Cricket's Frog Blog: Toby Keith Part 1

Cricket's Frog Blog

Today, is part one of two on the outspoken and entrepreneurial entertainer, Toby Keith.

Toby Keith Covel was born on 7/8/61 in Clinton, Oklahoma. His Dad, “H.K.” was a big country music fan and played a variety of modern and classic country artists in the family’s 8-track player. Young Toby soaked in the sounds of Merle Haggard, Webb Pierce and Mel Tillis, among others. His maternal grandmother bought him his first guitar at age 8, while Toby’s paternal grandfather taught him his first chords.

The budding musician had grown into a 6’4” bruiser by the time was a teenager. He played football (defensive end) at Moore High School. (He tried out for the Oklahoma Outlaws, but didn’t make the cut.

After graduation, Toby went to work in the oil fields, working his way up from derrick hand to Operations Manager. In the meantime, he and some friends formed the Easy Money Band and played the bar circuit. This started to clash with his day job. If Toby got a call that he was needed in the oil field, he’d have to leave mid-gig to report in to work. It became clear that he was going to have to make a decision.

Against the advice of friends and family, Toby chose to pursue music. He and his band played in honky tonks all over Oklahoma and Texas. The Easy Money band recorded one song, “Blue Moon,” which received some regional radio airplay.

Toby made his way to Nashville in 1993 and shopped his band’s demo tape to various record labels. They all turned him down. He returned to Oklahoma, wondering if perhaps his family and friends had been right. But somehow, a copy of that demo tape wound up being passed on, unbeknownst to Toby, to an executive from Mercury Records. The label liked what they heard, but they chose to sign Toby as a solo artist. In 1993, the first single from his self-titled debut album, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” went straight to #1.

The hits continued to come for Toby, including “Wish I Didn’t Know Now,” “Who’s That Man,” “We Were In Love” and “You Ain’t Much Fun.” But in by the late 1990s, after four albums for Mercury, Toby was disillusioned with the label, feeling artistically restricted.

He left Mercury for a newer label, DreamWorks Records in 1998. His next CD,How Do You Like Me Now?! is considered his breakthrough. The title track spent five weeks at #1. He won Album of the Year honors at the Academy of Country Music Awards the next year.

Toby refers to his longtime fans as “The Warriors.” Why? Toby explains: “They kept me alive in the music business from '93 to 2000, through that seven years of mediocrity. I was handcuffed by my record label, and the warriors were my fans. My fan club kept calling the radio and said 'Keep playing this. We love it.’”

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at Toby’s battle with the Dixie Chicks, his business ventures outside of music, his distaste for awards shows and his strong political views. Enjoy a classic Toby video today, check out my TK links and come back for Part 2 tomorrow!

www.tobykeith.com

www.myspace.com/tobykeith

www.facebook.com/tobykeith

http://twitter.com/tobykeithmusic

Take It Easy,

Cricket

Jack Ingram

Published: September 2, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country singer Jack Ingram is talked out.

Guinness Book of World Recordsspokeswoman Laura Plunkett says Ingram set a record for most consecutive radio interviews in 24 hours.

Ingram gave 215 interviews between 8 a.m. Aug. 25 and 8 a.m. Aug. 26 as part of a promotional blitz for his new album, "Big Dreams & High Hopes.” The previous mark was 96.

From the base of the Brooklyn Bridge inNew York, he spoke by telephone with radio stations in most of the 50 states and in Canada, Ireland and Australia. He said in a statement: "After that last 24 hours, I officially have nothing left to say.”

Ingram’s latest hit, "Barefoot and Crazy,” is No. 11 on the Billboard country chart.

The Associated Press

St. Vincent on Jimmy Kimmel Tonight

by Ryan

Tulsa-native St. Vincent will be the musical guest tonight on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live”. Emile Hirsch and Amber Valletta will also be guests on the show.

“on.” episode three – Taddy Porter

September 1, 2009 by npoppe - http://osuon.wordpress.com/

Something was in the air when Joe Selby and Andy Brewer sat down to represent Stillwater band Taddy Porter for an “on.” interview and performance. Besides the music, the most obvious thing was a mosquito. Guitarist Selby noticed the pest on his arm while playing “Long, Slow Drag.” He continued strumming his guitar while the creature drained his blood. Luckily, listening to Taddy Porter has the opposite effect. The duo slowed down its rowdy, electric tunes for an acoustic set in Stillwater’s Strickland Park on Main Street. Taddy Porter’s set was as engaging as the duo’s hair is long.

