BALLISTIC - Country Music Deep In The Art Of Dallas

Since his debut on the music scene in the early 90s, Kershaw has remained one of the most consistent power hitters in country music both with a chain of major hit records and sell-out touring schedules.



Sammy Kershaw's plan for country music is re-claiming its roots and recapturing the spirit that made it great: The recording studio. "Man, for someone like me who had George Jones music imprinted in my DNA before birth, the last few years have been rough as a fan of country music." noted Kershaw candidly in a recent national interview. "Country music is not a formula it's a music with its own soul and I'm all about saving that soul!" Kershaw's current album "Honky Tonk Boots" promises to be a much-anticipated first step in that plan of salvation.



For the newest Kershaw project, the singers soulful sound and Cajun vocal kick is teamed back-up with the genius of producer Buddy Cannon, whose efforts, like Sammy's, have lined his walls with platinum. Sammy's vibe about his latest studio venture has all the earmarks of a proud father talking about his new arrival "In music, everything is timing. I knew when we were in the studio working on the new album that we had something radio and fans are ready for. The feel of the album is a return to the kind of country music I, and a lot of other people, have missed." Powerful words from a man who has picked, written, and sung a lot of hits.



Often referred to as the heir apparent to the legendary voice himself George Jones, Sammy Kershaw helped make the 90's a shining decade for country music. It's a comparison not lost on Sammy, who grew up in the Cajun country of Louisiana on a diet of crawfish and country music. The oldest of four children, the tragic loss of his father, matured him even faster than the clubs and honky-tonks he was performing in at 12 years old. He speaks openly today of years spent battling substance abuse and addictions. "It's not a period of my life I'm proud of but I do talk about it to encourage kids not to follow in my footsteps." Kershaw recently noted. Helping others is a subject close to the heart that beats within what might often appear to be a tough, macho exterior. Sammy Kershaw is, in fact, a softie when the subject turns to kids. If proof were needed it stands in his hometown of Kaplan, Louisiana. There, Sammy has established the Sammy Kershaw Foundation. Its outreach has extended through donations so far of more than 2 million dollars in aid to children and child related charities. With projects that extend from granting wishes through Make A Wish Foundation to establishing camps for crippled children, the foundation exists to fulfill Sammy's simple goal of improving the lives of children. In the course of breaking into the ranks of stardom in country music, Sammy Kershaw has made contributions to more than just the charts. His platinum albums were propelled into the records books by hits such as She Don't Know She's Beautiful, I Can't Reach Her Anymore, National Working Woman's Holiday, Love Of My Life, Cadillac Style, Don't Go Near The Water, Haunted Heart, and many other milestones.



In 2010, Sammy is committed to prove that goals are made to be surpassed. His touring dates are true events in today's country music. Life is good and Sammy has a lot to sing about.


With the release of Jason Aldean's hit "1994" earlier this year that name-checked many of Joe Diffie's twelve Number One hits, the legendary singer found himself squarely back in the hearts and minds of country fans. The multi-platinum-selling artist who dominated the charts during a hot streak in the '90's may have been absent from the radio charts for the past few years, but Joe-Joe-Joe Diffie has never slowed down – writing, touring and recording a myriad of projects including his critically acclaimed 2010 bluegrass album "Homecoming," and his recent "Roots And Boots" acoustic tour and collaborative CD "All In The Same Boat," with fellow hitmakers Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin. And now he's back at it again, riding shotgun with hick-hop sensations the Jawga Boyz on a brand new single, "Girl Ridin' Shotgun," which was recently released to country radio.

The single, co-written by Diffie, Phil O'Donnell and Derek Thrasher of The Jawga Boyz is a fun, up-tempo romp perfect for summertime cruising and returns Joe to the country charts where he undoubtedly belongs. The performance features D. Thrash (Derek Thrasher) on the verses as Diffie's signature vocals soar on the choruses and verses. The tune was written in part as an answer to Jason Aldean's tribute to Joe, (penned by Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird and Barry Dean) and name-checks Aldean in a nod to the monster hit that helped introduce Joe to a whole new generation of fans two decades later.

With chart-toppers like "Pickup Man," "Third Rock From the Sun," and "John Deere Green," and 13 albums and over 20 Top 10 singles to his credit, Joe has little to prove at this point in his career, yet he still has a fire in his belly to make good country music. A renowned songwriter in his own right who recently turned his focus back to writing after years on the road, Joe has hits for artists like Tim McGraw, Conway Twitty, and Jo Dee Messina to his credit, and has cuts on upcoming projects for "X Factor" winner Tate Stevens, Dylan Scott, and Tyler Farr among others. He is also hard at work on an album of brand new material, due out later this year on Bigger Picture Records. The collaboration with the Jawga Boyz and the attention from the Aldean hit is opening all sorts of new doors for Joe at this point in his career, and he's excited at the prospect of working with some of music's hot new hitmakers.

"We had a good time writing and recording my new song "Girl Ridin' Shotgun,' and making a video for it," says Joe. " I've been writing with a lot of new artists and I never thought that collaboration with one of them would lead to this, but I'm really glad that it has. It's a different sound for me and I'm having so much fun with it all. I can't wait to see what the future brings!"

http://www.joediffie.com/