DB Congress Rep, Randy Alan, Pursues The Country Music Dream!

One of our very own DB Congress members, Randy Alan (PA), recently won the amateur artist “Sing Your Heart Out for a Soldier” competition by submitting a video of himself singing the song “Lucky Me” by Helene Cronin.  As we told you before, getting the chance to talk with our president, Dierks Bentley, about his music really encouraged Randy to pursue his dream. 

The University of Pittsburgh senior happily shared his story and photos with us! Enjoy!

Back in the middle of June, I saw that Josh Turner was hosting a singing contest where you had to record yourself singing the song “Lucky Me” written by Helene Cronin for a chance to win $10,000, a $300 gift card, and a trip for two to Nashville to stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and also a trip to a Tuesday night Grand Ole Opry show where the winner would be honored onstage with a giant check presented by Josh Turner and the Opry board members.

So after making the video and uploading it, I found out that I was  a top 10 finalist out of 26 potential videos. After a week of voting and judging by a panel of judges, I was crowned the winner. It was such an amazing achievement because I put so much work into this contest and it all paid off in the end.

So the trip to Nashville took place August 27 through 29, with the Opry show on the 28^th on a Tuesday night. I decided to take my mother, Mary Shaffer, on the trip because I wanted her to be there to see me on the Opry stage for the first time in my life.

When we arrived in Nashville I already had our schedule mostly planned out of what we were going to be doing, since I’ve been to Nashville numerous times and knew my way around. I should say that the first day we were there (Monday), the highlight was going to the Fontanel Mansion (Barbara Mandrell’s house) and having a personal tour of the place that was put together by my great friends Ron Harman and Steven Whitson. 

Steven actually does the tours at the Fontanel Mansion. We explored the whole house with guitars and memorabilia from today’s country artists.  I even got to wear Kenny Chesney’s tour jacket that belonged to him, but one of the greatest honors was to be asked to play in one of the bedrooms, it might have actually been Barbara’s room. But sitting at the foot of the bed and playing the song I won the contest with for everyone in our tour was such an amazing honor that I will never forget.

Earlier in the day we went to lunch at the Opry Backstage Grill, where I was asked to play a song on the stage there. Usually an artist has to audition to play there but since I was going to be on the Opry they waived that requirement for me. All the staff there were so nice.  It's a great place to eat and I recommend it to anyone visiting that part of Nashville.

To cap the night off, Ron then took us down to the Country Music Hall of Fame (where he works) and invited us to An Intimate Evening With Eddie Stubbs, who was interviewing Jimmy Newman that night. The show is broadcast over WSM online weekly.

One individual that I was introduced to that night was Grand Ole Opry member Jan Howard. We sat together as we watched the interview taking place a few rows down on the stage, but between commercial breaks Jan would tell me stories of how she sang the background vocals on Johnny Cash songs (specifically “The Ring of Fire”), how she sang a duet with Bill Anderson that went to number 1, “For Loving You,” and also that she was the one who sang the demo tape for the Patsy Cline hit “I Fall to Pieces.”

Ron had showed her the video of me singing the song for the contest and she loved my voice and what I did with the song. One of the main pieces of advice she gave me was to “surround yourself with people you can trust.”

Randy and Jan Howard

After the interview, I was introduced to Eddie Stubbs and got to chat with him for bit, telling him about my career and how I am just finishing up college.   He said “that degree is an important thing, you are smart for getting your degree before coming down here.”  I also got chat with Jimmy Newman as well who told me that “you have a great smile. Keep on smiling every day because a smile is a contagious thing.”

Randy and Eddie Stubbs

Randy,  Jimmy Newman, and Mary Shaffer (Randy's mom)

After that my mother, Ron, Jan, Kelsey Hodges (DB Congress member), and my two cousins Brittany and Stephannie Cantrell (who came up from Mississippi to see me!), left and went to lower Broadway for a bit then headed back to the hotel to get some rest for the show the next day. Monday was an intense day since we started the day at 4 a.m. Eastern time and ended the day at 1 a.m. Central time.

Tuesday started off by going out to visit Richard’s and Southern, a family owned Merchandising Company who does all the merchandise for big name country artists such as Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan and others.  They were the ones who made my t-shirts for my merchandise. Actually when we arrived they had just got done unloading Kenny’s merchandise from this year’s tour and were printing Luke Bryan and Justin Moore shirts.

The owners are great friends of mine and such nice people. So we took a tour of the place and met everyone that works there.  It was really nice to see the behind the scenes of what went into making my shirts as well as other country music artists. After that visit we headed back to Opryland to get ready for the show.

