Josiah Siska is out to “Get a Girl” with new single

The country baritone voice that touches listeners’ hearts

By Preshias Harris

“For me, the greatest reward from performing is the satisfaction of realizing people in the crowd understand you,” says Josiah Siska, the Black River Entertainment recording artist and songwriter.  He explains, “When I write songs, when I play my music or when I cut a song, it’s always something that I can relate to; a story from my life, something that I’ve lived or an experience, a mood or a love that I’ve felt.”

That’s also what draws Josiah to songs written by other songwriters such as “To Get A Girl.” It’s his current single written by Danny Myrick, Josh Ronen, and Landon Wall and released by Black River in early March 2021. Watch the official lyric video here

“I’m not too great at communicating with strangers all the time,” Josiah admits, “But when I play my music on stage, the people in the crowd get to hear me. When they tell me that it’s good, I feel real good.  That’s the most rewarding thing about being an artist for me.”

The Gwinnett, Georgia, native is a multi-instrumentalist. He plays electric, acoustic and classical guitar, as well as the banjo and piano. He was working at a Dacula, Georgia, golf club when he auditioned for Season 15 of American Idol, impressing the judges with his rendition of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” It was the first big step on his musical journey. 

Idol: A leap of faith

“It was kind of a blind leap, just blind faith,” he says of his decision to try out for Idol. “I went out to Hollywood by myself. I auditioned when I was seventeen, I turned eighteen when I got accepted on the show and I did it all on my own.”

Continue reading “Josiah Siska is out to “Get a Girl” with new single”

Shannon McCombs nominated for Tenn. Radio Hall of Fame

From Rock to Country, Shannon has done it all!

Shannon McCombs, host, writer, and producer of the weekly syndicated show, CDX Country News has been nominated for the 2021 class of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. The 10th Anniversary Induction Ceremony will take place on July 31, 2021.

A personal note from Preshias…

Shannon and I are lifelong friends! I was listening when it was her very first time on the air, broadcasting from WKVE-FM in Cave City, KY. I can remember jumping for joy and screaming at the top of my lungs. The same thing happened when she started her first night at WKDF-103 Rock in Nashville, Tennessee, as the overnight air personality. My mother and I were both whooping and hollering just after midnight on January 1, 1986 when she played the Smokey Robinson song we requested!

Visit Shannon’s YouTube channel here to see her interviews with Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Trisha Yearwood, Hunter Hayes, Ricky Skaggs and many more.

“I’ve been in radio my entire life, even when I was a kid, I pretended to be in radio. Along with my brother and cousin, we would play DJ for hours with our cassette recorder.,” shared Shannon McCombs. “So, the fact that my peers have honored me in this way is extremely humbling.”

“I fully endorse the nomination of Shannon McCombs to the Tennessee Radio Hall Of Fame. Shannon has dedicated her life to radio in the Great State of Tennessee,” expressed CDX President – Joe Kelly. “She epitomizes a radio pro and deserves to be included among the great broadcasters already in the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.”

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Star-studded lineup set for 2ndAveStrong benefit

$2 million goal for March 26 broadcast

Set your DVR now or plan to be in front of your TV (or both) on Friday March 26 to see the stars come out to raise funds for those affected by the Christmas Day bombing that devastated Nashville’s Second Avenue and beyond.

The DISTRICT, Inc. and Metro Historical Commission Foundation announced the full lineup of performers for the March 26 virtual benefit concert hosted at the Wildhorse Saloon by Natalie Stovall of Runaway June. Ashley McBryde, BRELAND, Derek St. Holmes, Lee Brice, Lindsay Ell, Old Dominion, Phil Vassar, Phillip Phillips, Scotty McCreery, Shenandoah w/ special guest Gyth Rigdon and Tyler Rich will perform to raise money for 2ndavestrong restoration and preservation fund. 

One of the evening’s highlights will bring together for the first time ever GRAMMY Award Winning Shenandoah with special guest Gyth Rigdon performing “I Want To Be Loved Like That”. Gyth performed the song on the 16th season of The Voice as a member of team Blake. 

Gyth Rigdon (light shirt) on the Wildhorse stage with Shenandoah at the 2nd Ave Strong concert. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

On a personal note, I am so proud of Gyth Rigdon who not only has an amazing talent that took him to the finals on The Voice, but also has the resolve and focus that will make him a star. It was an honor to have Gyth as part of my “Nashville music family!”

