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Georgia Statewide Country Music News

This page is dedicated to news around Georgia about artist, bands, venues, etc. If you have any news you would like to share on GC, please drop us a line at info@Georgia-Country.com

ATHENS BAND, COUNTRY RIVER BAND, INDUCTED INTO THE GEORGIA COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

(Dec 2nd, 2024 ) Athens based band, The Country River Band, was inducted into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame, in a cermony, held Nov 23rd at The Seaplane Opry House in Moultrie. Country River Band is a Five Time Winner in The Georgia Country Awards. One of the longest running bands in Georgia, the band started in the 1960s. Current members, Tom & Tim Thurmond's dad, Roger Thurmond, was one of the founding members of the band. The brothers grew up hearing the band and listening to classic and traditional country hits of Merle, George Jones to Waylon Jennings. The band has had many changes over the years but never deviated from their sound and commitment to a traditional country sound. They are still a very active band in North Georgia, playing in their favorite venues to opening for the country greats now and then.

GC'S LLOYD CARTER INDUCTED INTO THE GEORGIA COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

(Nov 27th, 2024 ) Georgia Country Artist Lloyd Carter, from Hahira, was inducted into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame this past Saturday night, Nov 23rd. The ceremony was held at The Seaplane Opry House in Moultrie. Lloyd found his passion for music at a young age. Brought up in a musical family, he was surrounded by an eclectic array of sounds. His mother managed radio stations, while his father's side of the family had a gospel quartet consisting of Lloyd's grandfather, aunts and uncles. "The Carter Family" would travel around the country singing at small churches. In high school, Lloyd knew he was destined to be a musician. He taught himself how to play the drums, keyboard and guitar, and began focusing more and more on his songwriting. Heavily influenced by artists like Keith Whitley, Steve Perry, Kenny Rogers and Conway Twitty, Lloyd gravitates towards songs that spoke to his emotions. "My favorite songwriter is one who can tell a story," he explains. "There's nothing like painting a picture with words - that's one of the magical things that I love most about music." With 30+ years of stories scribbled in a notebook, Lloyd had the privilege of recording his track "It's Friday Night" with his good friend Colt Ford. A lover of traditional country music and all things romance, Lloyd has been busy working on his latest project - his newly released album called "Nothing to Lose," which blends classic country style with some newer elements. Lloyd and his band is one of the most popular acts in his area and throughout South Ga. They also perform throughout the southeast. In 2023, Lloyd won Male Artist of the Year at the Georgia Country Awards, held at Southern Roots Tavern in McDonough.

ASHLEY BROOKS SIGNS RECORD DEAL

(Nov 22nd, 2024 ) Canton's Ashley Brooks signed a record deal with Droptine Music in Nashville on Sept 30th. Ashley recently won a record three awards at the Georgia Country Awards on Nov 9th for Overall Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. (pictures with Ashely, Jim Cantino, Drew Tutton & Jeff Catton.

GEORGIA'S WILL MOSELEY MAKES IT TO THE FINALS ON AMERICAN IDOL

(May 13th, 2024) Hazelhurst's Will Moseley made it to the Final Three on American Idol last night. He sung "Born To Be Wild" and "The Ballad of a Lonesome Cowboy" . The American Idol Finals will air this coming Sunday night at 8pm on ABC. Will has been a finalist in the Georgia Country Awards.

GEORGIA'S WILL MOSELEY MAKES IT TO TOP 24 ON AMERICAN IDOL

Hazelhurst's Will Moseley advance to the top 24 on American Idol last night. He sung Chris Stapleton's "Whiskey And You". American Idol airs on ABC on Sunday and Monday Nights. Will has been a finalist in the Georgia Country Awards.

ROME'S DAWSON EDWARDS SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL IN NASHILLE

March 20th, 2024. Rome native Dawson Edwards is the newest addition to Dream 3 Publishing in partnership with Kobalt. Edwards' blue collar, working-man's point of view shines through in everything he does including his artistry. His songs have been cut by Justin Moore, Kameron Marlowe, Heath Sanders, Trey Lewis and Colin Stough. Edwards said it feels great to have a publishing deal again and publishers who really care about the music. And he credits his Rome upbringing with instilling the values he draws on for much of his songwriting. "It feels great to finally have some major label cuts under my belt and have some success in the writing world," he said. "It's all I've ever wanted to do. Rome is home. My hometown has impacted me and my writing in many ways. I had a guy tell me when I moved to Nashville almost 10 years ago that 'every song can't be about mommas and hometowns' and I said 'well they always say write about what you know'. My values and and way of life I was raised on is what I write about and that is what has helped me navigate and persevere through this place they call Music City." "We could not be more excited to get to be a part of Dawson's next chapter," said Emily Olson, Partner and Creative Director at Dream 3. "His enthusiasm and energy is contagious and inspiring. The authenticity of his writing along with his passion for country music make him such an ideal fit to our roster." Edwards has been singing since he was 14 years old. Immediately after high school he started working building countertops to save money to move to Nashville. When he made the move, he worked the graveyard shift loading trucks for UPS so he could pay his bills while still writing songs during the day. (Pictured are Kevin Lane, Kobalt; Emily Olson, Dream 3; Dawson Edwards; Greg Hill, Dream 3; Laurel Kittleson-Cobb, Dream 3.) Source: NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com)

