Scott Carter New Release Date Set For June 1, 2012

Undeniably, Scott Carter

 

 

Scott Carter USA

Undeniably, Scott Carter Australian Press Release

Undeniably, Scott Carter

The Nashville Years: V

Warmest greetings!

Here is the fifth submission in the series, The Nashville Years.

After my first Nashville Album Project was recorded, mastered, released, promoted, & shipped…..and, after a couple of songs from the album were released and promoted to Country Radio (and had charted)…..and, after the Album had been shipped to every Country and Country-friendly radio station on the planet (in every country)…..my record label and management group booked me to attend and work their Fan Fair booth in Nashville.  Fan Fair is an annual event held in Nashville where Country Music fans flock to Music City to see, hear, & meet their favorite and the up and coming artists; in person.

It was not only an honor, but a lot of fun, meeting fans from all over the country; shaking hands, hugging necks, doing photo ops, and signing autographs.   Additionally, just several feet away, were some major Country Music stars working their booths.  My two children, Matt & Angie, have fond memories of getting to meet Travis Tritt, Pam Tillis, and several others.  They especially liked meeting Pam.  To quote them, “Miss Pam was really nice!”. 

From that first Nashville Album, my record label and promo team released and promoted five (5) singles over a year and a half period; and all 5 charted.  This, of course, started the ‘snowball’ of interviews (newspaper, magazine, TV, Radio, etc.) , public appearances, traveling, and the like.  After that initial 2 year period, other parties started showing a positive interest in me and my career.  At one time, I was ‘on the table’ and being considered for signing to four different Major Labels…all in the same year.  If I remember correctly, the labels who were considering signing me were:  Warner Brothers, Mercury, Polygram, & hmmmm (the 4th one eludes me, right now…but they were based in New York….hmmmm….if I recall their name, I will come back and edit this section).  The comments from the A&R departments were all very similar in nature; “Scott has as much or more talent than most of the artists already on our rosters!  And, he has accomplished all of this chart action and press and notoriety without the push and clout of a major label machine behind him!”.   I thought that was very nice of them to say.

Unfortunately, everything had gone ‘Young Country’ at this time in Country Music’s history.  And, I had somewhat of a late start in developing my Nashville recording and development career.  At that time, the major labels strongly preferred that a new male artist be under 40 (preferably, under 35)….and, that a new female artist be under 35 (preferably, under 30).  Well, I had just turned 40.  So, I stayed with my M.I.R.L. (Major Independent Record Label).  We didn’t have the clout of the Majors, but we all worked really hard and made things happen.  Personally, I remember driving from city to city and state to state visiting Country Radio stations.  Some would not give us (my manager and me) the time of day, others were cordial and friendly and would ‘give us a spin, or two’, and some were very thankful that we came by and would immediately put me on the air and do an in depth interview and play my songs.  I remember many road trips, airports, motels, restaurants, and meeting lots and lots of folks.  In retrospect, I would do it all again.

Also, I remember being called to the Governor’s Mansion for a private meeting and breakfast with the Governor and his family.  They were big fans of my music and had heard some really nice things about my involvement with charitable organizations.  So, Governor Buddy Roemer of the great State of Louisiana, did several things for me:  1.  He proclaimed Sept. 6 as ‘ScottCarter Day in the State of Louisiana’,  2.  He sent out a Press Release to all media in the State from his office,  3.  And, he contacted Baton Rouge’s TV stations that day and I appeared on several talk shows!  Wow!  How cool is that!?  All of this was totally unexpected…but, very much appreciated!

Well, enough for now.  I’ll write one more segment on The Nashville Years, soon.

