Ty Herndon photo courtesy of Titan/Quarterback Records.
Each week country music expert Neil Haislop answers your questions!
Q: I have been wondering what happened to Ty Herndon? I have known Ty for a long time but I never read anything about him.
(Bobbie, San Angelo, TX)
A: Bobbie, Ty Herndon is not on a major record label right now, but he's an active artist. You can catch up on all things Ty Herndon by checking myspace.com/tyherndon. You can hear his latest music and it'll remind you what a great singer he is.
Q: Why is the "Grand Ole Opry" not on live every week like it use to be? They show the ones that have been on before. Whats up?
(Joan, Louisville, TN)
A: Joan, there were so many star-packed Opry Live performances last year that got great audience response that GAC has decided to air them again in the first quarter of 2009 as "The Best of Opry Live."
Q: In Trace Adkins' "Songs About Me," he says, "you'll keep singing until everyone agrees there's a song about them." My question is, how do you know what song works and if someone asked, would you write a song for them?
(Tasha, Midland, MI)
A: Tasha, most singer-songwriters get requests from people to write a song for them. We don't know if any of Trace's songs are a result of that. As far as knowing what song works, it starts with Trace's experience as a singer and writer to know when he hears a new song he's written if it moves him emotionally. But, to make sure, he'll insert it in his live shows to see how audiences react to it and seek the opinion of people in his record label A&R staff. And before it's released as a single, it may be tested by research companies and advance reaction from radio programmers.
Q: I was wondering how you find out if any country singers are hiring. I've searched the Internet, but haven't had any luck.
(Tracy, Elkhart, IN)
A: That's a pretty broad question, Tracy. It depends on what position you might be referring to. A modern recording artist, for example, hires musicians, sound engineers, lighting engineers, road manager, management, publicists, drivers, if they have a bus and semi trucks on the road, etc. Plus, there are staffers called "roadies" that set up and take down stage set-ups; folks that sell their merchandise and more. Some artists hire video crews to tape and edit their performances. Managers help fill some of those jobs, drivers would be gotten from the Teamsters Union, other positions might be advertised in music industry trade magazines, or in local Nashville newspaper want ads.
Q: I was wondering when you are going to play LeAnn Rimes videos all day so I can record them? I want to see her interview again, too. I have cerebral palsy so I can't drive at all.
(Douglas, Joliet, IL)
A: Douglas, it's hard to tell when GAC might re-run the interview or when they might have a LeAnn Rimes day or week when they run all of her videos. But you can search on GACTV.com each day to find out when any LeAnn Rimes clips are scheduled. It may take a while to get most, or all of them that way, but you'll be able to record many of them.