Top 25 on iTunes? Think About That... literally.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

Join the movement!  We're makin' a run at the Top 25 Country Charts on iTunes for INDEPENDENT artist Chance McKinney.  Be part of it.  Get your copy of THINK ABOUT THAT for $5 off the June 1st price by Pre-Ordering on iTunes today!

He's CMT's Music City Madness Winner...

He's had tour dates with Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Kenny Rogers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alan Jackson, Dwight Yoakam, .38 Special and many more...

Now, find out WHY when you purchase your copy of Chance McKinney's new CD "Think About That" on iTunes for $5 off the retail price.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

Do it now... be part of history!  A former high school teacher at the top of iTunes Country Charts?  It could happen with your help.

Join us on www.Facebook.com/ChanceMcKinneyMusic or www.Twitter.com/ChanceMcKinney for further info and giveaways!

ACM Honors Announced

My congratulations go out to ALL the award winners, but please notice "GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – J.T. Corenflos" in the list of musicians.  J.T. does all the recording work for me in Nashville.  He's a great guy to work with and easily, one of the most talented and creative musicians I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

Congratulations JT!  CM

The Academy of Country Music’s ACM Honors winners will be feted at an event held on Sept. 10 in Nashville. This year’s honorees are:

Keith Whitley and The Judds, recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. This award honors individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre. Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award include Alabama, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills and Dwight Yoakam, among others.

Jason Aldean, recipient of the Crystal Milestone Award. This award is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Award include Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Taylor Swift.

Blake Shelton has been chosen to receive the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music. Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award include Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson and George Strait.

Lady Antebellum has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Alan Jackson, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, among others.

Tommy Wiggins has been chosen as the recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music. Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Gayle Holcomb, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed and David Young.

Guy Clark and Hank Williams have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music. Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz and Cindy Walker.

Additional ACM Honors awards include:

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

CASINO OF THE YEAR – Red Rock Casino & Resort – Las Vegas
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR – Joe’s Bar – Chicago
VENUE OF THE YEAR – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR – Jerry Hufford – Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar

MBI (MUSICIAN, BANDLEADER, INSTRUMENTALIST) AWARDS:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jay Joyce
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Chuck Ainlay
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jimmie Lee Sloas
PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Matt Chamberlain
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Aubrey Haynie
GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – J.T. Corenflos
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Michael Rojas
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ilya Toshinsky
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Mike Johnson

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD:

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Dallas Davidson

It's like Colt Ford knew... "Every CHANCE I Get"

 

In a year of touring throughout the West with the likes of Dierks Bentley, Dwight Yoakam, Mark Chesnutt, Alan Jackson, David Nail, Gloriana, Sunny Sweeney, Phil Vassar, Steve Azar, John Rich, Sebastian Bach, Eden's Edge and Kenny Rogers... what better way to finish off 2011 than a December run with Hick-Hop artist COLT FORD.

It's as if Colt Ford knew we'd be hangin' together.  His latest CD release "Every CHANCE I Get" hit shelves this past May and has been on an iTunes tear ever since!  The CD itself has featured artists on it including Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Nappy Roots, Nic Cowan, Josh Thompson, Trent Tomlinson,  Craig Morgan and Charlie Daniels.  It's an All-Star event... not just a CD.

About two weeks ago I got a call from my agent at William Morris Endeavors who said the Country Rapper Colt Ford was comin' through the Pacific Northwest in mid-December.  Now, Colt and I aren't on the same roster (he's on Buddy Lee Attractions), but sometimes when acts fit together (or they think it'd be mutually beneficial) they put together deals on the fly like this.  Needless to say, when Barrett asked if I'd be interested in doin' shows with Colt Ford, I was grinnin' ear to ear.

As of right now, the "dates and states" stand at:

Thursday - 12.08.11 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Rail Event Center

Friday - 12.16.11 - Springfield, OR - Whiskey River Ranch

Saturday - 12.17.11 - Portland, OR - The Ponderosa

Sunday - 12.18.11 - Spokane, WA - The Knitting Factory

Ticket links are available at http://www.ChanceMcKinney.com/tour.html for those who want to catch Colt n' Chance out on the road... in the middle of December... workin' hard through the holiday season... tryin' to bring quality entertainment... weathering the Pacific Northwest storms, poor road conditions, cold nights... (yeah, I'm milkin' it at this point.)

A quick "thank you" to all of those who've made this dream a reality since the CMT win almost 2 years ago... I really appreciate all you've done (and continue to do) for me!

CM

P.S.  There will be more details on:

http://www.twitter.com/ChanceMcKinney

and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chance-McKinney/160688966444

Kenny Rogers... no way! Yes way!!

Kenny Rogers along with Chance McKinney n' CrossWire on August 26th

I'd be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to say how thankful I am for opportunities like this that come up in this journey.  I stepped off the plane last week in Portland, OR preparing for the Willamette Country Music Festival with artists like Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town and Blake Shelton only to find a text message from one of the biggest promoters in the Pacific Northwest on my phone.  It read... "You're IN for Kenny Rogers."  Period.  That's it.  No, not quite eloquent, but damn fine in spirit and "cut to the point"-ness.

 

I literally was Tweeting (as in Twittering) and Facebooking in the car rental line "just got asked to open for Kenny Rogers.  Is hellfrickinyeah one word or three?"  Over 50 comments and 120 likes later I realized the magnitude of what was just presented to me on a platter.  Dude, you and your band are going to open for one of the greatest ALL-TIME country artists.  I mean, a guy you grew up listening to on the portable AM radio that ran on batteries out in the fishin' boat with Mom, Dad and your brother.

 

Do you think I knew, (at age 5-ish) while I was casting away tryin' to keep up with the rest of 'em at a game of "whose stringer of bass was fullest", that I'd be sharing the stage one day with THAT GUY?!  No way...  the gravity still escapes me.  It usually hits right about showtime when we (the boys from CrossWire and I) are about to step on stage.  The headliner bus, limo, van, whatever pulls up and I catch a glimpse of Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson or that guy (Kenny Rogers) on their way to their hospitality trailer.  That's when it hits me.  I have 30-45 minutes to engage an audience and prepare them for a legitimate star.  No, not someone who just dresses the part or got to where they are because "daddy had some money" but literal "stars."  I mean, people who ooze talent.  And here I am, former high school teacher, CMT winner with a band full of talented musicians but still a kid from rural Montana responsible for flipping the switch.   That, is the moment.  That's the high.  That's the challenge.  And that, is why I love what I do.

 

Tonight, I'll be on stage with Paul, Ray and Brian "flippin' the switch."  Wanna know how the story ends?  It doesn't... but I'll try to keep you updated along the way through Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/chancemckinney), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chance-McKinney/160688966444) and Website (http://www.chancemckinney.com) if you're interested in taggin' along.

 

CM