Tag: Center Stage Mag

Garth Brooks: “Friends In Low Places” almost didn’t happen

Garth Brooks tells the story behind the song at CRS

by Preshias Harris

Garth Brooks became the inaugural recipient of the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Garth Brooks No Fences Award, named after Brooks’ ground-breaking No Fences album. It recognizes an individual in the country music industry who boldly demonstrates innovation, creativity and tenacity.

During this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March, Brooks was interviewed by CRB’s RJ Curtis. Read my full report of the in-depth interview at Center Stage Mag here.

Garth Brooks talks with Country Radio Broadcasters at CRS 2023. Photo: Preshias Harris

At one point, Curtis put up a screenshot showing a string of Garth Brooks hit songs in a thirteen-month period across 1989 and 1990. The songs were: “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”, “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, “Not Counting You” and “The Dance”.

However, Brooks was not among the rising artists selected to appear at the New Faces of Country Music show at the 1990 CRS. To the amazement of the ‘standing room only’ audience, Brooks never played the New Faces show.

In the interview, Brooks frankly described how his monumental hit “Friends in Low Places” very nearly became Mark Chesnutt‘s hit single, rather than his. Brooks had actually cut the demo for the songwriters while he was a shoe salesman in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, moonlighting as a demo singer.

He went on to explain his prolonged absence from music to be with his family and how: “it was probably the most selfish move I ever made in my life.”

Read my full report of the in-depth Garth Brooks interview in the ‘Preshias On The Row’ section of Center Stage Mag here. #CenterStageMag

 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 

Bryan Ruby singing in “Baseball Country”

Combines twin passions with new single, upcoming EP

by Preshias Harris

Bryan Ruby grew up with two passions that have stayed with him to this day: baseball and country music, as we discussed in my interview posted at Center Stage Mag.

An outstanding athlete, he played baseball throughout his school years in Pennsylvania. But when he went on to higher education it was on a vocal music scholarship at Vassar College in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Even so, Bryan led his college team to First Team All-Conference honors and went on to play pro baseball in the USA and overseas.

Now he makes Nashville his home as a singer-songwriter, and we met up during Country Radio Seminar (CRS). He talked about his new, just-released single, “Baseball Country”, his musical influences and his 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, Proud To Be In Baseball, that supports LBGTQ kids who want to play baseball.

Read my full interview with Bryan Ruby at Center Stage Mag here.

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 

“God Blessed Texas” and Brady Seals too!

Now Brady Seals, Lua Crofts are Seals & Crofts 2

by Preshias Harris

Brady Seals & Lua Crofts: Seals & Crofts 2

Brady Seals is part of a legendary musical clan that encompasses pop, rock and country.  Perhaps best known as part of the iconic band Little Texas and the anthem he co-penned, “God Blessed Texas”, Brady was also a founding member of Hot Apple Pie, known as ‘Nashville’s Super Group.’

Now Brady is out on the road with Lua Crofts with their project, Seals & Crofts 2.

Brady sat down with me for an in-depth interview, sharing memories of those early days with Little Texas and his current projects that show no sign of slowing down.  You can read the entire interview at Center Stage Mag here as part of the ‘Preshias On The Row’ series.

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 

David Adam Byrnes gotta “Keep Up With A Cowgirl”

Scores SEVEN No. 1 songs on Texas radio charts

David Adam Byrnes came to Nashville from his native Arkansas seeking success as a singer-songwriter.  But it wasn’t until he left Nashville that he found success.

That success came to him in Texas where it felt “just like a glove that fit perfectly,” as he said, in an interview with me during Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March. He found a true connection with the culture and the music in the Lone Star State – and an audience that embraced his genuine love of traditional country music.

In the interview, Byrnes told me that, as a songwriter in Nashville, he seemed to be on the edge of success when five songs he had penned were on hold or about to be released by recording artists. But all those potential cuts evaporated, forcing him to reevaluate his career path.

You can read my full interview with David Adam Byrnes at Center Stage Mag here. He talks about how that potential career-end became a golden opportunity with a string of No. 1 hits in Texas and a new album, Keep Up With a Cowgirl. #DavidAdamByrnes

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 

Tin Pan South Fast Access Passes now available!

Songwriter lineup announced for 31st Annual Tin Pan South Festival

By Preshias Harris

If anything defines the heart and soul of Music City, it is the presence of the most talented pool of songwriters found anywhere in the world.  The average listener streaming or downloading songs probably has no idea who actually wrote the songs they love.  Songwriters are, for the most part, anonymous.

But for the past three decades, Nashville has turned the spotlight on those unheralded creators with Tin Pan South. 

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has revealed the lineup for the 31st Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival presented by Regions Bank that will take place March 28 – April 1, 2023. Passes for the Festival are available now here.  Fast Access Passes are priced at $175.00 to the general public and $145 for NSAI members.  

With ten venues, one hundred shows and four hundred songwriter performances, this year’s Tin Pan South is shaping up to be one of the best.

Enjoying a previous Tin Pan South, (L to R) Ashley Gorley, Brett Young and Chris DeStafano. Archive photo by Preshias Harris

Read the full story at Center Stage Mag here with details about the scheduled shows and more (including a link to the all-new app for both iOS and Android).  

