Artists That Begin With H

Mallary Hope

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:35:00 GMT

Find Mallary on the web:

Rachel Holder

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:20:00 GMT

It takes a vocalist to know one. And, at age fourteen, Rachel Holder knew a good one when she heard it.

“I was at a Vince Gill concert in my hometown of Chattanooga,” she recalls. “I was in the second row, and I was with my parents.” They could see the fire burning in their daughter’s eyes.

“They said to me ‘we know what you are about to do. Please don’t embarrass us,” she remembers with a laugh. ‘I told them I was going to get on stage with him before the night was over. He had just got done performing ‘Go Rest High On That Mountain.’ Then, it got really quiet in the auditorium. There were about 5,000 people there. I raised my hand, and said ‘Mr. Vince, can I sing a song with you? He said ‘I normally don’t do this, but come on up here.’ We sung ‘Oklahoma Swing’ together, and after that, he said ‘You did Reba proud.’ It was a really great moment.”

Holder says that listening to a true vocalist like Gill, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, or Mariah Carey is something that has influenced her time and again.

“With vocalists, you get a chance to see their real talent. It’s not hidden by all the production. Which, production is wonderful, and it makes a song better, but you get to see the true and raw talent they have. When I was onstage with Vince, he may have missed only two notes the whole time. He’s so amazing.”

“Amazing” was the general consensus among many at the 2012 Country Radio Seminar when Holder’s video for “In Your Arms” made its’ debut during the prestigious New Faces Show. The single is a powerful love song that can be interpreted on many different levels. Her debut album for Curb Records is one of the most versatile projects to be released from Nashville in quite some time and currently scheduled to be out later 2012.

While still working on the debut album, the East Tennessee native states “I like to say the album has every genre you can think of,’ she states. “You’ve got Bluegrass, Traditional Country, New Country, Rock, Pop, and you can’t just narrow it down to one thing. There are many paths you can take. Why just keep it at one? You’ve got to stick with your roots. I love all styles.”

Not only vocals but performing live has been something that Holder has done from the start – literally, she says. “I’ve been singing since I could talk. My mom has video tapes of me singing when I was two years old. I listened to Country and Gospel Music like Karen Peck and Dolly Parton. I’ve always been around Country or Gospel. I think that God led me to music. I grew up singing in Church, talent shows, and competitions – anywhere there was a stage in my hometown, I was there. I believe that God led me down this musical path to touch lives, and put a light in the darkness.”

Having that experience on the stage has helped her out many times so far. “It’s very important. I got to learn a lot about live shows – What if the mic goes out? I was working in Pigeon Forge, and had a wardrobe malfunction, and I learned about how to manage that situation. Experience really matters when you are performing live.”

Rachel recently caused a splash with a video of Lady Gaga’s “Edge Of Glory” that turned into a viral sensation. “We worked really hard on it. I’m really fortunate to have a home studio at home. We went into the studio, and spent about 148 hours on it. It was so amazing. We went in and cut it, and I was speechless about it. We had about a million views in two weeks,” she says, adding that online promotion is part of the plan today. “It’s a great way to get your name out these days, especially with social marketing – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace – it’s a great way to get your attention.”

For her debut album, Holder teamed up in the studio with producers Chuck Howard and Wilbur Rimes (LeAnn Rimes father). She said it could not have been a better musical fit. “Chuck is a renowned producer, who has worked with Trick Pony and John Berry. He and Wilbur actually produced ‘How Do I Live’ together. I’m very fortunate to work with them. We’re always picking on each other. They’re more like family to me. Wilbur, his wife, and grandson go on the radio circuit with me, and everybody knows them. We all have a great time. When you put these great minds together, you come up with something great,” she exclaims. Rimes even join’s the singer on Holder’s debut album.

But, there are other pieces to the Rachel Holder’s story and a rather large piece would be "Elmer Cole", a legendary figure in the world of Gospel Music, has played a huge role in her artistic development. “I met him when I was ten years old, and I’m nineteen now, so that’s about nine and a half years. She claims, “He’s her mentor”.

Rachel says she feels very fortunate that Cole agreed to work with her – especially at a young age. “He said he would never work with kids because they didn’t want to listen. I was ten years old at the time, and I’m glad he took me under his wing. If it wasn’t for God and him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Her family life is also of great importance. Rachel says much of her family was close by in her native Birchwood, TN. “My grandmother lives a mile away, as do my aunts. We are a tight-knit family. I love spending time with my family. I sing a lot of duets at Church with my grandfather. They’ve always supported me – especially my Dad. He’s taught me to be driven – to work hard, and you’ll get to where you want to go. I always respected my dad for teaching me those lessons in life that work will pay off with the dream you want.”

