Scotty McCreery, Cledus T Judd

Sneak peek at August’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

  • Zach Stone to host ‘Country Fix’
  • Cledus T. Judd is back with new song parody
  • Scotty McCreery shares wedding video with fans
  • Michael Ray’s shoes helping animals in need

You’ll read more than forty music news items in the August 2018 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row, when it is posted at Nashville Music Guide. The column is the longest-running Country music column in America.  Scroll down for a sneak peek at just a few of the items in the August column.

Meanwhile here is a link to my July 2018 ‘Inside track’ column posted at Nashville Music Guide, complete with photos and graphics.  Thank you NMG editor Amanda Andrews! You always make the column look SO good.

Zach Stone to host ‘Country Fix’

Zach Stone

Jetpack Artist Ventures’ flagship recording artist, Zach Stone, will host ‘Country Fix‘ on Heartland-TV in late July and again in early August. Stone makes a guest appearance in Episode 208 and Episode 209 slated to air the weeks of July 30, 2018 and August 6, 2018.  Stone makes a guest appearance in Episode 209 slated to air the week of August 6, 2018. (Check listings for air dates/times here.)

The ‘Country Fix’ audience, country music fans and the media have applauded Stone’s work time and time again. His ‘Four Letter Word’ music video aired as a ‘Country Fix’ exclusive premiere earlier this year. Hosted by up-and-coming and established country music artists, ‘Country Fix’ is a half-hour program that airs on Heartland-TV. The segments feature new music video releases, interviews, news segments and in-depth coverage of happenings in the country music scene. In addition to Heartland-TV, “Country Fix” airs internationally on Keep It Country (UK), Country TV (NZ) and Cayman 27 (Cayman Islands). More about Zach at his website at Facebook  and Instagram.

Cledus T. Judd is back with new song parody

Cledus T. Judd

Six years after hanging up his overalls, Cledus T. Judd is “strate outta retarment” and funnier than ever with ‘My Weight’s Goin’ Up Down.’ It’s a parody of Morgan Wallen’s #1 Country single ‘Up Down’ featuring Florida Georgia Line. In the music video,  Cledus scarfs down fried chicken, hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, sweet tea and more, while the kids are forced to eat mystery health food. He saved on casting enlisting the same kids – including his daughter – to star in several scenes.

The song is currently available at iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and all download and streaming services. Cledus walked away from writing, touring and releasing music in 2012.  The life of stardom had a downside for him, as constant partying led to drug addiction. He credits the birth of his daughter, now 14, for leading him to a clean life and a dedication to spending more time with his family. More at Facebook.

Scotty McCreery shares wedding video with fans

Continue reading “Scotty McCreery, Cledus T Judd”

Zach Stone tells stories in music and video

Texas singer/songwriter inspired by life’s moments

Zach Stone was in Nashville to play some dates at CMA Fest 2018. Zach is an emerging artist from Arlington, Texas.  His influences range from George Strait to Jason Aldean, and his own music can move from hard-driving country rock to emotional ballads.  He is currently self-releasing a series of singles and their accompanying music videos that are held together by a thematic thread running through them.

We sat down to talk just as CMA Fest was wrapping up.

This is one of a series of interviews that I conducted with rising singer/songwriters during CMA Fest to find out about their new music, their musical influences and their experience at CMA Fest.

Preshias Harris: What are some your favorite things to do with music, besides performing?

Zach Stone:  Wow. Well, you really made it hard for me because my favorite thing is performing! Songwriting is a lot of fun.  I really enjoy creating my own storylines, getting to tell stories and convey emotions that I’m feeling and thinking about going through. I really didn’t start doing that until I moved to Nashville about seven years ago. That’s been a new experience. The more I’ve done that, the better I’ve gotten. It’s just been super cool to keep moving forward with that. One of my other favorite things that I’m just recently discovering with our new video series that we’re doing is that music videos are so much fun.

PH:  It sounds like you’re enjoying that aspect.

Zach Stone

ZS:  I love getting to shoot music videos! It’s fun to create these storylines and characters and act in them.  It makes me think that one day, I’ll eventually want to do some movies.  Right now I’m just focusing on each song and music video individually because each one has been ‘my baby.’

Playing for The Country Network

PH: What were some of the highlights of your first CMA Fest? Continue reading “Zach Stone tells stories in music and video”