When we arrived at the Opry we were instructed to park in the back where the artists and backstage crew park. As we walked toward the entrance, we were greeted by an Opry staff member who was going to escort us into the backstage area and give us a little mini tour while the first act was going on. We got to check out every dressing room there, which had a different theme in each one.

I also was able to go out on stage while the stage crew was finishing setting up, and stand in the famous Opry Circle! As I touched the hardwood floor in the circle I thought about all the great country artists who are my heroes who stood in that circle. For an artist like me, that was an awesome experience that I won’t forget as well.

Backstage we ran into many people and artists, Johnny Lee, Thomas Rhett, Chris Young, and then I finally met Josh Turner. We went into one of the dressing rooms with Josh and got to talk for about 10 minutes. He was even nice enough to give my mom and I some CD’s, hats, and t-shirts. The one piece of advice Josh gave me was to “surround yourself with people you can trust and who will represent you in your career.”  He also signed a poster for me saying to “keep on singing!”

Josh Turner, Mary Shaffer, Randy Alan backstage at The Grand Ole Opry

After we chatted we then took some promotional photos for the Opry together and then he went to get ready for his set. So my mom and I went to our seats and watched Chris Young play for a bit, then as Josh was going on I was brought backstage again to go over what was going to happen for my award presentation.

In the process I had the privilege of meeting Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP and General Manager, who said, “We’ll be keeping an eye out for you in the near future,” and Bill Cody, who was announcing that night.

Once Josh was done with his third song, Bill then introduced me to the Opry crowd and I stood in the spotlight with Josh and Bill holding my check. Josh even held up my hand while the crowd was clapping. It was such an amazing feeling to be there on that stage with my family and friends watching. All I can say is I will never forget my first trip to Opry ever. What an experience and blessing from God it was. I met so many great people who believe in what I am doing.

Just before leaving on Wednesday, I was able to have lunch at the Opry Backstage Grill with Opry member Jeannie Seely who is from my hometown area of Northwest PA. Jeannie is known for her 1966 Grammy award-winning Country hit, "Don't Touch Me" along with many other numerous country hits. Getting the chance to sit down and talk with her was so refreshing. She is an amazing individual with a great perspective on life. To hear her stories of what she’s done and been through just blows me away. I was blessed to have a quote from Jeannie in a recent article about me where she said the following,

“His presence as a person renews all your faith in young people. He embraces the history of country music, and he can add to its future.”

As we were leaving, someone recognized Jeannie, but then also recognized me from the Opry show. They even saw me on TV when I was on The Singing Bee on CMT. We took some pictures with them and chatted for a bit, but I just thought that was really funny they recognized me and my name.

As I finish college up this year I’m excited about the next chapter of my life. My plans are to get a job in Nashville and make the move down there in the summer. I’ve met some remarkable people that have changed my life forever and made some lifelong friends who will be there for me as I make the transition to Music City.

When people ask me why I decided to pursue music, I just tell them what music did to me. Country music spoke to me throughout my life; when times were good and when they were tough.

I believe country music speaks from the heart and really is about things that everyone goes through in life. For me it was people like Dierks, Kenny, George, Tim, and countless others who changed my life through music. My goal is to change the lives of people with my music the way that all those artists changed mine.

Here's the video of Josh Turner presenting Randy with his check:




Randy is performing October 14 at the Conneaut Lake Pumpkin Fest, Conneaut Lake, PA.  You can check out his website here and follow him on Twitter @randyalan99.


Here's Randy's winning video:

BUDDY MILLER ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE 2010 AT COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM

If you like Dierks Bentley's #10 cut from his new album then you'll be interested in this story. Love Grows Wild writer, Buddy Miller, has been named the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Artist-in-Residence for 2010. He will perform with many of his favorite collaborators on Aug. 10, 17 and 24 at 7 p.m. The concerts will mark the official reopening of the museum's Ford Theater, which was damaged by the flood that struck Nashville in May.

Each year, the museum invites a noted artist or musician to give a series of performances in the Ford Theater. This artist or musician has a strong connection to country music or has a sense of country music's contribution in general to American culture.

Buddy is also featured in the museum's newly expanded core exhibit, Sing Me Back Home.

Buddy and his wife Julie have written songs that have been recorded by Brooks & Dunn, the Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack and many others. All you die-hard Dierks fans will remember fondly, "My Love Will Follow You," which the Millers co-wrote and Dierks recorded on his first self-titled album.