What does success mean to Rachel Holder? “The definition of success to me has got to be to keep singing and writing songs, doing what I love to do. I’ve actually performed for one person in the audience before. If it’s one person, a thousand, or a million – they paid to see you. I believe that if you love what you do, and you’re on stage – you should have fun. The biggest thing is that God gave me a talent – a voice , and an ability to use for the right reasons. I want to make people’s life better, to put a smile on their face for forty five minutes- whether on stage or on an album.”

It seems that for Rachel Holder, the time is now. She’s got a great team behind her, including one of the most successful labels in Music City. “When I got signed to Curb Records, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m still on cloud nine. I can’t believe it,” she says, expressing that her father’s words of wisdom were right on the money.

“I worked so hard for it. I want people to know that I worked hard for it, and when you do that, you get to where you want to be. I got signed not only to Curb – but Mike Curb himself. He believes in my music and me. I believe if we keep the Lord first, we’ll have plenty of success.” >

Find Rachel on the web:

Walker Hayes

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:59:00 GMT

Walker Hayes had no business being in Nashville, yet here he is. He may have moved to Music City on a lark, but his determination—and a loving and supportive wife—helped him develop talents he didn’t know he had.

Raised in Mobile, Ala., in a “Brady Bunch” household—his parents each brought four children to a blended family before making Walker the ninth—he discovered music early in his life. His father was a former music minister and one of his half-sisters once auditioned for “Star Search.”

“My parents once caught me conducting Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony,” Walker admits. “I’ve always been different.”

While he learned piano at a young age, Walker was torn between music and sports. “I grew up an athlete/ choirboy in turmoil,” the boyishly handsome singer-songwriter says. “Half my friends were jocks and half were in choral. I was pulled between them.”

He eventually chose sports. “Music was my back-up plan,” he admits now with a chuckle. But despite his affinity for sports, particularly track and basketball, the call of the stage was too strong.

Walker performed in musicals while in high school, which is where he met his now-wife, Laney—they co-starred in the school’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.

He completed a degree in general music with an emphasis on piano in just two years at Birmingham-Southern College and then attended the University of North Carolina before moving back to Mobile to work in real estate with his father and half-brothers.

But his father could see how much Walker missed music, so he convinced a waitress at a local restaurant to let his son play a few songs. Walker took the job, though he was hardly prepared. “I played five songs over and over for an hour,” he admits now. Still, it was enough for him to reignite his passion.

Faced with the choice between a corporate job and pursuing a fanciful dream, the now-engaged Walker opted for the latter.

He and Laney moved to Nashville immediately after their honeymoon. There was only one problem—he was moving to the songwriting Mecca of modern music and he had barely written two songs in his life. “I didn’t know anything about writing,” he says.

Undeterred by his shortcomings, or perhaps oblivious to them, Walker performed two cover songs at an open mic night at the famed songwriter’s hangout, the Bluebird Café.

Determined to make it in Music City, Walker honed his songwriting skills and a year after moving to Nashville he had a publishing deal.

Hit songwriter Paul Nelson (“Lessons Learned”) was an early supporter. “I don’t know why he took me under his wing, but he gave me an office at his house and wrote with me every week for two years straight. I learned a lot from him,” Walker says.

Still, success didn’t come immediately. “I did a lot of yard work,” he says with a laugh. He also performed on the streets of Nashville’s Lower Broadway, playing for tips and honing his performance skills. “I just went down there and found an empty corner. It was kind of scary, but it was also liberating,” Walker admits. “It was good for my soul.”

At around the same time, Walker began playing at Puckett’s Grocery, a well-known area haunt famous for its songwriter nights. “I wanted to get out of the writers room and take my music to the masses,” Walker says. “Puckett’s was my first regular gig in Nashville.”

After a few false starts, Walker caught the attention of Autumn House, an A&R executive at Capitol Records Nashville, who had heard his voice on a few song demos pitched to Keith Urban. Intrigued, she brought him to label president Mike Dungan, who quickly signed him to the label.

Walker’s signing typified the business plan of Capitol Nashville, which aims to sign unique artists to their roster.

Because of his unique style and creativity, Walker and the label wanted to look beyond Nashville for a producer who could bring his material to life. Los Angeles-based producer Marshall Altman (Marc Broussard, Matt Wertz) fit the bill. Altman fell in love with what he heard and agreed to take on the project.

The combination was magic. That Walker’s influences are varied—he counts the Oak Ridge Boys, Mariah Carey, Steve Miller, Sugar Hill Gang, John Michael Montgomery, Keith Whitley, Don Williams and classical music among his guilty pleasures—is evident when one listens to his debut album. “I like all music,” Walker confesses.

He attributes his diverse appreciation to listening to the radio as he grew up—and the local Waffle House jukebox. He knew every time a new song was added to the jukebox’s playlist.

