DAVE'S DIARY - 4/7/07 - PREVIEW OF EPISODE 5 - SERIES 8
TEXAN TODD HEADLINES NU COUNTRY TV
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Texan
honky tonker Todd Fritsch chose value for money when he included
17 songs on his second album Sawdust. Fritsch hails from tiny rural town Willow Springs and his distinctive baritone powers an album that embraces western swing, stone country two steppers and shuffles. |
His other
lethal weapons are strident social comment tunes If You Don't Like
Country (Time To Leave) and Every Honk Tonkin' Hero (Has His Day)
with Nunn.
At just 26 he has notched up more than 200,000 miles on the lost highway
in just over two years of recording.
CLICK HERE for a Fritsch
feature in the Diary.
DANIELLE PECK
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North
Carolina starlet Danielle Peck has made four video clips to promote
her debut disc for indie label Big Machine. Danielle was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, but grew up in Coshocton, Ohio, where the family had strong musical roots. |
Her mother's
side of the family travelled and sang in churches and her father's parents
and grandparents were steeped in country music, playing dances in the
area.
At age 16, she joined the Neon Moon Band, and played bars in Coshocton.
"I wasn't supposed to be in bars because I was underage," she
recalled.
"So I had to dress older, act older, sneak in through the back door,
do my show, and then slip out the back again before anyone could figure
out I was underage."
Peck later left home for Nashville where she worked as a waitress at night
and wrote songs during the day.
She met publisher Clay Myers, who secured her a songwriting deal with
Still Working Music - a company operated by the late star Roy Orbison's
widow Barbara.
Peck also made videos for chart songs Finding a Good Man and Isn't
That Everything - both scheduled for Nu Country TV.
Her latest clip is for new single Bad For Me - a song penned by
expatriate Australian singer Sherrie Austin.
Further info - http://www.daniellepeck.com/
DIAMOND RIO
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Veteran country
band Diamond Rio, now celebrating 23 years on the road, continues in a
religious vein with its poignant hit God Only Cries.
The song, penned by Tim Johnson, features the lyric - "God only cries
for the living/ cause it's the living that are left to carry on."
The song is a highlight of Diamond Rio's Greatest Hits Vol 2 -
it's ninth album in a 16-year recording career.
The sextet, one of many artists managed by expatriate Australasian Barry
Coburn, has scored nine #1 hits, six CMA and Academy Of Country Music
vocal group of the year awards and 10 million album sales.
The sextet began in 1984 at Opryland as the Tennessee River Boys.
Lead singer Marty Roe, now 46, was born in Lebanon, Ohio, and named after
the late star Marty Robbins.
He was part of the original line-up with pianist Dan Truman, now 40, guitarist
Jimmy Olander, 45, and drummer Brian Prout, 41, - husband of singer-songwriter
Stephanie Bentley - and former spouse of Wild Rose singer Nancy.
The Tennessee River Boys left Opryland to tour in 1987 and hired mandolin
player Gene Johnson, now 37.
And in 1989 Dana Williams, 46, joined as bassist and vocalist and the
band changed its name to Diamond Rio.
The sextet had a brace of hits including Meet In The Middle, Norma
Jean Riley, In A Week Or Two, Walk Away, Unbelievable and post September
11 healing ballad One More Day in 2001.
Diamond Rio scored more #1 hits Beautiful Mess in 2002 and I
Believe in 2003.
But long time label Arista dumped the band shortly after releasing its
second Greatest Hits disc.
Further info - http://www.diamondrio.com/
RUCKUS RISE
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Popular Melbourne
country band Ruckus, a favourite act at Nu Country TV Christmas parties
and showcases, travelled to Lilydale in the Yarra Valley to make a video
for its poignant song A Trucker's Wife.
The song, penned by guitarist Michael Abrey and singer Sandie Himbury,
is one of seven originals on the band's second album The Other Side.
The quintet used a four-month old Century Class Freightliner semi and
trailer owned by Malcolm and Dorothy Gardner, for the video.
The couple, now in their seventies, hail from Milawa in the deep north
of Victoria and cover 1000 km plus each day as family truckers - a journey
they have shared over 50 years.
They own another truck with a driver and have a granddaughter who is following
in the family tradition on the highways and their family farm.
Australian truck builders Freightliner sponsor Ruckus and helped the band
release its special-edition original CD in the February/March edition
of Truckin' Life magazine.
The band, formed in 2003, features guitarist Abrey who previously played
in bands with singer Himbury, Marsela Taylor, nee Koldova, on violin,
bassist Kevin Lumsden and drummer Andy Costello.
Further info - http://www.ruckus.net.au/ruckusaboutus.htm
NELLIE DONOVAN
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Another
Nu Country TV showcase guest artist Jason Kemp also wrote Cruisin'
- the song that gave birth to Nellie Donovan's new video clip. Jason
appeared at our showcases with Arizona singer Billy Wyatt and Silver
String Outlaws. |
Other co-writers
included Col Finley, who duets with her on Those Telephone Calls,
and Robert Parde who penned Email To Heaven.
Nellie collaborated with Chaise Flanders on evocative eulogy Earth
Angel to Dianne Braden who died tragically aged just 27.
Nellie's mentor Michael Flanders has also produced Josh Arnold, Tony Eales,
Tanya Self, Michael Bryers, Gemma Doyle and Finley.
Further info - http://www.nelliedonovan.com/
MARKUS MEIER
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Northern
Territory troubadour Markus Meier is one of the first signings on
Shock Records new country label. The brothers, working as The Territory Boys, won wide exposure opening shows for artists diverse as Lee Kernaghan and The Black Sorrows. |
They worked
Melbourne in 2004 before guitarist Markus went home to the Northern Territory
and added harmonica, banjo and mandolin to his repertoire.
His solo career was launched at Adelaide River talent quest - also a creative
font for Sara Storer, Karen O'Shea and Tom Curtain.
Markus graduated from the CMAA College of Country Music in Tamworth and
made the finals of the Telstra Road To Tamworth in January, 2006.
Further info - www.markusmeiermusic.com