Merle Haggard enters the Billboard Bluegrass Chart at # 1

Nashville, TN – Country music legend Merle Haggard racked up his highest first-week sales for a new release since 2000 following the October 2nd release of The Bluegrass Sessions.  Aided by strong support from the media, the project the Boston Herald called “perfect” weighed in with more than twice the sales of the bluegrass chart’s second-place release and entered Billboard’s Independent Albums chart at #34 and its Country Albums chart at #43.
 
Released on bluegrass luminary Del McCoury’s McCoury Music label, Haggard’s first-ever foray into bluegrass features a duet with Alison Krauss on his classic “Mama’s Hungry Eyes.”  Joined by a savvy cast of musicians (including Marty Stuart on guitar and mandolin), the Country Music Hall of Famer recorded The Bluegrass Sessions in two days of intimate “living room style” sessions.  “Each take became a performance. Merle’s singing was totally inspired,” Stuart writes in the album’s liner notes. “In fact, he got to the point where he didn’t even go into the control room to listen to playbacks. There was no need. All of us knew what we were doing was right.”

The Bluegrass Sessions features a handful of reworked Haggard classics (including “Big City”), several new songs, and a few nods to bluegrass tradition, including a medley of Jimmie Rodgers songs and an album-ending take on the Delmore Brothers’ “Blues Stay Away From Me”).

Although Sessions marks his first venture into bluegrass, it is a logical step for the legendary Haggard. A pioneering artist in his own right, he’s long shown an affinity for the roots of American music, whether with acclaimed tributes to predecessors like Bob Wills and Lefty Frizzell, or through recent back-to-basics albums with fellow country luminaries George Jones (last year’s Kickin’ Out The Footlights…Again), and Willie Nelson and Ray Price (this year’s double CD Last Of The Breed).

The #1 showing was also a first for McCoury Music, as the budding label continues to reach new milestones.  Created in 2003, McCoury Music first served as a home for 9 time IBMA Entertainer of the Year, the Del McCoury Band, and directly related projects.  In 2007, the company made the leap to a full service label in association with Sony/REDistribution, providing opportunities for other artists in the genre and laying the foundation for a McCoury family leadership role in the bluegrass and acoustic market for generations to come.   The label’s efforts have already been rewarded with a Grammy Award (along with three nominations on each of its first three releases) and an IBMA Album of the Year Award.

"the acoustic setting brings out the nuance of Haggard's familiar voice, highlighting its warmth and emotional resonance. Well past retirement age, he still one of the most vital country singers on record today."
    -Associated Press

"Haggard sounds right at home..."
    -Billboard

"Merle Haggard's voice ... is so perfectly suited to the perpetual, high-toned ache of bluegrass, it's a wonder nobody thought of pairing the two before."
    -Washington Post

"...it’s perfect..."
    -Boston Herald

 
"...expectedly first-rate."
    -LA Times

"...hits as deep as anything he's ever recorded."
    -No Depression

"the gravelly voice seasoned by a lot of hard living hasn't lost one bit of emotion or the power to captivate the listener...if you like real country or true bluegrass, this CD is a keeper."
    -Country Standard Time

"When one of the most prolific poets of our time, aims the power of his pen at the world of acoustic music, the results are timeless.  Merle Haggard has put the blues back into bluegrass.  I was honored to be there alongside of him when he did it."
     -Marty Stuart

"...its simply structured songs, vivid portraits of folks who pray and work and reminisce, are all classic Hag."
     -The Phoenix

"The great country icon sounds inspired..."
    -Amazon.com

"...top shelf."
    -Rolling Stone

"features passionate, stirring lead vocals and poignant story songs and pieces."
    -Nashville City Paper

Win an Autographed guitar from Merle Haggard at www.fye.com

FYE Records, in conjunction with RED Distribution, is giving away one guitar a week for a full year.  For the week of Oct. 15, the guitar to be given away will be autographed by Merle Haggard, provided by McCoury Music and Martin Guitars.  Please click here for your chance to win.

McCoury Music’s Post-IBMA Awards’ Party Once Again a Tremendous Success.

Nashville, TN – McCoury Music, The Del McCoury Band, SIRIUS Satellite radio, and family & friends celebrated the end of another great IBMA World of Bluegrass Trade Show and Award Show with a party at the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase. The place was packed as the crowd had a chance to unwind with friends and listen to great music including The Steep Canyon Rangers, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers, Ronnie Bowman and the Committee, and the hosts, The Del McCoury Band, along with a host of friends including Sam Bush, Larry Keel, and Dave Evans.  The party didn’t begin until after 11pm and rolled on well past 2.  Everyone in attendance received a McCoury Music sampler CD recorded in the same style as Del’s weekly SIRIUS Radio show.  Thanks to everyone who helped make this party a success, including The Gibson Bluegrass Showcase, SIRIUS, MCOM, and Beyer Printing. 

Click over to the Del McCoury Band photo album to see some pics of the event.

Larry Sparks featured on the cover of the October issue of Bluegrass Music Profiles

We’d like to thank Bluegrass Music Profiles for their support of Larry Sparks.  Click over to www.bluegrassmusicprofiles.com to purchase a copy of the current issue.

A Live album from the Del McCoury Band coming soon

The Del McCoury Band will be recording a live album at the Barns at Wolftrap on Oct. 17th and 18th.  This show is always special, so this year we’ve decided to record it.  We want all of the DMB’s biggest fans in attendance to help take this recording to a new level.  There are still a few tickets left at www.tickets.com.

Del McCoury is Artist of the Month for worldwidebluegrass.com

The WWB~WorldWideBluegrass.com is a 24/7 online and new Bluegrass Radio station - streaming traditional and new bluegrass music.  With 25 volunteer broadcasters,(adding daily), each plugs in to the station from their home, wherever that may be - and bring a show to you with their personal music library,  as well as offering new releases from major and indie Bluegrass labels and artists. The WWB stream is free to listen to, and a family friendly monitored "guestroom" is available, where the DJ's may take requests, or answer a question about the music and artists.  "Live interaction" in real time with the hosts, or artist that visit the room, during the show, makes it " reality radio!  The question is - can you handle it?  We think you can. We are "Bluegrass - from our house to yours!"
Gracie Muldoon, General Manager.  Go online to worldwidebluegrass.com

Del on SIRIUS Don’t forget to check out Hand Picked with Del every Saturday on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Bluegrass Channel 65.  SIRIUS is offering a free three day trial of their service at http://www.sirius.com/listenonline