The Music Universe Podcast

Mark Farner will release Closer to My Home, his long-awaited new studio album, on November 8th via Righteous Rock Records with distribution by MVD Entertainment Group. Bridging past and present, the grit of industry, and the calloused hard work of a rural man, the project champions Farner’s multi-faceted artistry. Celebrating the 55th anniversary of the iconic Grand Funk Railroad hit “(I’m Your Captain) Closer To My Home,” the album is highlighted with a re-record, finding Farner in exactly the same form as 1970. "There was no such thing as a click track back then. We played to the drummer. All of those hits back then, all of that music, it was all played to a real person, a drummer in a bone suit," Farner tells us about recreating the song. "So we did a tempo map. Josh Egan, who played drums on this particular cut, [Egen] did a tempo map of Brewer's original tempo, how it went up and down. I mean, if you looked at that map, you're going, 'What the hell?' You know, I mean, it was all over the place, but it doesn't sound like it. It's just naturally in and out. If the drummer does a fill, a lot of times, he's gonna make it to one before you do a pure tapping. (Laughing) He gets excited about what he's doing. So we wanted to capture that, and Josh certainly did. And he played Ludwig drums, just like Brewer played on the original track." Farner talks to us more about the project and whether a reunion with the original Grand Funk Railroad is in the works or not. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Award-winning artist and songwriter Brad Tursi of multi-platinum-selling band Old Dominion releases his first-ever solo project, Parallel Love, on July 19th. Parallel Love is a collection of songs that have been written over the past ten years that are reflective of where the accomplished artist, guitarist, and writer is in the present moment. Created and released with the band's full support, the project features co-writes with Stephen Wilson Jr., Dan Isbell, Jessi Alexander, and Matt Jenkins. Tursi produced the entire project as well, with Ben West and Marc Scibilia co-producing select tracks. In addition to his role with the reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year, Tursi is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, has earned multiple CMA Triple Play Awards for writing three No. 1 songs in 12 months, been named AIMP Artist Writer of the Year, and co-written hits for Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Tyler Hubbard, Josh Turner, Darius Rucker, and Cole Swindell, among others. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

The musician discusses his new spoken-word solo album Country, bluegrass, and Americana legend John McEuen release his long-awaited album, The Newsman: A Man Of Record, in April via Compass Records. In this project for McEuen, the album has ten spoken word tracks and one instrumental piece. Each one tells a special story in a way that's like a play, with John's style of music in the background. The album starts with a story about a newspaper seller who had a big impact on John when he was getting started in Los Angeles and ends with "Jules' Theme," a song inspired by Jules Verne talking about his wife, who passed away in a French cemetery. Every part of the album is carefully put together to make it unforgettable. The collection spans various literary themes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Civil War-era poem "Killed at the Ford" (which we premiered) to Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee" about a Yukon prospector. Other tracks include Stephen Vincent Benét's "The Mountain Whippoorwill," Hank Williams Sr.'s "Fly Trouble," and Walter Brennan's "Old Rivers." Thomas Monroe's Vietnam War reflection "Nui Ba Den" contrasts with more recent compositions like John Carter Cash's "The Guitar Of Pineapple John," Hans Olson's "I'll Be Glad (When They Run Out Of Gas)," and Thaddeus Bryant's "Red Clay." McEuen was set to support the project, but underwent an unexpected medical procedure around the time of the album's release, forcing him to be sidelined for several months. We recently chatted with the country legend to discuss the project, his latest book, and his history with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Rising country star Kassi Ashton is a week away from releasing her major debut album, Made From The Dirt, via MCA Records on September 20th. The project features her top 40 country radio hit, "Called Crazy," "I Don't Wanna Dance," her chilling new ballad "The Straw," and others. She holds nothing back on the ten tracks. Spiking her brand of country with rock ‘n’ roll spirit and unabashed vulnerability, she proudly wears her heart on her sleeve. Ashton tells us the album title describes who she is. "I was watching a live feed of a couture fashion show. And these models were wearing the most gorgeous, handmade, textured, metallic gowns trudging through mud. The stage in which the show was presented was like a pitch black, high spotlight beamed, motocross field, basically," she says. "The puddles, the hills, the obstacles. And I thought 'I wonder if everyone realizes that the gowns are all the more beautiful because they're being dragged through the mud because the models are having to climb and claw and really put their back into it.' And I just related so heavily to that imagery because all of my favorite things about myself if I could make a list have come from struggle or overcoming obstacles. I wasn't born with any of my favorite things. That's like, congrats, you were born with it, no one cares. But the things that have given me scars and that have shaped me are my favorite things. So yeah, I'm 'Made From Dirt.' And I tell everybody, I love the get back up. Please push me down, because I'm all the more interesting afterward." In the episode, Ashton also explains the idea behind "Called Crazy," her stage presence, and more. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

