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Color-changing Text --- December 31st: On this day 1933 Born on this day was Fred Carter Jr. an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer. He was part of Nashville's 'A Team' and played with Kenny Rogers, Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel, Slim Whitman, Floyd Cramer, Sonny James, Hank Snow, Faron Young, Johnny Horton and Jim Reeves. He died on July 17, 2010 age 76. 1938 Born on this day was American country music and gospel singer Marilyn Sellars who had several hits during the mid-1970s most notably the original version of "One Day at a Time" in 1974. 1943 Born on this day in Roswell, New Mexico, was John Denver (Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.), singer, songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. Denver recorded and released over 300 songs, earning him 12 gold and 4 platinum albums with his signature songs "Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "Rocky Mountain High", "Annie's Song" and "Calypso". Denver was killed on October 12, 1997 at the age of 53 when his experimental Rutan Long-EZ plane, crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Pacific Grove, California. 1952 Hank Williams was scheduled to perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, West Virginia but due to an ice storm in the Nashville area, Williams could not fly, so he hired Charles Carr, to drive him to the concert. When they arrived at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, Williams complained of feeling unwell and saw a doctor. Carr and Williams checked out of the hotel, and at around midnight in Bristol, Virginia, Carr stopped at a small all-night restaurant and asked Williams if he wanted to eat. Williams said he did not, and those are believed to be his last words. Carr later stopped for fuel at a gas station in Oak Hill, West Virginia, where he realized that Williams was dead. 1954 Born on this day in Aylmer, Quebec, was Charlie Major Canadian country music artist. He was blinded in one eye as a result of a pellet gun accident when he was 12. Through the 1990s, he won the Juno Award as Country Male Vocalist of the Year for two years in a row. 1968 Billboard magazine reports that this year, for the first time, US total music sales have topped one billion dollars. Glenn Campbell scored six #1 albums in 1968. His total of 19 weeks at #1 was the most by any artist, more than twice that achieved by any other act. 1977 Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" spent its fifth week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It would be the last song to spend that long atop the chart until 1990's "Love Without End, Amen" by George Strait. 1995 The Great American Country TV channel was launched with Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" as the first video. 1997 American pianist Floyd Cramer died age 64. He became famous for his use of melodic "whole-step" attacks. He was one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, the Browns, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, and the Everly Brothers, among others. It was Cramer's piano playing, for instance, on Presley's first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel". In 1961, Cramer had a hit with "On the Rebound", which went to #4 on the Billboard chart. 2002 Shania Twain was at #1 on the US Country chart with her fourth studio album Up! The album debuted at #1 on both the Top Country Albums chart and the Billboard 200, after selling 874,000 copies in its first full week of release, it then stayed in the Top 100 of the Billboard chart for more than 60 weeks. 2017 Luke Bryan was at #1 on the Country Charts with What Makes You Country his sixth studio album. The album includes the singles "Light It Up", "Most People Are Good", "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset". and the title track.
Meet Cameron James Smith
Published on 01/02/2024 18:14
News
Meet our featured artist for March 2024 - "New Artist Showcase"

 

CAMERON JAMES SMITH
 

Cameron James Smith, hailing from Amarillo, TX, is making waves in the country music scene and is the featured artist on Redneck Junction Radio's "New Artist's Showcase" for February.   At just 24 years old, Cameron has already carved a niche for himself in the industry, blending influences from 90s country legends like Brooks and Dunn and Garth Brooks with a touch of modern flair inspired by artists such as Luke Combs, Aaron Watson, and Cody Johnson.

Cameron's journey into the world of music began at a young age, singing along with his mother in the car when he was just 5 or 6. His passion for music only grew stronger, leading him to start performing in public at the age of 19. Initially, he fronted an 80s rock cover band, honing his skills and learning the ropes of live performances.

Reflecting on his musical journey, Cameron shared, "I grew up listening to 80s rock music, so I love big drums and electric guitar solos in all of my songs, but I am a sucker for those traditional country sounds as well like the fiddle and steel guitar." This diverse blend of influences is evident in his music, creating a unique and engaging sound that resonates with fans of both classic and modern country.

Despite his burgeoning career in music, Cameron leads a balanced life. Outside of his musical endeavors, he holds a part-time position as the Contemporary/Modern Worship Leader at his church. His role involves leading two services on Sunday mornings and working office hours during the week, showcasing his dedication to both his faith and his craft.

One of Cameron's favorite aspects of his musical journey is the people he encounters along the way. Whether connecting with fellow artists, fans, or professionals in the industry, he values the sense of community that country music fosters. He expressed, "In Country music, it feels like everybody has a place where they can belong. It doesn’t matter where you're from or what you sound like, there is a niche and a place for everyone."

Married in June of the previous summer to his wife Shae, Cameron has a small white dog named Gracie and a big German Shepherd/Husky named Chief, completing his family. Despite juggling a part-time job and a thriving music career, Cameron feels fulfilled, especially when meeting fans and making a connection through his music.

Looking ahead, Cameron dreams of touring nationally and having a repertoire of songs that resonate with people. His ultimate dream is to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, a sentiment fueled by his awe-inspiring experience there in 2021. "That’s my goal," he declared, expressing the desire to stand in the same circle where many of his heroes and favorite artists have left their mark.

As Cameron continues to captivate audiences with his rocking electric guitar, fiddle and steel guitar, catchy melodies, and heartfelt lyrics, it's evident that he's on the path to achieving his dreams in the world of country music. With his unique sound and genuine passion, Cameron James Smith is undoubtedly a rising star to watch.

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