Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe to Perform at the 2016 State Fair of WV
LEWISBURG, WV (05/02/2016)(readMedia)– State Fair Officials announced today the addition of Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe with Special Guests Great White and Kix, and Dailey and Vincent as the final two concerts in the 2016 Grandstand Lineup.
Vince Neil will be singing all of Mötley Crüe’s greatest hits and will be joined by Great White and Kix on Thursday, August 18, while Dailey and Vincent will be a free show after harness racing on Wednesday, August 17. The West Virginia High School Rodeo will use the grandstand on Sunday, August 21.
“Vince Neil with Special Guest Great White and Kix is a great show to round out our 2016 lineup,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “We are just about 100 days away from opening day and we cannot wait to open up the gates.”
Tickets for Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe with Special Guest Great White and Kix will go on sale Friday, May 6 at 10 am.
Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will be available via Etix at www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the State Fair Box Office beginning June 1, 2016
Vince Neil
International superstar, accomplished businessman and heartfelt philanthropist, Vince Neil came to exemplify all things rock and roll: the sound, the success, the look and the outrageous lifestyle.
Vince’s unmistakable voice leads some of the greatest rock songs of this generation including”Shout At The Devil,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Kickstart MyHeart,” “Same Ol Situation,” and the recent “Saints of Los Angeles,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Hard Rock Performance. With fifteen years between his last solo album, Vince Neil releases Tattoos Tequila on June 22, followed by his tell all book of the same name later in the fall.
When not performing, Vince Neil continues to expand and oversee his latest entrepreneurial efforts which include Feelgoods Rock Bar and Grill in West Palm Beach and Las Vegas; Vince Neil Ink, a Las Vegas based tattoo parlor and apparel shop with two locations — one on the Las Vegas strip and one in the Rio Hotel Casino; Tres Rios tequila, a high quality, authentic Mexican tequila created from the finest Agave in Guadalajara Mexico; The Skylar Neil Memorial Foundation (www.skylarneil.org), a tribute to Vince’s daughter whom he lost to cancer in 1995 which has raised over $2 million to help combat childhood cancer and his latest venture, Vince Neil Aviation, a luxury air charter service providing the rock n’ roll commute on either his Lear 35 or Hawker 700 jets.
Raised on the tough streets of Compton, California, Vince Neil fell in love with music as a child, developing a broad vocabulary that ranged from classic Motown to hard rock. As a teenager, he began performing with local bands and soon discovered both a passion for the stage and a natural talent as a singer and performer. He fronted the popular band Rock Candy before reuniting with high school buddy Tommy Lee in 1981, sealing rock and roll history with the formation of Mötley Crüe.
In addition to selling 80 million records around the world as the badass frontman for Mötley Crüe, Vince Neil also began his career as a solo artist in 1993. Vince’s Top 200 Billboard albums, Exposed (which reached number 13 on The Billboard 200 albums chart) and Carved In Stonehave spurred the hits “You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come)” (co-written by Vince with Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw), “Can’t Have Your Cake” (co-written by Vince with Steve Stevens) and “Sister Of Pain” (co-written by Vince with Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw).
The International rock icon’s new album Tattoos Tequila, co-produced by Vince Neil, Jack Blades (Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper) and Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Buckcherry) is a compilation of genre defining hits that have been given the Vince Neil April 2010 rock renewal treatment and is sure to be an updated rock lifestyle staple. Neil’s refreshed collection of classics consists of nine hand – picked, influential covers, as well as two new tracks; “Tattoos Tequila,” which was also written and produced by Frederiksen and “Another Bad Day,” which was originally written by Nikki Sixx for Mötley Crüe’s release of New Tattoo in 2000 and just missed the cut. “Mötley Crüe recorded ‘Another Bad Day’ many years ago and I thought it was one of the best ballads
we’d ever done. When it got voted off of New Tattoo by the rest of Mötley, I held onto it waiting for the right time to dust it off,” adds Vince. The title song for the album captures Vince’s signature sound with a contemporary feel that has been compared to current acts such as Cavo and Godsmack. “Tattoos Tequila” celebrates the rock n’ roll lifestyle.
The 2016 State Fair themed “Capture Your Memories”, is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 12-21, 2016. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
Employment Applications Available for 2016 State Fair
LEWISBURG, WV (04/28/2016)(readMedia)– Employment applications for over 150 positions are now being accepted for the 2016 State Fair of West Virginia, scheduled for August 12-21!