McBride & The Ride celebrates its 35th anniversary with a new live EP this fall. The album's first single, "Amarillo Sky," is available now and may be familiar to country fans as it was made famous by Jason Aldean although Terry McBride & Co had recorded it years before Aldean. "We've never recorded a live album, record or anything," McBride shares with us. "A lot of people have always asked us about live music. Our live show has a lot of energy that wasn't always captured in the studio, especially way back in the day when we were cutting a lot of ballads for radio. We just thought it was a great way for people who are fans or maybe never heard us to maybe get an idea of who we are live." 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the blockbuster film 8 Seconds, starring Luke Perry as bull rider Lane Frost. The band appeared in the film and contributed "No More Cryin'" to its soundtrack. When they first began releasing music in 1989, McBride & The Ride released three acclaimed albums Burnin’ Up The Road, Sacred Ground, and Hurry Sundown, with hit singles like "Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run," “Sacred Ground,” "Going Out of My Mind," and many more. In the spring of 2021, they announced they were reuniting and going back in the studio to record new music. Though the band has been on and off over the past 30 years, its members have thrived through their careers. Ray Herndon has been Lyle Lovett’s lead guitarist since 1985 and has had songs cut by Kenny Chesney, Aaron Tippin, Lee Greenwood, Linda Davis, and more, he continues to operate his family’s historic club, Handlebar J, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Terry McBride has had quite a fruitful career, writing major hits for Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Easton Corbin, Cody Johnson, and more. He toured with Brooks & Dunn through most of their biggest years playing bass and writing songs. Billy Thomas moved to Nashville from Los Angeles in 1987 and immediately started working with Vince Gill along with many other country stars, including Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Steve Wariner & Earl Scruggs. He’s been Gill’s drummer on the road and in the studio ever since, adding background vocals to his many hits, as well as joining him as a member of The Time Jumpers, one of Nashville’s favorite bands. The trio’s previous EP, Marlboros & Avon, produced by all three members, was released in 2023. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Australian indie pop group Sheppard has returned with Zora, its fourth studio album, available now via Universal Music Group. The highly-anticipated project sees siblings Amy, Emma, and George Sheppard sharing their thoughts during uncertain times. "We started writing it pretty much the day after we released Kaleidoscope Eyes," George says of the group's third album released during COVID. "We sorta started channeling those frustrations into a new album. We just kinda got back to work and a lot of this album was out of trying to give ourselves some hope of what was to come." The album was written in Brisbane, LA, and Stockholm and is dedicated to their grandmother Zora. The project is available on CD, and a limited edition double yellow vinyl and cassette. The trio recently relocated to Nashville from their native Australia. They chat with Matt Bailey at a recent tour stop in Washington, DC about the project and how the move has affected their career. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Capitol Nashville's Caylee Hammack has released her newest single, “The Hill,” laying the groundwork for her next creative chapter, pairing her with Celtic influences. The song opens a new spin sonically that pays homage to her transformative time in Scotland and Ireland as well as her sad surrender to a love that can no longer survive. Known as a deeply personal artist, Hammock vulnerably shares the internal battle of when to wave the white flag in a relationship. Hammack co-wrote the song with singer/songwriter Tenille Townes, and songwriter Logan Wall, with John Osborne (of the country music duo Brothers Osborne) serving as a producer. Hammack has carved a place for herself in country music, releasing her debut record If It Wasn't For You in 2020 with writer and producer credits for the entire project. She tapped Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, and Reba McEntire for collaborations on the project. In this episode, the rising country star talks to us about her new music and what gave her the courage to ask three country superstars to guest on her debut which was recorded largely independently before signing with UMG Nashville. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Grammy Award honoree, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Don McLean released his most recent album, American Boys, earlier this month via BFD/Audium Nashville and distributed exclusively through The Orchard. Paying tribute to his rock and roll heroes, McLean's new single honors those who paved the way. "American boys invented rock and roll. That's the idea," McLean tells us. "It's really the high school version of 'American Pie' which is the college version, but it's not complicated at all, it's just a simple homage, but they invented rock and roll. That's the thing I want to get across to people that America has invented a lot of different kinds of music. It comes from the soil. It comes from the south. It comes from Memphis, and Nashville, the Texas Panhandle, Louisiana, Arkansas, all over. It doesn't come from New England. It does not come from the West. It comes from these places." Last week, McLean was a guest at The White House State Dinner for President Ruto of Kenya.  The legendary and still active singer/songwriter has had a significant career, selling over 50 million albums worldwide. Among other things, Don McLean received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2021, was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2022, received a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame in 2019 and the Music City Walk of Fame in 2023, and was recently the focus of a Paramount+ documentary The Day The Music Died. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Texas country singer-songwriter Wade Bowen recently released his new album, Flyin, through his Bowen Sounds via Thirty Tigers/The Orchard. The 12-track record features a curated track listing with diverse songs ranging from old-fashioned honky-tonk country to gut-wrenching ballads, classic rock and even a love song to his home state for shaping him who he is today. As the second project that Bowen has produced fully himself, Flyin came together over a year and provides listeners with an unexpected array of songs that will keep them on their toes and take them through a unique, musical journey. With this album, Bowen explores the individuality of each song and takes a deep dive into his creativity through songwriting and storytelling. "Having a new album is always fun. It's always exciting. I really believe in this record and like I've been telling people, an artist, you know, a songwriter always says their most recent song they wrote is always their favorite and the artist always says their most recent album is always their favorite. So I'm trying really hard not to say that this time because I know that's the most cliche answer, but even though I do believe it's my favorite, but I do believe there's an energy to this record that I've never had before," Bowen tells us. He continues, "This is the second record that I produced on my own of mine. And I believe that as I listen through to it, I think there's an energy to this thing that I've never had. Something that I could carry over into my live shows and something that we have carried over into my live show that has really amped things up and really given like, spirit to things that I've never had something that this really crank things up a little bit and just shown and it really is not it's not just about the tempo it's just this this energy this spirit this this this this this this fun and and happiness and just showing that that I'm having more fun than I've ever had and I feel like I'm at the top of my game right now this far into my career that feels really good to hear all of that in this record and I hope people hear that when they hear this record." We chat about the new album, teaming up with good friend Miranda Lambert for the first time for a limited Texas run May 24-26 in his hometown of New Braunfels, his Bowen Family Foundation, and performing the National Anthem for the 2024 Texas Rangers Opening Day game. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Parker McCollum knows how to “Burn it Down,” but does he know the secret sauce for creating the perfect Raising Cane’s Box Combo? Award-winning country music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist McCollum, the “Gold Chain Cowboy,” avoided the “Young Man's Blues” with a tour of the brand’s Dallas-Area Restaurant Support Office on Thursday (May 16th) with founder and owner Todd Graves. McCollum – who won New Male Artist of the Year at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards) and Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2022 Country Music Television Awards (CMT Awards) – spent the morning with his good friend Graves ahead of playing the 59th ACM Awards at the nearby Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. No stranger to the spotlight or ACM recognition, McCollum just won Visual Media of the Year during a pre-awards show event and was nominated for Single of the Year for “Burn it Down.” McCollum recently announced 13 additional tour stops for his now 53-stop Burn it Down Tour, which kicked off in January. Before McCollum donning his Cane’s-cowboy best at the Dallas-Area Restaurant Support Office, he hosted a star-studded night at ACM Lifting Lives Live: Parker McCollum and Friends at Topgolf at the Colony, Texas alongside Graves and fellow country music stars Old Dominion, Jordan Davis, Ashley Cooke and Kameron Marlowe. Also in attendance were Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, and numerous other stars. During the show, McCollum and Graves were joined by good friend and country music sensation Koe Wetzel, who performed “Love” with McCollum on stage. The event benefitted ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the ACMs dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Later in the night, Graves and Doug Kindy, president of Lucchese, joined McCollum on stage to match McCollum’s $10,000 donation to ACM Lifting Lives, contributing to the more than $700,000 raised. After the concert, Graves and