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- KEITH COVERS COUNTRY WEEKLY
- Don't miss Keith on the cover of Country
Weekly! On sale now!..
- URBAN NOMINATED FOR
INSPIRATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD
- The Christian Country Music Association
announced to day that Keith was nominated for Musician of the year in the
2006 Inspirational Country Music Awards.
- KEITH URBAN RETURNS TO THE
STUDIO TO FINISH NEW ALBUM
- Australia's global superstar, Keith Urban has
announced plans to return to the recording studio to complete his new album
which will be released later this year.
URBAN FANS POUND THE PAVEMENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR ST. JUDE
- Six women from across the country are using
their athletic abilities to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital in honor of their favorite country music artist, Keith Urban.
Jedd Hughes on Road with Keith
- For the past week or so Jedd Hughes has been on the road with fellow Aussie
star Keith Urban. After months of songwriting in preparation for the new
album, Jedd jumped at the chance to get out on the road for an enjoyable
tour with his good mate, Keith. Check out Keith’s website to see some of the
territory they’re covering. You can find out more about Jedd’s road to
success by visiting his new website,
http://www.myspace.com/jeddhughes and also check a story from Anna
Rose at
www.tamworthragepage.com/annarose2.htm and
www.countryragepage.com/jeddhughes.htm
- Keith Will be in Australia end of
October when the annual ARIA music awards are on
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- Keith chosen for The Country Music Hall of Fame
- and Museum annual Calendar
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has chosen the 12 artists
to be featured in its annual calendar, including Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn,
Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Tim
McGraw, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson. The
calendar also includes dozens of archival photos from the museum's
collection and country music facts for every day of the year.
- Congratulations!!
- 25 - 6- 2006
- "We just want to thank everyone in Australia
and around the world who have sent us their warm wishes,"
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Nicole Kidman
and country music star
Keith Urban
were married Sunday 25th June 2006 at 6.25pm, Australian time, in a small
ceremony in Sydney. The
Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel church bells in Manly (Sydney) rang at
least 100 times to celebrate and let the people know.
- Nicole wore a long, traditional veil, pearl drop earrings, an ivory Balenciaga dress with an empire waist
designed by Nicolas Ghesquière. Her hair was long and curly and she
carried white roses in her hand. Keith also tucked a white rose
in the lapel of his black suit.
Nicole's sister Antonia was matron of
honour with Nic's 13-year-old daughter Isabella and
niece Lucia as bridesmaidss.
- Keith was attended by his brother Shane, his
friend Marlon Holden, and Nicole's son, 11-year-old Connor.
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- Hugh sang a song from his hit musical, The Boy
from Oz, called "Tenterfield Saddler," and then Keith jumped onstage
with his guitar and crooned, "Making Memories of Us," from his new album.
Crowded House frontman Neil Finn sang the Aussie ballad "Fall at Your Feet."
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- Tamworth Ragepage wishes Nicole and
Keith
- all the best for the future
- Photo from Entertainment tonight
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- Angie Marquis has known Keith since they were 10 years
old. They were once boyfriend and girlfriend. They had a group
call California Suite. Angie is going to the wedding next Sunday 25th
June.
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- Tommy Emmanuel , heaped praise on Keith Urban to his audience at a
concert he held. Keith had once said about Tommy's guitar playing,"
that some people are touched by the hands of God, Tommy is the hands
of God, the way he plays guitar"! Click here
Tommy Emmanuel's Artist Report page
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2006 CMA Music Festival
The concert at LP Field
- The concert at LP Field was delayed Sunday
night for more than an hour due to heavy lightning and storms, but the fans
weren't ready to call it quits and the music continued with Sugarland after
the storm passed. Unfortunately, a second weather system made it impossible
for unannounced, surprise guest reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year
Gretchen Wilson to perform.
"We were fighting the clock and weather, and we ran out of time with another
storm approaching," Genovese said. "The Office of Emergency Management was
advising against going any later and we have to put the safety of the
artists, our fans and hundreds of on-site workers and volunteers first and
foremost."
Surprise appearances are a hallmark of this event. And 2006 didn't
disappoint. Thursday night reigning CMA Horizon Award winner Dierks Bentley
made an unannounced appearance, while CMA Entertainer of the Year Keith
Urban joined CMA Awards hosts Brooks & Dunn during their set. On Friday,
Country superstar Kenny Chesney also made a surprise appearance.
"We love giving our fans something special and unexpected," Genovese said.
- Keith Urban Played the Piano and Wins Male Vocalist!!
- May 23 2006: Tonight on the US CBS Network's telecast
of the Academy of
Country Music Awards Show from Las Vegas, Keith Urban played the piano
and sang "Tonight I Want to Cry. Immediately after his performance,
Keith won Top Male Vocalist of the Year. Shortly after receiving his
award ceremony, he joined Brooks & Dunn playing backup acoustic guitar
in a touching performance of their hit single "Believe. The evening
ended with Keith being edged out for the final award, Entertainer of the
Year, which was won by Kenny Chesney.
- KEITH IS THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC'S TOP MALE
VOCALIST
- Congratulations Keith! For the second year in a row Keith has been
honored as the ACM Top Male Vocalist of the Year! Keith also gave two
touching performances when he performed "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and played
guitar for Brooks & Dunn's song "Believe"
KEITH RIDES INTO ACM WEEK
- Keith took part in the Academy of Country Music Celebrity Motorcycle
Ride on Sunday, May 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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- KEITH WILL SHINE ON THE 2006 ACM
AWARDS!
The Academy of Country Music® announced that music superstar Keith
Urban will perform as part of the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
AWARDS. The ceremony will be broadcast LIVE Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 8:00
PM ET/PT on the CBS.
KEITH RIDES INTO ACM WEEK
Keith took part in the Academy of Country Music Celebrity Motorcycle
Ride on Sunday, May 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Some of the info from the Daily Telegraph
- Keith Urban was born in Whangarei New Zealand,
his family moved to Australia and spent about 9 years in Brisbane,
Queensland. The family then moved to Caboolture (not far from Brisbane).
He calls Caboolture his home town and they are delighted to claim him as
theirs and very excited about Nicole Kidman and Keith getting married soon.
He performed the part of "Oliver" at school and also played the drums in
"Bye Bye Birdie". From the age of seven he dreamed of going to
Nashville. He went to Nashville when he was 25.
- Keith went to school with comedian Rusty Berther
who formed his first band with his sister Sherry
Rich (who now is a songwriter in Nashville) and also Keith called "Obscure
alternatives". (Rusty later formed the comedy duo Scared Weird
Little Guys).
- Keith hated school and left when he was 15 and
began performing around the pub circuit in Brisbane with Rusty and the Ayers Rockettes.
He performed duos regularly with Angie Marquis who he met at a country music
club and had romance with for several years and they still remain friends.
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- Keith Urban wins 2006 CMT Video of the Year
Award
April 10: Tonight Keith Urban was awarded the US fan-voted
Country Music Television (CMT) Music Awards' Video of the Year for
Better Life - the second year in a row he has won in this
category. The award show was broadcast live on CMT.
Keith closed the show with a performance of Better Life with
backup vocals provided by choir members who had been displaced
from the Hurricane Katrina disaster area." I've been to New
Orleans, and I was struck by a combination of things: How much has
been done, and how little has been done," he said. "We wanted to
bring some awareness to the cause."
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- ACM MANIA BEGINS ON GAC!
Tune in to GAC starting May 20th at 9:00 PM EST to kick of the ACM
Awards with GAC's Video Preview. Join host Nan Kelley for a two-hour ACM
Awards Show video preview! Keith was nominated for Entertainer of The Year
and Top Male Vocalist. Don't forget to tune in the ACM Awards Live Tuesday
May 23rd 8:00 PM EST on CBS!
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KEITH WILL SHINE ON THE 2006 ACM AWARDS!
