Video: Swon Brothers play “Fishin’ in the Dark” on “The Voice” live playoffs
Muskogee’s The Swon Brothers again showed off their strong sibling harmonies on tonight’s “The Voice” live playoffs.
Zach and Colton Swon turned in a great rendition of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s hit “Fishin’ in the Dark” that wowed all four coaches.
Now, they are seeking public votes. To download their cover of “Fishin’ in the Dark” – downloads count as votes – click here. To vote online, click here.
To read about other voting options, click here.
The elimination show will air at 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC.
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Video: Swon Brothers to compete on “The Voice” live shows tonight
Muskogee’s The Swon Brothers will carry on their quest to win “The Voice” as the reality TV show’s Season 4 live playoffs continue at 7 tonight on NBC.
Zach, 28, and Colton, 24, are competing on Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton’s team.
The four finalists each for Team Usher and Team Adam competed on Monday night’s live rounds, which means Team Blake and Team Shakira are up tonight.
The live playoffs mark the first time the public gets to vote for its favorite contestants. For voting information, go to www.nbc.com/the-voice.
The elimination episode is set to air from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The siblings are the first duo in the four-season history of “The Voice” to advance to the live shows. In last week’s knockout founds, their celebrity coach, Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton, pitted The Swon Brothers against Memphis “bluntry” (blues-country) singer Grace Askew, who crooned the Ann Peebles/Tina Turner standard “I Can’t Stand the Rain” and earned kudos from the coaches for her originality.
As with the blind auditions and battle rounds, the Swons’ brotherly harmonies helped them win, this time with their tuneful rendition of the Dobie Gray classic “Drift Away.”
The singer/guitarists started performing with their parents’ southern gospel group Exodus when they were youngsters, so they are accustomed to making music live. They told me in a teleconference last week that they aren’t worried about the added pressure of playing in front of millions of TV viewers on “The Voice’s” live stage.
“When it comes to the actual music part of it, it’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be fun. The stuff that worries me is like falling off stage or something like that,” Zach said wryly. “But other than that, man, I’m ready to have a good time. And it’s going to be the funnest part of the show I think.”
“My brother is pretty clumsy, so I see where he’d worry about that,” Colton joked. “Other than that, bring on the live shows, we’re ready.”
Fans can expect to see them perform more songs that accent their teamwork and tight harmonies, they said.
“There’s no formula for picking songs for us right now,” Colton said. “We just go with our gut and pray about (it), and at the end of the day, you know, you’ve just got to have fun and connect with the audience.”
To read more of my latest feature on the Swon siblings, click here.
The sibling duo’s extensive music-making experience may well be a key factor in how they fare in “The Voice” live rounds. Check out this 2-year-old video shot in Muskogee of The Swon Brothers performing the song “American Girl”:
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Video: Blake Shelton “Boys ‘Round Here” featuring the Pistol Annies and RaeLynn
From left, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley and Miranda Lambert of musical group Pistol Annies, and singer Blake Shelton perform “Boys ‘Round Here” at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2013. (AP file)
Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton has released the video for “Boys ‘Round Here,” the hip-hop-infused second single from his new album “Based on a True Story.”
The single and video features the Pistol Annies – Shelton’s wife Miranda Lambert, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe – as well as RaeLynn, a Season 2 contestant on the reality show “The Voice.”
Shelton will bring his “Ten Times Crazier Tour” in support of the new album to Tulsa’s BOK Center on Oct. 4. For more information, go to www.bokcenter.com.
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Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Journey, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Thompson Square, Toby Keith, Ryan Tedder nominated for CMT Music Awards
– Miranda Lambert walks the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP)
Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Eric Church and Luke Bryan earned four nominations each to lead the field of nominees for the 2013 CMT Music Awards
The nominations were announced Monday (today), and fan voting is underway at CMT.com.
Kristen Bell and Jason Aldean will host the show airing live from Nashville at 7 p.m. June 5 on CMT and CMT.com.
Lambert is competing for the top prize, video of the year, as well as female video of the year, with “Mama’s Broken Heart.” Her emotional rendition of her chart-topping ode “Over You” from the 2012 CMT Artists of the Year broadcast is nominated for CMT Performance of the Year. Plus, Lambert and her trio the Pistol Annies are nominated for group video of the year for “Takin’ Pills.”
