Sammy Kershaw

Iconic entertainer, Sammy Kershaw, has amassed three platinum and six gold albums that have scanned and streamed in excess of 5 million records and nearly 100 million combined songs sold. Often referred to as the “heir apparent” to legendary ‘voice’ George Jones, the GRAMMY nominated performer helped shape and make the ‘90s a shining decade for country music. His multi-platinum albums were propelled into the record books by hits such as “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Doublewide Trailer”, “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday,” “Love Of My Life,” “Cadillac Style,” “Don’t Go Near The Water,” “Haunted Heart”, “Vidalia” and many other milestones. Growing up in Kaplan, Louisiana, Kershaw was enthralled with the masters at an early age – names like Conway Twitty, Mel Street, and George Jones. In fact, as a teenager, Kershaw had developed such areputation for his vocals – even then – that he was often called upon to open for those acts, and others like them. Jones was so impressed with Sammy that he frequently invited him to perform on his shows whenever he was playing in the region.
From the time that he released his debut single for Mercury Records, “Cadillac Style,” critics and fans all made the comparison to George. Rather than run from them, Kershaw embraced them. After all, that stone Country sound was what Sammy Kershaw was all about – and that’s what he was going to give his fans! “Cadillac Style” made it up the Billboard charts and, from there (to quote Jones), the race was on! Follow-ups such as “Don’t Go Near the Water” and “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore” established him as one of the finest traditional artists of his time, while records like “Yard Sale” showed that haunting Jones influence was very much a part of everything he is about. In 1993, Sammy Kershaw topped the singles chart with “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” which has become one of the most-played records at Country Radio over the past three decades. Albums such as Don’t Go Near the Water and Haunted Heart were both certified as million-sellers by the RIAA, and only continued to add to his stature. The hits kept coming on the airwaves, as well. He added to his resume such classics as “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore,” “Meant to Be,” his cover of The Amazing Rhythm Aces’ “Third Rate Romance,” and 1998’s “Love of My Life,” which cemented his reputation as a balladeer. Kershaw’s chain of major hit records continues to sell-out shows and can be found touring on the road – both on his own as well as part of his successful Roots & Boots Tour with Collin Raye and Aaron Tippin. The three continue to bring their signature sounds to the fans year-after-year all over North America. In addition to performing to sell-out audiences, Sammy Kershaw continues to record and release new music with three albums currently in the works, along with putting the finishing touches on his long-awaited  autobiography – which promises to be as juicy as a bowl of the gumbo he loves to prepare in his Louisiana home! The past has been a great, long-winding road of highs and lows for the legendary Sammy Kershaw, but to quote one of his past singles, the goal isn’t to rest on those accomplishments, but to be “Better Than I Used to Be.”

Collin Raye

Born Floyd Elliot Wray on August 22, 1960 in De Queens, Arkansas, country
artist Collin Raye was one of the true hit makers of the 1990’s. Collin still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone. With 24 top ten records, 16 #1 hits, and having been a 10 time male vocalist of the year nominee (5 CMA and 5 ACM), this truly electrifying performer of his era remains one of the great voices of our time.
Collin Raye is nothing if not passionate. His soulful delivery has set country standards in such searing ballads as “Love, Me,” “In This Life,” “Not That Different” and “If I were you”. Always an energizing showman, he has also blazed through such vivid rockers as “My Kind of Girl,” “That’s My Story,” “I Can Still Feel You” and “I Want You Bad.” Collin shot to fame with “Love, Me” in 1991. Listeners were so moved by this golden and pure voice that this song set the cornerstone for a career built on meaningful and emotional songs that have often been used for weddings, anniversaries, memorial services and funerals. When “Little Rock”, an anthem for those struggling with addition recovery, hit the chart in 1994, its video led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from folks seeking help in their addictions. “Not That Different” was a song that pleaded for tolerance. “In This Life” became a wedding favorite, and “I Think About You” won awards for its song and video which exposed the exploitation of women and children. Collin Raye has consistently used his stardom to advance social causes. Among the organizations he has supported are Boys Town, First Steps, Al-Anon, Special Olympics, Country Cares About AIDS, Catholic Relief Services, Parade of Pennies, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, The Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence, The Emily Harrison Foundation, Childhelp USA, Silent Witness National Initiative, Easter Seals, The Life and Hope Network, and Make a Difference Day. It came as no surprise when in 2001 at the Country Radio Seminar, Clint Black presented Collin Raye with the organization’s Humanitarian of the Year award in recognition of Collin’s issue-oriented music and his tireless charity work. The man who has topped the charts with such great songs as “On the Verge,” “One Boy, One Girl,” “What the Heart Wants,” “Every Second”, “That Was a River”, “Anyone Else”, and “If I were you” continues to touch hearts across the globe in both traditional and new ways . Collin Raye’s new outreach is very personal. In 2010, after the loss of his precious 10 year old grandchild, Haley, Collin and his daughter Britanny (Haley’s mother) established The Haley Bell Blessed Chair Foundation to honor her memory. The Foundation supports and assists families of the cognitively and physically disabled with a primary emphasis on supplying wheelchairs and other necessary medical equipment to elevate the quality of life for the disabled family member in need. Collin wrote a very special song for Haley called, “She’s with me”, which carries a powerful message for families of special needs children. Additionally, in 2011 Collin released his first inspirational album, His Love Remains, which quickly shot to #1 on Amazon for inspirational and religious music. Collin continues to perform his traditional country music across America and abroad and has added Christian and Catholic concerts to his tour schedule as
well. His autobiography, That’s My Story: The Undefeated Life of Collin Raye, is set for release in early 2014. He currently resides in Nashville, TN with his daughter, Britanny and granddaughter, Mattie.