Previous employees interested in working in 2016 are encouraged to file an employment application by June 17. Employees receive customer service training and all positions pay at least minimum wage.
“We value the role our fair week employees play and know that they are essential to our overall operation,” CEO Kelly Collins stated. “If you are interested in a job for Fair week, we have several to choose from! Stop by and check out our employment guide.”
Applicants must be available to work all 10 days of the fair, and able to work daytime and evening hours. Employment applications may be filled out at www.statefairofwv.com or you may visit the State Fair office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
State Fair of WV Announces Additional Concerts
LEWISBURG, WV (03/14/2016)(readMedia)– State Fair Officials have announced the addition of four more shows to the 2016 State Fair of West Virginia scheduled for August 12-21.
Concerts include Jake Owen with Special Guest Old Dominion on Friday, August 12, Kane Brown on Tuesday, August 16 and the Buckin’B Bull Ride with Tracy Lawrence on Saturday, August 20. Collin Raye will also perform a free show on Monday, August 15 after harness racing.
“We are counting down the days until the gates open for the 2016 State Fair of West Virginia, and this announcement means we are getting closer,” CEO Kelly Collins stated. “We will have one more announcement to make to complete our line up and we hope to be able to do that in the next few weeks!”
Tickets for each of these shows will go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10 am.
Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will only be available via Etix at www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will not be sold at the State Fair Box Office until later in the spring.
Jake Owen
Jake Owen ascended to stardom with five #1 smashes – the 2X PLATINUM anthem “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” PLATINUM-certified hits “Beachin’,” “Anywhere with You,” “Alone with You,” “The One That Got Away” and the critically acclaimed “What We Ain’t Got.”
Owen’s latest hit “Real Life” released to rave reviews with Entertainment Weekly hailing the progressive song as “Infectious.” The RCA Nashville recording artist is currently in the studio with award-winning producers Shane McAnally and Ross Copperman working on his fifth studio album due out in 2016. The upcoming project follows DAYS OF GOLD and the GOLD-certified, chart-topping BAREFOOT BLUE JEAN NIGHT, which has sold well over 5 million tracks to date.
Previously taking home ACA and ACM Awards, the Vero Beach, FL native has earned GRAMMY and TEEN CHOICE Awards nominations. Known for his thrilling performances and laid-back style of country, he is just off his run on Kenny Chesney’s BIG REVIVAL Tour 2015 and will be playing major festivals and fairs throughout the fall.
Old Dominion
Blending old-fashioned country charm, lyrical wit and rock n’ roll grit into radio-friendly hook-heavy pop nuggets, Old Dominion has emerged as one of the hottest breaking bands in country music. Nominated for two Academy of Country Music awards for Vocal Group of the Year and New Vocal Group or Duo of the Year, they recently celebrated their debut single “Break Up With Him” reaching the top of the charts for two weeks.
Old Dominion released their first full-length album Meat and Candy, which Entertainment Weekly called a “deceptively smart, occasionally cheeky, stellar debut.” The band is currently headlining the Meat and Candy Tour and watching their second single, “Snapback” race up the charts. Consisting of lead singer Matthew Ramsey, lead guitarist Brad Tursi, multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rosen, bassist Geoff Sprung and drummer Whit Sellers, the band has spent seven years honing their craft, each making a name for themselves in Nashville by penning songs for the likes of Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and more.
Now it’s nothing less than the country rock outfit’s defining moment. They recently made their national television debuts on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Today Show. In April, Old Dominion will rejoin Kenny Chesney for the second year in a row on his 2016 tour.
Kane Brown
Kane Brown’s ground-breaking approach to the music business is quickly making the Georgia-raised singer and songwriter one of the breakout stars of the next generation of country music. Developing his own mix of iPhone videos of originals and country covers (averaging over 5 million views each), he’s grown his following from zero to over 1.7 million active and engaged fans on Facebook alone. Add his Instagram and that total goes well above 2 million followers. He’s recently started adding Twitter to the mix, hitting 77,000 followers and growing quickly with the same going for Snapchat and Periscope.