Perhaps not surprisingly given his quick learning curve, Walker’s debut album, Reason To Rhyme, doesn’t sound like a debut at all. It reminds one of a polished stone, not a diamond in the rough. The album is rife with picturesque images of love and lust with just the right dash of his trademark sense of humor.

The album’s title is a tribute to his wife, who has fully supported Walker’s crazy dream. “It’s nice to hear your wife say, ‘I'm with you, not because I'm biased, but because you’re crazy good and you’re talented,’” he says.

With song titles like “Mama’s Hot” and “Naked,” it seems obvious what Walker has on his mind. But looks (and song titles) can be deceiving. Take “Naked,” for example. While the song and its lyrics can be taken at face value hey baby let’s get naked, a closer look reveals that the singer is talking about revealing one’s inner most thoughts and feelings.

Walker is a romantic, no doubt. “I get off on finding new ways to tell my wife ‘I love you,’” the father of three admits.

“Pants,” the debut single from Reason To Rhyme, which not so coyly states, she can wear the pants as long as I can take them off her, is also a study in contradictions. “I wrote that totally for Laney,” Walker says. “She is so much better than me at so many things—for example parenting our kids—and I will bow down and cower to whatever she says. She does wear the pants and I’m OK with that, as long as I can take them off her.”

“Kitchen Table” equates relationships with the dents and dings that come with the wear and tear of life. “Relationships are kind of like leather shoes,” Walker explains. “They're dinged up but comfortable, and that's kind of how me and Laney are.”

Walker’s music also reflects his unique sense of humor. “My Best Friend’s Fiancé,” for example, which finds the singer in lust with his friend’s intended and which rhymes “fiancé” with “Beyonce,” was written “just for fun,” Walker admits.

Sticks-in-your-head, “Wax Paper Cups,” paints an enticing picture of a day at the beach with a loved one, complete with his trademark love for Icees, George Strait music and a tailgate.

No matter what happens next, Walker has proved that dreams, with a heaping helping of determination, can come true. The man who sang cover tunes at the Bluebird Café is now a songwriter of extraordinary proportions. “From now until the day that I die I can get up and write a song and hopefully it will be better than the last one I wrote,” he says.

Find Walker on the web:

Halfway to Hazard

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:18:00 GMT

The gently rolling hills of Eastern Kentucky are rich with musical history. Many of the ancestors of today’s Appalachian people came to America with barely the clothes on their backs. Very often there was one prized possession nestled among those sparse belongings: a cherished mandolin, a beat up guitar or banjo. To the people who had so little, music meant so much.

Music is life in rural Appalachia. When there aren’t many entertainment options available, people are forced to create their own fun. While teenagers in urban cities take things like weekly movies and trips to the mall for granted, outings like that can be rare treats for kids in the mountains. This is something that David Tolliver and Chad Warrix of Halfway to Hazard are now, in hindsight, very thankful for.

“I grew up riding ATVs and dirt bikes, tearing up those winding mountain roads, camping out with friends, and playing music, those are things I wouldn’t trade for the world. I think my upbringing inspired me to be creative,” Warrix says. Tolliver concurs, adding, “We really appreciated the little things, going to Hazard to see a movie on a Friday night was a big deal!” The “Hazard” he’s referring to is the county seat of Perry Co, KY, a bustling metropolis compared to the small towns of Jackson and Hindman where Warrix and Tolliver were raised respectively.

In fact, the very words “Halfway to Hazard” were the first ever penned by the duo. The phrase not only inspired their name, but also serves as a symbol of the musical journey their lives have taken; the journey from tiny rural towns hidden in the mountains to huge arenas filled with thousands of screaming fans. “That’s what I love about music, it bridges the gaps between people in so many ways and can even make distances seem closer,” Warrix remarks. Halfway to Hazard is more than a title; it’s a state of mind.

Both Tolliver and Warrix came from musical families. While Tolliver’s upbringing led him to develop a taste for classic country, Warrix, on the other hand, embraced his inner rock star by fronting an edgy alternative band called Sodium. The two had always been friends, but started writing songs and singing together in Nashville after Sodium disbanded. Their two distinctive styles blended effortlessly, creating the characteristic sound of Halfway to Hazard.

As they began playing out together in Nashville clubs as a duo, they soon created a buzz in Nashville’s music community. This attracted the attention of producer Byron Gallimore and country superstar Tim McGraw; who, sensing the potential of the two, steered them into the studio. With those two powerful engines driving the H2H train, the KY boys were on their way. In 2007, they released their self-titled album and opened for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on the Soul to Soul II Tour (the highest-grossing tour of the year).

