Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried

The Zac Brown Band is a true working band, despite their success, playing over 200 shows per year. They began with humble roots in Georgia, playing at a restaurant owned by Brown and his father and going on the road during the week. After they sold the gourmet Southern-style food restaurant, they bought a tour bus and the touring intensified.

They released 2 albums independently and Atlantic released their third after the original label, Live Nation, went under. The 3rd album reached #2 on the Country Album chart and #11 on the Billboard 200.

Even with this success, Brown remains down to earth and is a devoted philanthropist. He bought land for his own summer camp, a venture he plans to run in cooperation with Brain Balance, an organization that works with kids with autism and ADD. This was a dream of his since he attended a summer camp and worked with mentally and physically challenged kids making him aware of how lucky he was.

Chicken Fried is off their third release, Foundation, and went to #1 on the US County charts.

Lyle Lovett - My Baby Don't Tolerate

Many people place Lyle Lovett in the country music category. His music does have a county/western sound, but he incorporates elements of folk, swing, blues, jazz, rock and even gospel music. This blend along with his voice creates a unique sound.

Lovett grew up in Texas, attended Texas A&M and studied German and Journalism. While in college he lived next to Robert Earl Keen. The two became friends and performed together on the front porch many evenings. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire.

After several albums, Lovett was thrown into the limelight in 1993 when he married Julia Roberts. The two met on the set of the movie, The Player. After a 3 week romance, the two eloped. The marriage lasted less than two years, but the divorce was due to the amount of time they had to be apart because of their careers and the two remain close friends today.

Besides music, Lovett has starred in several movies, primarily Robert Altman directed ones, The Player, Short Cuts, Prêt-à-Porter, The Opposite of Sex and Cookie's Fortune.

My Baby Don't Tolerate is off his 2003 release of the same name. His latest release, Natural Forces, will be released on October 20th.

Lucinda Williams - If Wishes Were Horses

Lucinda Williams born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is the daughter of poet and literature professor who worked as a visiting professor in Mexico and different parts of the American South before settling at the University of Arkansas. Williams started writing when she was 6 years old, was playing guitar at 12 and had her first live performance in Mexico City at 17, as part a duo with her friend.

She release her first albums (traditional country and blues) in 1978 and 1980, to little success. It was the song 'Passionate Kisses' off her 1988 self-title release that was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter in 1994 that began her climb to fame. She got a Grammy for Best Country Song for the song in 1994. Her 1998 release, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, is her most successful release to date and she garnered another Grammy for it. She has continued to release albums to critical acclaim, but not the same commercial success although she did get a 3rd Grammy for Best Female Rock Performance for her single, Get Right With God.

If Wishes Were Horses is off her latest release, Little Honey.

Interesting Note: In the fall of 2007, Williams announced an unprecedented series of shows in Los Angeles and New York. Playing five nights in each city, it was the first time a major artist would perform her entire catalog on consecutive nights. These albums include the self titled Lucinda Williams, Sweet Old World, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Essence, and World Without Tears. Since these shows, other artists have imitated this idea in different variations, but to date no else has accomplished this exact feat. Each night also featured a second set with special guest stars.

The Little Willies - It's Not You, It's Me

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The Little Willies formed in 2003 when members Norah Jones (piano and vocals), Richard Julian (vocals), Jim Campilongo (guitar), Lee Alexander (bass), and Dan Rieser (drums) played regular gigs together, first playing at New York City’s Living Room.

Their love of country classics brought them together and they did a series of events, including a benefit concert for public radio station WFUV which produced a growing following. Based on this popularity, The Little Willies’ released a self-titled debut album in 2006.

It's Not You, It's Me is a fun song, co-written by Richard Julian.

Jerry Jeff Walker - Maybe Mexico

Jerry Jeff Walker has been playing and writing music since the 60's. He actually wrote and recorded the song Mr. Bojangles, but it did not become a hit until the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded it.

He is so revered among the serious county music songwriters and fans that his birthday is a major celebration in Austin every March, when he plays several shows in different local clubs and theaters.

Maybe Mexico is a off the 1968 album Mr. Bojangles that includes the original recording of Mr Bojangles.

The Wreckers - Leave The Pieces

Michelle Branch took a break from her solo career to team up with Jessica Harp to form The Wreckers. Leave The Pieces off their debut album Stand Still, Look Pretty is a great county tune with an wonderful vocal harmonies and rootsy sound.