COLT FORD WISHES YOU A MUDDY CHRISTMAS WITH A FREE DOWNLOAD OF JOSH GRACIN'S "DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR"

FREE Christmas Song

Christmas is right around the corner! To put you in the Christmas spirit, check out a few songs from An Average Joes Muddy Christmas by clicking HERE or the player below. Then be sure to download "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Josh Gracin for free HERE. Want more? Then check out the full album in stores or on iTunes to spread some Christmas cheer to your loved ones. Orders for Muddy Christmas deluxe album packages are still available online but only until 11:59PM on Tuesday December 18 at ColtFord.com!

The Tug McGraw Foundation to Hold First Celebrity Clay Shootout on June 5

The Tug McGraw Foundation will hold their first Celebrity Clay Shootout on June 5 at the Nashville Gun Club. The proceeds will benefit the organization and efforts to improve the lives of service members with brain injuries and post-traumatic stress. Participants include Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, Troy Gentry, Josh Gracin, JT Hodges, Eddie Montgomery, Jon Pardi, Brad Warren,Brett Warren and 2011 National Sporting Clay Champion Bill McGuire. The event will include shooting, a barbecue lunch and a silent auction.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

May 09, 2012, Yountville, CA – The Tug McGraw Foundation will hold its inaugural “Celebrity Sporting Clay Shootout”, presented by DeltaSports.TV, on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at the Nashville Gun Club in Nashville, Tennessee. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Tug McGraw Foundation and its efforts to improve the lives of military service members who have been affected by Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The Tug McGraw Foundation Celebrity Sporting Clay Shootout will feature an exciting lineup of celebrities, all vying for a chance to be crowned Celebrity Sporting Clay Shootout champions. Joining the foundation at the event is GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Tim McGraw and an all-star lineup of country celebrities, including Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, Troy Gentry, Josh Gracin, JT Hodges, Eddie Montgomery, Jon Pardi, Brad Warren, and Brett Warren, with others to be announced in the coming weeks. Heading up the professional contingent for the event is Bill McGuire, the 2011 National Sporting Clay Champion.

Often described as “golf with shotguns,” the event will be a sporting clay shooting competition between 15 teams consisting of four shooters, a pro, and a celebrity. Unlike trap and skeet, which are games of repeatable target presentations, sporting clays simulates the unpredictability of live-quarry shooting, offering a great variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations, distances, and target sizes.

The teams will make their way through the award-winning 15-station sporting clay course at the Nashville Gun Club. In addition to the shooting competition, there will be a BBQ lunch and silent auction with items including wine, dining, travel and sports & music memorabilia.

To register an individual or team, or for more information about becoming a sponsor of the event, please visit http://www.tugmcgraw.org.

Eleven of 11: Eleven Gifts That Will Make A Country Music Connection

2011 has been a banner year for new music from legendary artists such as Vince Gill, to mega chart-toppers like Montgomery Gentry and new artists like Florida Georgia Line. One of the best gifts you can give is the gift of music, it continues to give long after the holidays are over and will give for years and generations to come. Here is our list of eleven of our favorite artists of the past year and what we think would make a great connection with your favorite country music fan. (These are in NO particular order.) Click the album cover to  purchase through the artist website. (The cd may link to Amazon.com or iTunes if not available for sale on their website. I prefer to pay the artist directly to ensure they get the most money for the purchase). Some are also available through most major music retailers like Best Buy, Target and Walmart.

1.) Montgomery Gentry - "REBELS ON THE RUN"

2.) Toby Keith - "CLANCY'S TAVERN"

3.) Florida Georgia Line - "ANYTHING LIKE ME"

4.) Blake Shelton - "RED RIVER BLUE"

5.) Craig Campbell - "CRAIG CAMPBELL"

6.) Jason Michael Carroll - "NUMBERS"

7.) Aaron Lewis - "TOWN LINE"

8.) Brantley Gilbert - "HALFWAY TO HEAVEN" (DELUXE EDITION)

9.) The Oak Ridge Boys - "IT'S ONLY NATURAL"

10.) Josh Gracin - "REDEMPTION"

11.) Steve Holy - "LOVE DON'T RUN"

*BONUS *- Scott DeCarlo Six - "A WHOLE NEW KIND OF CRAZY"

It's not country, it's not rock, it's 21st Century Rock which is a combination of the hospitality of the south with the soul of rock. We love it and we thought you might too!)

CD REVIEW: "REDEMPTION" - JOSH GRACIN

CD: Redemption
Artist: Josh Gracin
Label: Average Joe's Entertainment
Release Date: 11/8/2011

Ok, y'all now I don't do your regular, run of the mill reviews. I say exactly what pops in my head, keep it honest and word it the way I would word it if I was telling the artist directly what I thought about their cd. I sure hope you don't expect this one to be any different. LOL! Now let's get this ball of review and opinion rolling ...

