CRACKER BARREL HAS A TIGER BY THE TAIL WITH NEW GRASCALS & FRIENDS CD

Exclusive CD “The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin”features eight great country artists and a rich blend of styles

Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores releases "A Tiger by the Tail" by The Grascals, reigning 2010 Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Bluegrass Band of the Year, along with twelve other country classics, on the newest CD in its exclusive music program. The Grascals teamed up with eight of their famous friends, including Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Dolly Parton, Tom T. Hall, The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe Nichols, and Darryl Worley, to create the crossover album. The Grascals & Friends – Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin CD hits the shelves exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations today.

The Grascals, fresh off of a year packed with over 150 shows, are in the running for 10 of the 37th Annual SPBGMA Awards including Instrumental Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year, and Entertaining Group of the Year. In spite of their packed schedule, they took time to visit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during their travels, and to write a bonus track “I Am Strong” for the album. All of the artists who sang separately with the Grascals on the CD joined their vocals together on the “I Am Strong” bonus track. In addition, the Grascals’ new video, “I Am Strong” featuring Dolly Parton premiered in mid-December on AOL. Because of The Grascals caring spirit, Cracker Barrel is donating a percentage of the proceeds from the CD to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“The Grascals never cease to amaze me with their talent, creativity and first-class performances,” said Gracie Muldoon, founder of WorldWideBluegrass.com. “However, it is no surprise, that their hearts are as big as they are – with their contribution to St. Jude and sick children with the release of “I Am Strong.” It shows the world that the representatives of Bluegrass music have hearts as big as their basses, as big as their talents. The heart of the Grascals is there beating along with their music as they share their love for humanity of the weakest, no, make that the “strongest” members, the beautiful children.”

“The Grascals are steeped in bluegrass tradition and at the same time are in touch with their contemporary audiences, bringing authenticity as well as freshness to the music,” said Chris Ciavarra, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Cracker Barrel. “We are pleased to be able to offer our guests this unique CD as the latest album in our exclusive music program.”

The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin is the latest in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program, which features numerous projects. In November of 2010, Cracker Barrel released Smokey Robinson’s Now & Then which features six of his current songs and live versions of six of his classics that were recorded last year. It debuted at #19 on Billboard magazine’s R&B chart. September saw the release of the self-titled Rodney Atkins, which includes four #1 hits, and also released Mandy Barnett’s Winter Wonderland, which offers up all the authentic sounds of the holiday traditions so many of us cherish. In July, the company released Craig Morgan’s That’s Why-Collector’s Edition, and in May the release of Wynonna’s Love Heals debuted at #7 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. February’s release of Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart, where it spent nine weeks in the top position and 18 weeks overall in one of the three top positions since its release on February 1st. Releases in 2009 included November’s Songs of Love and Heartache by Alan Jackson, September’s release of an exclusive new version of The Foundation by the Zac Brown Band, August’s George Jones’ release of A Collection Of My Best Recollection, May’s release of Montgomery Gentry’s For Our Heroes, which debuted at #5 on Billboard Magazine’s Top Country Albums chart, and March’s release of Dolly Parton’s Collector’s Edition of Backwoods Barbie, which debuted at #9 on that chart. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs with Bill Gaither, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans and Charlie Daniels.

Tracks on The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin:
1. Tiger By The Tail (with Brad Paisley)
2. Folsom Prison Blues (with Dierks Bentley)-Recorded at Sound Kitchen
3. Pain of Lovin’ You (with Dolly Parton)-Recorded at Sound Kitchen
4. I Am Strong (with Dolly Parton)-recorded at Sound Kitchen
5. Louisiana Saturday Night
6. The Year That Clayton Delaney Died (with Tom T. Hall)-recorded at Sound Kitchen
7. White Lightning (with Darryl Worley)
8. The Devil Went Down To Georgia (with Charlie Daniels)
9. Leavin’ Louisiana In Broad Daylight (with The Oak Ridge Boys)
10. Mr. Bojangles (with Joe Nichols)
11. Born To Boogie / All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin’ Over Tonight (Hank Williams Jr. Medley)
12. Cracker Barrel Swing (Instrumental)
13. I Am Strong (Bonus Track) Featuring guest appearances by Dolly Parton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Darryl Worley, Charlie Daniels, Terri Clark, Randy Owen, Steven Seagal, Tom T. Hall, Joe Nichols, Ansley McLaurin - partially recorded at Sound Kitchen

We were quite surprised and very pleased to find Jeremy wandering the halls of the Sound Kitchen, where the group, Safety Suit, just completed their 2nd album project. The group just returned from an extended tour entertaining our troops aboard an aircraft carrier. Check out Jeremy's pictures of the tour on his Facebook page ...really fantastic group of pics!

