In Country there are different kinds of singers and styles. In this series we will revisit some of the best pure singers we've had in my over 40 years behind the morning show country music microphone.  This is PART 2 of this series.

There is no order, and the omission of one of your favorites today does not mean they are not "as good"  as someone else.  They may be in the next installment.  We are not taking career stats into account either, these are simply incredible singers that would sound good singing anything, anywhere, any time.  In each installment I will have a mix of men, women and eras.  Also in many cases I include my full profile I've written on them.  

Review Of Part 1 (ICYMI)

They are  -  The Vocalists: Supreme  (Part 2)

Suzy Bogguss  -  (My Full Profile On Suzy Bogguss)

She is one of the best pure singers I have ever heard - anywhere in my lifetime.  You may have heard that she is blessed with a thing called "Perfect Pitch"  (it's a real thing) and she is.  Her breathtaking voice burst on the scene in the 1990's with good success.  Where exactly she fit within the format always seemed to be up for debate. But what was never up for debate for one second was her beyond amazing voice.  Suzy Bogguss knows exactly where the notes are and finds them absolute the first time and holds them strong. The featured song is simply beautiful and shows the ease she can sing a heartfelt song. She is so good, it makes everyone think they can do it, and sadly we cannot.  When Suzy sings, it reminds us all of just how beautiful the human voice can be. One listen is all it takes. We were blessed to have the truly remarkable Suzy Bogguss.

Simply Mesmerizing - Sensational

Darius Rucker

When Darius Rucker went country years ago, we all wondered how this came to be.  It seemed to be a long way from his Blowfish days as we knew him.  But he is a South Carolinian with country roots.  He also debuted country with a song that had the "countriest" title of any song were playing on WQMX at that moment and it went number one.  Rucker is one of those singers who can sing with anyone and stand out. Of course his voice is highly recognizable, but his style is flawless as well.  He now in this new era possesses the gift of an amazingly versatile voice and he looks and sounds so smooth and effortless. But he also has the gift of uniqueness, as you without any question whatsoever know with your eyes closed that is Darius Rucker singing.  We are still very lucky to have him.

Incredible Debut Song And Performance

Holly Dunn - (My Full Profile On Holly Dunn)

The late but great Holly Suzette Dunn had a relatively short run on the charts, but wow...in the time she did she was an impact player.  She is my absolute first choice to sing a hurtin' song, and we will feature one of hers here.  She is always going to be known for Daddy's Hands as it was a very big, important and highly influential song. But her spectacular emotive voice is always going to be front and center in my memory.  At times she could bring listeners to tears when she was immersed in a song. Her calling card was her immeasurable and unmatched vulnerability that we could all feel. She was versatile as well, but her real wheelhouse were the sad ones.  As oxymoronical as this may sound it's true  -  it was a pleasure to hear her sing a sad song.  You feel it and live it with her, she made sure of it.  I teared up when she died in 2016.  Stunning talent.

This Is Traditional Country Perfection

Vince Gill - (My Full Profile On Vince Gill)

He is one of the greatest vocalists in any format, any era, or in any style ever.  He has sung and still sings with about everyone. Even the Eagles hired him to go on tour with them and sing the tough ones.  Vince Gill was very interesting during 1990's country.  His voice didn't sound country per say, but his songs did, and fans know great when they hear it.  Gill always picked songs that suited him and brought them to life like no one ever really has in country.  He was very different -  and not -  all at the same time.  What Vince Gill was, was great - period.  He was the best pure male vocalist of the 90's and I'm not sure anyone would argue.  He was and is simply incredible.  This is flat out musical silk.  If you really want to know why the 90's were so great, listen and watch Vince Gill.

Are You Kidding Me?  How Great Is This?