All the best…..Ciao for now,

Scott 

The Nashville Years: IV

Warmest greetings, friends!
Well, here is number four in “The Nashville Years” segment. Not too long after my very first Nashville album project was completed and our very first single was released and began getting radio airplay, I was backstage at the Grand Old Opry hanging out with the legendary Mr. Roy Acuff in his dressing room. As was a tradition, if Mr. Acuff was available, he loved to meet and greet new and upcoming artists personally and introduce them to some of the Opry legends and stars who would stop by to pay their respects; he had an open door policy…very friendly, supportive, kind, hospitable, and almost ‘family-like’. Being introduced to Mr. Acuff by my producer and publicist (at the time), I was warmly invited to ‘hang’ with The Man and meet his peers! Now…how cool is that?!
The list is long, but over time I had the honor of meeting such artists as: Eddie Raven, Hank Snow, Little Jimmie Dickens, BOX (Box-Car Willie), McBride & The Ride, Skeeter Davis, Warner Mack, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Monroe (Father of Bluegrass), Jeanne Pruett, Sons of the Pioneers, Tommy Cash, et cetera.
In fact, the wonderful Carol Lee Singers (long time backing vocalists for the Grand Old Opry) did all of the backing vocals on my very first Nashville album project!
One night at the Opryland Hotel at an Awards Show for Indie Artists, I was nominated for two awards; song of the year and new male vocalist of the year. Seated next to my table was a hot new artist quickly taking Country Music by storm…one who would soon dominate the Country Music Industry and set new records. That person was Mr. Garth Brooks! Well, my producer handed him a copy of my new album and the next time they crossed paths, Garth told my producer that he and the boys had taken it with them on the road and listened to it on their bus and loved it! Now…how cool is that?!
Here is another story you may find interesting. Prior to an upcoming and new photo shoot in Music City, I stopped by a hair salon on Music Row. The lady who began styling my hair was very nice, very friendly, and very personable. She asked me about the occasion and I told her I was headed to the studio for a new photo shoot as I had just recorded and released a new album. I’ll never forget it. She said, “My Dad writes a few songs, now and then”. I said, “Wow, that’s cool”. She went on to say, “Yeah, and he’s done a little recording himself, from time to time”. I said something like, “Sweet!”. She said, “You may have heard of him…his name is Johnny Cash?”. I nearly fell out of her chair! I was having my hair styled by none other than Ms. Cindy Cash! Well, one of the songs on the album is “Feed The Children” and was written and recorded in honor of that organization. When I handed her a copy of my cassette (yes, I said cassette…this was in the late 1980′s), she noticed this song. She asked, “May I give a copy to my Dad? You know, he is with The Highway Men (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, & Waylon Jennings) and they heavily promote this fine organization”. I almost fell out of her chair again! I said, “Of course!”. Well, it was a few months later when I finally had a couple of charted records that the legendary Country Radio station in Shreveport, Louisiana had me do an on-air interview…they played “Feed The Children”…promoted my album…promoted the concert…and they asked every ticket buyer attending ‘The Highwaymen Concert’ that evening in Shreveport to bring at least one non-perishable food item to the show and that the Feed The Children transport truck would be there to pick up the donations! I was honored, beyond words!  Again, how cool is that?!
<As a side note, for those who may not be aware, KWKH Country Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana is legendary because of its ties to the former Louisiana Hayride and all of the legends who got their start there (such as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and many, many others)!
Well, friends, that’s enough for now. I’ll write number 5 in the near future.
Love and God Bless,
Scott

The Nashville Years: III

Warmest greetings!

While on a flight back from the U.K. after having done an acoustic tour (or, ‘unplugged’, as they call it), I was seated beside a very nice lady from Ireland.  She was the publisher and editor of a popular Irish magazine.  Unfortunately, the name of the publication eludes me.  Just a few months prior to this, my very first Nashville album had been recorded, released, & distributed.  And, if memory serves me correctly, we had released 2 or 3 songs to Country Radio in the U.S.A. and overseas…and they had charted.  People who know me will verify that I rarely meet a stranger; I’m a fairly friendly, easy going, laid back individual.  Well, eventually, conversation turned to our careers.  When I told her my name, she immediately said, “I know you!”.  She said, “You sing that song, ‘Feed The Children’!”  I was flabbergasted!  “Yes…that’s me”, I said.  “They play your song on the radio in Ireland!”  How cool is that?!?

I remember playing venues all over England & Scotland, on that trip.  And, I recall riding the train from Manchester to Aberdeen, Scotland while making stops along the way.   At each train stop, some passengers would disembark and new ones would hop aboard.  I have the fondest memories of striking up conversations with folks from all over the U.K..  I admit it.  I love the British (Scottish, English, Welch, & Irish) people; always have, always will.

I have never really taken it for granted nor have I stopped being somewhat in awe of the power of the media.  And, sometimes we entertainers may forget that each time a radio station (terrestrial or internet) or tv station/network or any other broadcast source plays our music (audio only or audio/visual), our names and voices and lyrics and emotions and messages are being transmitted to people; in their homes…in their cars…at work…while on vacation…while on a flight…et cetera.  And, our music may touch and impact them during a particular, special event in their lives!  Maybe our song gave them hope and strength during a hard time in their lives.  Maybe our song imprinted on them during a celebratory time.  And, that impact may be very deep and long lasting!

Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of meeting a major, iconic celebrity who has been around for quite a while.  Though my hit singles in Country Music happened during the late 1980′s and early 1990′s…with just occasional ‘spurts’ of renewed interest since then…this wonderful, renewed interest in me and my music over the past couple of years was really unexpected.  I thought most folks had forgotten about ‘yours truly’.  But, John told me something I will never forget and will always treasure.  He said, “Scottie…once you’ve made your mark, even though you may think it small…they never, ever forget you!”.  Thank you, Mr. Travolta.  That meant the world to me.