MusicArtists4U Offers “One-Stop” Music Experience
Peter Cronin •

MusicArtists4U.com, billed as a “one-stop interactive experience featuring live and taped performances, music videos and the ability for the consumer to purchase music, videos and artist merchandise,” was launched April 19 by interactive music marketer Bruce Uher. The new online music venture will feature performances by emerging and established artists and singer/ songwriters from a variety of music genres and will initially include Country, Rock and Singer/Songwriter channels.

Another area of the site will facilitate venues across the globe booking the artists featured on the site. The site will also include an internet radio station for each genre of music, which will front and back-announce song titles and artist names along with several different radio programs and artists interviews. Also featured on the site are an online magazine with video musical equipment reviews, instructional videos on playing various instruments and songwriting.

Uher owns Ohio-based MultiMedia-Interactive and works with artists including Charlie Daniels, Confederate Railroad and Tracy Lawrence.

“Now is the time because almost everyone has access to high speed internet” says Uher, who has teamed up with former Sony Music A&R executive Anthony Martin to launch the new venture. “The music business is changing, and MusicArtists4U.com will allow artists of all genres to be seen and heard.”

E1/Koch Entertainment has teamed up with MusicArtists4U.com to give fans the opportunity to purchase and download music from all E1/Koch artists. Koch artists Confederate Railroad and Cody McCarver are now on MusicArtists4U.com, and both acts will be releasing new music in June.

Longtime WSM radio DJ and Grand Ole Opry announcer Keith Bilbrey has signed on to host MusicArtists4U.com’s country television show, with the premiere episode featuring country rock hitmakers Little Texas. The country show is filmed at Sound Kitchen Studios in Franklin, Tennessee.

Uher also announced Coca-Cola as a major sponsor, with RoadHawg Cases signed on as a co-sponsor of the series. MusicArtists4U.com is also dedicated to charitable organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and a portion of all proceeds will be earmarked for those organizations.

CLIFF RICHARD'S BOLD AS BRASS OUT NOW!

To celebrate Sir Cliff Richard's 70th birthday, EMI Music released 'Bold As Brass', a show-stopping album of swing and big band favourites with a classic Cliff twist, recorded live at Sound Kitchen Studios, Franklin, TN.

Including such classics as 'They Can't Take That Away From Me', and 'I've Got You Under My Skin', Bold As Brass showcases Cliff's voice in a spectacular and unique way. Famed "We Are the World" producer, Michael Omartian, was at the helm in Sound Kitchen's Big Boy Studio.

This must-have for all Cliff fans is out now on CD, Digital Download and a Limited Edition Box Set with exclusive Jigsaw & bonus 2 track CD.

Sound Kitchen was honored to have recorded with Sir Cliff Richard, who has sold more than 260 million albums worldwide. An amazingly successful artist whose body of work spans generations.

See www.cliffrichard.org for more details.

Sound Kitchen Studios Congratulates Dailey & Vincent on the release of "Biscuits, Gravy, and Bluegrass" Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers, on Cracker Barrel/Rounder Records, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart, ultimately spending 19 weeks in the top 3 and earning Dailey & Vincent their second IBMA Award for Album of the Year. It was also the Hot Shot debut on the Country Albums chart, coming in at #19, and it debuted at the top of the Heatseekers chart. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store lent their support to the Dailey & Vincent Front Porch Tour, and the band traveled the country in their Prevost bus wrapped with the Cracker Barrel logo and images from the CD booklet. The album is #3 on Billboard’s year-end Bluegrass Albums chart, while Dailey & Vincent are the #2 Bluegrass Artists of the year.

Dailey & Vincent were just in the Sound Kitchen's Studio A to record background vocals on Dolly Parton's newest album.

Sound Kitchen would like to acknowledge Billy Currington for all of his chart success with his new album, "Enjoy Yourself", and your #1 hits recorded at the Sound Kitchen; produced by Carson Chamberlain. And, if achieving another number one hit wasn't enough, Nashville Lifestyle Magazine recently named Billy as one of the most beautiful people in Nashville. Congrats to Billy for all your success.

The Down Syndrome Association Of Middle Tennessee Vintner's Evening "Sip 'n Savor" recently held at the Sound Kitchen Studios. According to NFOCUS, this was a "super cool and unique event held in the Big Boy Studio, making it a night that stood out in our book." Not only was it a special evening filled with acoustic music, but it was a tremendous financial success, thanks in part to the Laird Family Estate Vinyards and the wonderful cooking of Franklin's caterer to the stars, Constant Craving. Sound Kitchen was featured in the October issue of NFOCUS Magazine.