Archive | August 5, 2012

U.S. Military Veteran & Country Music Star Keni Thomas Recounts Combat In First Memoir

By on August 5, 2012 in In The Press

Nashville, Tenn (August 3, 2011) — U.S. Military Veteran and country music sensation Keni Thomas has shared the stage with country stars such as Keith Urban and Brad Paisley, but earlier this year, he put down his guitar and gave a personal account of his heart-wrenching experience in the chaotic 1993 Black Hawk Down battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. With the desire to express a unique set of leadership lessons and inspired view of our greater purpose, Thomas unveiled his first memoir Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way (B&H Publishing Group) to rave reviews.

“Three words. That’s all it took. I was writing a letter home to my mom when the call rang out across the American compound: ‘Get it on!’ And just like that, the course of my life changed forever,” describes Thomas.

With the Bronze Star of Valor from the U.S. Army, the army-ranger turned-country singer brings a message of inspiration reminding readers that as individuals every person matters and are anything but ordinary and can make a difference in the world no matter where they are in life.

“If everyone can start setting an example, start leading by example, start doing something here and there, then as a whole exponentially we make the world a better place to live in,” says Thomas. “You are the most important part of the puzzle and you have to see yourself as being the most important part because you are, and that is what I want people to know at the end of the day.”

Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way is already causing a chatter among fellow comrades Here are just a few comments about the new publication:

“Get It On! is a moving account of courage and faith under fire. True leadership is about the example we set. Keni has an impressive way of convincing you that this is a principle we should all live by.”
—Hal Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees

“The leadership principles Keni shares through his story Get It On! are directly aligned with the core values of our organization. To Lead is to Serve. The USO is proud to call Keni Thomas one of our own.” —Sloan Gibson President of the USO

 “Here he has created an engaging and inspiring tutorial, applying those lessons to the battles of everyday life…” —Mark Bowden author of Black Hawk Down

“If you are a veteran, you need to read this book. Keni shows us that the principles of leadership we learned when we wore the uniform still apply to us all out here in the real world. ”
—Lt Col Oliver L. North, USMC (Retired)

Thomas also frequently speaks and entertains active military men and women overseas, speaks to Fortune 500 companies, students, churches and even from the stage the Grand Ole Opry in hopes to encourage and inspire all who listen. He has also been seen on national television programs such as Good Morning America, NBC Dateline, CNN Headline News and MSNBC’s Hardball. He is currently in the recording studio working on a new album.

For more information on the artist/author please go to www.kenithomas.com and facebook.com/kenithomas.

About Keni Thomas:
Keni Thomas received the Bronze Star for Valor from the United States Army and fought the Black Hawk Down battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. He has since become an award-winning country musician, appeared in the major motion pictures Sweet Home Alabama and We Were Soldiers, and is the spokesperson for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Hero Fund. Keni also speaks to students and adults around the country about leadership, encouraging them to  “Train as you fight. Fight as you train.” The country music star unveiled his first memoir Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way (B&H Publishing Group/ISBN: 978-1-4336-7274) last October. It is  available nationwide with the retail price of $19.99. For more information on Keni Thomas please visit www.kenithomas.com  and facebook.com/kenithomas

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Rockin’ Country Gal Corey Wagar Flexes Her Muscles and Joins the MDA Muscle Team

By on August 5, 2012 in In The Press

Country music’s latest rockin’ phenomenon, Corey Wagar officially joins the MDA Muscle Team and is the next to flex in the fight against neuromuscular disease. Corey is showing her support and bringing awareness to the Muscular Dystrophy Association with a PSA.

Corey’s PSA (shown on the left) is available on their website (http://muscle.mda.org/). These muscle ads have been appearing in video, radio and national print publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the New York Times, Newsweek, Martha Stewart Living, PARADE Magazine, etc.

“I am honored to partner with MDA and work together to end muscle disease,” smiles Corey. “Meeting MDA Ambassador Bryson was a blast! He is absolutely the coolest kid I’ve ever met! We hung out, shared stories and even had a few laughs with some jokes. I am truly moved by the perseverance these kids and adults show every day!”