• INTERVIEW with Taddy Porter
  

• SONG ONE – “In the Morning”

• SONG TWO – “Long, Slow Drag”

• PAST EPISODES
  

1. episode one – Andrew Arterbery
2. episode two – BrotherBear

Sherree Chamberlain plays at Eskimo Joe’s

August 30, 2009 by npoppe

The only thing more pleasant than the weather Saturday evening was the soft, full sound of Sherree Chamberlain and her band. The group played outdoors in the Eskimo Joe’s parking lot. The OSU almuna was featured in The Daily O’Collegian last week. Read to see why it’s a good thing when Sherree makes a visit to Stillwater. Here is an interesting fact. Members of Sufjan Stevens’ back-up band accompany Sherree on her debut album.

• SHOTS OF THE SHOW

photo by Hayley Wood

photo by Hayley Wood

“on.” episode two – BrotherBear

August 25, 2009 by npoppe

Welcome to the second episode of The Daily O’Collegian’s “on.”

This episode features BrotherBear, a Mayola side project from Stillwater, who made a trip onto campus to perform two experimental, electronic songs.

Filming BrotherBear was experimental for the “on.” crew too. It was the first time videographer Steven Hopkins and I tried filming electronic instruments and in the evening. We attempted to capture what is known as magic hour. I think we got pretty close to it. If anything, we captured the sound of cicadas and the ringing of the Edmon Low Library bell tower. A nice touch.

Watching BrotherBear sitting on the grass of OSU’s Library Lawn was like sifting through the bits and pieces of a dream after quickly waking up from one. Give them a listen.

Also, come back here or here every Wednesday for a new episode.

• INTERVIEW with BrotherBear (from left is Eric Kiner, Antonio Laster and Bryan Thompson)

• SONG ONE – “Wolves”

• SONG TWO – “Dreamstate”

“on.” episode one – Andrew Arterbery

August 23, 2009 by npoppe

The Daily O’Collegian welcomes you to “on.” The music program hopes to feature local Stillwater musicians, other wonderful Oklahoma artists and musicians whom find themselves swimming through the Stillwater. The interview and performances for the first episode are with Andrew Arterbery, an OSU music education student who works full-time in the Edmon Low Library. He has been playing slide guitar for the past four years. He is the frontman for The Arterbery Trio. I suggest you dig his tunes.

Come back here or here every Wednesday for a new episode.

• INTERVIEW with Andrew Arterbery

• SONG ONE – “Cloud”

• SONG TWO – “Blind Willy”

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Taddy Porter

The Daily O'Collegian

‘on.’ features Taddy Porter

By From Staff Reports

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Published: Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Zach Gray/O’Collegian

Joe Selby and Andy Brewer of Taddy Porter are the subject of the most recent installment of “on.” Check out Nathan Poppe’s interview and an acoustic performance at www.osuon.wordpress.com

Something was in the air when Joe Selby and Andy Brewer sat down to represent the band Taddy Porter for an “on.” interview and performance.

Besides the music, the most obvious thing was a mosquito. Guitarist Joe Selby noticed the pest on his arm while playing “Long, Slow Drag.” He continued strumming his guitar while the creature drained his blood. Luckily, listening to Taddy Porter has the opposite effect.

The duo slowed down its rowdy, electric tunes for an acoustic set in Stillwater’s Strickland Park on Main Street.

Taddy Porter’s set was as engaging as the duo’s hair is long.

What is “on.”?

A Web-only music performance and interview show featuring the talents of local musicians. Watch it under the blog tab at www.ocolly.com or at www.osuon.wordpress.com.

Who is “on.”?

Features Editor Nathan Poppe and videographers Steven Hopkins and Zach Gray run the show. Poppe performs the interview, while Hopkins and Gray catch it on camera.

Can I be on “on.”?

