JOHNNY BULFORD NAMED THE “BEST NEW ACT IN COUNTRY MUSIC”
AT THE 27TH ANNUAL COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN!
Talk about life imitating a great country song! Rising country sensation Johnny Bulford’s (www.johnnybulford.com) wild and incredible 2009 is truly living up to “Livin It Up,” his infectious new song that’s also the title track to his upcoming third indie album.
Representing radio station WWKA Orlando, the charismatic Central Florida based singer/songwriter was named “Best New Act In Country Music” at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown (www.countryshowdown.com), which was hosted by superstar LeAnn Rimes at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and was syndicated across the country.
The multi-talented performer, who plans to invest the $100,000 Grand Prize check he received into furthering his blossoming career, beat out four other finalists with renditions of his original songs “How Could I Not” and “What Happens Here Stays Here,” the title track from his popular 2007 indie album.
“It’s the best thing that’s happened in my career so far, and it seemed like everybody in Nashville was watching the show, so people wanted to know why I wasn’t jumping up and down and acting more excited,” says Bulford. “I guess I deal with this kind of thing differently, and I was in shock a little bit. When they announced my name, my legs started shaking and all I could think about was not falling down and not saying something silly. I thought back to when I first started listening to country music, when my grandmother popped in a cassette of Garth Brooks when I was 11 and thought, wow, it’s been quite a journey. Yet really, it’s only beginning.”
Bulford, who recently scored a highly coveted endorsement deal with manufacturing powerhouse Taylor Guitars, came close to the mountaintop experience with the Colgate competition before as a Florida finalist in 2003 and Florida State winner in 2004. He’s following in the giant footsteps of some of today’s top country artists who also competed in past local, state, regional and National competitions, including Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans and Miranda Lambert.
Not that he minds the superstar company—the way things are going, he’ll probably be opening for those artists sooner than later. At the tender age of 24, the seasoned performer—whose competition accolades also include placing second in the Recording Academy sponsored Florida Grammys in 2007—has already opened major shows for Collin Raye, The Warren Brothers, Josh Turner, Emerson Drive, Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, Tanya Tucker, Darryl Worley, Jason Michael Carrol, Justin Moore, Gretchin Wilson, John Anderson, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Jamie Johnson, Blake Shelton and even Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night fame.
Bulford is active on the charity circuit and recently performed an acoustic benefit concert for cancer research and medical grants at the University of Central Florida, where he’s taken time off from his pursuit of a master’s in business and marketing.
This whirlwind of activity is leading up to the highly anticipated release of Livin It Up, which features tracks written or co-written and produced by the singer and collaborations with renowned Nashville songwriting heavyweights, the Grammy nominated Charlie Craig (Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton) and Robert Arthur (Brad Paisley, Mark Chesnutt). Many of the songs are currently available on his MySpace site (www.myspace.com/johnbulford), and a pre-release of the album is for sale online and at his live performances.
“Even though there are a lot of strong ballads on the new album, it’s definitely a happier, more upbeat set than What Happens Here Stays Here and my (2005) debut Southern Thing,” Bulford says. “As a songwriter, I would say that I write based on experiences in my own life as well as being observational—I even write love songs based on observing the relationships of people around me. The title track ‘Livin It Up’ started with my idea of a hook that said, ‘I’ve been livin it up, now I’m trying to live it down. But it’s not a reckless party song, more about mischievous small town things like stealing the mascot and pouring soapsuds in the fountain by city hall.”
“Then,” he adds, “there’s ‘Real World’ which was inspired by my experiences and those of my friends during our college years. I wonder what we all have to show for our time then. We spent a lot of time partying, but did we really learn anything? On a more reflective, inspirational note, I really like the ballad ‘Remember The Brave,’ which is a song dedicated to our troops.”
Being a prolific songwriter helps set Bulford apart from the many wonderful singers in country music who rely on the magic of Music City songwriters for their material. Speaking of his preference to record his own material, he says, “I know many artists in Nashville love to draw incredible songs from the well of amazing writers in Music City, but I love writing and singing my own songs and to be honest, would feel weird singing someone else’s songs all the time—not that I wouldn’t ever do it! With outside material, I think the key would be identifying with what the song says—or if I wish I would have written it. I love collaborating with Charlie and Robert, and feel I have learned something valuable from everyone I have ever worked with. For me, the key to writing great songs is knowing first of all what isn’t going to work.”
While Bulford’s childhood growing up in Central Florida was heavy on the gospel and Christian music—which he heard at home and sang in church—the singer recalls laying in bed at night listening to a local pop station and recalls falling in love with classic rock (Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin) after his father introduced him to it. Though he has long felt that his smooth voice is more suited for country than rock, the singer cites a wide range of classic and modern influences in a multitude of genres. While he still enjoys Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Brad Paisley (both as a singer and guitarist), Bulford is equally passionate about Irish rock singer Damien Rice and contemporary singer/songwriters like Amos Lee.
Because of his natural ability to write great songs, there was a time when Bulford contemplated simply being a Music City songwriter and letting others perform his material. But his fans in Florida and throughout the region, and the millions who saw him win the Colgate Showdown, won’t hear of it. They want him onstage where they can enjoy his great showmanship and the powerful energy he has when he sings from the heart.