Superstar trio Rascal Flatts, which features Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney, is nominated for group video for “Come Wake Me Up.” The country band shares two nods with pop-rock band Journey, which includes Oklahoma-born guitarist Neal Schon, for collaborative video for “Changed” and CMT Performance of the Year for “Don’t Stop Believin’,” both from their episode of “CMT Crossroads: Journey and Rascal Flatts.”
Checotah native Carrie Underwood is nominated for video of the year for “Blown Away” and female video of the year for “Two Black Cadillacs.”
Lambert’s husband and fellow Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton got a nod for male video of the year for “Sure Be Cool if You Did.”
Thompson Square, the duo of Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson and his wife Shawna, are nominated for duo video of the year for “If I Didn’t Have You.”
Norman resident Toby Keith is nominated for CMT Performance of the Year for “Beers Ago” from 2012′s CMT Artists of the Year, while Tulsa native Ryan Tedder of pop-rock band OneRepublic shares a nod with Luke Bryan in the category for their rendition of “Drunk On You/Feel Again,” also from last year’s CMT Artists of the Year show.
Norman native Vince Gill and “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson garnered a nod for collaborative video of the year for their duet “Don’t Rush,” from the 2012 CMA Awards.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brad Paisley –“Southern Comfort Zone”
*Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away”
Eric Church – “Springsteen”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
Jason Aldean– “1994”
Kenny Chesney – “Come Over”
Little Big Town – “Tornado”
Luke Bryan – “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
*Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Tim McGraw – “One of Those Nights”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
*Blake Shelton – “Sure Be Cool If You Did”
Eric Church – “Creepin’”
Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
Jason Aldean – “Take a Little Ride”
Kenny Chesney – “Come Over”
Luke Bryan – “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
*Carrie Underwood– “Two Black Cadillacs”
Faith Hill – “American Heart”
Jana Kramer – “Why Ya Wanna”
Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go ‘Round”
*Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Taylor Swift– “Begin Again”
GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum – “Downtown”
Little Big Town – “Pontoon”
*Pistol Annies – “Takin’ Pills”
*Rascal Flatts – “Come Wake Me Up”
The Band Perry – “Better Dig Two”
Zac Brown Band – “Goodbye in Her Eyes”
DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich – “That’s Why I Pray”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Love and Theft – “Runnin’ Out Of Air”
*Thompson Square– “If I Didn’t Have You”
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Dustin Lynch – “Cowboys and Angels”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Jana Kramer – “Why Ya Wanna”
Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go ‘Round”
Kip Moore – “Beer Money”
Randy Houser – “How Country Feels”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brad Paisley and Joe Walsh – “Rocky Mountain Way,” from CMT Crossroads: Joe Walsh & Friends
Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church – “The Only Way I Know,” from 2012 CMA Awards
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw – “Feel Like A Rockstar”
*Rascal Flatts and Journey – “Changed,” from CMT Crossroads: Journey and Rascal Flatts
The Avett Brothers and Randy Travis – “Three Wooden Crosses” from CMT Crossroads: The Avett Brothers and Randy Travis
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley – “5-1-5-0” from CMT Unplugged
Eric Church – “Homeboy” from 2012 CMT Artists of the Year
*Luke Bryan and Ryan Tedder – “Drunk On You/Feel Again” from 2012 CMT Artists of the Year
*Miranda Lambert – “Over You” from 2012 CMT Artists of the Year
*Rascal Flatts and Journey– “Don’t Stop Believin’” from CMT Crossroads: Journey and Rascal Flatts
*Toby Keith– “Beers Ago” from 2012 CMT Artists of the Year
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Interview: Swon Brothers ready for “The Voice” live shows, beginning tonight on NBC
A version of this story appears in Monday’s The Oklahoman.
Muskogee’s Swon Brothers continue their run on “The Voice”
Zach and Colton Swon are the first duo to make it the hit reality show’s live rounds, which begin Monday night on NBC.