Shoot an e-mail to features@ocolly.com if you have any interest in the show.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF TEXAS MUSIC EXTRA Read this month's e-zine, and enter to win a custom-made, limited-edition Cross Canadian Ragweed Epiphone guitar inspired by the artwork to the band's new album, Happiness and All the Other Things. Please review our e-zine for all the latest in Texas Music news. Plus, you'll find reviews, a list of new releases, a festival and events calendar and an artist Q&A. You are welcome to forward this e-mail to your friends and colleagues. If they want their own copy, they can sign up for free at www.txmusic.com. Featured in the September e-zine: Radney Foster, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Buttercup and much more. Click on ads and links for more information on the Web. Stewart Ramser, Publisher

Lucille's Restaurant Fire reported this am... many local artists played there.....

Published: September 02, 2009 08:20 am     from Stillwater NewsPress

NEW: Fire destroys Lucille's Restaurant

Mulhall's historic Lucille's Restaurant was destroyed this morning in a fire that might have been caused an overnight storm.

"We think lightning hit it. That's what we're thinking right at the moment," Mulhall Fire Chief Roland Taylor said. "It's heavily damaged. It's basically gutted."

While the structure was still standing this morning, everything inside was destroyed, he said. The building, at Main Street and U.S. Highway 77, was built in 1894, according to the restaurant's Web site. The restaurant helped mark the resurrection of the town after Mulhall was all but wiped out by a tornado a decade ago.

The fire started about 3:40 a.m., Taylor said. Fire departments from Orlando, Guthrie, Crescent and Marshall also responded. Firefighters had contained the fire by 5 a.m., but were still on scene at 7:30 a.m. working on some hot spots. Taylor guessed they'd be there most of the morning.

Stillwater - Town and Gown

Hello Town & Gown Faithful. I wanted to let you know about a special event happening Thursday, September 3.

 

One of our members, Ty Reitan, is training for a national marathon to be held in October. She is trying to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In conjunction with this cause she is hosting a special night of entertainment featuring Town & Gown talent at the Stillwater Elks Lodge, 202 East McElroy starting at 7pm. Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted.

 

The entertainment and special events lineup includes:

 

- A sneak peek of "Hound of the Baskervilles" which opens Thursday, September 17

- The debut performance by the T&G Improv Troupe

- Vocal and Instrumental entertainment

- Silent Auction

- Snack and a cash bar

 

Enjoy a sneak peek at some of Town & Gown's upcoming events and all for a good cause. For more information, please contact Ty at centerstagety@aol.com.

 

Thanks,

Jared Cranke

Serena Williams' Success Strategies

Serena Williams is this year’s Wimbledon Ladies Singles Champion, but she’s also a savvy businesswoman. Discover her principles for success on and off the court.

Commit to doing your very best. Whether it’s tennis, fashion design or her other interests, Serena Williams holds nothing back in her pursuit of excellence.

Be a good sport. Serena worked at being gracious in defeat. The losses still sting, she says, but she tries not to show it, refocusing her emotions instead on working harder for future wins.

Follow your heart. The legacy you create is yours—not to be dictated by others.

Promote your work. “Every tournament I play gives me a great opportunity to market whatever I am working on or wearing.”

Don’t listen to naysayers. Serena keeps some articles about her and one day she just might read them. For now, “I don’t want their opinions impacting me.”

New anthem recorded for OSU Cowboys

John Martin is the writer and singer for OSU's new introduction song, "Cowboys Forever." Preston Bezant/For the Tulsa World

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 8/23/2009 3:26 AM
Last Modified: 8/26/2009 10:30 AM

---

Listen to John Martin’s “Cowboys Forever.”

---

STILLWATER — A former Baylor Bear has composed and recorded an Oklahoma State anthem to be featured during the Cowboys' pregame video for home football games.

John Martin, son of OSU associate athletic director Dave Martin and a Baylor wide receiver in 2000-04, is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter. When he was approached by OSU athletic director Mike Holder about the possibility of producing the 2009 Cowboy pregame video, he and a friend, Taylor Bolding, accepted the assignment.

Martin decided also to write a song that would accompany the video. He attended Bruce Springsteen's April 7 show at Tulsa's BOK Center. About a week later, influenced by the sing-along quality of Springsteen's anthems, Martin began to write "Cowboys Forever."

The three-minute, 20-second song would best be described as a pop-rock hybrid. A sample of the lyrics: "In bedlam we will rise and stand ... with strength and honor to defend our land."

