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"Somebody To Care"

Listen To The New CD!

TO BOOK ALAN RHODY:
bookings(at)alanrhody(dot)com
615-945-9622
615-298-4286

Alan Rhody has released seven solo albums of original material thus far in his career, including one European release in 1992 on the German label, Taxim. In addition, there have been two compilation CDs. His newest collection, "Led By Love" along with "journey" (2003), have received glowing reviews from all who have written about them. The new disc features Sam Bush, Mike Henderson, Jay Patten, Guthrie Trapp and Jonell Moser, is getting great response from radio as well as fans. Some of his other recordings have included guest contributions from John Prine, John Hartford, Maura O'Connell and Gillian Welch partner, David Rawlings. The Nashville Tennessean's Peter Cooper recently called Rhody"a singer-songwriter of unusual clarity and intelligence.

Over the years Rhody has kept up a busy schedule of touring and conducting songwriter workshops. He is also a published poet and accomplished painter. The new "Led by Love" marvelously ties together several musical and personal threads of Alan's life. In many ways, it brings his music and songwriting full circle, from the topical "Bad Times" and "They Call Me The Truth", to the personal and poignant "Old D-28" and "The Great Beyond". Rhody has been a vital part of the country and folk music world for the last thirty-five years. The Louisville, Kentucky native is responsible for the first Billboard No.1 for the Oak Ridge Boys ("I'll Be True To You"); Ricky Van Shelton's first Top 30 hit ("Wild-Eyed Dream") and Lorrie Morgan's first Top 20 hit ("Trainwreck Of Emotion" w/Jon Vezner). His compositions have also been recorded by a long list of diverse artists including Del McCoury, Michael Murphey, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Lynn Anderson, Toby Keith, Suzie Boggus, Lee Greenwood, The Atlanta Rhythm Section and Kevin Welch.

While attending The Art Center Association School in his hometown, some friends had a rock and roll band and invited him to a rehearsal. They asked him to sing a song and really liked what they heard, offering him a spot in the band if he learned to play harmonica. That year, as one of the two lead vocalist and the harmonica player with the Kingspades, the seeds were planted to what would become a life-long endeavor. Rhody was inspired by the folk and blues stars of the time to go out and purchase an acoustic guitar. Within two years he started composing his first few original songs. He later traveled to the west coast and across Canada developing his music and working as an advertising artist. By 1973 he had released his first single recordings and performed on several CBC and CTV network TV programs including The Ian Tyson Show, Canada's hugely popular TV program hosted by Tyson, one of Alan's musical heroes.

In 1977 at age 31, married with three children, Rhody made a huge leap of faith and moved to Nashville, Tennessee after signing with publishing/production giant, Tree International (now SonyATV). Upon his arrival, he was immediately hailed as a bright new talent and began having his original songs recorded by a Who's Who of country, folk and bluegrass. His breakthrough as a writer came with his haunting ballad, "I'll Be True To You,"recorded by a gospel quartet making their first venture into the country market. The quartet, The Oak Ridge Boys, took Rhody's song straight to No.1, crossing over into the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. It has become a"country classic"and still receives regular airplay after 35 years, also having won the BMI "Million-Airs" Award.

"That single certainly invented me as a writer in town and drew a lot of excitement my way," he says.

As a visual artist, Rhody has focused on portrait commissions recently, including one of his friend and co-writer, Murray McLauchlan. The painting is featured on the back cover of McLauchlan's new solo release, "Human Writes" (True North). The CD also includes four of their musical collaborations. As a poet, Alan has two poems included in the new anthology, "Filtered Through Time" (Published By Westview, a collection reflecting on The Civil War 150 years later) as well as the lyric to his harrowing "Pony Rider", an imaginary account of a once young and adrenalin-charge messenger, just as the war is about to break out.

Fans and artists alike have been excited to have that up-close experience with Alan Rhody and his music for a long time. And knowing Alan, the best is yet to come.

" A singer-songwriter of uncommon clarity and intelligence "
- Peter Cooper, The Tennessean

" He has earned a level of respect and recognition that places him in the vanguard of
pioneers of the contemporary roots music movement. "
- Greg Quill, Toronto Star

" If you've never seen this Nashville singer-songwriter perform, you're missing out
on one of our most entertaining and amusing acoustic troubadours. "
- Robert K. Oermann, music journalist, author, historian

"You can at once laugh out loud and a few seconds later, be put in the most somber of moods."
- American Songwriter

Notable Venues Played:
Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, TX
Florida Folk Festival, White Springs, FL
Summerfolk, Owen Sound, ON
Kentucky Folk Festival, Bardstown, KY
Live From The Rock Folk Festival, Red Rock, ON
Trout Forest Folk & Blues Festival, Ear Falls, ON
Shelter Valley Folk Festival, Grafton, ON
Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, Lexington, KY - World-Wide Radio
Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Canso, NS
Acoustic Sounds Cafe, Little Rock, ARK
The Rudyard Kipling, Louisville, KY
The Blue Door, Oklahoma City, OK
'Radio Live' Concert Series, WUWF, Pensacola, FL
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Nashville, TN
Front Porch Music, Valparaiso, IN
Kentucky Music Weekend, Louisville, KY
Hugh's Room, Toronto, ON
The Freight Room, Edmonton, AL
Post Crypt Coffee House, Saskatoon, Saskachewan
Canal Street Tavern, Dayton, OH
Cherry Tree Coffee House, Philadelphia, PA
The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
The Riverboat, Toronto, ON
Steele's Tavern, Toronto, ON
Ronnie's Riverqueen, Vancouver, BC
Eddie's Attic, Atlanta, GA
Trinity Backstage, Santa Barbara, CA

TO BOOK ALAN RHODY:
bookings(at)alanrhody(dot)com
615-945-9622
615-298-4286

P.O.Box 121231 Nashville, TN 37212

Alan Rhody plays ELIXIR strings

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