George Jones’ had risen from a talented youngster performing on the street corner with his father to a superstar climbing the Top Ten charts in the 50′s. But soon his personal and professional life took a turn for the worse and was headed to a downward spiral in the 60′s and 70′s. It wasn’t until the 80′s with help from his fourth wife Nancy Sepulvada that Jones got back on track both in his life and with his music.  Remembering George Jones comes to a conclusion with his comeback and final years.

The 80’s

Musically, Jones began making a comeback in 1980 with a Top Ten duet with Tammy Wynette, “Two Story House,” early in the year. However, the song that pushed him back to the top of the charts was the dramatic ballad “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The song hit number one and started a new series of Top Ten hits and number one singles that ran through 1986. They were so successful it rivaled the peak of his popularity in the ’60s. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” was followed by the Top Ten hit “I’m Not Ready Yet” and the album ‘I Am What I Am’ in the fall of the 1980, which became his most successful album, going platinum.

From 1981-83, Jones had eight Top Ten hits. Although he was having hits again, he was still struggling with his personal demons. Jones was going on crazed, intoxicated rampages, which culminated with a televised police chase of Jones, who was driving drunk through the streets of Nashville. With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvada, whom he had married in March 1983, he was able to shake his drug and alcohol addictions. By the end of the year he had completed his rehabilitation.

Jones continued to have hits on the Top Ten regularly until 1987, when the onset of newer artists dominated and kept Jones’ music off the charts. Interestingly, these same artists were heavily influenced by Jones himself. In 1987 Jones and his wife moved back to Nashville where he recorded his final album with Billy Sherrill in 1988 titled ‘One Woman Man’. This album was Jones’ final solo Top Ten hit as well as his last record for Epic Records.

The 90’s

Despite no longer having a huge presence on modern country radio in 1990’s, Jones continued to record and tour. After the release of ‘One Woman Man’, Jones recorded a duet with Randy Travis, “A Few Ole Country Boys,” that was a Top Ten hit in the fall of 1990. Jones had signed with MCA and released his first record for them in 1991 titled ‘And Along Came Jones’. In 1995, he reunited with his ex-wife Wynette to record ‘One’. In April of 1996, Jones published his autobiography, I Lived to Tell It All. In the book, he devoted a full chapter to the changes in the country music scene of the 1990′s. In his later years Jones was also very vocal about his disappointment for the direction country music has taken in the last two decades. In 1998, he released another studio album titled ‘It Don’t Get Any Better Than This’.

Final Years

Following the release of ‘It Don’t Get Any Better Than This’, Jones left MCA and moved to Elektra/Asylum, who signed him on the condition that he would record hardcore country music.

While Jones was completing work for his debut album for the label, he crashed his car into a bridge in Nashville on March 6, 1999. Though he was critically injured, he pulled through and recovered. However, the investigation revealed that Jones had been drinking and driving. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, DWI, and entered a rehab program.  The release of his debut album, ‘Cold Hard Truth’, went on as scheduled in the summer of 1999. He then went on to release the albums ‘The Rock: Stone Cold Country’ in 2001 and in 2005 ‘Hits I Missed…And One I Didn’t', which found Jones looking back over the years and picking songs that he originally declined to record, but were hits for the other artists. On the record, he recorded a duet with Dolly Parton titled “The Blues Man.” In 2006 he released the album ‘God’s Country: George Jones and Friends’. His final album was released by Vanguard Records in 2008 titled ‘Burning Your Playhouse Down’.

Jones has received many honors during his long career, from Most Promising New Country Vocalist in 1956 to being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and being named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2008. In 2012, he was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. At the ceremony, his longtime friend Merle Haggard paid tribute to him. His many awards include Billboards, Grammys and CMA’s.

In popular view, George Jones was the finest vocalist in the recorded history of country music. He started out as a hardcore honky tonker in the tradition of his idol Hank Williams and developed effective subtle ballad style while staying closer to the roots of hardcore country. Throughout his career, he never left the top of the country charts and overcame his personal struggles. Many others have paid tribute to Jones while expressing their love and respect for his legacy. George was a true country legend who paved the way for many country stars’ success.  He will always be remembered by music fans.