"A couple of people have told me that it reminds them a little of Springsteen," Martin said. "It's a big-sounding song. That's what I wanted. When coach Holder heard it, he was singing along with it by the second listen. That's powerful. That's the effect you want the song to have on the fans."

Said Holder: "I look forward to seeing the reaction of the fans out here in our stadium.

I think we can do some chants off of it. You can use it at various times during the game. You can listen to it when you're driving to the game."

When Nike's promotional specialists learned of Martin's song and video (which features Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter), the Nike machine got involved.

Nike personnel did the editing on the video, and Nike is about to launch a line of "Cowboys 4Ever" apparel. During the recent Fan Appreciation Day autograph event, OSU players were clad in black "Cowboys 4Ever" T-shirts.

"Cowboys 4Ever" gear soon will be available at the Boone Pickens Stadium merchandise store, Dave Martin said, and also in various Stillwater, Tulsa and Oklahoma City shops.

Within a few days, the "Cowboys Forever" song will be available for purchase attulsaworld.com/osusports.

"If you listen to that song more than once or twice, you'll be humming the song," Dave Martin said. "It gets into your head. That was John's intent. He wanted a catchy song, and I think he wrote one.

"When John sings about Bullet (OSU's mascot horse) riding across the plains, that might mean nothing to some people, but it certainly means something for Oklahoma State people."

Nike's production team put the finishing touches on the video last week.

"All I can say is that it's really cool," John Martin said.

OSU officials are being extremely guarded, not wanting copies of the video to be leaked before the Sept. 5 opener against Georgia.

Martin's three-day song-writing process was completed on April 17. Five days later, he was in the Tulsa-area home of country-music superstar Garth Brooks, a former OSU track athlete. The first time that Martin performed the song for anyone, he performed it on an acoustic guitar for Brooks.

"It was a huge deal for me to take the song to Garth, to get his opinion and see what he thought about it," Martin said. "I gave him the lyrics first. He loved the title 'Cowboys Forever.' He kneels down on one knee, up against the coffee table, and says, 'Let's hear it.' He was tapping along with the song, and when I finished, he sang the chorus melody back to me. It was a chance of a lifetime to go to his house and play it for him. I'll never forget it."

A self-taught guitarist and vocalist who fronts a band known as August Rose, Martin resides in Stillwater, only a couple of blocks from the OSU campus.

His songs can be sampled at tulsaworld.com/cowboysforever and iTunes.

Last year, the Big 12 Conference hired Martin to write a theme for the league. Martin wrote and recorded "Live Your Dreams," a song that was featured prominently during the bowl season and during Fox's BCS championship telecast.

In December, Martin sang the national anthem before the Oklahoma-Missouri Big 12 championship game at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.

"That was a great experience. Awesome," said Martin, a 1999 All-State football player at Stillwater High School. His Baylor career was tarnished by injuries (a broken collarbone and concussions).

Backed by an A-list collection of studio musicians (including Alanis Morissette's drummer, Sheryl Crow's bass player and Shakira's guitarist), Martin recorded "Cowboys Forever" in May.

The recording took place in Hollywood, Calif., in the same Sunset Sound studio where the Rolling Stones recorded "Exile On Main Street," and in which such artists as Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, The Doors and Tom Petty recorded classic albums.

"It was a mind-blowing thing," Martin says.

Cowboys Forever lyrics

The prairie wind touches our skin
Another maverick morning begins
Wild west eyes rise before the sun
We are young guns on the run
Hang ‘em high, pistols to the sky
We ride, we ride, ‘cross the line

It’s in our veins
The feel of the reins
.45’s, chaps, bandannas and spurs
We are cowboys forever

Stay here today, gone tomorrow
The open range is our home
All that we own lives inside our soul
We are cowboy to the bone
Hang ‘em high, pistols to the sky
We ride, we ride, ‘cross the line

It is in our veins
The feel of the reins
.45’s, chaps, bandannas and spurs
We are cowboys forever

Riding Bullet across the plains
To avenge our kin’s blood and name
In bedlam we will rise and stand
With strength and honor to defend our land
Hang ‘em high, pistols to the sky
We ride, we ride, ‘cross the line

It’s in our veins
The feel of the reins
.45’s, chaps, bandannas and spurs
We are cowboys forever

We are, we are
Cowboys forever

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey Releases EP Today

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey releases their new EP, One Day In Brooklyn, today on their new record label Kinnara Records.

