I wrote a multi-part series a number of months ago called, Were They or Weren't They?  I featured artists from our past that got a lot of country airplay on radio but were not really "Country."  I played all of them, and in case you missed it, let's take another look back and see who they are.

Thanks for Reading!

Were They OR Weren't They - Part 1

Were They OR Weren't They - Part 2

Were They OR Weren't They - Part 3

Were They OR Weren't They - Part 4

Don't Get Me Started - Rhett Akins - 1996  - (Album - Somebody New)

The 1990's were so jam packed with great stars and songs, it's hard to keep up with it all, but the Forgotten Jukebox is doing it's job today.  Rhett Akins (Thomas Rhetts dad) was and is still an incredible song writer. In the 90's he himself had a few hits, and I liked them all.  Many times in this crazy biz, it is the luck of the draw. There were so many big acts. The 1990's were really great, and I always maintained that one of the main reasons were guys like Rhett Akins.  Every decade has its Superstars and the 90's were packed with them and that's fine and necessary.  But the artists in the next tier were the real strength of the decade. That tier was never better in my 40 plus years of doing this. They insured we always had a GREAT song on the radio and this was one of them. This is fantastic song that's relatable, topical, well sung, well written and incredibly produced.  In short, it's everything a #1 should be and this one was.

Ronnie Milsap – Lost In The Fifties Tonight -  1985

As we inch towards the top of my Top 50 list, the really big songs are showing up. This song from Ronnie Milsap was one of his biggest hits and was universally loved by country fans and non country fans - and still is.  In an era when Country was still trying to decide which direction to go, this song towered over most that year.  A multi-week number one, Milsap's 27th number one song, a top 10 hit on the pop charts, a number one in Canada, and Milsap winning his fourth Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance.   In short, this is one of his best and biggest songs of an incredible career that includes some 40 plus number one songs.  This is also an iconic example of a song ending up in the right hands.  As great as this song is, I feel it needed Milsap to pull it off.  Clearly, this is not traditional country, but this is about as good of an example of mid 80's pop country there is.  We held on to the Urban Cowboy influence for way too long, but before the next line of new traditionalists showed up in 1986, there were some incredible gems like this that really cut through. This may be the best song of that in between era, sung by Milsap who is one of the best vocalists in any format over the past half century  -  and he is flawless here.  I love this song.

Last Week #23

My Full Profile On Ronnie Milsap

Just in case you missed any of my articles from wqmx.com this week, here they are. So grab a cold drink and let's get caught up. And thank you for listening and for reading.

My Sunday Morning Song

Eat Of The Week

50 Favorites From 40+ Years - #23

Forgotten Jukebox

Country Music Memory Lane - From A Different Cloth (Revisited)

Wynn At The Movies And More

Starting this Monday 07/17, I am moving to 7PM-Midnight and I want to go over a couple things so you know what will be happening nightly with me on WQMX.

Every night shortly after 8:00 I will have the Not-so Impossible question for your chance to win my nightly prize.

Then we will still have the New @ 9 at 9:00. I will feature a new song, then we will play Keep it or Kick it (to the curb). This will be your chance to call or text me your votes as to whether you like the song or not. I will tally your votes and announce the results at the end of the hour. Since we value your opinions on the music so much at WQMX, this will be another great way to let us know what you think of the music.

This and so much more coming your way starting Monday at 7PM with me on WQMX! 

Dan + Shay not only announced a new album, but they released the first single from that album! "Save Me The Trouble" is the lead single from their fifth studio album 'Bigger Houses' that will be released on 9/15. Click here to pre-save! 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dan + Shay (@danandshay)

Featuring an ascending melody that builds into an explosive chorus, “Save Me The Trouble” showcases a sound indicative of the new record’s direction that emphasizes a more live, stripped-down feel. “I don't think I've ever been prouder of a song that I am this one,” Dan Smyers said in a press release. “We wanted to have something that was a real moment, and when we started writing this, it felt like it could be something big. I wanted every section to build, and even in the second chorus, when you're like, ‘Okay, there's no way it could possibly get any crazier,’ then Shay takes off even further.” 

Dan + Shay will be sharing a couple of new tracks live next Friday (7/21) as part of the star-studded lineup for this summer’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY. They were also recently announced as coaches for season 25 of NBC’s Emmy-winning program The Voice, they will join Reba McEntire, John Legend and Chance the Rapper in Spring 2024 as the first-ever coaching duo in the show’s history.

Hollywood is coming back to Cleveland! An action movie that will appear on Hulu is going to film here in Northeast Ohio this Fall. They need to cast 30 peopl PLUS extras! If you've ever wanted to say you're in a movie, you may want to check this out. 

Wouldn't it be awesome to tell friends, family, and strangers "Oh yeah...I'm in that movie"?? Who knows...you may get discovered and you could becom the next A-List movie star! Go for it!

Get all the information here.

Hailey Whitters took to Instagram to announce her new EP 'I'm In Love" and her new song of the same name! 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Hailey Whitters (@haileywhitters)

Click here to pre-save!

Wine Country  - Hannah Ellis

GET YOUR TIX HERE TO SEE HER AS SHE DOES A CHARITY SHOW FOR US!

There's a whole lot to like about Hannah Ellis.  And there is a lot to like about her new song, Wine Country.   In short, she has the right idea.  Hannah Ellis projects a very "country" image and sounds like she believes in herself and the music she's recording. I also love her absolute confidence in her craft and in her videos.  That is more rare than you may think.  I loved her last single, Country Can  (worth another watch) and I featured it here.  That too was a great song that sadly didn't get the foothold it should have.  It was another catchy, uptempo, hard not to sing along with song like this one is.  They are producing her her with a nice full sound, and real thump (like Country Can) and that's a good move.  I'm a fan of any act that appears to be this dedicated to centering country with a country sound and image that is traditional in its overall nature, but has the savvy to sound and look like today  -  and not 2010.  She's believable, she's likable, and she's here. I'm rooting for Hannah Ellis.   I'll meet you in Wine Country

Hannah Ellis - Website

TICKET LINK HERE - WQMX.COM

Grab your earbuds and coffee and check out her new song, Wine Country

It's really refreshing to go back into a game that you haven't played in a while, and since I've gotten back into Stardew Valley, refreshing is definitely the word to use. I started a new multiplayer game, and since I was craving playing I also started a new single player game on my switch. It's not only a super satisfying game, it's cozy as well, and I love it. I'm honestly having more fun than I did playing Tears of The Kingdom (sorry). Give it a play if you haven't already!