Rick Ryman’s September 2009 Hossey Award Picks
I’m Rick Ryman, and these are my September picks….
Show Schedule | Contest Rules | The Awards
Amanda Nagurney- Blame It On The Drinkin‘Â (Buy, Dang It)
Made it to the Top 10!
- This singer/songwriter comes out of Buffalo, New York, and in my opinion has it all. She has the looks, a nice style of country music, great country voice, and writes a dang good song. If I had the money, I would be investing in this girls talent and getting her a major record deal, but I don’t have the money. I hope someone on Music Row has the smarts to see the talents in Amanda. It was very difficult for me to choose one song from her cd, and I was really torn between 3 of them. “Blame It On The Drinkin” is a great country song that I’m sure y’all are going to enjoy, and if you do, you’ll like the rest of the cd as well. Be sure to check out her video on www.myspace.com/amandanagurney and SEE what I’m talking about.
Bo Porter- Rattle Your Brain (Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 1, dang it!
- This Austin Texan singer/songwriter calls his music “Honky Tonk Horsepower” and I can say I agree. If I read the Bo’s bio right, this is a 3 piece band, and the whole cd was recorded live at The Saxon Pub. Bo has traveled all over the U.S. playing his music. Taking old time country tunes and putting a little bit of Bo in each of them, which makes for a great song. It’s great to hear talent like this out there playing and recording. I can tell, it’s truly all about the music with Bo.
Gary Gibson- I’ve Had All Of The Nashville I Can Stand(Buy, Dang It)
Made it to the Top 10
- I just met Gary at a little cafe, just off Music Valley Drive, called Rudi’s. I was in there just listening when they got Gary up to sing a few songs and this song was one of them. I knew right then I wanted Gary to be on the show. The other songs he did were great too, and I thought, which one am I gonna choose? My hears kept wanting to hear this song again, and its so fitting of what I think about Music Row, and the Nashville sound. Gary comes from North Carolina and Georgia. He moved to Nashville to play and sing country music, only to find, that its hard to hear any country music in Nashville.
James Harley- Wide Open(Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 1, dang it!
- I know James’s Manager David Haisten, and I had David send me what James has recorded so far in his new project. His previous cd that he did as “Smith & Harley is a great cd too, but they no longer have the rights to it. So I expect only great things from James when this cd is done. Singer/songwriter/musician James Harley, has a Southern Rock sound with just a taste of country. Whatever you want to call it, it’s cool, and good.
Judy Kanyo- 100% Pure Texan (Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 2
- Judy is another beauty, a good friend, and great singer from Toronto, Canada. Judy has been nominated for Artist of the Year, and Female Artist of the Year for 2008 from the European Country Music Association. Judy has had many hits over sea’s including the cut that I’ve chose for this contest. Judy was also nominated and on the ballot for, NEW COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR at the New Music Awards held Nov 22 2008 in Hollywood California. When Judy isn’t performing, she’s flying all over the world as a Flight Attendant for a major Canadian airline. Visit Judy at www.myspace.com/judykanyo
Lonnie Spiker- Soul Of A Writer (Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 1, dang it!
- Singer/Songwriter/Musician, this guy can sing a song! Another good friend of mine thats does Honky Tonk music just as good as anyone. Lonnie comes from Uniontown, Pa, and moved to Nashville to write songs. Little did he know then, that he moved to the wrong city. He moved to Nashville just in time for the POP music to start taking over the sound waves. Lonnie’s travels have taken him oversea’s to perform, as well as performing in many of the Honky Tonks in Texas. He chose to record this cd with Bill Green in San Antonio to get the true sound he was looking for. Hew has just signed a deal with Heart Of Texas records, and will be going back in to the studio to start a new project in November. Get more by going to www.LonnieSpiker.com
Shelby Downing- Rebel Child (Buy, Dang It)
Finished 2nd in the contest!
- WOW, was what I said the first time I heard her sing. Shelby is a very talented singer/songwriter from Longview, Texas. At the age of 17, her lyrics are more seasoned than a lot of the writers who do it for a living on Music Row. I’m not one who likes to see youngsters get in to the music biz at an early age. I believe you should have your teenage experiences and of course there is school, everyone needs a good education. Plus there are a lot of sharks out there who like to take advantage of the young and naive. Shelby blends her bluesy/rock sound to make her country style of music work. She wrote or co-wrote 9 of the 10 songs on her cd, and I see her having a career at doing what she loves to do. Visit Shelby and hear it for yourself, www.myspace.com/shelbydowning
Taylor Farley and Blue Rock- The Great Big Woman (And The Little Bitty Bottle Of Wine)(Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 1, dang it!
- I met Taylor in 1999 when I was putting together my first cd, and the studio hired him to do the banjo part. I was all smiles when I heard his playing and he was such a great guy to sit and visit with. Taylor likes to take and old Rock tune and play it in his own style of bluegrass. On his cd “Beat This”, you can hear classic’s like “Wipeout”, “Ticket To Ride”, and Freebird”. Taylor is from Newport, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati. If you like good music with some fun, then you’ll enjoy Taylor Farley and Blue Rock.
The Nashville Attitude- Hard To Quit (Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 2
- Don’t let the name of this band fool ya, they can play country music. No, its not your common run of the mill boring pop crap like you might expect to hear. This cd is full of good country, rockabilly, and swing music, and they come from Staten Island, New York. Singer/songwriter/musician Marc Vincent, leads the Attitude in the right direction in having a great country sound. They are also getting some exposure in Europe, and now with the help from HTB, there sound is reaching Texas and around the world.
Tracey K Houston – How Can I Face Tomorrow (Buy, Dang It)
Booted from the Contest After Week 2
- Tracey is another Canadian born artist and friend, who is now living in Nashville. Tracey calls herself “Classic Country” and does it to a tee. If you was to listen to this cd with your eyes closed, you would think you was back in the late 1950’s. Her sweet delivery of a classic country song just shows off her style, and lets you know that there are still people who enjoy singing country music. She has just returned from a successful Canadian tour with James Intveld, and now looking forward in getting her music heard on HTB. To find out more about Tracey go to www.myspace.com/traceykhouston
About Me:
I’ve always had aspirations about getting in to the music business, but I never knew how to do it, and still learning. When I was in the U.S. Air Force, I bought my first guitar for my 18th birthday. With the help from a Merle Haggard song book, I learned some chords to play. After the Air Force, I tried to form my own band without real success. Looking like the music thing wasn’t going to happen, I went in to radio broadcasting as an air personality. I continued on writing my own songs when I realized one day that my craft was getting better. I started making demos, and from time to time traveling to Nashville to check out the scene. I finally had enough of radio, and Cincinnati, and moved to Nashville to try and be a songwriter. After a few years in Nashville, that dream was coming to an end too. So I decided to make my own cd, and do my best in getting it out to the public. With this cd titled “Leg Man”, I have had two number one hits in various countries in Europe, and the same two releases were in the top 10 in other countries. I’ve received great respect in Australia and in New Zealand with my music as well. Thrilled as I could be, I decided to try and promote in the U.S., and I did get played on many stations across the country, but when you don’t have the money to try and keep the momentum going, its hard to keep your name out there and recognized. So I do thank Hoss and all of the Internet radio stations, along with the regular radio stations around the world for playing my music. It is most appreciated.
