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Honky Tonkers for Truth
www.TakinMyCountryBack.com
info@takinmycountryback.com
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COUNTRY MUSIC'S OTHER VOICE:
A group of Nashville music industry professionals, calling themselves the Honky Tonkers for Truth, decided it was time that a country song take issue with Presidential policy, (much like Darryl Worley's, Have You Forgotten and Toby Keith's, Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue speak in favor of it). They had no problem finding a hit-songwriter, a professional studio, and top-drawer session players and engineers, all willing to donate their talents and services and, to stand up and be counted as country music's "other voice."
What they had in a matter of days was, Takin' My Country Back, penned by David Kent (Austin by Blake Shelton and other country hits), a stone-cold country song clearly criticizing the President's record. With just a "demo vocal" of the song, they went directly to the top:
Tim Dubois (President, Universal South Records); Mike Dungan (President, Capitol Records); Don Cook (Producer, Brooks & Dunn); Garth Fundis (Producer, Trisha Yearwood) for starters. Without exception, these Music Row executives loved the song. What the Honky Tonkers for Truth had on their hands was a hit...almost.
What they didn't have was a "brand name" singer willing to put his/her career on the line by singing a song with a critical message. The Honky Tonkers for Truth are comprised of successful songwriters, publishers, producers, musicians, and attorneys. Even with their combined contacts, the best they could get from the "star" country artists they queried (all self-proclaimed Democrats) was a "maybe" and then, when their managers caught wind of it, "Sorry...and good luck.
Enter, Tony Stampley, one of Nashville's most respected session singers and son of country legend, Joe Stampley. Tony's stellar performance of Takin My Country Back and his willingness to join the Honky Tonkers for Truth and be a part of country music's "other voice"
inspired the group to take the song directly to the world via radio, the internet, and any other means possible. Examples:
1) CNN sent a camera crew to interview the Honky Tonkers for Truth in the recording studio on 10/16/04. The segment, featuring a performance of the song, will air nationally on CNN on 10/31/04.
2) The ASSOCIATED PRESS featured Takin' My Country Back in the 10/13/04 edition of The AP Morning Prep, which is serviced to SIX THOUSAND (6,000) radio stations.
3) At this writing, the website www.TakinMyCountryBack.com has been online for two weeks. It's had 100,000 hits to date.
4) The Honky Tonker for Truth are purchasing a full-page ad in the LoneStar Iconoclast newspaper in Crawford, TX. The Iconoclast is suppporting Kerry. Therefore, the Honky Tonkers for Truth are supporting the Iconoclast (the ad will run in the 10/27/04 issue).
5) The lyrics of Takin' My Country Back were broadcast on the JumboTron at the Gaylord Entertainment Center as the song played to 8,000 concerned Nashville citizens who came to hear speaker/activist/filmmaker, Michael Moore, the night of October 9, 2004.
6) 30 and 60 second radio spots featuring Takin' My Country Back are currently airing on selected radio stations in Nashville, including WSIX FM and WSM FM and AM. Plans to expand the spots to East Tennessee (Knoxville) are in the works. Both spots can be downloaded for FREE at www.TakinMyCountryBack.com
7) the entire press release from the Honky Tonkers for Truth was posted on the political website www.BuzzFlash.com on 10/14/04.
8) Acclaimed Nashville journalist/reviewer, Robert K. Oermann, wrote in Music Row Magazine (10/8/04), "The war, the economy, tax cuts for the rich, sending jobs overseas...it's all here in one cleverly written package. Yes, it's topical. But it's also a real good country record." UPDATE: Oermann praised the song again at the top of his column in the 10/15/04 issue of the magazine.
9) Journalist, Neil Haislop, who provides the Nashville Update for GAC (Great American Country) television network (34 million subscribers) wrote, "The Honky Tonkers for Truth, a grassroots Nashville-based organization, who support the troops overseas and love this country, have released a country track that expresses their sentiments for a change in Washington."
Awaiting confirmation: a) the Dallas Morning News is interested in doing a feature on the Honky Tonkers for Truth. b) the Honky Tonkers for Truth are purchasing a full-page ad in the LoneStar Iconoclast newspaper, the local weekly paper in Crawford, TX, where the Bush ranch is located. The LoneStar Iconoclast is supporting Kerry, therefore the Honky Tonkers for Truth are supporting The LoneStar Iconoclast (ad will run in the 10/27/04 edition). www.iconoclast-texas.com
The Honky Tonkers for Truth support our troops overseas, believe in family, faith and freedom, and deeply love this country. What we disagree with is, the image and the misconception
that all people in the country music industry support the current administration. For those who differ with our opinion, we respect your right to speak freely, defend your position, and express yourself because, we believe in the rights provided to ALL of us by The First Amendment. So far, there has been nothing on country radio to reflect our sentiment and, there are millions of country music lovers who feel the same way we do. All we're asking for is EQUAL TIME on the airwaves. To hear this brave song free of charge go to: www.TakinMyCountryBack.com
The Honky Tonkers for Truth welcome inquiries and interviews by any and all members of the media. Contact: info@TakinMyCountryBack.com
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