Corey’s current single, “Take Ya Back,” is receiving a great response from radio and industry and after only just a few weeks on radio, it’s #62 on the Music Row Country Breakout chart and climbing. This past Friday, she released her official music video for this hot summer hit. Filmed in the heart of Music City, Corey relives the moments she cherished most growing up, listening to her father’s old records and her own personal favorite country classics. You can view the video by going to www.youtube.com/watch v=FnDzpTu3WGc.

With a musical style inspired by the likes of country stars Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood, this New Jersey native grew up listening to country music and knew she would make a career out of it. With her commanding vocals, infectious spirit and passionate songwriting, she has already teamed up with some of country music’s best-known songwriters and already opened for the Charlie Daniels Band, Dierks Bentley, LeAnn Rimes,  Lee Brice, among others.  With her career accelerating rapidly at every turn, she made her way to Hollywood this past season of American Idol and with a rapidly growing fan base, killer talent, and crowd-stopping vocal ability, country music’s latest spitfire is bound to have wildfire success.

For more information on Corey, visit www.coreywagar.com and www.facebook.com/CoreyWagarOfficial.

About MDA: MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.

In addition to funding some 300 research teams worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of 200 medical clinics; facilitates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases; and provides local summer camp opportunities for thousands of youngsters fighting progressive muscle diseases. For more information, visit www.mda.org.

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Heidi Newfield’s New Video Why’d You Have To Be So Good Debuts

By on August 5, 2012 in In The Press

Nashville, Tenn. (July 31, 2012) – Heidi Newfield’s dramatic new video, “Why’d You Have To Be So Good”, is now showing on CMT Pure, GAC and The Country Network.  Fans can see the video on those networks or on heidinewfield.com. The power ballad, which deals with heartbreak, loss and hope, is getting great reviews.  “I first heard this song about eight years ago, if you can believe that.  It has always been special, and I had hoped it would come home to me someday.  So, here we are.” Heidi says.  “I think this video is amazing and so different than anything else out there.  I got the chance to dig deep and pull from some real emotions.  It was also fun to play with the hair and makeup and fashion forward look throughout.  I think my fans will get it and love it and I hope to make a lot more new fans with this one as well.”

Directed by Eric Welch, the video features Heidi in two settings: one totally black and one totally white.  “There’s a constant struggle between hope and fear within all of us.  This video allows the viewer to watch that internal struggle play out.  The black represents the sadness you feel when you lose someone or a fear that has its grip on us,” Heidi says.  “The white represents hope which will always exist even in the midst of fear if we only allow it.”  Heidi describes the dramatic nature of the video as a departure from anything her fans have seen from her in the past. “It was fun to act a little bit,” she added.

With a history of platinum selling albums and Top 20 singles, Heidi Newfield drew rave reviews for her debut solo album, “What Am I Waiting For”.  The album contained the hit single, “Johnny and June”, which was RIAA certified gold and received four ACM award nominations.   Now the flagship artist for Sidewalk Records, Heidi’s new album will follow the lead single, “Why’d You Have To Be So Good”, which was written by hitmakers Jeffrey Steele and Jeremy Popoff (lead guitarist for heavy metal band, Lit.)  Fans can download the single at iTunes.

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Lost Trailers Single Highlighted in Dial Global Olympic Gold Medal Feature

By on August 5, 2012 in In The Press

(Nashville, Tennessee…) – Dial Global Sports, the exclusive national radio broadcaster for the London 2012 Olympic Games, went country Thursday night with a stirring montage for new Women’s Olympic All-Around Gymnastics Champion Gabby Douglas. With The Lost Trailers’  new hit “American Beauty” as the foundation, the montage highlighted Douglas’s historic night, and featured not only custom Olympic-themed lyrics and play-by-play highlights of her performance but also Gabby’s reaction to bringing home the gold.

“When I heard ‘American Beauty’ for the first time last month, I knew immediately it would be a great anthem to use somehow during our Olympic coverage,” said Dial Global Sports Executive Producer Howard Deneroff. “Stokes and Jason were receptive and gracious enough to cut customized lyrics, and Gabby Douglas gave us the reason to put it all together.”

american beauty “Jason and I are extremely proud that when Dial Global was looking for music to capture this awesome win for Team USA, that they chose ‘American Beauty,'” said Stokes Nielson, who mans the three-time ACM-Nominated act with singer Jason Wyatt.