MOBY OF "MOBY IN THE MORNING" PASSES

James "Moby" Carney, who found success on rock stations in Tennessee and Texas before a run on Atlanta's WKHX (101.5) that landed him in the Country Radio Hall of Fame, died Wednesday morning. Carney, who had been hospitalized following a diagnosis of stage 4 stomach cancer, was 69. Carney began his radio career at 15 on WCSV-AM (1490) in his hometown of Crossville, TN. After moving to Nashville to attend Belmont College (now Belmont University), he worked at big band WAMB-AM (1160) before joining then-rock WKDA-FM for nights in 1973. The station, which switched calls to WKDF-FM in 1976, became one of the market's top stations and Moby sometimes earned shares in the 20s. After five years there, he went to crosstown rock WKQB (105.9). Carney spent most of the 1980s working at top rock stations in Tampa, FL ("98 Rock" WQXM), Houston ("97 Rock" KSRR, "Rock 101" KLOL) and Dallas ("Eagle 97" KEGL). He joined country "Kicks 101.5" WKHX Atlanta in 1990, spending 12 years in mornings there. His show was syndicated on more than three dozen stations from 1993 to 1998. When WKHX let him go in 2002, he briefly joined classic rock "Z93" WZGC Atlanta before independently syndicating his show. He retired in 2016. Billboard named Carney its Major Market Country Morning Show of the Year five times. Carney was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2022. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon. Source: InsiderRadio.com

GEORGIA SINGER TO BE ON NEW FOX TV SHOW

Athens singer, Hunter Grayson, will appear on the new Fox TV show, "Farmer Wants A Wife", to debut on March 8th. The show is similar to ABC's The Bachelor,, where the four male farmers will decided out of ten women that they feel is best for them. Hunter has been a local singer with a band in the Athens area over the years and continues to perform.

BOURBON BROTHERS AND BOOT BARN HALL COMING TO GAINESVILLE

Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse and Tavern and Boot Barn Hall soon will open in Gainesville. "We'll be dancing in Gainesville soon," said Bob Mudd, president and chief operating officer of Notes Live Development Co., the parent company of the restaurant and music hall. The restaurant is slated to open in late April or early May, with the music to follow shortly thereafter "to eliminate any risk of booking artists and having construction delays," according to Mudd. Daily purveyors of American breakfast, lunch and dinner fare, the forthcoming Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse and Tavern is staged to house the largest smoker in northern Georgia, according to Mudd, offering a variety of options from "the pit" -- including brisket, smoked sausage, baby back ribs, smoked pulled chicken and mustard glazed pulled pork. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant boasts a rooftop patio and second-floor bourbon bar designed to convey the same sensation as an intimate speakeasy. On the main level, a full service bar with retractable windows is designed to open to an 8,000-square-foot patio equipped with four estate fireplaces in addition to a small music stage aimed to host live entertainment "probably nine months out of the year," Mudd said. Inside the 18,000-square-foot Boot Barn Hall sharing the 1.7-acre property, Mudd anticipates hosting two ticketed shows each week in addition to corporate and private events. The space, which will be complete with an oak dance floor, is designed to hold 500 seated guests around 5-foot by 5-foot tables on the floor and mezzanine wrapping around the hall, or 1,400 general admission guests. In terms of musical talent, the venue will likely focus on '70s, '80s and '90s rock and country genres much like its sister location in Colorado Springs, but could handle "anything from jazz ensembles (to) performing arts," according to Mudd. The stage in Colorado Springs -- which is "harder to program than Gainesville," Mudd said, owing to the latter's upper hand in its proximity to Nashville and Atlanta -- has hosted headliners like Randy Travis, Shenandoah, Diamond Rio, The Bellamy Brothers and Atlanta Rhythm Section. "It is going to be one of the best live music venues, I think, in the southeast United States," Mudd said. "If you look at live entertainment on a scale that we're going to bring it, you have to go all the way to the North Carolina line or you've got to go to Atlanta. We're going to be bringing talent here that people are used to listening to on the radio or driving to Atlanta to see, and we're going to do it at a price point and in an environment that's very comfortable. Most of these tables will be full an hour and a half before the show starts."