McCollum went outside to serve hungry fans from the Raising Cane’s food truck, which was on-site at the request of McCollum to help the charitable cause. McCollum sported a Cane’s hat and his signature gold chains while serving up chicken fingers to the masses. “It was great spending the night with Parker at his show and having him here at the office this morning to see some fun mementos of our history. Parker and I have been good friends for a while and it’s been amazing turning that friendship into something more meaningful,” Graves shares. “I’m also glad we had the opportunity to come together last night and make an impact on ACM Lifting Lives. It was heartwarming seeing Koe and everyone enjoying a fun night that benefits an amazing charity.” During the morning's tour of Cane’s three-story Dallas-Area Support Center, McCollum got an inside look at the celebrity “Hall of Fame,” where McCollum is featured working a “shift” at his hometown Raising Cane’s in Conroe, Texas, before headlining the 2023 Houston Rodeo. Graves – who built the first Raising Cane’s, “The Mothership,” across from the North Gates at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996 – gave McCollum an exclusive look into the chicken finger magic that made Raising Cane’s a household name. “Todd is a family man, which helped our friendship develop naturally before we got into business together. When people see that Raising Cane’s sponsors me, they know Todd only partners with people who are genuine and hardworking – both characteristics that he embodies himself,” McCollum adds. “Having Raising Cane’s on my eighteen-wheeler is so exciting and I always have enough food on the bus after my shows to feed a small village.” We were on-site following the tour to talk to McCollum in a press conference at the facility with a one-on-one conversation between our Matt Bailey and Graves. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Acclaimed musical duo Bowen * Young has released their debut album, Us via Snakefarm/Pias, a London extension of Universal Music Group. The duo, consisting of husband and wife Claire Bowen (TV's Nashville) and Brandon Robert Young, draws inspiration from their personal experiences and musical influences and effortlessly blend elements of folk, Americana, and country to create a sound that is distinctly their own. "When you make a record, it's just one of those things where you're sort of in the lab, you know, you're like in a cave creating, writing songs, recording them, and then you go through the whole mix and master process, but you know to finally get to that place where it's like oh we have a release date and the record's actually going to come out and we're actually going to get to share it with people," they tell us. "We're just thrilled." The duo will perform at Nashville's 3rd and Lindsley next week before heading to London to perform two special shows at Royal Albert Hall as part of Highways Fest on May 17th and 18th. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records singer/songwriter Elvie Shane delivers his most daring work yet with his sophomore album Damascus, available now. Full of unflinching honesty rooted in compassionate clarity, Shane takes pieces of each character he’s met on his path, melding them into one beautifully woven work. The road to Damascus isn't a journey one takes lightly, yet the album tells the stories of those often untold, giving each testimony a chance to shine through. Shane co-wrote all songs on the project produced by his frequent collaborator, Oscar Charles. "Very heavy-hearted for I'd say 60 or 70% of it," Shane tells us about the album's content. "You know, songs like 'Fan on High' and 'Chicken Shit' are a little bit more light-hearted. But man, I just really wanted to, what I've been noticing more than anything in the world the last few years is a lot of struggle. And a lot of struggle with my folks in particular, with blue-collar people. I'm a rural Kentucky boy, you know, come from a lower middle-class family, truck driver, and a factory worker as parents. Those are the people that I love and care about and I feel like they're very interesting people and I want to tell their stories. But within that picture of blue-collar struggle, there are some afflictions as well, be it addiction, political issues, religious issues, or prison reform. I think we tried to touch on all of those a little bit in this record." Shane discusses a few songs in more detail and what's ahead on this edition of The Music Universe Podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Last month, legendary icon Tony Orlando played his final sold-out show in Las Vegas this week after 51 years as a Las Vegas headliner and now at the renowned South Point Casino. In 1973, the crooner began topping the bill in Las Vegas at the famed Riviera Hotel showroom and soon after began headlining the esteemed and historic Las Vegas Hilton. During his early explosive period performing in the entertainment capital, he headlined most of the city’s legendary venues such as Caesar’s Palace, The Mirage, and The Desert Inn -- and continued an amazing twenty-five years of residencies in all of Michael Gaughan’s venues, including his hugely successful South Point Casino showroom. On March 22nd, Orlando will bring an end to his long and illustrious 62-year live concert performing career at Mohegan Sun's 10,000-seat arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Amazingly, this will mark his 65th appearance over 23 years at the venue. “I am so honored that my last concert will be at my favorite