2008 was another successful year for H2H as they again opened for their self-proclaimed biggest “fan” Tim McGraw along with Jason Aldean. Other highlights of 2008 included: a nomination in the Academy of Country Music’s coveted Best Duo of the Year category, several NFL national anthem pre-game appearances, and singing the national anthem at Rupp Arena for their beloved UK Wildcats. The first Annual Halfway to Hazard Charity Trail Ride and Concert in September 2008 was another high point for H2H, allowing them to give back to the region that means so much to them. The event raised over $100,000 for the Buckhorn Children’s Center and Family Services and helped secure the East KY Leadership Award for the pair.

Commercially, the single “Daisy” has been the group’s biggest success to date. Not only did it chart respectively on the Billboard charts, but it also scored high praise from critics and fans alike. “Daisy” struck such a chord with fans that it spawned its own grassroots fan club, who call themselves “Dukes and Daisies.” “Daisy” was also selected by iTunes as the download of the week, exposing the band to an entirely different demographic.

In the seventies, some of their musical predecessors (and influences) like the Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd made questions like “are they rock or are they country” seem irrelevant. Great music crosses boundaries with ease, and, in doing so, brings people together. Now back in the studio further refining that particular H2H synergy, a multi-textured sound that pays as much homage to George Thorogood as to George Jones; H2H is again prompting listeners to ask, “Is it rock? Is it country? Does it matter?”

Halfway to Hazard’s new single, “I Know Where Heaven Is” goes for adds June 1, 2009

Find Halfway to Hazard on the web:

Faith Hill

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:41:00 GMT

Faith Hill has established herself as one of the music industry’s top vocalists, with a voice that is as powerful as it is recognizable. Her nineteen-year career has been highlighted by the sale of over 30 million records worldwide, during which time she has celebrated thirteen #1 singles and twenty #1 videos. She is the only female artist to have her last 3 studio albums -- 1999’s BREATHE, 2002’s CRY and 2005’s FIREFLIES -- all debut consecutively at #1 on Billboard’s Top Pop Album Chart and Country Chart.

Her new single, “Come Home,” was released on November 9 and her new album is due in stores in Spring 2012.

Faith is a five-time Grammy Award winner, who has also won 3 Country Music Association Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, 4 American Music Awards, and 4 People’s Choice Awards. Her marketability knows no equal. Her ability to draw television audiences nationwide is evidenced by the success of her own network television specials; 2000’s CBS Network broadcast of “FAITH!”, NBC Network’s broadcast of 2002’s “FAITH HILL: When The Lights Go Down,” 2005’s “FAITH HILL: FIREFLIES,” as well as hosting CBS’ “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS” in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, Faith released her first Christmas album, JOY TO THE WORLD, and performed those songs with an orchestra for PBS’ Soundstage that same year.

For the 4th consecutive year, Faith is once again the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football’s weekly show open. In 2009, when Faith performed America The Beautiful at the Super Bowl, she became the only country artist to ever perform both America The Beautiful and the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. She performed the Anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. She has performed at every major awards show including multiple appearances at The Academy Awards, The Grammy Awards and VH1’s Divas 1999 and 2000. In 2001, Faith appeared on “America: A Tribute To Heroes,” a benefit for the rescue workers and victims of the September 11th attacks and in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, she appeared on NBC’s “A Concert for Hurricane Relief.”

Faith co-headlined 2006’s Soul2Soul II Tour, which became the highest grossing country tour of all time and the most attended of the year, in any musical genre. In fact, with the tour’s wrap taking place in 2007, Soul2Soul II Tour was and is the highest grossing multi-year North American tour in country music history. It was selected by Pollstar Magazine as the “Major Tour of 2006” over industry powerhouses including Madonna and the Rolling Stones. This tour came on the heels of 2000’s Soul2Soul Tour which was one of that year’s top grossing and most successful US tours.

In 2009, Coty, Inc. debuted Faith’s first fragrance called Faith Hill Parfums. Her second fragrance, Faith Hill True, arrived in stores in the fall of 2010.

Raised in Star, Mississippi, Faith moved to Nashville at the age of 19. In 1993, her debut single, “Wild One”, spent four weeks at #1 and from there she never looked back. Faith Hill has based her career on dedication, passion and commitment. Combined with her unparalleled vocal talents and style she has become a sought after entertainer and has firmly planted herself at the top of the music scene, where it’s easy to see (and hear) that she might just stay for a while.

Faith is married to fellow country music superstar Tim McGraw and together they have 3 children…Gracie, Maggie & Audrey.

Find Faith on the web:

Steve Holy

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:54:00 GMT

A Dallas native, Steve Holy is the youngest in a large family that boasts eight children. He credits his parents and long-time friend Johnnie High as being the most influential figures in his life. He also credits his brothers and sisters with "keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground." His personal goal is to always remain approachable.