The Muskogee duo survived last week’s knockout rounds on “The Voice” to move on to the hit reality TV show’s live rounds, the final phase of competition. While live shows begin at 7 p.m. Monday (tonight) on NBC, Zach and Colton Swon already are mindful of their future beyond “The Voice.”
“We just try to pick songs that we think will connect well the audience,” said Zach, 28, in a conference call last week. “You know, other than that, man, we just like to have fun. We don’t think about it too much. We just go with our gut most of the time and … going forward I think we’ll pick songs that will define us as artists. Because we’re thinking about the future, you know, and we want people to get a grasp on the kind of music we want to put out.”
The siblings are the first duo in the four-season history of “The Voice” to advance to the live shows. In last week’s knockout founds, their celebrity coach, Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton, pitted The Swon Brothers against Memphis “bluntry” (blues-country) singer Grace Askew, who crooned the Ann Peebles/Tina Turner standard “I Can’t Stand the Rain” and earned kudos from the coaches for her originality.
As with the blind auditions and battle rounds, the Swons’ brotherly harmonies helped them win, this time with their tuneful rendition of the Dobie Gray classic “Drift Away.”
“What’s great about you guys is that it seems you both know your place in the duo, which is cool because that makes the duo really strong,” said rival coach Adam Levine.
Shelton agreed and opted to keep the fellow Oklahomans as one of his team’s four finalists.
“It’s really a scary thing to get satisfied in this competition. You know, it was really great to finally get some props from Adam, because we hadn’t received that yet,” said Colton, 24. “At the same time, we weren’t satisfied and we won’t be until we go home. Or we’re in that finale.”
“And that’s just the outlook you got to have on this thing. I mean, you can be here one day and gone the next. So you got take everything to heart, but at the same time keep building and growing as an artist. And never get too comfortable. And so, we’re doing our job, I think, as artists, growing our fan base.”
Big brother Blake
While they value the feedback they get from all four “The Voice” coaches, the Swon siblings said they especially enjoy being part of Team Blake. Shelton, whose team has won the past two seasons of the competition, is a “what you see is what you get” kind of guy who has genuinely invested in his four finalists, Zach said.
“We were definitely looking forward to getting more one-on-one time with Blake. And kind of “As we expected, he’s started acting more like a big brother. Even though we’re on the No. 1 TV show in America, he’s still just being really down-to-Earth and just being a good pal. And he’s letting us enjoy the moment. Like, that’s one thing he’s really taught us, especially in the one-on-one stuff, is just be yourself and enjoy this ride,” Colton added.
The singer/guitarists started performing with their parents’ southern gospel group Exodus when they were youngsters, so they are accustomed to making music live. They aren’t worried about the added pressure of playing in front of millions of TV viewers on “The Voice’s” live stage.
“When it comes to the actual music part of it, it’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be fun. The stuff that worries me is like falling off stage or something like that,” Zach said wryly. “But other than that, man, I’m ready to have a good time. And it’s going to be the funnest part of the show I think.”
“My brother is pretty clumsy, so I see where he’d worry about that,” Colton joked. “Other than that, bring on the live shows, we’re ready.”
Fans can expect to see them perform more songs that accent their teamwork and tight harmonies, they said.
“There’s no formula for picking songs for us right now,” Colton said. “We just go with our gut and pray about (it), and at the end of the day, you know, you’ve just got to have fun and connect with the audience.”
Bigger fan base
So far, the formula — or lack thereof — is working. After their knockout episode, Zach said many of their Twitter followers gushed that “Drift Away” was their favorite song. Their 6,400-plus “tweeple” and more than 7,600 Facebook fans they’ve garnered so far should come in handy during the live rounds, since public votes will begin to count in addition to Shelton’s choices.
“To have such great support and a fan base and just friends and family … and to see yourself on country charts — I mean, I think we’ve charted almost every time and it’s because of America and a big part of that is back home in Oklahoma,” Colton said. “It’s a really blessed feeling to know that they’re going to get behind us.”
While they can count on the Oklahoma vote, Zach said he hopes the rest of America will appreciate their music and character enough to cast ballots for them, too.
“I think we’re going to make a difference, you know, in the music industry. With or without ‘The Voice,’ this is what we’re going to do no matter what. So they might as well get used to us being around,” Zach said.
