JOHNNY BULFORD NAMED THE “BEST NEW
ACT IN COUNTRY MUSIC” AT THE 27TH ANNUAL
COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN!
Soon To Release Livin It Up, His Third
Independent Recording, The Charismatic Orlando Based
Singer/Songwriter—Who Secured A Highly Coveted Endorsement
Deal With Taylor Guitars--Has Opened For
Collin Raye, Josh Turner, Trick Pony, Emerson Drive ,
Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio and Tracy Lawrence
As He Ponders Ways To Invest His $100,000 Prize,
Bulford Keeps The Momentum Going, Opening For
Jason Michael Carroll And Performing At The
Suwannee River Jam In North Florida April 23-25
Talk about life imitating a great country song! Rising country
sensation Johnny Bulford’s (www.johnnybulford.com) wild and
incredible 2009 is truly living up to “Livin It Up,” his infectious new
song that’s also the title track to his upcoming third indie album.
Representing radio station WWKA Orlando, the charismatic
Central Florida based singer/songwriter was named “Best New Act In
Country Music” at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown (www.
countryshowdown.com), which was hosted by superstar LeAnn
Rimes at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and is being
syndicated across the country this spring.
The multi-talented performer, who plans to invest the $100,000
Grand Prize check he received into furthering his blossoming career,
beat out four other finalists with renditions of his original songs “How
Could I Not” and “What Happens Here Stays Here,” the title track from
his popular 2007 indie album.
“It’s the best thing that’s happened in my career so far, and it
seemed like everybody in Nashville was watching the show, so
people wanted to know why I wasn’t jumping up and down and acting
more excited,” says Bulford. “I guess I deal with this kind of thing
differently, and I was in shock a little bit. When they announced my
name, my legs started shaking and all I could think about was not
falling down and not saying something silly. I thought back to when I
first started listening to country music, when my grandmother popped
in a cassette of Garth Brooks when I was 11 and thought, wow, it’s
been quite a journey. Yet really, it’s only beginning.”
Each year the competition begins in the spring with more than
450 country radio stations producing live shows to find the best new
talent in their market. These winners advance to state and then
regional competitions throughout the summer and fall before
competing at the National Final in January.
Bulford, who recently scored a highly coveted endorsement
deal with manufacturing powerhouse Taylor Guitars, came close to
the mountaintop experience with the Colgate competition before as a
Florida finalist in 2003 and Florida State winner in 2004. He’s
following in the giant footsteps of some of today’s top country artists
who also competed in past local, state, regional and National
competitions, including Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw,
Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans and Miranda Lambert.
Not that he minds the superstar company—the way things are
going, he’ll probably be opening for those artists sooner than later. At
the tender age of 23, the seasoned performer—whose competition
accolades also include placing second in the Recording Academy
sponsored Florida Grammys in 2007—has already opened major
shows for Collin Raye, The Warren Brothers, Josh Turner, Emerson
Drive, Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, Tanya Tucker and
even Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night fame.
Playing rhythm guitar with his five piece band, Bulford’s spring
2009 slate finds him adding more big names to his growing resume.
After opening for Jason Michael Carroll in Sanford, Florida and
judging the first round of “Orlando’s Got Talent,” he is headed north to
the Suwannee River Jam April 23-25, where he’ll perform each day of
the festival, whose lineup includes Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery
Gentry, Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson, John Anderson and Colt Ford.
Following that, the singer will hit Jupiter, Florida for a few dates
at Corners Ocean Bar & Grill in early May, including a benefit show.
Bulford is active on the charity circuit and recently performed an
acoustic benefit concert for cancer research and medical grants at
the University of Central Florida , where he’s taken time off from his
pursuit of a master’s in business and marketing.
This whirlwind of activity is leading up to the highly anticipated
release of Livin It Up, which features tracks written or co-written and
produced by the singer and collaborations with renowned Nashville
songwriting heavyweights, the Grammy nominated Charlie Craig
(Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton) and Robert Arthur (Brad
Paisley, Mark Chesnutt). Many of the songs are currently available on
his MySpace site (www.myspace.com/johnbulford), and a pre-
release of the album is for sale online and at his live performances.