The Academy of Country Music® announced that music superstar Keith
Urban will perform as part of the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
AWARDS. The ceremony will be broadcast LIVE Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 8:00
PM ET/PT on the CBS.
The Latest New York Gossip is the wedding will be 25th
June in Sydney Australia???
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Now Country 1 compilation, which is scheduled for release on May
2nd. The album includes some of country music’s biggest stars, Keith Urban,
Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney.
- YOU MADE "BETTER LIFE" VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Congrats to Keith for his TOP CMT AWARD "Music Video of The Year"
Thanks to all the fans for your votes! "Thank you to everybody at home that
voted for this. ... Everybody that couldn’t make it here tonight, I want to
dedicate this award to all you guys at home. I wish you were here in this
party -- because it is happening."
~ Keith
URBAN, UNDERWOOD TRIUMPH AT 2006 CMT AWARDS
Keith Urban won video of the year and Carrie Underwood of "American
Idol" was the only double winner at the Country Music Television awards show
Monday
- Keith Urban wins 2006 CMT Video
of the Year Award
April 10: Tonight Keith Urban was awarded the US fan-voted Country
Music Television (CMT) Music Awards' Video of the Year for Better Life - the
second year in a row he has won in this category. The award show was
broadcast live on CMT.
- Keith closed the show with a performance of Better Life with backup vocals
provided by choir members who had been displaced from the Hurricane Katrina
disaster area." I've been to New Orleans, and I was struck by a combination
of things: How much has been done, and how little has been done," he said.
"We wanted to bring some awareness to the cause."
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- Click below to see Video
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- Keith Urban joins an elite field
- Today Keith Urban joined an elite field of nominees in two
prestigious categories of the 2006 Academy of Country Music annual awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Rascal
Flatts, Keith Urban
TOP MALE VOCALIST: Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George
Strait, Keith Urban
The award will be presented to winners on May 23 at the MGM Grand Hotel in
Las Vegas. The show will be broadcast live on US national TV.
For more information, see this article in The Tennessean newspaper:
=============
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/
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"TONIGHT I WANNA CRY" VIDEO DEBUTS FEB. 16
Check out Keith's new video "Tonight I Wanna Cry".
CMT
will debut the video 2/16 in the TOP 20 Countdown and has given the video
HOTSHOT rotation.
GAC will
debut the video on Thursday 2/16 after 10pm EST.
COUNTRY WEEKLY WANTS YOU TO PICK THE BEST THERE EVER WAS!
Country Weekly wants to know what you think is the best there ever
was.
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- KEITH URBAN'S BE HERE CERTIFIED
TRIPLE PLATINUM
January 19, 2006 (NASHVILLE, TN) - 2006 begins with some very good
news for performer Keith Urban: the artist's third album, Be Here, is now
triple Platinum, marking sales of over three million albums, according to
the RIAA.
- STILL ALIVE IN ’06
For those who haven’t had the chance, and for
those that have become part of the experience comes word of Keith Urban’s
“Still Alive in ’06,” tour, a 16-city extension of Urban’s sold-out “Alive
in ‘05” arena tour set to kick-off on February 1st in Evansville, Indiana..
- Tune in to see Keith perform on The 33rd Annual
American Music Awards on November 22 2005
WINNING JEANS
Bid on the jeans worn by Keith Urban during his performance at the
39th Annual Country Music Awards and help St. Jude.
VOTE FOR KEITH: TOP 50 VIDEOS OF '05!
Vote for Keith and and win great prizes through GAC!
"TONIGHT I WANNA CRY" NOW AT RADIO
Make sure to tune in to radio and request Keith's new single "Tonight
I Wanna Cry". The newest single from his platinum album BE HERE officially
hit radio on 11/21.
According to the Woman's Day Magazine dated
November 28th, Keith and Nicole are looking forward to coming home at
Christmas to be with both their families
and Nicole is wearing a beautiful ring. hmmm
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KEITH URBAN
CREATING CMA HISTORY
WINS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR!!
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
CMA'S 2005
Keith Urban won his second consecutive CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
and his first Entertainer of the Year Award, making him the only Country
artist in CMA Awards history to win the Horizon, Entertainer and Male
Vocalist of the Year Awards. Urban won the Horizon Award in 2001.
(Hey and don't forget that International artist of the year too)
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NOVEMBER 18TH 2005
KEITH URBAN AWARDED ANOTHER AWARD!~
ARIA #1 AWARDS
It seems Australian music lovers are buying more product by local artists
The ARIA Number One Chart Awards differ from the annual ARIA music awards in
that they are based solely on retail sales between August 9, 2004, to
November 14, 2005.
The ARIA Number One Chart Award tops off a great week for Keith Urban who
was voted entertainer of the year and vocalist of the year at America's
Country Music Association (CMA) awards in New York.
"You don't understand how much it means to me to be over here in the States
and know back home there are people helping get our music out," Urban said.
"I really thank you all for that so much."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AOL SPECIAL
We were treated to a live show of Keith's from New York...
It simply was just the most moving concert experience.. For Australians, if
what I saw last night was any indication of what Keith's shows are like...
We sure are in for the most amazing concert tour when he comes here...
Musically it was brilliant, with many of the songs having different
arrangements, that were nothing short of sheer brilliance! If you haven't
seen it, I think it is archived, do yourself a huge huge favour and check it
out!.. it will blow you away!
http://music.aol.com/network_live/concert_videos/keith_urban/ondemand
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CMA PRESENTS INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO KEITH
URBAN DURING RECEPTION AT AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE
NEW YORK CITY Multiple CMA Awards nominee and reigning CMA Male Vocalist of
the Year Keith Urban didnt have to wait until The 39th Annual CMA Awards
Tuesday to win an award. Urban was surprised during a reception today at the
Australian Consulate General in New York City, with the Association
International Artist Achievement Award.
Keith has had an outstanding year and is a tremendous ambassador for Country
Music around the globe,said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. He is very
deserving of this award and it was a pleasure to present it to him in the
company of his countrymen at the Australian consulate.
Formerly the International Touring Artist Award, the award recognizes
outstanding achievement by an artist who contributes to the awareness and
development of Country Music outside North America. Previous winners include
Dolly Parton, Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and Trisha Yearwood.
Urban headlined a 10-show sell-out tour in Australia this year before
visiting England, Germany and Ireland for a promotional tour and showcases.
He also opened for Bryan Adams on his UK and Ireland tour and recently
completed his solo UK tour. He is a Country artist with an international
focus and is destined to develop a global fan base.
Urban was honored during a reception for Australian Country Music artists
today at the Australian Consulate General. Other artists in attendance
included Australian rock legend Billy Thorpe, who presented the award to
Urban, Sherrie Austin, Catherine Britt, Brian Cadd and Carrie Underwood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Music awards make 'Urban' cowboy toast of Caboolture
The Queensland home town of country music singer Keith Urban is today
celebrating his award as the Entertainer of the Year at the US Country Music
Awards.
Urban also took out the gong for Male Vocalist of the Year for a second year
in a row.
The Mayor of Caboolture, just north of Brisbane, Joy Leishman, says Urban is
the toast of the town.
"For an Australian from such a small country to take out the top prize in a
large country is a huge effort, [it's] great," she said.
"But he has great talent and, as I said, he's quite a humble man and a nice
man when you meet him and so obviously lots of skills and talent and all
those things pay off."
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says Dolly Parton
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"I spent several hours with him recording 'The Twelfth of Never'
for my new CD," says Dolly Parton about Aussie country rocker Keith
Urban, 38. "The longer I was with him, the sexier he got. I couldn't
keep my mind on my business." It's no wonder Nicole Kidman is spending
so much time with him on his Harley.
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KEITH NAMED ONE OF PEOPLE'S
SEXIEST MEN
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Keith has been named one of People Magazines
Sexiest men alive! more!