Purchase the album at iTunes, Amazon.com or your local record store.

“On ‘One Day in Brooklyn’…you’ll hear how creative and adventurous Tulsans, lap steel and all, are redirecting the future of jazz ” - Kansas City Star

“…their new One Day in Brooklyn EP, is a sometimes scrappy, sometimes pastoral new sound reflecting the unit’s Tulsa origins alongside all the coastal urban complexities you can handle.” - The Village Voice

“There’s a rustic foundation to the band now, thanks to the acoustic plunking of Mr. Hayes and the swoony embellishments of Mr. Combs. Where Mr. Mathis excelled in finessing electronic textures, the current group pursues an earthy vigor. On Kirk’s “Laugh for Rory,” Mr. Combs reached for the uplift of a gospel revival; on Mr. Ibrahim’s “Imam” he struck a prayerful vocal timbre. Mr. Hayes was a less assertive presence, but he locked in well with Mr. Raymer, a smartly physical drummer. Mr. Haas steered from the piano, making use of an emphatic attack, a rococo sense of flourish and the trustworthy power of crescendo.” - New York Times

Tracklisting after the jump.

01. The Black & Crazy Blues | A Laugh For Rory (for Joel Dorn) {Rashaan Roland Kirk}
02. Country Girl
03. Julia {The Beatles}
04. Imam (Abdulah Ibrahim)
05. Drethoven
06. Four In One (Thelonious Monk)

Cross Canadian Ragweed Release New Album

Cross Canadian Ragweed release their seventh studio album,Happiness And All The Other Things, today.

Purchase the album on iTunes , Amazon.com or at your local record store.

“And within the album’s many modes and moods, the proud legacy of American rock’n’roll gets renewed and reinvigorated for the modern age.” - Lone Star Music

Tracklisting available after the jump.

01. 51 Pieces
02. Bluebonnets
03. Burn Like the Sun
04. To Find My Love
05. Drag
06. Kick in the Head
07. Overtable
08. Overtable Interlude
09. Pretty Lady
10. Tomorrow
11. Confident
12. My Chances
13. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground [Live] (Willie Nelson cover)
14. Soul Agent [Live]
15. Train to Birmingham (Kevin Welch cover)

Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon planning live DVD, remix album and “Iron Chef” appearance

Posted by brandy

on August 31, 2009 at 4:40 pm

Kings of Leon on last month on the “Today” show. (Associated Press photos)

Rockers Kings of Leon, who have Oklahoma ties, are working on several project this fall and starting to focus on the followup album to their 2008 platinum release “Only by the Night.”

In an interview with Billboard.com, drummer Nathan Followill said the band is planning to release a live DVD that was filmed in July at London’s O2 Arena. The show featured some “choice rarities” for the DVD.

“England is really the first place we broke…We figured what better place to make a live DVD than where the fans have been the craziest for the longest?” he told Billboard.com.

He also said the band is working on remix album, a project that started when the quartet learned other artists such as Justin Timberlake and Pharrell had started working on alternative versions of Kings of Leon songs.

Along with Pharrell and Timberlake, Mark Ronson, Kenna, Lykke Li and Linkin Park are contributing remixes to the forthcoming album, Followill told the trade publication.

“It’s neat to have these people who we would’ve jumped at the chance to work with ourselves…coming to us before we even get a chance to ask them,” he told Billboard.com. ”It’s amazing to hear your song played by these people who are so creative. Most of the time it takes me two or three listens to even wrap my head around, ‘Oh man, that’s our song…’”

Followill said his brother, Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill will make an appearance as a guest judge on “Iron Chef” this fall. Nathan also has big plans for autumn: He’s getting married in November. (Nathan also got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball game against the Chicago Cubs earlier this month; see that photo at left.)

One big fall activity the band won’t be a part of: Contrary to the rumor, Followill says Kings of Leon won’t be contributing any music to the soundtrack for “New Moon,” the second film in the “Twilight” series. That’s a pity, since I think any contribution from the Followills would have instantly enhanced that soundtrack.

