Corey Smith

Corey Smith is one of modern country’s hottest young Indie artists! His music epitomizes keeping it real! He learned early in his career that to get people to listen, you had to grab them with lyrics that hit close to home. The real beginning of Corey's career started when he won a songwriting contest in 2002 where the prize was to be able to record an album. "Undertones" was released in 2003.

He's a family man who grew up and still lives in a small town in Georgia. He graduated from UGA with a Social studies Education Degree, married his college sweetheart and became a high school teacher. He taught school for 5 years and by the time he quit already had 3 albums under his belt. I love his music, I love his voice, I love what he stands for and if you don't check out his music you will have missed out on one of life's greatest adventures!

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British Sensation....Craig David!

Official Craig David Website

Craig David born May 5, 2001 in Southhampton England is one of England's finest young R&B sensations. I found a love for Craig David’s music in the late 90’s before he was introduced to America. He along with Artful Dodger’s Mark Hill has produced some great remixed tunes.

David was influenced musically as a teenager by Terence Trent D’Arby, Sisqo and Donnell Jones and started writing his own tracks. “Fill Me In” became a hit for him in 2000 and he became the youngest British male solo artist to have a number one single at age 19. The track was released to the American market in 2001.

Discography

Born to do it (2001)

Slicker than your average (2002)

7 Days (single) (2002)

Story Goes (2005)

Story Goes (Tour Edition) (2006)

Trust Me (2008)

Greatest Hits (2008)

Signed Sealed Delivered (2010)

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Chris Brown…The Man & His Music!

The amazingly talented Christopher Maurice Brown aka "Chris Brown" was born May 5, 1989 in Tappahannock, Virginia population 2000! Chris is tall (sexy), good-looking, talented, a singer and a dancer and ladies lets admit he can rock a photo. Chris has been a dancer since he was 2 but didn’t discover that he could also sing until he was eleven but considered rapping before deciding to be a vocalist.

At 13 Chris was discovered by a production team who organized an audition with “Def Jam”. At 15 he was sent to perform for “L.A. Reid” and was signed to Jive Records in 2004. In 2005 Chris Brown released his first studio album (self-titled) which generated a Billboard Hot 100 number-one debut single for "Run It". There were two additional top 10 singles off the album "Yo (excuse me miss)" and "Say Goodbye". Technically “Gimmee That” was the 3rd single and was not originally included on the album but later added. His single "Say Goodbye" is also featured on the “Step Up” Soundtrack. The album itself debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 selling over 155,000 copies in its first week of sales, certified “Double Platinum” 5 weeks later and within a year went "Double Platinum". His 2nd album “Exclusive” was released in 2007 and he had his 2nd US hit “Kiss Kiss”. His 3rd single “With you” reached No 2 on the billboard Top 100. His 3rd album release "Graffiti" was released in 2009 and did not do as well as it probably would have due to the Rihanna incident because most people cannot separate the artist from the man. This was not Chris’s best work but the album did deserve a chance and real fans would have bought the album or not bought the album but the decision would have been based on the album. Chris currently has two new singles out "Deuces" and "No B.S."

In addition to Chris’s solo success he has been featured on several other hits such as "No Air" with Jordan Sparks, "Shortie Like Mine" with rapper Bow Wow and "Shawty Get Loose" with Lil Mama and T-Pain.

In 2007 Chris appeared in the movie "Stomp The Yard" as well as the Christmas movie "This Christmas". He has also appeared in some episodes of the OC which was cancelled in February 2007. Most recently Chris performed a tribute to Michael Jackson at the BET Awards on Sunday June 27, 2010. You can read more on Chris Brown and his BET Performance here.

Official Chris Brown World      Official Chris Brown Myspace Page

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The Beautiful & Talented...Laura Izibor!

Official Laura Izibor Website      Official Laura Izibor Myspace

This is how I discovered Laura Izibor’s music and has since been very proud of her. Last year I was voting for another artist that I really liked on a site for new artist video and loving music as I do I decided to check out some of the other videos of artist I had never heard of . The video was for ”From My Heart To Your” and I loved the energy in the video. The beat was alive, her voice was amazing and it didn’t hurt that she’s a beautiful woman. I bought her album and I’ve been a fan every since.