Continue reading “Star-studded lineup set for 2ndAveStrong benefit”

What’s new in country music?

It’s February’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ with Preshias

Lots to catch up on in this month’s Inside Track on Music Row, the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA, written and presented by Preshias Harris.

Read the full column, along with links to music, videos, photos and more here at Nashville Music Guide. Among this month’s stories…

  • Adam Sanders’ new album, Adam Sanders Live, and links to the tracks
  • On the 20th anniversary of releasing his first single to radio, Tim McGraw duets with Tyler Hubbard on “Undivided”
  • HARDY says “Give Heaven Some Hell” to a departed friend in new single…
  • Check out the tracks on Lee Brice’s latest album, Hey World
  •  The 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels, scheduled for February 22, has been moved to a new date
  • On “Freedom Was A Highway,” Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley reminisce about the nostalgia and simplicity of more carefree, youthful days
  • Kip Moore shares the track and video of “How High” from his 17-track Wild World Deluxe project, set to drop Feb 12
  • Eric Church’s 3-part project Heart & Soul includes a special part just for Church Choir members
  • Loretta Lynn is Still Woman Enough with new album due in March plus a PBS documentary
  • Thomas Rhett is the latest country artist to get into the wine & liquor business with Dos Primos tequila
  • Parker Millsap teases upcoming album Be Here Instead with single, “The Real Thing”
  • Plus… Chris Janson, Ashlyn Grayce, Gene Watson, Opry News, Brett Young, Tin Pan South 2021 update, Buck Owens, Clay Walker and more in the February 2021 Inside Track on Music Row posted here at Nashville Music Guide now!

 Preshias Harris  is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at   www.collegeofsongology.com   Follow her blog at  www.nashvillemusicline.com

@PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ January 2021

Check out this month’s Nashville Music Guide

Kickin’ off the New Year with a whole bunch of country music news in my column, Inside Track on Music Row, the longest continuously-running monthly country music column in the USA. Click here to read it in the January edition of Nashville Music Guide.

Among the many news items in this month’s column:

  • New albums from Brandy Clark, Chris Stapleton, Alex Hall and Bill Anderson
  • A look at Shenandoah’s 2020 all-star project, Every Road
  • The Grammys are set for Jan 31 and here’s a glance at all the nominations in the country music categories
  • Two new syndicated radio shows from Hope Radio: 90s Country Flashback and 615 The Grind
  • 2020 was a great year for Curb’s ‘golden boy’ Lee Brice. Or should that be ‘platinum boy’?
  • Dates announced for Tin Pan South 2021
  • Brady Seals (Little Texas) releases new autobiography, God Blessed Texas and Me Too
  • Plus Matt Stell, Eric Church, Blane Howard, Old Dominion, Chris Young and more. Catch the entire column in the January 2021 Nashville Music Guide.

Preshias Harris  is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at   www.collegeofsongology.com   Follow her blog at  www.nashvillemusicline.com

@PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris

Luke Combs tops Airplay chart, Morgan Wallen’s album debuts at No. 1

Country update from Preshias

Here’s a quick roundup of what’s happening this week on Music Row and in Country Music!

  • Luke Combs logs his tenth No. 1
  • Morgan Wallen debuts on both Billboard’s Top 200 and Top Country Album charts
  • HARDY set to “Give Heaven Some Hell”
  • Parker Millsap is “The Real Thing”
  • Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson roll up their sleeves for vaccine
  • GigTours™ wants you to say “I’m With the Band”
  • Plus an “I Know Country” Q&A and more. Scroll down to read all these country music news items

Luke Combs does it again. Luke has logged his tenth consecutive No. 1 song atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of Jan 23. Titled “Better Together,” the song was co-written by Combs with Dan Isbell and Randy Montana and is the fifth single from Luke’s album What You See Is What You Get.