Image credit: George Jones via Facebook

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In the previous article, the early years of country music artist George Jones were discussed. Jones’ star was rising rapidly; however, his career and his personal life took a tumultuous turn during the 60′s and the 70′s, and his numerous difficulties are discussed below.

The 60s

In the sixties, Jones had a number of hits which included “Achin’, Breakin’ Heart”  in 1962. This would be his last hit for Mercury Records, as Daily became a staff producer for United Artists Records (UA) in 1962 and Jones followed him to the label. His third number one hit was his first single for UA, “She Thinks I Still Care.” In 1963, Jones began performing and recording with Melba Montgomery and their first duet, “We Must Have Been out of Our Minds,” was their biggest hit, peaking at number three. They continued to record together throughout 1963-64 and in 1966-67, though they never again had a Top Ten Hit.

In his solo work, Jones had a number of hits in 1963 and 1964, peaking with the third hit “The Race Is On” in the fall of 1964. The next year, Daily had Jones move to the new record label Musicor. His first hit single for Musicor, “Things Have Gone to Pieces,” was in the spring of 1965. Between 1965 and 1970, he had 17 Top Ten hits for Musicor. During his five years at the label, Jones recorded almost 300 songs. Among them were first-rate songs that included country classics like “Love Bug,” “Walk Through This World With Me,” and “A Good Year for the Roses.”

Like any artist, Jones also recorded mediocre material as he made some records that were genuine tributes or experiments. He also tried to fit into contemporary country styles, such as the Bakersfield sound, and many of his attempts did not result in hits. However, he consistently charted the Top Ten with his singles, if not with his albums. And only two, his 1965 duet George Jones & Gene Pitney and 1969′s “I’ll Share My World With You,” charted.

The 70’s

In the 70’s, Jones parted ways with Musicor and Daily. In the process he signed away all the rights to his Musicor recordings. The label continued to release Jones’ albums for a couple of years, and licensed recordings to RCA, who released two singles and a series of budget-priced albums in the early ’70s. In October 1971, Jones signed with Epic Records. This year was a busy year for the singer as he and Tammy Wynette became the biggest stars in country music, racking up a number of Top Ten hits as solo artists and sold out concerts across the country as a duo.

At the end of the year, he cut his first records for Epic and began working with his new producer Billy Sherrill, who was also responsible for Wynette’s hit albums. At first, Jones and Sherrill had a tense relationship as Sherrill was known for his lush, string-laden productions and his precise, aggressive approach in the studio. Under his direction, musicians were there to obey his orders and that included the singers as well. Jones had been accustomed to the relaxed style of Daily, who was the polar opposite of Sherrill. Eventually the men developed a positive working relationship and because of the that, Jones became an official ballad singer.

Jones’ successful career at Epic started in 1972. His first solo single for the label, “We Can Make It,” was a celebration of Jones’ marriage to Wynette, and was written by Sherrill and Glenn Sutton. “The Ceremony,” Jones and Wynette’s, also became a Top Ten hit. “Loving You Could Never Be Better” followed its predecessors into the Top Ten at the end of the year. Though Jones’ music career was making even more gains, his personal life wasn’t. His marriage to Wynette had become an interest to their fans, and privately the couple had problems. They fought frequently and Jones was sinking deep into alcoholism and drug abuse, which escalated as the couple continued to tour together. In August of 1973, Wynette filed for divorce. Shortly after she filed the papers, the couple decided to reconcile and her petition was withdrawn. However in 1975, the couple divorced.

Throughout this time, Jones’ music continued to be a success. In 1973, every single that Jones released was in the Top Ten. He and Wynette also had a number one single titled  ”We’re Gonna Hold On.” In the summer of 1974, Jones had his first number one hit since “Walk Through This World With Me” called “The Grand Tour,” a song that described a realistic picture of a broken marriage. He followed it with another number one hit, “The Door.” Not long after its release, he recorded “These Days (I Barely Get By),” which featured lyrics co-written by Wynette.

Soon enough, Jones began to have trouble musically. Between 1975 and the beginning of 1980, he had only two Top Ten solo hits — “These Days (I Barely Get By)” (1975) and “Her Name Is” (1976). Though divorced, Jones and Wynette continued to record and tour together, and that is where he stacked up hits, beginning with the back-to-back 1976 number ones, “Golden Ring” and “Near You.” The decrease in hits was a direct result of the downward spiral in Jones’ health in the late ’70s, when he became addicted not only to alcohol, but to cocaine as well. Jones became notorious for his drunken, intoxicated rampages, often involving both drugs and shotguns. Jones would disappear for days at a time. He began missing a substantial amount of concerts — in 1979 alone, he missed 54 shows — which earned him the nickname “No-Show Jones.” In her 1979 autobiography Stand By Your Man, Wynette recalled waking at 1 AM to find her husband gone:

“I got into the car and drove to the nearest bar 10 miles away. When I pulled into the parking lot there sat our rider-mower right by the entrance. He’d driven that mower right down a main highway. He looked up and saw me and said, ‘Well, fellas, here she is now. My little wife, I told you she’d come after me.”

Flirting with rock & roll, Jones’ career began to pick up in 1978, when he covered Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” with Johnny Paycheck and recorded a duet with James Taylor called “Bartender’s Blues.” Both singles went Top Ten and led to an album of duets, ‘My Very Special Guests,’ in 1979. Though the album was set to be a return to the top of the charts for Jones, he was absent from the scheduled recording sessions and had to overdub his vocals after his partners recorded theirs. His self-destructive behavior brought him close to death, and doctors told the singer he had to quit drinking. Jones checked into a rehab clinic but left after a month, uncured. He was also in an Alabama psychiatric hospital by the end of the decade. Due to his cocaine addiction, his weight had fallen from 150 pounds to a mere 100. He was often penniless and admits that Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash came to his financial aid during this time.

Part three discusses how he overcame these obstacles and regained his momentum on the charts and his later years.

Image credit: George Jones via Facebook

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On April 26, 2013, American country music star George Jones passed away at the age of 81. During his lifetime he was known for his numerous hits and his distinctive voice. He had more than 150 solo and duet hits during his career, and was frequently referred to as the greatest living country singer during the last twenty years of his life. In writing about Jones, country music scholar Bill C. Malone wrote, “For the two or three minutes consumed by a song, Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved.”  In his song “It’s Alright,” Waylon Jennings sang: “If we all could sound like we wanted to, we’d all sound like George Jones.” Jones’ astounding career wasn’t without its countless personal and professional difficulties, but he overcame many of them towards the end of his life.

Early Years

Born in Saratoga, Texas, and raised in Vidor, Texas, along with his brother and seven sisters, he heard country music for the first time at the age of seven after his parents purchased a radio. When he was nine he was given a guitar and he was hooked and soon playing on the streets of Beaumont with his father earning some spare change. When he was sixteen, he left home for Jasper, TX where he performed at a local radio station. In 1950, at the age of nineteen, he married his first wife Dorothy but within a year the couple divorced. In 1951, Jones enlisted in the Marines as the Korean War was underway, and never served overseas as he was stationed in California for his entire service. When he was discharged, Jones began performing again and this is when his music career took off.

The 50’s

Record producer and co-owner of a local Texas label Starday Records, Pappy Daily, discovered Jones and signed him to the label in 1953. Jones’ first single “No Money In This Deal” was released in early 1954 to little attention. Three more of Jones’ singles were released by the label that same year and all were ignored. Jones’ first hit came late in the summer of 1955. Titled “Why, Baby, Why,” it peaked at number four on the country charts, but never gained momentum, as it was halted by a cover version by Webb Pierce and Red Sovine which hit number one.

Despite these setbacks, Jones was on his way as he was secured a spot by Daily on the Louisiana Hayride where he co-billed with Elvis Presley. In 1956 Jones’ songs were regularly featured on the Top Ten. Among them were “What Am I Worth” and “Just One More.” In August, Jones joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry and his first album appeared by the end of the year.

Jones’ records began appearing under a new label in 1957 as Starday Records had signed a distribution deal with Mercury Records. He began recording in Nashville and his first single under the new label “Don’t Stop the Music” was a Top Ten hit.  Throughout 1958, his songs were landing near the top of the charts, culminating with “White Lightning,” which spent five weeks at number one in the spring of 1959. Two years later, his next big hit “Tender Years” arrived and stayed for seven weeks at number one. This hit pointed the way toward Jones’ later success as a singer of ballads, since the song displayed a smoother production and larger arrangement than his previous hits.

Read more about George Jones’ struggle and success in part two and part three.

Image credit: George Jones via Facebook

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Nashville, U.S.A - Country music’s newest sweetheart, Colby Dee, has been tapped as the exclusive artist to perform her inspirational single, “I Will Fight On,” at the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure flagship event on Saturday, June 2; in Washington, D.C. Colby Dee will appear on the Race’s Main Stage on the National Mall.

Written specifically for her close friend, Joni Moore Kanazawa, who is currently battling breast cancer, “I Will Fight On” is extremely personal for Colby Dee. The song has been described by fans as a ‘cancer fighter’s battle cry’ and provides a message of strength and empowerment over the disease. Proceeds from iTunes sales go directly to help Joni offset medical costs.

“I am incredibly honored to be part of this year’s Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure,” said Colby Dee. “Not only is it exciting to perform in Washington, DC, but this fantastic event is a rewarding opportunity for everyone involved to give back and have fun.”

The annual race draws thousands of people to the National Mall for a 5K walk around the historic monuments. The event features entertainment, kids activities and represents Washington in a unique way with teams made up of congressional members and their staff. Moreover, 75% of the money raised from the race goes right back to programs in the greater Washington, D.C. area, focusing on Wards 7 & 8 and Prince George’s County, areas with some of the highest mortality rates in the country.

The other 25% goes to the foundation’s global community engagement in more than 50 countries. It’s an inspiring and uplifting morning, featured last year prominently in over 85 news stories.

“When I first heard Colby Dee’s song, ‘I Will Fight On,’ I knew it would be perfect for this year’s Global Race,” said Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen. “Its message of never losing hope is an inspiration, to me personally, and to the millions of women and families living through a breast cancer diagnosis.”

Image Courtesy of   Colby Dee Music

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Ontario, Canada – Grammy Award-Winner Keith Urban will get closer with fans when he performs live at Fallsview Casino’s Avalon theatre on August 27 & 28.

Garnering a reputation as one of music’s best live performers, Urban’s distinguished and innovative country-rock sound is sure to deliver a one-of-a-kind concert experience with favourites like “Sweet Thing”, “Days Go By”, “Without You” and “You’ll Think of Me”.

“It’s a thrill to have Keith, who is among the most celebrated country music artists, perform at the Avalon,” said Cathy Price, VP of Marketing at Fallsview Casino Resort. “The intimacy of our venue is a perfect fit for Keith’s shows because it allows him to connect with his audiences.”

Urban has been honoured with Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award, American Music Award, Australia’s coveted Aria Award, and most recently he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

For the more classic rock-n’-roll fan, Fallsview’s August artist line-up is proud to bring back former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. For three nights he will perform famous hits like Hotel California and Tequila Sunrise. Don Felder – An Evening at Hotel California will perform August 2, 3 & 4.
The complete August 2012 performance schedule for Fallsview Casino Resort is as follows:

Don Felder – An Evening at the Hotel California
Thursday, August 2
Showtime: 8:30pm, doors open at 7:30pm
Friday, August 3
Saturday, August 4
Showtime: 9pm, doors open at 8pm
Tickets start at $25
Formerly of the Eagles and co-writer of the legendary hit, “Hotel California”, Don Felder takes the stage to perform such hits as: “Hotel California”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Witchy Woman”.

Ron James
Friday, August 10
Saturday, August 11
Showtime: 9pm, doors open at 8pm
Tickets start at $25
Canadian actor, comedian and host of The Ron James Show, Ron James brings his unique blend of wit, sarcasm, and distinct Maritime accent to the stage of Fallsview Casino Resort.

Keith Urban
Monday, August 27
Tuesday, August 28
Showtime: 8:30pm, doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets start at $150
Four-time Grammy Award winner, Keith Urban will ignite the stage in a high energy performance when he performs such hits as: “You’ll Think of Me”, “Days Go By”, “Without You”, “Sweet Thing” and “Long Hot Summer”.

Songwriter’s Night
Friday, August 31
Saturday, September 1
Showtime: 9pm, doors open at 8pm
Tickets start at $20

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Reba, Vince Gill and so many more have all had hits written by five of Nashville’s most successful songwriters. Now experience Al Anderson, Bob DiPiero, Tim Nichols, Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman live in an intimate setting, as they perform the hits they have written and tell you the stories that inspired each one.

Image Courtesy of   Keith Urban

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NASHVILLE, U.S.A. – Casey Weston, country music recording artist and last season’s finalist from NBC’s “The Voice,” will have a big month.

She will perform the National Anthem for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 12, 2012. She also will do a special event for the VIPs in a private reception.

Weston also will join the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra during their Patriotic Pops program, a star-spangled celebration of America, at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 25-26.

“The 75,000 fans in attendance at Darlington and over 8 million television viewers will listen to one of country music’s rising stars,” stated Greg Terada, who has worked with the top music artists in the world.

“Performing the National Anthem for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will be another defining moment in my young career,” Weston said. “I’m excited to attend my first NASCAR race, and I can’t think of a better track than Darlington, one of the most historic racetracks in the sport. To have the opportunity to perform the anthem in front of tens of thousands of loyal and passionate NASCAR fans will mean a lot to me.”

Joining Weston in Darlington will be TV Producer and Music Manager Jacques Lambert and Event Producer, Music Manager and Consultant to “A List” Celebrities Greg Terada.

Weston, originally from Naples, Fla., began her performing career six years ago with both original songs and covers. Both originals and covers were well received and her audiences continue to grow. In 2009, Weston released her first album, 10 songs on the self-titled “Casey Weston.”

“I’m thrilled to return to my hometown to sing with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and see many of my friends and fans who helped me get started. I’ll never forget them. They mean so much to me,” she said.

Following the successful release of her first album, Weston auditioned on the popular show “The Voice” and was one of eight finalists in the inaugural season for the TV show sensation. Following her success on the “The Voice” Weston continues to stay in touch with her friend and coach Adam Levine, front man for Maroon 5.

The post-season “The Voice Finalists Tour” had Weston performing on stages across the nation. Weston has also performed at venues and festivals in Southwest Florida, the Old Rock House in St. Louis, Schuba’s in Chicago, NBC-Universal Studios in Los Angeles and the Women Today Expo in Ventura, California. She has also performed at the Commodore Lounge, Hard Rock Cafe, Rocketown and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. On the national concert circuit, Weston has opened for Top 40 and country acts such as James Otto, John Anderson, Craig Morgan and Justin Moore.

Follow Casey’s upcoming performances on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caseywestonmusic

Weston is being consulted by Greg Terada, former Executive Producer of Celebrity Fight Night withMuhammad Ali. Terada is known for creating and producing Red Carpet buzz with events such as Charity Jam with Alicia Keys and Kid Rock, the NBA All Star Game Main Event with Run DMC and Ashanti,Manny Pacquiao’s Ring “Walkouts” with “Eye of the Tiger” and Jimi Jamison, the Obakki Foundation Launch with Nickelback’s Ryan Peake and many more.