“I don’t think we’ll be everybody’s cup of tea, but hopefully we’ll be (for) enough to stick around, because we definitely aren’t done yet.”
ON TV
The hit reality TV show “The Voice” begins its live rounds Monday night on NBC. The live shows will air from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays and 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. The winner will be announced in a live special on Tuesday, June 18.
Muskogee’s The Swon Brothers are the first duo to the series’ four-season history to advance to the live shows. They are competing on Team Blake, with Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton as their celebrity coach.
For more information, go to www.nbc.com/the-voice.
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Video: Remembering George Jones
George Jones’ funeral is taking place this morning at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. As previously reported, the service is open to the public.
National television networks CMT, GAC, RFD, and FamilyNet, as well as local Nashville stations WKRN 2, WSMV 4, WTVF 5, WZTV 17 are broadcasting the funeral service live, with radio partners WSM 650AM and SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse (Channel 56) broadcasting the service. Fans around the world can listen online at wsmonline.com or watch online at opry.com, according to a news release.
The Country Music Hall of Famer died last Friday in Nashville at the age of 81. In the past few days, numerous country music stars and other luminaries have issued statements expressing their sorrow and condolences for his family. Pawnee-based Grammy nominee of Steve Ripley of The Tractors posted the YouTube video embedded above, featuring a young George Jones and Johnny Paycheck playing “Love Bug” on Oklahoma City’s “Mathis Bros. Country Social.”
In this Jan. 10, 2007 file photo, George Jones is shown in Nashville, Tenn. Jones, the peerless, hard-living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times and regrets and peaked with the heartbreaking classic “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” has died. He was 81. Jones died Friday, April 26, 2013 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after being hospitalized with fever and irregular blood pressure, according to his publicist Kirt Webster. (AP)
Here are some of the stars’ tributes to The Possum:
“There aren’t words in our language to describe the depth of his greatness. I’ll miss my kind and generous friend.”
— Oklahoma native Vince Gill (who will attend the funeral and then travel to Mobile, Ala., to play a fundraiser tonight)
“The greatest voice to ever grace country music will never die. Jones has a place in every heart that ever loved any kind of music.”
- Owasso resident Garth Brooks (via the Associated Press)
“I was lucky enough to be on the same label as George for a while, so I got the chance to be around him at a lot of different functions. I never got an arrogance from him or a ‘I’m George Jones.’ I don’t think he ever really understood his impact and just how great he was.”
- Owasso resident Trisha Yearwood (via Billboard)
“We’ve lost a country music legend. And I’ve lost a hero and a friend. Goodbye George Jones…”
- Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton (via Twitter)
“God bless the gift George Jones shared with us. That voice will live on forever.”
- Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert (via Twitter)
“Happy memory of me and George. You may have left us, but your music and your legacy never will. #Legend”
- Checotah native Carrie Underwood (via Twitter)
“My prayers go out to Nancy Jones today. Her partner and husband George Jones passed this morning. We’ll miss George…”
- Oklahoma native Reba McEntire (via Twitter)
“George Jones has passed. Damn. Thought he’d live forever. Let’s break out his catalogue and play it all day Godspeed possum and family.”
- Toby Keith (via Twitter)
“God bless George Jones!”
- Former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn (via Facebook)
“We just lost one of the greatest singers on the planet,”
- Broken Arrow retro rocker JD McPherson (via Twitter)
“Such a sad say today. We lost one of the greatest country singers to ever live. Rest in peace George…”
- Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson
‘We are deeply saddened by the news this morning of the passing of our friend, George Jones. Our company was privileged to have represented George Jones in the 1980’s, most notably during the critically acclaimed ‘Reunion’ tour of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. We will miss this ICONIC songwriter and his unmistakable voice, but he will live on in our hearts.’
— Jim Halsey, Tulsa-based impresario
“The greatest most soulful voice in history is gone. RIP George Jones… the guys of Restless Heart will miss you greatly.”
