THE TROUBADOUR PODCAST

As songwriters, we’re really nothing more than storytellers who add music to our various tales.  That’s where it all begins for me – “stories”.  Stories about lost love, gained love, unreciprocated love.  Stories about depression, happiness and amazing larger than life characters.  And on top of that it’s not only the stories but it’s how they are told.  Remember, there are a lot of different ways to say the same thing.  

I really think my love for stories is why I like this road that Carly and I, along with our listeners, get to walk down each week with the artists we talk to.  We get to hear “their” story and hear about things that occurred in their life that shaped them into who they have become as an artist and human being. 

On today’s episode we interview Texas Country Music artist Will Carter.  Like many of our past guests, it almost seems like Will has lived multiple lifetimes in one.  For reasons Will explains in the interview he had to grow up early in life and by the time he graduated college he had almost 10 years of work experience in his chosen field as well as a degree. 

His solid work ethic eventually led to him starting his own successful business outside of music.  However, it was the experience he gained as the lead singer for well-known Texas cover band, The Emotions, that propelled Will into chasing after his own career as a solo artist. 

During his time with The Emotions, who’s past lead singers include names like John Michael Montgomery, Chris Cagle and David Kersh, Will really learned what it was like to lead a band and develop a show that connects with an audience.

As you’ll hear in the interview, Will Carter has gone to great lengths in his own career to implement tools used by national well-known acts to shape his live show into basically a relationship building experience with his crowds.  Well-established and up and coming artists alike can learn a bunch from Will into how important using a well-thought out formula is to their live performances as well as their entire careers.

Will’s past includes experiences that have shaped his include the tragic loss of his father when he was only 13 years old.  As the oldest child, Will immediately had to begin working at a young age and metabolize the loss of his dad while in his youth.  Will has done incredibly well at overcoming this hardship and even memorializes his farther in the video for his song “Red Sunrise.”

I expect big things from this kid.

So, kick back and enjoy this episode of The Troubadour Podcast.

Will Carter’s website: www.willcarterofficial.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/willcarterband

Instagram: www.instagram/willcarterband

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/willcarterband

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPNUrXzZlp7xYwQrygEUI8Q

How YOU can support the podcast!

If you’re interested in supporting the podcast and helping us FREE CARLY from the bondage of editing every episode CLICK HERE and help us hand off this part of the process to a third party!

To sign up to be a tTP Donor and get access to some great rewards including free music, podcast T-shirts and other swag from the hosts, CLICK HERE!

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Every now and then in the course of my life I’ve came across talented people and I’m literally shocked that up to that point, I’d never heard of them or been aware of their work.  Carin Mari was one of those cases for me. 

The first time I saw Carin play I was almost a little awestruck.  I’d went to enjoy one of Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas concerts in the beautiful Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia,KS near my own hometown of Scandia.  Murph, who’s currently in his early 70’s, was followed on to the stage by a handful of other male musicians in what I guessed to be in their 50’s, AND a beautiful young gal with a Fender Stratocaster strapped on.  You might say I quickly sat up and took note.  In short order the entire crowd was treated to some great western Christmas music as well as some of Murph’s classics including his iconic song, “Wildfire.”  I couldn’t help from keeping an eye on the girl playing guitar and singing harmonies alongside a Country & Western Music icon like Michael Martin Murphy with such poise.  She just looked SO damn comfortable and “in her element” if you get what I mean.  I immediately was curious about her and her backstory.

A little over a year later I was acting as the Master of Ceremonies at a business conference banquet in Fort Collins, CO.  I’d been a part of the conference banquet for the last several years and there had always been an entertainment portion of the evening.  Previously we been entertained by comedians, hypnotists and even a traveling comedy troupe, but low and behold, the entertainment hired this particular year was a singer-songwriter from Buena Vista, CO named Carin Mari!

So, that evening after meeting Carin and getting to watch her perform again I was able to ask her to be a guest on the podcast and she’s graciously accepted.  She’s got an interesting backstory involving her introduction to music and Murph at a young age which is really evident in her playing and singing.  You can just tell she is doing what she loves to do and has a great deal of passion for it.  Some folks go through their entire lives, never quite knowing or understanding what they were put on this earth for.  Carin isn’t one of them.  She’s here to make and perform music, and she’s doing just that.

