PETER DULA:
Lead vocals, acoustic guitar FRANTISEK JANO:
Fiddle, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, backround vocals PETER HENRICZY:
Lead electric and acoustic guitar, banjo SLAVO MLYNARCIK:
bass guitar, dobro, backround vocals MARIAN PAL-BALAZ:
Drums, backround vocals
Influences
Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Joe Diffie, Randy Travis, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, George Jones, Tracy Byrd, Don Williams, Brad Paisley, Gordon Lightfoot, Wade Hayes, Ricky Skaggs, Garth Brooks, Mark Knopfler, Mark 'O Connror, Brent Mason, Paul Franklin...
Peter Dula is a country singer/songwriter from Slovakia (Europe), but music hasn’t been his love and passion from the very beginning. He used to be a hockey player and in 1999 went to Boston, MA to play hockey for a junior league (on a path to try out for the NHL). His plans suddenly changed when he was diagnosed with cancer. He was treated in Boston for 6 months. Peter got well and went back home to Slovakia, but in a few months the disease returned. He had to undergo a bone marrow transplant. "It was the toughest battle of my life, but I got through it" says Peter.
In between his treatments he picked up his father's old guitar and his dad showed him a few chords. That's how it all started. Peter never sang or played any instrument before in his life. His dad had some old records by Johnny Cash and Peter started playing and singing his songs. "His voice and his music touched my heart and Johnny Cash became my biggest influence," Peter comments. Later on Peter disovered some other great country singers that also had a huge influence on him and their music was helping him recover from his illness and get through the hard times during his treatment (Alan Jackson, Don Williams, Joe Diffie, Buddy Jewell, Randy Travis, Mark Chesnutt...)
"I fell in love with this music right away and it became a part of my life".
He learned a lot by listening to these great artists. If you ever heard Peter sing, you know he sings with his heart and soul and delivers his music with such honesty and feelings. His music will reach out and touch you.
Peter is now fronting Europe's top country band The Rowers and is having the greatest time of his life! They released a CD which won them a Slovak Grammy and other numerous prestigious awards including the best European country band of 2007. They broke the European airplay record when the single "I’m Leavin’" spent consecutive 14 weeks at the top of the ECMA chart. Peter & The Rowers swept the board at the 2007 European CMA awards taking home 6 awards along with the most prestigious “Artist of the Year” award. Peter’s songs are dominating the major European country charts and he and his band are extensively touring Europe. It's like a dream come true.
Since the beginning of 2008 Peter has been battling cancer again but that did not stop him. He is still trying to perform , record and write songs. In spring 2008 Peter recorded a duet with honky tonk legend and Grammy winner Joe Diffie and their song "Long Gone Loner" made it to no.1 on the major European Country Music Chart and went to no.3 on the prestigious HotDisc International Chart. The song was a huge success.
In June 2008 Peter was invited to perform at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville and on June 8th he made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. With the performance on the Grand Ole Opry he made his biggest dream come true.
Country music is helping Peter keep going through the hardest time of his life!!!
Peter has worked and shared the stage with Joe Diffie, Marty Stuart, George Jones, Mark Chesnutt, Buddy Jewell, Sammy Kershaw, Michael Peterson, Andy Griggs, Chris Young, Billy Yates, Kevin Denney, Kerry Kurt Phillips, Roger Springer, Lorrie Morgan, Neal McCoy, Tammy Cochran, Leslie Satcher, Brice Long, T. Graham Brown, Billy Ryan and many more.
THE ROWERS - BIO :
The Kosice-based band THE ROWERS (Veslari), was formed in 1971 and is the oldest country band in Slovakia. During this time more than 60 musicians have played with the group, contributing to the bands long development process. Over those years, the band's music genre has also evolved: from folk music to bluegrass, until todays modern country style.
In between of the 70’s and 80‘s, the band VESLARI recorded roughly 100 songs for Czechoslovakian radio and TV, and its music aired regularly through that time period.
The band participated in the production of the first two country music compilation LP's in Slovakia, "Ked svitne rano" and "Country trh No.1", where a number of its songs were recorded."
They have been selected "Best Country Band" by the SCMA (Slovak Country music Association) and won numerous awards.
In the beginning of 2004, PETER DULA , a very talented young singer and songwriter joined the band as the lead vocalist. The band began performing as "PETER & THE ROWERS"
Subsequently, the band gained even greater notoriety, performed at many festivals, fairs, rodeos, concerts and top venues throughout Europe, amazing it's audiences and organizers alike. In the summer of 2005 Peter & The Rowers won a prize for the best band at the biggest country festival in central Europe "STODOLA MICHALA TUCNEHO" in the Czech Republic and a week later they competed at the biggest Country and Folk festival in Slovakia "COUNTRY LODENICA" and came in the first place.
PETER & THE ROWERS (VESLARI) are the top band playing modern country music in Europe and they proved it with another smash hit "Ja Pojdem Sam".
They received the prestigious "AUREL ACADEMY AWARD" (the Slovak version of Grammy) for the best country album in Slovakia for 2006. Aurel is the most prestigious award for music and it is the highest honor bestowed on an artist in Slovakia.
The song "Blind Horses" from this CD went to no.3 on "Worldwide Country Chart" in July 2006 and in January 2007 it went all the way to no.1 on prestigious "ECMA TOP 100 CHART" (European CMA Country Radio Airplay chart). The next single, "I'm Leavin'" made history when the song went straight to no.1 and stayed at the top for consecutive 14 weeks.
