Thanks to everyone who listened in to CarolinaCountryRadio.com Friday evening! It was an incredible honor and I had a great time!! Special thanks to Charlie Ammermann for making me feel so comfortable!! Keep on tuning in to those fabulous radio and internet stations out there who are continually supporting and playing real country music!!
I am a native Texan, born in San Antonio, Texas. Since I was a child, music and the stage have been part of my life. I just completed my first album, "Strange", available for purchase JANUARY 28, 2007, produced by Bobby Flores at his Yellow Rose Studio. When not on the road playing a show somewhere, I normally sing back-up for the Alvin Opry where I have been doing two shows a week since 2000. The Alvin Opry band features some very accomplished musicians such as Norm Cass and Larry Booth who played with Gene Watson. The Alvin Opry also features on bass legendary Tony Booth. It's truly an honor to have been able to stand on the same stage with someone like Tony for all these years because he's truly the real deal! He is my role model and my hero.
I'm used to playing two to three shows a week, every week. Lately, in addition to my live performances, I have had the opportunity to provide harmony vocals for other album projects with a couple of different recording studios.
I have been very fortunate in that my executive producer allowed me the freedom to express myself on this record with no limitation. I know what true artistic freedom feels like and that is groovy feeling.
I got my start in music a little different than alot of people and I think it makes ME a little different. I love music on so many levels but most important to me the passion of each song. I won't be able to perform a song convincingly unless I can feel it. If I can't feel it, the crowd won't believe it and it would be a waste of their time.
My main influences have been all those people for all those years who have come across the stage beside me inspiring and energizing me week after week with all the new-to-me traditional country material. My intense love for traditional country grew from watching the songs performed LIVE. I'd hear a "new" song and rush home to research who wrote it and who performed it and even see what else they've recorded. It's the main reason I started listening to the recordings of Tony Booth, Johnny Bush, Gene Watson, Patsy Cline, Dottie West, Bobby Flores, Jake Hooker, Justin Trevino, Marty Robbins, Jody Nix, Amber Digby, Dugg Collins, Ray Price, Curtis Potter, Willie Nelson, Earnest Tubb, Darrell McCall and I hear more everyday!! The first time I ever stepped foot in a Honky Tonk, I was honored to get to play with Bobby Flores and his band. The second time, I was honored to get to play with Jake Hooker and the Outsiders. These two boys are the masters of the dance....masters of the Honky Tonk and their bands are the standard to which I will always measure my own band's excellence.
(= My CD is NOW AVAILABLE at LeighanCortes.com!! Get your copy today!! =)
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