… Pauline Reese for Entertainer of the Year!
Wow! What a monumental night for the Texas Music Awards (www.texasmusicawards.org). For the first time in the eight-year history, a woman has taken Entertainer of the Year, proving hard work will get you places. It’s no doubt Pauline is one of the hardest working women in Texas music AND she’s a full-time wife and mom. For all you ladies out there trying to make it in this business, you won’t find a better role model than Pauline. Make sure you stop by her website (www.paulinereese.com) and give her some love!
On further notes of those we spotlighted over the past few weeks…
Thomas Michael Riley (www.thomasmichaelriley.com) won Album of the Year for Tommy. This is an awesome CD. If you don’t have a copy I suggest you head over to his website. There’s a reason it won Album of the Year. It’s what good Texas music IS.
John Arthur Martinez (www.johnarthurmartinez.com) took home Record of the Year for Utopia. I failed to mention in my last post, John is a previous recipient of the Entertainer of the Year (2006). He’s just GOOD!
And once again, certainly not the least of the line-up is Shake Russell. Vocal Duo/Group for 2010 now belongs to the Shake Russell Trio. Shake, along with Doug Floyd and Michael Roberts proved they have what it takes. This may have been their sophomore album but there’s nothing second class about this trio.
The Texas Music Awards motto is ‘Recognizing Texas Talent – Rewarding Texas Pride’. They have stood by their creed every year and last night was no exception.
Keep in mind, I am no way slighting any of last night’s nominees and/ or winners. They all deserved to be nominated in their respective categories and on stage. Maybe next year I’ll have new faces to introduce you to. In the mean time…
CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners! You ARE Texas Pride!
Country Blessings
Kelly
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
A Final Nod
With the 2010 Texas Music Awards only hours away, I have to give a nod to 3 very talented people whose music I am very familiar with.
First off... A HUGE Good Luck to our friend and follower, Wade Bowen. Wade is up for Record of the Year with his album, Trouble.
Stop by Wade's website: www.wadebowen.com
One of the nominees up against Wade for Record of the Year is John Arthur Martinez.
www.johnarthurmartinez.net
I've not had the opportunity to meet John, but he's on my list. He performs on a regular basis with my good friend Mike Blakely.
And last but not least on my list is Davin James. www.davinjames.com
Davin is true Texas western music. Although I don't own one of his CD's yet, I am treated to his talent every time I pop one of W.C. Jameson's cd's in the player.
To say the least, these guys all run in top notch circles of some of the best music you'll find in Texas... or anywhere in the world.
I send Country Blessings to ALL the nominees. They are in their respective categories for good reason. Every one of them has earned the right to take home the award.
Country Blessings
Kelly
First off... A HUGE Good Luck to our friend and follower, Wade Bowen. Wade is up for Record of the Year with his album, Trouble.
Stop by Wade's website: www.wadebowen.com
One of the nominees up against Wade for Record of the Year is John Arthur Martinez.
www.johnarthurmartinez.net
I've not had the opportunity to meet John, but he's on my list. He performs on a regular basis with my good friend Mike Blakely.
And last but not least on my list is Davin James. www.davinjames.com
Davin is true Texas western music. Although I don't own one of his CD's yet, I am treated to his talent every time I pop one of W.C. Jameson's cd's in the player.
To say the least, these guys all run in top notch circles of some of the best music you'll find in Texas... or anywhere in the world.
I send Country Blessings to ALL the nominees. They are in their respective categories for good reason. Every one of them has earned the right to take home the award.
Country Blessings
Kelly
Shake Russell
As soon as I read the nominees for Entertainer of the Year, I knew the competition was one of the stiffest in recent years. You only have to see the name Shake Russell. Even folks like me who are fresh to Texas music have heard his name. In some circles it’s spoken almost with a reverence. Shake isn’t new to the scene. For thirty years this man has been pouring his heart and soul into his music, sharing his passion and keeping it true. You might not know him as a performer but chances are you’ve heard his musings interpreted by Clint Black, Jessi Coulter and Ricky Skaggs.
This isn’t his first time in this category and it probably won’t be his last. Shake won Entertainer of the Year in 2004. He is also nominated in Vocal Duo or Group of the Year as part of the Shake Russell Trio.
