The Darlins are one of Nashville's fastest rising  duo's and they are not letting anything get in their way. The last several months has involved long hours in the studio, long hours writing with some of country musics finest song writers and making as many appearances around town as possible to perform their fans and showcase their new music. Jude Toy and Erinn Bates make the perfect singing duo. Their each unique and yet those unique qualities in each make the perfect combination for what will no doubt be a hit making team.

Erinn: “Bluegrass with a smokey eye”, haha. No, we are definitely country and on the rootsy side. 

Jude: I almost feel we are a collection of all the above styles. Erinn has a beautiful voice that has a very blue grass/country feel to it. My voice and guitar playing are sort of on the rock side. It's the combination of both rough and soft, that blend together in a very interesting way. It makes our sound unique and not like anything out there right now. It's like Janis met Dolly and started a duo.

What dreams or goals are you shooting for this year in 2013?

Describe your show, visually and musically and what you think sets you apart from most other duos.

Jude: I feel we engage our audience and really relate to the people who are watching us. We not only sing but play instruments and we both play well. I think our songs are well written, and we have great harmonies and melodies.

Jude: I feel the industry has changed so much and now many artists are branching out and doing things on their own. Social media and the Internet have changed everything. I think the traditional labels are struggling and it's gonna all eventually favor of the artist. I think that is where the focus and money need to be anyway.

Erinn: The title track “Pistol” is one we co-wrote with Brian White. Its the perfect title because we are pistols! The messages behind the songs really are just glimpses of who we are. We are relatable and we are real. The songs reflect it.

Erinn: Our next show is Friday, June 14th at The Bluebird Cafe at 6pm. We play the Bluebird a few times a year and we always make it very special. Our featured guests in our round this time will be Steve Pasch, who runs SB21 Publishing and has written songs for superstars like Lenny Kravitz. We will have Greg Barnhill who wrote “Walkaway Joe” for Trisha Yearwood and AJ Masters who has written songs for Faith Hill and John Berry. Also, we always ask a special guest to come up and play a song. Our past guests have been songwriters, Tony Mullins, Jon Ims, Kostas, and 80s rocker, Tommy Tutone, to name a few. This time, we will feature the mega talented and soulful singer/songwriter Paris Delane of Sonia Dada who wrote Jarrod Niemann's hit “Lover, Lover”. You can't miss it! We guarantee you'll be glad you came!

 Jude: The Bluebird, Friday June 14th. This is going to be an exceptional show with an amazing round. We think anyone who comes to this show will leave having had a great time. Steve Pasch, Greg Barnhill, AJ Masters and special quest Paris Delane. I mean serious talent. I think our Bluebird rounds are always so much fun, and the quality of these writers is just outstanding. This is a must see show! In the past we've had special guests Jon Ims, Tony Mullins, Jon Stone, Alex Harvey, Kostas, Sara Evans, and many others.

Get tickets at www.bluebirdcafe.com. Reservations open up Monday, June 10th.

For more information on Jude and Erinn and all the great things happening with “The Darlins” visit www.thedarlins.com

Darius Rucker wasn’t expecting interruptions during his Grand Ole Opry set on the night of Oct. 2.
He was nearly through with his performance, playing songs from his upcoming third album True Believers and enjoying the response from the sellout house. Then, Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher stood up in the audience, stopping the show and inviting Rucker to answer questions from fans. When the final audience member took the microphone, there was an audible gasp as Rucker realized it was none other than Brad Paisley. Nothing could have prepared him for what came next: Paisley’s invitation for his good friend to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.

That moment, and the audience’s joyous reaction, underscored the Country community’s embrace of Rucker as one of its own. His journey toward this achievement began years ago back in his home state of South Carolina, long before the singer had become a household name as front man for Hootie & The Blowfish. Growing up, Rucker listened to all kinds of music: “Hee Haw” with his mother on Saturday nights, church music on Sunday mornings, big band swing standards, beach music, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll. Rucker’s musical explorations took him into all kinds of genres, and he sang along enthusiastically to them all. It never occurred to him to limit himself to one particular style or format.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was always baffled by the different labels for music because it seemed to be the same notes and the same words,” said Rucker. “I sang everything I heard and let the music take me wherever I wanted to go. I just thought all singers could sing everything. Later on, I realized they can’t.”

