Note: New Subscribers that would like to read old NEWSLETTERS just click the LINK below

Camp was raised in Perryville, Arkansas by a musical family.^[1] In 1987, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and worked in the backing bands of such acts as Alan Jackson, Suzy Bogguss and Trisha Yearwood.^[2] In 1991, he was signed to Reprise Records, with two minor Top 40 singles charting in 1993.^[2] He later left the label over creative differences, but continued to write songs for other artists. Camp's first Number One as a songwriter came in early 1998, when Garth Brooks reached the top of the Billboard country charts with "Two Piña Coladas", a song co-written by Camp.^[1] Another song written by Camp reached Number One in the same year -- Brooks & Dunn's "How Long Gone".^[2]^[3]

Camp released a second album, titled Lucky Silver Dollar, in 2001.^[2] In 2006, he was nominated as Songwriter of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music; also, Billboard ranked him #10 on their 2006 list of Hot Country Songwriters.^[4] The same year, two songs co-written by Camp entered the country charts: "Nobody But Me" by Blake Shelton, and "Would You Go with Me" by Josh Turner, which peaked at No. 4 and No. 1, respectively, on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs charts. Camp also co-wrote Turner's 2007 single "Firecracker".

Lonnie's "Spotlight Song"

We wrote this song as a conversation between two men who are obviously good friends and have known each other all their lives. In the song you only hear one side of the conversation which is the friend that didn't go back for the homecoming and is trying to get some information from his friend. They both pretend they don't know what the conversation is really about and your iminigation is left to fill in the blanks. In the end the singer decides he needs to go back home himself and makes some pretty weak excuses in order to avoid the real reason which is that he is still in love with "Barbara Jean". As always you are welcome to send your comments.

Lonnie Ratliff NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net

"Click" LINKS BELOW to play song

lo-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamm3u.m3u?id=6343063&q=lo

hi-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamm3u.m3u?id=6343063&q=hi

If the above LINKS will not play the song try this one

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=392838

Did You See Barbara Jean

Hey John how are things back home
I wish I could have gone with you
How'd we do in that homecoming game
What's the latest small town news
Did you go down to "Lukes" and have a beer
Still the same old scene ?
I'll bet you told em all I'm losing my hair
Hey John, did you see Barbara Jean
Did you see Barabara Jean

Me and Barbara Jean made plans
I almost bought a diamond ring
Sometimes I wonder how it might have been
Ain't we all got one of those things ?
Did you go down to "Lukes" and have a beer
And It's still the same old scene
Me and Barb were quite the pair
Yeah me and Barbara Jean
Did you see Barbara Jean

You say you heard Barbara Jean's back home
Well I never thought he was her kind
I guess we all have to live and learn
But some of us sure take our time
Some of us sure take our time

Hey John I gotta get back home
Now my mama is all alone
Tie up some loose ends daddy left undone
Maybe clear up some of my own
So you went down to "Lukes" and you had a beer
Still the same old scene
Well I know you told em all I'm losing my hair
Hey John did you see Barbara Jean
Did you see Barbara Jean

Lonnie Ratliff / Tom Mitchell
© Okie Acres Music (BMI) Yabut Music (BMI)

If you are interested in recording this song send me an E Mail NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net

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2 Out of Print Erin Hay CD's available as legal downloads

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To purchase i-Tunes downloads "click" on above CD Cover photos

If you prefer to download from CDBABY use LINKS below

http://cdbaby.com/cd/erinhay ==== http://cdbaby.com/cd/erinhay3

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On The Road With The Matekis

"click photo for website"

Paul Mateki's biography.

Paul and Helen Mateki are two of the most respected Independent artists in the world today! Before Paul fell in love with and married Helen, he worked relentlessly for 10 years, honing his songwriting skills, vocal abilities, becoming a master on the guitar, and a prolific studio producer of all the songs he's sessioned to include on CDs.