The son of a hard-working single mother, Kane was a stand-out high school athlete at football, basketball and track despite attending 5 different high schools over 4 years. He decided to forgo a collegiate football scholarship to follow his true passion, country music, and blaze his own path in the music industry.
In 2014, Kane crowdfunded his debut EP Closer. The EP was released on iTunes on June 2, 2015 where it charted at #11. As his online popularity surged, the EP re-charted in October, 2015 at #1 on the iTunes country chart. On his 22nd birthday, October 21, 2015, he released the song “Used to Love You Sober” on iTunes where it quickly went to #1 on the country singles chart and #2 overall. Two more singles followed, “Last Minute Late Night” and “Love That I Hate You,” both of which were #1’s on the iTunes Country Chart. In November, 2015, Kane embarked on his first headline tour which was a sell out across the United States. With the fans showing such strong support across ticket sales, single sales, Kickstarter and social media, Kane started drawing a lot of attention from major labels in
Nashville, signing with RCA imprint of Sony Nashville at the end of January 2016. And Sony and Kane are wasting no time, releasing his first single, Used To Love You Sober, within three weeks of signing.
Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is one of the most recognizable voices in Country music with songs such as “Paint Me a Birmingham,” “Time Marches On,” “Alibis” and “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” The entertainer has enjoyed twenty-two songs on the Billboard top ten charts with eighteen number one singles, selling over thirteen million albums.
The Multi-platinum CMA and ACM award winning recording artist has help shaped the sound of Country music for two decades, recently celebrating twenty years in music. His music has inspired a whole new generation of entertainers and fans. Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan frequently pay tribute to the singer live in concert by playing his double-platinum hits like “Time Marches On” and “Alibis.” Songs that help make Lawrence among one of the most played artists on radio.
Collin Raye
Born Floyd Elliot Wray on August 22, 1960 in De Queens, Arkansas, country artist Collin Raye was one of the true hit makers of the 1990’s. Collin still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone. With 24 top ten records, 16 #1 hits, and having been a 10 time male vocalist of the year nominee (5 CMA and 5 ACM), this truly electrifying performer of his era remains one of the great voices of our time.
Collin Raye is nothing if not passionate. His soulful delivery has set country standards in such searing ballads as “Love, Me,” “In This Life,” “Not That Different” and “If I were you”. Always an energizing showman, he has also blazed through such vivid rockers as “My Kind of Girl,” “That’s My Story,” “I Can Still Feel You” and “I Want You Bad.”
Collin shot to fame with “Love, Me” in 1991. Listeners were so moved by this golden and pure voice that this song set the cornerstone for a career built on meaningful and emotional songs that have often been used for weddings, anniversaries, memorial services and funerals. When “Little Rock”, an anthem for those struggling with addition recovery, hit the chart in 1994, its video led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from folks seeking help in their addictions. “Not That Different” was a song that pleaded for tolerance. “In This Life” became a wedding favorite, and “I Think About You” won awards for its song and video which exposed the exploitation of women and children.
Collin Raye has consistently used his stardom to advance social causes. Among the organizations he has supported are Boys Town, First Steps, Al-Anon, Special Olympics, Country Cares About AIDS, Catholic Relief Services, Parade of Pennies, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, The Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence, The Emily Harrison Foundation, Childhelp USA, Silent Witness National Initiative, Easter Seals, The Life and Hope Network, and Make a Difference Day. It came as no surprise when in 2001 at the Country Radio Seminar, Clint Black presented Collin Raye with the organization’s Humanitarian of the Year award in recognition of Collin’s issue-oriented music and his tireless charity work.
The 2016 State Fair themed “Capture Your Memories”, is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 12-21, 2016. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
State Fair of West Virginia Announces 2016 Scholarship Recipients
LEWISBURG, WV (03/09/2016)(readMedia)– The State Fair of West Virginia is pleased to announce the awarding of five (5), $1,000 four-year scholarships to youth who have participated in the State Fair, excelled academically and demonstrated a financial need.
2016 award recipients and the schools they are attending are:
Devon Alt, Keyser, WV, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (Recipient of the fifth annual Gus R. Douglass Scholarship)
Jordan Beer, Martinsburg, WV, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Laura Dransfield, Gap Mills, WV, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Clifton Forge, VA
Alexander Hanna, Renick, WV, New River Community and Technical College, Lewisburg, WV
Olivia McHale, Lewisburg, WV, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
This scholarship is funded through the State Fair Endowment, which was created in 2006 to ensure the long-term support of three key areas; Scholarships Career Advancement Initiatives, Youth Educational Enrichment Programs and Agricultural Competitive Exhibit Premiums.
