Laura Starling Music Talk

CROSSIN DIXON

2009-06-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

Broken Bow recording artists Crossin Dixon is Brandon Hyde on guitar and vocals, Charlie Grantham on guitar and vocals, Michael Bole on drums and Jason Miller on lead vocals. These Mississippi boys have great harmony and a great time. Evidence is in the interview with Jason Miller. He's honest, funny and has a great laugh. I want to bottle and sell it. Michael Knox, their producer, says, "I haven't vocals like theirs since Alabama." Knox also produces label mate Jason Aldean. Catch them live at Whiskey River in Macon, Georgia Friday, June 19th or check 'em out
at myspace.com/crossindixon.

Listen to the conversation with Jason Miller

MARK CHESNUTT

2009-06-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Mark Chesnutt is, has been and will always be "real" country. His resume includes 14 No. 1 hits, 23 top ten singles, four platinum albums and five gold records. If you ask him, he will tell you, "Its the music that has kept me around this long." His personal integrity as well as his principal to record genuine country songs has made him a fixture on radio and in the honky tonks. Mark's gonna be playing a local honky tonk, Whiskey River, this weekend. The Early Morning Crew (me and Vance) got a chance to talk with Mark about the show, the music and a time in the mid-90's when we (me and Gerry Marshall) destroyed one of his biggest hits.

Listen to the Mark Chesnutt Interview

The Early Morning Crew kills "Wings"

KENNY CHESNEY

2009-06-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

I first met Kenny Chesney in the early '90s when he came to Macon to open a show for Confederate Railroad. During his Early Morning Crew on-air appearance, we opened the phone lines for questions and the first caller wanted to know if we could help him sell his tickets since he was not going to be able to make the show.
I still laugh about that. Now I only get calls asking if I can help someone get tickets and there is a reason for that. Hit after hit after hit after hit after hit and a show nobody wants to miss.
Kenny Chesney fans, take one look at the track list for this album and you'll be headed to your favorite music store to buy your own copy! I've got mine! Tracks on this compilation span almost a decade and sound as good today as when they were first released.

Kenny Chesney Greatest Hits II

"Out Last Night"
"Living In Fast Forward"
"Young"
"Summertime"
"Down The Road" (with Mac McAnally)
"Beer In Mexico"
"There Goes My Life"
"When The Sun Goes Down" (duet with Uncle Kracker)
"Anything But Mine"
"Be As You Are"
"I Go Back"
"No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems"
"The Good Stuff"
"Never Wanted Nothing More"
"I'm Alive" (with Dave Matthews)

COLT FORD

2009-05-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

This ain't your Daddy's country. In fact, this is country like you've never heard it. For the past 27 years, through every change in country music, people have said to me, "Country music is just not what it used to be." That's because the music is always evolving and diversity is the norm.
Colt Ford grew up listening to country music. The first concert he went to was Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, two artists who "changed" country with the pop-sounding mega-hit "Islands In The Stream." Colt eventually gravitated towards R&B and hip-hop and made his musical debut in high school writing a rap song for a friend. Writing was easy for Colt and he began working with acclaimed producer Jermaine Dupri and other developing hip-hop artists.
He calls himself Mr. GoodTime and his hip-hop meets country sound is winning fans of all ages. At last check, he had over 20,000 friends on myspace, over 3 million plays and a very cool re-mix version of "Roll With Me" with Montgomery Gentry. Plus, Nashville record labels are calling saying, "Hey, how are you getting all of that attention and so many downloads?"
On his visit to Macon, Colt brought along his record producer, Shannon Houchins, who produced Usher and many others and is a very nice guy. Colt, we never did get that breakfast at Waffle House.

Listen to the Colt Ford interview

CRAIG HAND

2009-05-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

Lots of great things are happening with Craig Hand. He's got a new record deal with Bling-A-Billy (what a cool name) and a new single called "Satifsy You" he wrote for his wife, Amy. Craig and Amy were in town today so I got to hear the single live. Lots of folks around Middle Georgia are big fans and have heard Craig live at the Fish n' Pig. (One of his best friends, Jeff, works in the bar there on weekends and makes Craig stop in and play any time he's near Macon.) We're working on getting him back soon. I'll keep you posted and we'll all get together for some great food and music.

Listen to the new single and Craig Hand interview

RANDY HOWARD

2009-05-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Last July, I was in Perry and ran into Randy Howard playing at The Tavery in The New Perry Hotel. In the early 70's, Randy was the Program Director and afternoon drive dj on WDEN. He told me he made $150 a week back then. What?! (That's what we're still getting paid) In 1983, Warner Brothers released his song "All American Redneck" which is considered a jukebox classic and his song "I Don't Know" was cut and released as a single by Hank Williams III. He was born and raised in Macon and plays the area frequently. You can check dates on his myspace page.

Photo by Walter Mallard