CONGRATS KEITH! OUR CMA ENTERTAINER and MALE VOCALIST
OF THE YEAR!
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Keith won his second consecutive CMA Male
Vocalist of the Year and his first Entertainer of the Year Award,
making him the only Country artist in CMA Awards history to win the
Horizon, Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Awards. Urban won
the Horizon Award in 2001.
"TONIGHT I WANNA CRY"
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Keith's single "Tonight I Wanna Cry".
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CMA Awards 2005 - New York
Entertainer of the Year presented by Shania
twain & Billy Joel to ...... Keith URBAN !!!!!! and Male Vocalist!!!
http://www.cmaawards.com/2005/
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Keith Urban won his second consecutive
CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and his first Entertainer of the Year
Award, making him the only Country artist in CMA Awards history to win
the Horizon, Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Awards. Urban
won the Horizon Award in 2001.
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All the best Keith and Nicole!! We
are very proud of our Two Aussie Stars
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CMA PRESENTS INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO KEITH URBAN DURING RECEPTION AT AUSTRALIAN
CONSULATE
From:
teena@keithurbanmates.net
November 14, 2005
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR KEITH URBAN.... VOTED BY ALL HIS
PEERS AROUD THE WORLD AS
THE CMA INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR!
which means he has been voted by peers around the world as the
artist who has done the most this year to raise awareness of country
music internationally.
Australians be watching channel nine news tonight, as they were in New
York covering the event!
For the mates up north be watching the site for screens shots from
it!....
Well done and congratulations to our Keith... I know all the mates out
there have to be feeling as proud as myself at this moment!....
CMA PRESENTS INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO KEITH URBAN DURING RECEPTION AT AUSTRALIAN
CONSULATE
Global Market Symposium and Showcase Takes Place Monday with
Catherine Britt, Cowboy Crush, Jace Everett, and Ryan Shupe & The
RubberBand
CMA Global Focus Includes Presentation of International Country
Broadcaster Award to Ray Hadley of Australia
NEW YORK CITY Multiple CMA Awards nominee and reigning CMA Male
Vocalist of the Year Keith Urban didn't have to wait until The 39th
Annual CMA Awards Tuesday to win an award. Urban was surprised during
a reception today at the Australian Consulate General in New York
City, with the Associations International Artist Achievement Award.
Keith has had an outstanding year and is a tremendous ambassador for
Country Music around the globe, said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson.
He is very deserving of this award and it was a pleasure to present it
to him in the company of his countrymen at the Australian consulate.
Formerly the International Touring Artist Award, the award recognizes
outstanding achievement by an artist who contributes to the awareness
and development of Country Music outside North America. Previous
winners include Dolly Parton, Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Shania
Twain and Trisha Yearwood.
Urban headlined a 10-show sell-out tour in Australia this year before
visiting England, Germany and Ireland for a promotional tour and
showcases. He also opened for Bryan Adams on his UK and Ireland tour
and recently completed his solo UK tour. He is a Country artist with
an international focus and is destined to develop a global fan base.
Urban was honored during a reception for Australian Country Music
artists today at the Australian Consulate General. Other artists in
attendance included Australian rock legend Billy Thorpe, who presented
the award to Urban, Sherrie Austin, Catherine Britt, Brian Cadd and
Carrie Underwood.
Britt, along with Cowboy Crush, Jace Everett, and Ryan Shupe & The
RubberBand, are taking part in the CMA Global Markets Symposium,
Monday as part of a "Country Takes NYC" a week of activities leading
up to The 39th Annual CMA Awards, Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
The main topic of discussion at this years event will be CMAs
continued plan for growing Country Music in a global fashion.
Executives from industry advisory groups in Australia, United Kingdom
and the U.S., including Jan Cody of CCMA, will be commenting on the
status of Country Music in their respective territories.
Country Musics popularity is global and this symposium will reflect
that, said Jeff Walker, chairman of the CMA Global Markets Task Force.
With a record number of press and international executives scheduled
to attend this is certain to be our most lively and informative
session yet.
Another Australian was recently recognized for his accomplishments,
when Ray Hadley of Australia was presented the International Country
Broadcaster Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by
radio broadcasters outside North America who have made important
contributions to the development of Country Music in their country.
A longtime supporter of Country Music, Hadley is Sydney's No. 1
morning personality on Radio 2GB. He routinely interviews domestic and
international Country Music artists in support of new album releases
and maintains a higher level of Country on his play list than most
other commercial broadcasters in metropolitan Australia.
Country Music is fortunate to have broadcasters like Hadley who
deliver our music to their listeners in Australia and around the globe
and care so deeply for our artistic community, Benson said.
Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer of the CMA Awards. Paul
Miller is the Director and David Wild will script the ceremonies. MJI
Programming, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the official
radio packager of the CMA Awards, which includes Red Carpet coverage
and a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. Chevy, an American
Revolution, is the official automotive sponsor of the 2005 CMA Awards.
American Airlines is the official airline of the 2005 CMA Awards.
Additional promotional sponsors include Prilosec OTCÂ, aolmusic.com,
BMG Columbia House, Inc., Chase, Country Weekly, Creme Savers Candy,
Crisco, Gibson Guitars, Jack Daniel's, Kellogg's, Kmart(sm), Kodak,
Lever 2000 and XM Satellite Radio. Charles Fazzino is the official
artist of the 2005 CMA Awards. FilmMagic.com is the Official
Photographer of the 2005 CMA Awards.
Keith Urban Mates, Keeping the homefires burning (from
Teena)
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Drumdee & Keith, Coogee bay SYDNEY AU 1999.
Photo by Suzanne Gallard W.P.H. AU.
Keith Urban "The return of the
prodigal son"
Keith Urban's biggest career challenge to date
was not winning over North American fans,
but rather winning over the fans in his adopted home country of
Australia.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying winning over North America was a
walk in the park,
it wasn't. When I first interviewed Keith for CMN in December 1999 at
Coogee bay Sydney
He was home to spend some time with friends and family during the
holiday season, shooting a video for CMT, and performing a solo
concert for his Sydney fan-base and music media.
Keith would have to leave Australia for confirmed work back in the
USA, and miss yet another Tamworth Country Music Festival, and the
Golden Guitar Awards. "The Holly Grail of Australian Country Music"
held each January.
It would be his last trip home for a while. His debut North American
solo album was about to be released, his long time Australian manager
Greg Shaw was about to hand over his career to American management,
his band "The Ranch" disbanded. All Keith had to hang onto were his
dreams of some day being a success in the home of country music,
NASHVILLE TENNESSEE..
In 1999 Keith was not at the top of the Australian Country charts, nor
was he one of
Australia's top Male Country Artists. Keith had to forfeit the idea of
winning Golden Guitars
in order to follow his dreams that took him and manager Greg Shaw to
Nashville in 1989.
Australians have cause to be a close knit society at times. The
following Aussie colloquialisms " BEST MATES, TRUE BLUE, and FAIR
DINKUM " are often used to
describe the kinship Aussie's have towards each other.
"The Sunburnt country" offers many a challenge just living from day to
day. Each year
there are reports of " wild forest fires, flooding rivers ", or just
the opposite, "prolonged drought". Thousands of citizen's sign up to
fight all of the above, they also sign up to perform lifeguard duties
and patrol the thousands of miles of beaches. "So sticking together is
a way of life downunder in order to survive".
A number of Aussie Country Music fans cried out that "Keith had sold
out" his adopted homeland to become a "Country Yank ".
There's been a bit of Argo raging in the Aussie Country Music
community about their trademark accent, and the decision "to use it,
or loose it" when recording. However a reality check will tell you if
you want a successful musical career outside of your native land,
there is little or no choice but "to loose it". If American English is
the excepted International trademark voice of Country Music, then it
just makes sense. That's not to say that you can't have a successful
career at home and not "Walk The Nashville Walk or Talk The Nashville
Talk". "Graeme Connors, Tania Kernaghan, and John Williamson" all have
established major careers at home for themselves "while sporting their
Aussie brogue".
