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A TASTE OF NASHVILLE - Dave Williams, 99 HITS ---June Edition - Volume 2 - Issue 12

Well the big thing for country music fans in June is; the CMA Music Festival’s Fan Fair. This is where fans from all over the US and in many cases all over the world descend upon Music City so that they can see their favorite country artist or band. There are plenty of parties, concerts and meet and greets and Fan Club parties. It’ll be fun time to be in Nashville, although anytime there is a blast.

Another big thing is that once the Fan Fair is done many artists kick off their new tours! And here in the North Country we’ll get our taste of that over the summer. Sugarland will be the first to perform as they kick off the DPAO Summer Concert series in Watertown on June 8th.

Later in the summer Josh Gracin will be in Watertown on July 10th, Sheri Lynn and also the Joe Zelek Band will be at the Potsdam SummerFest on July 12th, Jake Owen will be at the Lewis County Fair in Lowville on July 18th, Bucky Covington along with Jason Michael Carroll will be at the Franklin County Fair August 3rd and Phil Vassar will also be in Malone on August 8th and the Road Hammers, an up and coming band from Alberta Canada, will perform at the Gouverneur/St. Lawrence County Fair on August 9th. So start making your plans and get your tickets as we’ve got some great country music headed our way!

Some of you may remember Macy Van Arnam with her song “Wildflowers” and her run to the finals of CMT’s Music City Madness 2 contest. Well she has been busy with school and sports along with her music. She has added a couple of guitar players, Mike & Eric Micelli, along with a drummer, Tony Fichette, to back her up. And she has landed a couple of high profile gigs this summer, she’ll be opening for both Sugarland and Josh Gracin in Watertown! I’m looking forward to seeing her perform at these venues as I’m sure she is just as excited too. This is a wonderful opportunity for her. In addition, she’ll be performing at the Music Fest in Morristown on July 5th, so be on the lookout for Macy this summer.

99 Hits will be bringing the Colgate Country Showdown to the Northern Music & Video Mainstage during the Potsdam Summer Fest on July 12th. The show is slated to begin around 1pm and look for some more great talent to perform again this year for the right to move on to the State Level of the Colgate Country Showdown (see page 19), there have already been some contestants calling us for this years competition! If you are interested in finding out more about the competition or performing visit our website; www.99hits.com, you can email hits@99hits.com or call the radio station at (315) 265-5510. We look forward to a great time at the Summerfest so be sure to join 99 Hits all three days of the Summer Fest, July 10th, 11th & 12th!

Join me weekday from 10am - 2pm on 99.3 FM! I take requests during Dave’s Cafe from 11am to Noon, call me 315-265-5512 or email cafe@99hits.com and order up your hit kickin’ country and all-time favorites! Until next month....keep it real and keep it country!!!---

Dave Williams
Midday Host/Music Director at 99 Hits FM

--Dave Williams, 99Hits FM

To Contact Him Please E-mail Us Here..

A TASTE OF NASHVILLE - 99 HITS ---May Edition - Volume 2 - Issue 11

Well good news for Toby Keith fans, he just wrapped up shooting last month on his upcoming film “Beer For My Horses” with Rodney Carrington. You can also expect to see Claire Forlani, Ted Nugent, Willie Nelson, Tom Skerritt and even Mel Tillis makes an appearance. Toby and Rodney wrote the movie together. The film, Toby’s follow-up to his acting debut in “Broken Bridges”, follows a pair of best friends who are also small town deputies that head out on an outrageous road trip to save one of there girlfriends who has been kidnapped by a drug lord. This should be an interesting movie, I’m definately interested in seeing this film! And now that filming is done Toby will be kicking off his “Biggest & Baddest” Tour in June, which will be making a stop at Darien Center on August 23rd.

And country music will be hitting the small screen during the month. Trace Adkins will make an appearance on “The Young & The Restless” on May 2nd, Sara Evans teams up with Maroon 5 for CMT Crossroads on May 9th and Carrie Underwood will become the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Don’t miss this special career milestone for Carrie, it’s May 10th on GAC.

Be on the lookout for some great albums are hitting stores in May! Look for Toby Keith’s - Toby Keith 35 Biggest Hits [UME], Dierks Bentley’s - Greatest Hits//Every Mile A Memory 2003 - 2008 [Capitol] and a reissue from Warner Brothers...Blake Shelton’s - Pure BS Deluxe. Plus look for albums from Keith Anderson - C’Mon, Columbia and newcomers Jypsi - Jypsi, Arista.

So there’s a little Taste of what’s going on in Music City! Be sure to join me weekdays from 10am to 2pm on 99 Hits FM, be sure to tune in Dave’s Cafe from 11am to noon with your country requests and visit us online at www.99hits.com! Until next month...keep it real, and keep it country!!
--Dave Williams, 99Hits FM

To Contact Him Please E-mail Us Here..

