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One of the best things about country music is how diverse it is and how the community often champions artists and songwriters not quite known among the public.  For the first article in a new series, we introduce country music fans to singer/songwriter Jeff Black, a writer of a pair of 90's hits.

Carrie Rodriguez has become a critical darling of mainstream musical publications and fans of alt-country (or Americana, choose your moniker) over the years due to her strong duet albums with Chip Taylor.  "She Ain't Me" is miss Rodriguez' second solo releas

Based in the Twin Cities, Becky Schlegel is known to fans of Prairie Home Companion and roots music devotees.  "Jenny" is the second national single release (after "Bound For Tennessee") from Schlegel's "For All The World To See" album.  Does it have a chance at radio? Is it any good?

Rebecca Lynn Howard has been the part of two Grammy-winning projects in her career and shuffled from record label to record label.  Most of those labels tried to change her into something she really wasn't.  Now signed to an indie label, Rebecca Lynn went in an

Like six other people, Kristy Lee Cook has used the American Idol platform to realize her dream of a country music career.  From the beginning of the show it was obvious that Cook was one of the most commercially ready packages of the seventh season, after only the winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta. While commercially viable

It's the last week of summer yet it feels like the fall release schedule is upon us as high profile releases are starting to rapidly appear on store shelves.  Darius Rucker, Kristy Lee Cook, Eric Durrance and Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicolson are out of the gates this week

Eric Durrance first came to the attention of Wind-up Records as a solo artist yet somehow he ended up fronting the band Big Dismal before going solo again as the flagship artist for Wind-Up Records Nashville.  "Angels Fly Away" is an 11 song collection of co

Craig Hand came onto the national country music scene in 2006 with the single "Direct Connect."  With one album and a failed label deal under his belt, Craig Hand has since released "Satisfy You" with a new label.  He recently sat down and candidly discussed his career with us.

Relative newcomer Brandon Rhyder premiers his single "This Ain't It." The record, like so many others, urges a loved one not to leave.  While it features a similar theme, Rhyder offers up a strong vocal on the song.  Is a strong voice enough?