A few years ago, he was among 500 hopefuls who auditioned for a spot on the renowned Johnnie High Country Revue in Arlington, Texas, the same show that would later launch Curb recording artists LeAnn Rimes and Shane McAnally. He finished first in the competition and less than a year later was voted entertainer of the year by the fans. He also became an annual favorite performing three times at the Miss Texas Pageant.

After spending several years on the Texas circuit, Holy was signed to Nashville label Curb Records. His debut single, "Don't Make Me Beg," was released in October 1999. After two more Top 20 singles, his biggest triumph came with the release of his fourth single "Good Morning Beautiful." The song was not only featured in the Jennifer Lopez movie Angel Eyes, but it also gave a boost to his career by becoming his first No. 1.

Refusing to be labeled musically, he credits country music greats Charlie Rich, Mickey Gilley and John Conlee for influencing and inspiring his music. He will also let you know that Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke and a variety of Doo-Wop groups play a major role in his vocal style and on-stage persona.

After following "Good Morning Beautiful" with several middle-charting singles, Holy scored another No. 1 hit in 2006 with "Brand New Girlfriend," followed by an album of the same name on Curb Records.

Find Steve on the web:

Randy Houser

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:39:00 GMT

“People are ready for real country music again,” says Randy Houser, and there are few people in a better position to give it to them.

Blessed with one of his generation’s great voices, he is also a world-class songwriter, penning hits for artists including Trace Adkins and Justin Moore, and a seasoned entertainer known for the passion and energy he brings to every performance.

His debut album, Anything Goes, introduced him as an exceptional artist, someone with both a cutting-edge sound and a deep respect for classic country. Fans, media and peers alike recognized that he possesses an artistic vision equal to his formidable talent. The strong reaction to his music was evident when David Letterman heard the album’s powerful first single, “Anything Goes,” and invited Randy to perform on the Late Show, introducing him to an even broader nationwide audience.

A searing portrayal of emptiness and loss, “Anything Goes” rose quickly into the Top 20. Randy followed it with one of the rowdiest songs and coolest videos of recent years—“Boots On,” which rocketed to #2.

Randy was named Country Aircheck’s No. 1 New Country Artist in terms of airplay for 2009, and was a presenter and a nominee at both the ACM Awards (Video of the Year for “Boots On”) and the CMA Awards (New Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year), as well as garnering a nomination for the 2010 CMT Music Awards’ Nationwide® Insurance On Your Side® Award.

At the awards show he helped host Kid Rock kick off the festivities with a surprise appearance on stage during a medley of "Cowboy," "Bawitdaba" and "Good Ol' Boys."

With one of country music’s most promising young careers, Randy is taking a major step forward with his sophomore album, They Call Me Cadillac. “I wanted to make a record I wanted to hear,” he explains. “I put my heart into this, and the result is something I’m really proud of.”

From the beginning, Randy and co-producers Cliff Audretch III and Mark Wright agreed on a straightforward approach that focused on the meaningful lyrics of the songs. “I want to catch people’s ears not just with a guitar hook, but with the words. I didn’t want too much going on around it.”

The result, recorded with Randy’s own band, rather than studio musicians, is a stark and straightforward effort that does full justice to an artist heavily influenced by the classic works of idols like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Waylon Jennings.

The album covers a great deal of musical and thematic ground.

They Call Me Cadillac is an album that proves why Randy is among the most talented of his generation and of crucial importance to the genre.

Randy has been making music his own way since his earliest days in Lake, Mississippi. He was exposed to the best of the region’s rich mix of music, including country, gospel, rock, and blues. He learned to love creating and playing music from his father, a professional musician.

“The funny thing is I’ve known this is what I wanted to do since I was five or six years old. I wanted to be an entertainer, a songwriter. I didn’t know at that age I was going to have a talent for it. I didn’t know about chasing girls or good times. It was pure and simple about something I really loved, which is music.”

For years Randy stayed closed to home, playing clubs all throughout Mississippi, but after his father died when he was 21, he decided to move to Nashville. His standout focal prowess voice impressed one person after another, and the connections kept multiplying. He earned a publishing deal and began turning out songs for Trace Adkins, Justin Moore, and Jessie James, among others.

It wasn’t long before he began his own ascent up the charts as a recording artist. “I spent a lot of years working my ass off to get lucky,” he says with a wry grin.

His passion for his craft shows not only in every cut, but also in every performance. “When I go out there and sing, I cannot half-ass it. That’s just part of the way I grew up. You go at something, you want to sell it. When I’ve got something to say, especially in a song, I want you to get it, so I’m not one of those quiet singers. I can’t just lullaby you. I’m getting on it.”