However a small group of believers that included "Fans, Broadcasters,
Aussie Country Music insiders, Stood tall in the saddle" when the
naysayers would refer to Keith's departure to America as a sell out.
Recently I was listening to Australia's National Flagship Country
Music radio show,
"Saturday Night Country" heard on ABC Radio's The backyard. Host "John
Nutting" was taking phone calls from his national listeners in the
last hour of the show. John was defending Keith's actions of following
his dreams, while at the same time opening the doors for other
talented Australian singer-songwriters and musicians to the world
markets.
John at times grew tired of the "same ole same ole" from callers about
Keith's sell out to America, and his "American singing accent".
" RUBBISH! " absolute RUBBISH ! John would quickly reply.
After all Keith has been a regular guest on Saturday Night Country and
he may sound less Aussie when he's singing, but when he opens his
mouth to talk, what comes out is "100% Australian twang".
Urban Flashback.
Keith's dreams were based on his musical upbringing and his
Fathers Country Music Record Collection of Classic " American Country
Stars ".
Names like " Don Williams, Charley Pride, Glen Campbell, Merle
Haggard, Jim Reeves, and Canadian Hank Snow " were the voices of
"Keith's Country music foundation".
Australian Country Music legends like Reg Lindsay, Slim Dusty, Stan
Coster Geoff Mack, Cowboy Bob Partell, Smoky Dawson, Tex Morton, and
Gordon Parsons, "were not the soundtrack to Keith's dreams ".
Back at Coogee bay 1999.
A few days after I had interviewed Keith, I received a call
from Greg Shaw's office with an invite to attend Keith's solo concert
being held in a "Small funky club in Balmain, Sydney a peninsula
suburb west of the city center".
Keith Urban, three guitars, his songs, Several hundred fans, A
sprinkling of Media, a few chairs, while the rest of us were standing,
or siting on the floor.
By the end of the first couple of songs Keith was in total control. He
had the Audience eating out of his hands. His " One Chord Song "
brought laughter to the crowd. While performing "But for the grace of
God" a hush over the audience as they held onto ever word as it's
story line evolved.
Then! this one man band "shifted gears into overdrive" with an upbeat
selection that had some of the audience dancing. His chatter with the
audience between songs was charming and down to earth. However the
larrikan in Urban would escape every so often and show his
" Mischievous sense of humour."
I realized at that point "this guy had what it takes to be a Star". I
chuckled to myself because in my interview his dreams were not about
Stardom, They were about being excepted in Nashville, and having a
successful career in the music business," while staying true to
himself, and his Aussie heritage. "
Back in the USA, the 5 year plan.
To break down the international boundaries and to win over both
the "Nashville Music Business Aristocracy", and "North American
Country Music fans" it only took five years....give or take Thousands
of miles, concert stages, shopping mall stages, festivals, small
clubs, solo and band concerts, TV guest appearances, meet and greets
with fans. His own recording sessions, making music video's,
Co-writing song sessions, playing guitar and singing on other artists
recordings. and working as a support act for current day Country
Hero's. " None of this American-Idol over night success stuff "
However as they say " The Proof is in the Pavlova". ...sorry, Pudding!
Keith's rewards have been plentiful in the last two years, recently
grabbing the " Top Male Vocalist of the year form both the CMA and ACM
in America. Six number one
hits on the Billboard chart, the CMT Video of the year" ..Just to name
a few.
As I write Keith is now ranked among the "Top Country Male Stars in
the world".
The Return back Home March 2005.
In March this year he was finally heading home for his "First
Headlining tour".
A thirteen day, ten date tour, from "Townsville to Hobart" that would
mark what I have
dubbed " Return of the Prodigal Son tour ". ( Thank you Graeme Connors
)
In a pre-tour interview with ABC radio's John Nutting, Keith told
John.
"I hope they don't see me as coming back as the American but rather
the Aussie guy that they just haven't seen yet."
On Feb 8.th the tour producers announce that Urban's
"close-to-sold-out tour" prompted their decision to import Urban's
full concert touring stage set up and his favorite Monkey backdrop,
rather than the scaled-down version originally agreed upon, this will
mean his Aussie fans will see the exact show that Keith's been touring
in the North America.
" Days later the whole tour is sold out ". One of the tour partners
Announced "It's going to be wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling,
girls-on-shoulders, entertainment at its best".
It's amazing! Keith Urban has been one of the first artists to sell
out his shows this season "
And to top off the tour, on his last night in Australia Keith will be
presenting an award at the first ever "MTV Australia Video Music
Awards " being held at Sydney's famous Luna Park.
Keith was taking this home coming tour very seriously. Keith said,
"I couldn't be in better shape for his Australian tour - hitting the
gym six days a week and taking a trainer on the road with me this
time".
"I'm glad I was able to stick it out long enough for this opportunity
to come around."
Needless to say the Prodigal Son pulled off a Smashing Success at
home. Next stop was back to the USA and then on to Canada where
Canadian fans parked their buns is seats at sold out shows. Although
at the concert I attended in Ottawa, "most of the time the audience
were on their feet".
It had been four years and five months give or take a couple of days
since our first meeting. "And oh what a ride for this talented young
man all the way to the top". Keith's made his mark in history as
"Australia's first Country Artist to capture America's Country Music's
Grand Prize ".
But this is only the beginning of a brilliant career, I believe Keith
Urban will continue to break and make records. He will twist and turn
and cross over to Rock and Pop, and continue to hold on to all of his
"True Blue fans, of all of his musical styles".
To date Keith Urban has stood firm to the Golden rule ." It's not
Country Music if there is only Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, and Bass on
the tracks"
One constant on Urban's tracks are the sounds of "Traditional Country
Instruments". Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Dobro, and the Steel Guitar.
Here in Canada his fans and critics alike have dubbed his style as
"Celtic Country Rock" No matter what what it's called it seems to be
attracting fans by the thousands.
Edmonton Alberta CMN reporter Bill Borgwardt wrote about the reception
Keith got on stage at the Rexall Place April 1st " The Last time I
heard such a loud crowd response was when a guy called GARTH played
that same vevue a few years ago"
Before the concert when fans were streaming into the Ottawa concert
venue I asks some of them what it was that they like about Keith
Urban. here are a few of their answers.
The Women replied. "He has great songs, Man O Man he's Sexy, He's a
great entertainer"
The Men replied. "This Guy Rocks, He plays Boss Guitar, He's a Country
Grunger"
Keith Urban is now a International Champion, and he's still "Fair
Dinkum".
And as they say downunder, " Good Onya Keith "
-
Richard Drumdee Patterson (c)
CMN Australian Country Music Commentator.
Article resources,
Keith Urban.
Capitol Records. EMI Canada.
John Nutting & Shan Goodwin. ABC Radio.
Rosalija Marhin. Associate editor.
Special thanks to, Ken Craig of The House of Blues.
Photo credits,
Coogee bay 1999: Suzanne Gallard.
Ottawa 2005: House of blues production staff.
-
Your Australian Countrymusic Connection in Canada
Richard Drumdee Patterson
email:
cancountrynews@yahoo.com
PO Box 988 Stn B Ottawa ON Canada K1P 5R1
-
-
"TONIGHT I WANNA CRY" TO HIT
RADIO
Make sure to tune in to radio and request Keith's new single
"Tonight I Wanna Cry". The newest single from his platinum album BE
HERE officially hits radio on 11/21.
KEITH SHOWS COUNTRY CARES!
November 1, 2005 (NASHVILLE, TN) -
Keith Urban’s first full-length concert DVD, Livin’ Right Now, has
been certified Platinum, according to the RIAA. Platinum certification
for long-form DVDs and videos occurs when sales reach 100,000 units.
