Go back three years to November 2013 and you would have read about and heard “Christmas To Me” by Don Murdock. This song is a message that a lot of listeners can associate with. “Christmas to Me” battles the “political correctness” that has taken over the season. Don’s not the only artist that feels this way. Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins and many more have the same feeling. Brad Paisley had some fun with a bunch of his friends when he recorded “Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday” (featuring the Kung Pao Buckaroos). It is a song about political correctness as well. Toby sent me some liners one year and his focus was we need to forget about being politically correct. The National Post in their article about Don’s “Christmas To Me” asked Don “What inspired your song? Did a well-meaning store greeter say the wrong thing?” A: Yeah basically. When I was a kid, I would sing Christmas carols door to door. Then, as you prog-
ress through the years, all of a sudden the Christmas spirit is starting to turn into the holiday season. People are wanting to take all of our traditions away. They’ve been trying to do this for quite a few years and I got talking to [the song’s co-writer] Brian Dolph, and said ‘This is an idea I have for a song, what do you think?’ So we sat down together and wrote it. We both 100% agreed with the principles behind the song — why does everything have to be, like we say in the song, politically correct? I’ve got no problem respecting everyone else’s opinion. Why can’t everyone respect mine? It is the time of year that we need to get the message across that it’s OK to say Merry Christmas and we don’t need to be politically correct. Download this song from DMDS and add it this year. Listener response will be huge. Don’s career includes being a firefighter, professor and of course a singer/songwriter that began when he was a teenager.
Don Murdock has always had a passion for country music. He first picked up the guitar in his early teens and has not put it down since. It was during these early years that he fell in love with the classics. Throughout Don’s career as a firefighter then as college professor that love of music remained with him and remained an important part of his life. It was in 2005 that Don decided to jump back into music with both feet and formed a cover band. The band played many shows including fundraising and charity events throughout Southern Ontario. While Don loved playing in that band he also longed to write his own songs. To create his own sound. To record an album that reflected who he was musically. With the release of his debut EP, Don’t Call Me A Hero, Don fulfilled that lifelong dream. Don was a firefighter with the Whitby Fire Department and was part of the Rescue team. It was after one particular incident on New Years day when Don rushed into a fire and rescued a teen male that he was lauded as a hero in the local media. It seemed for the next few months he was always being called a hero. To Don that never felt right. Later that same year his team was called to another incident. This time though the outcome was different. One child was saved while a second and younger child was lost. It was this incident that changed Don Murdock forever. That night he made a silent promise to that young girl. He promised that one day he would do something to honour her memory. The writing, recording and release of Don’t Call Me A Hero fulfilled that promise made almost 30 years ago. Don Murdock was presented Canada’s Medal of Bravery by Governor General Jeanne Sauve, December 5th, 1986. The title track from the EP is the song that most
reveals the heart and soul of Don Murdock the man. Don’t Call Me A Hero is an emotional masterpiece that bears witness to the life of an innocent child lost and a man, tormented and haunted by their traumatic and shared experience. The song has touched many in the community of firefighters and first responders, and is being shared across various social media platforms where tens of thousands have heard the song, read his story, and hundreds have been moved to share their own experiences with Don. According to Canadian Country Air Check, on February 1st 2013, Don’t Call Me A Hero was the #1 DMDS download at Canadian Country Radio and was also the DMDS #8 most active indie song regardless of genre at Canadian commercial radio that same week. The song continues to reach new and unexpected audiences and has an incredible grass roots following. Don’t Call Me A Hero was used as part of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in September of 2015 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The stair climb is a charity event to raise funds for 9/11 first responder survivors and for the families of those lost as a result of the tragedy. This September 11th the song was used in a special video for a 9/11 Memorial Service in Womelsdorf, PA and was once again used as part of the inspirational soundtrack for the annual stair climb in Lancaster, PA. Don has also been busy co-writing songs with a number of other Canadian artists. He also co-wrote a beautiful Christmas song for a well known Canadian tenor which is expected to be recorded in time for the 2017 season. As for himself, Don is currently in rehearsals with a new band tentatively named The Break of Dawn. He and the band are busy writing songs and preparing to record a new album to coincide with the summer tour season. They hope to announce the album release and tour dates early in the new year.