Scholarships will be awarded during the 2016 State Fair.
The 2016 State Fair theme “Capture Your Memories”, is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 12-21, 2016. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
For King & Country to Perform at 2016 State Fair of West Virginia
LEWISBURG, WV (02/22/2016)(readMedia)– Fair Officials have announced that Christian Pop duo for King Country with Special Guest Matt Maher will perform on Sunday, August 14, 2016, at 7 pm at the State Fair of West Virginia! Tickets for this show go on sale Friday, February 26 at 10 am.
“For King Country and Matt Maher are going to add a great sound to our 2016 grandstand lineup,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “This is the third show we’ve released for the upcoming State Fair, and with less than six months until the gates open we are getting excited!”
Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will only be available via Etix at www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will not be sold at the State Fair Box Office until later in the spring.
For King Country
Soaring melodies, driving rhythms, theatrical instrumentation and personal themes are the heartbeat of for KING COUNTRY’s sophomore album, RUN WILD. LIVE FREE. LOVE STRONG. The duo, comprised of Australian brothers Joel and Luke, has accomplished several notable feats on their new record. Perhaps the most remarkable is that the award-winning rock/pop duo has achieved the unexpected.
Not only have they ventured into new musical territories with some of the highlights being a collaboration with hip-hop artist Andy Mineo, their continued creative partnership with artist/producer Aqualung and their discovery of new soundscapes with producer Tedd T. (MuteMath), but for KING COUNTRY also managed to surpass the bar that the brothers had set for themselves with their debut album. They raised expectations tremendously with the release of 2012’s Crave and a win for New Artist of the Year at the 2013 GMA Dove Awards, where they received six nominations. Billboard also named them as one of the New Artists to Watch for 2012 and American Songwriter called them “Australia’s answer to Coldplay.”
“A really thrilling component of this new album is that we stepped into it with 300-plus shows under our belts,” Joel says. “We have five band members on the road with us. After spending countless hours in 15-passenger vans and performing on stage together, a deep creative bond formed. We made many discoveries along the way-our love for rhythm, our enthusiasm for theatrics and the beauty of how a lyric can touch someone’s heart. These experiences have been an excellent springboard into a new and more developed version of for KING COUNTRY.”
The ultimate result of all of this is a body of work that lives up to the band’s powerful name. for KING COUNTRY is a reflection of standing and fighting for something greater than yourself, a mission statement that directed the duo from the first words penned for this project until the last note was recorded. “Our goal was to continue that theme of writing honestly and authentically about life,” Joel says.
The album also serves as the musical journal documenting the last three years of the brothers’ lives, a life-changing time of growth, transition, revolution and revelation. In addition to their professional success, Joel got married and Luke became a father during this time. But Luke also faced a life-threatening illness that forever altered his perspective. By experiencing great depths of pain and fear, he now has more joy and hope than ever before.
The album’s most gut wrenching and moving track is “Without You,” which unexpectedly features Luke’s wife, Courtney, on vocals and is also the most difficult song Luke has ever written. When he was at his worst, his wife feared that she could lose him, so she told him, “Luke, you just can’t leave me here.” Luke says, “The lyrics gave me the vision and the hope for what is to come. I know that I have today but I don’t know if I have tomorrow, so in those moments, I am going to laugh, and I’m going to dance if I can. If this illness was to take me, it would take me as a very hopeful man.”
The philosophies of hope and love were instilled by their parents, who raised their seven children in Sydney, Australia, before relocating to Nashville in 1991. Their father worked as a music promoter, so the boys often accompanied him to shows. In their teenage years, they also sang background vocals for their sister, gospel artist Rebecca St. James. When Luke was 19 and Joel 21, the two formed a band and began the journey of writing and recording music.
Coming from that rich family heritage, the brothers also carry with them a mantra of sorts, speaking to a woman’s worth as well as encouraging themselves and other men to step up and stand out to proclaim that chivalry is not dead. “Part of the DNA of for KING COUNTRY is this idea of respect and honor in relationships and women being priceless,” Joel says. “What we’ve both found in our beliefs as men is that people are made equal. No one is a commodity and everyone deserves to be loved and loved well.”
