REMEMBERING BJ THOMAS

 

Sharing my absolute favorite BJ Thomas song today:

Country Blessings!

~ Kelly

MEMORIAL - B J Thomas

A cloak of sadness and loss enveloped the music community on Saturday as we learned of the passing of Grammy Award Winner, B. J. Thomas.

B. J. Thomas lost his battle with four-stage lung cancer. Heartborken does not begin to cover the feeling. 

Here's the bio info from his website:

Five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, B.J. Thomas has sold over 70 million albums worldwide with a total of 8 #1 hits and 26 Top 10 singles throughout his 50 years in the music industry.

 As one of Billboard’s Top 50 Most Played Artists Over The Past 50 Years, B.J. Thomas’ hits include “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “Hooked On A Feeling,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love” and “New Looks From An Old Lover.”

I'm sharing a video from his YouTube channel featuring Vince Gill.

I Just Can't Help Believing - 

YOUTUBE

Please visit his social media links to enjoy his music and leave condolences where available:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   TWITTER   INSTAGRAM  

 

APPLE MUSIC   SPOTIFY     AMAZON

Country Blessings

~ Kelly

 

IN MEMORY - Daryle Singletary

IN MEMORIUM

1971-2018

While it would be many years later before Daryle Singletary's true journey began, his course was set the day he recorded 'Your Cheatin' Heart' in Barbara Mandrell's Record-Your-Own-Voice at Opryland. Daryle recalls being twelve or thirteen at the time. (SUN interview) Daryle Singletary was pure country from day one and never strayed from that path.

From Daryle's bio:

“When I moved to Nashville in 1990, I left Georgia telling my Daddy, ‘I want to make my living in country music,’” Daryle recalls. “I didn’t tell him I wanted to be played on the radio every day or be on a video channel every day. I said, ‘I want to make a living playing for the people who enjoy my kind of music.’ Fortunately and thankfully, I have been able to do that since 1995." 

Daryle was born in Cairo, GA March 10, 1971. Raised in a working class family, he grew up knowing the value of a dollar and the importance of family. At his passing on February 12, Daryle left behind his wife and four children... his hearts. 

I've had Daryle on The Party List many times. In 2015, on the release of his 'There's Still A Little Country Left' album', Daryle partnered with the Campbell's Soup Company on a sponsored tour from mid September to late October of that year. (See CountryMusicMatters for article)

From Steve Hawkins Media - YouTube:

Steve Hawkins Media radio commercial productions for "Campbell’s Soup Free Country Concert Tour" featuring Daryle Singletary. The concerts are sponsored by Campbell's, promoting their products as well as Daryle's new album "There's Still A Little Country Left". Shows will be performed at Walmart Neighborhood Markets throughout Sep and Oct 2015. Stevie Hawkins produced, engineered, co-wrote the ad copy, and is the voice talent for three radio spots. Video graphics by Stevie Hawkins. The creative team of "The Mars Agency" is responsible for the core writing of the ad copy for Campbell's.  

Daryl stuck to his beliefs, recording true country music, releasing seven albums from 1995-2015 plus the American Grandstand album duet with Rhonda Vincent.

If there's one way for any artist to honor his memory, Daryle gives the best advice:

There are still great country songs out there. You just have to either write them or ask the songwriting community for them... and say, ‘Look, when I say country, I mean country.’ 

Too Much Fun topped the charts at #4 in 1995

Daryle Singletary was an amazing talent with an old country soul. Whether he was singing a ballad or something a bit more up-tempo, he played for those of us who understood the heart and soul of true country music. 

Sending Country Blessings of comfort to his family, and all of us. 

IN MEMORY - Troy Gentry

On Friday September 8, 2017, Country Music lost another amazing talent. Troy Gentry, of Montgomery Gentry, died when the helicopter he was in crashed in Medford NJ where the due was to perform. He was a young 50 years old.

Born Troy Lee Gentry April 5, 1967 in Lexington KY, he was always the fun-loving, sensitive man we all came to love as part of Montgomery Gentry. He leaves behind his wife, Angie and two daughters Taylor and Kaylee.

Photo from MercuryNews.com 

We all expect to leave this earth at some point, and we don't know when. But we hope to never have our passing be the result of such a tragic means. A quote from Troy's official obituary may bring comfort to us all during this time:

A follower of Christ, Gentry faithfully attended Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn., when he was not on the road. One of his favorite Bible verses was Deuteronomy 31:6, which says, "Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

This video - Troy's dedication to Merle Haggard  - showcases the voice that will forever resonate in our hearts:

A public celebration/ memorial service will be held Thursday September 14th at 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Ole Opry, 2804 Opryland Drive in Nashville and broadcast live HERE

Troy supported many charitable organizations including the T J Martell Foundation - the music industry's leading foundation for finding a cure for cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the foundation or to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts.

Two men could not have been closer if they'd been brothers. That's what made Montgomery Gentry a lasting duo in Country music for almost twenty years (an anniversary album was planned to mark the occasion in 2018).

Montgomery Gentry were inducted into the Opry in 2009. This video was their last appearance on the Grand Ole Opry:

Country Blessings

Kelly