A TASTE OF NASHVILLE - 99 HITS ---April Edition - Volume 2 - Issue 10

Adam D. Tucker

It was a chilly Saturday night on March 15th but inside the Northern Lights Night Club things were hot! Adam D. Tucker made a stop by the 4th Coast for a show and really had the crowd into it from the start. It was a intimate setting were there wasn’t a bad seat in the house but still plenty of room to get up and dance. And dance the crowd did! Adam made his entrance to his band opening up with “Hicktown”. He performed many new and older country selections begining the show. The crowd loved it and and got up and danced to many of the songs which seemed to fuel not only Adam but his band’s energy too.

He brought a great band who rocked each and every song! Adam’s vocals really soared on the songs from his latest album along with a pair of covers; Buck Owens “Act Naturally” and John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. Of course you could tell the West Virginia native held the latter song close to his heart! He even rocked out some classic songs like “Pretty Woman” “Jet Airliner” and some others. He put on a show that really involved the crowd and got them on their feet. If you’d like to check out his music go to: myspace.com/adamdtucker and check out his page, he’d be glad to add as his friend.

I had the chance to talk to him between sets, he’s a down home guy who loves what he does. He loves to perform and loves his fans and we swapped funny stories about crossing the Border! So keep an eye out for Adam, if he gets the right breaks and he continues to work on his performance you may be seeing more of him. Thanks to Jeff and his staff for a wonderful evening at Northern Lights! ---

Remember to join me weekdays on 99.3 FM for Hit-Kickin’ Country & Your All-Time Favorites! Check out what’s new at www.99hits.com and don’t miss Dave’s Cafe with your requests from 11 - noon only on 99 Hits FM! Until next month remember to keep it real...and keep it country!!

To Contact Him Please E-mail Us Here..

A TASTE OF NASHVILLE - 99 HITS ---March Edition - Volume 2 - Issue 9

RANDY TRAVIS

It was another evening for great country music at the All Inn Lounge on February 20th. The All Inn was packed, with only standing room left. Opening Act Jeff Allen took to the stage played some well written originals. The one that stood out was “Honky Tonk Saturday Night” and he also did a great countrified version of Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me”. He was a great warm up act as he got the crowd into his set joking, he’d never been this far north and it was so cold he had to buy some thermals!! Jeff did a spectacular job in front of a full house. If you’d like to hear some of his music then be sure to check out his Myspace page, search for Jeff Allen, it’ll be worth it as he has some great music on his page!

Then it was time for a true country legend, with a catalog of hit’s a country mile wide, to take the stage. Randy Travis, a little grayer than when I was a kid but still sounding just as amazing as always. He got the crowd on it’s feet by “Diggin’ Up Bones” to begin an evening chock full of hits! The crowd showed their love for Randy and that smooth baritone voice of his. All night long they sang along, took endless pictures and left presents onstage for him. He and his band guided the crowd through so many memorable songs; “1982”, “On The Other Hand”, “Too Gone, Too Long”, “Just A Matter Of Time”, “Reasons I Cheat”, “Heroes & Friends“, “The Hole” and two of my personal Randy Travis favorites “Honky Tonk Moon” and “Better Class Of Losers”. He did some medleys of his other hits just to squeeze them in. And he pulled out some of his gospel songs like “Raise Him Up”, “Pray For The Fish” and his big crossover smash “Three Wooden Crosses”. Randy kept the crowd going all night long and relished the warm reception despite the cold weather here in the North Country. He told a few good jokes and played a couple of covers like “Nowhere Man” from the Beatles tribute album a few years ago and his awesome version of the classic “King Of The Road”. He told the crowd that his first country album in 8 years, after recording numerous gospel albums, is due out this year and treated the crowd to the forthcoming single “Faith In You”. It’s a wonderful song and I can’t wait until it hits country radio!!
And when it was time to wrap things up he had the crowd on it’s feet and signing along to “Forever And Ever, Amen”. It was a perfect way to end a thrilling night for country fans in the North Country! He even signed a few autographs and shook some hands before heading off stage. Hats off to the All Inn Lounge for scoring a country star of Randy’s caliber!!

Remember to join me weekday from 10am - 2pm on 99.3 FM for Hit Kickin’ Country & Your All-Time Favorites, with your request from 11am to noon on Dave’s Café only on 99 Hits FM!! So until next month, keep it real….and keep it country!

To Contact Him Please E-mail Us Here..