One Of Those Things - Pam Tillis - 1991 - (Album - Put Yourself In My Place)

Pam Tillis is one of those singers I can listen to anytime, anywhere.  She is a passionate vocalist that always throws herself deep into the song. This has a very interesting story. When she began her recording career in the mid 80's she had no success. This song was recorded by her in 1985 and released with zero chart success.  Then years later with a new recording deal in a new decade, 1991. She rerecorded it and put it on this album which is technically her second album.  This song is done so powerfully and with such emotion it really hit home with many, including me.  This love and lose song captures the sheer helplessness that can be felt once a great love is lost, and Tillis nails this heartbreaker.  I loved many of her big songs throughout the 1990's where she had real success, but this is the one that really stuck with me.  Great song, exceedingly passionate performance and a big hit, #4 on the charts for her and the rest is history.  Pam Tillis is one of my top choices to sing a power ballad in any era or format.  If you've never heard this song, buckle up, it's powerful.

My Full Profile On Pam Tillis

Jon Pardi - Heartache On The Dance Floor -  2017

Jon Pardi really hit the big time with his incredible 2016 album, California Sunrise.  I think it's one of the best albums of this young century and this was one of the amazing singles off it.  Pardi is one of our traditionalists whose music strongly resonates with those who are wanting to make sure country stays on a truer path. This song zings along with a fast pace, is incredibly catchy and totally memorable. Once it gets in your head it stays there and you can't help but sing with it.  Of the Pardi library so far, this is my favorite.  I have loved virtually all the singles from this album and subsequent ones as I feel Pardi has the right idea.  He makes traditional country very cool even for those who lean more pop country at their core, and at the exact same moment reassures deep country fans that everything is alright and on track.  There's something about Pardi in the sum of all that he is, musically, in style and image that you root for.  If you love this song and haven't heard this entire album, you should. I applaud Jon Pardi.  After a slower start than some others, he bravely stuck with it and in time hit it out of the park with this number one album and the singles from it  -  all top five.  It has sold millions. Well done!

Last Week #29

Going to the grocery store is no ones favorite thing to do right now and we are all looking for new ways to save some cash. Here's a great article I found on freezing food to make it last the longest and keep it tasty!

Check it out. Could help you save $$.

Freezing Food Tips

Just in case you missed my articles from WQMX.com this past week!

50 Favorites From 40+ Years May Recap

Eat Of The Week

50 Favorites From 40+ Years #29

Forgotten Jukebox W-15

Country Music Memory Lane - The Vocalists: Supreme (Part 1)

Wynn At The Movies And More!

Browns - Well, I Hope So

Box Office Results - Spiderman (120 MIllion)

#2 - Little Mermaid  -   (40 Million)    #3 - Boogeyman  (14 Million)

New This Week -   Transformers - Rise of The Beasts

Expendables 4 - Trailer hit YouTube this week -  Megan Fox and 50 Cent are new

Fourth Spider-Man - Movie starring Tom Holland and Zendaya in the works  (Story)

A Third Hocus Pocus - Movie is in development, Walt Disney Pictures says   (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #29  (Link)

In Country there are many different kinds of singers and styles. In this series we will revisit some of the best pure singers we've have had in my over 40 years behind the morning show country music microphone.  This will be a multi-part series as there are more than a few.

There is no order, and the omission of one of your favorites today does not mean they are not "as good"  as someone else.  They may be in the next installment of this series.  We are not going to take career stats into account either, these are simply incredible singers that would sound good singing about anything, anywhere, any time.  In each installment, I will have a mix of men, women and eras.  Also in many cases I include my full profile I've written on them.  

They are  -  The Vocalists: Supreme  (Part 1)

Faith Hill  -  My Full Profile On Faith Hill

When she came up in the early 1990's, she had great success singing very popular songs that were well received by fans everywhere.  Much of the early stuff was fun, but not as vocally challenging as songs that would be ahead. And as time went on Faith Hill evolved and became one of the great vocalists of any era and any genre.  She has sung everything, everywhere. She can sing it all and makes it all sound so effortless.  She is a Mega Star.  The featured song, is not her biggest country hit by any means, but I always felt was a fantastic example of her natural ability to put herself deep inside a song she believed in. Cry = Grammy Winner!