Rucker’s vocal versatility extends beyond the ranges of pop, rock and Nashville. In 1995, he received a personal invitation to sing at Frank Sinatra’s celebrity-studded 80th birthday gala in Los Angeles, where he performed “The Lady Is a Tramp.”

“That was one of the great days of my life! They sent us this great arrangement of ‘The Lady Is a Tramp’ that sounded exactly like ‘I Only Want to Be with You,’” Rucker said, referring to the hit single by Hootie & The Blowfish. “So we started in, but then I said, ‘I don’t want to play it like that. I want to do it exactly like Sinatra did it live at The Sands in ’64. I want Quincy Jones’ arrangement of it. Can we get it?’ They said, ‘Sure.’ So we get there that night, we’re all in zoot suits and we do the Quincy Jones arrangement — and we just killed it. When we got finished playing, Mr. Sinatra stood up and made me come over and shake his hand. It was really a great, great moment.”

Rucker continues to appear as a regular featured guest with the Peter Graves Orchestra, performing big band standards at charity events around the country. Graves admits that in the beginning he was hesitant about bringing in the lead singer for Hootie & The Blowfish to sing American songbook classics. But prior to their first show together, Rucker flew in several days early to rehearse. It didn’t take long for the orchestra leader to change his mind.

“Like everyone else, my jaw hit the floor,” Graves said, whose orchestra was Sinatra’s hand-picked ensemble for 20 years on shows throughout the Southeast. “He doesn’t try to mimic Frank (Sinatra). He’s still Darius, but he does the music justice. He did his homework and he came prepared. I see people all the time trying to work outside their genre and it doesn’t work. Darius is one of the rare ones who can make the programming switch inside his own head. For me, one of the biggest things is his smoothness and the way he phrases. It’s such a distinctive voice. It brings a lot of uniqueness to what he does.”

Frank Rogers has been Rucker’s producer and frequent co-writer since the singer signed with Capitol Records in 2008. “I’ve worked with him on rock tracks for commercials,” he said. “And I’ve seen him do his Sinatra thing. The other day, we did an R&B thing for a rap artist who wanted Darius to do the hook to the song. He’s just a great storyteller and conveyor of emotion in music.”

Rogers is quick to add that in his opinion, few artists should expect to pull off what Rucker does. The producer’s phone rings constantly with calls from what he refers to as “other-genre’d artists” who want to make the jump into Country Music. “I tell them all ‘no’, because it doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “With Darius, the honesty is there. Yes, he was a big rock star, but he comes across as a country boy from South Carolina because that’s who he is at heart. He grew up with Country Music at the same time he grew up with beach music and R&B and rock. He’s had a lot of influences, but when he sings a Country song, it’s honest. He doesn’t have to pretend that he’s got a twang. He sings in his natural voice. You put a rock band behind it, it’s still Darius singing. You listen to an early Hootie record, it doesn’t sound any different than what we’re doing now in terms of his singing or pronunciation. He always sounds like him — and it works.”

Rucker’s love of Country Music runs deep. It also skews toward the unpredictable, the unexpected and sometimes even under the radar. “Don’t get me wrong,” he insisted. “I love Dwight (Yoakam). And Lyle Lovett is somebody I never give enough credit to. But I’ll never forget flipping channels before work at the record store one day and seeing the video for ‘Crazy Over You’ by Foster & Lloyd for the first time. I’ll never forget how blown away I was. And when I heard ‘Mary and Omie’ by Nanci Griffith, from Once in a Very Blue Moon, it began another avalanche of music for me. I thought these guys were big stars. I didn’t know they weren’t.”

It’s no secret that while on tour with Hootie & The Blowfish, Rucker loved to slip Foster & Lloyd and New Grass Revival CDs onto the bus sound system. He also told his bandmates on more than one occasion, “Someday I’m going to make a Country album.” So when Hootie decided to take a break, Rucker did what he had long hoped to do. His plan was to simply lay down some tracks at a studio in his hometown of Charleston. Never did he anticipate being offered a major label Country deal, figuring that his rock reputation might make acceptance from fans and Country radio an uphill climb.

“But I was never afraid of hard work,” Rucker explained. “Mike Dungan, who signed me to Capitol, told me he called the 13 most important people he thought were tastemakers in Nashville and told them he was signing me. Twelve of them told him he was crazy. But Capitol let me make the record I wanted to make, and then they asked me to go to work. All of a sudden, ‘Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It’ (written by Clay Mills and Rucker) comes in and it’s on Country radio. I’m on the radio again — only it’s Country!”

