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HEADLINING THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL WILL BE ...
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After being crowned the winner of the televised
music competition Nashville Star in 2003, Arkansas native Buddy Jewell
took the world of country music by storm with his tender, heartfelt
voice that gained him millions of fans nationwide.
Two albums
down the road, the show that won him a record deal with Sony based
Columbia Records also ended up costing him his deal in 2005 when Jewell
and the label parted ways for financial purposes.
“From what I
understand, as long as I was an artist on Sony Records, Nashville Star
was going to get half of what the label was making on me,” Jewell
explains. “It didn’t make good business sense for Sony to keep
pouring
money down a hole that they were only getting half of their money back
on.”
With his fan base stronger than ever, Jewell continued to tour and
spread the word of his music.
“A
lot of my fans have told me hey, we know you don’t have a deal right
now but we want you to keep making music and keep making records,” says
Jewell.
Jewell decided to try his hand in the independent music scene in early
2008 when he formed his own label Diamond Dust Records.
“It’s
all me,” the singer says with a chuckle. “I’m the President,
Secretary, and the Janitor – you name it! There’s a lot of peace
in
the freedom of having all of the control. I’m not opposed to
another
record deal, but it’s kind of nice being my own boss.”
Jewell’s
first album on the label, Country Enough, has already become a fan
favorite. The album is available at his live shows, through his
website, and also through iTunes.
“A large part of my fans that
I talk to say we love your first two records, but we really liked those
independent things you put out before Nashville Star because it was all
the things you had written,” Jewell says.
The result is a
13-track album filled with all songs written or co-written by Jewell
that shows the proud American in the singer with songs like “What This
Country’s Comin’ To” and the album’s debut single “This Aint Mexico,”
in which Jewell states his opinion of illegal immigration in United
States.
“Every now and then I get somebody mad at me, but they
are definitely entitled to their opinions,” he says. “That’s what
makes this America. It wouldn’t be controversial if it pleased
everybody.”
Fans of Jewell’s softer side will enjoy
tracks such as “Leavin’ Louisana,” “Second Chance of a Lifetime,” and
“The Ones I Love The Most.”
“I’m really proud of this whole
project,” he says. “It’s a collection of songs that I’ve written
and
become fond of in the past two or three years. I just hope
everybody
likes it as much as I do.”
Four of Jewell’s biggest fans are his
wife of 20 years, Tené, and their three children, sons Buddy
III, 18,
Joshua, 7, and daughter Lacey, 14, who was the inspiration behind
Jewell’s first hit “Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey’s Song).”
“I
was so busy those first few years after Nashville Star and trying to
support the first two albums that I missed a lot of time at home,”
Jewell says softly. “It’s become a much more manageable pace for
me
now. It was great getting out, seeing all the fans and playing
everywhere though. Back then I was still really lucky to be home
about
every week, even when I was doing 140 shows a year.”
Throughout
his career, Jewell has earned recognition with award nominations from
the ACM for Best New Artist, the CMA for the Horizon Award, a CMT
Flameworthy Breakout Video nod and a Grammy nomination for his
participation on the country gospel compilation album, Amazing Grace
III. ABC Radio Network also awarded Jewell in 2003 with their
Listener’s Choice Award for New Artist of the Year and was given Music
Row magazine’s Critic’s Pick Award.
Other honorable mentions for
Jewell include being the spokesperson for the Minnie Pearl Cancer
Foundation, his extensive work with St. Jude’s Children’s Research and
his participation with the Angel Tree fund drive.
“There are
thousands of people who move to Nashville every year trying to do what
I do and what I have gotten to do. I have been so blessed.
If it all
ends today, I don’t have anything to complain about. I can’t ever
look
back at the Nashville Star experience and be bitter because it opened
that door,” Jewell notes. “Just to be given this opportunity is
all I
can ask for.”
Jewell's latest CD, "Country Enough" is
available via iTunes, Rhapsody and other online retailers as well as
through his official web site, www.BuddyJewell.com and myspace.com/buddyjewell |
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