User: dennisjackson@dentonrc.com Time: 08-12-2014
20:10
Product: DRC_Tab
PubDate: 08-13-2014
Zone: State
Edition: 1 Page: O14
Color: C K Y M
14 Tracy Lawrence set to perform on August 23 of continuing to fight to be relevant.” Tracy Lawrence, who starred in the film, “L.A. Dirt,” also hopes to do more TV where he enjoys dabbling in a new medium. He plans to continue per-
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forming for the foreseeable future but hopes to add more overseas locations to his tours — locations like Scotland, where he’d like to try a few of the golf courses on his off time. “I’d just like to see more of the world,” he said.
From the Past... The hits just keep coming from his latest album, Headlights, Taillights and Radios – a labor of love for country and western phenom Tracy Lawrence. “Lie,” a top 10 single release from the album released in August 2013 — his first studio album in five years — tells the tale of a man looking back to a recent love he still yearns for while the woman moves on. “I heard you saw her last night at that dive down in Jamestown I haven't seen her since the 4th of July Did you get a chance to talk, Did she mention me at all Was she there alone Or with some other guy Well, I'm dying to know but I'm scared of the truth So before you say a word, consider what this heart's been through, and lie Don't tell me that she looked amazing Just lie If she's with someone else I just can't take it Tell me she looked sad and lonely Tell me she's been missing me like crazy Yeah, just look me in the eye and lie.” The words ring true for listeners who have experienced the unrequited love of a former flame. And it is just one of a variety
of songs on his latest venture. On Aug. 23, Tracy Lawrence will return to the North Texas Fair & Rodeo to perform on the Budweiser Stage. The latest album reflects the singer’s desire to challenge himself, trying a more edgy and progressive sound. His decision to challenge himself musically started with a chance meeting after seeing Kenny Rogers at a symphony in Nashville. As Tracy Lawrence talked with the longtime musician, Rogers told him about how the industry was changing and it was important for a musician to challenge himself and reinvent himself from time to time. Rogers also said that, with the industry changes, more songs were crossing genres and appealing to broader audiences. “He really impressed me,” Lawrence said. “I left thinking I needed to push myself, challenge myself with the dynamics and vocal range.” He’d started working on the latest album three years ago, creating the more traditional country and western fare he has performed in years past. But after the discussion with Kenny Rogers, he began reviewing songs with a more widespread appeal and sought a few new musicians to create the progressive sounds he was seeking. The results are the songs, “Black Top,” “Footprints on the Moon,” “Stop, Drop and Roll” — among others. The album title even has a
strong meaning to the country artist: headlights for looking into the future, taillights for celebrating the past and radio as a tribute to his success on the medium. Lawrence, who has penned several of his top songs himself, tends to write the down home, earthy songs like “Butterfly” and “Cecil’s Palace” — both on his latest album. It is a process he enjoys — taking the seed of a song and watching it grow into a musical score with vocals in the studio. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “If a lyric is strong, you can make anything out of it. A really good song can transcend genres.” In a career spanning more than two decades, Tracy Lawrence has sold more than 13 million albums, seen 22 of his songs on the Billboard top ten charts and garnered 18 number one singles. The multi-platinum Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awardwinning musician is also known for such hits as “Time Marches On,” “Alibis” and “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” At age 46, the singer, originally from Forman, Ark. though born in Atlanta, Tx., remains one of the top country and western performers. And what keeps him going from stage to stage, city to city? “I really do still love it,” he said. “I love getting on the stage and I feel really proud of what we’re doing. I love the challenge
To the Present.
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