Paul released 5 dynamic CD's in those early 10 years... the latest one in 2003 with his wonderfully talented wife Helen.
He has recieved untold Independent awards in the European music industry, including ECMA "Independent Album of the Year" 1998 ("Across the Miles," which spent a record-breaking 85 weeks in the ECMA Top 40 Album Chart) along with numerous #1 hits on the European Charts. He is also a valued member of the "Colorado International Country Music Hall of Fame" in the U.S.A.
Paul has shared the stage with and opened for many well known artists, including Lyle Lovett, Gene Watson, Tommy Cash, Norma Jean, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Ernie Ashworth, just to name a few. He has also recorded 3 duets with his good friend Ernie Ashworth, of Grand Ole Opry fame, as well as an appearance with Helen and Ernie on the "Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree".
Paul has toured Europe 10 times and Australia twice, with ever-increasing chart success, gaining cherished and solid fan support wherever he goes. With the recent inclusion of his talented wife, Helen, in the act, the popularity of their "duo" endeavors and seamless harmonies has caught the ears of DJs and fans throughout the world, keeping them continually high on daily playlists and chart activity.
Known worldwide now as "THE MATEKI's", and recent recipients of the European CMA "Duo of the Year" Awards 2005, Paul and Helen are currently working on fresh, new material for their eagerly anticipated next CD. It's obvious that European DJs and fans are in for a real surprise and treat from this very talented Texas U.S.A. duo.
Helen Mateki's biography.
Helen was born in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Being taught in a Catholic school, she learned singing and found her love in harmonizing. At age fourteen, Helen and her family emigrated to Fort Worth, Texas where she finished her schooling. Knowing that she nor her sister and five brothers spoke English during that summer, they quickly had to learn that language before beginning their first school year in America.
Helen's musical background in high school was playing cello and learning how to read music, and her dream at one time was to become a Cello player. A few years later English became Helen's very serious study. Learning that her hunger was to be a writer and she began writing poems and short stories. With several poems published, she didn't do much with her writing. She only had time to work and raise a child after the loss of her first husband. After her son was old enough, she again continued with her writing, but only as a hobby. Now with eighty (80) poems written and several published, she put them in a book called "Thoughts". In 1996, Paul Mateki came into her life, she loved his singing style, loved his song writing, and five years later they married. Now she writes some songs with him, harmonizes wonderfully and in time their voices grew together as one. After singing together for more than a year, the CD "Texasville" started taking shape and was recorded in 2001. Paul invited Helen to sing harmonies on two songs: "Mighty Fine Dog", and "Time Is Short". In November 2002, Paul and Helen had their first #1 hit together in Europe on the "European Media Services Most Popular Chart" with the Renie Peterson song "We've Got A Love". 2003 brought out the first collaboration of Paul and Helen with their new CD, "Something To Sing About". Helen's fine angelic harmonies complement Paul's singing so much, that in July 2003, their first #1 from the CD "When The River Runs Dry" was on top of the European CMA Charts. Helen's first attempt at singing lead vocal on "Please Don't Let Me Let You Go", written by their good friend and songwriter, Renie Peterson, put this song also at #1 on the ECMA Top 100.
Helen can be seen accompanying Paul around Texas singing harmonies and an occasional lead vocal. As of this writing Helen is teaching herself to play bass.

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Some things you need to be aware of as an Independent Country Artist.

If you have a CD for sell and you are serious about online sells then it has to be on CDBABY (www.CDBABY.com) This costs you $35 but if you are going to sell anything online this is your best bet. This is one of those website you pretty much need to be on and there's no way around it. Every time anyone hears you on the radio and wants to buy your CD the first place they go to look for it is CDBABY if you are an indie artist.

MYSPACE (Free) - There are over 225 MILLION websites on MYSPACE. It is free and if you are willing to put a little effort into it you can probably make a living from this one website. If you are one of those artists that just like to stick your music up anywhere you can and then just sit around waiting for something to happen this place won't be of any value to you but if you network it a little everyday there is no limit to what you can do here.