venue on Earth, Mohegan Sun Arena,” Orlando says. “My relationship with Tom Cantone, the stage crews, and the staff at Mohegan Sun Arena has been flawless. I also want to thank all my friends within the Mohegan Tribe for making me feel like family and for the opportunity to say goodbye. Thank you for making my dreams come true.” Throughout February and March, Orlando will play a handful of farewell North American stops, hitting Niagara Falls, Ontario on February 27th and 28th, along with playing a pair of Illinois shows in Des Plaines on March 2nd and St. Charles on March 3rd -- as well as a poignant East Coast date in Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 16th. Tony Orlando – a 60-plus-year hitmaker and standing-room-only live draw -- was recently honored as a New Jersey Hall Of Fame Inductee and remains a relentless supporter of American veterans. Orlando is a Grammy-nominated artist with a whopping 15 Top 40 hits, two platinum albums, three gold albums, and millions of copies sold. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” was the No. 1 Billboard Song of the Year for 1973 and went on to become the theme song for Tony Orlando and an anthem for hope, reunion, and renewal in America. Orlando is a recipient of two American Music Awards and a People’s Choice Award for Best Male Entertainer. He is the 2016 recipient of the Casino Entertainer Of The Year award and the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment from the Congressional Medal Of Honor Society, honoring his tireless efforts on behalf of our nation’s veterans. In 1990, Tony was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame to commemorate his outstanding achievements in the entertainment industry. He was also inducted into Mohegan Sun’s Walk Of Fame in 2010. Orlando will continue hosting his beloved hit radio program Saturday Nights with Tony Orlando on 77 WABC Music Radio (Red Apple Media, Inc.), which airs in New York, as well as reaching New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Orlando will naturally continue engaging in a multitude of ongoing projects – including a new film and multimedia company, Tony Orlando Productions. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

(EDITOR’S NOTE: In this episode, we mention Toto will perform with Journey for 44 dates this year. That number is 30 with 14 headlining dates of their own). Next week, Toto launches its third consecutive tour with Journey with 30 appearances throughout the United States and Canada through the spring with an additional 14 headlining performances planned. A tour of Europe follows this summer with additional headlining dates to be announced. The band is led by guitarist Steve Lukather (Luke) and frontman Joseph Williams, also known as The Dogz of Oz. In the fall of 2019, we began our podcast with Luke featured in our inaugural episode. Now, as we hit the 200 mark, we invited Williams to join us in the hot seat where we chat about the band's new lineup featuring Williams on vocals, Luke on guitar and vocals, Greg Phillinganes returning on keyboards and vocals, Nashville studio musician Shannon Forrest returning on drums, John Pierce on bass, Warren Ham on horns, percussion, vocals, and Steve Maggiora on keyboards and vocals -- and additional topics. "It's unbelievable how many versions of this band if you count all the musicians that have played from behind. Of the old guard, you know, it's basically just me and Luke, you know," he says. "But Greg Phillinganes is back and he was once a full-blown member back in the early 2000s and we're thrilled to have him back because he's just exceptional in every single way, so that's wonderful. And then Shannon who was with us during the teens for about six years is back, and it's great to have him back. He's probably -- more than anybody -- reminds me of the way [original drummer] Jeff [Porcaro] used to play. And he also has this encyclopedic knowledge of all the Toto material, so rehearsals are like a breeze. So between those guys, I mean, it's really solid, and it sounds amazing. I can't wait for everybody to hear it." Over the past decade, Toto has had a major renaissance in popularity like few bands at this point in their career. No individual statistic exhibits this more than achieving the milestone of over 3.4 billion streams at Spotify alone. The total plays of the band’s collected works across all platforms is now approaching five billion. Amongst the most listened-to recordings, “Africa” accounts for over one billion streams on Spotify alone. The song was recertified by the RIAA eight times platinum. Individually and collectively, the band’s family tree can be heard on an astonishing five thousand albums that together amass a sales history of half a billion albums. Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with hundreds of Grammy nominations. They are pop culture and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles while continuing to remain relevant. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

