JUNO & CCMA-nominated Saskatchewan Country artist DONNY PARENTEAU introduced the anti-bullying campaign Bully Free Zone to Canada recently. At a media conference/school presentation at James L Alexander School in Saskatoon Fairview, Donny spoke about the epidemic of bullying and premiered his new song and music video for Imagine A World. MLA Jennifer Campeau, Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Education (Anti-Bullying Initiative) commented on the government’s perspective and support of the Bully Free Zone campaign. The song has been released to radio and is available for FREE download to the public at www.donnyparenteau.com.Imagine A World is performed in song and on video by Donny Parenteau with Michele Dubois. In addition to a thriving music career, Donny Parenteau speaks passionately to groups on a wide variety of topics, but most dear to his heart is the series he does for schools entitled It Starts With A Dream. Recently after one of his talks, Donny had a conversation with a young girl who had been bullied. He was so moved by this conversation that he wrote Imagine A World. It’s written as a message to both victims and instigators of bullying. Donny is a talented multi-instrumentalist who performs with energy and enthusiasm on the fiddle, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, and the unique mandocaster. After 12 years touring with Neal McCoy, this seasoned entertainer has performed with numerous country artists and genuine music icons such as Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and Reba McEntire.

In Merle Haggard: The Running Kind, DAVID CANTWELL takes us on a revelatory journey through Haggard’s music and the life and times out of which it came. Taking in the entire breadth of the Hag’s career, David focuses especially on the 1960s and 1970s when Haggard created much of his best-known and most influential work. Listening closely to a masterpiece-crowded catalogue (including such songs as Today I Started Loving You Again, Okie from Muskogee, Sing Me Back Home, Mama Tried, Working Man Blues, and If We Make It through December, among many others), David Cantwell explores the fascinating contradictions - the desire for freedom in the face of limits set by the world or self-imposed, most of all - that define not only Haggard’s music and persona but the very heart of Country music. This book is published by the University of Texas Press as part of their American Music Series. Order the book from them here: http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/books/canmep

Music critic and longtime Haggard fan, DAVID CANTWELL is also the co-author of the acclaimed Heartaches By The Number: Country Music's 500 Greatest Singles, and his work has appeared in the Oxford American, Salon and No Depression, among other publications. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

In Merle Haggard: The Running Kind, DAVID CANTWELL takes us on a revelatory journey through Haggard’s music and the life and times out of which it came. Taking in the entire breadth of the Hag’s career, David focuses especially on the 1960s and 1970s when Haggard created much of his best-known and most influential work. Listening closely to a masterpiece-crowded catalogue (including such songs as Today I Started Loving You Again, Okie from Muskogee, Sing Me Back Home, Mama Tried, Working Man Blues, and If We Make It through December, among many others), David Cantwell explores the fascinating contradictions - the desire for freedom in the face of limits set by the world or self-imposed, most of all - that define not only Haggard’s music and persona but the very heart of Country music. This book is published by the University of Texas Press as part of their American Music Series. Order the book from them here: http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/books/canmep

Music critic and longtime Haggard fan, DAVID CANTWELL is also the co-author of the acclaimed Heartaches By The Number: Country Music's 500 Greatest Singles, and his work has appeared in the Oxford American, Salon and No Depression, among other publications. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Carleton Place, Ontario Country artist BREA LAWRENSON'S collection of songs reflects her own personal experiences and aspirations. Her musical career has taken her across Canada, and to London, UK. She frequently travels to Nashville to write and record. She's worked with many different songwriters and producers including Stu Epps (UK producer who has worked with the likes of Elton John and Led Zeppelin), Barry Brown (of The Family Brown) and Keith Glass (of the Juno award winning Canadian Country band Prairie Oyster). She's released two music videos, one of which has received over 14,000 views on YouTube. The video for If I'm Not Here Tomorrow is dedicated to all military men and women and has been aired over the Military Network and on Majic 100's Top 20 Countdown Television Broadcast. Brea was recently asked to perform her song on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the Commissionaires. As well, her song Black And Purple co-written with long-time friend and singer/songwriter Braiden Turner was taken on by the Canadian Red Cross as the anthem for their anti-bullying program RespectED. Both girls became national spokespersons for the program. Earlier this year, Brea released her song Honey to radio and has followed it up with With You Whiskey which is already attracting airplay on Country radio.

Carleton Place, Ontario Country artist BREA LAWRENSON'S collection of songs reflects her own personal experiences and aspirations. Her musical career has taken her across Canada, and to London, UK. She frequently travels to Nashville to write and record. She's worked with many different songwriters and producers including Stu Epps (UK producer who has worked with the likes of Elton John and Led Zeppelin), Barry Brown (of The Family Brown) and Keith Glass (of the Juno award winning Canadian Country band Prairie Oyster). She's released two music videos, one of which has received over 14,000 views on YouTube. The video for If I'm Not Here Tomorrow is dedicated to all military men and women and has been aired over the Military Network and on Majic 100's Top 20 Countdown Television Broadcast. Brea was recently asked to perform her song on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the Commissionaires. As well, her song Black And Purple co-written with long-time friend and singer/songwriter Braiden Turner was taken on by the Canadian Red Cross as the anthem for their anti-bullying program RespectED. Both girls became national spokespersons for the program. Earlier this year, Brea released her song Honey to radio and has followed it up with With You Whiskey which is already attracting airplay on Country radio.