It is almost that time of year again we were start programming Christmas music. It can be a real challenge sometimes because many artists record the same songs. The second challenge is finding good Can Con Christmas songs. This week and for the next few weeks we will bring you suggestions of Christmas music that
is available including new songs and songs that have tested well over time and have become listener favourites. We hope this section of the magazine is helpful to programmers. Most stations start adding Christmas music at the end of November and as we get closer most playlists turn all Christmas. Genevieve Fisher 2 parts Can Con “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas� Really good version of this song!
Hunter Brothers 2 Parts Can Con Joy To The World Cool and Unique Version
Don Murdock 4 Parts Can Con “It’s Christmas To Me” A song that hits the listener with the message of it’s ok to say Merry Christmas something we have gotten away from.
On this 604 Release includes JoJo Mason Santa Came Away 4 Parts Can Con Jo Jo Mason Silent Night 2 Parts Can Con Jessie Farrell Christmas At My House 4 parts Can Con
You can’t go wrong with George Strait Strait For The Holidays 30 songs on this two disc CD “I Know What I Want For Christmas” “When It’s Christmas Time In Texas” Plus lots of standards done only the way King George can do them.
Michelle Wright “A Wright Christmas” Is our favourite Christmas Album Lot’s of great Can Con material here!
Kacey Musgrave A Very Kacey Christmas A well done Christmas album with 12 songs Including songs like “Christmas Makes Me Cry” “Ribbons and Bows” “A Willie Nelson Christmas” “What Are You Doing This New Years Eve”
Jennifer Nettles To Celebrate Christmas Of course Jennifer would have a Christmas album. She is again hosting CMA A Country Christmas which will be seen on ABC on the American Thanksgiving Weekend. Some of the songs “Celebrate Me Home:, :Circle of Love” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” “Circle of Love” and More!
Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood Christmas Together 5 Song EP that includes some standards and Songs Like “What I Am Thankful For” “Ugly Christmas Sweaters”
Rascal Flatts The Greatest Gift Of All You can always count on Rascal Flatts for a great Christmas album and this is one of them with mostly standards!
Brett Eldredge “Glow” All standards with the exception of the title song “Glow” There is 11 songs on this album Brett will appear on CMA Country Christmas this year.
Chris Young “It Must Be Christmas” Chris loves Christmas and it shows in this 4 song EP “Under The Weather” a Song Written by Chris Young/Corey Crowder/Josh Hoge
Amy Grant “Tennessee Christmas” Christmas is a big time for Amy and husband Vince Gill. They tour every year with a big Christmas show. You may not consider Amy country but this 13 song album shines and she calls on Vince for “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
This is just a sample of some of the Christmas music available. I am sure we will receive a lot more in the weeks ahead. We will continue next week with more Christmas music and we will go back a few years just in case if you are like me say “oh I forgot about that one” In the US a lot of stations go 24/7 Christmas music on the American Thanksgiving weekend and the stations that do show up in the ratings as the number one station in the market. There is something about Christmas music that makes listeners feel good, makes them happy and builds excitement especially with the kids in the family as they await for Santa to arrive.
Top DMDS Downloads for October 31st to November 4th OCTOBER 31ST
NOVEMBER 4TH
1. 2.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
3. 4. 5.
Tim Hicks “Slow Burn” (Open Road/Universal) JoJo Mason “Made For You” (Manicdown/604/R. Chubey Promo) Jesse Mast “Runnin’, Young And Lovin’” (Sony) Lindsay Ell “All Alright” (Sony) Connor James “Mistake (or Memory)” (Indie/B. Martineau Promo)
NOVEMBER 1ST 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Jesse Mast “Runnin’, Young And Lovin’” (Sony) Tim Hicks “Slow Burn” (Open Road/Universal) Justin Moore “Somebody Else Will” (Valory/Big Machine) Roland Corrigal “I Don’t Wanna Fight No More” (Indie/L. Tutty Promo) Lindsay Ell “All Alright” (Sony)
NOVEMBER 2ND 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Justin Moore “Somebody Else Will” (Valory/Big Machine) Tim Hicks “Slow Burn” (Open Road/Universal) Little Big Town “Better Man” (Universal) Jesse Mast “Runnin’, Young And Lovin’” (Sony) Roland Corrigal “I Don’t Wanna Fight No More” (Indie/L. Tutty Promo)
NOVEMBER 3RD 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Justin Moore “Somebody Else Will” (Valory/Big Machine) Tim Hicks “Slow Burn” (Open Road/Universal) Little Big Town “Better Man” (Universal) JoJo Mason “Made For You” (Manicdown/604/R. Chubey Promo) Jesse Mast “Runnin’, Young And Lovin’” (Sony)
Tim Hicks “Slow Burn” (Open Road/Universal) Justin Moore “Somebody Else Will” (Valory/Big Machine) Little Big Town “Better Man” (Universal) Jesse Mast “Runnin’, Young And Lovin’” (Sony) JoJo Mason “Made For You” (Manicdown/604/R. Chubey Promo)
Most Added This Week GORD BAMFORD “Fall In Love If You Want To” THOMAS RHETT “Star of The Show” CHAD BROWNLEE “Something We Shouldn’t Do” JAMES BARKER BAND “Just Sayin’ ” JOJO MASON “Made For You” ABRAMS “Champion” GARTH BROOKS “Baby Lets Lay Down and Dance” Luke Bryan “Move” Second week at number 1 Top Canadian on the Charts is Dallas Smith “Autograph” stays at # 5 James Barker Band “Just Sayin’ “ Most Added most increased plays comes in on the chart at #42 this week.