"I'm Leavin'" was also featured on a Universal Music compilation CD, which was released in Europe to promote new music by Peter & The Rowers and fellow stars Vince Gill, Mark Chesnutt, Dolly Parton and others .
In late 2007 the band performed in Nashville, TN, where they started co-operating with top songwriters and artists on their new album, which is being finished in a Leon Art studio in Bardejov, Slovakia.
The upcoming Peter & The Rowers album will feature the total of three duets with special star guests. One of them is the honky tonk legend Joe Diffie , who is going to help out Peter Dula with the original "Long Gone Loner". Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Billy Yates, will also lend his vocals to the project. The list of star guests concludes with the Nashville star winner Buddy Jewell, who will collaborate with Peter on the song "Waitin' For The Rain". The long-anticipated album "Honky Tonk Dream" is coming out this year.
To celebrate all the success, Europan Country Music Association recognized Peter & The Rowers with nominations for their annual awards show.
The Slovak band made the awards their own, turning 8 nominations into 6 wins. Since they were nominated twice in two categories, they won all they possibly could. Not only did they win the European Artist of the Year award, but also the prestigious international Artist of the Year award. Peter & The Rowers also scored in the major categories Song of the Year ("I'm Leavin'"), Group/Band of the Year, ECMA Future Star Award and ECMA European Song of the Year ("I'm Leavin'"). This is an incredible success for this Slovak band, whose members found themselves beating superstars such as Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Mark Chesnutt, who were among other nominees. The list of winners also includes Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Billy Yates and Vince Gill.
Check out the band's website for more info and calendar at www.therowers.eu
Stopping by to wish you a fantastic week!!! Hope all is going great with you!!! Check out my newest single Whipping Post on Texas radio NOW!!! I also hope to see you out at Armadillo Palace Wednesday November 11th @ 12:00pm for my interview and acoustic performance with 740 KTRH's Michael Berry (Texas Music Show) And later that night I will be at Dosey Doe in the Woodlands (9:15pm) See you there!!! Love, ~Susan Hickman www.susanhickman.com www.reverbnation.com/susanhickman www.twitter.com/susanhickman
Christmas is coming soon. Are you looking for a Christmas present and would like to help handicapped children? Than please request the list of donations in kind from HelpCharity, www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity , by sending me an e-mail at Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de . Many donations in kind are autographed.
If you don't have the chance to request the list of donations in kind, please add HelpCharity to your Top Friends!
Thanks for helping me to support handicapped children!
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
Hey, more music added again to "Angel Kisses" just loaded yesterday, please come listen.... I know it's the 3rd time lol... 3rd times a charm, they say! Let me know what you think!! Now it’s really ready for the compilation cd.
“Angel Kisses” by “Delores Hershey” You can start calling your local radio stations now!
Ruby Jane Article in New York Times!! http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/who-do-these-guys-think-they-are/ AND Check out the new pictures and video! Let me know what you think! Ruby Jane
R.I.P. Peter. It was a pleasure for us to be your friends. Thanks for the chance to sing the vocals on "I'm Leavin'"....What a song, what a hit!! You made us a part of the history. You were a great man, may God be with you always.
Hey I hope you had a great day! I am so excited cuz I just found out you can buy my new song 'MY COWBOY' on iTunes! Just click on my Banner at the top of my page and it will take you to iTunes....and please write a review & rate my song :D (5 Stars...pleeeease) when you're there. Thanks for all your support and help me spread the word! Make sure you check out my Upcoming Shows on my page cuz I would love to meet you at one of them. Love ya and God Bless, The One & Only Mishavonna :D
HelpCharity is a acronym for Handicapped, engagement, loyalty, protection. HelpCharity want to support organizations that pay attention to the needs of handicapped children in Germany and America. Would you like to help too? For more information please read the blog of HelpCharity.
HelpCharity steht für BeHinderten, engagement, loyalität und protektion. Mit HelpCharity sollen Organisationen unterstützt werden, die sich um die Belange von behinderten Kindern in Deutschland und den USA kümmern. Würdest Du auch gerne helfen? Informationen wie Du helfen kannst, findest Du im Blog von HelpCharity.
Hello Peter, I did go to the Sheepfarm and the koncert with Billy Ryan and your band was fantastic! I did put some fotos on my profil, if you would like, I ll send you a foto cd, just let me know the address to send it to. Fotos are also on www.countrymarco.ch. Hope you are doing ok and hope to hear from you soon. Take care, hugs, Heidi.
Thanks for being such a great friend!!!! YOU ROCK!!! Have a great weekend!!!!!
If you are around Friday August 28th I'll be having a big show at Tumbleweed Texas with the Spiffingtons in Houston Texas I really hope to see you there!!!
If you sign up on my mailing list this week you will be entered in the drawing for a copy of my new self-titled CD Susan Hickman. you also get a free download just for singing up. Just fill in the mailing list form on my MySpace page!!! Hope you have a great week!!! Love ~Susan www.susanhickman.com
Hi! It's time to make history. Please, visit our web and vote to choose the best Garth Brooks #1. The best tune will be our 2009 International Country Music Day Song. Thank you!
Howdy! Thank you for adding Knife River Cowboys & girl! Take care! PLEASE SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK! Love, peace & waffles! Vote for us at Zoxsy.com Bump us at The Sixtyone.com Vote for us on ourstage.com
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