You have only to listen to any cut on his recent CD, ‘What This Heart Holds’, to understand why he’s been around so long. The sound might be ‘fresh’ by some standards but every note still rings true to the type of musician and songwriter Shake Russell is. With each note you hear the people who influenced his sound. Legends such as John Lennon, Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan.
Like those who have come before him, lighting his path, Shake isn’t done by any stretch of the imagination. Shake Russell’s talent won't fade away like a wisp of smoke from a campfire. That’s why he’s among the best in the Entertainer of the Year category… and why I saved him for my final spotlight.
Country Blessings
Kelly
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Randy Brown
If Fort Worth ever crosses your mind, the thought should include this week’s featured artist, Randy Brown. http://www.randybrownmusic.com/Randy_Brown/Home.html
Growing up in Cowtown provided Randy the opportunity to experience first hand the rich musical history the area has to offer. Listening to any one of his albums puts you right in the heart of all that is true Texas music. Whether you prefer honky tonk, true Texas flavor or western swing, Randy serves them all with a big heart, warm voice and a smile.
His current album – Hero’s, Legends, Friends and Me is his first Live album, recorded at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards - is a step back in time. Randy puts his own spark to renditions of Merle Haggard’s I Had a Beautiful Time, Waylon Jennings’ This Time and Faron Young’s classic Wine Me Up, just to name a few.
Randy isn’t new to the awards scene. In 2008 he was nominated in not one but FIVE categories at the TMA’s. Of the five nominations, he won Male Vocalist of the Year.
In September, you’ll find Randy aboard an Alaskan cruise ship with our friend Thomas Michael Riley. Until then you can catch him at a wide variety of venues all across Texas.
We wish you Good Luck, Randy
Country Blessings
Kelly
Growing up in Cowtown provided Randy the opportunity to experience first hand the rich musical history the area has to offer. Listening to any one of his albums puts you right in the heart of all that is true Texas music. Whether you prefer honky tonk, true Texas flavor or western swing, Randy serves them all with a big heart, warm voice and a smile.
His current album – Hero’s, Legends, Friends and Me is his first Live album, recorded at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards - is a step back in time. Randy puts his own spark to renditions of Merle Haggard’s I Had a Beautiful Time, Waylon Jennings’ This Time and Faron Young’s classic Wine Me Up, just to name a few.
Randy isn’t new to the awards scene. In 2008 he was nominated in not one but FIVE categories at the TMA’s. Of the five nominations, he won Male Vocalist of the Year.
In September, you’ll find Randy aboard an Alaskan cruise ship with our friend Thomas Michael Riley. Until then you can catch him at a wide variety of venues all across Texas.
We wish you Good Luck, Randy
Country Blessings
Kelly
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Pauline Reese
Don’t let this woman fool you. Pauline Reese is dubbed as one of the hardest working women on the Texas/Red Dirt scene. A quick read of her short bio at www.paulinereese.com will tell you she keeps on the move more than a tumbleweed in a windstorm.
Pauline writes and performs her own music yet she is comfortable enough in who she is to make previous chart-topping songs hers. The Shel Silverstein song, Cover of the Rolling Stone is the title track from her most recent album which also includes the George Jones classic I Always Get Lucky. She has also shared billing with top-notch talent such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Gary P. Nunn, Mark Chestnut, Johnny Rodriguez,
With a crystal voice, Pauline takes you to the Banks of the Guadalupe. Feet Don’t Touch the Ground is enough to send any woman looking for a cowboy to slow dance with.
Pauline won TMA Album of the Year in 2007 for Too Texas, Live at Cherry Ridge (see review of this album at http://www.mytexasmusic.com/paulinereese/ ). With a history of nominations at the TMA’s, this one for Entertainer of the Year comes as no surprise.
It would sure be nice to see a woman’s picture on the home page of www.mytexasmusic.org as Entertainer of the Year 2010.
Sending Country Blessings your way, Pauline.
Kelly
Pauline writes and performs her own music yet she is comfortable enough in who she is to make previous chart-topping songs hers. The Shel Silverstein song, Cover of the Rolling Stone is the title track from her most recent album which also includes the George Jones classic I Always Get Lucky. She has also shared billing with top-notch talent such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Gary P. Nunn, Mark Chestnut, Johnny Rodriguez,
With a crystal voice, Pauline takes you to the Banks of the Guadalupe. Feet Don’t Touch the Ground is enough to send any woman looking for a cowboy to slow dance with.
