Tag

Singing

Jul 31
Love11

Lacy J. Dalton

By Music, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for a heartfelt conversation with country music icon Lacy J. Dalton. She’s the legendary voice behind hits like “Crazy Blue Eyes,” “16th Avenue,” and “Black Coffee.” We’ll explore what drives Lacy beyond her fame, delving into her desire for a real connection through music. She reflects on themes of authenticity, legacy, and personal growth, sharing intimate details about her enduring musical journey since 1976.

This episode is sponsored by:

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In this Episode:

  • Lacy’s Start: A look back at how Lacy began her career in 1976.
  • Unique Sound: Recognition of how distinct “Black Coffee” was upon release.
  • Songwriting Partnerships: Her work with Even Stevens and Hillary Kanter who also wrote hits for Eddie Rabbitt and Kenny Rogers.
  • Industry Struggles: Discussing obstacles such as being considered too old in the industry and battles to promote her music despite setbacks from label changes.
  • The success of Black Coffee: Despite initial resistance, it became an international dance hit outselling major artists like Michael Bolton at launch.
  • Musical Influences & Mentors: Remembering interactions with legends like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and George Jones.
  • Musical Authenticity: The importance of bringing genuine emotion to performances without over-singing or losing connection with listeners.

Quotations:

“In the old days, the fans stayed with you forever.” ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“Those little great things are the problem, they’re like alien beings in our head.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“You can tell an old soldier by the look in his eyes. It’s almost like some of us attain some kind of consciousness of being very solidly and comfortably who we are. And it may be that we may not be the most ordinary people. We may be different in a lot of ways.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“I’ve always tried to bring as much of my authentic self to my singing and to my performing as I can.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“When I’m there, I want to be 100% there with you. I want to, but it’s not about, stardom was never the thing for me. It’s about the kind of communication that you can have with an audience that will uplift you and uplift them, and where people can feel some joy and feel some connection and get some inspiration to keep going. This is not an easy world.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“The music is actually a tool for me.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“When I’m gone from this world, I hope they will say that I did walk my talk because my word is very important to me.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“You can have all kinds of money and fame and power, and that’s great. But the connection that you have with an audience when you really connect with them, that’s really where it is.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“We just need each other. We truly do and we need to learn how to build bridges. We need to learn how to build bridges, meet in the middle, and listen to each other.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

“Let’s all learn to listen better to the people on the other side.”  ~ Lacy J. Dalton

Bio:

Lacy J. Dalton is a renowned American country singer and songwriter. Known as “Country’s Bonnie Raitt,” her soulful, gritty voice has captivated audiences for decades. She gained fame in 1979 with her hit “Crazy Blue Eyes” and won the ACM’s Top New Female Vocalist award.

Lacy’s career highlights include touring with legends like Hank Williams Jr. and Willie Nelson, receiving Grammy nominations, and collaborating with Willie Nelson on his platinum album Half Nelson. She transitioned to the Americana genre, founding her label, Song Dog Records, and releasing several albums.

Beyond music, Lacy co-founded the Let ’em Run Foundation, dedicated to rescuing wild horses, and taught songwriting to inmates through the William James Arts in Corrections program. She’s also an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Reno, contributing to their fundraising efforts with her music.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.lacyjdalton.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacyjdalton/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacyjdalton/

X: https://twitter.com/LacyJDalton

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lacyjdalton

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LacyJDaltonOfficial

May 15
Love22

Scotty McCreery

By Music No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, join our host Gary Scott Thomas and our special guest host Julie Stevens of KRTY.com for an exciting conversation featuring the one and only, Scotty McCreery, the country music sensation behind the songs “Damn Strait,” “Five More Minutes,” “Cab In A Solo,” and many more! It’s an episode about Scotty’s life on tour, the thrill of performing live, and the joys and challenges of parenthood. This one is filled with heart and laughter, so be sure you won’t miss it! Tune in now!