KEITH URBAN’S LIVIN’ RIGHT NOW GOES PLATINUM
November 1, 2005 (NASHVILLE, TN) - Keith Urban’s first
full-length concert DVD, Livin’ Right Now, has been certified
Platinum, according to the RIAA. Platinum certification for long-form
DVDs and videos occurs when sales reach 100,000 units.
- 2005 Aria Winner
- Best Country Album
- "Be Here" - Keith Urban
- KEITH URBAN!!!!! WINNER
ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2005
FRENCH ASSOCIATION OF COUNTRY MUSIC
"BETTER LIFE" SINGLE! HIT #4 THIS WEEK ON BILLBOARD
!
MAKING IT KEITH'S CONSECUTIVE 11TH TOP 5 HIT
ANOTHER PLATINUM!
Congratulations Keith! RIAA has certified the Golden Road has now sold 3
million copies!
- OCTOBER 11TH 2005
'BETTER LIFE" HITS #1 ON THE AMERICAN BILLBOARD CHARTS!
-
- Keith Urban to guest on Dolly Parton's
new CD: Those Were The Days
-
http://66.45.13.138/index.cfm?section=12&screen=news&news_id=45024
From the Nashville City Paper (Oct 10): "Dolly Parton continues her run of
exceptional tribute and concept works with her latest collection Those Were
The Days (Sugarhill), which is being released this week. The astonishing
guest list includes Norah Jones, Judy Collins, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack,
Alison Krauss, Mindy Smith, Porter Wagoner, Joe Nichols, Kris Kristofferson,
Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) and Nickel Creek. Parton offers stunning,
sometimes unusual interpretations of classic numbers from Bob Dylan, John
Lennon, the Byrds, Collins, Kristofferson, and even Tommy James. Country,
bluegrass, and folk elements converge through both Parton’s tremendous
singing and the interaction she enjoys with the great group of collaborators
on what is another marvellous entry in her distinguished catalog, one that
she also produced."
- DVD
release this week
-
- Looks like Keith will not be at the Aria Awards
October 23rd. He has commitments in Europe
-
- YOU CHOOSE THE WINNERS WITH COUNTRY
WEEKLY
The CMAs and ACMs are great, but who are these mysterious "industry
voters"
- who decide who wins those trophies? Now YOU decide who wins!
- Very early cassette tape cover
-
- Music Box Announces Nominees For
Awards Program
(Paris, France) - This is the result of the Seven nominees based on
around 50 000 votes of the Music Box listeners.. the results of the winners
will be at the end of October and the European the Saturday November 18 in
The Théater of Poissy.
- Categories Male Artist for Music
Box Listener
DWIGHT YOAKAM
BRAD PAISLEY
TOBY KEITH
KEITH URBAN
TIM MCGRAW
ALAN JACKSON
GARTH BROOKS
- "The 39th
Annual CMA Awards"
Keith Urban has Four Nominations
Brooks & Dunn will Host the 2005 CMA Awards From New York City's
...
Brad Paisley and Lee Ann Womack Lead Nominees with Six Nominations ...
Toby Keith and Keith Urban Receive Four Nominations; Newcomer Group
Sugarland Scores Three Nominations
- The awards will be broadcast live from New York
City's
Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the CBS
Television Network.
Urban was nominated for Entertainer of the Year (his first nomination in the
category); Male
Vocalist of the Year; Album of the Year for "Be Here" and Music Video of the
Year for "Days Go By."
- He won his first CMA Award in 2001, when
he picked up the Horizon Award.
In 2004, he received his first nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year and
won that, too. He can win an additional trophy as co-producer of his album
in
2005.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, Sept. 17, at
12:00 PM/ET, and
can be purchased by logging on to
www.ticketmaster.com; calling (212)
307-7171
(or any local Ticketmaster outlet phone number); or in-person at the
Madison Square Garden box office. They can also be purchased at all
Ticketmaster outlets across the nation. The ticket price is $250 (not
including tax
and service charges). Click here for more onfo
http://www.cmaawards.com/2005/news/
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-
- KEITH URBAN
HIS LASTEST SINGLE
- "BE HERE" IN STORES
- IN AUSTRALIA
NOW
- October 11th 2005... Dolly Parton releases her new album, featuring a
duet with Keith ( Twelfth of never)
- KEITH URBAN FANS TO KEEP ON “LIVIN’ RIGHT
NOW” WITH FIRST EVER CONCERT DVD
August 25, 2005 – Multi-platinum artist Keith Urban has captivated
audiences around the world with his astonishing live performances and is
now set to release his first ever concert DVD Livin’ Right Now on
September 27th....
Join Our Community!
KeithUrban.net has a brand new webboard! All members (previous
members must re-register) can sign up here! We are glad to have you on
board!
- KEITH NOMINATED FOR CANADIAN
COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD
Congratulations Keith! Keith was nominated for Top Selling Album
for the 2005 Canadian Country Music Awards that will be handed out
September 12 in Calgary.
KEITH TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF BIG APPLE
Keith Urban, who has been playing to sold-out audiences across
the United States on his "Alive In '05" tour" is heading to New York
City next week for two national television appearances. On Aug. 11th,
Keith will sing his new single "Better Life" on NBC's Late
Night With Conan O'Brien; then Aug. 12th he'll perform on ABC's Good
Morning America Summer Concert Series in New York City's Bryant Park,
where Keith's set list will include "Days Go By" and his #1 hit "You'll
Think Of Me."
BETTER LIFE
Listen for Keith Urban's new single "Better Life" to hit radio!
The rumour is that Nicole
Kidman and Keith Urban are linked
romantically. What a great pair!!
-
- JEANS & KEITH - THE PERFECT FIT AT GAP THIS FALL
- SAN FRANCISCO – July 28, 2005 – There is something about your
favorite jeans and your favorite music that always feels right together. Gap
recognized this relationship when it first opened in 1969, and jeans and
music have continued to go hand and hand as the brand has evolved over the
past 35 years.
Gap will feature an exciting new print and television advertising campaign
called “Favorites,” which stars a cast of acclaimed musicians including
Country Music star Keith Urban, among others. The TV campaign captures each
musician performing an original remake of their favorite song while wearing
their favorite Gap jeans. more!
KEITH URBAN IS READY FOR HIS CLOSEUP
Keith Urban is certainly good-looking enough for the movies, and according
to Nashville's WSMV-TV, he's about to break into Hollywood in a big way.
Executives with Melee Entertainment have confirmed that Keith has been
signed to star in a romantic drama that will begin shooting early next year.
more
www.KeithUrban.net
-
- Keith Lands Movie Deal
- Melee Entertainment has signed country music singer Keith Urban to star in
the company's first feature under a six-pic deal with Paramount Home
Entertainment (Daily Variety, Nov. 1) for music-based films.
Melee will co-finance the untitled romantic-drama slated to start shooting
early next year with an eye toward a release next summer, timed to the
release of Urban's next album and a TV special.
Last year, Melee produced with Screen Gems the music-driven "You Got
Served," which starred R&B group B2K.
Date in print: Wed., Jul. 20, 2005, Gotham
-
-
URBAN and CROWELL RECEIVE FIRST EVER
CRB, INC.® APPRECIATION CERTIFICATES for
"MAKING MEMORIES OF US" From Teena)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 11, 2005) CRB, Inc. presented its first appreciation
certificates on Monday, July 11, 2005. Country artist Keith Urban and
songwriter/artist Rodney Crowell were recognized for their collaboration on
Urban¹s latest #1 hit, "Making Memories of Us" at ASCAP¹s #1 party for the
current single.
CRB, Inc. established the award to be presented to artists and songwriters
on behalf of Country radio as an expression of appreciation for music that
has helped to grow Country audiences. CRB, Inc. takes time to praise those
who have made a difference in their community and profession through their
committed effort to improving and educating Country Radio and its supporting
industries.