INDIE RELEASES
Andrew Frelick When I Was Little
Jasen Ridge Deep Water
Renee Lamoureux
Chantal Preston
“Warrior”
“Just Wing It”
Dan Davidson “Barn Burner”
Eli Barsi “Screamin ‘ Jimmy”
Jessica Rhaye Arlene Quinn “Life Is Good”
Ally Kearley “Still The One”
“Good To Be Alive in the Country”
STEVIE JEWEL “BAD HABIT: CREATING A BUZZ WITH BOTH FANS AND THE COUNTRY MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH SINGLE AND COOL VIDEO!
“Bad Habit” , Stevie Jewels latest single, is a fun song about girls addicted to bad boys. Stevie was born and raised in the same area that Shania Twain was from and has played the Deerhurst Resort, where Shania use to play in her early days. Stevie Jewel plays the Back Stage Wine Bar in Branson, Missouri, on Nov. 25. Here is her video which was shot in Nashville by famed director Carl Diebold who has worked with artists Rascal Flatts. “Bad Habit” is a fun, sassy song and the video is a must watch. Note: Radio stations should consider adding this video on your stations web site and her single to your playlist.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE STEVIE’S VIDEO
Stevie got to check something off her bucket list. “On October 10, 2016 I got to fulfill a dream of mine that has been in my mind from the first time I visited Nashville. The Bluebird Cafe is an extremely well known venue in Nashville and to musicians all over the world, people travel from everywhere for an opportunity to play this intimate and historic venue. I was given the opportunity to play a round at the Bluebird from a great friend and that dream was realized! The whole performance was surreal, because while playing I was taking in the experience and the fact that I was living out a piece of my big goals. My friends came out to support me, my Mum was there, and the whole night was simply magical!”
THEN NOW FOREVER COUNTRY CMA AWARDS 50TH THE WINNERS It was a celebration five decades in the making when winners were announced tonight during “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” live from Nashville. The night’s big winner was Garth Brooks who now holds the record as having the most wins for Entertainer of the Year in CMA Awards history with five. Two individuals won multiple Awards including Chris Stapleton who collected trophies for Music Video and Male Vocalist of the Year, and Dann Huff who won Musician and Single of the Year for producing Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man.” “I never thought I’d be able to come back. And when you come back you never think you’re going to get to hold one of these [CMA trophies] again,” Brooks told reporters backstage. He continued, “Awards are for younger artists so the older you get the more precious [they are].” The winners were a diverse group with first-time winners including
Brothers Osborne, Elle King, Maren Morris, and Thomas Rhett; plus podium regulars and returning winners Dierks Bentley, Brooks, Eric Church, Huff, Little Big Town, Lori McKenna, Stapleton, and Carrie Underwood. Thomas Rhett won the first trophy of the night for Single of the Year for “Die a Happy Man,” which was produced by Huff and Jesse Frasure and mix engineered by Justin Niebank. The second single from his album Tangled Up, the song spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. CMA Song of the Year was awarded to Lori McKenna for her solo composition “Humble and Kind.” McKenna won the same category in 2015 for “Girl Crush.” The song was essentially a primer for McKenna’s five children – a list of life lessons. McGraw performed the song with emotional intensity during the broadcast.