My love will follow you, down every highway of your soul
You can leave me for behind, but my love will be your shadow everywhere you go

His production credits include albums by Patty Griffin and Robert Plant, and he's touring with both this summer.

Miller was named artist of the decade for the 2000s by No Depression magazine.

DIERKS AT COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

Dierks Bentley barely slept three hours Wednesday night and he was back up and signing autographs at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday at 2:30 pm. After a long night at his own fan club/CD release party of posing for pics and autographing everything from boots to tatoos, he didn't head for home until around 3 am. That's when I left, too, along with many fan clubbers who also stayed to the bitter-sweet end.

While I was fortunate to get a few more hours sleep, Dierks was not so lucky. Daughter Evie had him up at 6:30 a.m. he told one of the CMHOF fans. But he wasn't complaining--he loves his little girl!

Lunch in the Sobro Grill (in the atrium of the CMHOF) was delicious! I finally met Steve Morley (CW) in person after all the support he has given Dierks and DB Congress over the last few years in the magazine. He brought me a copy hot off the press of the June 21 issue with Dierks on the cover!

Before waiting in line in The Hall's beautiful atrium, I was able to take a quick tour to see some of the new exhibits in the museum. I told my friend Keith who works there and walked me around, that I could tie just about any exhibit to Dierks. Like the first one we came to--a glass case with Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert memorabilia. "Did you know that Dierks has a song, Bad Angel, on his new album which both Miranda and Jamey each sing a verse along with harmonies?" Now why isn't Dierks in that exhibit or any other CMHOF exhibit? I think DB Congress reps need to send a request to The Hall to change that!

After the tour, I visited the ladies room and I was so shocked to see Dierks in there!

The line moved out of the atrium and into the gift shop and the whole place erupted with cheers when Dierks walked in.

When it was my turn, I handed over my voucher, but we were only allowed to have him sign the CD cover, so I was sad I couldn't bring the new Country Weekly with him on the cover.

I congratulated him for being on the cover and he asked how the picture was and something about his hair never looks good on those covers, but I said "It's a good picture--your hair was combed." He said, "I haven't had a comb in my hair in years!" When I first walked up he said it meant so much to him that we were there last night (LCB) AND also came here to the Hall of Fame. I told him I'd see him in St. Pete after the Rays game Saturday night and he said, "Oh, yeah, your home town!" How does he remember that kind of stuff?!

We took a pic--my first ever hug pic with Dierks!

Thanks to DBC rep, Meg, here is a video of Dierks walking in to the gift shop. It's about 1:40 minutes in, after the Miranda fan club segment. You can see me in the pink shirt at about the 1:50 mark, right before they interview Tina.

Thank you CMHOF for having Dierks sign two years in a row! Let's make it a tradition every year! But in 2011, we expect to see a DB exhibit, too!

~Ronna

THE THREAD TIES MARTY ROBBINS TO DIERKS

Marty Robbins was born in Maricopa County, Arizona, only a few miles from where Dierks Bentley is from. It was only natural for Dierks to dedicate an hour of music on April 19, 2010, to and about another home town boy that successfully made his county music journey to Nashville.

Marty had a TV show on KPHO in Phoenix where he and Little Jimmy Dickens became friends which led to Marty's record deal. Dierks shared that his mom played "Devil Woman" a lot in his house growing up.

"The fact that Marty was from Arizona always made me feel a close connection to him."

Marty was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was well known for his performances at the Opry, especially his habit of walking over and manually moving the clock back to 11:45, when they were supposed to be off the stage by midnight. He was a real renegade.

According to Eddie Stubbs, Marty would go out in front of the Grand Ole Opry House and sign autographs. Marty was also a NASCAR driver. He always tried to get on early for the Opry so he could run out to the track and race the same night.

Marty had a wide range of music and styles, and especially the western sound (as in El Paso). "For me being from the west, once it's in your bones it's kinda hard to get that out of it," Dierks said.

Partial Play List:
-Devil Woman
-I'll Go On, (First hit in 1952; a little Hank Williams sounding)
-White Sport Coat (and a pink carnation)
-Big Iron
-Cowboy in a Continental Suit
-Ruby Ann
-El Paso (#1 in 1960)
-El Paso City
-Singing The Blues (Dierks' fav!)
-Knee Deep In The Blues (An Elvis-type delivery)
-Don't Worry (#1 in '61; session guitar player Grady Martin created the fuzz affect by accident from this song)
-The Girl With Gardenias In Her Hair
-My Woman, My Woman, My Life (he won a Grammy for this one, dedicated to his wife of 22 years!)