Well, that’s enough for now.

Ciao,

Scott 

The Nashville Years: II

Warmest greetings!
As mentioned earlier, I was a singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and performing artist before ever setting foot in Nashville, Tennessee.  My previous blogs speak to that fact in “Pre-Nashville Days: The Louisiana Connections”…..”Pre-Nashville Days: The U.K. Connection”s…..and, “Pre-Nashville Days: The Australian Connections”.  However, all of these events and experiences prepared me for that call to Music City which resulted in a recording contract, management deal, three (3) Nashville album projects, and five (5) Nationally (and Internationally) charted singles.
As mentioned in “The Nashville Years: I”, everything seemed to happen so quickly.  Once I had my first single released to Country radio and it started climbing the charts, my producer and my manager and my agent and my publicist started being inundated with requests for my music and interviews.  And, with each charted single that followed, there was more advancement in the charts (in the USA and overseas) and the ‘buzz’ grew, month by month!
Another very exciting thing that I will never forget is hearing my song…for the first time…on commercial radio!  I even remember where I was at the time while driving down the highway. It was an awesome experience; almost surreal.  Just recently, I had the joy and honor of meeting Sonia Leigh (a major talent and rising star; on Zac Brown’s record label).  And, she experienced the very same thing fairly recently with the release of her song, “My Name Is Money”. Some people think that artists who finally ‘make it’ and ‘get a charted record’ and ‘get actual radio airplay’ are ‘over-night successes’.  That’s just not the case.  Ask Sonia Leigh.  And, well…ask me.  I had been writing, singing, playing, recording, touring, and ‘paying my dues’ for 20 years before it happened ‘over-night’ for me.  But, I am extremely grateful that it did happen; eternally grateful.
Each single release charted higher and stronger than the last. Then, we released my album/CD with all of the charted singles, “Scott Carter’s Greatest Hits”.  And, then it was shipped to all Country and Country-friendly radio stations all over the entire world! Well, this opened so many more doors and the international attention and fan base began to grow.
All of this led to the honors of being nominated for several Music City awards…and, actually winning some of them! More about that in another blog.
Ciao for now, friends.
Your pal,
Scott

The Nashville Years: I

Warmest greetings!

Well, after having already been a musician, singer, songwriter, recording artist, & performing artist for many years–both in America and Internationally–I received a call from Nashville; Music City, USA.  It seems that my two album projects (“Good News”, recorded in Australia in the mid-70′s and “Going Home”, recorded in the Ozarks in Arkansas in the mid-80′s) found their way on to a legendary Nashville publicist’s desk who, in turn, placed them on a Nashville record producer’s desk with a personal, positive note attached.  So, after the record producer and his staff listened to my cassettes (Pre-CD days), I got the call to come to Nashville for an interview.

Long story short, this up and coming Nashville record producer who had aligned himself with Nashville’s legends ‘in the business’ (pro players, studios, engineers, songwriters, publicists, backing vocalists, and legendary Nashville artists) took me to lunch at Houston’s Restaurant and we spent about 3 hours getting to know one another.  After an awesome meal, about 6 glasses of iced tea, and a wonderful time of conversation…I was offered a recording contract and management-development deal!

Within a few short weeks, I was back in Music City working with absolute legends in the industry…on all levels…and being introduced to more of the same; from ‘behind the scenes’ writers and engineers and publicists and image consultants, et cetera…..to some of Nashville’s most famous and well known players and artists!  Wow!

My new publicist, Mr. Billy Deaton, had me backstage at the Grand Ole Opry hob nobbing with Ricky Skaggs, Box Car Willie, Little Jimmie Dickins, Hank Snow, et cetera…and, ‘hanging out’ with Mr. Roy Acuff in his dressing room with the likes of Eddie Raven, and others!  How cool is that?

My new producer, Mr. Robert Metzgar, was also introducing me to legends such as Billy Walker, Warner Mack, Tommy Cash, the Carol Lee Singers (backing vocalists at the Grand Ole Opry), et cetera!!!

Within 6 months of that long luncheon at Houston’s Restaurant in Nashville; I had been sort of initiated into some of the Nashville ‘family’, recorded my very first Nashville album, had a new photo shoot and artist development portfolio created, had my first single shipped to Country Radio in America, and was starting to climb the charts in several trades!  And, the requests for interviews started pouring in; locally, regionally, & nationally!  It was amazing!

There is so much more to share…but, enough for now.

Ciao, for now.

Scott 

PS:  While at Houston’s Restaurant, our waitress was eager to have Mr. Metzgar introduce her to this new artist from Louisiana (aka, me).  It seems that he had been in Houston’s, earlier that week, having lunch with a Mr. George Strait!