Stapleton won CMA Male Vocalist of the Year for the second year in a row. Earlier in the day, he won CMA Music Video of the Year with director Tim Mattia for “Fire Away.” Stapleton plays a supporting role as a bartender in the harrowing video, which follows a young couple from happy times through anguish as the woman makes two suicide attempts. This is Stapleton’s first win in the Music Video category.
Church won his second CMA Album of the Year trophy for Mr. Misunderstood, which was produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr. A surprise album that was announced and released during “The 49th Annual CMA Awards,” Mr. Misunderstood debuted at No. 3 and peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Album chart in November 2015.
“Everything happened very organically with that video,” Stapleton said to press backstage. “It’s something that hopefully has value beyond me and the video. That’s why I like it.”
Brothers Osborne were also first time winners, taking home the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. Real-life brothers John and TJ Osborne first honed their sound melding Country, blues, and Southern rock during all-night jam sessions while growing up in the small fishing town of Deale, Md.
Morris was named CMA New Artist of the Year – her first Award. The “My Church” firebrand was emotional as she thanked the audience and recounted how just one year ago, she watched the broadcast from a bar down the street. Morris moved to Nashville at 20 with a goal of becoming a working songwriter. She eventually changed her mind and spent 2016 touring with Keith Urban.
BROTHERS OSBORNE
Taking home their fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year title was Little Big Town. The quartet performed their latest single, “Better Man,” during the broadcast and recently revealed the song was penned by former CMA Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift. Underwood won her fourth CMA Female Vocalist of the Year trophy. She won the Female Vocalist category in 2006-2008. After thrilling fans across the U.S. with her “The Storyteller Tour” this year, Underwood will do the same for fans in Australia and New Zealand when she joins Keith Urban’s world tour in December. Swift was on hand to present the top trophy this year to Brooks, who is now the winningiest Entertainer of the Year in CMA Awards history with five wins (1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2016). During the broadcast Dolly Parton was presented the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in a moving tribute introduced by “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin, with Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves, Jennifer
THOMAS RHETT
Nettles, Pentatonix, Reba, and Underwood. “Wow, what a tribute,” Parton said. “That was so touching. I would have cried but I didn’t want to mess up my eyelashes.” Kenny Chesney received the CMA Pinnacle Award in a presentation hosted by retired NFL favorite Peyton Manning. The Pinnacle Award has only been presented three times in CMA history. Previous recipients include Brooks and Swift. Bentley won Musical Event of the Year with King for “Different for Girls,” which was announced on ABC’s “Good Morning America” by anchor Lara Spencer. Written as a testament to women’s emotional strength, the song became what Bentley called a “centerpiece” of his recent album Black. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in September. This marks Bentley’s third CMA Award and King’s 1st To us this was a great show that really showcased Then, Now and Forever country!
Anthony Tullo Releases Rebel With A Song Album, Signs New Label Deal With Music Mentor Productions And Announces a CD Release Party! Anthony Tullo has released his sophomore album “Rebel With A Song” through ILS Group/Universal Music on October 28th, 2016. The lead single, Gasoline, will be released to radio in January, 2017 with the video currently being filmed. After signing an endorsement deal with Gibson Canada, Anthony has booked the Gibson Showroom for the “Rebel With A Song” CD release party on Friday November 25, 2016. Anthony Tullo is a driven, rising country-rock star with a vigorous vocal, energetic live show and edgy production, delivering his songs with grit. At the same time, he can easily switch gears, singing a ballad with an unexpected sensitivity and passion. With 20,000 followers on both Twitter and Facebook, he’s already attracting attention on and off social media, with the Canadian Country Music Association calling him “the Bryan Adams of country.” Anthony is also thrilled to sign a record label deal with Music Mentor Productions and owner Peter Linseman - CMAO/SIPO Foundation and Hometown Music Council founding director, who also
manages the popular actress/country artist Kate Todd. “Rebel With A Song” sees the bold personality figure of Anthony at a new stage of his career. He’s defiantly made his music with his masterwork in lyricism and unique take on life and love as they change through the years. While shooting the video, the farm that was used as a location was hit with and unexplained crop circle a few days before the shoot. So this mysterious and very real crop circle is going to appear in the Gasoline video. Plans are to release the first single “Gasoline” to national radio at the very beginning of January 2017. They will also be releasing a second 6 song EP in the spring along with a few more national single releases off that as well. Get out and see Anthony if you are in Toronto this Friday night Nov 25th at Gibson Showroom 1205 King St W, Toronto. Visit Anthony online here