Melonie Cannon to release “And The Wheels Turn” Oct. 7th
Nashville Tenn — Rural Rhythm Records is very proud to announce the first single radio release by Melonie Cannon titled “I Call It Gone.” The song is from Melonie’s highly anticipated upcoming new album titled, “And The Wheels Turn” set for release on October 7, 2008. “Melonie is an amazingly gifted and talented individual and we are thrilled to have Melonie as part of our growing Rural Rhythm Records family.”
“And The Wheels Turn” is the perfect vehicle for Melonie’s pure and powerful voice to shine as she moves through a variety of hand picked songs that showcase her soulful down home vocal style including the up-tempo, fun and liberating first single, “I Call It Gone.” Other album highlights include the passionate and reflective “Cactus In A Coffee Can”, “I’ve Seen Enough of What’s Behind Me” written by Ronnie Bowman and Tammy Rogers King, and “Mary Magdalene (Why You Cryin’), co-written by Ronnie Bowman, Melonie Cannon, Marla Cannon-Goodman and Buddy Cannon.
Also included is “Back to Earth” the beautiful duet performed with and written by country legend Willie Nelson. “Melonie Cannon is one of the best singers I know. Her new bluegrass album is fantastic. I love her voice anyway, but singing with a great bluegrass band was a good idea. They blend well together. The fact that I got to sing with her on a song I wrote makes it even better. Go Melonie,” said Willie.
The album is backed by an impressive list of musicians that reads like a “Who’s Who” from the Bluegrass & Acoustic music world including: Dan Tyminski, Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford, Randy Kohrs, Aubrey Haynie, Wyatt Rice, Jody King, Barry Bales, Deanie Richardson, and background vocals by Ronnie Bowman, Garnet Imes Bowman, Sonya Isaacs and more. Dan Tyminski stated, “Melonie Cannon’s heartfelt vocals will make you want to listen to her songs again and again.
Raised in the wings of the Grand Ole Opry, Melonie mingled as a young girl with the royalty of country music. She knew them through her father, songwriter and producer Buddy Cannon, a giant himself in Nashville, “Melonie’s voice is a gift, not just to her but to everyone who hears her sing. There are those who are great technical singers and then there are those whose voices transport a listener from where they are into the heart of the song. Melonie’s voice lives there. She was just fourteen when she sang on her first recording session and since then has appeared on many major artist albums including: Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Sammy Kershaw, John Michael Montgomery, and many more.
Melonie’s impressive debut solo album in 2004 received a very warm welcome by the media, radio, her peers and especially bluegrass and country music fans. “And The Wheels Turn” hopes to do the same again for Melonie as she clearly establishes herself as a new important emerging artist out from the shadows of those major artists that have known what some are now just discovering… Melonie Cannon has arrived!
For more information visit Melonie Cannon online.
No commentsAudie Blaylock & Rural Rhythm sign on the “Redline”
Nashville, Tenn — Rural Rhythm Records is pleased to announce they will release a brand new album by Audie Blaylock & Redline early 2009. The new CD will include the chart single, Lonesome Weary Heart, currently appearing on the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Singles Chart and debuting this month on XM Bluegrass Junction’s Top 30 Tracks. Rural Rhythm Records has also made the single available to Radio Stations via RadioSubmit.com and will be handling future Radio requests through the online service.
Grammy® award-winning producer, Carl Jackson says, “Audie Blaylock is one of the most talented folks in bluegrass music today. He’s a top-notch guitarist and vocalist and I’m very pleased to know there’s a new project on the horizon. When Audie is involved, you can bet the music will be bluegrass at its finest.”
“No holds barred, take no prisoners, hard driving’ bluegrass, just the way I like it,” is how Terry Herd (Bluegrass Radio Network) describes this band comprised of Audie Blaylock, Patrick McAvinue, Evan Ward, Matt Wallace and Jason Johnson.
The band has had a full schedule of tour dates this year, plus promotional appearances including an upcoming interview with Gracie Muldoon on the popular WorldWideBluegrass.com Radio show on August 29th at 1:00 pm EDT.
Audie Blaylock & Redline are scheduled to make numerous appearances at the upcoming International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) annual World of Bluegrass in Nashville including a performance at the IBMA FanFest on Saturday, October 4 at 1:00 pm. Other appearances that week include After Hours Showcase performances for Colorado Case, Bronzewound, and the South Florida Bluegrass Association. The single, Lonesome Weary Heart will be part of the IBMA Rural Rhythm CD Sampler available to all IBMA registrants at this year’s convention.
