Renown Nashville based songwriters/producers Cordle, Jackson & Salley (also known as Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, and Jerry Salley) will band together on March 3rd for a VERY rare NC concert with us at the Colonial!!
Songwriters Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson and Jerry Salley have had songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, Alison Krauss, Diamond Rio, Gene Watson, Pam Tillis, The Osbourne Brothers, Johnny Paycheck, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Mel Tillis, George Jones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Anderson, Glen Campbell, Nancy Sinatra, Dolly Parton, John Michael Montgomery, Travis Tritt, Steven Curtis Chapman and various other artists. Their songs have resulted in sales of over 75 million recordings. Two time Grammy winner Carl Jackson is also a highly respected record producer, whose most recent Grammy was earned for his amazing production of a tribute album to the Louvin Brothers and resulted in the participation of many of Nashville’s greatest music stars.
Concert attendees should plan on a rewarding evening of hardcore honky-tonk, hot-country rockers and bluegrass music!

Multiple Grammy award winner, Carl Jackson, was born in the small town of Louisville, Mississippi on September 18, 1953. By the time he was eight years old, thanks to his father’s influence and a burning desire inside, he was already well on his way to being an accomplished musician.

At age fourteen, after playing backstage at a local concert for Jim and Jesse McReynolds, he was asked to be a Virginia Boy by the bluegrass greats and soon found himself on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. He played banjo for Jim and Jesse for almost five years before joining The Sullivan Family for a short time as a guitarist. Carl then broke away and journeyed to Columbus, Ohio to form a group called “The Country Store” with close friends Jimmy Gaudreau, Bill Rawlins, and the late Keith Whitley. The band in its original form would last little more than a week, for just around the corner lay another big break for the boy from the hills of Mississippi.

Glen Campbell came into town to play the state fair and being huge fans of his, Carl and Keith went out to see the show. Afterwards they ran into Glen’s banjo player, Larry McNeely, who persuaded Carl to come by the next day for a jam session. After picking for a while, Larry suddenly told Carl he had been looking for someone to take his place with Glen because he was tired of traveling and that Carl was the man. Larry took him to meet and play for Campbell and Glen hired him on the spot. For the next twelve years, Glen featured Carl everywhere he went as “the greatest banjo player in the world”.

During his years with Glen, Carl started to concentrate on his vocal and songwriting abilities as well as his musicianship. He recorded two albums for Capitol Records, (“Carl Jackson: Banjo Player” and “Old Friends“), three for Sugar Hill, (“Banjo Man: A Tribute To Earl Scruggs“, “Song Of The South“, and “Banjo Hits“), and then in 1984 his signing with Columbia Records produced a couple of top forty country songs, (“She’s Gone, Gone, Gone” and “Dixie Train“).

It was at this time that Carl made the decision to leave Glen Campbell and strike out on his own. It has turned out to be a very wise one. As a vocalist, you can hear him on recordings with the likes of EmmyLou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Garth Brooks, Janie Fricke, Dolly Parton, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Marsha Thornton, John Anderson, Mac Davis, Pam Tillis, Radney Foster, Joe Diffie, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Holly Dunn, Glen Campbell, Lorrie Morgan, Martina McBride, Marty Stuart, Ken Mellons, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams Jr., Rodney Crowell, Mike Reid, James Bonemy, Mindy McReady, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Whitley, George Jones, Rhonda Vincent, Patty Loveless, Ricky Van Shelton, Shawn King, Ashley Monroe, Alecia Nugent, Mark Newton, Bradley Walker, Travis Tritt, Merle Haggard, Jon Randall, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Joey + Rory or Roger Miller just to name a few; or you may hear a Jackson song recorded by such artists as Glen Campbell (“Letter to Home“), Wild Rose (“Breaking New Ground“), Pam Tillis (“Put Yourself In My Place“), Garth Brooks (“Against The Grain” & “Fit For A King“), Trisha Yearwood (“Lonesome Dove“),  Diamond Rio (“Close To The Edge“), Patty Loveless (“You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are“), Steve Wariner (“The Same Mistake Again“), Vince Gill (“Real Lady’s Man“), Daron Norwood (“My Girl Friday“), Rhonda Vincent (“I’m Not Over You“), Mike Snider, The Seldom Scene, Charly McLain, Nancy Sinatra, The Chuck Wagon Gang, Bobbie Cryner, The Lewis Family, Keith Stegall, Tony Rice, Red Steagal, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, lllrd Tyme Out, The Rarely Herd, Alecia Nugent, Continental Divide, The McCarters, The Country Gentlemen, Mark Newton, Johnny Paycheck, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Mel Tillis, Bradley Walker, Jim & Jesse, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Jon Randall, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Mountain Heart, Terri Clark, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Marty Raybon, Joe Diffie or The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Carl’s work can even be heard at baseball and football games as he has penned theme songs and jingles for the California Angels (“California 9 to 5“), (“Dreams“) and (“Something To Shout About“) and the Ole Miss Rebels (“ ‘Neath The Oaks In The Grove“).