- Restless Heart, which includes three Oklahoma natives
“George Jones’ life is an example of so many wonderful things. How someone’s God-given gifts can make this a richer, better place. How one human being can overcome adversity, addiction, and life threatening obstacles time and time again. That it is not the stumble or fall that counts, but the willingness to stand again. How a keen sense of humor and a twinkle in a person’s eye can still prevail even after all of life’s hard knocks. How mistakes, missteps, and bad choices are not the end of the world if a person chooses to turn them into something good. And George’s life is above all the strongest example of how the love of a great woman can get a man through anything. All of this made its way beautifully into every note of the greatest voice country music will ever know. And one of the greatest friends you could ever have. We miss you already, George.”
-Brad Paisley
“If I’m blessed enough to make it there, I look forward to you giving me the grand tour. Rest in peace George Jones!!!!!”
–Keith Urban (via Twitter)
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of one of my all time heroes, George Jones. Georges’ music was real and he was able to touch thousands through his songs. Not only was he a great singer, but he also had the ability to make you relate to every one of his songs, no matter who you are. He and his music will remain timeless in the world of country music. My thoughts and prayers are with his family through this difficult time.”
-Easton Corbin
“He was the greatest country vocalist that ever lived! Through the years we have all tried to emulate the passion in his voice, but no one can fill his shoes.”
- Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts
“My heart is absolutely broken. George Jones was my all time favorite singer and one of my favorite people in the world. My heart goes out to Nancy and all his family and friends.”
— Dolly Parton
“The world has lost the greatest country singer of all time. Amen.”
— Merle Haggard
“Today is a sad day in Country music. We have lost another piece of history. George Jones was not only a good singer, but was a good friend. He will be missed by many.”
— Hank Williams Jr.
“I am very thankful I got to know George, he’s one of the greatest singers that ever lived. I actually loved the man and really enjoyed the time I got to spend with he and Nancy.”
— Randy Travis
“George Jones will always be one of the most amazing singers who ever lived. He was a true Country Music legend who made music very personal to the listener – I think more than anyone else. He will be dearly missed, but always remembered.”
— Kenny Rogers
Video: Swon Brothers win their knockout round, become first duo to make the live rounds on “The Voice”
Muskogee’s The Swon Brothers became the first duo to advance to the live rounds on tonight’s episode of “The Voice.”
Zach and Colton Swon won in their knockout round to move on to the final stage of the reality singing competition.
“Thank The Lord & @blakeshelton we are headed to lives,” the siblings posted tonight on Twitter (@TheSwonBrothers).
Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton and R&B hitmaker Usher each narrowed their team to four finalists on tonight’s second knockout round episode.
Shelton pitted The Swon Brothers against Memphis “bluntry” (blues-country) singer Grace Askew, who crooned the Ann Peebles/Tina Turner standard ”I Can’t Stand the Rain” and earned kudos from the coaches for her originality.
But the Swons’ brotherly harmonies again gained them a victory, this time with their tuneful rendition of the Dobie Gray classic “Drift Away.”
“They know their place. Zach’s up there singing the lead and driving it home, and Colton’s up there bringing that energy level up,” Shelton said, who joked he didn’t want to know how Colton hits his high harmonies. “You’re both so good at what each of you do.”
Shelton’s Season 4 finalists just might constitute his most country team yet. Along with The Swon Brothers, his finalists are Kentucky resident Justin Rivers, Baylor University student Holly Tucker, and Texan Danielle Bradbery, who got through her knockout round with her rendition of Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s smash “Jesus, Take the Wheel”.
A special “The Road to the Live Show” episode of “The Voice” airs from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. Then, “The Voice” Season 4 continues at 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.
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Video: The Swon Brothers competing in tonight’s knockout rounds on “The Voice”
Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton and R&B hitmaker Usher will narrow their teams down to four contestants each as the knockout rounds continue tonight on “The Voice.”
That means Muskogee sibling duo The Swon Brothers, contending on Team Blake, will be competing for their chance to go to the live rounds on Season 4 of the hit reality TV show.
“The Voice” airs at 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.
“Our parents made us sing together,” Zach, 28, said with a laugh during a recent conference call. “We’re not the best duo that’s ever been on the show, I’m sure, but I think we are just so comfortable with each other, it really helps us when it comes to high-pressure situations, you know. And I know that I could not be on that stage without him, and I wouldn’t want to.”
