Grayson's new single 10-9-8-7 was released to radio on Tuesday 26th April and we found out on Friday that it was sitting at number #4 on the charts for new songs to be added to American Country Radio via the PlayMPE Charts. Pretty exciting news!
Request Grayson and 10-9-8-7 to be played on a Country Radio Station near you!
Well, what a BIG week 1 of the Radio Tour for 10-9-8-7!
We started off the tour with one of our faves - The Sheila Show on Kix96 in Centerville, TN. Sheila got to spin the first official radio play of 10-9-8-7 on American Radio, the day before official release. Epic!
Not only did I get to play a few songs live on air, Sheila brought us cake. Yum.
Sheila from Kix96 Centreville, TN
Sunday saw a HUGE drive from warm Nashville to chilly Burlington Iowa. Just a small 8 hour Sunday drive. Thank god for good tunes and caffeine!
Monday morning we visited another of our faves, Tory and Drew at 1017 The Bull in Burlington Iowa. This was my 4th visit with these guys and its always super fun.
On air with Tory & Drew at The Bull - Burlington, Iowa
Monday afternoon I dropped into KBOE in Oskaloosa Iowa to see Steve, also for the 4th time. Sang a few songs on live air, chatted about upcoming projects and life in Nashville. Seemsed like the further north we got, the colder it got. We left Nashville in 82 degree weather (that's about 28 degrees C for you Aussies) and arrived to mid 50's (12 deg C)
Steve @ KBOE 104.9 Country
Tuesday I stopped in to see Rob Getz @ 987 Kiss Country in Mason City. Baconfest was on that weekend and I was disappointed we couldnt stick around. Love me some bacon! Great interview as always and we span the new single and I sung a few live ones on air.
On Air with Rob Getz on 987 Kiss Country Mason City, IA
Wednesday we visited our old friends in Wisconsin at Cow Country. Gee whiz it was cold! Great chat as always talking about all things local from sport and beer. Always important to talk about the local beer, something I love to try in every part of America that I visit.
On air with Ben at Cow Country - Sparta, Wisconsin
We then took a quick drive through the hills and backroads of Wisconsin and headed toward our friend Phil Nee from WRCO in Richland Centre, WI. Phil (as with everybody else this week) have been huge supporters of my music and its always so fun to chat in studio with him. We caught up on all things Grayson, spun the new single and sang a few live ones on air.
Phil Nee @ WRCO Richland Centre, WI
Next was a visit with my old buddy Gabe @ Q94 in Prairie Due Chien, WI. Awesome fun as always and this was the 4th time I had visited Gabe so its just like catching up with an old friend!
Gabe from Q94 in Prairie Du Chien, WI
Friday I headed to a station I had never been to before, in an area that I had not visited before - The Quad Cities area of Illinois & Iowa. I met the lovely Joni Mitchell from 1049 The Hawk and goodness does she have some pizzazz and personality! We chatted about all things Nashville, played a few songs on air and talked about all things Grayson. The radio station building is where an old Funeral Home used to be, she took us for a tour and knowing what rooms used to be used for what when it was a funeral home, sent a few chills down my spine!
Joni Mitchell from 1049 The Hawk Quad Cities
Friday and Saturday night saw a few live gigs, and to put it mildly I had an AWESOME time. Friday night was Kavanaugh's Hilltop in Rock Island IL. Its an awesome Irish pub and they have a great patio area for music. We had a huge crowd and met some great new friends.
Saturday night I was invited last minute to open up for Georgia native Tyler Hammond at Red Rodeo also in Rock Island IL. That place is freaken awesome and its HUGE. Its basically a country music night club/bar. Red and his wife Cherie were lovely and looked after us exceptionally well. We stayed on after my set and watched Tyler Hammond and his band - they are awesome. SO great to be making new friends in different parts of America. I hope to be back at Kavanaugh's and Red Rodeo before too long.
March 19 2016
Today was a pretty awesome day. Whilst performing live on radio on The Grinder Switch Hour I was heard by friends of the Cash family who offered to bring me to Johnny Cash's holiday home in Bon Aqua, just outside of Centreville, Tennessee.
This was the house where Johnny used to escape when he wanted to get out of the city and the limelight of Nashville, and would come here with his wife, June Carter Cash and their children. The house has been purchased by Brian and Sally Oxley, and they are restoring it, and will have it be opened to the public once completed along with a museum. They have build a big outdoor stage and have plans for concerts to take place, much like the Christmas one they held recently that was attended by the Cash family, including Cindy Cash - Johnny's daughter.
'The Farm' at Bon Aqua. Johnny Cash's getaway house
We were given a tour of the house, including Johnny's actual bedroom with original furniture and photos on the wall all still in place.
By chance, Johnny drummer W.S 'Fluke' Holland was visiting same time we were there and I got to meet him. This guy is a living legend also touring with the likes of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Meeting Johnny Cash's drummer W.S 'Fluke' Holland
I got to view Johnny Cash's hand written lyrics and sit on his chair on the porch that he used to sit on. Unbelievable to think I was sitting in the same chair he used to sit in for over 30 years whenever he would stay at the house. Johnny's Cadillac's were also at the property, complete with 'CASH' on the bumper and were sitting right next to Johnny's brothers (Tommy) tour bus. The bus is about to get restored and will become part of the museum.
Viewing Johnny Cash's handwritten lyrics for Saturday Night In Hickman County
Brian and Sally Oxley (the new owners of the house) are documentary makers, and they have made up a heap of teasers to promote the house for when it will be opened to the public, and they were generous enough to show us a sneak peak.
Possibly one of the coolest things of the experience was being asked to sign the door that was from Johnny's house in Hendersonville and now lives at the farm. Its been signed by some serious Country Music royalty including members from the Cash family like Johnny's brothers, children and nieces and nephews. My name is now proudly up there next to Tommy Cash, Marcy Cash and Joanne Cash.
Its great to see that they are doing everything that they can to keep the house true to its heritage and history and are preserving the memories as best they can. You certainly feel overwhelmed at the thought of what happened in that house for the 30 years that Johnny and his family stayed there, and the fact that we were lucky enough to be standing in that house all those years later.
Johnny Cash is such a legend and for us to be given that opportunity to see his house on a private tour, is incredible and its certainly a day I wont forget any time soon.
Until next time,
Grayson