YouTube (Free) - Unlimited potential with YouTube. You can make some decent SlideShows here just using the MovieMaker that is already in your computer. Here's 26 SlideShows I made and put up on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=nashvilleshowcase&p=r

i - Tunes (Free) - This is a website I use a lot. You have to go there and download their little program http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview/ This is the easiest way to keep up with what kind of music is out there. If you need to learn the latest Alan Jackson or Carrie Underwood single so you can sing it at your next gig just go to i-Tunes and buy it for 99 cents instead of having to buy the whole album. Here's another good use for it. If there is another indie artist you keep seeing on the Charts and you wonder why they are doing better than you are just go buy one or two downloads of their music and listen to what they are recording and you may be able to figure it out and adjust what you have been doing and be a little more successful.

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Western Heart Room (Audio & Video of Independent Country Artists)

Stop in and get to know the DJ's and get them to play your music & YouTube videos

Hello Everyone

I want to tell you about a new Stand Alone Chat Room I have opened. By stand alone, I mean we are not part of a community such as PalTalk and the many others now online. We are our own community of DJ’s, Artist, Fans and Friends of Country Music. We are open 24/7/365 . The room was designed to provide a meeting place for all the above. We currently have DJ’s and Artists from all around the World who play their favorite music from you and others.

The room also has full video capabilities with television quality. The sound quality is second to none on the Internet today. As each DJ playing his/her favorite music, the variety of music ranges from early to top 40 current Country, Bluegrass, Gospel and alternative as well as a few surprises thrown in from time to time.

Planned events such as the following are forthcoming and some are in place already.

DJ’s playing your songs.
Full Video’s shown in here.
Featured Albums.
CD Release Parties.
Karaoke times
Open Mic night’s
Give aways
Contest (Prizes such as gift cards to well know national retail stores).
Live Interviews and Telephone Interviews.

And much more.

Easy Instructions for the Western Heart Stand Alone Music and Chat room.

Go to: http://www.fantasyltd.com/gary/1.html

A Box will come up which will have 2 options. 1, “Will say, First time users click here.” The other will say “Click Here To Enter Room”

If you have never been here before please click on option 1 and follow simple instructions to download the Client. (Takes about 30 seconds) When the TC Client comes up just click on “RUN”. When it finishes, it will then give you the option to “Click Here To Enter Room” It will then ask you for a User Name and Password. Type in your name and click “Login” YOU DO NOT NEED A PASSWORD SO PLEASE LEAVE THIS BLANK. Please click Login and it will bring you into the room.

Be sure to add to your favorites and do a save as.

Come and enjoy best sound on the Internet with full Video.

Thank you

Gary gbradshaw3@cox.net

Somebody's Angel....................................................................... It's All Uphill

Lonnie Ratliff / Lindy Gravelle ......................................... Lonnie Ratliff / Bill Jackson

"Somebody's Angel" Gina uploads a second Lonnie Ratliff composition in "It's

All Uphill" which is showing early signs that it could follow in "Somebody's

Angel's" popularity on YouTube. Gina will be in Nashville May/June to record a

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Lindy Gravelle - http://www.lindygravelle.com/index.shtml

The month of May is on its way, but here in Central Oregon we had snow today! What a funny "spring" we have had so far... There are some signs of it, though, like the aspen tree I can see outside my office window with tender green buds, bravely swaying in the wind... Hold on, little buds, warmer temps are surely coming soon, I hope! So, now you know the weather from here. Ha! Okay, last month I announced my new MySpace website http://www.myspace.com/lindygravelle and this month I'd like to let you know that I'm now also on YouTube too! Go to: http://www.youtube.com, type my name in the search toolbar and 6 videos will pop up that I am associated with as a songwriter or performer of! In fact, an aspiring new artist named Gina Michaells has a video there of her singing Somebody's Angel, a song that I co-wrote in Nashville several years ago with my old buddy, Lonnie Ratliff. Gina's video has been viewed a whopping 1,591,507 times as of today! I'm waiting to find out if I'm due any royalties for that!! Ha! Anyway, that's about it from the "what's new" department of yours truly...

