Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 8 October 2014

FEATURED ARTIST – JEANNIE SEELY “My calendar for October and November is totally insane,” Jeannie Seely said when I called to see what’s happening in her life. “I tried to slow down this year, but so many opportunities came in.” She’s reached the point in her career to be able to choose what she wants […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 24 September 2014

NEWS George Hamilton IV, age 77, died the afternoon of September 17. He had been in critical condition at St Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville since suffering a heart attack four days earlier. George was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 19, 1937. He moved to Nashville in 1959 and became a member of […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 10 September 2014

CONCERT REVIEW – MARK CHESNUTT We sang happy birthday to Mark Chesnutt (age 51) Saturday night during his show at the University of Sioux Falls. He sang his hits for ninety minutes and joked with his two guitarists and the audience. Although I was disappointed he didn’t have his band, the tradeoff was the personal […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 27 August 2014

NEWS The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on November 17. A select group of American musical icons will be given ASCAP Centennial Awards to recognize their exceptional accomplishments. They are Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Joan […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter – 13 August 2014

FEATURE ARTICLE – ALASKA CRUISE Sioux Falls residents Cam and Sharon Lind celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary on the Alaska Cruise sponsored by Country’s Family Reunion and Larry’s Country Diner. I asked Cam to provide a report, and here’s what he said: The cruise was great and my three favorite country singers were there: Gene […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 30 July 2014

“I feel inundated these days with music that’s telling me how country it is. What I long for more than anything is to hear how country it is.” — Vince Gill, 2012 ACM awards show         As the biographer of Faron Young and Marty Robbins, I bring you these newsletters to connect […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 16 July 2014

FEATURED ARTIST – JANIE FRICKE “What I see in my future is exactly what I’m doing right now,” Janie Fricke told me when she called the other day in response to my request for an interview. “I get surprised all the time with new offers and new possibilities.” She credits Kirt Webster with finding those […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter – 2 July 2014

FEATURED ARTIST – GENE WATSON “I have a lot of goals in front of me,” Gene Watson says. “I’ve got a whole lot more scheduled in my mind than I can see over the top of.” At age 70, this Texan is not slowing down. “I’m working more now than I was twenty years ago,” […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 18 June 2014

NEWS The two-year Cowboy Rides Away Tour concluded Saturday night, June 7, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas–home of the Dallas Cowboys. George Strait drew 104,793 fans, the largest crowd for an indoor concert in North American history. He broke the record set by The Rolling Stones at the Louisiana Superdome in 1981. Asleep at […]

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter – 4 June 2014

I’m the biographer of Faron Young and Marty Robbins, bringing you these newsletters to connect classic country music fans around the world. Feel free to forward this email to your friends, and tell them to send me an email if they want to be added to the list. I welcome your comments and ideas. FEATURED […]