The result is a mix of passion, talent, and showmanship that place him among this generation’s most compelling artists. Combine those with the integrity he brings to his music and his knowledge of and respect for country music’s traditions, and it’s clear that Randy is on his way to becoming one for the ages.

Find Randy on the web:

Julianne Hough

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:34:00 GMT

Every country artist once had a “day job” that commonly used music business term for an occupation that pays the bills and fills the void between hopeful aspiration and bonafide success. However, never in the history of country music has someone taken a more celebrated path on the road to their country music dream than Julianne Hough (pronounced “Huff”).

A triple threat as a singer, actress and dancer, Julianne is already known to millions of fans as the two-time professional dance champion on ABC-TV’s top-rated Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). The show, which pairs professional dancers with music, sports, film and television celebrities, has become a cultural phenomenon and Julianne its top star.

Though Julianne has been winning world dance titles since her early teens, her ultimate goal has always been a career in country music. Her newly signed deal with Universal Music Group Nashville (UMGN) is providing her the vehicle to realize that dream. “I’ve always wanted to sing country music,” says the 19 year-old blonde. “I’ve grown up with country music. I love how real everybody is, not just the artists, but the fans.”

Growing up one of five Utah-born siblings, Julianne says her family was sometimes referred to as the “blonde Osmonds,” earning a reputation for their talent and professionalism. At age 10 her parents separated and Julianne immersed herself in dancing. An opportunity presented itself to study performing arts in London, which started a period of intense training and being far away from family and in a fast-paced city, was forced to grow up fast.

After five years in the U.K., Julianne elected to leave behind a blossoming international career and move back to the U.S. “I really wanted to sing and I knew if I stayed in London, I wouldn’t be able to do that; I would only be dancing, so I had to make a really tough decision: ‘Do I stay here and pursue a career that I know I’m going to succeed at? Or do I go back home, start from scratch and pursue what I really want to do?’ A lot of people told me that I was crazy and that I’d never make it.”

Talent, discipline and determination are a potent combination that generally prove skeptics wrong, and that’s exactly what Julianne did. She moved to Los Angeles, knowing she could earn her living as a dancer while pursuing her musical dreams.

She started making regular trips to Nashville in the rare time she had off from the TV show and the DWTS tour. Her Los Angeles management firm introduced her to management in Nashville, which led to her meeting veteran producer David Malloy (Eddie Rabbitt, Reba McEntire). The two teamed to record “Will You Dance With Me” for an American Red Cross fund raising project that benefited Kansas tornado victims. “It was so amazing,” said Julianne. “We released the record to iTunes and Wal-Mart the week I won with Apolo. The song received quite a reaction on iTunes and peaked at #8 on their country charts despite never being released to radio.”

Soon after, Julianne landed a deal with UMGN and a spot on the Mercury Nashville roster, a fitting home for a newcomer who cites McEntire and Shania Twain as her chief influences, both of which fall under UMGN.

Recorded in Nashville and produced by Malloy, Julianne’s debut disc reveals her appreciation for country music’s roots as well as her fresh-faced contributions to the genre’s future. She has a warm, textured voice that is equally suited to feisty up-tempo tunes and contemplative ballads, both of which can be found on her debut. “I love story songs and message songs,” she says, “but I also love quirky, fun, up-tempo songs that make you want to just get up and move.”

The debut single, “That Song In My Head,” is a buoyant effort that is incredibly infectious. The song captures the rapturous joy of a burgeoning relationship and celebrates the way a song can become the soundtrack for those emotions. Julianne’s voice perfectly conveys the sense of delicious expectation in the lyric.

Julianne turns in a sultry performance on the sensual ballad “Hide Your Matches.” “The chorus is ‘I’m about to lose all I am, right here in your arms.’ It’s a romantic love song that is really sexy,” she says. “It’s really sensual and beautiful.”

Though she loves songs that evoke a smile, a sigh or an occasional dance step, Julianne doesn’t shy away from making music that says something profound. Among the favorites on her debut is a song called “Help Me, Help You.” “That’s a message song and it’s pretty intense,” she says. “It’s about a girl who is trying to help her friend who is an alcoholic. It says what I’d want to say to a friend in trouble.”

One of the songs on her new record speaks directly to young women. “’Jimmy Ray McGee’ is a really great song,” Julianne relates. “It talks about peer pressure and tells young girls ‘If you don’t want to do something, if you don’t feel right about it, then don’t do it!’”

‘“My Hallelujah Song’ is a Craig Wiseman tune,” says Julianne, “and I just feel like everybody needs a hallelujah song. No matter what you’re doing in life---whether you are working at your dad’s company, playing soccer or being a little ballerina---that’s your hallelujah song. It’s when you feel like you’re right where you’re supposed to be and I’m happy right where I am.”