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TIMMY G WAS BORN IN A SMALL TOWN PLATTEVILLE, ILLINOIS, AND SMALL IT WAS . WITH A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 500 PEOPLE PLATTEVILLE WAS PURE COUNTRY.

THE NEAREST GAS STATION WAS 15 MILES NEAREST GROCERY STORE WAS 30 MILES CORN AND BEAN FIELDS GRAZE THE LAND, WITH GRAVEL & DIRT ROADS SURROUNDING THEM. WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY AND YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN YOUR TRUCK OVERNIGHT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT! FARMIN DURING THE WEEKDAYS AND WORKING WITH DAD ON THE WEEKENDS.. WELL THATS A DIFFERENT STORY NOWADAYS BUT THATS WHERE IT ALL STARTED BACK ON PLATTEVILLE ROAD TIMES HAVE PAST BUT MEMORIES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.!

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN COUNTRY MUSIC IN TIMMY G'S LIFE ALWAYS HE REMEMBERS SINGING ALONG WITH MOM & DAD TO ALL THE LEGENDS WE LOOK BACK ON NOW, JOHNNY CASH ,MERLE HAGGARD IT WAS ALWAYS ON !!ON THE RADIO IN HIS DADS TRUCK AND AT HOME WHILE MOM CLEANED. HE REMEMBERS IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY FROM HANK JR , TO WAYLON, TO DOLLY PARTON & KENNY ROGERS ,MOM LOVED THE 9-5 SONG! VERN GODSON, GEORGE JONES & JOHNNY PAYCHECK "TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT"! MAN HE THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL. THATS WHERE HIS COUNTRY ROOTS CAME FROM - MOM & DAD! AND STILL TO THIS DAY COUNTRY MUSIC IS IT!!

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http://www.myspace.com/olyasongs

This Chicago student (music major) came to Nashville to pursue her musical career. Olya appeared on Channel 19 Nashville’s “Singer-Songwriter Etc.” TV show which featured her on the air five times, in Aug ’07. She is scheduled to perform on Nashville On Stage TV show, Ch 17, In the spring of 2008. The two songs on this site were written by Nashville songwriter, Lonnie Ratliff. Olya has some original songs, which will be recorded in the summer of 2008. The Bulgarian born singer-songwriter Olga Karagiozova lives in the US since Januarry 2000. She has been called OLYA since early childhood. And to make it easier for fans she is using it as a stage name too.

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Jim & Linda Davis/Hearts In Harmony http://www.myspace.com/heartsinharmony

Well, Lonnie, we've been fairly busy. We did a couple of jobs with a friend of ours at senior citizens centers.

We attended a bowling tournament, and banquet, where we sold a few cd's.

We attended a wedding and sang for that. We are attending two weddings in June.

A friend of ours took one of our cd's and auctioned it off as a fund raiser, and, would you believe, got $53 for it.

That's going to do it for this time. Bixby says hi. Don't forget to save us some snakes.

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POWERFUL RANGY VOICE DOING GREAT ORIGINAL COUNTRY. Songs about real people and real life  sung with power and emotion. Songs to make you laugh  cry, or feel romantic. Some are happy  some are heartbreaking, some are just fun to listen to. Music that affirms that we are all connected. Hopefully  it is just what you need to hear when you hear it.

Gordon Ellis grew up in New York City--not exactly the country music capital of the world. Early musical influences included the vocal styles of rangy voiced artists like Roy Orbison  Elvis, and Jay Black (of Jay and the Americans). He began writing songs in his teens  but was too shy at the time  to share them with anyone. His first group  THE FORTUNES, did rock and folk cover tunes.