American Idol fans, what the hell were you thinkin' voting this voice called Josh Gracin off in Season 2 and giving the crown to Reuben Studdard? Shame on you! Shame shame double shame. Take a listen to Josh's new cd, "Redemption" and that is pretty much exactly what he's gotten since y'all did that. Josh proves once again that you don't have to cross that finish line to truly win the race. He's come in first with this new release.

Josh Gracin is one of those artists that has the ability and talent to really take off but for some reason hasn't been given the right marketing or attention he deserves based on the product he's now proven that he can deliver. People know his name, they know he's crazy talented and has vocals smooth as buttah, they love his music, he had a #1 hit with "Nothin' to Lose" in 2004 and a top ten hit with "We Weren't Crazy" in 2008 and yet for some reason that only the mystical gods of the music industry can understand, he's still not where he should be. I hope this new cd released by Average Joe's Entertainment can rectify that problem and give his career that boost that it's long been needing. I'm feelin' it! Even if you weren't a Josh Gracin fan before this cd or hadn't even heard of him at all, once you hear "Redemption", you'll join the ranks of many that recognize the level of talent in Josh and appreciate it.

Speaking of feelin' and appreciatin', this cd takes several ingredients and rolls them all into one big musical burrito chock full of feelings and 17 different ingredients. Yes, 17 is ALOT of songs for a cd and while you might think it's too many, in this case I don't think it is whereas normally I'd agree with you. While there is a certain "eclecticity" (yes, I think I just made that word up) to this cd as far as being comprised of a mixture of styles and not every song on the cd will be to every listener's liking, I personally am very impressed and think this is Josh's most emotional work to date, one that really reaches deep and pulls out emotions most have probably not really and honestly taken the time to feel in awhile or have pushed aside. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone but a couple of songs, "Love You Right" and "Enough" made me do my full on ugly cry face complete with the "sniff sniff" and little kid lower lip tremble). I think the one that truly got me is the one that is the same one that's gonna get most listeners once they see the video, "Can't Say Goodbye". The song was written as a goodbye for the wife of a soldier killed in action and was done as a special project, "Heroes at Home", set up through Sears to honor those left behind by those taken from them while serving this country. Trust me, if you have a heart, you'll feel it during this one. I've included the video after the review.

Now,  if you're in love, take the time to really listen to some of the lyrics on this cd, especially "I Want to Make You Cry" and I can GUARANTEE you that you're gonna want to grab that special somebody (or someone in general if you're that kinda person) and do the funky chicken nice and slow and I don't mean the kid's wedding dance either. It's just downright hot, sexy, and scrumpdillyicious. Now stop laughing at that visual image in your head. HOLY HOTTT LOVE MAKIN' EARTH SHAKIN' WOW! I vote this be his next single because the video for it would blow Chuck Wicks' "Hold That Thought" right outta the water and that's one sexy bite your bottom lip song and video.

I didn't even focus on any of the up tempo stuff because well, you hear that everywhere and honestly, I think radio's overrun with it right now which is why while this cd is great in my book, but I think with the path mainstream radio is taking, they're more than likely, and even more unfortunately, going to pass right by this gem that's sitting in the middle of a pile of radio friendly country crap. This cd defines passion, it really shows off sensitive side of Josh that makes the cd stand out from others currently being marketing. This project focuses on what's important, the love between two special people and about rebuilding relationships and making things right within yourself. This is just good stuff. There's no way I can list every song and what I love about it on here or we'll be here all night because really, there's not one song I didn't care for. He put his heart into this cd and it shows, he left out the filler garbage and the final product is nothing but substance. I'll be the first to admit, I expected nothing near as good as this turned out. Not that I don't think Josh is good but because I never really gave him that much notice until now so didn't really know what exactly to expect.

This cd is what redemption is - it's getting back something that had been lost and music of this quality has been lost for too long. It gets back to the basics of good music and good songwriting without having to really do too much to it because it's pretty much perfect the simpler it is.  Thank you Josh for bringing that music back to the table.

Please go buy this cd, I PROMISE it will be worth the purchase. You can purchase "Redemption" on iTunes and Amazon.com. You can also purchase directly through Josh Gracin's official website.

JOSH GRACIN RELEASES REDEMPTION TODAY, TUESDAY, NOV. 8

The new Josh Gracin album Redemption – his first from indie label Average Joe’s Entertainment – hits stores today, Tuesday, November 8th.

“The album is 100 percent my interpretation, 100 percent my idea of what I wanted the record to be,” Gracin explains. “Just in that alone, it’s going to sound different than anything else I’ve done.”