So, kick back and enjoy this episode of The Troubadour Podcast with the talented Miss Carin Mari.

Carin’s website: www.carinmarimusic.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carinmarimusic

Instagram: www.instagram/carinmarimusic

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/carinmarimusic

YouTube:  www.youtube.com/user/cowboyslayer92

How YOU can support the podcast!

If you’re interested in supporting the podcast and helping us FREE CARLY from the bondage of editing every episode CLICK HERE and help us hand off this part of the process to a third party!

To sign up to be a tTP Donor and get access to some great rewards including free music, podcast T-shirts and other swag from the hosts, CLICK HERE!

Listen via:

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On this episode of the podcast Carly and I get to visit with one of our old buddies and native Kansans, Lucas Maddy.  This is Lucas’ second appearance on the show as he was one of my first few guests when this podcast was in its infancy and I was still producing and hosting it myself.  If you want to hear some entertaining stories from Lucas’ early days in the music biz, along with some other great stories from his time as student body president of Kansas State University, go give it a listen by clicking HERE.

While some of the guests we have on this podcast are full-time musicians/artists, many also have a side-gig or job that brings in extra cash.  If you’ll recall from our episode with Curtis Grimes, he actually works as a substitute teacher part of the time!  Other musicians have also been able to work out cool arrangements with their employers such as Lloyd McCarter.  Lloyd has worked out an arrangement with his employer that allows him to completely focus on music and touring for part of the year, months at a time, and then work normal 40-hour weeks the remainder of the year.  While I spent a good deal of my career as a singer-songwriter with creating music as the sole source of my income, I also had plenty of years where I worked a full-time job AND toured.

Lucas is a great example of an artist who has been very successful at maintaining two fruitful careers at once.  Along with holding down a full-time job, he still manages to play around 80 shows per year between solo gigs and full-band performances. 

Lucas Maddy & the Kansas Cartel have been together since 2014 and have shared stages with some of the biggest acts in Country and Red Dirt Music.

They are currently in the process of recording their next record.

So, grab a cold one, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

How YOU can support the podcast!

If you’re interested in supporting the podcast and helping us FREE CARLY from the bondage of editing every episode CLICK HERE and help us hand off this part of the process to a third party!

To sign up to be a tTP Donor and get access to some great rewards including free music, podcast T-shirts and other swag from the hosts, CLICK HERE!

Listen via:

The Troubadour Podcast Website

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Today’s featured artist, Sean McConnell, is known as a well-respected consummate singer-songwriter throughout the Country, Red Dirt, Texas Country, Americana, and even Rock genres!  I mean for crying out loud, the Rock Music Icon, Meatloaf, once listed Sean by name as a creative inspiration on one of his albums within the liner notes! 

Sean’s list of cuts by other artists is downright impressive!  It includes names like Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Meat Loaf, Jake Owen, Brothers Osborne, Christina Aguilera, Buddy Miller and more…HOLY SMOKES!!!!!  Sean has also collaborated and worked with a few of our Troubadour Podcast alumni including Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers.

Sean’s picked up a guitar and started writing at the tender young age of 10; by his early teens, he was earning cash and doing this thing as a professional.  Coming from a musical family you could say music was just in his blood.  With that kind of origin story it’s easy to understand then, that by his early twenties, he was already turning heads with his songs with over a decade of songwriting experience already behind him.

Even with all of the accolades that come with his songwriting prowess, Sean’s career as a recording artist is nothing to sneeze at either.  His vocal ability is incredible.  For example, just give this little performance of his tune “Lie Baby Lie” a listen.

His latest solo effort, entitled “Secondhand Smoke”, is one of the best collections of songs I’ve heard in a long, long, long time…  If you are into true introspective singer-songwriter records like I am, this album should be on your “have to consume” list.  I’ll pull a quote from the bio on Sean’s website because of how nicely it sums the project up: “Secondhand Smoke is a stunning portrait of that Argus-eyed little boy, all grown up and grappling with what that entails.”  Do yourself a favor and check out the video for the title track by clicking HERE.

You all may also be familiar with one of Sean’s tunes co-written with country artist Brett Young, called “Mercy” that was certified double-platinum in March of last year.