While attending the University of Oklahoma  where he obtained a B.A. in Psychology  he was drawn to the honesty and simplicity of country music  picking up influences of artists like Ray Price  and Johnny Bush, and even Conway Twitty  and Glen Campbell, among others. There, he performed as part of a duo around campus  occasionally throwing in an original song. After college  Gordon moved to the San Francisco Bay area  more for his own personal growth  than for music, but it was there  that he began perfecting his songwriting and performing skills. He performed on the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf for tips  as a duo in coffeehouses  and later, with his own country band  GORDON ELLIS & the All Night Ramblers  doing mostly originals. While living in California  Gordon was a male vocal finalist in the Nashville Talent Search  held at the famous Saddlerack night club  hosted by Bill Anderson  and televised throughout the San Jose and San Francisco area. He was also featured on the Bay Area TV show Sidewalks  which spotlighted local talent. During this time  Gordon won several songwriting awards and a vocal performance award in the Music City Song Festival. He also hosted an open mic for the Northern California Songwriters Association. After much encouragement  Gordon moved to Nashville in 1990. Since then  he has performed extensively around the Nashville writers club circuit  including the Bluebird Cafe  Douglas Corner, The Hall Of Fame Lounge  and The Commodore Lounge. He was featured on the Viacom TV show Writers Night in 1990  and has been the featured artist/writer at numerous writers nights over the years  most recently, sharing the stage with Razzy Bailey at The French Quarter. Gordon has had numerous songs published and a number of songs recorded by independent artists  including most recently, Bluegrass singer Marci Salyer  Irish country singer Bernadette  Kristin Randsell, Danny Mack, and the Canadian group Steele Heart. He has his own publishing company  Gordel Music, and recently released his first cd  “MEMORY MACHINE”, on his own label  Optimum Records. Cuts from this cd have been played on radio stations in the United States  Europe, Australia, and New Zeland. He also has a two song EP available called “One God/One Family”. In July  2003, Gordon did a one hour telephone interview with Mark Lindsay of wdyn.net Dynamic Independent Radio in Rochester N.Y.   where Mark played most of the cd  and talked with Gordon about his music. Gordon Ellis does not sound like your typical country artist  but with a strong voice  powered by a three octave range  he sings his songs with passion and conviction--songs that are catchy and memorable--songs about real people  real feelings, real life. When you get right down to it  that’s what country music is supposed to be about  isn't it! For more information about Gordon  go to his website  Gordon Ellis Music: www.gordonellismusic.com or e-mail: gordelmusic@hotmail.com

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http://www.myspace.com/kellyrray

Kelly Ray, a voice to remember. Kelly embraces the rich sounds of country music and combines them with her own unique style and performance that leaves audiences of all ages wanting more. Kelly gave her first Nashville performance at Roberts on Broadway in Nashville,Tennessee at the age of 12. Since that time, she has continued to perform locally in the Dallas area at the Johnnie High Country Music Revue, Cowtown Rodeo in the historic Ft. Worth Stockyards, Grapevine Opry, Rodeo City Music Hall and many private events and sporting events. Kelly also performs at various venues in the Charleston, West Virginia area. Kelly's passion for music is defined and expressed in a performance that is second to none.

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=819591

Hi my name is Freddy Sommer I'm from Germany . I'm a Singer Songwriter .
I'm writing and Recording a complett Cd .In moment I build my Own Band and we will be on Stage in Germany after my cd is done well. My first Song is on Soundclick and it calls Shangri La.
The Man Who wrote the lyrics is an old friend of me and he was honored by
Country Music Association of America's awarded with the eagle King 1995. Special thanks to him.
Thank You Folks and keep it Country - Freddy Sommer

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Shiloh Band

Hey everyone ! Just back from Nashville where we played the Cadillac Ranch on the Broadway Strip ! For all you history buff's thats close to the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Broadway, a very historic and sacred place in town where generations have come to play and enjoy Country Music.... We had a GREAT crowd, full house and they were totally into the show ! We made some great new friends inside and outside of the business ! Great things are on the horizon, GREAT THINGS ! We put up the pics on the main website and on our myspace and in the next few days there will be some really good video as well !

Thanks again for everything !
See ya soon !

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Hello Lonnie:

"LATE NIGHT LADY DJ" by Kentucky Country Artist...

