Byrd
is known for a large number of hits including “Keeper of the stars,”
and “Walking to Jerusalem,” while Cagle had outstanding results in
the ratings with his songs “I breathe in, I breathe out,” and “Let
there be Cowgirls.”
Tickets are on sale now for the concert which will be held in the
southeast corner of the Logan County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August
5th starting at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased at the State Bank of Lincoln Broadway
Street branch, at the Logan County Fair office, or online at
logancountyfairil.com/MusicNight.aspx
Tracy Byrd Tracy
Byrd became a household name on the Country Music Scene in 1993 when
his third single, called "Holdin' Heaven", from his MCA Records,
self-titled debut album, hit #1 on the Billboard Country Charts. The
Album also included the remake hit of Johnny Paycheck's "Someone to
Give my Love to" cementing Byrd as a Traditional Country
Troubadour!! The Debut Album went on to be certified Gold, an award
signifying sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
Byrd's second project, "No Ordinary Man", kept building on the
momentum the first album created the first radio single from it
called "Lifestyle's of the Not so Rich and Famous" reached #4,
followed by another top five hit, "The First Step." Then with the
release of the smash, chart topping hit "Watermelon Crawl,'' the
second album crossed the half million sales mark and certified Gold.
The release of the 4th and last single on this project moved Byrd to
the top of both the Billboard Album and Singles charts. The song was
called "The Keeper of the Star's" and it shot to #1 on the singles
charts and pushed the album to Double Platinum Status, which
certifies sales of over two Million Copies. "The Keeper of the
Star's" won Academy of Country Music's "Song of the Year" award in
1995. A Keeper Year for Tracy Byrd for sure.
His third studio Album, "Love Lesson" is one of Tracy's favorites.
It included the title track, another top five hit single for Byrd
and included the top 15 singles, "Walking to Jerusalem" and "Heaven
in My Woman's Eyes", Byrd's personal favorite.
A 4th top 15 single was released called "4 to 1 in Atlanta" which
Byrd performed Live on the David Letterman Show. The "Love Lessons"
album also reached sales of 500,000 copies certifying Gold.
"Big Love" became Byrd's fourth studio album with its
release in the fall of 1996. It spawned two more top five singles
with the release of the title track and "Don't Take Her She's All
I've Got" The videos of both of these songs reached the top of CMT's
Video Chart's and also earned Byrd his first TNN Television Special
titled "Tracy Byrd's Big Love" on which Byrd invited guest's Johnny
Paycheck, Mark Chesnutt, and Asleep at the Wheel. The Album "Big
Love" became Tracy's Fourth consecutive Studio Album to be Certified
Gold. Tracy said that this meant more to him than anything because
he knew Fan's weren't just listening to his hit songs on the radio,
they were laying down their hard-earned money to own a copy of their
own and that was flattering.
The fifth project on MCA was titled, "I'm From the Country'' and it
contained the title track, a fun, party song stating what most fans
already knew, that Tracy Byrd was from the Country and sang Country
Music. The CD also contained a Beautiful Ballad called "I Wanna Feel
That Way Again" Both of these single's reached the Top Five on the
Charts. It was at this same time that TNN Outdoors recruited Byrd as
the TV Host of their Weekend Outdoor Broadcast. Tracy, a well-known
outdoorsman, was perfect for the job and continued his hosting
responsibilities for three years.
At this point in his career, Tracy Byrd, was looking for a change in
labels, but still was under contract with MCA Records who were
preparing a release of "Keepers: Greatest Hits" containing all the
hits from Byrd's catalog of songs. The album quickly earned another
Gold Record award for Byrd but he was trying to persuade MCA to let
him out of his contract so he could pursue a different direction.
MCA finally allowed Byrd out of his contract, and he quickly signed
with RCA Records and got to work on a new project, "It's About
Time", that would be released in November of 1999 and would reach
the top 10 quickly with the single "Put Your Hand In Mine" Byrd has
said that this album is the most Traditional Album he ever released
and therefore his favorite.