Indeed, Julianne Hough is living her hallelujah song. After years of success in the dance field, she’s finally landed an opportunity to sing country music and she’s reveling in the opportunity. “I was scared that people would say, ‘Just because she got a little bit of recognition on the TV show, she thinks she can make a record,’” she confesses, “but I’ve been wanting to do this a long, long time and I hope the music speaks for itself.”

Indeed it does. Julianne Hough’s debut is a compelling collection of songs about the joys and challenges of everyday life delivered by an evocative young voice. It’s the perfect vehicle to carry her from her successful day job to the realization of a dream come true.

Find Julianne on the web:

Heartland

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:30:00 GMT

The band HEARTLAND is as all-American as the rich musical heritage of their native Alabama. They grew up five young high school musicians planted just down the road an hour or so from Fort Payne. It was the ‘90’s when another young band named Alabama was kicking out all the stops in country music, and in the process — influencing the fledgling music and dreams of the five young guys back down the road in Huntsville who would make their own musical history a decade later.
Born as a band in 1994, Heartland has deep creative roots in the soil of the musical influences of their native South. Playing together before they were old enough to hit the traditional regional honky tonk circuit, the band was the fortunate coming together of five Alabama guys with an energy and a passion for making music. Heartland is comprised of brothers Craig (rhythm guitar/vocals) and Todd Anderson (drums), grade school buddy Jason Albert (lead vocals), Charles Crawford (lead guitar/fiddle/vocals) and Keith West (bass guitar/vocals).

By the time they smashed onto the national charts in 2006 with their debut single “I Loved Her First”, the band’s personal path to ‘overnight sensation’ had logged thousands of miles on the road and over a decade of paying dues. “I Loved Her First” established Heartland as the first group in country music to reach #1 on the first single outing since Diamond Rio accomplished the feat 15 years earlier. It was this single that planted the Heartland flag deep into the hearts of a new generation of country music listeners.

Craig Anderson remembers the “instant flashbulbs” that came with that once-in-a- lifetime career break. “It was wild after the single hit,” he recalls. “We were literally out on the road before we even had a booking agent or real management.
With the massive overnight connectivity of the band with country radio, their first album was rushed into the hands of fans. “We had no time to write for the debut album,” notes Todd. “We picked out what we hoped was a batch of great songs, went into the studio, and within ten weeks of the single hitting, our first album titled for the single was reaching retail.”

Heartland’s debut CD zoomed to a #3 debut on the Billboard Country Music Chart. Heartland handily crossed mainstream lanes to reach an impressive #11 ranking on Billboard’s All Genre Chart.

Quickly established as a major drawing card with concert audiences, Heartland’s tour schedule took them from coast to coast. The success of the single immediately put them on the road in September 2006 opening for Brad Paisley on tour—hitting their first concert stage with him in Lake Tahoe. Onstage partnerships with Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins, Sugarland, Toby Keith, Deirks Bentley, and good buddy, Blake Shelton helped take Heartland’s live music to tens of thousands of country music fans.

“We’d been on the road for years, sharing the driving and pulling a trailer with all our gear, so the road was nothing new to us. The hit single has provided some pretty awesome opportunities!” notes Jason.

With a label change and a new vision for ‘what’s next’, Heartland is now proving they have what it takes to build a long term career. “We have a new single—Mustache—a surprise little up-tempo for us–coming out mid summer ‘09 and we’ll be shooting a video for the song within the next few weeks. We’re also rehearsing a new tour show. It’s a busy time for the band.”

On tap before year’s end is Heartland’s sophomore project, which the guys are excited about. We’re really stoked about working with an Alabama buddy, Paul Compton producing—he shares our vision for the band musically—and we’ve struck a really creative studio vibe on the tracks we’ve cut in Nashville.”

The band feels fortunate to be associated with manager Herbert Graham of Graham Artist Mgt. “Herb has a real ability to make things happen when he believes in an artist—and we’re grateful to have not only his belief in us, but his solid direction. He’s been a tremendous friend to the band. We’re excited and look forward to the next chapter of the book.”

Heartland is positive that the next chapter will be creatively the best. “We’ve talked about the vision we have as a band for the next year or so,” Keith enthusiastically states.

“We’re anxious to finish the new album and hit the road for concerts. We want to continue writing and recording songs we enjoy playing live. But if a year from now—at the end of the day, we’re still getting to do what we love most—being out there playing our music for our fans—we’ll be a happy batch of Alabama boys! We’re passionate about what we do. It’s simple—but it’s the truth.

Find Heartland on the web:

Hunter Hayes

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:01:00 GMT

Among the many extraordinary things about Hunter Hayes, the multi-talented musician, writer, producer and performer, perhaps what is most astonishing is that in truth, he’s just getting started. And it is that fact which holds the promise of Hunter Hayes becoming one of the most significant musical talents to emerge, not just from Nashville, but from anywhere, in a long, long time.