Well, let me end this blog by stating I may have found a new go-to singer-songwriter when my soul needs some soothing.

Enjoy the episode…

How YOU can support the podcast!

If you’re interested in supporting the podcast and helping us FREE CARLY from the bondage of editing every episode CLICK HERE and help us hand off this part of the process to a third party!

To sign up to be a tTP Donor and get access to some great rewards including free music, podcast T-shirts and other swag from the hosts, CLICK HERE!

Listen via:

The Troubadour Podcast Website

Apple Podcasts

Google Play

Spotify

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Podbean

As Mike Ryan explains in this interview, his journey to become one of the most popular acts in Texas Country and Red Dirt Music started a LONG time ago.  Coming from a musical family, Mike states in the interview that it was almost expected that he pick up an instrument at an early age.  He also explains that simply based on his singing alone, as a youngster, his folks could judge what kind of mood he was in.

During the interview we also really enjoyed visiting with Mike about his success as a songwriter.  If you weren’t already aware, Mike has co-written with some of the best writers in Nashville and has even had a co-write in a roundabout way with Brad Paisley.  You can listen to how Mike explains it during the interview but the song ended up being released as a single by Brad called “Last Time for Everything”.

Another pretty cool experience that Mike talks about during our visit was getting to perform at The White House for an Independence Day Celebration in Washington, D.C. back in 2018.  The performance was also broadcast on national TV through the Hallmark Channel.

There are more anecdotes from the interview but I’ll let them speak for themselves.

Mike’s latest single, “Dear Country Music”, is one of my favorite Mike Ryan tunes yet and I highly suggest checking it out if you haven’t heard it yet.  You can hear “Dear Country Music” and check out everything else Mike Ryan by clicking HERE!

Listen via:

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In this interview with singer-songwriter Jason Eady, we once again really demonstrate why conversations we have on this podcast with these artists are so interesting.  We end up learning things about the artist and their lives that are just down right fascinating.

For example, fans of Eady’s music already appreciate his unique approach to songwriting but, were they aware that before he became a professional musician he was involved in clandestine and secret operations as a linguist for the military?  No joke…

While we get into his music a little later in the interview, initially we visit about his path to the stage as a musician and singer-songwriter which started when he was quite young.  He had the dream to be a country music star so as soon as he’d graduated high school, he moved to Music City.  While the Nashville excursion ultimately didn’t pan out as he’d hoped, it was during his time there that he decided to go to an Air Force recruiting office and soon found himself as a member of the military.  Therefore, he put his musical aspirations on hold and spent 6 years in the Air Force acting as a linguist and translator focusing on speaking Arabic.

Upon his return to civilian life he wound up working a day job in Ft. Worth, TX; but the music bug started gnawing at him again.  Soon he was singing his own songs at open mic nights and developing a loyal following.  When a chance for a big promotion came up, he realized it was a fork in the road of his life.  He could either take the promotion and give up on the music, OR, he could take a leap of faith and start really focusing on a career in music.  Luckily for his fans, he chose the second option and the rest is history.

Since making that fateful decision, he’s released multiple projects to great critical acclaim and has worked regularly with now longtime collaborator, Kevin Welch, and even had superstars like Vince Gill sing on his records!

Jason’s latest record is called “I Travel On” and is available by clicking HERE.

I’ll let the rest of the episode’s conversation speak for itself!

Sit back and enjoy the episode!

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Imagine this:  You are in college and after attending a few live musical performances you decide it’s something you yourself just might like to do with your life: sing and play onstage, for a living...  But you haven’t really sang since you were in high school and you don’t play an instrument.  How would this even be possible?  Would you imagine that by fast-forwarding your life by just a year that you would be singing and playing guitar in a band?  Well, this is pretty much the story of Texas Country singer and songwriter, Jamie Lin Wilson! 

Jamie Lin Wilson’s music career was something that she hadn’t really even considered until attending those live shows with her cousin in college.  But as soon as she got her first guitar, it was full steam ahead.  She started playing open mic nights in College Station and within a year she was singing lead and harmony vocals as a member of The Gougers.

After spending time in The Gougers as well as the all-female group, The Trishas, Jamie has gone on to focus on her career as a solo artist.

As a mother and a wife, her life as a touring musician hasn’t been easy, but her determination and perseverance has allowed it all to work out.