Pauline won TMA Album of the Year in 2007 for Too Texas, Live at Cherry Ridge (see review of this album at http://www.mytexasmusic.com/paulinereese/ ). With a history of nominations at the TMA’s, this one for Entertainer of the Year comes as no surprise.
It would sure be nice to see a woman’s picture on the home page of www.mytexasmusic.org as Entertainer of the Year 2010.
Sending Country Blessings your way, Pauline.
Kelly
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thomas Michael Riley
This week I want to introduce you to Thomas Michael Riley.
http://www.thomasmichaelriley.com/
I first heard Tommy’s name in a newsletter from my good friend Mike Blakely. One thing you can be sure of. Good music loves good company. Based on pics like the one here I’m inclined to believe the company doesn’t get much better than this.
Thomas is a force to be reckoned with in the Texas music community. Aside from being in great company with giants like Michael Martin Murphy for Entertainer of the Year, he also appears in two other TMA categories. His album, Tommy, is up for Album of the Year and one of the tracks, In the Garden, has a place in the Song of the Year category. When you go to his website, there is a link on the homepage to hear the song. Give it a listen. You'll love it!
Thomas grew up in Buckingham Texas, learning the true ways of the cowboy. From the roots of his raising and the antics of his siblings (he comes from a family of seven), he has a wealth of story songs to keep his fans clapping and partying for a long time. Although his travels have taken him all over Texas and on his first European tour, it is my opinion he is most at home among his friends in the Texas Hill Country. He can frequently be found as a featured performer in Luckenbach and getting friends together at his annual Thomas Michael Riley music festival. http://www.thomasmichaelriley.com/2010musicfestival.html
When not having a good time in Texas, Thomas is spreading his wings to Nashville where he is collaborating with other writers. He’s ready to take his career to the next level, though it’s hard to believe there is anything bigger than Texas when it comes to good cowboy music. I wish him the best.
Country Blessings!
Kelly
http://www.thomasmichaelriley.com/
I first heard Tommy’s name in a newsletter from my good friend Mike Blakely. One thing you can be sure of. Good music loves good company. Based on pics like the one here I’m inclined to believe the company doesn’t get much better than this.
Thomas is a force to be reckoned with in the Texas music community. Aside from being in great company with giants like Michael Martin Murphy for Entertainer of the Year, he also appears in two other TMA categories. His album, Tommy, is up for Album of the Year and one of the tracks, In the Garden, has a place in the Song of the Year category. When you go to his website, there is a link on the homepage to hear the song. Give it a listen. You'll love it!
Thomas grew up in Buckingham Texas, learning the true ways of the cowboy. From the roots of his raising and the antics of his siblings (he comes from a family of seven), he has a wealth of story songs to keep his fans clapping and partying for a long time. Although his travels have taken him all over Texas and on his first European tour, it is my opinion he is most at home among his friends in the Texas Hill Country. He can frequently be found as a featured performer in Luckenbach and getting friends together at his annual Thomas Michael Riley music festival. http://www.thomasmichaelriley.com/2010musicfestival.html
When not having a good time in Texas, Thomas is spreading his wings to Nashville where he is collaborating with other writers. He’s ready to take his career to the next level, though it’s hard to believe there is anything bigger than Texas when it comes to good cowboy music. I wish him the best.
Country Blessings!
Kelly
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Michael Martin Murphy
Michael Martin Murphy really needs no introduction. For full details you can check out my April 22, 2009 post. Michael hosted the 2009 Texas Music Awards and took home the coveted Entertainer of the Year. Check out the gala picture of him at http://mytexasmusic.com/michaelmartinmurphy/
His latest release was recorded in 2008 and includes some of his classics. He is one of those artists you never tire of hearing. With or without an award, he is one of the all-time greatest cowboys in my book.
While you're checking out that link, you might want to give a listen to some of the music clips and maybe add a CD or two to your music library.
Good Luck Michael and...
Country Blessings
Kelly
His latest release was recorded in 2008 and includes some of his classics. He is one of those artists you never tire of hearing. With or without an award, he is one of the all-time greatest cowboys in my book.
While you're checking out that link, you might want to give a listen to some of the music clips and maybe add a CD or two to your music library.
Good Luck Michael and...
Country Blessings
Kelly
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