Two of Marty's greatest accomplishments include becoming a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982 and being named Artist of the Decade by the Academey of Country Music.

Log on to dierksfans.com and go to the Audio section of the message board for instructions to get a link to the audio copy of The Thread radio show.

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Coming up this Monday 4/26/10, on The Thread: Keith Whitley has been a huge influence on Dierks and his music. Listen in to hear Dierks pick select Keith Whitley songs and talk about Keith's life in song.

Dierks Bentley hosts The Thread on 650 AM WSM radio every Monday at 2pm CST. You can listen online at wsmonline.com.

COUNTRY WEEKLY REPORTS RIDE TO LIVE

The first thing I do when I buy a Country Weekly magazine every week is quickly flip through every page in search of anything 'Dierks.' Today was no exception for the November 9, 2009 issue (Carrie Underwood on the cover).

The first page I see his photo is at the top right of the Heat Index page with Keith Urban. "All For The Hall. Kudos to Keith Urban and his country star friends for their Oct. 13 concert to raise money and awareness for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum." Um, hello? 'Friends?' That is definitely Dierks Bentley in that photo with Keith. Say his name like only you can say it, please! *Just Kidding ;)

But then I turn 40 more pages and lo and behold--a full page of Mr. Bentley! Ride To Live captures the Miles & Music For Kids event in photographs and a short summary. OK, CW, you redeemed yourself for this issue!

On behalf of the 564 DB Congress representatives, we sincerely thank you for any and all DB exposure you can give us, umm...I mean Dierks, every week!

DIERKS HIRES TWO NEW GUITARISTS FOR THE HALL

Dierks Bentley hired two new guitarist to perform with him last night.

@DierksBentley: just finished soundchecking for the all for the hall gig...I have two really cool gtr plyrs in my band...!
3:22 PM Oct 13th from TwitterBerry

When I first read that Tweet, I thought--what the heck happened to Robbie and Rod? Not to worry, just for one night Dierks borrowed legendary Vince Gill and phenomenal guitarist and host for the night, Keith Urban to play and sing back up to Bentley's Sideways and Free and Easy. After all, it was all for the hall.

The sold out "We're All For The Hall" benefit proceeds go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The show is part of the museum's "All for the Hall" fundraising initiative created and led by Gill since 2005.

CMT posted an article and photos from the night including host Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift. It was Vcast online for those who weren't able to get tickets.

After the show, Dierks tweeted again:

@dierksBentley: all for the hall!...thanks for the fun...miss my band. headed to station inn for a tv thing and some bluegrass! #fb
about 22 hours ago from TwitterBerry

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME DIERKS SIGNING

Dierks Bentley was scheduled to sign autographs at 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 10 at the Country Music Hall of Fame, but the line was wrapped around the building by 9 am. I was told there were some fans there at 3:30 in the morning! Now that's Dierks dedication!

A voucher was required by buying a Feel That Fire CD through the CMHOF Museum Store online and that was the item you were allowed to get signed. The other rule--in order to get 200 people through the line as quickly as possible--was a "lean in" photo. When I read that, I was thinking Dierks will never stand for that! He loves standing next to his fans for photos. I was sooooooooo fortunate to get a voucher and was the first one in line for the "D" for Dierks line. Of course there was an A, B and C line as well so we were the last group.

They took one group in at a time, and Dierks was signing in the far back corner of the store. It was great meeting Rachel from Ontario and her mom. She had on a Pittsburgh NHL Jersey and I told her Dierks is gonna love your jersey. She had never met him before so she was all smiles!

Dierks gave the following compliment about The Hall in a CMT.com article:

"There are a couple of things that came along that I couldn't say no to," he said. "The Country Music Hall of Fame asked me to sign. I love the Hall of Fame. It's really important to know the history of country music. The music is changing so rapidly, and it's so important, maybe now more than ever, to be aware of the guys that started this thing. I was happy to come sign for them and bring some fans there."

Finally, 3 hours of standing in line, it's my turn! As I suspected, no lean in photo, which just made my day. And the 3 hour wait just melted away--sooooo worth it! Got a hug and a "thanks for representing the congress" in my white tank. I asked him if he would do a video message to the DBC later that night at LCB and I think he wanted to do it right then but I didn't want to hold up the line, so I started walking away since the photo and signing was done, but he kept walking with me and talking to me. *smiles*

Story continued in a series of LCB blogs throughout the weekend...