To Joel and Luke, remaining focused on what truly matters is crucial to succeeding musically. “The best legacy I can leave is if I am a good dad and good husband. If my family environment was out of whack, I don’t know if I’d even be able to write songs anymore,” says Luke. “A lot of my passion and zeal for life is because I have a wife who counts on me and a son who looks up to me and says ‘Dada.’ I can’t believe how much love he has in his eyes when he says that word. I can see the complete trust and safety that my son feels when he is with me. When he began to walk, I often thought, if I could run wild like a one-year-old does and live a life that embraces adventure in that way, I think I would see life entirely differently.”
And therein lies the phrase that has ultimately become not only the title of their sophomore album, but also a statement of what it means to truly be alive. Joel sums it up this way, “RUN WILD. LIVE FREE. LOVE STRONG. is a statement of reclaiming our birthright as humans, to live a life that is for others, and in that find what it truly means to run wild, live free and love strong.”
Matt Maher
The front cover of Matt Maher’s latest offering, All The People Said Amen, is a menagerie of old tour posters, handwritten lyrics from songwriting sessions, live and candid shots with fans, even his own wedding photos. No image is random. Each piece was placed purposefully by Maher. Every item has a story behind it and has played a significant role in Maher’s songwriting over the past seven years.
“This record is a musical collage. I think most of our lives look like that, this jumble of a bunch of different stuff,” Maher offers. “Hopefully, when you take a step back, you realize something that might seem a little chaotic close-up, farther away, actually is a work of art that God’s slowly creating. These songs are created out of living as a community of faith firsthand, and it’s my desire to remind listeners that we are all His work of art.”
All The People Said Amen showcases Maher’s storied career thus far. The songs read more like chapters in his autobiography than a typical album track listing. Produced by Paul Moak (Third Day, Mat Kearney) and Maher, the album breaks the barriers a studio can provide and allows fans to see Maher as not only the gifted songwriter they have come to cherish but also a fervent worship leader and skilled teacher. Maher’s theology is as solid as his songwriting, his heart as pure as his melodies.
The 2016 State Fair themed “Capture Your Memories”, is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 12-21, 2016. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
State Fair of WV Welcomes Travis Tritt and The Charlie Daniels Band
LEWISBURG, WV (02/08/2016)(readMedia)– State Fair of WV Welcomes Travis Tritt and The Charlie Daniels Band
Officials have announced that Travis Tritt and The Charlie Daniels Band will perform Friday, August 19, 2016 on Lottery Day at the 92nd Annual State Fair of West Virginia!
“Both of these acts are legends in the music industry and to have them on stage together is going to make a great show,” CEO Kelly Collins stated. “We still have several announcements to make in the near future, but we are already very excited for the 2016 State Fair of West Virginia!”
Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will only be available via Etix at www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will not be sold at the State Fair Box Office until later in the spring.
Travis Tritt
No sky is bluer, no air crisper, no leaf greener than after a storm, and Travis Tritt is adding a musical addendum to that list with the release of The Calm After. Part metaphor and surprisingly literal, the title is reflective of a fresh and focused start for one of the most successful and acclaimed musical creators of his era.
“I feel so humbled and blessed to be where I am right now,” says Travis, who will release the album on his own Post Oak Records. “My voice has never been stronger, I’m constantly playing and working to become a better guitar player, banjo player, vocalist and songwriter. I am honestly as excited about the creative process and performing now as I was the day I signed my first record deal.”
The highly abbreviated Tritt timeline has the Georgian incorporating lifelong influences in Southern Rock, blues and gospel into his country during a honky-tonk apprenticeship that led him to Warner Bros. His 1990 debut Country Club and its succession of hits put him in the vanguard of the genre’s early ’90s boom, dubbing him as one of “The Class of ’89,” which included Country music superstars Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson; all whom dominated the charts in the early ’90s. At the same time, his conspicuous lack of a cowboy hat and musical aggressiveness set him apart. The next eight albums and scores of hit singles led him to amass more than 25 million in career album sales, two Grammys, three CMA Awards and a devoted fan base that filled venues coast-to-coast. He’s also become
a force in Atlanta sports, performing at the 1996 Olympics, two Super Bowls, a World Series Game, the opening of the Georgia Dome, the final Braves game at Atlanta-Fulton Country Stadium and, in 2013, the NCAA men’s basketball championship.