A TASTE OF NASHVILLE - 99 HITS ---Feb Edition - Volume 2 - Issue 8

JOE DIFFIE

Country was once again front and center at the All Inn Lounge in Hogansburg on January 26th. The task of opening the show fell to Jerrod Niemann. He may not be familiar to you as an artist, but some of the songs he has had a hand in co-writing just might be. Like “That Girl Is A Cowboy” or “Good Ride Cowboy”, sung by none other than Garth Brooks. Jerrod sang these, some classic country and even told a few jokes. It was just him and his guitar up there on stage entertaining and warming up the large crowd, which is no small task. He did a great job.

Then it was time for Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie to grace the stage at the All Inn Lounge. The Oklahoma native brought his GRAMMY & CMA Award winning songs to the cold North Country! He came charging out of the gate and grabbed you by the collar with a rockin’ rendition of “Third Rock From The Sun”!! He sprinkled in some jokes and stories along with his many hits like “Pickup Man”, “Is It Cold In Here”, “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y”, “A Night To Remember”, “If The Devil Danced” along with the many other songs in his vast arsenal! From the first song it was a fun and raucous night! He even made it a family affair as his son Parker, who sings backup for Joe, came to the center mic for a turn and showed he has the chops just like dad! Must be in the genes, that or something in the Oklahoma water. Joe also paid a genuine and heartfelt tribute to our military men and women with one of his biggest hits “Ships That Don’t Come In”. He was genuine and engaging, you could tell he was having as good a time on the stage as the crowd were on their feet. He got the crowd going again with a marvelous rendition of the Charlie Rich classic “Behind Closed Doors”. And as if the crowd wasn’t feeling rowdy enough Joe really kicked this up a notch with his BIG smash hit “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox” paired with “John Deere Green” to wrap up his set! But the crowd wanted more and Joe was happy to oblige as he and his band, dubbed Akwesasne for the evening, tore the house down with “Honky Tonk Attitude”! They left the crowd flying high and wanting more! It was an amazing show from the start....Joe Diffie knows how to put on a show and a big round of applause to the All Inn Lounge from bringing a great country singer to the North Country, again! This ranks up there as one of the best country concerts I’ve seen, the crowd at the All Inn was electrified through the entire show! I can’t wait to see which country artist makes the trek north to the chilly 4th Coast next. The All Inn Lounge is doing a great job of getting established as a go to place for top name country acts, so make sure you don’t miss the next show there!

And don’t forget to join me, Dave Williams, weekdays from 10am-2pm for Hit-Kickin’ Country & All Time Favorites on 99 Hits FM (99.3), as I play your requests from 11am - noon on Dave’s Cafe every weekday morning! Find out what else is going on at the station at www.99hits.com! So until next month...Keep It Real And Keep It
C-O-U-N-T-R-Y!!!!

To Contact Him Please E-mail Us Here..

A TASTE OF NASHVILLE - 99 HITS ---Jan Edition - Volume 2 - Issue 7

LORRIE MORGAN

The All Inn Lounge in Hogansburg brought a taste of Nashville right here to the North Country on December 21st. Leading off the show, literally off the plane from Music City, were the Hewitt Sisters! Ashlee on guitar and Katrice on the fiddle. Their harmonies blended beautifully on some country classics; and they wowed the crowd with some great originals. These two sisters really worked the crowd and showed the poise of seasoned performers. Check out their website www.hewittsisters.com and discover this wonderful duo who, I believe, have bright future ahead of them.

Then it was time for Lorrie Morgan. From the first note her band played, the crowd went wild! If you can recall any of her hits “Half Enough”, “Five Minutes”, “Something In Red” or any others that come to mind, then she sang them. She didn’t just sing them... she used her silky, southern fried, alto vocals to draw you into the song. She threw in a couple of fun Christmas songs, too. She also treated the crowd to a couple of songs from her upcoming album. “Mirror, Mirror” was a moving and reflective number. “California Quake” was a really fun one! Both left me looking forward to her new project! She interacted very well with the crowd. Everybody had fun! Her band, TBA, put on a great show! The number that really brought down the house was one that started out with her Bass player up front doing a solo which lead into an amazing rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine”. I have never heard this song sound like it did that night! Mind Blowing does not even describe it! It was a spectacular show by one of the best female country singers out there! Be on the lookout for her newest album in 2008.

Big Kudos to the All Inn Lounge for bringing in such a wonderful and talented star! Later this month, Joe Diffie will be performing on January 26th (See Ad on Page 9). I am looking forward to another great performance by another country music great.

Have a wonderful New Year! Don’t forget to join me, Dave Williams, weekdays from 10am to 2pm on 99.3 HITS FM! Be sure to tune in for Dave’s Cafe from 11am to noon with your country requests! Until next month... keep it real and keep it country!

To Contact Him Please E-mail Us Here..