Aaron Tippin

With a wide smile and engaging Southern drawl, Aaron Tippin proclaims he’s the “luckiest hillbilly that has ever lived,” and there’s no arguing it. After all he’s been struck by lightning twice and lived to tell, piloted planes with engine failure and even somewhat more miraculously, he’s survived more than three decades in the music business and is still going strong.
Along the way, he’s earned six gold albums and one platinum. He’s released more than 30 singles, including such hits as “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” “My Blue Angel,” “I Wouldn’t Have it Any Other Way,” “Kiss This,” “Workin’ Man’s Ph. D,” “There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Radio” and “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” which was not only a country hit, but top 20 on Billboard’s all genre Hot 100 chart. Of course, luck often plays a role in achieving success in the entertainment industry, but the real driving forces behind Tippin’s achievements are a dedicated work ethic and undeniable talent.
“This took me by surprise actually,” Tippin says of his music career. “It was the furthest thing from my mind. I wanted to be an airplane pilot.”
He achieved that dream early on by becoming a commercial pilot and then began expanding his horizons by pursuing his other love—music. Born in Pensacola, FL and raised on a farm in Travelers Rest, SC, Tippin had a passion for aviation and became a pilot with single and multi-engine ratings. “But when the energy crunch hit and the airlines started furloughing senior captains I said, ‘This ain’t going to happen,’” he recalls. “I didn’t want to be a corporate pilot for the rest of my life, so I did what I liked next best and that was pickin’ and grinnin.’”
He took a job with an excavation company driving a bulldozer and dump truck by day and playing in clubs at night with his band. The enthusiastic hometown reception buoyed his musical aspirations, and he made the move to Nashville.
His first success in Music City came as a songwriter. The late Charlie Monk, known as the “Mayor of Music Row,” took Tippin under his wing. “He was my first champion in Nashville,” Tippin says. “I was working for him when he got the job at Acuff-Rose Publishing and he calls me and says, ‘Hey, do you want to come over here and write?’ I was lucky to get that chance.”
Tippin found himself writing songs for the legendary publishing company that had been home to Hank William Sr. His songs were recorded by gospel greats the Kingsmen, David Ball, Mark Collie and the legendary Charley Pride, but soon people began asking about the unique voice singing his demos and Tippin was offered a deal with RCA Records. His first single, “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” became his first top ten hit in 1991.
Over the years, he’s built a successful career as an artist who sings what he believes. Tippin’s music has resonated with fans for decades because his love for God, country and family has always been front and center. He sings songs that celebrate the life of the common, hard-working man because that’s who Tippin is at his core.
He and his wife Thea raised their family on their Tennessee farm while continuing to nurture his thriving music career and launching other successful ventures. He’s continued as a pilot and for several years ran an aviation school. A shrewd entrepreneur, Aaron also parlayed his love for wine into a partnership with Stonehaus Winery and is hands on in developing his own wines. His 2021 launch of Aaron Tippin’s Blue Angel Blueberry Wine has been a tremendous success and they are hard at work on a new Riesling.
Though he’s accomplished so much, Tippin refuses to rest on his considerable laurels. He continues to maintain a busy touring schedule and is working on a new book. “I call myself the luckiest hillbilly that has ever lived and I think it’s true,” he smiles. “I’ve even had my music in space. I performed in Saudi Arabia on the Bob Hope Christmas Show in 1990. There was a young Marine Captain in the audience and when the Gulf War was over, he moved on to NASA and he became a shuttle pilot and mission commander. So, one day I started getting calls from friends telling me that my song, ‘Big Boy Toys,’ had woke up the space shuttle.”
A month or so later, Tippin received a photo of an astronaut in space and in front of him, floating in midair, is an Aaron Tippin album. Commander Rick Sturckow wrote Aaron a letter explaining he had seen him perform when he was serving during Operation Desert Storm. “I was really impressed with you and your music. I was a fan. I chose your album to go with me in space,” Sturckow wrote.
Then he surprised Tippin by sending the album to him. “Rick listened to it up there and then he brought it back to earth and it’s hanging in my living room now,” he says with emotion in his voice. “I’ve had so many great things happen. I played the 4th of July at the Mall facing our nation’s Capitol. I’ve had some pretty cool things happen in my life and it’s all because of what happened with the songs. I still can’t believe all that came true. I’ve been hit by lightning twice. I’ve had two engine failures in airplanes and lived through them. I’m the luckiest hillbilly that’s ever lived.”
Tippin could easily retire and relax on his farm, but that ain’t his style. With the resurgence in the popularity of ‘90s country music, Tippin has never been in more demand. So, what keeps him out there performing after all his years in the business? “It’s the people I’ve met around the country that I’ve made friends,” he says. “I look so forward to going back out there and seeing them again and hanging out. I adore that. It’s fun for me and as long as it is fun, I’ll keep doing it. That’s what keeps me going is the fact that they still come after 33 years now. I’m so happy they keep coming.”