Continue reading “Luke Combs tops Airplay chart, Morgan Wallen’s album debuts at No. 1”

Dangerous! Morgan Wallen’s new 30-track double album

Preshias talks country music with Y’all Show host Jon Rawl

Another busy week on Music Row. @PreshiasHarris and Jon discuss a bunch of topics on this week’s livestream that you can watch now on the Ya’ll Show website or the Y’all Show YouTube channel. Among the topics:

  • Morgan Wallen’s new double album includes collaborations with some of Nashville’s biggest writers and artists
  • Terry McBride – of McBride & the Ride – releases a new album, and the Ride’s entire catalog is now available on Spotify
  • Tim McGraw and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard are “Undivided” on a new heartfelt song of unity
  • Three sad losses for Nashville: the passing of Ed Bruce, Jamie O’Hara and Misty Morgan
  • Thomas Rhett launches Dos Primos tequila and joins the list of country artists in the wine and liquor business
  • Lady A’s “Champagne Night” takes the charts by storm after Songland TV show
  • Plus an “I Know Country” Q&A, some country artists celebrating birthdays this week, the Top 5 Country Airplay songs and more. Scroll down to read the program notes, and watch the livestream at the Y’all Show website or the Y’all Show YouTube channel.
Continue reading “Dangerous! Morgan Wallen’s new 30-track double album”

Loretta Lynn, Chris Young, Elvie Shane and more on the Y’all Show with Preshias

The first Y’all Show of 2021

Preshias is back on the Ya’ll Show for the first show of 2021, talking about what’s happening in Nashville and the world of country music. There was a lot to catch up on after the Christmas and New Year’s break! Y’all Show host Jon Rawl is on hand to ask @PreshiasHarris what’s up on Music Row. Watch the latest Y’all Show with Preshias at the Y’all Show YouTube Channel or at the Y’all Show website. Among this week’s topics…

  • The Grammys have been postponed thanks to the Coronavirus. The Recording Academy has set a new date in March…
  • Loretta Lynn is Still Woman Enough and this week she took to Twitter to talk about her upcoming album and the women of Country who’ll be featured on the project…
  • Shenandoah marked a ‘high’ point in a ‘low’ year for me with the 2020 release of their album Every Road featuring Luke, Blake, Carly, Brad and more of their friends…
  • Broken Bow’s Elvie Shane premieres the music vid – directed by video veteran Peter Zavadil – for his moving debut single, “My Boy”…
  • Former Bee Gee Barry Gibb’s Nashville album Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 produced by Dave Cobb drops January 8 featuring a who’s who of Music City’s finest…
  • Blane Howard is a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan and his single “Run It Back” is his tribute to his favorite team, when he isn’t singing “Promise To Lover Her” to his wife…
  • We take a lot back at how 2020 treated Chris Young – and it treated him pretty well with a stack of Gold and Platinum discs for his album I’m Coming’ Over and a bunch of singles…
Continue reading “Loretta Lynn, Chris Young, Elvie Shane and more on the Y’all Show with Preshias”

Charley Pride: the passing of an icon

Preshias joins Jon Rawl on the Y’all Show

A sad week as country music loses a much-loved pioneer. But Preshias and Jon get to talk about some more Nashville news, including new music from Brett Young and Dierks Bentley, the 2021 CRS New Faces of Country Music, a new book from Brady (Little Texas) Seals, Jeannie Seely’s “Santa Paws” livestream fundraiser, Billboard’s year-end country charts, an I Know Country Q&A and more.

Watch the entire show at the Y’all Show website here or on Y’all Show’s YouTube channel here.

John Rawl and Preshias on the Y’all Show

 Preshias Harris  is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at   www.collegeofsongology.com   Follow her blog at  www.nashvillemusicline.com

Hal Ketchum dies, Chris Stapleton album, Vince & Amy

Preshias and Jon talk about what’s happening in country music this week

The Y’all Show is back after the Thanksgiving break, and Preshias and Y’all Show host Jon Rawl have plenty to talk about, including:

  • 90s country artist Hal Ketchum passes
  • Vince Gill and Amy Grant plan Christmas at the Ryman – for 2021
  • Chris Stapleton’s new album Starting Over debuts at No. 1
  • Collin Raye co-writes all the songs on his new album
  • New dates for Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
  • Bluegrass music celebrates 75 years
  • Grammy nominees in Country categories announced
  • Dennis Quaid releases ‘unifying’ single
  • This week’s “I Know Country” Q&A from Preshias’ ebook and more

Watch the entire show at the Y’all show website (complete with all the background notes, links and info) or at the Y’all Show YouTube channel.

 Preshias Harris  is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at   www.collegeofsongology.com   Follow her blog at  www.nashvillemusicline.com