Ask Rucker if he makes any concessions when singing Country Music, or if he changes his approach at all when shifting to Sinatra standards or Hootie hits, and he shakes his head. “Are there any differences stylistically? I’m sure there are,” he acknowledged. “But it’s not something I can really say because it’s here inside. The thing for me is, I love it all and I can do it all. When you know you can do it, you just go out and sing it.”

As for artists in other genres who might be interested in following Rucker’s footsteps into the Country spotlight, his advice is blunt: “If you’re not a Country fan, don’t come here to make a buck, because they’re gonna see right through you.”

On Rucker’s new album, True Believers, he wrote or co-wrote all but two of its songs, including the title cut, which is also the first single. Additionally, he’ll be headlining his own tour for the first time in 2013. With a string of No. 1 singles, award nominations and soaring album sales, Rucker has undoubtedly brought a new range of fans into the Country format — which is where Rucker intends to stay.

“There’s no offer in rock that could financially, spiritually or emotionally make me happy or put me where I am right now,” he said. “It takes years and years to get to the point where you feel you’re actually getting it. I don’t want to be a big pop star. I just want to sing Country Music.”

On the Web: www.DariusRucker.com

On Twitter: @DariusRucker

By Kip Kirby

© 2013 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

Photo credit: Jim Wright

Interlocken has revealed more details about its inaugural festival set to take place September 5 – 8 at Oak Ridge Farm at the foot of the Blue Ridge in Central Virginia, a mere 35 miles south of Charlottesville, approximately 100 miles from both Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA, and a six-hour drive from both New York City and Atlanta, GA.

Unique in its take on the modern music festival, Interlocken will feature a smaller amount of bands playing longer sets on multiple days, and will also create exclusive and historical collaborations throughout the weekend. Interlocken’s two main stages will feature full two-hour sets that will run seamlessly from one to the other without breaks between performances, giving the audience a unique and singular experience, as the music will be continuous throughout the weekend.

Festival organizers are excited to confirm that Widespread Panic will perform on two of the four nights, with one set featuring a special collaboration with John Fogerty performing his classic songs from the Creedence Clearwater Revival era. Furthur is confirmed to play on three of the four nights, with one set featuring an exclusive performance of Workingman’s Dead, the Grateful Dead’s classic fifth record, originally released in 1970. The Black Crowes will perform on two of the four nights, while The String Cheese Incident will also play on two of the four, with one featuring the debut collaboration of the Zac Brown Incident, with Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band, a bold, one-time-only, experiment by two artists who are masters of their craft and have built loyal fan-bases by touring consistently and creating memorable experiences for their audience every time they hit the stage.

Interlocken, is a 4-day music festival, with an emphasis on world class music, locally sourced food and sustainability. Artist pre-sale tickets will be available beginning May 22 at 10am EST and general “early bird” tickets will go on sale May 23 at 10am EST. All Tickets will be sold via interlockenfestival.com.

Interlocken was created by industry veterans Dave Frey and Peter Shapiro. Frey founded the HORDE Festival while Shapiro owned New York City’s historic rock club, “Wetlands Preserve.” He also produced U2′s award-winning film U23D and currently publishes Relix Magazine as well as being the proprietor of Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY. With the pedigree of these two producers, Interlocken is set to be one of the country’s most unique and dynamic events. Frey and Shapiro’s sense for innovation and creativity together with the backdrop of this beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains is certain to make for an unforgettable weekend.

Interlocken was named for traditions central to both Frey and Shapiro: The inter-locking performances presented at Wetlands and the continuous uninterrupted music featured between the two stages at HORDE. Interlocken’s conceptual theme will touch all elements of the event: “when something ends, another begins.” This simple yet powerful ethos of sustainability will be integrated into camping, lodging, food, drink, transport offerings as well as specialized onsite activities.

“Most festivals these days are trying to be everything to everyone — very eclectic with an emphasis on a large number of artists in various genres,” says Shapiro. “With Interlocken, we want to break away from that mold and create something more identifiable and distinct.”