If people only knew it’s the songwriters – that’s where it all begins. If the fans only knew I’m just like a puppet up here. If it wasn’t for you guys [Craig Wiseman and Deric Ruttan] I wouldn’t be standing up here. — Blake Shelton, at Number One party for “Came Here to Forget, August 30, 2016.

 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 here.  Follow her blog at  www.nashvillemusicline.com

Tracy Lawrence’s record-breaking Mission:Possible Turkey Fry & Concert

Helping people most in need

By Preshias Harris

A chilly morning didn’t stop Tracy Lawrence and around 250 volunteers from cooking up 1,200 turkeys at the seventeenth annual Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Turkey Fry two days before Thanksgiving.

Tracy presents $250,000 check to Nashville Rescue Mission. (L-R): Shawn Parr, Rev. Glenn Cranfield, Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Volunteers at work with one of the many turkey fryers. Photo: Tracie Moore

Those 1,200 turkeys – the most ever in the annual event’s history – provided 9,600 meals to those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday.  This year, the Turkey Fry moved to the Nashville Fairgrounds from its original location at the Nashville Rescue Mission’s parking lot, allowing the team to set up even more fryers.

Tracy told me, “I’m just happy we haven’t set anything on fire today,” when I caught up with him as the first turkeys were coming out of the fryers. He admitted it was a big undertaking, but added, “We’re going to reach hundreds more people in need around the Greater Nashville area this year than we’ve ever been able to do in the past.”

Continue reading “Tracy Lawrence’s record-breaking Mission:Possible Turkey Fry & Concert”

See what’s new at Center Stage Mag

Center Stage Mag features ‘Preshias On The Row’

Have you seen my new feature titled Preshias On The Row? You can find the feature at CenterStageMag, along with a whole lot more such as ‘Track by Track’ music reviews, info on artists and live shows, and video conversations with the amazing Missy Wolf!

Here’s a quick digest on some recent Preshias On The Row stories posted at #centerstagemag …

Here’s an opportunity to see some historical artifacts from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame without going to Cleveland. Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium announced its newest major exhibition Rock Hall at the Ryman will open on Wednesday, Nov. 2 as part of a multi-year partnership with Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The interactive exhibit will be housed in the venue’s newly transformed 5th Avenue vestibule … Find the full story here.

Tracy Lawrence is gearing up for his 17th annual Mission Possible: Turkey Fry & Concert, set for Tuesday, November 22. Multi-Platinum artist Gary Allan and rising star Travis Denning will join Tracy onstage at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. Prior to the concert, Tracy and volunteers aim to fry 1,200 turkeys, providing meals for the homeless… Here’s the link to the story at Center Stage Mag.

Tears the Size of Texas, the new album from Ben Burgess, features eight classic cowboy songs as well as two murder ballads, all co-written by Ben alongside some of Nashville’s finest writers such as Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Brandy Clark. Josh Kerr, Randy Montana, Kevin Kadish and more.  The collection has been described as “songs that were too risky, too original for anyone else to sing.” The full story is here.

And there’s more: An auction of unique handwritten song lyrics auctioned to benefit Music Health Alliance … My red carpet interviews at the 5th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards … Dolly Parton‘s Mountain Magic Christmas set for Holiday season TV … News about albums from Randy Huston and Wade Bowen … Chris Young and Kane Brown celibate Double Platinum … and more!

So hop on over to #centerstagemag to find out what’s going on in the world of music and entertainment! I will be posting more stories as they happen under the Preshias On The Row tab.

 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

All Horses Firin’ for American Blonde

These blondes love having fun!

by Preshias Harris

Sisters Nata and Tinka Morris are American Blonde. They were previously a trio known as Southern Halo, but when sister Hannah moved on to follow other interests, the two remaining siblings – both blondes – emerged with what now seems the perfect name.

They dropped by a few days ago for a fun visit and we talked about their new single (“All Horses Firin‘”), their current album, making music videos, their musical influences and upcoming tour dates.

Read the full story and my interview with Nata and Tinka here at Center Stage Mag. “There’s Somethin’ in the Water” for American Blonde!

Nata and Tinka shared this fun pic on social media!

More about American Blonde here and be sure to follow this link to our interview posted at Center Stage Mag.

Preshias Harris joins Center Stage Magazine as featured contributor

Note: The following is a media release prepared and distributed by Kat Atwood and the team at Music City Media.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – Country music industry vet and entrusted music columnist, Preshias Harris, has announced she will team with Center Stage Magazine extending her reach to a broader audience. Now, in addition to her existing presence in Nashville Music Guide,country music enthusiasts can enjoy up-to-the-minute music news and commentaries at Center Stage Magazine, under the dedicated “Preshias On The Row” header.

A mainstay among prominent media forums, outlets and entertainment writers in the Nashville music scene, Harris has been the author of “Inside Track on Music Row” (one the longest-running monthly country music columns in America) for more than twenty-seven years. Published in Nashville Music Guide since 1995, “Inside Track” appears in print and via digital editions of Nashville Music Guide.

Harris is also a regular contributor to Country Music News International (CMNI). CMNI caters to millions of readers, viewers and radio listeners across the globe; the Germany-based multimedia source provides country music news and information in print, via radio and video broadcasts. She acts as the international CMNI representative at renowned industry events and forums such as Country Radio Seminar and CMA Fest.

Continue reading “Preshias Harris joins Center Stage Magazine as featured contributor”