced that his next single is a duet with Riley Green. This is the next single from his latest album Where We Started and it's called "Half Of Me" and was co-written by Thomas, Rhett Akins, William Bundy and Josh Thompson, and it's about putting away the to-do list and kicking back.

"Today is a really cool day," Thomas Rhett said in a press release. "I'm pretty blown away to be celebrating my 19th No. 1 with 'Slow Down Summer' and the release of my new single 'Half Of Me.' I wrote both of these songs with my dad, which is special to me, and several other truly incredible songwriters. I hope fans have as much fun singing along to 'Half Of Me' as we did writing it."

Box Office Results - Top Gun (156 Million)

New This Week - The Passenger / Watcher (NO major releases)

Top Gun Maverick - In four days in North American theaters, Top Gun Maverick brought in $156 million. And $248 million worldwide – for Tom Cruise, his biggest opening ever!  (Story)

Live Action - Pinochio Disney movie trailer hit the internet this week, in theaters September 8 (Tom Hanks)  

The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, hits theaters November 17th, 2023.  (Story)

Rita Moreno - She is going to be in Fast X as well – as Vin Diesels (Dom's) Grandmother  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my - (Phil Vassar)  - Country Music Memory Lane (link)  

One of the best songwriters in Nashville over the past number of years has been the incredible Phil Vassar.  But as much as he's given his deserved due on his writing, he's a pretty darn good recording artist, and certainly a stellar performer. Phil Vassar can do it all.

Carlene  - Started His Run Of Hits

Truth be told, not all country artists are songwriters.  There have always been those who are, that goes back to Hank Williams Sr., who wrote a treasure chest of big songs.  But in fact, not so many years ago, there was a definite divide between those who wrote the songs and who sang them in Nashville. That has changed much over the years, and I would say today more performers are writing their own songs than ever before.  Double edged sword, as there is big money in writing songs if they hit. If they don't, you may have wished you recorded songs from an accomplished writer if possible.

Phil Vassar's songwriting is incredible, as many have been fortunate to record his songs that have become hits.  I am a big believer in the Nashville songwriting community.  Of course there are great writers who are also performers, but the writers have a great track record decades long of incredible written songs.

His First Number One Hit - Solo  - His 

Vassar has done both.  I always loved his solo career and his projects.  He hit at the end of country's biggest decade, the 1990's as a solo artist.  With so many stars and big songs it was tough to get noticed.  But I always thought his voice was different enough to cut through and his showmanship on stage was enviable.  He was a rarity in Nashville, he was a piano playing artist with a flair for the dramatic on stage.  There have not been many of them, Ronnie Milsap  Jerry Lee Lewis from a different era comes to mind in country. The incredible piano players like Floyd Cramer, (ask your Nana) and of course Billy Joel and Elton John from rock. I have worked with Vassar a few times, and each time his live show has been terrific.  He did a charity show at Tangier a number of years ago for us here at WQMX, and listeners still talk about how great that show was.

Great Song

His first solo hit was a great little song called Carlene in 1999 and became a top five hit.  The album was self titled and a few more songs came off that album, including Just Another Day In Paradise, which went number one. Over the next seven years or so, he was a consistent hit maker.  The American Child album and song that followed was a very big success, and the albums that followed also charted well, with songs generally in the top ten.

Solo Signature Song

But where Vassar really lives is in songwriting. He has written big song songs for many front line stars including Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Collin Raye and JoDee Messina.  He is spoken in the same breath as any of the big Nashville songwriters of any era. Every era has those composers in Nashville that have great success for a good while, like Bob McDill, Paul Overstreet and others. For his run, Vassar was the most prolific writer going. His list is impressive.

Big Number One!

Some Of Phil Vassar's written songs and artists - all went number one.

For A Little While - Tim McGraw

My Next Thirty Years  - Tom McGraw

I'm Alright - Jo Dee Messina

Baby Bye, Bye  - Jo Dee Messina

Little Red Rodeo -  Collin Raye

Right On The Money  - Alan Jackson

Postmarked Birmingham  - Blackhawk

Those were in addition to his own hits and releases over the years. Nashville needs guys like Phil Vassar. In fact, I love great songwriters as many times they supply important songs to artists with material that is far better.  Alan Jackson is, and was a prolific songwriter, and even HE recorded some of Vassar's songs. 

Phil Vassar will be at Neon Nights at Clay's Park later this summer and he is not to be missed. He is a great addition to a wonderful ticket that includes headliners Alabama and Hank Jr.

Phil Vassar. One incredibly talented individual, and we were  -  and are  -   lucky to have him.

I get it, sometimes it's not always easy to plan and prepare meals that everyone likes every day. Especially if you have kids as they when very young can be finicky with food.

But most people, now matter who you are like pasta.  So here's a great read mom and dad.

Hey Mom, Here's Some Help!

Jordan Davis has released his next single "What My World Spins Around", an up-tempo song with heartfelt lyrics co-written by Jordan, Matt Dragstrem, and Ryan Hurd.

“This song is a reflection of me writing what I know from the place I am in my life, and letting that drive the music,” shares Jordan in a press release. “It’s already been a fun one to play live and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember those who have died while serving the US military. We invite you to follow along this week as we share history and facts about Memorial Day. #memorialday #honorandremember #neverforget #ournationsheroes #thankyouforyourservice pic.twitter.com/iiRYufLR2h

— NEOPAT ?? (@NEOPatriotism) May 24, 2022

 MEMORIAL SERVICES

Bath Memorial Day Observance -May 30 at noon at Bath Veterans’ Memorial Park.

Canton Memorial Day Parade -  May 30 at 10 a.m. from the McKinley Downtown Campus and ends at the McKinley Monument.

Hudson Memorial Day Ceremony - May 30 at 11am at The American Legion Post 464 will hold a ceremony at Markillie Ceremony after the parade.

Navarre Memorial Day observation - May 30 parade begins at 1 from Canal Street in front of the village hall.

EVENTS

USAF Band of Flight - The United States Air Force presents a live concert at Lock 3 in Akron on May 28.

Cole Swindell released his next single to radio today, it's called "She Had Me At Heads Carolina" and you guessed it, it's a nod to Jo Dee Messina's hit "Heads Carolina, Tails California". Cole says this is probably the most unique song on his new album Stereotype because the original writers of Jo Dee Messina's song gave their blessing and Cole and his co-writers (which includes Thomas Rhett) wrote this new twist on the song with them. 

Box Office Results -  Dr. Strange   (31 Million)   Downton Abbey  (16 Million) 

New This Week - Top Gun Maverick  /  The Bob's Burgers Movie

 The New Thor  -  The trailer is out for you to see

Mission Impossible 7  - Trailer has been leaked to the internet, and you can see it now

Stranger Things - Starting today on Netflix!  (Story)

Season 5 of Yellowstone - Will premiere November 13th!  (Story)

Jonathan Searle - Who appeared in the original  Jaws, as a childhood actor, is now the police chief on the island where the 1975 film was made, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts   (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)