Phillip Clarkson, released on Western Heart Promotions, is

receiving substantial airplay in Europe, Australia, and in New Zealand. Songwriters on the "LADY DJ" are Hal Johnson and

Joe Terry. Phillip recorded our co-write song in Nashville.....

at the Gene Breeden Studios......

Thanks Lonnie.................Hal Johnson, Joe Terry, Phillip Clarkson

Hal Johnson

5035 Trafford Drive

Loves Park, Illinois 61111

(815) 877-8702

http://myspace.com/sugarrivermusic

http://myspace.com/sugarrivercountry

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Our local hometown sweetheart Kris Miller has been making news and winning awards all over the world for her delightful gospel music. Her uplifting songs are being enjoyed everywhere and receiving high praise from the music industry. Her newest CD "The Journey Home" has been nominated for a GRAMMY and she has just been approved to be distributed through BEST BUY stores. Locally she has been nominated for four awards through the Hemet Chamber of Commerce. We all support you Kris! Keep on singing.

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Message from Lonnie about the GOSSIP SECTION - You can E Mail me your gossip anytime. (I just save it in a file until I make up the next NEWSLETTER)

Just send me an E Mail with 2 or 3 sentences and you can include your website and E Mail if you like. Try to make it interesting enough people will want to read it. Don't have to be about music just something that is happening to you. If it looks like you may have thought about what you wrote for at least 30 seconds I will probably include it in the next Newsletter which means your website LINK will go out to over 4,300 people that are in the country music business. If it looks like you are obviously just using the gossip section for free advertisment I probably will skip over it. Heck folks most of us claim to be writers so we should be able to write 2 or 3 sentences.

Make sure you put GOSSIP in the subject line of your E Mail when you send it so it don't get lost.

E Mail GOSSIP to: NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net

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“Skinny Dipping With Paris Hilton”

Artist: Perley Curtis

Songwriter: Lonnie Ratliff

Publisher: Okie Acres Music (BMI)

In Nashville he managed to weave his way into the fabric of the country music songwriting community as well as establishing himself as a successful independent record producer. Along the way he also managed, out of necessity, to become a pretty good house painter. Hey a guy’s gotta eat while he’s waiting for lady luck to find him.
Eventually Lonnie was able to put away his ladders and paint brushes, at least for the time being, and concentrate on his music. A partnership with country music singer Erin Hay http:/www.Erin Hay.com
Typical of the music business you can write songs for years and years without anything big really happening and then all of a sudden you scribble something down in fifteen minutes and for some unknown reason it just seems to resonate with the public. “Skinny Dipping With Paris Hilton” is showing all the early signs of being one of those novelty type songs that manage to break out on their own and people just want to hear. Although the new Lonnie Ratliff written song, recording by Nashville recording artist Perley Curtis
“CLICK” link below here to listen to Paris Hilton song

http://www.musicforte.com/member/lonnieratliffproductions
.
.
In 1978 Pushmataha County, Oklahoma native Lonnie Ratliff, like so many other songwriters before him took his guitar and his dreams, threw them in a beat-up old car and headed to Nashville, Tennessee in hopes of making it big as a country music songwriter. garnered them considerable success overseas and with other traditional country music fans so he was able to spend more and more time working in the music business each year. They are currently recording Erin Hay’s http:/www.Erin Hay.com fifth album and seem to have found a niche within the honky tonk music buying crowd.http://www.soundclick.com/perleycurtis
is less than a week old and does not even yet exist on a CD, thanks to the internet the song is already being played by radio stations in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Norway, Sweden Belgium and Poland and that is just the ones we know about so far. Apparently fantasies about “Skinny Dipping With Paris Hilton” do not stop at America’s shores and borders because Lonnie is already doing a brisk little business of selling .99 cent downloads of the Paris Hilton song at his MYSPACE website http://www.myspace.com/nashvillerecordproducer==================================

Oklahoma songwriter pens novelty song about Paris Hilton

Dixon DeVore http://cdbaby.com/all/devore

Imprinters To The Stars Since 1985

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We know The Music Business.

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