Jackson’s “Little Mountain Church House” was voted the 1990 International Bluegrass Music Association song of the year and a more recent version by George Hamilton IV was a 2005 Dove Award nominee for bluegrass song of the year.  On February 25th, 1992, for his album with John Starling entitled “Spring Training”, Carl was awarded his first Grammy. A few months later he received a Dove Award for southern gospel song of the year, “Where Shadows Never Fall“, recorded by Glen Campbell. The beautiful ballad, “No Future In The Past“, by male vocalist of the year Vince Gill was a huge songwriting success for Carl and was named the #1 Country Song of the Year for 1993 by Radio & Records magazine. In 1998, after hearing Carl’s demo,  Garth Brooks decided to include the Jackson spiritual entitled “Fit For A King” in his “Sevens” project.  All in all, Carl has had hundreds of his songs recorded, with sales in excess of forty million units.  A poll conducted by Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine several years ago found Carl to have written eight of the top 200 bluegrass songs of all time.

Carl has also had a hand in the production of several great artists such as Ruby Lovett, Slickerbilly, Mike Ward, Real Surreal, Carly Goodwin, Bering Strait, Jim & Jesse and Bobbie Cryner, whose first effort on Sony Records received the honor of Best Country Album of 1993 in USA Today. He is currently producing new artists, Shawn King, Jennifer Wayne, Bradley Walker (2007 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year) and Alecia Nugent, as well as hot new country sweethearts, Joey + Rory.

For some hot guitar pickin’, listen to Carl along with Steve Wariner, Mark O’Conner and Jimmy Olander sizzle on “Hap Towne Breakdowne“, included on Steve’s instrumental album, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”.

Carl has two great writer’s CD’s along with pals, Larry Cordle & Jerry Salley, entitled “Against The Grain” and “Lonesome Cafe”. He is also the producer of the critically acclaimed tribute to the late Gram Parsons called “The Gram Parsons Notebook”, available on Shell Point Records.

One of Carl’s finest production successes is entitled “Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’ – Songs Of The Louvin Brothers” and was the 2003 Grammy winner for Country Album of the Year.   “How’s The World Treating You”, an incredible duet from the album, featuring James Taylor and Alison Krauss also won the Grammy for vocal collaboration of the year.  The CD was released in September 2003 and contains other performances by EmmyLou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Patty Loveless & Jon Randal, Dolly Parton & Sonya Isaacs, Joe Nichols & Rhonda Vincent, Glen Campbell & Leslie Satcher, Johnny Cash & Pam Tillis, Vince Gill & Terri Clark, Ronnie Dunn & Rebecca Lynn Howard, Harley Allen & Dierks Bentley, Marty Stuart & Del McCoury, Kathy Louvin & Pamela Brown Hayes, as well as three performances by Carl himself; one with songwriting pals, Larry Cordle & Jerry Salley, one with country legend, Merle Haggard, and one with the incredible Linda Ronstadt.

Speaking of Merle Haggard, Carl played guitar, as well as sang and produced all the harmony vocals on Hag’s release, “The Bluegrass Sessions“, except on one song.   Alison Krauss joins Carl and lends her angelic voice to “Mama’s Hungry Eyes”.

Carl lends his talents to the brand new Brad Paisley project, singing harmony on the title track, “This Is Country Music”, as well as “A Man Don’t Have To Die”, along with the awesome, Sonya Isaacs.  He is also featured, along with Marty Stuart and Sheryl Crow, on the bluegrass gospel classic, “Life’s Railway To Heaven”, not only singing some high lonesome tenor, but also soloing on five string banjo.

In October of 2011, another stellar project produced by Jackson was released to the public and is currently getting rave reviews across the country.  “Mark Twain: Words & Music” tells the life story of the great Samuel Clemens and contains magical musical performances by Emmylou Harris, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent, Bradley Walker, The Church Sisters, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Marty Raybon, Val Storey, Vince Gill, Joe Diffie and Ricky Skaggs, as well as narration by Garrison Keillor, along with Jimmy Buffet, as the voice of Huck Finn, and non-other than Mr. Clint Eastwood, as the legendary Mark Twain.  Carl even performs a song himself, entitled “Safe Water”, co-written with dear friend, Jerry Salley.

On December 26^th, 2011 the state of Mississippi honored Carl with an official Country Music Trail Marker in his hometown of Louisville.  The beautiful marker, which highlights Jackson’s career, stands within a stone’s throw of the historic Strand Theatre.  Carl performs his annual “Home For Christmas” concert every December in the very building where he used to see movies as a kid, not to mention being born on the third floor, which housed a clinic back in 1953.   

Since those days in Mississippi fifty some odd years ago, two-time SPBGMA songwriter of the year, Carl Jackson, has realized many of his dreams. But with each dream that becomes a reality, a new dream lies ahead………..