In 2005 and 2006, Audie Blaylock and Redline were nominated for the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year award. Since Blaylock began his career at age 19 when he joined Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys, he has received a multitude of other honors and awards including: the IBMA Entertainer of the Year award as a member of Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; 2007 IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year Award with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock; a Grammy® nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and an IBMA nomination for Recorded Event of the Year for “A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass.”
For more information on Audie Blaylock, please visit www.audieblaylock.com.
No commentsRural Rhythm Records announce new Bluegrass Radio Promo Release “Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks”
Rural Rhythm Records is set to release “Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks,” a sampler CD that will be released to radio.Nashville, Tenn. — Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce a Bluegrass Radio Release, “Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks.” The special promotional radio CD includes seven new singles from upcoming and current Rural Rhythm CDs by: Mountain Heart, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Mashville Brigade, Dwight McCall, Randy Kohrs, Rickey Wasson, and Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad. The CD will be arriving at Bluegrass Radio stations the first week in June. More information regarding these artists can be found on the label’s website at www.RuralRhythm.com
Tracks include:
“I Can Go Back Anytime” by Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain is the first single from the band’s highly anticipated new album titled “CHHR2” set for release July 29th. The song was written by Jennifer Strickland who also wrote their chart single, “Going on the Next Train” from their debut album. This new song definitely showcases their wide range of artistry and helps define their unique and powerful sound as they continue to take the bluegrass and acoustic market by storm. Musicians include: Carrie Hassler (lead vocals); Josh Miller (banjo); Kevin McKinnon (mandolin), Keith McKinnon (guitar), Travis Anderson (acoustic bass), and guests, Jim VanCleve (fiddle and harmony vocals) and Steve Gulley (harmony vocals).
“Losin’ In Las Vegas” by Rickey Wasson is from his upcoming debut solo album, “From the Heart & Soul.” Rickey is a member of J.D. Crowe & The New South and joins band and label mate Dwight McCall on this classic Haggard song from Merle’s “5:01 Blues” album. Musicians include: Rickey Wasson (lead and harmony vocals, guitar); Dwight McCall (harmony vocals), Ron Stewart (banjo & fiddle), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Harold Nixon (acoustic bass).
“Take This Hammer” by Mashville Brigade is from their new album, “Bluegrass Smash Hits, Volume 1.” The album, produced by Grammy® nominated Jim VanCleve (master fiddler and band member of Mountain Heart) is filled with 16 BIG HITS performed by some of the brightest young stars in Bluegrass today including: Ashby Frank (lead vocals & mandolin), Aaron McDaris (banjo & harmony vocals), Darrell Webb (guitar & harmony vocals), Jim VanCleve (fiddle), and Randy Barnes (acoustic bass).
“My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan’s Land” by Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad is from their upcoming eighth album “Pickin’, Praisin’ & Singin’: Hymns From The Mountain - Yesterday & Today.” The group was voted the 2007 Winner for “Bluegrass Gospel Song of the Year” by Singing News. Musicians include: Cody Shuler (vocals & mandolin), Jerry Cole (vocals & guitar), Elmer Burchett (vocals & banjo), Bill McBee (vocals & acoustic bass) and Matt Flake (fiddle).
“While The Getting’s Good” by Mountain Heart is from “Road That Never Ends - The Live Album.” This is the group’s first-ever Live Album recorded at the world famous venue, The Ark, in Ann Arbor, and features the title track, which is still on the Bluegrass Unlimited Charts, plus the song video is on CMT’s Pure Country TOP 12 Countdown. This is the last Mountain Heart album with band members Clay Jones and Adam Steffey. Musicians include: Josh Shilling (lead vocals & guitar), Barry Abernathy (banjo & harmony vocals), Jim VanCleve (fiddle & harmony vocals), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Clay Jones (guitar); Jason Moore (acoustic bass), and Produced by Jim VanCleve.
“If All Those Trains Were Still Around (I’d be an ol’ hobo) by Randy Kohrs is from the album, “Old Photograph” and also on the collection title “Bluegrass Goes Back to the Future.” Randy is the consummate music man - singer, songwriter, master resophonic guitarist, engineer, and Grammy® award winning producer. “Rockwells Gold”, the first single from Kohrs’ debut Rural Rhythm Records and reached the TOP 5 on the BU Charts. The next single, “Who’s Goin’ With Me,” music video went to #1 on CMT’s Pure Country Top 12 Countdown. Musicians include: Randy Kohrs (lead vocals & Dobro), Don Rigsby (harmony vocals), Scott Vestal (banjo), Jim Hurst (guitar), Tim Crouch (fiddle), Jesse Cobb (mandolin) and Jay Weaver (acoustic bass).