This episode is sponsored by:

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In this Episode:

  • Scotty shares adorable updates about being a father to his one-and-a-half-year-old son.
  • Scotty shares how he still gets nervous and excited before performing at big gigs despite a skyrocketing career.
  • Find out which of Scotty’s songs is the fan favorite and make the crowd go wild.
  • Discover Scotty’s unique approach to writing new music by retreating and getting insights into his songwriting process, which starts with jotting down ideas on his iPhone.
  • Hear all about Scotty’s star-struck experiences and lasting friendships within the industry.

Quotations:

“It’s a heartbreak, but he’s finding his way to it; he’s doing just fine.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“I still get excited more than anything. I love, my passion is, to write and sing country music and getting to do that anytime. I love it.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“To actually have people show up and sing a song back to you, it’s pretty awesome.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“Five More Minutes is the song where you see people bumping their neighbors and smiles and phones come up. And that’s the one I think they’re waiting on.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“It’s a heartbreak song, but I swear I’m smiling every night when I’m singing it.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“My goal was always to be a country singer, country musician.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“I had no clue what the heck I was doing, but little by little I started writing songs and, uh, started growing up and having life experience and figuring out who I was as a man first and then as an artist.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

“We had like a little retreat and we, most of the songs we wrote, were outside on the back porch around a fire and guitars writing just no phones out, no nothing. It was, it was, uh, it felt like the old days, like how songs should be written.”  ~ Scotty McCreery

Bio:

Scotty McCreery is an American country singer. He rose to fame after winning the tenth season of American Idol in May 2011. He captured hearts with his humble demeanor and undeniable talent. Since then, he has released several chart-topping albums, including “Clear as Day” and “See You Tonight,” earning accolades for his distinct blend of traditional and contemporary country sounds.

Scotty’s journey from small-town singer to country star has been marked by dedication and perseverance. Despite his meteoric rise to fame, he remains grounded in his roots, often drawing inspiration from his upbringing in North Carolina. His music reflects themes of love, faith, and the joys and struggles of everyday life, resonating with audiences across the globe.
In 2024, Scotty received one of country music’s crowning achievements when he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was inducted on April 20 by his childhood hero Josh Turner.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.scottymccreery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottymccreery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottymccreery

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smccreeryofficial

X: https://twitter.com/ScottyMcCreery

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scottymccreery

Apr 19
Love8

Conner Smith

By Music No Comments

In this week’s episode of Here’s What We Know, Conner Smith dives into how he communicates through song, getting started in Nashville, College football, collaboration, and the examples of the industry stars that have gone before him and paved the way.

He also talks about what he has in common with Michael Jackson.

This episode is also sponsored by:

In This Episode:

  • Living out childhood dreams
  • Telling stories through song
  • Meeting your heroes
  • Being a new artist on the radio
  • College Football
  • “Take it slow” song with Ryan Hurd
  • The example of older stars
  • The impact of social media

Quotations:

“I’ve been a product of being in the right environment, and that’s something that I don’t take for granted.” – Conner Smith

“Growing up … song was just how I expressed things.” – Conner Smith

“As a new artist with your single on country radio, it’s like all of your dreams hang inside of that one song.” – Conner Smith

“How much of Tennessee’s success right now is dependent on Hendon Hooker? Is it this the sort of thing where, you know, we’re gonna continue this and really kind of build a program that can sustain itself and last for years to come? Or is this kind of the perfect mix of ingredients? Either way, we finally have a coach that I can trust in, and that means something.” – Conner Smith

“Well, at the end of the day, it’s been a long time since we have been worried about another team taking our coach.” – Conner Smith

“I’ve kind of just become the Tennessee guy a little bit, with the songs, and it’s become so much a part of the brand.” – Conner Smith

“Are there some student athletes? Yes, there are. And the majority of those kids are student athletes who are truly trying to get the education and stuff. But also, I’ve talked to so many division one athletes who go, ‘It is all-encompassing. All you have time to do is workout, practice, train, workout, practice, train.’” – Conner Smith

“That’s a special song, and it’s one of those songs. I think you put out songs in the world and, you know, some of them catch fire and some of them don’t. That was the one that did, and fans just really gravitated towards it.” – Conner Smith

“Thomas Rhett … more than anything he’s ever done for me, he’s taught me how to do this thing the right way.” – Conner Smith

