ACCLAIMED SINGER-SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN & ACTOR MARK COLLIE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM, "BOOK OF MY BLUES", AVAILABLE JUNE 4

Collie’s Co-Writers Include Multi-Faceted Actor/Musician

Billy Bob Thornton, Film Director Jonathan Hensleigh & Producers

Kenny Greenberg and Chad Cromwell

Pre-Order the Album Here 

Country music icon and trailblazer Mark Collie announced today the release of his new album, "Book of My Blues", set to release Friday, June 4 via BFD/Audium Nashville/Orchard in association with Harvest Entertainment, Creator Label Co., and Collie Kuhl Music.

The themes in "Book of My Blues" - love, lust, betrayal, addiction, recovery, damnation, redemption - are derived from the graphic novel Rockabilly Hitman, a long-gestating collaboration between Collie and renowned film director Jonathan Hensleigh (The Punisher, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Armageddon and the soon-to-be-released Ice Road starring Liam Neeson). The novel depicts the exploits of rockabilly singer Jesse Wayne Hardin, who by night is an avenger of evil, as he travels the hard backroads from Muscle Shoals to Memphis, from the Mississippi Delta to Music City.

“There are a lot of ways to describe the music, maybe Roadhouse Rock, Southern Gothic, Americana, Country, but at its core, it’s a reflection of me and many others who came before me,” explains Collie.

The album features twelve original songs written or co-written by Collie, plus three rockabilly classics – “Hey Boba Lou” by Ronnie Hawkins, Jacqueline Magill and Robbie Robertson of The Band fame, “Night Train to Memphis” written by Country Music Hall of Fame member Owen Bradley with Marvin Hughes and Beasley Smith, and “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins. The album was co-produced by Kenny Greenberg (Allison Moore, Josh Turner, Toby Keith and the Mavericks) and Chad Cromwell (Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Boz Scaggs).

Collie’s list of collaborators reads as a “who’s who” of songwriter elite, including Collie’s long-time friend, actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton as well as Tom Douglas, Gary Nicholson, John Scott Sherill, Jonathan Hensleigh and co-producers Kenny Greenberg and Chad Cromwell.

Instant grat tracks “Born Ready” and “The Son of a Gun” are available now. MusicRow Magazine’s Robert K. Oermann gave both tunes rave reviews.

The respected country music historian/journalist hailed “The Son of a Gun” as “dramatic and forceful.” While on “Born Ready,” Oermann writes, “That Waylon/outlaw beat gets me every time. And it fits this renegade/rebel song perfectly. Welcome back, buddy. We’ve missed ya.”

Collie is set to release the album’s third single, “Book of My Blues,” on May 14.

Pre-order Book of My Blues here.

"Book of My Blues" Track Listing:

1. Book of My Blues (Mark Collie, Billy Bob Thornton)

2. Born Ready (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Gary Nicholson)

3. On the Wings of Your Love (Mark Collie)

4. Right This Wrong (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg)

5. Matchbox (Carl Perkins)

6. Holly Springs (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)

7. Unfinished Hurting (Mark Collie, Tom Douglas)

8. Queen of A Hungry Heart (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)

9. Sinking Sand (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)

10. Hey Boba Lou (Ronnie Hawkins, Jacqueline MaGill, Robbie Robertson)

11. Put the Gun Down (Mark Collie)

12. Walk the Floor, Kill the Lights, Slam the Door (Mark Collie, John Scott Sherill)

13. A Little Every Day (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)

14. The Son of a Gun (Mark Collie, Jonathan Hensleigh)

15. Night Train to Memphis (Owen Bradley, Marvin Hughes, Beasley Smith)

U.S. MILITARY VETERAN & COUNTRY MUSIC STAR KENI THOMAS RECOUNTS COMBAT IN FIRST MEMOIR

GET IT ON! WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD THE WAY

Nashville, Tenn (August 3, 2011) — U.S. Military Veteran and country music sensation Keni Thomas has shared the stage with country stars such as Keith Urban and Brad Paisley, but earlier this year, he put down his guitar and gave a personal account of his heart-wrenching experience in the chaotic 1993 Black Hawk Down battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. With the desire to express a unique set of leadership lessons and inspired view of our greater purpose, Thomas unveiled his first memoir Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way (B&H Publishing Group) to rave reviews.

“Three words. That’s all it took. I was writing a letter home to my mom when the call rang out across the American compound: ‘Get it on!’ And just like that, the course of my life changed forever,” describes Thomas.

With the Bronze Star of Valor from the U.S. Army, the army-ranger turned-country singer brings a message of inspiration reminding readers that as individuals every person matters and are anything but ordinary and can make a difference in the world no matter where they are in life.

“If everyone can start setting an example, start leading by example, start doing something here and there, then as a whole exponentially we make the world a better place to live in,” says Thomas. “You are the most important part of the puzzle and you have to see yourself as being the most important part because you are, and that is what I want people to know at the end of the day.”

Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way is already causing a chatter among fellow comrades Here are just a few comments about the new publication:

“Get It On! is a moving account of courage and faith under fire. True leadership is about the example we set. Keni has an impressive way of convincing you that this is a principle we should all live by.”
—Hal Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees

“The leadership principles Keni shares through his story Get It On! are directly aligned with the core values of our organization. To Lead is to Serve. The USO is proud to call Keni Thomas one of our own.” —Sloan Gibson President of the USO

“Here he has created an engaging and inspiring tutorial, applying those lessons to the battles of everyday life...”—Mark Bowden author of Black Hawk Down

“If you are a veteran, you need to read this book. Keni shows us that the principles of leadership we learned when we wore the uniform still apply to us all out here in the real world. "
—Lt Col Oliver L. North, USMC (Retired)

Thomas also frequently speaks and entertains active military men and women overseas, speaks to Fortune 500 companies, students, churches and even from the stage the Grand Ole Opry in hopes to encourage and inspire all who listen. He has also been seen on national television programs such as Good Morning America, NBC Dateline, CNN Headline News and MSNBC’s Hardball. He is currently in the recording studio working on a new album.

For more information on the artist/author please go to www.kenithomas.com and facebook.com/kenithomas.

About Keni Thomas:

Keni Thomas received the Bronze Star for Valor from the United States Army and fought the Black Hawk Down battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. He has since become an award-winning country musician, appeared in the major motion pictures Sweet Home Alabama and We Were Soldiers, and is the spokesperson for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Hero Fund. Keni also speaks to students and adults around the country about leadership, encouraging them to “Train as you fight. Fight as you train.” The country music star unveiled his first memoir Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way (B&H Publishing Group/ISBN: 978-1-4336-7274) last October. It is available nationwide with the retail price of $19.99. For more information on Keni Thomas please visit www.kenithomas.com and facebook.com/kenithomas