“West Virginia Ground” by Dwight McCall, is the second single from the album “Never Say Never Again.” Dwight’s powerful tenor vocals have placed him in an elite group of today’s top bluegrass singers and landed him in one of today’s top bluegrass groups, J.D. Crowe & The New South, playing mandolin and singing tenor vocals for the past 10 years. Dwight is the son of bluegrass veteran and Rural Rhythm artist; Jim McCall of famed Earl Taylor & Jim McCall. Musicians include: Dwight McCall (lead vocals & mandolin, Ricky Wasson (harmony vocals), Ron Stewart (banjo & fiddle), Randy Kohrs (Dobro), Brian Stephens (guitar), and Harold Nixon (acoustic bass).
No commentsRural Rhythm Records roster roundup
Tim Hensley will be featured in the May 16th country issue of People Magazine that includes an article,a review of Long Monday, Hensley’s debut on Rural Rhythm Records and a free song download.
Mountain Heart’s video for the title track of Road That Never Ends is currently in the #2 spot on CMT Pure 12 Pack Countdown. To vote for Mountain Heart visit CMT here.
Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain will be releasing a new single, “I Can Always Go Back Anytime” “I Can Go Back Anytime,” written by Jennifer Strickland, this month. Hassler and Hard Rain will also release a new Album this summer titled CHHR2.
Mashville Brigade’s first single, “Take This Hammer,” releases May 15th on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass. The Brigade also has an Upcoming appearance with Kyle Cantrell on XM Radio in the near future.
Rickey Wasson’s “Losin’ In Las Vegas” and Cody Shuller and Pine Mountain Railroad’s “My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan’s Land” are both set to be released to radio as singles. Both Wasson and Pine Mountain Railroad have upcoming albums to be released on Rural Rhythm Records.
1 commentRural Rhythm Records Releases Bluegrass Smash Hits, Volume 1
Nashville , Tenn., — Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the April 22, 2008 release of Bluegrass Smash Hits, Volume 1 performed by The Mashville Brigade. Produced by Grammy™ nominated Jim VanCleve, this album is filled with 16 bluegrass classics performed by some of the brightest young stars in bluegrass music. The CD is the first title from an exciting new series from Rural Rhythm Records who is fast becoming the leader in Classic Bluegrass Collections, commanding over 15% of the weekly Billboard Top Bluegrass Album Chart with their collection titles.
Created over a year ago, The Mashville Brigade line-up reads like a who’s who in the world of today’s bluegrass music. Members of the band have either been nominated for, or won a plethora of IBMA, Grammy, Indie, SPBGMA, and Dove Awards. All the members, in addition to working with the Brigade, are full-time players in well-known national touring bluegrass bands, songwriters, and studio session players and have achieved lofty heights of success. This star-studded line-up includes: Aaron McDaris (The Grascals) who plays banjo and sings harmony; Darrell Webb (Rhonda Vincent & The Rage) on guitar and lead vocals; Ashby Frank (Special Consensus) lead vocals and mandolin; Jim VanCleve (Mountain Heart) on fiddle; and Randy Barnes (NewFound Road) on bass.
“The Mashville Brigade has really grown into something much larger than we could have anticipated when we began playing at The Station Inn in Nashville a year ago. All the guys in the band have been really good friends for years, and we all basically grew up together in the bluegrass scene. When we started kicking around the idea of putting a band together to play at The Station Inn, we knew we’d have a lot of fun. I think you can really hear that fun factor on this album,” Jim VanCleve
“Bluegrass Smash Hits, Volume 1” was recorded without any fancy overdubs or studio tricks, just pure organic and true bluegrass performances with traditional arrangements honoring and paying tribute to the legendary bluegrass groups of the past. Nashville Scene journalist, Jon Weisberger commented, “To this newly hatched side project, they bring first-rate chops, a thorough grounding in the canon and, as the name suggest, a dash of brash, postmodern attitude.”
The first single, “Take This Hammer” will be released on the May 15th “Prime Cuts of bluegrass,” Volume 93 compilation CD. Rural Rhythm is also providing free downloads to Radio Stations through www.RadioSubmit.com for the songs: Take This Hammer, Roving Gambler and My Home’s Across The Blue Ridge Mountains.
“Bluegrass Smash Hits,” Volume 1 track listing:
- My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Banks of the Ohio
- White House Blues
- John Henry (instrumental)
- Take This Hammer
- Sitting on the Top of the World
- Two Dollar Bill
- Bury Me Beneath the Willow
- Little Maggie
- Going Across the Sea (instrumental)
- I’ll Remember You Love, In My Prayers
- Lonesome Road Blues
- Ain’t Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone
- Salt Creek (instrumental)
- Roving Gambler
- Sally Goodin’ (instrumental).

