Whiskeytown; Crosby, Stills and Nash; Emmy Lou Harris; Buddy and Julie Miller; Gillian Welch; Johnny Cash; NWA; Neil Young; Patty Griffin; The Rolling Stones; Ryan Adams; Steve Earle; Todd Snider; Tonic; U2; The Damnwells; Foo Fighters; Esteban
AM Radio is the follow up album to Billy Cerveny’s 2000 release A Horse Named Pride. A collection of 12 new songs, AM Radio explores the smokier side of Cerveny’s writing. Lyrically, he maintains the poetry of A Horse Named Pride, but each new song has a raw edge that makes it a must for alt-country fans. “AM Radio is the record that I have wanted to make for a long time. It definitely has more grit than A Horse Named Pride. Basically, I wanted AM Radio to sound like the last 6 years have felt”, says Cerveny. “When I started writing the songs for AM Radio, I had a pretty clear vision where I wanted to go with it. Mitch Dane (co-producer) and I went in the studio and we spent most of our time trying to keep the polish off of the songs. We didn’t want to lose the vibe of the record by over-tweaking. Some of the best moments on AM Radio came from smearing the right amount of dirt in the right places at the right time.” The end result is an album that tells a story as much with its musical textures as it does with its lyrics.
In the January, 2003 edition of Music Row, Robert Oermann says of "AM Radio", "[Cerveny's] folksy rasp throws these extraordinary lyrics into high relief. This Nashvillian has the potential to become one of the greatest of all the Americana stars."
AM Radio is a milestone for Billy Cerveny and it draws on all of his life experiences. Billy spent most of his first 18 years in Jacksonville and the music of north Florida and South Georgia had a large influence on his Alt-country sound. Jacksonville is a hub for Southern rock and Billy cut his musical teeth listening to these bands as they traveled through the Southeast. Billy’s southern roots, coupled with his love of singer-songwriters and the progressive music of the early 80’s shaped his later approach to singing, playing and songwriting.
In 1987, Billy left Jacksonville and moved north to attend Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Since that time he has received a degree in philosophy, worked as a magazine reporter and editor, a television reporter and documentary producer. Valuable as they were, however, all of these experiences could not replace Billy’s love of music. In 1996 he began to play full time.
In 2000, Billy released his debut album, A Horse Named Pride. As an independent release, HNP was a success selling 4000 copies in the first year and a half. HNP received excellent reviews in its first year from American Songwriter and Music Row. The April edition of Music Row compares Billy’s music to that of Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams and Nanci Griffith saying that Billy’s music is “so much cooler than the plastic people who pass for country stars today.”
Billy has performed for the President of The United States, George W. Bush, on four separate occasions. First at his election night party on the steps of the state capital in Austin, Texas along side Pat Green and Jimmy Vaughn, next in front of 20,000 Marines at Camp Lejeune along side Lone Star and most recently in Cincinnati and Detroit with Travis Tritt.
Last year, Billy had two songs featured in the independent films. The Chicago based production company, Strata Productions, used “Sail On” for its film “Almost Salinas” starring John Mahoney (Frazier) and Ian Gomez (The Drew Cary Show). This film was featured at Tribecca and other film festivals around the country. Also, the new independent film “Hometown Legend” picked up the song “Harmony” for its soundtrack.
With the release of AM Radio, Cerveny has taken the next step as both a songwriter and musician. When not on the road, Billy lives in Nashville, TN and works on number of studio projects, is a free-lance journalist and writes music for television commercials.
For more information on booking or CDs, contact The Nashville Resistance, PMB-113, 4117 Hillsboro Pk., Suite 103, Nashville, TN 37215, information@billycerveny.com or call 615.383.0990.
An incomplete list of the greatest albums of all time in no certain order:
1) Flaming Red – Patty Griffin
2) Exile on Main Street – The Rolling Stones
3) Red Dirt Girl – Emmy Lou Harris
4) Unforgettable Fire – U2
5) Straight Outa Compton - NWA
6) James Taylor’s Greatest Hits – James Taylor
7) So Far - Crosby Still and Nashville
8) Heartbreaker – Ryan Adams
9) Shake Your Money Maker – The Black Crowes
10) Revival – Gillian Welch
11) Appetite For Destruction – Guns and Roses
12) Ten – Pearl Jam
13) Indigo Girls – Indigo Girls
14) Nothing Shocking – Jane’s Addiction
15) Johnny Cash - Live At Folsom Prison
16) Green – REM
17) Fables of The Reconstruction – REM
18) Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell – Social Distortion
19) Faithless Street - Whiskeytown
20) Straight Outa Compton - NWA
21) Harvest - Neil Young
22) Greatest Hits - Allman Brothers
23) Ghost In The Machine - The Police
24) Mirror Moves - Psychedelic Furs
hey there :] how are things in nashville? i dont think i've talked to you or charla in months... i texted her a couple times since i got out of boot camp but maybe she has a new number? anyways... i miss you guys a ton! i saw pictures of baby cerveny on your facebook and she is just the cutest kid ever!
the navy is going well, im about to start school for learning chinese right now in california and i absolutely am having the best time :)
wow youre an amzing artist its like your songs are about my life word for word i listen to your music and it just drowns out the things going on in my life you were amazing at crooked creek last week and i hope to see you agian <3
hey billy!!! i'm the girl that you met at windy gap that played guitar and sang. Remember i was having a lot of trouble writing and then at the end of the week i wrote a song? well song writing is going great and i got a job as a guitar teacher. i hope everything is going well with you. AM radio is still one of my favorite songs! God Bless
Hey Billy! I'm listening to your music right now and I just wanted to thank you again for all you shared with us this summer! I will never forget you! Merry Christmas!
Hey Billy! Just wanted to stop by and say hello! I like your sound! How are things in Nashville? Two of my sons are in The BreezeWay based out of Nashville. You guys should do some shows together. Have a great week! Bill-The Professors Salem, Ohio
hello billy, thanks u so much for adding me^^ i love your song "AM Radio"..hopefully u like some of my songs too..i would be really glad, if you would comment on the songs shortly^^ how r u? hope you're doin fine. greets from germany Nhung
hey billy, my dad and i drove to cincinatti this weekend and we (attempted to)belt out with you on both of the albums. I loveee your music and wish you would play some place near knoxville maybe?? I havnt got my fix of you since frontier and ive found your music is like nicotine!!Please come
Just thought I would let you know I have listened to your music almost daily for soooo very long. I have "When I Breathe" as my default song. I have been a follower and fan of yours since you sang at our old church in Friendswood Texas years ago. You still amaze me. I have shared your music with so many friends! Thank you for the music. It has helped me in many ways in my life. God has given you an amazing gift. Take care and God Bless karrie