For four decades, Mark Miller has been the frontman of multi-platinum and multi-award-winning group Sawyer Brown and a trailblazer in country music. Now, he’s pulling back the curtain on his storied career with his new memoir The Boys And Me: My Life in the Country Music Supergroup Sawyer Brown, due February 6th via Forefront Books. From the early days of honing their craft in small-town venues to winning the first-ever televised singing competition with Star Search to becoming country music’s most enduring act, Miller offers a backstage pass to the heart and soul of Sawyer Brown with never-before-told stories. "The book wasn't my idea," Miller tells us. "My brother is our manager and he came up with the idea that [the band] need[s] to do a new album. My daughter's been involved. She is involved in production and has her own TV show. She really signed on and wanted to do the documentary. And then he thought it would be a good idea to do the book. Just as we talked about my personality, I just thought who in the world would want to read a book about me? And so that was my that was my first thing... Robert Nolan was the, I guess, ghostwriter or whatever. That was the first thing I said to Robert. I said, 'This was going to be difficult for me because I don't even know what parts of me are interesting.' So I think the reason for the book was just maybe to complete the 40-year package with the documentary, the album, and the book. The book, of course, covers my life all the way from growing up. The documentary covers basically the beginning of the band. That's where that picks up." The book's foreword was written by NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. The Boys And Me stands as a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and its impact on the country music landscape. Accompanied by the band’s new tell-all documentary, Get Me To The Stage On Time, and a Blake Shelton-produced album, Desperado Troubadours, coming March 8th via their longtime label Curb Records, Miller’s memoir continues the celebration of Sawyer Brown’s 40th anniversary. The first two singles of the new album, “Under This Ole Hat” and “Get Me To The Stage On Time,” are available now. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Marking a new pinnacle in a lifetime of creative achievement, multi-talented entertainer Charles Esten will release his highly anticipated independent debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty, on January 26th. A diverse and richly textured full-length project more than ten years in the making, Love Ain't Pretty began taking shape when Esten first arrived in Music City to play Deacon Claybourne on ABC/CMT’s Nashville, and now showcases a singer-songwriter with a masterful grasp of the full human condition. Working in tandem with hitmakers like Jon Nite, Eric Paslay, Gary Burr, Leslie Satcher, and more, Esten co-wrote all 14 songs, diving deep into wide-ranging themes of earth-shattering romance, big-picture reflection, and beyond. Vividly detailed and filled with the emotional daring of a celebrated storyteller – both onscreen and onstage – Esten explores life, love, and the passing of time through the lens of a traveled and tested everyman, who has never lost his innate sense of wonder, or his wide-open soul. Meanwhile, he teamed with producer Marshall Altman (Frankie Ballard, Marc Broussard, Matt Nathanson) to sculpt a calm, controlled, and beautifully contoured sound, blending the forward momentum of Country Rock with Rootsy small-town charm, and a warm, soulful vocal. "[O]ver these years in college, I was singing other people's songs in their voice. I was doing Buddy Holly and his voice on TV's Whose Line [Is It Anyway]. As you know, they would go, 'We want you to sing this song in the style of Neil Diamond or the style of U2.' So you're doing other people's voices for a long time. Part of the journey of any artist is finding out, all right, 'Who am I then?' And Nashville is a beautiful place to get to do that because you're surrounded [by talent]," Esten tells us. "I had this great producer named Marshall Altman and these incredible players around me who get to follow our lead and make these, bring these songs to life in a way we had imagined, but beyond that because of their great talents. And so, so much of this has been stripping away those impressions and those other folks to find out what it is. "I want to say, who I am and what I want to say. Now those things have been influenced along the way. There's so much of this music I would think you would agree that Deacon Claiborne could have sung that one. And in a way he did because I played him. And I was fortunate enough to get to write three songs for Deacon on the show Nashville so that overlap is there. But it's very strange to have a debut album at this late point in someone's life. But to me, it's all for the better. It means I have things I've thought about that I want to say, and in a certain way I want to say them, and that all comes together in Love Ain't Pretty." Esten is a global entertainer. Best known for his roles as Ward Cameron on Netflix’s Outer Banks and Deacon Claybourne in ABC/CMT’s Nashville, the artist-songwriter introduces Love Ain’t Pretty. Surpassing 21 million streams to date, Esten is a 2018 Guinness World Records title holder for the “Most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single by a music act” after delivering 54 original songs once a week for 54 straight weeks. He’s made nearly 170 appearances at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry and performed multiple headline tours in the US, Germany, Amsterdam, and the UK, further embarking on his US and international headlining Love Ain't Pretty Tour this spring. In addition, Esten serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night Walk and is a board member and volunteer for Musicians On Call. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