"Country Radio and the Country Radio Broadcasters greatly value the creative
efforts of the music community which contribute greatly to radio," Ed
Salamon, CRB Executive Director said. "The CRB has established this award as
a token of this appreciation of the writers and artists who have contributed
music that has been especially successful in touching radio listeners."
- McGraw, Urban make a fine pair
of rock cowboys
By DAVE TIANEN
dtianen@journalsentinel.com Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel-Wisconsin
Posted: July 9, 2005
The Marcus Amphitheater beautification project commonly referred to as Tim
McGraw and Keith Urban came to Summerfest on Saturday night.
Of course, more than mere decorative issues may have been at stake here. For
quite a few years Tim McGraw has been the alpha male of the Music City herd,
but there's a young blond gunslinger who seems to be intent on altering the
pecking order.
A couple weeks ago I asked Keith Urban if the prospect of playing head to
head with Tim McGraw was likely to bring out the competitive juices in them
both.
Nah, Keith said. He doesn't think about stuff like that. He just goes out
and gives the best show he can.
Maybe. Maybe not.
This much is certain. Two songs into his opening set, Urban had already
jumped down into the Marcus Amphitheater pit. A couple songs later he
dropped flat down on his back and ripped through a blistering guitar solo
while grinning up at the amphitheater camera man.
At other points he hoisted the microphone stand over his head like a
harpoon, laid back on the stage apron and took his own picture with a camera
from a fan in the front row.
As he demonstrated again Saturday, Urban is a threat on multiple fronts.
He's a first-rate guitarist and a charismatic stage act with a rock 'n' roll
rebel heart. He is also an unabashed romantic in a country scene dominated
by "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" party animals.
In break-up songs such as "Tonight I Wanna Cry" or "You'll Think of Me," or
open-hearted declarations such as "You're My Better Half" or "Making
Memories of Us," Urban shows the colors of a rebel who knows exactly the
things a lady wants to hear.
"Memories" also shows he has good taste in songwriters. Written by Rodney
Crowell, it finds its way into a woman's affections from fresh avenues.
There's something almost worshipful in a lyric such as, "I want to honor
your mother/ I want to learn from your pa/ I want to steal your attention
like a bad outlaw."
Urban had the crowd on its feet the whole way and left it roaring to rockers
such as "Jeans On" and U2's "Beautiful Day."
Unfortunately, deadlines interrupted just a few songs into McGraw's set. The
crowd was once again on its feet from the get-go, roaring its adulation.
McGraw certainly wins the tight T-shirt scoring. On the other hand, nobody
beats Urban in the blond mane department. In terms of energy level, McGraw -
at least in the early going - operated several megawatts below the
near-combustible levels of Urban.
It will be interesting to see who's ruling the herd a year from now.
Opening the evening was Hot Apple Pie. A new act, it blends country with
'60s rock influences in a way that suggests the second coming of the Bellamy
Brothers.
- Richard Drumdee Patterson back stage in Canada with Keith Urban.
- (Photo by House of blues productions Canada.)
- Keith Urban meets a fan in Canada.
Presenter: John Nutting,
ABC Show: Saturday Night Country.
- In fact the fan is some one who writes a lot about Australian as well
as country music from his homeland Canada.
Richard Drumdee Patterson keeps us up to date at Saturday Night Country with
the latest country music news from Canada. He went along to the concert on
April 9th in Ottawa Canada.
We have had a lot of pictures from Keith's shows there...but now here's a
"fan foto" !
If you have any from any other of Keiths shows we would love to see them.
Perhaps you were lucky enough to meet Keith and have a picture taken with
him.
We would love to hear your story about that.
Also if you haven't already been there, on our previous Keith story you can
hear the first part of an interview from some years ago that we recorded.
It's a podcast so you can down load it and listen at your leisure.
-
KEITH URBAN TALKS ABOUT HIS
CROSSOVER POPULARITY
Keith Urban closed out last night’s CMA Music Festival coliseum
show with his now patented high energy, guitar fest of a performance.
-
-
Aleyce Simmonds backstage with keith urban!
Ryman Theatre, Nashville Tn. 8 June 2005
-
An invitation to the prestigious Fan Party at the legendary Ryman
Theatre for the keith urban Fan Party was quickly accepted by Telstra Road
to Tamworth winner, Aleyce Simmonds.
Watching 2,400 avid fans scream and shout with every hair flick of the
Aussie superstar was a morning well spent. The invitation to join the star
back stage was an unexpected thrill and a photo to prove it well!!!!!!
Keith and his band captured the, already besotted, crowd and worked them
into an absolute frenzy. He gave some wonderful opportunities to some
lucky fans who got to get on stage with their idol and have a close moment
and photo opportunity.
There is little doubt that keith urban is certainly one of our greatest
exports and to observe some of his fan base is very exciting.
Mike Carr, who performed along with Aleyce at the CMA Global Artist Party
at The Stage on Monday night was another lucky Aussie to meet up with
keith.
Aleyce will be playing the Fanfare River Stage, Sunday 12th June with
fellow Aussies Catherine Britt and Jedd Hughes.
Aleyce describes her time here in Nashville as “a dream come true”.
-
-
******************
The compilation of Be Here, and Golden Road is released in Australia on
June 19th
LIVE DVD KEITH URBAN
************************
A live performance of Keith's taped in California in Dec will be released
here in Australia
the DVD release date in Australia is July 17.
-
KEITH URBAN “MAKING MEMORIES”
-
SONGS FOR MY UTE
-
From Teena
********************
Just a little bit of info.....
SONGS FOR MY UTE' VOLUME 3
The 'Songs For My Ute' series has proven to be hugely popular, and the Ute
community has embraced this CD Brand and is anticipating this third CD in
the series! Volume 3 features 36 great driving classics on 2 CD's and
features key artists such as Jet, Bryan Adams, Living End, Shannon Noll,
Nickelback and Keith Urban plus songs from
classic artists including Rose Tattoo, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Toto, Status
Quo and Deep Purple among others.
Keith's song 'DAYS GO BY" features on this cd, and is the 3rd track.
-
WELL HE DID IT!......KEITH WON BEST MALE ARTIST AND ALBUM OF THE YEAR,
AT THE ACADEMY
-
OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS!!!!!
-
From Teena Fish
I can only speak from a personal view here, on this subject.
Its so hard to express, how it felt from a fan position, to hear that
Keith had actually taken out those top honours.
So many many years when Keith has been nominated for awards, we would sit
back fingers crossed, eyes closed, saying over and over.. please call out
Keith's name please call his name....
Then they would always call someone else name out............. and our
mouths would drop, in disbelief that Keith wasn't the winner!...
But did you know that Keith has won an ACM award before?
It actually was Keith's first American award!
Back in 2001, he won for TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
Well shows good things come to those that wait.
"BE HERE" really is the album of the year!
And Keith Urban is the hottest thing on the planet today.
But I am sure that many of the fans from 5 years back... recall the
struggle and fight, to have Keith heard and seen.
Heck even right here in Australia, we fought so hard to have him mentioned
in any circle that we could...to see the acceptance at long last, by radio
, TV, and print, is what we had dreamed would happened. And sure enough
dreams come true.
I recall saying in a newsletter last year, that things were about to start
changing and we would be seeing more of Keith, and he would be acknowledge
like we never would have dreamt of.... WELL MATES ITS HAPPENING!...
Congratulations Keith!!!
-
Keith Urban won in two prestigious
categories!!
from Bill Aldacushion
-
May 17 2005: The US Academy of Country Music (ACM)
awards show has concluded
in Las Vegas, and Keith Urban won in two prestigious categories:
Album of the Year for "Be Here" and Male Vocalist of the Year.
