Welcome Chris Cook Fans!
God Bless and all the Best!
The Latest News
April 2009
Friends, Fans, Industry
IN THIS ISSUE
FALL EURO TOUR 2009
AIRPLAY DIRECT SPOTLIGHT
NEW RECORDING DEAL
HANGIN’ WITH VINCEGILL
NV /CA SUMARY
TUESDAYS AT BENTLEY’S INBELMONT ,
NC
FALL EURO TOUR 2009
AIRPLAY DIRECT SPOTLIGHT
NEW RECORDING DEAL
HANGIN’ WITH VINCE
TUESDAYS AT BENTLEY’S IN
FALL EURO TOUR
I am now planning a tour of the UK
and Europe and could really use your help! Thanks in advance to anyone receiving this news letter that is willing to
assist me in arranging gigs, house concerts, lodging, transport, radio
interviews, etc., please contact me personally by replying to heartlessroad@yahoo.com. I’m shooting for a beginning time frame of the second
week in September and would like to stick around through October. I have a
handful of gig offers so far and more in the works but can always use a helpin’
hand filling in the gaps. Your efforts will be much appreciated!
FEATURED ARTIST ON AIRPLAY DIRECT
I was honored to be named one of AirPlay Direct's "Featured" and
"Spotlight Artists" for the month of March. Past "Featured
Artists" include Dolly Parton, The Raconteurs (Jack White), Merle Haggard,
Lee Roy Parnell, Ann Wilson (heart), Willie Nelson, Los Lonely Boys and Susan
Tedeschi. A big thank you goes out to Robert Weingartz, AirPlay Direct's CEO,
for choosing to feature me and my music and also to the many radio programmers
that have used AirPlay Direct to download my songs and are playing them on
their shows! Since being featured, my songs have been downloaded more than 160
times by radio stations all over the world! AirPlay Direct is an easy to use
digital file transfer system that was developed to streamline radio/artist
promotion activities for today's music industry. This new service is free for
artists and programmers alike and allows artists to deliver "broadcast
quality" tracks to radio quickly, efficiently and cost effectively. Utilizing
the AirPlay Direct system also allows an artist to positively impact the
environment by eliminating needless packaging.
TREE O RECORDS
My pals The Carter Brothers in conjunction with Boston’s Brian Budzinski have
started a new label and have invited me on board as one of their very first
artists!! I traveled to Nashville for several days last month to check out
their new facility known as “The Tree House” where they’ve just added a 1000
square foot addition on to their home studio and I must say I was tickled to be
there! Grammy winner Tim Carter is know as one of the industries finest
engineers. Hailing from High Point, NC both Tim and Danny Carter are also fine
songwriters and performers in their own right. I felt very comfortable working
along side of them and have a good feeling about the over all vibe. Tim and
Danny suggested we approach my new project with a sparse but effective
production, keeping instrumentation stripped down but necessary and I agree.
Keep your eyes and ears open this summer for new songs and what I think will
turn out to be some very interesting recordings with a fresh approach!
Vince Gill
During some down time while working on my new record with the Carters, A
talented musician and songwriter name Mike Scott came by to put some finishing
touches on his project. Who did Mike have lined up to come in to lay down
harmony vocals? None other than Vince Gill!! Way cool!! As some of you know,
Vince is one of my long time favorite singers and guitarists. What a treat it
was to get the chance to meet him and watch one of the harmony masters work in
the studio. Mike and Vince’s voices merged together on “Take Me Lord and Use
Me” like a two man choir. What an awesome experience it was. YES… I have pics
and YES I handed off one of my cds. Don’t be silly…
FALLON, NV
It’s always a treat and a pleasure to go out west and visit with my good
friends there in Fallon, Nevada, a small town an hour east of Reno. Strangely
enough, they have a naval station in the middle of the desert!! I have performed
in Northern NV annually since about 2002 at the Naval Air Station, private
events, house concerts, casinos and festivals and ALWAYS have a blast! This
trip was no exception. After performing for troops at NAS and Dave and Lisa’s
Donahough’s wedding reception (CONGRATS!), I then drove over to California for
a show at Beale Air Force Base. Big THANKS to Ted & Jo Bolzle from TJ’s
DJ’s, Dave and Lisa Donahough, Jerry & Becky Mathews. See y'all again real
soon!
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CA
I first met Chief Master Sergeant Johnnie Smith in Thule, Greenland while
touring for the DOD back in 99’ and had not seen him since, until last year
when he came to my show in Fallon. Johnnie or “Smitty” as some call him is a
really great guy that always goes out of his way to make you feel right at home
and he didn’t hold nothing back this time either! Great food, drink, lodging,
music oh yea… let’s not forget a ride in the pace car that followed a U2 spy
plane down the runway! What a rush! This thing takes off like a rocket from 400
feet! Special thanks to Johnnie, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Slavick, General Bob
Otto, Chief Jim Parkhill, Services, Mike and Woody at Recce Point Club and the
rest of the 9th Force Support Squadron at Beale AB for their warm welcome and
attendance to my show; it was one of the best and most received shows I’ve
played this year for sure! I was there to boost their morale but I think it
ended up the other way around! Beale Air Base is a 23,000 acre base way out in
the country located about 2 hours drive north of Sacramento and was my very
first gig ever in the great state of California!
TUESDAYS AT BENTLEY'S IN BELMONT, NC
Since November of last year I’ve spent my Tuesday evenings (when travel
permits) singin’ songs, pickin’ a lil guitar and havin’ a few drinks with my
local friends and family down at Bentley’s in my home town, down town Belmont,
North Carolina. Keep your eyes on the schedule to stay posted when I will and
won’t be there in between my travel dates or, just go check it out anyway!! We
always have a great crowd and a fun time so come give a listen!
In closing, I wish each of you a wonderful 2009 and hope to see you somewhere
down the line!
All the best,
Chris