“Even though there are a lot of strong ballads on the new
album, it’s definitely a happier, more upbeat set than What Happens
Here Stays Here and my (2005) debut Southern Thing,” Bulford says.
“As a songwriter, I would say that I write based on experiences in my
own life as well as being observational—I even write love songs
based on observing the relationships of people around me. The title
track ‘Livin It Up’ started with my idea of a hook that said, ‘I’ve been
livin’ it up, now I’m trying to live it down. But it’s not a reckless party
song, more about mischievous small town things like stealing the
mascot and pouring soapsuds in the fountain by city hall.”
“Then,” he adds, “there’s ‘Real World’ which was inspired by
my experiences and those of my friends during our college years. I
wonder what we all have to show for our time then. We spent a lot of
time drinking and partying, but did we really learn anything? On a
more reflective, inspirational note, I really like the ballad ‘Remember
The Brave,’ which is a song dedicated to our troops.”
Being a prolific songwriter helps set Bulford apart from the
many wonderful singers in country music who rely on the magic of
Music City songwriters for their material. Speaking of his preference
to record his own material, he says, “I know many artists in Nashville
love to draw incredible songs from the well of amazing writers in
Music City, but I love writing and singing my own songs and to be
honest, would feel weird singing someone else’s songs all the
time—not that I wouldn’t ever do it! With outside material, I think the
key would be identifying with what the song says—or if I wish I would
have written it. I love collaborating with Charlie and Robert, and feel I
have learned something valuable from everyone I have ever worked
with. For me, the key to writing great songs is knowing first of all what
isn’t going to work.”
While Bulford’s childhood growing up in Central Florida was
heavy on the gospel and Christian music—which he heard at home
and sang in church—the singer recalls laying in bed at night listening
to a local pop station and recalls falling in love with classic rock
(Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin) after his father filled
him in on it. Though he has long felt that his smooth voice is more
suited for country than rock, the singer cites a wide range of classic
and modern influences in a multitude of genres. While he still enjoys
Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Brad Paisley (both as a singer and
guitarist), Bulford is equally passionate about Irish rock singer
Damien Rice and contemporary singer/songwriters like Amos Lee.
Because of his natural ability to write great songs, there was a
time when Bulford contemplated simply being a Music City
songwriter and letting others perform his material. But his fans in
Florida and throughout the region, and the millions who saw him win
the Colgate Showdown, won’t hear of it. They want him onstage
where they can enjoy his great showmanship and the powerful
energy he has when he sings from the heart.
“I used to listen to country music as therapy that got me
through tough times,” he says. “That’s what’s great about this genre,
that the writers and artists write and sing about life, and it can help
listeners who are going through things. Knowing that I have written
songs that can lift people’s spirits like this is the coolest thing in the
world to me. If my words or my performance helps change someone’
s life, I can’t ask for any greater gift.”
Those are his spiritual goals, but what about his immediate
career aspirations? “To perform on Conan O’Brien and record a duet
with Carrie Underwood!”
Now that would truly be Livin It Up!
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SHANE WYATT MAKES NATIONAL TV DEBUT
AND RELEASES SECOND SINGLE, “WHOLE LOTTA LOVE”
Wyatt Also To Attend CRS 40 And Participate In 2009 Arctic Plunge
Minnesota-based Country singer-songwriter Shane Wyatt’s (www.
shanewyatt.com) year is off to a busy, but exciting start. This month,
he released “Whole Lotta Love” as the second single off his debut
album, The Big Bad Dog. The single shipped to Country radio on
February 16th.
“’Whole Lotta Love’ is just a feel-good, up-tempo song that reminds
me of the songs I grew up on that really made people want to get up
and dance, or put the pedal down in the car. There are so many
songs on the album with deep, introspective layers or words with
double meanings; I wanted to make sure we had one on there that
was just a classic sounding country song that folks could tap their
toes to. We had such a great time in the studio with this one, and
think that really comes out in the song,” says Wyatt.
Thanks to a couple of crazy fans dressed in wedding garb at a show
this past summer, on Saturday, February 28th, Wyatt will make his
national TV debut on an episode of CMT’s series “My Big Redneck
Wedding”, hosted by Tom Arnold. The episode titled “Gary and
Leann” airs at 2:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. (all times are
Eastern).