Gretchen Wilson also scored a surprising double, winning Best New Vocalist
and Female
Vocalist of the Year.
Keith was nominated for the top prize, Entertainer of the Year, which was
awarded to Kenny Chesney.
Earlier in the three-hour, live TV broadcast Keith performed "Days Go By"
remotely from
the UK . He delivered his gracious acceptance speeches for both awards
from Belfast via satellite at about 4AM local time.
-
-
KEITH ACCEPTS MALE and ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Keith appeared on the telecast LIVE from Ireland, with and amazing
performance and humble
-
acceptance of the ACM's Male Vocalist and Album of the Year!
-
- Keith Urban has done it again. His latest
single "Making Memories of Us"
- sits on top of the Billboard Hot Country
Singles chart, making it the sixth number one of his career.
- It is also the second number one
from his current Be Here CD.
-
-
Keith Urban "Video Hits" has been
certified GOLD for 5,000 units March 2005 by the CRIA.
-
FROM LONDON THIS WEEK!:
Chris Goodman, Featurewell.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/5/4/130746.shtml
Keith Urban has suffered more put downs, knock backs, shut outs and
brush-offs than Rocky Balboa.
When he arrived back in Nashville back in the early 90s, his rocking style
was not exactly welcome. But he clung on even as his Nashville dream
turned into a nightmare in a haze of alcohol and cocaine.
Urban's new album Be Here is about living in the moment and enjoying what
you have. Urban learned the hard way.
At the age of 37, he has finally made it into the country big time and now
threatens to cross over to a mass audience thanks to his melodic, Bryan
Adams style rock. "Without sounding too corny, I never thought of it as
chasing a dream as much as destiny," he decides in a voice so relaxed it
is hard to imagine him doing too much chasing, "If you're chasing a dream,
you can just wear out after a while.
"But if you're pursuing a destiny you can just go with the flow."
Urban is slumped in an armchair in the Berkeley Hotel in London, a strong
cup of coffee warding off some jet lag.
With his straightened blond hair, fashionable printed t-shirt and faded
jeans, he looks like a younger man and feels like one too. He used to
think he would never make it to thirty. Now, 7 years on from the landmark,
he says he still feels in a precarious position.
An Australian, born in New Zealand, young Keith grew up in Brisbane until
he was ten when his father moved the family to an outback farm. Keith took
to life in Caboolture, which echoed his musical tastes, pouring over his
father's Don Williams, Glen Campbell and Charley Pride records.
"It was just meant to be," he nods, "Since I was 7 years old, I looked at
the back of my Dad's records and saw they were all recorded in Nashville,
so that's where I wanted to go.
"My earliest music memory was seeing Johnny Cash in concert when I was 7.
It was in this old 5000 seater, wooden hall. I remember the spotlight
coming over the top of our heads to the stage, the whole electricity of
that place was amazing. There was this one guy playing acoustic guitar in
the spotlight and five thousand people were dead quiet. "It had quite an
impact on me."
Seven-year-olds want to be everything from pop stars to astronauts to
train drivers, ambitions change weekly and most leave behind their
childhood fancies with their short trousers But Urban has dedicated his
life, not just to music, but to making music in Nashville.
"I imagined this magical place with big cars, all this interesting stuff
that we didn't have. It's a typical small town situation, you want
something bigger and better. "My parents moved from New Zealand to
Australia for a better life. I moved to Nashville for a better career."
Urban began playing in pubs and clubs when he was 12 and left school as
soon as was legally possible at 15. He played in a touring family band, a
country group that also played Clash tunes. "I learnt more there in the
first year than I did in three years of high school," he attests, "about
people and life, how to take care of myself."
In 1990, Urban had a Number 1 country album in Australia but his heart was
already in Nashville. He even renounced his record contract with EMI
Australia and started taking trips to Nashville, a week or two at time,
returning to Oz when his visa ran out and earning enough from solo gigs to
return to Music City.
"It's sad when you have that intense focus, you sacrifice everything,"
says Urban, flicking his hair out of his face uncomfortably. "I didn't
want any ties to Australia, I wanted to commit and go with no coming back,
so that I had to make it work."
In 1992, Urban moved to Nashville permanently and began a long, painful
cycle of disappointment. A long-haired Aussie with a band that rocked too
hard for an industry going through a roots revival was not exactly what
the powers-that-be were searching for.
Urban is a guitar hero, an axe-man when he wants to be. He was not Alan
Jackson. Garth Brooks changed attitudes with his Kiss-goes-country style
shows, but any light was invisible at the end of a very long tunnel for
Urban.
"Ignorance is bliss," he shrugs, "And I had no idea what I was doing, it
was totally suicidal. But I had a real deep-seated belief in what I had to
offer, it's more than an ego thinking˜I'm great.'
"I knew I could contribute but people would offer me all sorts and behind
my back they just found my quest laughable it was awful, I'd be crying
driving down to the studio some days, just crying, thinking ˜I hate this,
I don't want to sit in this room with some guy I've never met before and
try and write a song. That's really awkward."
In 1997, he and his band The Ranch released an album which, he giggles,
"sold about 6 copies!"
Already five years since moving to the U.S., he would have to be made of
granite to remain unaffected. Urban confesses that he succumbed to
addictions to alcohol and cocaine: "It was the frustration, not being able
to get in my car and drive home to center myself. I was in this surreal
world full of nobody I trusted and getting hit on the head constantly.
You're thinking ˜this is the best I can do and it's not working, what more
can I do?'
"It was a cheap escape - well it wasn't cheap - but it was just a pathetic
escape mechanism. I couldn't leave so I left by being somewhere else in my
head."
He adds: "It wasn't the greatest career move, it distracted me from music.
But when your entire life is centred on this one goal, are you really
going let the drugs take it away from you?"
To get "re-focussed," Urban left the band. "I knew I could make it, but
the band couldn't," he says. "The demos I was doing sounded a lot more
like country radio than anything the band were doing."
Urban held himself accountable and relaxed, took himself less seriously
and became Mr. Positive. The turnaround in his fortunes naturally
followed.
Signed to Capitol he released Keith Urban in 1999, Golden Road in 2002 and
now Be Here, all in his own rocking country style. The Nashville pendulum
swung to his music and now country radio is crying out for him.
He has four Number 1's and eight Top 5 hits to his name and he is coveting
the mainstream chart.
"I get nervous sometimes now because I'm not as driven as I used to be,"
he admits, "when success finally came, I was thinking, ˜I'm almost over
this.' "It just happens that when things started going my way I lost
some of my drive. Success is easier."
-
Austin City Limits
-
The show The New York Times calls 'the standard
bearer for music on
television" - Austin City Limits - continues exploring
new musical territories with diverse artists including Keith Urban.
As a Web master for one of the band's fan sites, we hope you can include
information about this rare television appearance on your site. The
Keith Urban episode, which also features Rodney Crowell, is scheduled to
air
nationally July 9 on PBS (please check local listings).
Austin City Limits' Web site will features a transcript of a post-show
interview, a video clip preview of the show and much more. Right now the
site
features a detailed description of this episode and photos from
the show. Please feel free to link to our site at:
http://www.pbs.org/austin
If you have any questions about this show or the Web site, please reply
to sender.
April Burcham
KLRU-TV, proud home of Austin City Limits
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Australian Artists at Nashville Fan Fair
2005
May 5: The program schedule details have
just been released for the 2005 CMA Music Festival (a.k.a. Fan
Fair) to be held in Nashville the week of June 6, and Australian
artists are well represented.
The week’s events start Monday evening with the CMA Global Artist
Showcase - a free concert event featuring performances from a
variety of international country music artists at The Stage On
Broadway in downtown Nashville with Mike Carr (Australia), Adam
Gregory (Canada), Justin McGurk (Ireland), Charlie Nagatani
(Japan), Aleyce Simmonds (Australia) and Rachel Warwick (UK).