In Dwight Yoakam, award-winning music journalist DON MCLEESE offers the first musical biography of this acclaimed artist. Tracing the seemingly disparate influences in Yoakam's music, Don shows how Dwight has combined rock and roll, rockabilly, country, blues, and gospel into a seamless whole. In particular, Don explores the essential issue of "authenticity" and how it applies to Yoakam, as well as to country music and popular culture in general. Drawing on wide-ranging interviews with Yoakam and his management, while also benefitting from the perspectives of others closely associated with his musical success (including producer-guitarist Pete Anderson, Yoakam's partner throughout his most popular and creative decades),Dwight Yoakam pays tribute to the musician who has established himself as a visionary beyond time, an artist who could title an album Tomorrow's Sounds Today and deliver it.

Don McLeese was formerly the pop music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Austin American-Statesman as well as country columnist and contributor to Rolling Stone and a senior editor for No Depression. He currently teaches journalism at the University of Iowa.

In Dwight Yoakam, award-winning music journalist DON MCLEESE offers the first musical biography of this acclaimed artist. Tracing the seemingly disparate influences in Yoakam's music, Don shows how Dwight has combined rock and roll, rockabilly, country, blues, and gospel into a seamless whole. In particular, Don explores the essential issue of "authenticity" and how it applies to Yoakam, as well as to country music and popular culture in general. Drawing on wide-ranging interviews with Yoakam and his management, while also benefitting from the perspectives of others closely associated with his musical success (including producer-guitarist Pete Anderson, Yoakam's partner throughout his most popular and creative decades),Dwight Yoakam pays tribute to the musician who has established himself as a visionary beyond time, an artist who could title an album Tomorrow's Sounds Today and deliver it.

Don McLeese was formerly the pop music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Austin American-Statesman as well as country columnist and contributor to Rolling Stone and a senior editor for No Depression. He currently teaches journalism at the University of Iowa.

The new single Let It Burn for Country artist LISA BROKOP was recently released to Canadian radio and was produced by her friend and fellow Country artist Carolyn Dawn Johnson (who also co-wrote the song). The two of them are co-producing Lisa's upcoming album. "This song so perfectly sums up where I am in my life and in my career," says Lisa. "I wrote the song with Carolyn and Brad Crisler just days before hitting the studio for my new project.  It was one of those songs that just came out of nowhere. I always find those are the best ones. I'm excited for everyone to hear it. Carolyn did an amazing job! We're both so proud of it." Born & raised in Vancouver, British Columbia  - now living in Nashville - Lisa has delivered hits to Country radio & CMT for years including Give Me A Ring Sometime, Take That, She Can't Save Him, I'd Like To See You Try & How Do I Let Go. Lisa's success as a songwriter is not only evidenced by the songs she's written for herself to record but as well by the songs she's written that have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis & Terri Clark.

The new single Let It Burn for Country artist LISA BROKOP was recently released to Canadian radio and was produced by her friend and fellow Country artist Carolyn Dawn Johnson (who also co-wrote the song). The two of them are co-producing Lisa's upcoming album. "This song so perfectly sums up where I am in my life and in my career," says Lisa. "I wrote the song with Carolyn and Brad Crisler just days before hitting the studio for my new project.  It was one of those songs that just came out of nowhere. I always find those are the best ones. I'm excited for everyone to hear it. Carolyn did an amazing job! We're both so proud of it." Born & raised in Vancouver, British Columbia  - now living in Nashville - Lisa has delivered hits to Country radio & CMT for years including Give Me A Ring Sometime, Take That, She Can't Save Him, I'd Like To See You Try & How Do I Let Go. Lisa's success as a songwriter is not only evidenced by the songs she's written for herself to record but as well by the songs she's written that have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis & Terri Clark.

Award-winning Country artist DERIC RUTTAN will release his new album entitled Take The Week Off on October 15th. The lead single is the title track and is now the fastest rising single of his career. The new project was recorded in Nashville and produced by Deric and Grammy-nominated producer Luke Wooten (who has also produced for Brad Paisley & Dierks Bentley). No doubt you've heard Blake Shelton's new songMine Would Be You climbing to the top of the Country charts - Deric is a co-writeron the song. He has also had a hand in writing Aaron Pritchett's hit Hold My Beer,Eric Church's Guys Like Me and a couple of Dierks Bentley's hits What Was I Thinkin' & Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do - to name just a few. Deric's upcoming tour is called Your Town Throw Down - with Chad Brownlee & Jason Blaine - across Canada starting October 16th. He's here to talk about the new album, new single, his recent hit Main Street 1979, Blake's current hit & much more!