After looking at several sites around the US, Frey and Shapiro decided upon Oak Ridge in Nelson County for its majestic beauty, size and proximity to Charlottesville. Its infrastructure and acreage allow it to naturally accommodate mass gatherings. The estate has 4,800-plus-acres and is privately owned; it was originally deeded to two Bristol merchants by the King of England. The most well-known owner was Thomas Ryan, a Wall Street financier, who used the property as a rural retreat and built a professional sized steeplechase racetrack for his horses and a private railroad station. After the Holland family purchased Oak Ridge in 1989, John C. Holland, Jr. placed high priority on restoring the Oak Ridge racetrack using reclaimed building materials. The festival will take place on that racetrack, which is the length of six football fields.

The town of Arrington in Nelson County has a stop sign, a post office, a general store and a recycling center. Over the past 10 years, local craft breweries and, most recently, local hard cider distilleries, have joined several local wineries — some dating back to the Thomas Jefferson era. Nelson County is a well-known destination for the outdoor recreation enthusiast and is becoming a hotbed of locally made small-batch craft spirits. The festival will offer general camping in the stunning surrounding Blue Ridge area as well as VIP camping inside the concert site.

“We are very excited to welcome the Interlocken festival to Oak Ridge,” says Oak Ridge owner Rhonda Holland. “Several concert promoters have approached us in the past about using the track. We have always been concerned about the impact that this would have on the surrounding community and the land. Dave and Peter have a history of caring about the communities and land where they produce events. We look forward to working with the Interlocken team for many years to come.”

Since both Frey and Shapiro have a strong history of running environmentally conscious organizations, Interlocken will be a particularly green undertaking, utilizing carbon offsetting, locally sourced food, recycling programs and many more initiatives. The festival has engaged a person closely associated with the property who is a local sustainable food provider to help Interlocken source food, beverages and services from Central Virginia.

“As a life-long concert goer, Peter has a fan-first approach to the events he produces and I think his audiences respond to that as they feel his respect and generosity,” says Frey. “He creates events that he would want to attend himself, and that really sets them apart from everything else out there.”

www.interlockenfestival.com

https://twitter.com/interlockenfest

https://www.facebook.com/InterlockenFestival

Grammy award-winning Little Big Town recently took the stage at Rolling Hills Farm in Franklin, TN in an effort to raise money for Blood:Water Mission, a local non-profit committed to empowering communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.

This event is the second house concert that Little Big Town has performed for Blood:Water Mission, drawing an impressive crowd on both occasions. From government officials to sports superstars, support of Blood:Water Mission has crossed multiple societal thresholds. This year’s guest list included Governor and First Lady Haslam, Titans quarterback Jake Locker, author John Acuff, EPSN College Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, and Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney with his wife Tiffany Fallon Rooney, to name a few.

The evening began with the story of how Jars of Clay and Jena Nardella formed Blood:Water Mission with just $1,000, the goal of the event being to raise 100 times that amount. With this goal in mind, the attendees contributed a total of over $115,000 to be used for Blood:Water Mission’s HIV/AIDS and water projects throughout subsaharan Africa.

Photo(L-R): Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman, Governor Bill Haslam, Wife Crissy Haslam, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild

About Little Big Town- Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet formed Little Big Town in 1998. Most well known for their songs “Pontoon” and “Tornado,” the group has been nominated for numerous awards since 2006. In 2012, the group was named CMA Vocal Group of the Year and gained a Single of the Year award for “Pontoon.” The group continued to impress in 2013, becoming the ACM Top Vocal Group and earning Music Video of the Year for “Tornado.” This year, the group also won a Grammy Award for the Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the song, “Pontoon.”

For more information on Blood:Water Mission please visit www.bloodwatermission.com.

Villa One recording artist Frank Ortega is back on the country radar with the release of his much talked about new single, “Two Places At Once.” Penned by David Lee Murphy, Ira Dean and Kim Tribble, the tune is the lead single from Ortega’s highly-anticipated debut album slated for release later this year.

“Two Places at Once” is a song that everyone can relate to as, at one time or another, we have all wished we could be two places at once. Ortega’s vocals will resonate with country music fans who appreciate the traditional sound with a touch of contemporary that will allow him to fit right in with the musical format.

“This song has no boundaries as it relates to everyone,” notes Ortega. “I look forward to sharing great American country music with everyone while also reaching out to my ever-growing Latin population who loves American country music.”

Frank Ortega has created quite a buzz in Nashville in recent years with his independent single “Hot Women Cold Beer,” which was produced by Grammy nominated singer/songwriter James House. The song went on to top the Indie World country music chart in 2009. His follow-up release, “Honky Tonk and the Altar,” showed a different side to the Arizona native, as it received rave reviews across the board within the country music industry.