Sunday, April 1, at 2:30 pm – Fundraiser for SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now)
Mooresville High School Auditorium – 659 E. Center Street, Mooresville, NC 28115

Fundraiser for SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Iredell County – Building hope for children and families through education, counseling and interventions programs to Stop Child Abuse Now!

Ticket prices – $15 Adults, $10 students (college included), Children under 6 are admitted free!  Again …please look at it as a $15 donation to a great cause in exchange for a free concert.
Ticket venues – 704-664-4122 Cotton Ketchie’s Landmark Galleries
704-878-2227 SCAN of Iredell County …Call now for reservations!

From Rythm and Blues to Classic Country to Gypsy Swing Reggie and Ryan Harris are the complete package!!! A few months ago I was privilaged to have an article in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine….I said it there and I will say it again…Reggie Harris is my favorite guitar player!!!! He can do it all!!! And Ryan is one of the finest singers on the planet!!! His cut of Hello Darlin’ is unbelievable!!!

So don’t wait around til last minute….get your tickets today!!!!

THE FABULOUS HARRIS BROTHERS RETURN TO THE COLONIAL THEATER WITH BALSAM RANGE ON FEBRUARY 4…ANOTHER BIG MUSIC SATURDAY IN OLD CANTON TOWN!!! DON’T WAIT!!! RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW!!! CALL 828-235-2760 TO PLACE YOURSELF IN THE HOT SEAT…YEP…IT’S GONNA BE SOME HOT MUSIC…COUNTRY, JAZZ, HONKY TONK, GOSPEL…WITH REGGIE AND RYAN…THE HARRIS BROTHERS…AND OF COURSE…HAYWOOD’S OWN…BALSAM RANGE!!! WE LOVE HAVING OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE MUSIC WE LOVE…AND WE ARE GLAD TO PICK AND SING IT AS WELL AS BRING IT OUR HOME COUNTY. QUICK THOUGHT…THE HARRIS BROTHERS WERE SUCH A HIT LAST YEAR…WE HAD TO HAVE ‘EM BACK THIS YEAR!!! IT’S WORTH A TICKET TO GET TO SEE REGGIE PLAY THE SUITCASE-DRUM…TOTALLY FAB!!! COME OUT…BE WITH US…THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT ONE TOO!!!

For those of you who may not have seen David in concert…he packs a mean claw-hammer 5-string banjo. David is known for his entertaining style of old-time, swing, and blues music. He is one fine slide guitar man…and David has studied with many of the old masters. He is a multi-Grammy winner with a smile as big as Texas and a double handful of songs to match. David has deep roots in the Haywood County music scene due to all the years he spent performing with The Luke Smathers String Band.

This is Marc speaking…and I’d like to say that I’ve never stood beside a better musician or a more decent human being than Bryan Sutton. I was lucky enough to see a lot of his young years with his family’s band…and I got to play on the first record he was ever featured on…and you know what…it was a Crossroads recording with our buddy Tim Surrett!!! I got to play on 5 of Ricky Skaggs’ albums over the years…and the one I received a Grammy for was Bluegrass Rules with Bryan Sutton! He is one good guy…and he has the right lick at the right song every time. Either Bryan or David could put on this show by themselves…but to have them collectively with legendary bassman, T. Michael Coleman is “top of the top!”

This will be one fun night!!!

Well …hope you’ve all had amazing holidays.  Now that Christmas is behind us…Balsam Range is going back into the studio soon. We’ve been collecting songs for the 4th BR record together and possible talks of collaborating with our pal John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band in recent months for a project for him. Both thoughts are very exciting to me.

Anyway …we’ll be recording soon!  It’s been such a whirlwind, busy year …that tonight was the first time I played through some songs that I’m really interested in and got excited about getting down to business after the holidays. The way it’s been in the past was a collaborative process in which everyone in BR brought something to the table.  We’ll start doing rough demos tmrw night and we’ll see where we are song/material wise in the next few weeks.

I don’t want to rush it and have mediocre songs and mediocre recording. Some bands do a project every year.  And then some bands like Alison Krauss + Union Station or folks Carl Jackson do a GREAT album every three years.  I will not throw my hat in that circle of legendary artists…but please forgive me for wanting to take my time so it can be as good as it can be.  I feel I have found some really good songs to bring to the band in the next months.  About 8 that are very good from some of my great songwriting friends. So in a month if we can have 40 good ones and pick the best 12 of those … then we stand to have an interesting album.  I want to keep raising the bar for myself.  And nope …not raising myself up to the bar. haha

We’re looking forward to what the new year brings. Keep on the lookout for updates about recording. And please feel free to give us your input on what you’d like to hear.

Now here is some recording inspiration for me….

Upcoming Shows:

12/31/11 – Thad Woods Auction House

1/7/12 - Deep River Rising (Bryan Sutton, David Holt, & T. Michael Coleman) with BR at The Colonial Theatre in Canton NC.

1/28/12 – The Altamont Theatre in Asheville NC.

2/4/12 – The Harris Brothers with BR at The Colonial Theatre in Canton NC.