Laura Izibor, born in May 1987 is a 23 year old Irish R&B singer from Dublin Ireland and her debut Album ”Let The Truth Be Told” was released in Ireland in May 2009 and in the US in June of 2009. It’s an amazing album. The single ”Shine” from the album was the lead track for the movie "Nanny Diaries" and has also been featured in “A Special K” commercial. The track ”mmm” another track from the album can be heard on the Why did I get married Soundtrack and the track ”Carousel” is featured in the movie P.S. I Love You. Laura performed and was the victim in the 100th episode of “Bones” and has opened in concert for Aretha Franklin& John Legend!

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A Rising Star…Zac Brown Band!

Zac Brown Band Official Website

Zac Brown Band Official Myspace Page

The band started the year with three Grammy nominations, “Top New Vocal Group” from the Academy of Country Music Awards and “Breakthrough Video of The Year” from CMT and USA Weekend. The actually won "The Best New Artist Award" for which they justly derserved!

Zac Brown Band's debut album “The Foundation” was released in November 2008. Their latest album “Pass the Jar” features a few friends and was released on May 4, 2010. The band consists of Zac Brown (lead vocal, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (vocals, violin), John Driskell Hopkins (vocals, bass), Coy Bowles (guitar, organ), Clay Cook (vocals, guitar, organ, mandolin, pedal steel) and Chris Fryar (drums). While the band a country band they also have mass appeal to lovers of bluegrass, jam bands and reggae because their sound is so versatile. They also have a strong endorsement by “Kid Rock” who has performed in the past with the band.

The band has an entrepreneurial spirit in that they have their own record label “Southern Ground”, launched in 2009. They’re also launching a line of steak rubs and barbecue sauces under the label name and their new cookbook “SBB Southern Ground Cookbook” is currently available to buy. The band has another project where they are working on a charitable foundation to run a children’s camp. This is an awesome band so give them a listen!

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Randy Houser!

Official Randy Houser Website

Official Randy Houser Myspace Page

Randy Houser, born in Lake, Mississippi and whose father was also a musician had formed 2 different bands by the time he finished attending college, however, his career didn’t officially get started until he moved to Nashville, TN to pursue a songwriting career in 2002. His first song cut which he co-wrote Honky Tonk Badonkadonk was a top 5 single for Trace Adkins.

Shortly after this Randy decided to pursue the performing side of music and in 2008 signed with “Universal South Records”, an independent record label. His first single “Anything Goes” was released in May 2008. The song entered the country music top 40 on the Billboard Charts that same month. His debut album by the same name was released later that year in November.

Randy has a new single out I’m all about it” and his new album will be released later this year. Randy is not only a great singer/songwriter but he’s a good-looking guy with a fun personality (my own personal opinion) so check out his music!

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Lionel Richie…Still The bomb!

Official Lionel Richie Website
The first time I knew of Lionel Richie was when he joined the Commodores as lead singer in the early 70’s. Richie was born Lionel Brockman Richie Jr in Tuskegee, Alabama (home of Tuskegee University) which is where he attended college before becoming singer, songwriter and composer. While with the Commodores they had many successes (Easy, Three Times A Lady and Brick House).

Richie left the Commodores in 1981 and released his first (self-titled) solo album in 1982. The album hit No.3 on the charts and sold over 4 million copies. Over the span of his career he has done other major projects. He wrote and produced “Lady” for Kenny Rogers and today this song still remains one of Kenny’s most popular songs. He wrote, produced (and performed with Diana Ross) the title track for the motion picture “Endless Love” in 1981 at the request of the director “Franco Zeferelli”. The track spent 9 weeks at no.1 and garnered numerous award and became Motown’s all-time best selling single. In 1985 Richie co-wrote with Michael Jackson the global anthem “We Are The World”. The track included 45 top recording artists and won five Grammy Awards and helped raise millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa. In 1986 he won an Academy Award for best song for "Say You, Say Me" written for the motion picture "White Knights" starring Broadway star Gregory Hines and ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov. He was also nominated the same year in the same category for “Miss Celie’s Blues from the Steven Spielberg film "The color Purple".

All of the above accomplishments were before I was even a Lionel Richie fan and only a lukewarm fan of the Commodores. I just remember feeling that Lionel Richie thought he was all that and a bag of chips when in actuality "He Was". His most recent albums “Coming Home” released in 2006 and "Just Go" released in May of 2009 proves that he’s still as talented as ever and I am definitely a fan!

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