On June 4, 2022, Steve Vai began a world tour that has now staged 194 performances in 51 countries across the globe. Some of these markets he had never appeared in prior, amongst which are Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Zallak (Bahrain), Bangalore and Kolkata (India), Mumbai, Macedonia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, alongside six new markets in China (Foshan, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing and Hefei). Throughout this worldwide odyssey, Vai stepped foot on every continent other than Antarctica. Now back at home after this marathon 19-month tour, Vai is ready to fill up his 2024 with more touring and to share new music. Earlier this month, he began the year by staging his annual Vai Academy. Titled A New Breed Of Virtuosity, Vai Academy 7.0 was staged at the Omni Championsgate Resort in Orlando, Florida. He chats with us about the upcoming G3 Reunion Tour with Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson as well as his Satch-Vai Tour with Satriani. He also talks about new music that includes his passion project of orchestral songs and teases a big tour announcement for the fall. "The last year and a half was the Inviolate Tour. So it was the full show that I do, but now for 24, it's more condensed. I'm out with Joe and Eric Johnson for G3 for a good handful of shows. We kick off in about ten days," Vai tells us. "And then finally, it's so nice, Joe and I are going to do a tour together, just the two of us. And that's something -- we've toured together a lot, but we've never toured as just the two of us. And for the first time, we'll also have some music that we recorded together, working on a couple of tracks there. So that's exciting. And it's really nice because it's kind of the end of a huge touring cycle, and I get to do it with Joe. I mean, we've known each other since we were little kids, you know? I started taking lessons [from Satriani] when I was like 12. We've been joined at the hip ever since, but we've never really done anything like this together. So it's very nice." The G3 tour kicks off on January 22nd and runs through February 10th, and then The Satch-Vai Tour will be staged from March 22nd in Orlando, FL through May 12th in Santa Rosa, California, featuring an extensive itinerary that will stage 38 appearances. This marks the first time that the long-time friends have toured as a duo-bill. It is also the first time they’ve collaborated on new music, which will be premiered just before the tour heading out. Conceived in 1995 by the multi-Grammy nominated guitarist, Joe Satriani, the inaugural G3 Tour took place in 1996 bringing together three of the most iconic and virtuosic guitarists of their time: Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai. Known for their incredible technical prowess, musical innovation and unique styles, the G3 tour was a celebration of guitar mastery and proved extremely popular, captivating audiences worldwide. Though the line-up has continually changed over the last 29 years since its inception, Satriani is celebrating G3 in 2024 by reuniting the original trio: Satriani, Johnson, and Vai. The tour is set to begin on January 23rd in Tucson, AZ staging 13 performances ending with a pair of shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles which Vai says will be filmed. Satch and Vai’s musical careers have been intertwined since their very early days. Satriani served as Vai’s guitar teacher during their teenage years on Long Island, New York. Their connection has continued to evolve over the years, even sharing record labels, starting at Relativity Records in the late 80’s, to both calling Sony/Epic Records home for a significant portion of the 90’s. Together, they have also frequently teamed up with a third guitarist on multiple occasions throughout 29 years, participating in the semi-annual G3 Tours, both in the US and abroad. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

We are back from an extended break with an action-packed episode featuring interviews with Riley Green and Garth Brooks. This edition of The Music Universe Podcast originates from Brooks' new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in the historic area of Nashville's Lower Broadway, recorded ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and the soft opening of the new multi-level venue. Before we talked with Brooks, I had a chance to chat with Green in October surrounding the release of his new album, Ain’t My Last Rodeo, released via BMLG Records. The Alabama good ol’ boy shares a close relationship with fans, taking them inside of his country lifestyle and talking about how his grandfather inspired the project. "The title's after the title track 'My Last Rodeo' that I wrote about my Granddaddy Buford, and something he told me before he passed away back in 2010. I didn't write this song until just recently, so it was one of the last songs to make the album, but I thought the sentiment of it kind of embodied the traditional country music sale that I think we were going for on this record," Green shares. "Also, it's been a while since we put an album out, so it's always nice to remind fans that you're writing constantly and that you got new music and it's great to have new songs to play at shows." Last week, we attended a press conference ahead of the soft opening at Brooks' new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk. We were on hand as Brooks relaunched The Garth Channel on TuneIn, which has its studio overlooking the stage in the facility. During our three-minute two-on-one chat, Brooks discussed his new The Limited Series box set which features his latest album, Time Traveler, as well as whether additional albums are expected from the country