“I used to listen to country music as therapy that got me through tough times,” he says. “That’s what’s great about this genre, that the writers and artists write and sing about life, and it can help listeners who are going through things. Knowing that I have written songs that can lift people’s spirits like this is the coolest thing in the world to me. If my words or my performance helps change someone’s life, I can’t ask for any greater gift.”
Those are his spiritual goals, but what about his immediate career aspirations? “To perform on Conan O’Brien and record a duet with Carrie Underwood!”
Now that would truly be Livin It Up!
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Christian
Founder of HelpCharity Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 (0) 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 (0) 171 6903352 E-Mail: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Internet: www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity Internet: www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Compilation CD is finished!!! Will begin mailing out to radio stations any day now!! Please come by my page and listen to “Angel Kisses” by “Delores Hershey”. I hope you will also add Delores at www.myspace.com/deloreshershey and listen to “I’ve Been Waiting For You” Both songs are on this CD. You can start calling your favorite radio stations to request these 2 songs by Delores Hershey!
Thank you so much and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I wrote an exciting book titled “THE LAST CHAPTER” which is in the stores now around the world as of November 14, 2009, You can also get it online at PublishAmerica.com or Barnes&Nobles.com ISBN # 978-1-4489-2191-1
My name is Minister Willie Wiggins Jr, Aka Reverend OG Willie J. I am originally from Boston Massachusetts and now I reside in Florida. My education first began on the streets of Boston learning every type of street hustle there is. I was the worst type of man that you would ever want to meet. I left home at the age of 15 and became a product of the street life, and 30 years of my life was spent as one of the biggest drug dealers, pimps, con artist, and master criminal minds that you could ever imagine. (You will be surprised), I have seen things that would make a billy goat puke, and I have also mingled with the stars, both entertainers and sports figures alike. I have traveled to every state in this country and other countries also.
Through the salvation of Jesus Christ, I have been exalted to higher education and received a degree in accounting, a degree in psychotherapy for additions counseling, I am preacher, teacher and motivational speaker known as M
Stopping by to wish you a fantastic week!!! Hope all is going great with you!!! Tomorrow is DAY 2 of the Texas - New Mexico Radio Tour, Check my blog to see if I am coming to your town!!! Check out my newest single Whipping Post on Texas radio NOW!!! I also hope to see you out at Rowdy Bucks in Crosby Texas Saturday November 28th 2009 9:30 The show will also be streamed live from www.susanhickman.com Check it out if you cant make it!!! Hope to see you there!!! Love, ~Susan Hickman www.susanhickman.com www.reverbnation.com/susanhickman www.twitter.com/susanhickman
Hey Johnny! :) Wanted to drop by & leave a message to tell you - how AMAZING you are! :) Thanks for bringing peace to my day...by listening to your beautiful songs! :) SOME of my favs are "Remember the Brave, How Could I Not, Missing Me, What Happens Here Stays Here, Time For That, With You, That Day, Scream, New Song, In My Hands (Granny's Song), Goodbye, One Of Those Things, When I Make It, It Could Have Been Great, My Heart's Yours, My Favorite Everything". Well, that's just a few...:) It's really hard to list favs. Keep em' comin!
Hi you all, I really enjoy your music very much, I thank you for the chance to hear the new songs and old songs on your site and the last thing I want to say is thank you for being my friend this really means a lot. Thanks.
Were going to be coming through your town on tour this week. Nov 13-22nd We would love to see you out at these shows. let us know if you need more info on the dates. <3 Bennett IVT
The turkey shot out of the oven and rocketed into the air, it knocked every plate off the table and partly demolished a chair.
It ricocheted into a corner and burst with a deafening boom, then splattered all over the kitchen, completely obscuring the room.
It stuck to the walls and the windows, it totally coated the floor, there was turkey attached to the ceiling, where there'd never been turkey before.
It blanketed every appliance, it smeared every saucer and bowl, there wasn't a way I could stop it, that turkey was out of control.
I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure, and thought with chagrin as I mopped, that I'd never again stuff a turkey with popcorn that hadn't been popped
In every change that you experience in life, there will be times when you'll wonder if you can endure. But you'll learn that facing each difficulty one by one isn't so hard. It's when you don't deal with a situation that it sometimes comes back to confront you again. Changes are sometimes very painful, but they teach us that we can endure and that we can become stronger. Everything that comes into your life has a purpose, but the outcome is in your hands by the action you take. Be wise with your life, be willing to endure, and always be willing to face life's challenges.
november 8th is my birthday congrats so happy for you. If i had way from tampa i would come see y'all. I miss my son...he was best marine and once again your song touched me heart. it's tough going through this alone...he always
called on my b'day send card this 8th of nov will be so hard...i miss him. my hero. mom of PFC Robert Bruce Buskey Jr.
Thank you for your great music and wonderful voice and for being my friend, I enjoy your music very much and can't wait too hearing what you might have next too show me. I wish you great success in your career and again thanks for your friendship.
JOHNNY BULFORD is the future of country music as a professional songwriter trust me he's the REAL DEAL so you just wait and see. Pic below of a best friend we share you can ask Johnny who it is if your to young to know,lol, Tommy
Charlie Craig on guitar Jimmie Van Zant Band members back row.
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