A 2006 recording session for a Sam Moore album proved fateful when producer, musician and American Idol judge Randy Jackson complimented Travis on his vocals. The meeting led to co-production collaboration on Tritt’s next album, which would eventually be titled The Storm.
Fast forward several years, and Tritt discovered that if the perfect duet partner doesn’t materialize, you can always grow your own. On a family car trip, the unreleased track came up on his iPod. “My 15-year-old daughter Tyler Reese, who had never heard the song, started singing along in the backseat. When it ended she had me play it again five or six times. I was listening to her sing it and I was impressed, but I didn’t say anything. When we got home, I told my wife that I thought she could really do a great job on this song. We agreed, so I took her in the studio last year and had her sing the female parts. I know I sound like a biased parent, but she really did nail it and the proof is in the track.”
As his daughter’s voice takes wing, Travis Tritt finds his own career enjoying a new spring. He already has plans to follow the initial release with a variety of music projects, including a new, mostly acoustic project with former No Hats Tour chum Marty Stuart. “We’ve got four tracks done on sort of a throw-back project that is on the exact other end of the spectrum from The Calm After …, which is very heavily produced,” Travis explains. “I’m playing acoustic guitar, Marty is on acoustic and mandolin, there’s an upright bass, keys, light percussion and that’s it.”
Tritt had a busy 2013 with a full-band production tour in 2013, following three years of well-received solo-acoustic shows, and 2014 proved to be just as busy. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his music career, Tritt is toured the U.S. and Canada promoting his new album.
Through it all, music is still what gives him joy. “I turned 50 years old this year, strictly going off the date my mother told me that I was born,” he laughs. “I need to go back and check my birth certificate, because I don’t feel that old. In my head, I still feel like I’m 28-years-old. I have the same energy, the same amount of love for live performance and for working in the studio that I had when I was first getting started.”
“The odd thing is, and I can’t explain this, but I think I’m singing better than I did in my 20s and 30s. I know it’s not supposed to be that way, but there’s just a control that comes with maturity. Plus, I’ve got a higher range now than I had when I was in my early 30s. And since we started doing the acoustic shows, people come up to me commenting on my singing or, more often, my guitar playing.
“I get that a lot. In fact, that’s how I ended up working with Randy Jackson. After I came out of the vocal booth on that Sam Moore session, Randy looked at me and said, ‘Man, I had no idea that you had that blue-eyed soul thing going on.’
“”At 50, to still have a career and be able to surprise people with music – I’m humbled and very thankful. It’s a God given gift.” Which is another way of saying that for Travis Tritt, it’s nothing but clear skies, open windows and dry pavement ahead.
The Charlie Daniels Band
From his Dove Award winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor to young artists and still a road warrior at age 77, Charlie has parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children and others in need.
Raised among the longleaf pines of North Carolina, Charlie began his career playing bluegrass music with the Misty Mountain Boys. After moving to Nashville in 1967, he began making a name for himself as a songwriter, session musician and producer. Elvis Presley recorded a tune Charlie co-wrote titled “It Hurts Me,” which was released on the flip side of “Kissin’ Cousins.” He played on such landmark albums as Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline and tried his hand at producing on the Youngbloods’ Elephant Mountain and Ride the Wind.
His own unique voice as an artist emerged as Charlie recorded his self-titled solo album in 1970 for Capitol Records. Two years later he formed the Charlie Daniels Band and the group scored its first hit with the top ten “Uneasy Rider.” Since then the CDB has populated radio with such memorable hits as “Long Haired Country Boy,” “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “In America,” “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” and of course, his signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1979 as well as single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.
The CDB will perform 100 concert dates this year including performances on the Grand Ole Opry. The band’s latest release, “Off the Grid – Doin’ It Dylan,” features 10 Bob Dylan songs by the CDB, and is their first CDB studio release since 2007.
“I love what I do,” says Charlie of his 50-plus years in the music business. “I look forward to entertaining people. When show time gets here, I’m ready to go, ready to go play for them. It’s a labor of love. I just thank God I make a living at what I enjoy doing.”
The 2016 State Fair themed “Capture Your Memories”, is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 12-21, 2016. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