In 2008, Colton, 24, made it solo into the top 48 on rival reality show “American Idol,” but he prefers singing with his sibling, too.
“I would think the edge that we have definitely comes from the harmony — just the brother harmony — because some of these battles kind of get stressful … and just having the other person to lean on during this whole thing, I think that’s a big, big advantage. Because if you’re going through this alone — I can’t imagine doing this alone. It would be pretty tough without my brother,” he said.
To read more of my recent interview with The Swon Brothers, click here, and check out their answers in this “Facing off with Team Blake” feature:
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RIP George Jones: Country music legend dies at 81
In this Jan. 10, 2007 file photo, George Jones is shown in Nashville, Tenn. Jones, the peerless, hard-living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times and regrets and peaked with the heartbreaking classic “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” has died. He was 81. Jones died Friday, April 26, 2013 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after being hospitalized with fever and irregular blood pressure, according to his publicist Kirt Webster. (AP)
Country Music Hall of Famer George Glenn Jones died Friday (today) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. He was 81.
He was hospitalized April 18 with fever and irregular blood pressure, according to a news release from his publicist, Kirt Webster.
Born Sept. 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.
The influential singer was a Grand Ole Opry member as well as a Kennedy Center Honoree.
“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, according to the release.
Jones’ first No. 1 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 with 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 this fall at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Oklahoma superstar Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Sam Moore, The Oak Ridge Boys and many others were set to perform at Jones’ Bridgestone Nov. 22 show.
The farewell tour also was set to include a Nov. 9 Oklahoma show at the Choctaw Event Center in Grant, according to GeorgeJones.com.
Current country music stars quickly took to Twitter to express their grief.
Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton posted (@blakeshelton), “Really REALLY bad news. We’ve lost a country music legend. And I’ve lost a hero and a friend. Goodbye George Jones…”
Checotah native Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) used the social media outlet to express condolences to Jones’ family: “Prayers going to George Jones’ family today. Rest in piece, George. You are loved and will be missed greatly.”
It wasn’t just country music stars and fans that paid tribute to Jones. His talents and appeal were influential well beyond the boundaries of the format.
“We just lost one of the greatest singers on the planet,” Broken Arrow retro rocker JD McPherson posted on Twitter (@jdmcphersonjr).
Jones is survived by his wife of 30 years Nancy Jones, his sister Helen Scroggins, and by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
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Video: Battle rounds continue on “The Voice” tonight
In this video, Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton talks about how impressed he was with Christian Porter and The Swon Brothers before their battle round last week on the hit reality show “The Voice.” The celebrity coach also declares that he thinks he has the talent he needs to win the singing competition for the third straight season.
As previously reported, Muskogee residents Zach and Colton Swon defeated Porter, a 21-year-old bar singer from
Blake Shelton on “The Voice”
Pennsylvania, in their battle that aired last Monday. They performed the Tom Petty classic “I Won’t Back Down,” and the Swon siblings became the first duo in the four-season history of “The Voice” to win a battle.
“Our parents made us sing together,” Zach, 28, said with a laugh in an teleconference last week. “We’re not the best duo that’s ever been on the show, I’m sure, but I think we are just so comfortable with each other, it really helps us when it comes to high-pressure situations, you know. And I know that I could not be on that stage without him, and I wouldn’t want to.”
In 2008, Colton, 24, made it solo into the top 48 on rival reality show “American Idol,” but he prefers singing with his sibling, too.
“I would think the edge that we have definitely comes from the harmony — just the brother harmony — because some of these battles kind of get stressful … and just having the other person to lean on during this whole thing, I think that’s a big, big advantage. Because if you’re going through this alone — I can’t imagine doing this alone. It would be pretty tough without my brother,” he said.
The battle rounds continue at 7 tonight on “The Voice.” The reality show airs at 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.
The Swons move on the knockout rounds, which begin airing April 29.
In the video posted below, Shelton’s bromantic rival, Maroon5 frontman Adam Levine, expresses his determination to finally defeat Team Blake and resume the winning ways he achieved in Season 1:
-BAM
