Randy Owen photo courtesy of the artist.
Each week country music expert Neil Haislop answers your questions!
Q: Alabama's Randy Owen has a new solo single — what is the rest of the group doing since they retired from touring?
(Jim, Bremen, GA)
A: Jim, Randy Owen told me recently that even though all of the members have done outside music projects, the group Alabama still remains an active business partnership for performing and recording. For instance, Alabama just released an album of performances from their Farewell Tour, called The Last Stand. Meanwhile, Randy has a new single out, "Braid My Hair," from a new album titled One on One. Jeff Cook has always had a band on the side. After Alabama stopped touring, he recorded his own material in a duo called Cook and Glenn. Teddy Gentry has done more behind the scenes musically as a songwriter, and as a record producer on projects ranging from Richard Marx to Emerson Drive. And Mark Herndon, who was a pilot while a member of Alabama, has actually gone back to flight school and is now a corporate jet pilot.
Q: I'm a big fan of Julie Roberts, but haven't heard from her in a while. When is she going to release a new album?
(Pamela, Atlanta, GA)
A: Pamela, Julie Roberts' record label tells me that she is still on the label and is back in the studio working on a new album. They're not far enough into the recording to give me a potential release date yet.
Q: What's happening with Billy Currington these days? He's so great and had such a great start and now we don't see or hear anything from him. We miss him.
(Leona, Hillsborough, NC)
A: Leona, as you may know, Billy Currington took some time off to take care of some personal issues. He's apparently come out of counseling sessions saying that they helped him deal with past issues of abuse in his family that left him an angry person. Latest word from his record company is that he's preparing to renew his career with a new single in the spring, and he'll hit the road again in May.
Q: In what city was the video for Tim McGraw's "Suspicions" filmed?
(Ashley, Reidsville, NC)
A: Ashley, that great performance video of Tim McGraw singing his wonderful rendition of the Eddie Rabbitt hit, "Suspicions," was taped during a performance in Anaheim, California.
Q: Whatever happened to Mark Collie? Is he still singing or did he quit? I like him very much.
(Karen, Rodeo, CA)
A: Karen, Mark Collie is still in the business as a singer-songwriter. Right now the best place to hear his songs is on stations programming the Americana charted songs. Visit markcolliemusic.com to get the latest on Mark.
Q: I need to know the artist that sings a song where a line in the song is: "...sittin' on a bar stool actin' like a darn fool, that's what I'm doing today." Can you tell me the artist and name of the song?
(Joanna, Cabot, AR)
A: Joanna, the song you're asking about was a No. 8 hit on the Billboard chart in 1986 by Charlie Daniels titled, "Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye."
Q: When will Van Zant have new songs airing on GAC?
(Karen, Supply, NC)
A: Unfortunately Karen, it might be a while before you see a new video for Van Zant. We recently learned that they have left their record label and there has been no word if they've signed a new deal with somebody else at this point.
Q: Recently I was listening to my iPod and I got to thinking about something. I was wondering if there has ever been a country artist who was physically or mentally challenged. I am in a wheelchair myself, and I have never seen a person in a wheelchair in the music industry. If there has been an artist that was physically or mentally challenged I would love to know. That would be a great inspiration to people like me.
(Shana, Colonial Heights, VA)
A: Shana, as far we know there may have been a number of country artists that performed from wheelchairs because they were disabled, but no major stars. If you could count physically-challenged folks whose career was helped by being associated with country stars, then there's Two Foot Fred, a successful entrepreneur but also the companion on tour and video star of Big & Rich projects including the Muzik Mafia. Of course, both Ronnie Milsap and Ray Charles are the most famous blind singers that have had success in country music in spite of their physical challenges.
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