Redemption features tracks “Long Way to Go” which reached the Top 20 on the Adult Contemporary charts, “Catastrophe,” where Josh teamed up with another Idol alum and winner of Season 2, Ruben Studdard, and “Can’t Say Goodbye,” an incredibly touching song based on the true story and continuing effort of war widow, Seana Arrechaga, to keep her husband’s memory alive. “Can’t Say Goodbye” was written for the Sears Heroes At Home initiative with all proceeds of single sales going to their efforts to support military service members, veterans, and their families.

Gracin co-produced Redemption with his long-time drummer,Kevin Murphy. All tracks, excluding a cover of John Mayer’s “Edge of Desire,” were either written or co-written by Gracin.

Redemption track listing:

1. Different Kind Of Crazy
2. Over Me
3. Get Back To Us
4. Enough
5. I Want To Make You Cry
6. Let You Go
7. Edge of Desire
8. Lie To Me
9. Love You Right
10. Only When It Rains featuring Shelagh Brown
11. My Life
12. Cover Girl
13. Catastrophe
14. Can’t Say Goodbye (Sears Heroes At Home Song)
15. I Still Love You
16. Long Way To Go
17. Long Way To Go (Remix)

For more information, tour dates, and photos of Josh Gracin, please visit www.joshgracin.com.

VIDEO PREMIERE: "CAN'T SAY GOODBYE" - JOSH GRACIN ... REDEMPTION AT IT'S FINEST

I can honestly say I don't think I've heard or seen a more emotional, meaningful or thoughtful song/video this year that can top the new one by Josh Gracin, "Can't Say Goodbye". This video, made in conjunction with Sears' Heroes at Home, should make an impact on your heart that comes along once in a rare while. If it doesn't, then your heart needs some adjustment.

Thank you, Josh, for reminding us that some of our strongest heroes are those left behind to carry on after the loss of those heroes that voluntarily put their lives in danger everyday for our freedom and safety - not only our troops, but policemen, and firemen. Right now, someone's life is in danger so your's isn't. Be sure to thank them.

The song is featured on the November 1 release of Josh's new cd, Redemption, which can be pre-ordered now on iTunes. Be sure to enter for a chance to win Josh's iPad, loaded with his music, videos and apps. MORE INFO ...

Win Josh Gracin's iPad ....

To celebrate the upcoming release of the new cd, "Redemption", from Josh Gracin, he's giving you a chance to win his personal iPad, loaded with his music, videos and more. Click the photo below to enter!

IEBA Announces BLA Showcase Talent

NASHVILLE, TN -- (September 16, 2011) -- Once again BLA will bring the party to IEBA on Monday, October 3with some of their hottest artists. Performing this year will be Bush Hawg, Sarah Darling, Josh Gracin, Mark Chesnutt, Corey Smith and LoCash Cowboys.

"The BLA showcase is so fun and entertaining each year, no one leaves without having the best time!" said Tiffany Davis, IEBA Executive Director.


ABOUT THE IEBA CONFERENCE


Over 500 of the live entertainment industry's top decision makers will converge in Nashville, Tennessee October 2-4 for three days of non-stop networking, education and showcases from the hottest touring acts in all genres of entertainment at the annual conference of the International Entertainment Buyers Association.

International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) is a non-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals. Founded in 1970, IEBA provides networking, showcasing and educational opportunities to strengthen relationships, foster growth and increase revenue for the live entertainment industry. IEBA showcases the best and brightest talent in all genres of music and all fields of entertainment. IEBA is an intimate organization that makes a huge impact. At IEBA ... The Buying Starts Here. ieba.org

Bush Hawg

ABOUT BUSH HAWG

Bush Hawg took the old-fashioned way to gain the attention of Music Row veteran Michael Knox...hard work and dedication. Michael believed in the band from day one, however, he felt that not all the pieces of the puzzle were quite there. That all changed when Michael introduced the band to a bad-ass, swampy Southern boy from Florida named Craig Hand. From the first time he took the mic, everyone knew they were on to something special. Now, with the guidance and management of Michael Knox, Bush Hawg is quickly making a name for themselves in Nashville and are the newest signing to the RCA record label who will release a new single Winter of 2011.

Take the lyrical stylings of country music, the hard hitting guitars, drumming and energy of a rock group, mix in the traditional instrumentation of their Grand Ole' Opry heroes, add a few domestic beers, and you have the band Bush Hawg.

www.bushhawg.net

Mark Chesnutt

ABOUT MARK CHESNUTT

Mark Chesnutt celebrated his first LP release in 1988. Twelve others followed, accompanied by a collection of greatest hits compilations. Chesnutt’s rule of recording remains: “I only record when I feel like I have something to say.” Outlaw is no exception. Contemporary fads and trends aside, Chesnutt continues to pay tribute to the songs that “brought him to the dance”—the songs he played when he first became a musician. His consistency to remain true to his rule speaks volumes resounding his confidence and surefootedness that he’s not over-awed to lend his vocal talents to the original recordings.