And while the quartet is considering releasing another single from “Only by the Night,” they also working on new material, particularly at sound checks. They don’t have a name or release date in mind yet for a new album, but Nathan Followill said the brainstorming phase is well under way.

“There’s stuff that sounds like Radiohead. There’s stuff that sounds like Thin Lizzy. There’s stuff that sounds like The Band. We’re pretty much to the point now where…we can be experimental and try stuff we would’ve been scared to death to try on the first couple of records. Now we find ourselves being a little more adventurous,” he told Billboard.com.

Kings of Leon is made up of four Followills: brothers Caleb, vocals, guitar; Nathan, drums; and Jared, bass; and cousin Matthew, lead guitar. Nathan and Matthew are Oklahoma City natives, and Caleb and Jared were born in Memphis.

The band will play its first show at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center at 8 p.m. Oct. 3. It will be the first event in the arena after its renovations.

For more information, go to www.okfordcenter.com.

Norman native Vince Gill

Norman native Vince Gill announces 'concert of the year' for charity

Vince Gill (left) poses with Keith Urban after their announcement in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday about a concert to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. AP Photo

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 9/1/2009 11:17 AM
Last Modified: 9/1/2009 11:54 AM

Country stars Keith Urban and Oklahoma native Vince Gill will co-host an all-star concert to raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Guests will include Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Faith Hill.

Urban and Gill announced the concert will be Oct. 13 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.

The all-star show is part of the museum's "All for the Hall" fundraising initiative created and led by Gill since 2005, in which country artists play one night with proceeds going to the Hall, reports CMT Insider online. The site is calling this show the "concert of the year."

"It's an awareness benefit," Urban told the country music news outlet. " The great thing about the event, too, not only all of the people who have signed up to do it, but all of the vendors, too -- the lighting companies, trucking companies -- everybody has forgone all of their profit to make sure the Hall gets everything."

Gill is also Country Music Hall of Fame board president, the hall's official Web site shows.

Jason Aldean, Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum are also scheduled to perform, with more acts expected to be announced.

Tickets are $25 and go on sale 10:30 a.m. Wednesday via tulsaworld.com/Ticketmaster. More show details are available at tulsaworld.com/CMHoF.

The concert will open with a one-hour set by Urban and his band. Then, Gill will join Urban and an all-star

band to bring out special guests, they said.

He was inducted into the national Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 for "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present." Said Gill in 2007, "When I found out I was being inducted, it took me under in a big way. I was not expecting that. … It was just that the work seemed like fun.

"I never planned ahead. … Out of all the things I've ever done, it matters. It matters so very much. Thank you so much."

Charity work to support the music he so loves is nothing new for Gill. In June, the Norman native joined Checotah music star Carrie Underwood joined many other artists to decorate custom Epiphone guitars to sell to benefit the Opry Trust Fund for the Grand Ole Opry. He has worked on hundreds of charitable events in his career.

Gill also is a member of the Grady Ole Opry and of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. He also has a street named after him in the historic Bricktown area in downtown Oklahoma City, along with the Flaming Lips, Wanda Jackson and Charlie Christian, among others. "Vince Gill is quite simply a living prism refracting all that is good in country music," said Kyle Young of Country Music Foundation on Gill's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Born in 1957 in Norman, at an early age the music learned to play guitar, banjo, bass, mandolin, dobro and fiddle. In 1983, Gill signed with RCA Records and moved to Nashville to pursue his music career. He married Christian music artist Amy Grant in 2000.

He's sold more than 26 million albums in his lifetime, and earned 18 Country Music Association awards. He's also won 19 Grammy awards, more than any other country music artist in history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Badwater.... ROCKS

Badwater is getting together for (2) reunion shows...hope everyone can make it out!!!

Casey Twist (our bass player) will not be with us for these shows since he is playing full time with Jack Ingram.

We will have opening bands at both venues.

 

It's going to be a great weekend of music!

 

Badwater Band:

Bobby Hogshooter

Ian Sullivan

Arie Bird

Matt Farinelli

 

September 11th @ Brewdogs in Tahlequah, OK.

September 12th @ Pete's Place in West Siloam Springs, OK

 

Please spread the word and see you all then!

 

Cross Canadian Ragweed

Ragweed says: We're playing the First Council Casino in Newkirk this Thursday, September 3. Go to crosscanadianragweed.com for more info.