superstar. "Individual record sales aren't really out there. People do [albums] for like artwork and stuff," Brooks says. "So I don't know when it's gonna [be released individually] -- it'll eventually come out on its own. But right now it's sitting in the box." He adds, "The whole thing of what albums are now and how music is served, I'm not sure an album is in the future of any artist. So I think right now what you want to do is just watch technology and see how people are digesting music and then we'll figure it out from there." He also states the highly-anticipated Ireland television special from the five-night-finale of his global Stadium Tour in September 2022 is still in the production stages. "I'm getting to see the pieces [of the film]. We're working on it a week from Sunday, too, so it's still in the evolution stages. I can tell you this. When you talk about how sweet it was -- top-tier stuff, come back stuff -- I'm going to put this up against anything we've ever shot, including Central Park. When you see it, you're not going to believe it. I can't believe it when I see." This episode also features an interview with Natalie Cox, who's a new host on The Big 615, Brooks' flagship station with TuneIn and his Sevens Radio Network. Additionally, we talk with Blake Carter, who returns as the voice and Program Director of The Garth Channel. We round out the episode by taking music fans inside three new exhibitions at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, profiling Patty Lovess, Eric Church and the Los Angeles country-rock scene of the 1960s and 70s. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

In August, platinum-selling, iconic country/rock band Sister Hazel released "Coconut Trees." The track was written by the band's guitarist Andrew Copeland and the late Kyle Jacobs, and was produced by Ben Jackson. The c’est la vie track is a unique blend of sounds meant to be listened to with "a little sun and rum on ice with an ocean breeze," no distractions. "The song is actually supposed to be an upbeat, fun number. And it is. Once the band got ahold of it in the studio, it became just kind of this feel-good mantra of escaping all the worldly crap, and going and spending some time with somebody you love and someplace with some white sand and blue water and some coconut trees," Copeland tells The Music Universe. "So it's not like a super deep, super deep song. It's all about just kind of letting loose and having fun. And I think that this is the first time the band has ever used steel drums in a recording. So it's just got a kind of a happy hop to it. So I'm hoping people are digging it." Originating from Gainesville, Florida, Sister Hazel is comprised of five gifted, seasoned musicians who are well-spring of natural talent. The song "All for You," topped the adult alternative charts during the summer of 1997 and the success propelled their album to platinum status. Since then, the band has become firmly established not only in rock and alternative music but now in country with four back-to-back Billboard Top Country Albums Chart entries. They have most recently co-produced a cleverly themed EP compilation series entitled Elements, which includes a bonus seventh track that continues throughout the series. Living up to their fan-centered reputation, the band was a pioneer in the themed cruise industry by co-founding The Rock Boat -- which will mark its 23rd anniversary in 2024 -- and annually hosts events like the Hazelnut Hang, and Camp Hazelnut that focus on creating unique experiences and interacting with the fans.  Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

The Music Universe Podcast gets our wiggle on! The Wiggles recently returned to North America for their first tour of the region since 2019. The Ready, Steady, Wiggle! Tour is a high-energy celebration of music, dancing, and endless fun, leaving children (and adults) inspired, enthralled, and eager for more. It is named after the Netflix series that has got countless children and families through the tough times of the pandemic. The eight-piece group played three dates in the US and is touring Canada through October 8th. Concertgoers should be ready to sing, dance and wiggle their way through an unforgettable musical extravaganza of beloved Wiggles hits including "Rock-a-Bye Your Bear," "Hot Potato" and "Do the Propeller." During the live shows, audiences will be treated to an interactive and engaging experience with the new extended lineup featuring Anthony, Simon, Tsehay, Lachy, Caterina, Lucia, John and Evie. The group is joined on stage by all their Wiggly friends including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, and Captain Feathersword. The group is also the subject of the forthcoming documentary, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which launches globally on Prime Video on Tuesday, October 24th in more than 240 countries and territories. The highly anticipated Australian Original documentary celebrates icons in entertainment The Wiggles, their enduring global success, and cultural impact spanning more than 30 years. Anthony, Lachy, Simon, Tsehay, along with Caterina, John, Lucia, and even Captain Feathersword, have a great time chatting with Matt Bailey about all things Wiggles! The group recently chatted from Canada where they discussed what fans can expect from the shows, their legacy, and the documentary. Follow us for more as the Amazon documentary premieres this fall. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV. Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support