Already, he has accomplishments beyond most musicians wildest dreams: Singing “Jambalaya” with Hank Williams Jr. in front of 200,000 people (15 million YouTube views) at the age of four; appearing with Robert Duvall (who gave Hunter his first guitar) in “The Apostle” at the age of six; playing with Johnny and June Cash, and Charlie Daniels at a BBQ; performing for a US President and many more. You might say that he’s lived a charmed life. But those experiences are simply the natural result of Hunter’s natural talent, one that’s been there from the beginning as though a gift from God, and one that he’s always conscious to be in service to.

Having moved to Nashville three years ago, Hunter was quickly signed to Universal Music Publishing Group where he has co-written songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry. At the same time, he was introduced to Atlantic Records’ Chairman/CEO and music visionary Craig Kallman, who he signed with at Atlantic Records. “I’m blessed to be surrounded by people who appreciate music and support what I do.”

Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Hunter has been making music since about the time he learned to walk. As he recounts, “By the time I was almost two, I was picking up everything and making an instrument out of it. My grandmother gave me a toy accordion for my second birthday and I immediately began picking up Cajun songs by ear from the radio.” While both of Hunter’s parents are music lovers, neither are musicians, so as he says, “The way I picked up music was out of left field, but, I suppose, a pleasant surprise for them.”

For the Hayes’, most Friday night’s in the early part of Hunter’s childhood were spent at a Cajun restaurant a couple of blocks from their home that featured live music, and it was there where Hunter joined his first band at the age of four, first as the accordionist, and then as the front man at the age of five.

Taking up guitar at the age of 6, Hunter’s ability to pick up instruments (including bass guitar, drums, keyboards, and more) became evident. He says, “I’ve never had the patience to sit down and learn from anyone. So with the guitar, and with every subsequent instrument and piece of studio equipment, it’s been a process of experimentation – pressing every button I can.”

Songwriting, too, has been a constant undertaking of Hunter’s. “I wrote my first song at 6,” he recalls, “I spent every day with the guitar and I just made up songs.” Hunter’s songwriting has been informed by an eclectic grouping of influences. “When I was really young, Garth Brooks was enormous, and I was a huge fan. I always loved LeAnn Rimes and especially Clint Black for his soulfulness. As I’ve gotten older, my influences have broadened – John Mayer, Michael Buble, Stevie Wonder, Keith Urban, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Beatles – all of these artists have somehow been a part of my development as a songwriter.”

Like playing and songwriting, performing has become almost second nature to Hunter who, in just his short life, has shared the stage with the likes of Taylor Swift, Hank Williams, Jr., Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum . “I’ve been doing at least thirty dates a year for the past fifteen years. I’ve done a lot of the festivals several times and built up relationships with the people that go every year.”

Now Hunter, in the producer’s chair with Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins) has released his self-titled Atlantic Records debut album. “I’ve released independent records before, but this feels like the first real record – with the high stakes,” he says excitedly. For Hunter, even with those high stakes, he was committed to doing it his way – “playing everything on the album, having fun and experimenting,” he stops, and then says with a smile, “I literally lived in the studio.”

The expectations may be high, but no one has set higher expectations and ambitions for his music than Hunter himself. He declares, “I hope people half my age and twice my age will listen to my music – I want it to live forever and for my audience to feel like they have a friend in my music.” He continues, “Music is a spirit. It heals. It’s an amazing thing to be loved and appreciated, and sometimes, music has not just been my best friend, it’s been my only friend.”

Since 2011, Hunter has released his debut album, toured with superstars Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts, sold out nearly every date on his first ever headlining “Most Wanted” tour, made his national network television debut on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman, performed on Good Morning America and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, made his Grand Ole Opry debut, been named a final nominee for the 2012 Academy of Country Music “New Artist of the Year” Award, and most recently announced plans to tour with Carrie Underwood on her 2012 “Blown Away” tour.

The world at large now has the opportunity to see this incredibly talented artist, a young man who respects the gift his talent is, and has already learned how to give it the honor it commands. He says, “I’ve been lucky as a kid. I’ve met some of the greats, and whether it’s Johnny and June (Cash), Charlie Daniels or Brad Paisley, you could sense they were in it for the love of the music. That was the thing I took away from every single one of those people.”

“I don’t know if I’m worthy of being considered of ‘carrying the torch,’ but I would love to be told that by somebody someday. A lot of the decisions I make are from answering the question ‘are we doing it for the right reasons?’ I want people to say about me, ‘I know he’s making music because he loves it.’”

Find Hunter on the web: