Nashville Edition Trace Adkins from Country Superstar to Bike Gang Leader In The Lincoln Lawyer Page 7 Starring Matthew McConaughey Rising Country Star Photo Credit: Saeed Adyani Nicole Johnson Star Studded Harlow Salon The National Festival of the West Turns 21! Publicizing Entertainers & Entertaining Our Readers
LeGarde Twins 48 Year Old Dream Comes True The LeGarde Twins from Habana Queensland, the youngest of nine children raised in a two room shack dirt floor a wood stove two kerosine lights, no running water, no phones, no electricity but a dream in their hearts. They left school at 13 years old to work the sugar cane farm left home at fifteen to work on the Rocky Ponds cattle station up near Homehill for two years where they learned how to become real Stockman riding, roping, mustering, dipping cattle, droving through the heat and dust and living on bully beef and damper like you see in the Man From Snowy River. They were Buckjump Riders on the Rodeo circuit for two years then travelled with Wild West Shows, Circuses all over Australia. They learned to play the guitar singing country songs knife throwing, sharp shooting whip cracking and holding on to that dream. They went to Hollywood for five years returned to Australia in 1963 to fulfill their dream of having their own TV Show and that s when they were signed by ATN7 to star in a TV series called "Country Style" filmed at Artransa Studios in Sydney. After filming 14 Episodes they were signed to star in another TV show called Studio A which made headline news as the "TV SHOCK OF THE YEAR" and "Country Style was put on hold and it was never shown until now. 48 years later "Country Style" will have its World Television Premiere on January 2, 2011 on the Country Music Channel Network (CMC) in Australia. When the Twins were told that their "Country Style Show" was finally going to be seen, they let out a COO-EE CALL that would have echoed through the Snowy Mountains and made the comment, (how beautiful it is to be alive and never cease to dream). The Twins are still performing and are at present living in Nashville Tennessee and will be going to Australia next year. For more show information you can go to www.countrymusicchannel.com.au/cmc/showpage.aspx?id=220 For more on the LeGarde Twins you can go to www.legardetwins.com Place Your Music Business, Label or Artist Ad Today Advertise in the Country Entertainment USA Magazine Call (615) 474-0162 or E-mail ads@countryentertainmentusa.com PG 2
Country Entertainment USA STAFF Editor: Cindy Gordon Associate Editor: Holly Marie Tong Managing Editor, Sales, Marketing & Distribution Manager: Roy Skropits Writer: Doug Dyer CD Reviews: Brenda L. Madden GENERAL INFORMATION: info@countryentertainmentusa.com ADVERTISING & RATES: ads@countryentertainmentusa.com PRESS RELEASES: editor@countryentertainmentusa.com CONTENTS 2 LeGarde Twins 48 Year Old Dream Comes True 4 News Bits 8 Up Close with Star Studded Harlow Salon 10 CD Reviews 11 Best Lessons Doug Dyer 12 Rising Country Star Nicole Johnson 14 Up Close & Personal with The Least of Your Worries 15 Singer & Actress Lisa Dotolo 17 Museums, Theatres and Music Venues By Mail Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 Office (615) 977-1734 Cell (615) 474-0162 DISCLAIMER: Country Entertainment USA is not liable for any inaccuracies submitted by freelance writers, advertisers or publicists. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and writers are their own, and do not represent Country Entertainment USA Magazine or Publisher. PG 3
The National Festival of the West Turns 21! The National Festival of the West is coming of age in the spring! This long-running western event will celebrate its twenty-first Anniversary at beautiful WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona March 17-20, 2011. (Rollie Stevens, Mary Brown and Gene Butts) The festival is now under new management and new ownership. Former owner and Trail Boss Mary Brown is handing over the reins to Country Music entertainer, Rollie Stevens of Phoenix and his business partner Gene Butts of the New Pioneers, a traditional Western singing group of Sugar Land, Texas. As festival performers, the new owners will strive to keep the Cowboy Spirit alive and carry on the Old West traditions that have been so carefully demonstrated by the previous owner throughout the years. Voted America s Best Western Festival five years in a row by True West Magazine, the annual event brings nearly 10 million dollars into the local economy. Thousands of visitors from all 50 states and multiple foreign countries travel to Arizona each spring to be a part of America s Western culture. Over 200 exhibitors will market authentic Western merchandise during the four-day shopping expo, one of the largest trade shows of its kind in the nation. Exhibits are juried for quality and appropriateness. Other festival activities include several stages of continuous Western entertainment, Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Chuck Wagon Cook-off Contests, Historic Mountain Man Rendezvous, Arizona Gunfighters Reenactments, Old West Costume Contests, Cowboy Spirit Award and the ever-popular Western Film Festival, where attendees have a chance to meet and visit with famous TV and film star celebrities. The National Festival of the West focuses heavily on family activities. The newly-expanded children and teen areas at WestWorld will include Western educational events, Old West storytellers, little buckaroo games, cowboy singing, Karaoke contests and many more activities for the young people. The main tent will feature nightly concerts, dances and top Nashville entertainment. For ticket information, festival hours and special discount days, check The National Festival of the West website: www.festivalofthewest.com For event schedules, contact Rollie Stevens: email@festivalofthewest.com For vendor applications, contact: Kathy Meek at 602-996-4387 PG 4
Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter Amanda Williams Develops A New Model for Publishing Companies with Hillbilly Culture Anyone, anyone can learn the craft of songwriting, this is the motto of Hillbilly Culture, the latest brainchild of Berklee honors graduate and songstress Amanda Williams. Hillbilly Culture adds new services to the traditional publishing company umbrella by creating educational opportunities and tool honing programs to aid in excelling any songwriter. Hillbilly Culture is more than just a music publishing company, says Amanda. It s a celebration of the traditional forms of entertainment and education - songs & story telling. We provide aspiring songwriters with tools to develop their ideas and teach writers how to use the craft beyond its commercial appeal. Songwriting is one of the best forms of creative expression; it s my firm belief that if everyone was a songwriter, we d have a happier and healthier society. Hillbilly Culture currently oversees the catalogs of Amanda Williams and her father, renowned tunesmith, Kim Williams, ASCAP, ACM, CMA, CCMA, Dove and NSAI award winner. His string of sixteen #1 hits has included the following: If The Devil Danced in Empty Pockets - Joe Diffie Ain t Goin Down Till the Sun Comes Up - Garth Brooks Papa Loved Mama - Garth Brooks It s Midnight Cinderella - Garth Brooks Who Needs Ya Baby - Clay Walker The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Reba McEntire After years of research and development, Amanda has crafted a unique set of programs for writers who sign up as Hillbilly Culture Club members. So many new songwriters come to town with stars in their eyes and become quickly discouraged because they don t know what to do next. Hillbilly Culture Club offers songwriters the tools and structure to build upon for future success. Amanda feels lucky that she was able to learn songwriting by sitting at the feet of the masters, watching her dad, Kim pen hit after hit with his co-writers. She developed Hillbilly Culture Club to offer that same opportunity to aspiring songwriters everywhere. We interview hit songwriters, like Dad, record company executives, publicists, radio DJs, and other industry professionals & compile their advice into short video clips in our Video Vault. www.hillbillyculture.com PG 5
JAMEY JOHNSON S 25-SONG DOUBLE ALBUM THE GUITAR SONG CERTIFIED GOLD Critically Acclaimed Project Earns Two Grammy Nominations Jamey Johnson s critically acclaimed 25-song double album, The Guitar Song, which received two Grammy nominations including the prestigious Country Album of the Year, has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. My dream already came true, he says. All I ever wanted was just to get to ride around and sing country music. It s cool when things like that happen along the way. Because those are the things I never thought I could achieve. Whether or not it s gold or platinum or hell, diamond for that matter, it wouldn t surprise me anymore. I ll just keep doing what I do. I wake up every day and go play some more country music and have another drink. The project also received a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the song Macon. He received a third Grammy nomination in Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for Bad Angels with Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert. As an album, The Guitar Song is the collection of this journey, Johnson says. It s one that goes all the way around. It starts off in a deep, dismal, dark place and ends up in a far better place. That s what has happened to me over the past several years. Something that started in a dark corner has ended up getting to be all over the country. I ve seen some of the most beautiful places I ve ever seen in my life the past several years and I wouldn t trade that for anything. December has been a month of tremendous honors for Johnson. In addition to his Grammy nominations, his album has been prominently featured on numerous 2010 best-of lists and he was invited to pay musical tribute to one of his idols, Merle Haggard, at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. The Guitar Song was ranked No. 5 on Rolling Stone s Best Albums of 2010 and Macon was ranked No. 23 on Rolling Stone s Best Singles of 2010. What does Jamey Johnson keep under all of that hair? Songs, says Rolling Stone. Nashville s gruffest and grittiest star turns out to be its most reliable traditionalist, a Music Row pro who can write a song for every emotional season. Johnson pulled out a whole slew of them 25, clocking in north of 105 minutes for his double-disc fourth album: acoustic confessions and rugged boogie blues, big weepers and grim reapers, cover tunes and novelty ditties, not to mention California Riots and Playing the Part, a pair of fiercely funny, unrepentantly redneck swipes at the frou-frou blue states. In early 2011, Johnson will join Kid Rock on his national Born Free tour, which begins in front of a crowd of 60,000 on Jan. 15 at Detroit s Ford Field. While Johnson remains appreciative of his honors and accolades, they remain secondary to the fact that he s able to live his dream of writing and performing country music. The underlying current is that when I sit down to play music, I play music from my heart, says Johnson. As long as I can keep a grasp on that in some way through my career, hopefully I ll be all right. www.jameyjohnson.com or www.umgnashville.com PG 6
Rising Young Pianist/Vocalist Randell K Nominated in the "Jazz Artist Of the Year" category for 2011 Randell K., rising young pianist-vocalist in the Los Angeles music scene, has been nominated in the "Jazz Artist Of the Year" category for the 2011 (21st Annual) Los Angeles Music Awards, it was announced by LAMA Executive Producer, Al Bowman. The 21st Annual LA Music Awards are again expected to take place at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios Lot, with date TBD. Randell K's talents were acknowledged early on when he was one of the youngest artists ever to perform live at the storied Catalina Bar & Grill, as well as the Vine Street Bar & Grill, both in Hollywood, Calif., sharing the stage with the likes of Manhattan Transfer and other A-List acts. Randell K's self-titled debut disc, released this past year, was produced by Keg Johnson and William Zimmerman, whose past credits include Will Smith, Levert, LL Cool J and The Spinners, to name a few. The young musician was a recent guest and performed live on Actors E Chat, a popular Hollywood-based TV and variety program. www.randellkwakefield.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coming March 18, 2011 THE LINCOLN LAWYER, based on the best-selling novel by Michael Connelly SYNOPSIS: Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of his career: defending Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and attempted murder. But the seemingly straightforward case suddenly develops into a deadly game of survival for Haller. CAST: Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller, Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson, Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet, Academy Award nominee William H. Macy as Frank Levin, John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, Michael Peña, and Emmy winner Bryan Cranston and Country Superstar Trace Adkins as bike gang leader Eddie Vogel. www.thelincolnlawyermovie.com Photos by Saeed Adyani PG 7
Up close With the Star Studded Harlow Salon (Interview With Stylist Shana Dyer) by Holly Marie Tong I always wanted to make people feel good about themselves, whether that meant clapping the loudest after they perform their song or giving them a hair style that would make them feel beautiful, recalls stylist Shana Dyer. Shana, who co-owns Harlow Salon with Eva Clarke indeed always knew she wanted to be a stylist but not just any stylist. Shana wanted to be a stylist for the stars a dream that she, Eva and the rest of the Harlow Salon staff have most certainly met and exceeded and continue to live as they operate one of the most successful well noted salons in all of Nashville. Shana and Eva clearly shared a vision, but where did the journey begin? Shana explained that she and Eva met in 1999 at a huge salon and day spa where they were both working. Interestingly, their stations were placed right next to each other. Not surprisingly, this lead to extensive conversation and the two getting to know each other and their future goals. They became best friends and would talk about owning their own salon and how they would be unique. Their philosophy was to start small and grow slow as slow and steady wins the race. Their thinking proved to be correct as they continued to expand and would find themselves outgrowing their current space and moving locations. Today they are located right on music row in the midst of all the music they love to support. While Harlow had a large selection of possibilities for a salon location, they wanted a location that would be the perfect representation of who they are. Now that Harlow is located on Music Row, they are able to be right in the center of the industry that they want to work with. As a result, they have been inspired to be avidly involved with their community and network to the fullest. Photo by Dove Photography You may be wondering what sets Harlow apart from other salons? While I could simply say everything, I believe it all comes down to the fact that they are as individually personable with their clients as they are equally, extensively and actively involved in the Nashville community. If Shana isn t doing hair or makeup, she is probably assisting an aspiring talent with anything from image consulting to helping promote their work or just doing something for someone out of the good of her heart. Harlow continually hosts benefits, holds charities, participates in fashion shows (one of which was a virtual fashion show to raise money for the March of Dimes), raises money for good causes, is involved with the Music City Marathon, sponsors events and writer s nights, and has parties of appreciation for their clients and truly goes above and beyond any salon I have ever personally known. With all this said, everything from the lighting, to the music, to the vintage atmosphere truly makes Harlow a unique experience. Whether you are an artist, mom, lawyer or management company, Harlow is always there to offer advice. They have worked closely with several artists in helping them develop their image. They advise on hair, makeup and even in some cases clothing (especially in preparation for a photo shoot). As aforementioned, Shana has always wanted to make people feel good about them and helping clients find their image is of course a confidence booster and an important component of their career as they pursue their passion. While it would be impossible to list everyone in the entertainment industry that calls Harlow their Salon or has graced their doors, some of Shana s main clients include Diana Degarmo (1st Runner up American Idol), Adam Craig, Shawn Mayer (Nashville Star Finalist), Erica Jo (Nashville Star Winner), hit songwriters, the PG 08
Nashville Predators and Ice Girls and numerous other artists and talents from shows such as Can You Duet, America s Got Talent, American Idol and Nashville Star. They also work hard each year for important events such as the CMA awards (this year was certainly no exception). Maybe you re not in the entertainment industry at all, but you re a future bride and you re already stressing about your wedding. One of Shana and Eva s biggest goals was and still is to make an extra big deal out of each bride s wedding day, while taking a big load off of what is already a stressful day. Harlow offers a princess package in which the bride and her party not only gets the obvious hair and makeup treatment, but is served a delicious lunch, drinks, and are offered a photographer to catch each special moment. Shana and Eva wanted to create a salon in which brides could just sit back and relax, while taking a big load off of what is often already a stressful day. Along these lines, Harlow salon is a place of encouragement as they tend to promote and represent strong, powerful women. Even the bathroom walls contain inspirational words and quotes. They wanted their salon to be an experience in which clients could leave not only feeling good on the outside but on the inside as well. When I asked Shana about what styles/looks tend to be in for the fall, she replied that red seems to be the hair color trend of the season. She also said hair accessories are huge right now as many girls have been placing flowers to add extra flair to their hair. She went on to say that glitter is very popular right now and they are doing a lot of glitter eyeliner for makeup. Photo by Art of Life Photography As for the guys she said that chunks of color are popular, along with full fauxhawks and the lighter, shaggier look is still in as well. Today alongside Shana and Eva Harlow consists of 5 other stylists each bringing something different to the table. While each stylist is undoubtedly multi-talented, they each come with individuality and a special talent that sets each of them apart. Shana is not only a great stylist who you can go to for color, haircuts, updos, makeup and more, but she is also exceptional with marketing and promotion. Eva is an extension specialist and an incredible stylist for the high fashion hair and make-up look. She is great at creating the pin-up hair style or the retro/vintage and rockabilly look. As a result, she is an excellent go to person for photo shoots. Carrie Kulas is the unique Brazillian Blowout specialist. Heather Day is the talented color specialist. Chris Pegram is a world renowned color educator and has been doing hair for 25 years. John Sherlock is an educator for the Sexy Hair product line and teaches classes on stage. Talented Katie McGuire is the salon manager. Slow and steady has certainly won the race as Shana Dyer and Eva Clarke are certainly living their dream as stars continually grace the doors of Harlow and their exceptionally strong ambition seems to only increase each day. It is safe to say the possibilities are endless Harlow Salon is located at: 1516 Demonbreun St #A Nashville, TN 37203 PG 09
Mail CD's for Reviews To: Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 by Brenda L. Madden Up To 5 Star Rating Matt Bailie / Matt Bailie KMDB True Vibe Entertainment / EMC Nashville www.mattbailiemusic.com Matt Bailie s CD opens with his debut single, Man Behind These Eyes, which he co-wrote with Donnie VanZant and Aaron Scherz. It is a heartfelt, well-written song, which Matt delivers with expertise. He also co-wrote five other songs on the CD. Legendary artists, Donnie VanZant and Johnny VanZant show up as Music Director while some of Nashville s finest musicians back Matt. Although recorded at several studios with several producers, there is no inconsistency here. Other favorite tracks on the CD are This ll Be A Memory and the haunting Only God Knows Why. This project is country to the core and reminiscent of an early Garth Brooks. I am looking forward to watching Matt Bailie s career grow! Natasha James / Tequila Time Highway One Records www.natashajames.com California artist, Natasha James offers up a new CD, Tequila Time. Aptly titled, the project includes some good drinkin songs like Tequila Time, Boy Do We Drink, and Straight To Hell. Overall it is a honky-tonk sound mixed with a little blues, rock and some bluegrass - making for a unique sound - although it feels more California than Nashville. Writing twelve of the fifteen cuts, Natasha delivers her songs with a smoky, barroom vocal. Although a somewhat basic CD, Natasha has fun with the songs like Stuck In Atlanta, which in turn makes the listener s toes start tappin. Eileen Carey / Movin On www.eileencarey.com Although a successful actress with roles in Batman, Hoffa and Basic Instinct, Eileen Carey, still had music in her heart, so she started singing again and has since released several albums. Her latest CD, Movin On is a collection of mostly self-penned songs, which has country roots, but is infused with a pop and blues flavor - giving it an Americana feel. Her writing lends itself well to the female market, especially with these fun anthems, Out With The Girls and He s No Mr. Right, He s Mr. Right Now. There is believability in her vocals and encouragement in her words. Eileen Carey is an artist dedicated to using her gift to bless others and is donating a portion of the proceeds from this album to children s charities. PG 10
Best Lessons If you talk to people from the sports world, everything in life relates to sports somehow. Truth is, they re not very far off. Just ask Kenny Chesney, one of the biggest country music stars in the genre s history, how much he has learned about life as it relates to the game he loves the most: football. In his recent documentary Boys of Fall, he brings to us football at its purest form; getting down in the dirt, having fun and learning about the importance of teamwork. All are themes we could apply to improve our own lives. The fact the movie revolves around football is important, but its message certainly is not a new concept. Since the days of leather helmets, football has taught young men about working together and relying on your fellow man to get the job done. But in this 21st Century, some of the principles that make football (and sports in general) important in a young person s growth have been overshadowed by other themes: money, deceit, fame and an overemphasis on winning. Take the turmoil surrounding the Auburn University football program and its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Cameron Newton, for example. Overshadowing the Tigers 12-0 regular season and march to the BCS National Championship Game are the alleby Doug Dyer Sometimes the best lessons come from the most unexpected places. gations surrounding Newton s father, Cecil, and possible recruiting violations during the past year. Cam Newton and his teammates have worked together to have one of the best seasons in Auburn history, and most people only will remember the controversy of whether he should be declared ineligible because of his father s alleged transgressions. It s a far cry from the days of pee wee football, where youngsters toddle around in oversized pads and helmets trying to learn all about the game. So kudos go out to Chesney for his look back at what makes football great: fun, fellowship and life lessons. He talks to legends of the game such as John Madden and Bobby Bowden, while stopping off for a little barbecue with future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and even checking in with some of those pee wee footballers from around the Nashville area. But he s not the only superstar, music or otherwise, to go back to their roots and pay tribute to the things that helped them succeed. Chesney always has had a connection with football, whether it s making friends with NFL players and coaches like the ones he showcases in the movie, or coming back to his hometown of Knoxville to support his University of Tennessee Volunteers. His movie and the single of the same name from his new album Hemingway s Whiskey evoke memories of those times when football was much simpler. Entertainment icons and professional sports figures both reach out through various charities and philanthropic projects to help keep that fire of sports at its purest level alive. Whether it s Cal Ripken s work with youth baseball or the RBI Baseball program (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) that reaches out to a new generation of young people who did not grow up playing the game, the goal of keeping sports more about learning those life lessons is being met. So amongst all the turmoil that can surround the sports world, it s refreshing to see someone like Chesney reach into the past and pull out all the good memories of times when athletes were concerned with things other than the almighty dollar. We Want To Hear From You Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 We value our readers opinions, so if you have an idea for an article or story, suggestions or comments, compliments or complaints, don't hesitate to tell us. Let s Make 2011 a Great Year to Remember PG 11
Hanging out With Rising Country Star Nicole Johnson by Holly Marie Tong As the music business competition seems to be on the increase, so does the need to be a wellrounded, musician with individual characteristics. Sixteen year old Nicole Johnson may be young in years, but her understanding of the music business and strong work ethic positively places her as a frontrunner for a prosperous career of longevity. Aside from the fact that it takes a special talent to excel in Nashville, personality and ability to connect with listeners plays an equally important role. Always sporting a smile, she maintains a genuine candid youthful image while possessing the maturity and insight necessary for her endeavors. As beautiful as she is talented, once you ve met her, you will not forget her. While she of course has to work towards her goals every day like every other aspiring artist, I found something rather unusual in Nicole s journey. We so often hear the terms chasing your dreams and looking to gain new fans. However, upon hearing her story I couldn t help but think that she couldn t run from her dreams if she tried, because her dreams actually appear to be chasing her and the fans appear to be finding her. What I mean by this is that while she officially made the big move to Nashville, the doors of opportunity continually seem to opening and any outside observer can see how well things are falling into place for her career. Nashville music listeners and professionals have taken quick notice of her and she has earned an impressive following and support network in a short amount of time. Whenever this type of situation is taking place, it is certain that this is a special artist and something just feels meant to be about this particular scenario. Nicole s unusually fast rising career began back home in Louisiana. Music has always been a part of Nicole s life and singing is what she has always wanted to do. She can recall getting her first guitar and writing her first song at just age 7. In October 2008, doors of opportunity began to open as Nicole got a call from a Baton Rouge disc jockey who had heard her singing at a studio. He was wondering if she would be interested in singing a Christmas song that he had written with local songwriters. Nicole went for it, and the song If Jesus Came Back became a regional radio hit being played in 22 different states. She was also making a splash on You Tube, and Myspace receiving messages and requests. An understandably significant moment for Nicole was her first big crowd when she was the opening act for country band Lonestar. Beginning in January of 2009, she began making continuous trips to Nashville. In just a year and a half, she had experienced the tiring 8 ½ hour drive 40 times. She began meeting with music business executives, producers and started recording. By that spring, she was already co-writing with some of Nashville s top songwriters including Keith Follese, Victoria Shaw, Richard Fagan and others. Young Nicole has unusually written with at least twelve #1 writers to date. Although, she acknowledges Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood as some of her biggest influences, Nicole would describe her music as her own. She is country yet contemporary, writes about her life, always finding it important to write music that people can relate to. It is very important that her songwriting speaks to people and she loves to see the crowd reactions. As a high school student who maintains a balance of school during the day and writing music, going to events or the studio by night, you can expect Nicole to write Photo by Glenn Sweitzer PG 12
about anything from guys/relationships or maybe even girls she used to be friends with. Nicole s utmost respect and support for the songwriting community is one of the many qualities that sets her apart. It is certain that she has not only has powerhouse vocals and the very characteristics of a successful entertainer, but she is also an avid member and supporter of this crucial community that is needed in order for great songs to continue to be delivered to music listeners everywhere. I also admire the fact that Nicole has such a strong passion for performing for benefits whether big or small and she truly has a heart for good causes. She and her family undoubtedly find it important to give back and get involved. Recently, Nicole completed her first EP project. She is currently working on an acoustic one that her fans have been greatly anticipating and are anxious to hear. On the horizon for 2011 are continued goals in which she plans to play out more, do more shows and work on her tour schedule. Get to know the name Nicole Johnson if for some reason you haven t heard of her yet, you soon will. Twitter by going to: twitter.com/musicbynicole Join her Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/nicolejohnsonofficial You can also find her on You Tube by going to: www.youtube.com/user/musicbynicolejohnson Subscribe To Country Entertainment USA Only $36 for US & $48 for International Name: Address: City: State: Zip: PH: E-Mail: Make Check Payable to: Country Entertainment USA - Mail To: Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 PG 13
Up Close and Personal with The Least of Your Worries This time I have found a young band that I would feel confident to place my bets on.under two simple conditions: They stay together never waivering in their focus and they never change who they are. The band? The Least Of Your Worries consisting of Sam Hunter (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard), Forest Miller (Vocals/Bass/Violin) & Austin Valentine (Vocals/ Drums). The origin of the name? The trio was trying to think of a name for their band before their second gig together, when Joe Hunter (Father of Sam) replied, A band name is the least of your worries. I would agree with Mr. Hunter wholeheartedly, as talent level or the essence appeal of this band would be the least of my worries. Why? Because they have it. All it takes to see what I see is to simply see them perform a song together. With tight harmonies, catchy tunes and a young heartthrob image, the spotby Holly Marie Tong In Music City USA, becoming a mainstream musician is far from being an uncommon endeavor. After all, every day more and more polished talents make the big move to Nashville in pursuit of their music dreams. Unfortunately based on my observations, so many of these talents seem to try to mimic/mirror the image and sound of their fellow musicians. Even more unfortunately, this cookie cutter approach seldom works. Don t get me wrong whether similar to one another or not, we have a town of incredibly gifted entertainers and I would never ever want to undermine that. In a perfect world, every one of them would have a record deal and radio play. However, I must also admit I simply do not get excited about every act I see because I am such an advocate for musical diversity. The music business certainly doesn t come with guarantees and I am definitely not a record executive.but I can honestly say I have a bit of a track record in singling out a song before it becomes a hit or spotting talent before they make it big. PG 14 light is theirs for the taking and looks to be theirs for the long term keeping. Let me quickly explain though, I m by no means simply introducing you to a young talented boy band that would simply make teenage girls scream. While it s true that the teenage girls will scream, there is much more to the equation. I am introducing you to a group of exceptionally talented young men that have a truly unique priceless respect and gift for music that is way beyond their years. With the musical maturity of experienced veterans, this high school group successfully covers all bases and undoubtedly can reach all ages and all audiences. They would describe themselves as having an English/classic rock, pop kind of sound. Upon hearing them sing, you can hear a combination of their influences ranging from the Beatles to the Eagles to general R & B. They have recently just released a self-titled LP The Least Of Your Worries. When listening to this CD, I felt like I was not only getting to take a trip back in time to the music of those who paved the way, but I also feel that I am listening to the future of what our music world can become. Their LP is contains a wide variety of tunes showcasing their range and appreciation for musical diversity. I equally enjoy listening to these guys whether I m driving down the interstate, in the mood to jam, in the midst of doing my laundry or simply wanting to kick back. Due to my own personal taste, this does not happen often. With all this said, I truly believe we could be looking at the "Next Big Thing" here. I m a huge supporter of this rising group and see an immeasurable amount of potential. Now you may be wondering where can you catch them? Well, they ve been booking monthly spots at the Red Rooster and playing in various locations around town. On January 4th, they will be playing the Rutledge for the Billy Block show at 7:00. www.facebook.com/theleastofyourworries
Getting to know singer and actress Lisa Dotolo by Holly Marie Tong The first time I seen Lisa Dotolo hit the stage, it would have been easy for me to assume that she would simply sing some strong country tunes you know, the talented Nashville sound that we all know and love. I mean the typical, pleasant, expected sound that can at times be a dime a dozen. Having never met Lisa, I assumed she would be great but what I didn t expect was the richly, unique one of a kind voice that positively remains in a league of her own. With very clear, angelic-like vocals that take on a Celtic kind of sound, Lisa s vocal versatility and adaptability is a very rare find. She can possibly be described as Emmy Lou Harris meets Jewel with a bit of Bonnie Raitt in the mixture. With a background in musical theatre and acting, it is safe to say that Lisa Dotolo has a strong gift for the arts and is one of our most multi-faceted entertainers in Music City. It is also safe to say that she is her own person, never seeking to duplicate or be like someone else. Instead she brings a refreshing sound while incorporating her whole heart and soul in her songwriting with a refusal to compromise who she is. Lisa who moved to Nashville from Rochester New York originally hails from Westerly, Rhode Island. She started her music career at just age 3 in the church with her mother Sandra, cantoring the Catholic mass as well as singing in the local church folk group. (Today, she is a cantor at the Cathedral of the Incarnation of West End Ave in Nashville). As a young girl she began to write songs finding inspiration from her own life and those around here. If you simply listen to just one of Lisa s original songs, you will see that she is not only an incredible musician and vocalist, but she has the unique gift of understanding every day people and making her music relative for all audiences. Alongside her recording endeavors, she hopes to one day pursue her love for theatre on Broadway. She also hopes to one day expand and launch artists on her label (Bella Mere). PG 15 To date, she has released two CD s and is continuing to write and record as she is working towards her dream of having an international music career. Her new CD entitled Doing It All My Way is a unique blend of pop, country, Americana and rock. This album can be described as a bare bones record as it is acoustic and Lisa s vocals are emphasized and showcased. Lisa humbly explained that her album is a collection of work tapes which I found to be amazing because her vocals prove to be absolutely incredible without any fancy production. However, I wasn t entirely surprised by her this because Lisa Dotolo can be described as genuine and real. Just from having a short conversation with her you will learn that she does music for her love of the arts, her understanding of people, and her desire to be a role model. It remains of the utmost importance to her that God gets all the glory. It is clear that Lisa is definitely not following her chosen path for self - centered fame or fortune or glitz and glamour but simply because she truly loves what she does and she wants to make a positive difference. Lisa honestly wants to reach people and change lives always being respectable and admirable in what she is doing. When asking Lisa about her songwriting inspiration, she says that she writes about experiences, looking back at things and real life situations. She gets inspired through observation, speaking to people and staying involved in what is going on around her. She explained that she believes the best songs are written not by feeling forced or rushed but when inspiration truly strikes. She went on to say, You cannot
put a time clock on art and you cannot effectively write when forced..your heart and soul is best through inspiration. It is more artistic that way. Soak in what is going on around you and truly live life every day. I believe this to be a priceless piece of advice for myself and all other aspiring songwriters in town. This advice is just a small example of the inspirational thought, insight and encouragement that Lisa Dotolo brings people whether in simple conversation or in song. Currently performing in a broad array of venues, you can find Lisa in a wide variety of locations both locally and nationally. Excitingly Lisa has been a part of the A Scattered, Smothered and Covered Christmas starring Joyce DeWitt who you most likely know from the popular hit series Three s Company. In this popular play that has been going on since Thanksgiving time, you can see Lisa playing the role of a country music singer in the second act. It is safe to say that she feels right at home on stage! Her music is a breath of fresh air and her standout charisma will undoubtedly take her far. www.lisadotolo.com Place Your Ad Here Today Call (615) 474-0162 or E-mail ads@countryentertainmentusa.com or Mail To: Country Entertainment USA P.O. Box 100985 Nashville, TN. 37224 PG 16
Museums Country Music Hall of Fame Museum (615) 416-2001 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN. 37203 www.countrymusichalloffame.com Tennessee State Museum (615) 741-2692 505 Deaderick St., Nashville, TN. 37243 www.tnmuseum.org Adventure Science Center (615) 862-5160 800 Fort Negley Blvd., Nashville, TN. 37203 www.adventuresci.com Theatres The Belcourt Theatre (615) 383-9140 2102 Belcourt Ave., Nashville TN. 37212 www.belcourt.org Tennessee Repertory Theatre (615) 244-4878 161 Rains Ave., Nashville, TN. 37203 www.tennesseerep.org Music Venues B B Kings Blues Club (615) 256-2727 152 2nd Ave, N., Nashville, TN. 37201 Bluebird Cafe (615) 383-1461 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN. 37215 Bourbon Street Blues Bar (615) 242-5837 220 Printers Alley Nashville, TN. 37201 John A's (615) 885-1540 2421 Music Valley Dr, Nashville, TN. 37214 Legends Corner (615) 248-6334 428 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 Music City Bar (615) 883-2367 2416 Music Valley Dr., Nashville, TN 37214 Nashville Center Stage (615) 915-2043 514 8th Ave. S., Nashville, TN. 37203 Nashville Nightlife (615) 885-4747 2620 Music Valley Dr., Nashville, TN. 37214 Nashville Palace (615) 884-3004 2611 McGavock Pk., Nashville, TN. 37214 Robert's (615) 244-9552 416 Broadway, Nashville, TN. 37203 Ryman Auditorium (615) 458-8700 116 Fifth Ave. N., Nashville, TN. 37219 Second Fiddle (615) 248-4818 420 Broadway, Nashville, TN. 37201 Smeraldo's (615) 865-6533 701 Gallatin Pike N., Madison, TN. 37115 Stage (615) 726-0504 412 Broadway, Nashville, TN. 37203 Wildhorse (615) 902-8200 120 2nd Ave, Nashville, TN. 37201 Tootsie's (615) 726-0463 422 Broadway, Nashville, TN. 37203 Cadillac Ranch (615) 742-9078 305 Broadway, Nashville, TN. 37201-2005 Coyote Ugly (615) 254-8459 154 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN. 37201 Dan McGuinness (615) 252-1991 1538 Demonbreun St., Nashville, TN. 37203 Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar (615) 251-9002 210 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN. 37201 PG 17