Jamie’s latest record, and her second full-length solo album, “Jumping Over Rocks” can be picked up by clicking HERE.

Sit back and enjoy the episode!

Listen via:

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Before I jump in to my blog commentary about this episode I want to tell you about a new way you can support the podcast.  If you like what we’re doing here and want to contribute to our efforts to bring our listeners interviews with the very biggest names in Texas, Red Dirt, Country Music and Songwriting click HERE.  With your contributions we plan to offload the audio editing work that Carly now takes care of to an outside source.  If you find it in your heart to help me give Carly a great Christmas gift this year click HERE.  Thanks in advance!

How would you like it if someone called you a “long-haired, tattooed, hippie-freak?”  Well, founding member and frontman of Texas band Eleven Hundred Springs, Matt Hillyer, is O.K. with that terminology.

In this episode of the podcast we have a great visit with Matt Hillyer and learn about his history as a musician and songwriter, as well as the origins of the band, Eleven Hundred Springs. 

Matt’s life and origin story in music is really interesting.  He started singing and playing in his own rockabilly band at the age of 12!  Matt talks about the influence on his life and music by one of his mentors, Jim Heath aka The Reverand Horton Heat and how Heath’s music/style helped shaped his career.

After playing in various other bands and groups, Eleven Hundred Springs became a band in the late 1990’s with Hillyer on guitar & vocals along with handling the songwriting duties, Steven Berg on Bass and Richie Vasquez on drums.  The band has went through various lineups since then, but Hillyer and Berg have remained the mainstays of the group.

You can learn more about Matt and Eleven Hundred Springs, AND pick up their latest record, “Here ‘Tis” by clicking HERE!

So, without further ado, enjoy the episode!

Listen via:

The Troubadour Podcast Website

Apple Podcasts

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Spotify

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Before I jump in to my blog commentary about this episode I want to tell you about a new way you can support the podcast.  If you like what we’re doing here and want to contribute to our efforts to bring our listeners interviews with the very biggest names in Texas, Red Dirt, Country Music and Songwriting click HERE.  With your contributions we plan to offload the audio editing work that Carly now takes care of to an outside source.  If you find it in your heart to help me give Carly a great Christmas gift this year click HERE.  Thanks in advance!

In this episode of the podcast we visit with singer-songwriter and front-man of Texas band, Flatland Cavalry, Cleto Cordero. 

Having never met or talked to Cleto before this interview, the first thing that jumped out to me was just how genuine, humble and appreciative he is for his life and career in music.

Cleto explains how his performance at a talent show when he was in his teens, and the reaction of his listeners, put him on the road to be a professional musician. 

Even as Flatland Cavalry’s popularity continues to rise, Cleto’s ability to remain firmly grounded and humble is equally impressive.

In the interview we also talk about his initial meeting and eventual romance with now-fiancé, singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts.

Cleto is also a part the west Texas all-star group, The Panhandlers assembled by Josh Abbott.

So, without further ado, enjoy the episode!

Listen via:

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As an artist trying to further their career and continue ascending the ladder of success, radio promotion and other forms of publicity along with staying in the public eye is extremely important.  Now there are lots of ways this work can get done.  Often, early in most artist’s careers, this type of work is handled in-house, whether that be by the artist themselves or a member of their band or team.

However, when it’s time to take things to the next level, it behooves artists to consider hiring someone like Tami Millspaugh, aka, The Texas Record Chick.

In this episode we visit with Tami about the beginnings of her career in which she was interested in being an on-camera newsperson.  Through a series of events, she eventually found herself working for major record companies and driving artists like Gary Allan and Lee Ann Womack around the country on their first “radio tours”.

After years of working for other companies, Tami finally started handling radio promotion for other artists through her own company.  One of her first artists was Troubadour Podcast alum, Wade Bowen.  Now she’s responsible for the radio promotion and other publicity for a large roster of artists.

If you are interested in how radio promotion and other forms of publicity for artists in the country music scene are handled, you won’t want to miss this episode with a true pro in the business of radio and artist promotion.

Check out Tami’s website and all the services she offers by clicking HERE.

Make sure and sign up for our giveaway contests by clicking HERE!

Listen via:

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