I Love Her Performance On This Song

Ronnie Milsap -  My Full Profile On Ronnie Milsap

To me, his sheer vocal ability is the standard in which all other male country singers is measured against.  Milsap's great success over many decades is enviable, but his vocal range, emotion and power is simply beyond compare.  He sang great country songs, pop songs and knew how to finish a song as well as anyone we've ever had.  Milsap's talent was immense.  This song below, (is older school) but a great example of his God given octave range and talent, both very rare for anyone anywhere.  This song was recorded by dozens of big country stars over decades, but this is the accepted best version ever.  #1.  Read the comments in the video.   Also - Check out this vocal gem -  (Almost Like A Song) -  Incredible.

Incredibly Emotive And What A Powerful Finish....

Janie Fricke - My Full Profile On Janie Fricke

She sang it all over decades and did it as well as anyone.  She sang backup for Elvis, she was the number one commercial jingle singer for many years, then to Nashville.  She sang duets and backup for and with many stars including Johnny Duncan and Merle Haggard and well, about everyone else.  Then her own career that was a big success winning a whole lot of awards ascending to the top female vocalist of her era without any question, scoring tons of hit songs. She was a five time Female Vocalist Of The Year  from various groups including the CMA, ACM, and others.  She is exceptionally versatile and that was/is her strength.  Her pure singing ability, regardless of the material, is simply sensational.

This Song Marries Many Different Styles, Hard To Do

Trace Adkins

As many fun songs as he recorded in his long career, to me the heartfelt songs are the ones that really cut through. Trace Adkins is blessed with a God-given big, believable, booming, baritone voice that sings everything very well.  He also many times made perfect song choices that fit him to a tee.  I have heard him sing about everything from Hank Sr. songs in tributes on TV, to borderline rock where his wonderful warmth and sincerity are incredible and insanely rare.  There are a number of songs he recorded that I can't imagine anyone else singing. Trace Adkins is a remarkably gifted singer with incredible power on the low and the higher end of his register. He also has as distinctive of a vocal sound as anyone over the past couple of decades.

Perfect Song For Him In Every Way

Jose Cuervo - Shelly West - 1983 -  (Album West By West)

This is an interesting song in the fact that this has not completely been forgotten, but not many today know who this is or when this song was around. Shelly West is the daughter of the late Dottie West who herself had a truly amazing Country music career.  Shelly was paired up for a few years as a duet partner with David Frizell, and in the early 80's they had a few really big songs including, You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma, which was a major hit song.  Shelly went solo and this was a gigantic hit for the time.  In the early 80's we were not the format we are today as far as sales, concert sales or general popularity. But this song was a great big number one, and has lived on in bar and pop culture for years. This song is fun, quick, uptempo and timeless.  This is one of those songs that thanks to tequila, Cinco de Mayo and people's love of a good drinking song will more than likely live on for years to come.  This album was quite good as well the follow-up song, Flight 309 To Tennessee was a really nice song (#4), but this is the one that stuck.  For it's time, this was a major hit song.  Enjoy!

Lainey Wilson - Heart Like A Truck -  2022

So far this is the newest song on my list, as it just peeked at #1 a few months ago. Lainey Wilson to me has the right idea  -  right now.   I am sincerely hoping this is the road she continues to drive on because it's the right road and one listeners will love for years to come as she is defining a new path for others to follow.  This song is so well written and crafted it's really hard not to love. This is a tale of perseverance, and the belief no matter how hard one's love life has been  -  there is hope.  We've all been knocked around in that arena and this song gives a heartfelt voice to it, but with a sturdy backbone.  This is an anthem for the wounded hearted and that in itself is absolutely original.  This is slick, this is inventive, and this is a real hit song.  Wilson's great image too should applauded. Her new bell bottom, and flat brim hat wearing style is a real breath of fresh air, new, authentic and different.  Many times that's the real challenge in any music format, finding that not seen before niche.  This song climbs the list very fast for its uniqueness and incredible mixture of contemporary and traditional country, with countless wonderful musical nuances woven through it, voiced by a women with a very unique style all her own that cuts through.  Right idea, right mix, right image, right on time.

Last Week #30

I love eggs.  When I'm at breakfast I am an "Egg Man" not really a "Carb Guy".   Egg dishes are delicious and being honest, I can eat them for dinner any day you want.  I love breakfast for dinner.  Here is a cool article I found that helps us be creative with eggs, so we don't get bored!

Things You've Never Done With Eggs Before!