Chesnutt has charted more than thirty singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including fourteen #1 singles. He has also released eleven studio albums and a Greatest Hits package. His first three albums — Too Cold at Home (1990), Longnecks & Short Stories (1992), and Almost Goodbye (1993) — and his 1996 Greatest Hits album have all achieved RIAA platinum certification in the United States, while 1994's What a Way to Live was certified gold. He has sold over five million albums.

Chesnutt is the star of country music’s last golden era paying tribute to the era before and…he continues to shine.
www.markchesnutt.com

Josh Gracin

ABOUT JOSH GRACIN 

Josh Gracin has a diverse and impressive set of skills. The most obvious is the voice that captured the attention of millions of American Idol fans during his season two run on what has become an American cultural phenomenon. His all-American good looks, earnest charm and passionate vocal style earned him a devoted legion of fans, but beyond the stage, Gracin possesses a poet’s heart and an ex-Marine’s discipline and work ethic. It’s that potent combination of talent and tenacity that set Gracin apart and is fueling the newest chapter in his career.


A Michigan native who grew up listening to country and R&B music, Gracin auditioned for Idol (placing fourth on season two) while serving in the Marine Corps. Following his run on American Idol and the completion of his military service, he signed with Lyric Street Records and released his self-titled debut album in June 2004. The album was RIAA-certified gold and spawned three top five singles—“I Want to Live,” “Stay With Me (Brass Bed),” and the No. 1 hit “Nothin’ to Lose.”

This new album shows the growth of Josh Gracin as a writer, producer and artist. From the early days of growing up in Michigan to now being a father of four, Gracin has taken everything and poured it all into REDEMPTION. The maturity in Gracin’s work is undeniable and people will hear the difference.

www.joshgracin.com

Corey Smith

ABOUT COREY SMITH

Corey Smith was recently named by Country Weekly and Music Row Magazine as one of country music’s hottest new artists. He has hundreds of sold-out performances under his belt and a growing, dedicated fan-base whose passion for Corey’s music has led to some of the music industry’s leading professionals shaking their heads in astonishment at his seemingly rapid rise as a touring sensation. Corey is equipped with his acoustic guitar and sings frankly wild days on the party scene; but he’s also a wise philosopher, speaking wisdom about life in his lyrics that has the ability to relate to crowds like few other modern-day live acts. Recently signed to Average Joe’s Entertainment in Nashville, Tennessee, Corey is poised to make waves at country radio with his second single, “Maybe Next Year,” from his latest release The Broken Record. 

www.coreysmith.com

Sarah Darling

ABOUT SARAH DARLING

2011 has proved to be a breakout year for Black River Entertainment recording artist Sarah Darling. Sarah had a Top 5 video this year with the catchy SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUR HANDS, which peaked at # 2 on GAC, reached the Top 20 Countdowns on both GAC and CMT (and was also the #1 video for multiple weeks on CMT.com).

Iowa native Sarah made her Grand Ole Opry debut earlier this year, with Vince Gill (who is featured on “Bad Habit” off her current album “Angels and Devils”), introducing her to the Opry audience.

Crock-Pot (The Original Slow Cooker) just inked a deal with Sarah, signing her as their first "Crock Star". A Sarah Darling recipe, download offer and her image will appear on over 1 Million Crock Pot boxes beginning October 1st. She also will be recording her next album with famed producer Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, among others). That album will be released in 2012.

www.sarahdarling.com

LoCash Cowboys

ABOUT LOCASH COWBOYS

LoCash Cowboys are rocking 2011 – quite literally! Their single “Keep in Mind” struck a chord with fans and critics alike, climbing the charts to make it their first Top 40 hit. In May, they made their debut on the prestigious Grand Ole Opry stage, and with that momentum, they roared into June appearing on the Travel Channel and participating in numerous high-profile events at the CMA Music Festival, as well as releasing new single “You Got Me.”

While LoCash Cowboys’ Preston Brust and Chris Lucas have been performing packed houses for years, dating back to the days when they met and started performing at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon, the amped-up crowd at CMA Music Festival’s Riverfront performance was living, screaming proof that they have put their time together to good use. Criss-crossing the country, honing their craft on stages large and small, developing one of the most dynamic live shows in any genre of music, the LoCash Cowboys have clearly ascended to new heights as artists.

www.locashcowboys.com

Just a Reminder from Josh Gracin ...

With all of the uproar in Libya, the basic unrest worldwide and the fact that we still have troops sacrificing everyday so we can live freely, I thought I'd post this video featuring Josh Gracin's song, "The Other Little Soldier" , to remind us of exactly what and who they leave behind so that we are safe. Thank you to those who sacrifice so selflessly every day. I stand behind you and support you.