Source: Rachel Estes - Gainesville Times. Dec 30th, 2022

GEORGIA SINGER, BRANDON WHITLEY SIGNS WITH DARE RECORDS IN NASHVILLE

Georgia singer, Brandon Whitley has signed to DARE Records, helmed by CEO and Founder (and GRAMMY-winning producer) Michael-Anthony "Mooki" Taylor. The Georgia-born singer-songwriter will celebrate the new partnership with a new track, "Whiskey In Me," releasing September 16. Hailing from rural GA, Nashville-based Whitley's music is a tapestry of elements and sounds as versatile and diverse as his own journey. His exurban hometown of Monroe, GA is nestled between a college town, Athens, GA, and the bustling metropolis of Atlanta. As a result, his musical influences are varied and rich: elements of rock, blues, and country are woven together, resulting in a unique sound that lends itself seamlessly to the newly diversified and modern country music landscape. DARE Records' Michael Anthony Taylor says, "Brandon Whitley's 'Whiskey In Me' had me at the drop of that undeniable hook: 'I just wanna love you!' Having lived in Music City myself, and felt the pulse of the hottest in country music being created and released, I knew instantly that this song is a bona fide, Nashville-birthed hit! And not to mention... that voice!" Whitley co-wrote "Whiskey In Me" with Autumn Marie Buysse and Chase McDaniel. The song was recorded at Saxman Studios in Nashville with Grady Saxman (Luke Combs) on drums, Devin Malone on acoustic guitar, Sol Philcox-Littlefield (Luke Combs) on electric guitar, Luke Moseley on keys, and Lee Francis (Jon Pardi) on bass. Source: Maruska Media Nashville

MULTI AWARD WINNING JOSH COURSON SIGNS WITH VISTA 22 ENTERTAINMENT

NASHVILLE, TN, USA, March 22, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Macon, Georgia native Josh Courson, who was named the Georgia Country Awards 2020 Male Artist of the Year and 2021 Overall Artist of the Year, has joined the growing roster of Vista 22 Entertainment. Country singer/songwriter/guitarist, Courson is releasing a 6-song EP titled "Wrecked This Town" expected late Fall with the first single "Can't Stop" dropping on April 8, 2022. The EP was recorded and produced with Elliott Didur and Jason Wyatt in Nashville. Additional singles include an ode to top shelf Scotch titled "Johnnie Walker Blue" and a poignant song about a father and son relationship titled "Showed Ya Son" that will release in time for the Father's Day holiday. Courson has a knack for writing catchy rock driven Contemporary Country and his sound has been described as the Green Day of Country. He performs everything from Punk Pop to Southern Rock, Alternative and Old School Rock. Courson has released a string of singles since 2018 with his country rock anthem "Here for the Beer" making its way to local radio where it spent four weeks at the #1 spot, and nine weeks in the Top 3. Dan Lavery and Patra Sinner of Vista 22 say "Josh did not hold back on this EP. Every song is a barn burner. He was in the process of recording when we met so we first heard the project in work tape format while sitting in an airport. We were both already at 'yes' before we made it through the first song. And, personally, Josh is hard working, appreciative, kind and humble. We couldn't ask for more." Courson is also a featured artist for Breedlove Guitars. With multiple shows throughout the Southeast on the books, you do not want to miss his electrifying live performances which have been a driving factor in the accolades he has received. More information on music release dates and tour can be found on Courson's website and socials. Patra Sinner, Vista 22 Entertainment, +1 615-314-3100, Info@Vista22.com (Source: Einnews.com)

GEORGIA COUNTRY SONGWRITER, BRUCE BURCH PASSES

(March 15th) Bruce Burch, a hit country songwriter and Gainesville native who helped establish a long series of benefit concerts in the city, died early Saturday, March 12, at his home in Nashville, He was 69. His daughter, Sarah Stenzel, said that the cause was complications from leukemia. Burch co-wrote two hit singles for Reba McEntire, "Rumor Has It" and "It's Your Call," among many other songs for prominent country artists including Faith Hill, George Jones and T. Graham Brown. When "Rumor Has It" became a hit in 1991, he had a limousine pick up his kids from elementary school, Stenzel recalled. "I remember they made a big sign that said, 'Rumor Has It number one,'" she said. "It was very exciting." Burch helped found an annual concert series in Gainesville originally known as the Bruce Burch & Friends Honor John Jarrard Concert, which raised money for local nonprofits through the John Jarrard Foundation. Burch grew up with and went to school with Jarrard, a fellow songwriter and Georgia Music Hall of Fame member who died of complications related to diabetes in 2001. The foundation raises money for local nonprofits including Good News Clinics, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County and Georgia Mountain Food Bank. (Sources: Gainesville Times)