Wyatt will then return to Nashville , where he recorded The Last
Cowboy, for CRS 40, March 4th-6th to visit with industry professionals
and participate in interviews.
Upon returning from Nashville , Wyatt will head to Long Lake in Isanti,
Minn. , on Saturday, March 7th, to be a judge at the 2009 Arctic Plunge
sponsored by 92KQRS. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. and the plunge
will begin at 2 p.m. Since 2002, the Arctic Plunge has been a huge
success raising money for the Isanti Fire Department (2003- 2006)
and Isanti County Safety Rescue (2007-2009). Wyatt and his band
will play the after-party that night.
Touching hearts and scooting boots with songs inspired by modern
traditionalists like George Strait and country rocker Jason Aldean,
Wyatt has enjoyed great grass roots success with his first single,
“The Big Bad Dog,” which has received airplay on major stations in
Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota, Wyatt’s adopted
home state.
EVENTS RECAP:
CRS 40
March 4th-6th
Nashville, TN
All day
Nashville Convention Center , Renaissance Hotel and other
locations around Nashville .
2009 Arctic Plunge
March 7th
Captain's on Long Lake
27821 Bay Shore Dr NW
Isanti , MN
www.arcticplunge.com
Festivities begin at 1 p.m.
Plunge at 2 p.m.
After Party at 8 p.m., no cover
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COUNTRY MUSIC HEIST IN THE TWIN CITIES!
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COUNTRY STAR SHANE WYATT
LOSES HIS MARTIN AND FENDER GUITARS IN BURGLARY
MUSIC ROW IN NASHVILLE RALLIES TO GET WYATT'S
CHERISHED TOOLS OF THE TRADE BACK
Critically acclaimed and well loved, Minnesota based rising country
star Shane Wyatt (www.shanewyatt.com) is asking for his guitars
back – or else!
On Wednesday, April 8, Wyatt’s home in Eden Prairie was broken
into and among the $15,000 in stolen property are two guitars –
Martin Acoustic Guitar (DC-16GTE Aura) and a Fender Telecaster
(52 Reissue). Both guitars are Wyatt’s performance guitars and
mean a lot to him, especially the Fender Telecaster, which was a
gift from his wife.
The singer/songwriter, who performs multiple four hour sets every
weekend around the Twin Cities and beyond, which include lots of
guitar playing, has this message for the burglars:
“To the people who broke into my house in Eden Prairie ,
Minnesota and stole my stuff (including my Martin DC-16RGTE
AURA and my 52 Reissue Tele), I respectfully ask that you return it
as soon as possible. You bring it back and we are square... no
questions asked. If you have already sold the guitars, then keep the
money - you are gonna need it for doctor bills when I find you.
Sincerely,
Shane Wyatt”
Anyone with leads on the guitars or the burglary can send them
anonymously to info@luckmedia.com.
In June 2008, Wyatt released his debut album The Last Cowboy
and has been receiving praise from music critics all over the world.
Minneapolis’ own music critic Chris Riemenschneider of the Star
Tribune said, “His polished but brawny brand of country fits in
among currently hot Music Row studs such as Brad Paisley, Dierks
Bentley and Tim McGraw.”
Famed Nashville historian Robert K. Oermann said Wyatt’s “The
Big Bad Dog” “marks him as the most commercial and creative
songwriter of the bunch."
Maverick Country Magazine called The Last Cowboy, “Good debut
album from a fine singer/songwriter.”
The British Country Music Association proclaimed, “…the songs, all
self-penned, are a fresh-sounding mixture of the brash and the
sentimental, each one different from the other.” They added,
“Shane Wyatt is certainly one of the names to look out for in the
future.”
In December 2008, Music Connection magazine named the rising
star one of the Hot 100 Unsigned Bands & Artists of the year.
Wyatt’s current single “Whole Lotta Love” has been receiving lots of
love from country radio, with early airplay on over 100 stations
across the country.
For more information on SHANE WYATT contact:
Steve Levesque or Jen Onsum at Luck Media & Marketing, Inc. at
(818) 760-8077
info@luckmedia.com, www.luckmedia.com, www.shanewyatt.com,
www.myspace.com/shanewyattmusic
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