“We were freaking out, as we listened to the coverage,” said Wyatt, “We get super psyched about the Olympics anyway, so to have this connect is just icing on the cake.”

The Lost Trailers are currently charging up the country charts with “American Beauty” and will be on the road this weekend opening for Blake Shelton. To hear “American Beauty” and learn more about The Lost Trailers visit TheLostTrailers.com.

For more information on Dial Global’s exclusive radio coverage of the Olympics, visit dialglobalsports.com.

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Chris Young Visits Minot Air Force Base – Reunites With Wounded Warrior

By on August 5, 2012 in In The Press

July 31, 2012 – Nashville, TN– Chris Young, through the help of Stars For Stripes and the Minot Exchange, had an opportunity to reunite with Wounded Warrior Scott Lilley and spend some time with Airmen and their families at Minot Air Force Base for a CD signing last week.   The special event took place prior to Young’s high-octane show at the North Dakota State Fair later that evening.

Lilley, a former member of Minot Air Force Base 5th Security Forces, was seriously wounded in Iraq in the spring of 2007.  He accompanied Young on a tour to entertain the troops in 2009 for Great American Country’s TV Special “Stars For Stripes: Wounded Warriors Return.” 

“It was awesome to see Scott again and always great to be around the brave men and women who serve our country,” says Young.

Chris Young proudly serves as a board member of Stars For Stripes, a non-profit organization that provides entertainment to deployed U.S. military forces in remote areas.

2012 continues to be a banner year for RCA Recording Artist Chris Young. In addition to burning up the road with Miranda Lambert and her “On Fire” tour, Young recently landed his fifth consecutive #1 single and posted two RIAA certified Gold singles. His newest single, the title track to his recently released album NEON, is currently climbing the charts at country radio.

ABOUT CHRIS YOUNG: 2012 has started off with a bang, as ACM Male Vocalist nominee Chris Young continues to notch more career accolades. The year began with a sold-out headlining show, a performance on the popular syndicated daytime program The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the kick-off of the “On Fire” tour with Miranda Lambert, ACM nominations for Male Vocalist and Single of the Year and most recently, his fifth consecutive #1 for “You.” The list continues to expand with three RIAA GOLD certified singles and a GOLD album for his sophomore release, The Man I Want To Be. The prior year saw nominations for CMA New Artist of the Year along with his first Grammy nod. He won Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Single of the Year at the 2011 American Country Awards and has made seven national TV appearances since the release of his third record, NEON, on July 12, 2011. With his rich, warm baritone and penchant for writing relatable, slice-of-life songs, Young has emerged as a favorite of fans and critics alike.  For tour dates and all the latest information on Chris Young, visit www.chrisyoungcountry.com and follow him on Twitter @ChrisYoungMusic.

Photo: Scott Lilley and his family reunite with Chris Young
Photo credit:  U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kristoffer

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Renegade Radio Nashville: Nashville’s Most Recent Music Row Edition

By on August 5, 2012 in In The Press

Nashville, Tenn. (July 31, 2012) – The broadcast market is one saturated with country radio stations. Nonetheless, Nashville’s most recent Music Row edition, Renegade Radio Nashville, has certainly found its niche. As a strong advocate for new artists, the station – just over a year old – is on a mission to change the public’s opinion of Internet radio and broaden the possibility of what radio has to offer an artist.

The station – established by country radio host ‘Captain Jack’ Aponte – has seen significant growth since its first broadcast on June 7th, 2011. With a listenership of 3.5 million each month spanning 143 different countries, Renegade Radio has found its place as one of the most prominent country Internet stations. This growth has not gone unnoticed: in December of 2011, after just a few months broadcasting, it became the first ever Internet radio station to be given reporting status by Music Row Magazine.

Renegade Radio’s success comes as a direct result of a traditional broadcast approach combined with a refreshingly unconventional business plan. “We’re not an Internet radio station,” explains Bradley Drake, marketing and A&R director for the station. “We’re a radio station that just happens to broadcast on the Internet.”

“Listeners love a traditional radio station – but then they love to hear the latest sound coming from Nashville,” adds Captain Jack. “We broadcast a bit of both. In that way, we pride ourselves in offering the past, present, and future in country music to our listeners. It gives new artists a chance for some exposure and our listeners an opportunity to hear the latest in country music first.” 