“It [social media] definitely changes the way you kind of view life and for better or worse, and it’s something you grow to live with. I think, especially my generation, you kind of grow up understanding that you’re accountable at every second.” – Conner Smith

“Keep the people around you that truly know your heart and truly know who you’re trying to be” – Conner Smith

Watch the Video:

Guest’s Bio:

Just 22 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has become one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated new artists – an uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective. After penning his first song at 6 and scoring a publishing deal at 16, the Country prodigy wrote five of the six songs on his Zach Crowell-produced 2022 debut collection DIDN’T GO TOO FAR (The Valory Music Co.). The charismatic effort laid an artistic foundation that earned Smith 2022 Artist to Watch status from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Opry NextStage, while also making him the only Country artist on Pandora’s Ten List 2022 and securing 2023 recognition from MusicRow Next Big Thing, CMT Listen Up, and more. Often hiding deep-thinking themes in plain sight, Smith scored his first Top 40 hit with the young-at-heart “Learn From It” and followed up with love-savoring “Take It Slow,” which quickly racked up nearly 100 million global streams to date. Tracks like “I Hate Alabama,” “Orange and White,” and “Summer On Your Lips” are my unexpected insight from vivid everyday stories. As Smith grows up in full view of his fans – both on the page and the stage – CMT calls him “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.” That momentum will keep building in 2023. Smith follows a year of touring alongside Thomas Rhett, Parker McCollum, and Ryan Hurd with upcoming select dates opening for Chase Rice and promises a new batch of “next level” music, further mixing in-the-moment energy with timeless meaning. Smith is currently on the road for his first-ever headline IF I WENT TO COLLEGE TOUR with special guests Mackenzie Carpenter and Jonathan Hutcherson, presented by the Monster Energy Outbreak tour, and joins Luke Bryan’s COUNTRY ON TOUR this summer.

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Guest’s Contact Info:

Feb 22
Love2

Meghan Patrick

By Music, Personal Growth, Uncategorized No Comments

As a self-described musical theater nerd to a now award-winning country music artist, Meghan Patrick joins Gary to discuss her journey both as an artist and an individual. Patrick shares how different genres and life experiences have influenced her path, and a desire always to make time for the important things. 

In this episode:

  • How Meghan got her start
  • The dynamics of being in a band 
  • Being authentic in the music industry
  • Finding balance as a boss 
  • Facing the economic realities of pursuing a career in music

This episode sponsored by:

Quotations:

“It’s not just the job itself. It’s not just writing songs and performing on and being on the road. For me, it’s also like making sure I get to work out and get outside and that just makes me a better person.” ~Meghan Patrick 

“That was my first exposure to like the country fans. And it all just came together where I was just like, these are my people. I love these people.” ~Meghan Patrick 

“I’m the person. I intend to live a lot of lives within my time that I’m given here on earth” ~Meghan Patrick

“And so it’s like always trying to kind of walk that line of, of being able to fully be myself while trying to make that fit within the country genre when it comes to songwriting. ” ~Meghan Patrick 

Bio:

Gifted, award-winning, chart-topping… cool. There are plenty of apt adjectives that apply to Meghan Patrick. But perhaps the most meaningful descriptor for the acclaimed country singer/songwriter is authentic.

Patrick is a musician who always tells it like it is in a voice as gorgeously persuasive as they come.  So, when she describes her electrifying third full-length studio album, Heart on My Glass, as “the most ‘me’ record I’ve ever made,” it’s a profound statement given the sincerity that has come before.

It’s also a handy metaphor for summing up the new album’s many sonic textures and flavors, some familiar to long-time listeners and others new— blues and gospel, anyone? — but all yanked straight from Patrick’s rich reservoir of influences.

Funny what a pandemic year spent hunkering down in a town like Nashville will do for your music.

“This is a special record for me for a lot of reasons,” Patrick confirms. “I had so much more time over the past year to focus on writing and really being able to dig into what my sound and message should be. This feels like the most all-encompassing representation of me as a writer, an artist, and a human. All the pieces fell into place.”