As he continues work in the studio on his yet-to-be-titled debut album, Ortega is gearing up for his 2013 radio tour. Additional performances are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. For more information on Frank Ortega, visit www.frankortega.com.

Average Joes Entertainment’s Superstar Duo Recognizing
American Heroes at Every Tour Stop this Summer!

Country stars, Montgomery Gentry, in response to the recent tragedies that have unfolded in the United States, want to help inspire hope and positivity in America by celebrating and recognizing the many heroes of our great nation. Eddie and Troy, long-time supporters of our military, first-responders, leaders, teachers, and unspoken everyday champions, are giving their fans a chance to submit stories and nominate their personal hero. Select stories will be featured on www.montgomerygentry.com and American Heroes will be chosen to receive concert tickets, meet & greet passes and to mingle with Montgomery Gentry at each of their concert stops this summer.

“We got an email from our fan club, “The Underground,” recently,” stated Troy Gentry. “All he wanted was to take his son to one of our shows because of how much he had helped his family through some difficult times. He kept calling him his hero. And then Boston happened, and Texas and now Oklahoma and we keep seeing these people stepping up to help and we think those people need to be celebrated.”

“We’ve toured so much throughout our career and have been blessed to be able to meet so many great people and fans out there,” added Eddie Montgomery. “Celebrating American Heroes is the least we can do to give back.”

To nominate your hero, simply submit a letter explaining why your hero should be recognized and post your entry via www.montgomerygentry.com/heroes and help Montgomery Gentry celebrate your American Heroes!

About Montgomery Gentry
Superstar duo, Montgomery Gentry, has met the criteria reserved for but a few in country music history. With millions of albums sold, countless sold-out shows and scores of awards, including an induction into the Grand Ole Opry, fourteen Top 10 hits, five No. 1s, (“Something To Be Proud Of,” “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Lucky Man,” “Back When I Knew It All” and “Roll With Me,”) Eddie and Troy continue to earn the admiration of their fans with their hard-hitting, honky-tonk brand of music. Signed with powerhouse independent label, Average Joes Entertainment, Montgomery Gentry’s newest project is the EP, Friends and Family. www.montgomerygentry.com

Country music singer/songwriter Corey Smith will perform during the 2013 CMA Music Festival on Saturday, June 8 at 4:20 PM on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage along the banks of the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville. The Chevrolet Riverfront Stage is free and open to the public.

The activities happening during CMA Music Festival week have always been about the fans, so in that spirit, Smith is offering a once-in-a-lifetime special event for three hopeful songwriters. In partnership with BandPage and AXS-TV, Smith has developed an exclusive songwriting clinic that will take place in Nashville on Friday, June 7. To be considered, non-professional songwriters can submit one song, either through a YouTube or Soundcloud link, at the clinic’s official BandPage site: http://bit.ly/14O5NtI, along with a brief explanation of what they would like to learn if they are selected to participate in the songwriting clinic. Songwriters must be legal residents of the United States, at least 16 years old, and have a BandPage account.

The clinic’s official BandPage site is accepting submissions now and the three winners will be selected and notified by May 31.

“I would have loved the chance to attend a songwriting clinic in Nashville when I was younger,” said Smith. “It is exciting to be able to provide this opportunity for three rising songwriters, especially during CMA Music Festival week. I can’t wait to hear all the songs entered for submission. Who knows – maybe we’ll find tomorrow’s next hit songwriter!”

Smith made his Grand Ole Opry debut last Saturday (May 17). His most recent albums are The Broken Record and Live in Chattanooga. All eight of his albums are available on iTunes. For current tour dates and more information on Smith, visit www.coreysmith.com.

Tuesday, May 14^th is the release date for GRAVITY, the new album from singer/songwriter and soldier, Bobby Chitwood. The album on Mesa/Bluemoon Records features the single “I Won't Give Up” which has already been released to radio.

A native of Brownwood, Texas, Chitwood currently lives in Wyoming where he is a member of the National Guard. Already a well-known and popular performer in the Western states, Bobby is an avid supporter of Veteran’s and Military causes and is a celebrity spokesperson for Wounded Warrior Homes, an organization that provides homes for soldiers suffering from PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), or who have returned from deployment with traumatic head injuries.

The debut single from GRAVITY is a masterful transformation of the Jason Mraz Pop/Rock “I Won't Give Up” hit into a powerful Country ballad. The recording of the song came about through a talented connection.

