"I wanted to write a song that is a tribute to Bluegrass music and our heritage as a genre, and one that also showcases how widespread and diverse the Bluegrass audience is these days - from New York to California to North Carolina and everywhere in between,” says Billy Gilman. “And I thought that a Bluegrass anthem would be even more complete if it had the Queen of Bluegrass singing on it, so I played it for Rhonda Vincent and she really liked the song and blessed me by agreeing to record it with me. What an honor that is!"
“That’s Bluegrass To Me” was co-written by Gilman alongside frequent collaborators Dan Murph and Philip Douglas. This single resonates with powerful vocals of both Vincent and Gilman, paying tribute to legends such as the Osborne Brothers and Bill Monroe. The song further enriches the Bluegrass experience by referencing cultural landmarks and festivals, including The Station Inn in Nashville, Sonny's Bar in New York City, the Grand Ole Opry, Huck Finn Jubilee, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The studio recording also includes instrumentation from world-class band, The Rage. The dynamic pair first performed the song together last summer during Vincent’s sold-out Ryman show.
The previous single, “Delta Queen” was released last fall and went on to become the Rhode Island native’s highest charting Bluegrass single to date. It climbed all the way to No. 2 on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay Chart, following the success of the lead single “Roller Coaster.” The latter is the title-track to the upcoming full-length Bluegrass project coming later this year via Pinecastle Records (release date TBD). Gilman is planning on making 2024 a year to remember, with even more great music on deck to come.
Success started early for Gilman, who experienced a meteoric rise with his debut single “One Voice” in 2000. He went on to gain sales exceeding 10 million units, which led to a Grammy nomination, and helped him break the record for the youngest artist to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s “Top Country Albums Chart.” Throughout the duration of his career, Bluegrass has always been a passion. Growing up, Billy would sit around and listen to the genre with his grandparents, with hopes of one day recording a Bluegrass project. That inspiration is on full display with “That’s Bluegrass To Me” where it mentions a Grandmother sitting on the porch listening to Bluegrass music. The upcoming Roller Coaster album marks Gilman’s first full-length collection after coming in second place on season 11 of NBC’s The Voice in late 2016.
To keep up with all things Billy Gilman, check out his official website www.billygilman.com. While there, fans will be able to find upcoming tour dates, hear music, check out latest news stories and more!
No comments:
Post a Comment