GEORGIA HIT SONG WRITER, MIKE DEKLE PASSES

Athens based songwriter Mike Dekle, passed away last Thursday, Feb 24th. Born in Panama City, Fla., Dekle's career as a songwriter took off in the early 1980s after moving to Nashville with a dream of find success as a solo artist. Acclaimed songwriter and producer Byron Hill was one of the first to take a chance on Dekle, agreeing to produce his song "Scarlet Fever." The tune soon caught the ear of Kenny Rogers, who recorded his own version of the track. It went to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1983. Soon after, Dekle signed a deal to write exclusively for Rogers. "Two Hearts, One Love," "People in Love," "Some Prisons Don't Have Walls" and "Someone Must Feel Like a Fool Tonight" are just a few of the songs he wrote for the country legend. After their contractual agreement ended in 1987, Dekle's song "A Day in the Life of a Fool" was recorded by George Jones for his 1988 album He Stopped Loving Her Today, and by Keith Whitley for his 1988 breakthrough LP Don't Close Your Eyes. In 1997, Tracy Byrd took "Don't Love Make a Diamond Shine," which Dekle co-wrote with Craig Wiseman, into the Top 20 on the country charts. Joe Nichols also made Dekle's "Size Matters (Someday)" a Top 10 hit in 2006. After moving to Athens, Dekle worked with Brantley Gilbert, co-writing and recording multiple tracks together for his albums Halfway to Heaven, Just As I Am, Read Me My Rights and The Devil Don't Sleep. Gilbert, who co-wrote his No. 1 hit "Country Must Be Country Wide" with Dekle and Colt Ford, shared a moving tribute to his friend and creative collaborator on Facebook. Dekle died after a battle with lung disease. (Sources: TasteOfCountry.com)

JACOB BYRANT DEBUTS ON THE GRAND OLE OPRY

Another Georgia country singer had made their way to the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Jacob Bryant debuted at the Grand Ole Opry this past Friday night, Feb 18th, just one month after the release of his Bar Stool Preacher album. Bryant was announced by Grand Ole Opry member and No. 1 Billboard charting artist, Mark Wills. His powerful performance of "Heartbeat" and "Sometimes I Pray" received a standing ovation from the audience. "I'm beyond grateful to have performed at such a historic venue like the Opry, which has played such a huge part in country music. To have had my wife, daughter and son as well as my team to experience this with me is an absolute blessing. God is good," Bryant shared. Jacob has been performing around north Georgia since his teens with always a dream to make it big time. Well, making it to the Grand Ole Opry is pretty much "big time". (Sources: TheCountryNote.com)

LOWELL OPRY RETURNS TO WEST GEORGIA

(Dec 21st, 2021), The Lowell Opry Show will RETURN to the west Georgia area starting in January. George Britt and his Lowell Opry Show will return to the stage on Saturday, January 1st at 2pm. The new location will be at Copeland Hall in Bowdon. For several years, the Lowell Opry will held on George Britt's land, south of Carrollton. The show ended a few years back as the Britts closed the show to travel and spend more time with family. But after demand for the show built, the band and cast for the show pulled back together to perform on the stage again. After playing shows in October and November, the decision to bring back the Opry was made. The Lowell Opry has been regarded as one of the best Oprys in Georgia. The show contains many classic country standards from the 60s to the 90s. Several guest singers have been part of the show in the past such as Mimi Gentry and Katie Deal.

MILL TOWN MUSIC HALL TO CLOSE AT END OF THE YEAR

(Nov 5th, 2021) The Mill Town Music Hall in Bremen will have their last concert on when John Berry takes the stage for his annual Christmas show. Mill Town Music Hall opened in January 2012 and had hosts 25-30 concerts every year. The theater is located at 1031 Alabama Avenue in the Mill Town Marketplace complex in a completely revamped facility that previously housed an Ingle's grocery store. Mill Town primarily hosted concerts by Classic Country, '90s Country, Motown, Classic Pop/Rock, Bluegrass, and Gospel artists. Some notable performers who have appeared at the venue include Loretta Lynn, Kenny Loggins, The Charlie Daniels Band, Sara Evans, Charley Pride, The Gaither Vocal Band, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tanya Tucker, The Oak Ridge Boys, and The Temptations. Mill Town Music Hall was founded by Bremen natives, Randall and Tena Redding. The Reddings had purchased the shopping complex a few years prior to Mill Town's opening to keep the shopping center vibrant after the flagship WalMart store vacated the center to build a new superstore. The venue has been recognized by many in country music as one of the premier concert venues in Georgia and the south. and in 2016 they received a Georgia Country Award for Concert Venue of the Year. Randal Redding passed away this past year which lead to changes at the venue. No particular reason for them closing has been given. The venue will be taken over by a local church.