“Jason [Mraz] and I know each other through a friend,” Chitwood says. ”I've talked about covering a song of his for a while but this one was the first that I really thought could cross over well into Country. I asked him if he'd mind if I re-cut it and he said it would be awesome.”

That mutual friend is Toca Rive

ra, a gifted percussionist who writes and tours with Mraz. Rivera cut the background vocals on Jason's version of the tune and now appears on Bobby’s version. To further the connection, the background tracks were cut in Jason Mraz's home studio.

“He tackles the song with so much power and confidence that you almost forget it’s a cover. Write the name down. This kid is going places!” ~Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

The singer/songwriter and solder with the velvet vocals has been writing and performing since his teens and the album is proof positive of a confident and seasoned singer. Other standout tracks include ”How Things Are” and ”Who I Am,” both Chitwood originals.

“When we finally sat back and listened to the album in its entirety, I felt really proud and satisfied,” Chitwood says. ”I’m really excited to share this project with fans and reach some new friends.” Chitwood is currently touring and visiting radio stations in support of GRAVITY.

The artist will celebrate the album release with appearances in Nashville including a performance on 5/14 at a benefit for theLeukemia/Lymphoma Society. Chitwood, who lost both parents to cancer, joins Wade Hayes, The Grascals and Phoenix Drive for the Tuesday evening event at Nashville’s Swingin’ Doors Saloon which will include a silent auction and artist meet & greet.

For more information on Bobby, go to www.bobbychitwood.com

Country Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry member, and Kennedy Center Honoree George Glenn Jones died Friday, April 26, 2013 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He was hospitalized April 18 with fever and irregular blood pressure.

Born September 12, 1931, Jones is regarded among the most important and influential singers in American popular music history. He was the singer of enduring country music hits including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Grand Tour,” “Walk Through This World With Me,” “Tender Years” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the latter of which is often at the top of industry lists of the greatest country music singles of all time.

“A singer who can soar from a deep growl to dizzying heights, he is the undisputed successor of earlier natural geniuses such as Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell,” wrote Bob Allen in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Encyclopedia of Country Music.”

Jones was born in Saratoga, Texas, and he played on the streets of Beaumont for tips as a teenager. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before returning to Texas and recording for the Starday label in Houston, Texas. In 1955, his “Why Baby Why” became his first Top 10 country single, peaking at number four and beginning a remarkable commercial string: Jones would ultimately record more than 160 charting singles, more than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music.

Jones’ first number one hit came in 1959 with “White Lightning,” a Mercury Records single that topped Billboard country charts for five weeks. He moved on to United Artists and then to Musicor, notching hits including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Race Is On,” “A Good Year for the Roses” and “Walk Through This World With Me.”

Jones signed with Epic Records in 1971 and worked wit

h producer Billy Sherrill to craft a sound at once elegant and rooted, scoring with “The Grand Tour,” “Bartenders Blues” and many more. Sherrill also produced duets between Jones and his then-wife Tammy Wynette, and in the 1970s they scored top-charting hits including “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “Golden Ring” and “Near You.”

By the time “Golden Ring” and “Near You” hit in 1976, Jones and Wynette were divorced, and Jones was battling personal demons. His solo career cooled until 1980, when he recorded “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” a ballad penned by Curly Putman and Bobby Braddock that helped Jones win Country Music Association prizes for best male vocal and top single. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” revived a flagging career, and Jones won the CMA’s top male vocalist award in 1980 and 1981. He also earned a Grammy for best male country vocal performance.

In 1983, Jones married the former Nancy Ford Sepulvado. The union, he repeatedly said, began his rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol and prolonged his life. He signed with MCA Records in 1990 and began a successful run, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. His guest vocal on Patty Loveless’ “You Don’t Seem To Miss Me” won a CMA award for top vocal event in 1998, and it became his final Top 20 country hit.

In 1999, Jones nearly died in a car wreck, but he recovered and resumed touring and recording. He remained a force in music until his death, playing hundreds of shows in the new century and collecting the nation’s highest arts award, the Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievement, in 2008. In late 2012, Jones announced his farewell tour, which was to conclude with a sold-out, star-packed show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 22, 2013. Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Sam Moore, The Oak Ridge Boys and many others were set to perform at Jones’ Bridgestone show.

Jones is survived by his loving wife of 30 years Nancy Jones, his sister Helen Scroggins, and by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.