Broadcast exposure isn’t the only way the station promotes new artists: the station recently launched a series of comprehensive artist marketing plans for those looking for more than just airplay.

To listen to a live broadcast, download Renegade Radio’s free app from iTunes or visit www.renegaderadionashville.com.

About ‘Captain Jack’ Aponte:
Deemed ‘The Boss of the Beach’ and ‘The Host of The Coast’, radio DJ Jack Aponte’s deep voice and sense of humor have made him one of the most recognized radio voices on the east coast for over 25 years. Though his passion lies with country music and the Nashville music scene, his flexibility within formats has given him the unique ability to create a new and exciting radio experience for listeners. This was demonstrated in his development of Thunder 106, which quickly changed frequencies, exceeded its parent company’s expectations, and now has one of the largest listenerships in the country radio industry. Aponte has also developed the Thunder Road Concert Series to give his listeners an up-close and personal look at the latest music and artists coming out of Nashville. With a heart for exposing new country artists and their music, his multiple projects leave him little time for much else. Nonetheless, Aponte makes time to help those in need and has received numerous awards for his community service. For more information on Captain Jack, visit www.renegaderadionashville.com/captain_jack_aponte.htm.

 

About Laura Lynn:
Country recording artist, television host, and actress Laura Lynn has found success in all aspects of the entertainment industry. As an actress, she’s made guest appearances on Married With Children, Rosanne, The Young and the Restless, Renegade, and Wings, to name a few. As a host she’s interviewed celebrities from all industries, including Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Mel Gibson and the casts of Friends and Entourage. Living in Los Angeles, she was the voice and producer of the radio show Laura & Gretchen UNCUT for talk radio station KLSX. Despite all of these accomplishments, Laura Lynn’s true love is country music. Having written or co-written multiple cuts (she co-wrote Medal of Honor, the official theme song of Wrangler National Patriot, as well as the theme song to Animal Planet’s show Last Chance Highway) and producing her own self-titled album, she was awarded Los Angeles Music Awards Female Country Artist of the Year in 2006. Laura Lynn’s music career has also allowed her several performance opportunities, including sharing the stage with Poison’s Bret Michaels at the 2005 KZLA Country Bash. She is married to country star Lucas Hoge. The two reside in Nashville, where they spend free time fostering dogs and cats for Nashville Cat Rescue. For more information on Laura Lynn, visit http://lauralynn.net/.About David Bradley:
Hailing from Sunderland in Northern England, country recording artist David Bradley’s English charm and soulful sound have made him a stand-out in the country music scene. His father, an oil engineer, exposed Bradley at a young age to the musical stylings of Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson – all of whoms’ music he’d brought home from business trips to Singapore, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Now living in Nashville, Tennessee, Bradley has had much opportunity to hone his own musical talents. A regular in writers’ rounds, he released album Movin’ On in 2010, which was produced by singer/songwriter/producer Brady Seals (Little Texas, Hot Apple Pie). His first single from the album, Soak It Up, put Bradley on the map as an artist and saw significant chart success. His second single, Hard Time Movin’ On (Rivers Rutherford, Gordie Sampson) did better yet, with the music video for the single (directed by Steven Goldmann) airing on CMT, GAC, and numerous other music video outlets. If You Can’t Make Money, Bradley’s latest single, was written by Brad Paisley, Bill Anderson, and Jon Randall. Despite his success, he still finds time to host a radio show every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 1-2pm with Renegade Radio Nashville. For more information on David Bradley, visit www.davidbradleymusic.com.

About Lindsay Lawler:
Born and raised in Texas, Lindsay Lawler spent several years performing in Los Angeles before making her way to Nashville, Tennessee in 2007. After performing at the 2010 Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas, she formed a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association and has since been named the official spokeswoman of their Highway Angels program. Her single, Highway Angel, has given her exposure as an artist and become an anthem for truck drivers everywhere. She also wrote and recorded The Long Haul, a salute to female truck drivers. Lawler continues to support the truck driving community through her performances around the country and her radio show, On The Road To Nashville. For more information on Lindsay Lawler, visit www.lindsaylawler.com.

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