Next came "The Truth About Men", which first released
the title track which was a comedic look at what Men are really
like, it was a team effort with Tracy's buddies Blake Shelton, Andy
Griggs, and Troy and Eddie of Montgomery Gentry lending their
talents to the song and the video. This Album also released the top
five smash "The Drinkin' Bone" which became a crowd favorite sing
along song.
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Tracy Byrd crossed into the new Millennium with the
release of his Album "10 Rounds" It took off on the release of a
duet with his longtime hometown buddy and hero Mark Chesnutt. The
song was called "A Good Way to get on my Bad Side" and was a
milestone for Byrd to finally get to record with his good friend.
Then came the release of the party song of the year, "10 Rounds with
Jose Cuervo" which shot to the top of the Billboard Charts to notch
Byrd's third #1 single. He also hit the top 10 with his spanish
guitar flared "Just Let Me be in Love."
Byrd was then moved to BNA Records, the sister label of RCA, and
they released his second greatest hits project, another feat that
not many artists experience, two Greatest hits projects!!! It
debuted in the top five of the album charts and became Byrd's sixth
Gold Album and sent him to over 6 Million Records Sold.
Byrd then left the major label and released an album
on his own, appropriately titled, "Different Things" Although this
project was not commercially successful, it garnered Byrd his
highest Critical acclaim of his career with Billboard magazine
choosing it as one of their Top 10 Country Albums of the Year!!!
Through all these years Byrd became a promoter
favorite on the road, performing over 4,000 exciting shows across
the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia from 1992
until 2009! He then says he needed a break to take care of himself
and his most precious thing, his family, wife Michelle, daughter
Evee, and sons Logan and Jared, who had taken a backseat to his
career for years. He did not perform from 2010-2013, but in 2014 he
got back to the music with a new band and a new found sobriety and
love of the thing he enjoys so much. Say's Byrd, "These day's my
life has great balance, with my music being a part of it, not all of
it. I can honestly say I have never enjoyed it more!!"
Byrd went back to the studio in June of 2016 and started work on his
first project in 10 years. Recorded completely in Tyler, Texas at
Rosewood Studios, that album is appropriately titled, All American
Texan, which is exactly what he is and has always been. This album
features 8 tracks written by Byrd, a fact he is very proud of. The
album was released in October of 2016 and has been very well
received by his fans and critics alike.
If you get the chance, pick up some Tracy Byrd music, and catch a
show on the road. You won't be sorry that you did!!!
Chris Cagle Born in De
Ridder, LA and raised in Houston, TX, Chris Cagle is an American
Country Music Artist. He moved to Nashville in 1994.
While in Nashville, the struggling artist held down several jobs:
nanny, waiter, prep chef and golf caddy, among many others. During
that time, he signed a publishing deal with Caliber Music. He had
his first song, “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out”, cut by David Kersh
within 8 months of signing his deal, but he wanted more. He wanted
to be an Artist.
That dream came true in 2000 when he signed to Virgin
Records. Cagle co-wrote and co-produced his debut Gold record, Play
It Loud, which produced a top 10 single, “My Love Goes On & On”, a
top 5 single “Laredo” and the #1 single, “I Breathe In, I Breathe
Out”.
His self-titled sophomore project debuted at #1 on the Billboard
Country Albums chart and is certified Gold, as well as yielding two
Top 5 singles: “What A Beautiful Day” and “Chicks Dig It”.
Cagle penned additional albums that brought more success with hits
like “Miss Me Baby,” “What Kinda Gone,” “Got My Country On,” “Let
There Be Cowgirls,” and “Country by The Grace Of God.”
Nominated for New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music and
Voted CMT’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2002, it is the stage
where Cagle has always shined the brightest. His passion for the
performance of music is a rare find, and this Artist isn’t afraid of
giving everything he has to his fans.
[Nila Smith with bios and photos
provided by Dave Irwin] |