Image Courtesy of    Casey Weston

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St. Petersburg, FL, U.S.A. – HSN, the leading multi-channel retailer, has announced that multi-platinum, country superstar Josh Turner will debut his latest Universal Music Nashville release PUNCHING BAG and perform live during HSN LIVE on May 25 at 9 p.m. (EDT).  Part of HSN’s annual Americana event, the multi-platform concert sponsored by Cricket will be available live on HSN, HSN.com, HSN Mobile and through HSN’s Facebook page.

During “HSN LIVE Presents Josh Turner sponsored by Cricket,” Turner will perform tracks from PUNCHING BAG, including his latest hit “Time Is Love” and other chart-toppers such as “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Your Man.”

“It’s always exciting for me to share new music early with my fans, so I can’t wait to perform live on HSN during the HSN LIVE concert series. I love experiencing their reactions to the new songs,” said Turner.

HSN customers will have the opportunity to pre-order an exclusive 2-disc bundle ($19.95, free S&H) on HSN.com that includes Josh’s new PUNCHING BAG release and the ICON Series: The Best of Josh Turner, which includes 11 of his number one hits, such as “Long Black Train” and “Would you go with me”.

“HSN’s robust entertainment integration strategy has transformed the company into one of today’s hottest outlets for music artists to launch their new releases,” said Andy Sheldon, EVP of Television, Live Events and Creative for HSN. ”The recent HSN LIVE debut of Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee was a brilliant success and we are excited to once again partner with the talented team at Universal Music Nashville to welcome Josh to the HSN LIVE roster as part of our Americana event.”

Following his HSN premiere, Turner will interact with HSN’s Facebook fans during a live post-concert chat.

“HSN is a great platform to promote Josh Turner and his upcoming album PUNCHING BAG,” said Tom Lord, vice president of marketing for UMG Nashville. “This live concert event is a unique primetime opportunity to showcase Josh as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers as well as our genre’s most recognizable and distinctive voice.”

For more information about “HSN Live Presents Josh Turner sponsored by Cricket” and to pre-order the PUNCHING BAG set now, please go to www.hsn.com/joshturner.

Image Courtesy of   s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

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After 17 years of artistic work, Melissa Lou Etheridge received a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on September 27. Etheridge, American rock singer-songwriter and musician, received the 2,450th sidewalk star on Hollywood boulevard. To celebrate, she she gathered with her family, mother Elizabeth and two children, Bailey and Beckett.

Etheridge dedicated her star to anyone who has difficulties in life to overcome. She said her star provides proof that anything is possible in life. ”Let my life be an inspiration to anyone, gay, straight, breast cancer, woman, mother, any human being who receives the inspiration from my story,” Etheridge said during the ceremony.

“You can have a dream that you can grow up in a small Midwestern town and believe, and desire and create a life and end up with a star on the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.” According to ABC News, the ceremony took place in front of the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood and was refined with the Pinktober campaign, a series of concerts and events which aim to raise money and awareness about breast cancer.

The mission of the Pinktober campaign is of specific importance to Etheridge. The star has been an ambassador of it for six years since she  was diagnosed with breast cancer herself in 2004. The 50-year-old Etheridge is recognizable and treasured in the music world for her unique husky voice and for writing very personal lyrics.

She is also a devoted environmental advocate and iconic gay and lesbian activist since coming out publically in January 1993. Her most recognizable songs are “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One.” “I learned very early on that I could write truths,” Etheridge told CNN. “I could write about sadness or anger, where I couldn’t actually speak it.”

According to Sheknows.com, Etheridge appeared at the 2005 Grammy awards after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. In one of the most memorable moments in Grammy history, Etheridge performed for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer. She awed the audience with her touching interpretation of Janice Joplin’s Piece of My Heart.

In 2005, Etheridge received an Oscar for the song “I Need to Wake Up,” a soundtrack to An Inconvenient Truth of Al Gore. “When I realized that my music was being listened to internationally, it meant so much to me. It started to become very obvious to me that music is an international language.” Etheridge said when she received the award.

According to Biography, Etheridge released her thirteenth album, Icon, this year.
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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