Jamie O’Neal is amongst the first set of performers on the
secondary Riverfront Park Stages on Thursday morning. Keith Urban
appears on the main football stadium stage that evening.
The Riverfront Park Stages will also be the site of the Wide World
of Country Show on Sunday with Paul Brandt (Canada), Catherine
Britt (Australia), Jedd Hughes (Australia), Justin McGurk
(Ireland), Aleyce Simmonds (Australia) and The Wilkinsons
(Canada). Hosted by GAC's Kylie Harris (New Zealand).
To see the full line-up of the week’s activities along with artist
photos from previous Fan Fairs, visit
http://www.countrymusictravel.com/www/id16.html
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Video of the Year 2005
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for "Days Gone By." Quoting from his acceptance
speech: ""Thank you, first of all, to everybody who voted. I really,
really appreciate this award more than you know. ... I just really
enjoyed making this video."
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EMI in Australia will be releasing
the live DVD that Keith taped in December in the USA. in early June.
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The Scene London Ontairo Canada KEITH URBAN
Feature
Country music superstar has travelled a long road
story by Richard Moule
It's the voice that catches you off guard. Country music superstar Keith
Urban may have a smooth singing voice, but in conversation, he retains his
distinctive Australian accent. With his chiseled features and windswept
blonde hair, it would be easy to mistake Urban as a California surfer or the
rebellious son of a Texas farmer, but he was born in New Zealand and raised
in Australia. That's right, one of the biggest names in country music is an
Aussie. This is why Urban chuckles that his accent sometimes throws people
off.
'Every now and then I still get that at meet-and-greets, mostly from kids
who haven't heard me speak, having only seen me in videos or heard me on
record. When they hear me speaking they freak out,' he laughs back stage
before a show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 'That was another of the things
about moving to Nashville. I'd been playing country music in talent shows,
since I was seven years old, so it was so natural for me to sing one way and
speak in a different way, but I can understand how much of a shock it was to
everybody else.'
Not that it matters now. With his latest album, Be Here (EMI Music), Urban
is hotter than the Australian outback in the middle of the summer. It's his
most personal statement yet, with Urban co-producing and co-writing most of
the songs. The album title seems to work on two different levels: one about
living and enjoying life in the moment and on a more philosophical level, it
seems to be about just being grateful to be here at this time and place.
'It's just about being present in everything, from what you get out of life
to being in conversation with somebody. Sometimes you're talking to somebody
and you realize that they are miles away. And you're like, 'Be here. I'm
trying to share something with you!' I'm very much in the middle of my life
and I seem to have spent a lot of my time on the perimeter of it and not
really being fully cognizant of everything that was happening and enjoying
it. When you start to worry about what is happening in your life you're not
really in the middle of your life, you're on the perimeter. I feel really
good about being at the center of it as I have ever been in my life.'
On Be Here, Urban tackles some of the big questions of life, from its good
times (You're My Better Half, Making Memories of Us and God's Been Good To
Me) to its darker moments (Tonight I Wanna Cry, The Hard Way and Nobody
Drinks Alone). If there is a common thread that runs through the record it
is perseverance.
'If there is a theme I think it is life, about its ups and downs, the joys,
the sorrows, the sense of freedom. Even the freedom we don't have yet, but
the freedom we would like to have. One of the great human traits is the
optimism that comes from the spirit, from the sense that we are worth more
than this. We strive for it, work hard for it, and rise above it. You can't
live your life in a peaceful bubble without experiencing the realities of
life. Without getting too deep, we're all just spiritual beings having a
human experience and it can be tough. It can be a challenge.'
Urban knows what facing challenges head on is all about, but he has also
been blessed with extraordinary talent and determination. Even at an early
age, Urban dreamed of the bright lights of Nashville. Upon arriving from New
Zealand, Urban's family settled in the northern Australian city of Brisbane.
At six he picked up the guitar, captivated by his dad's country music
collection that included artists like Don Williams, Charley Pride, Glen
Campbell and Dolly Parton. By eight, he was winning local talent contests.
When he was 10, his family moved to a farming community north of Brisbane
called Caboolture, buying a 12-acre farm. By 15 he quit school and hit the
road, playing mostly for cover bands in Aussie rock pubs in the big cities.
It was there that he developed his hybrid country/rock style.
'It was everything. Ronnie Milsap was big in the '80s and I was doing
Stranger In My House and then covering some Aussie pub rock bands. John
Mellencamp. Creedence Clearwater Revival. Steve Miller Band. Just mixing it
all up. I look back and realize that all those songs in those cover bands
were helping me to formulate my style.
'As the years have gone on I've started to look back at Bernie Taupin as a
fantastic lyricist,' explains Urban, who covers the Elton John/Bernie Taupin
classic Country Comfort on Be Here. ' I like a lot of lyricists who seem to
write almost as stream of consciousness, too. I think a lot of times John
Lennon wrote like that without getting cerebrally poetic.'
In terms of guitarists, two musicians stand out for Urban: Dire Straits'
Mark Knopfler and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsay Buckingham. Why those two and not
traditional country pickers like Merle Travis or Chet Atkins?
'Melody. I think that's it in a single word, especially with Knopfler. His
sense of melody is absolutely beautiful. And you can hear the influence of
Chet and Clapton as well,' analyzes Urban. 'And with Lindsay, it's the same
thing. I can't pick anybody's influence in his playing. He sounds so
original.'
Like Vince Gill, Urban is that rare musician who is a triple threat as a
guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. It was with these tools that Urban
thought he would win over Nashville when he moved there in 1992, after
recording a solo album in his homeland in 1990 that yielded four number one
country hits.
But there were a few rough years until his trio, The Ranch, began to
generate some buzz. Then, his 2000 self-titled album (with its three Top 5
hits, including the number one smash But For The Grace of God) proved to be
the breakthrough he was looking for. A year later, Urban won the Country
Music Association's prestigious Horizon Award and the Top New Male Vocalist
Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Then came 2002's Golden Road
and the rest is history.
When asked whether he is Down Under's greatest musical export now, his
modesty is self-evident.
- 'Oh, I'm very fortunate to be doing what I'm doing. Again, I just had a
crazy singular focus of what I wanted to do and that was live in Nashville,
make records and tour. It wasn't any more specific than that. It wasn't how
many records, how many songs, or how high in the charts. And awards, they
never entered into it. I just had this vague overall plan. It just started
coming together. Every day I look around and say, 'God, this is amazing.''
Keith Urban
lyrics
- The Mates of Keith Urban who were lucky to have
their photo taken with Keith (middle back)
- Country boy ... Keith knows how
to rock the house.
HE might have popped back Down Under for a quick visit, but
Australian country music sensation Keith Urban won't be getting back to his
roots anytime soon.
- However, he hopes one-day to divide his time between his homeland and the
Nashville circuit.
"Long-term, I'd love to split my time between the (United States) and
Australia," said Urban, who completed the Sydney leg of the tour tonight,
before moving on to Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart.
- "I'm hoping that I'll be able to come back and tour a lot more too."
- After 10 years in Nashville, Urban said it was still "a very hard town" to
live in, but admitted he'd also had a lot of fun there.
- Despite his latest album, Be Here Now, hitting the top five of the
Australian country music chart, and being named Male Vocalist of the Year at
last year's US Country Music Awards, the singer has his feet firmly planted
on the ground.
- In fact Urban, who got his big break when he won the Star Maker contest at
the Tamworth Country Music Festival, says he doesn't even consider himself a
country star.
- "I've been fortunate to sell a lot of records and have great success in the
(United) States but I don't go around thinking about it," he said.
ChartCountry 2004
- Cactus Awards Winners
5th January 2005
Single of the Year : Live Like You Were Dying
Male Artist of the Year : Toby Keith
Female Artist of the Year : Reba McEntire
Group or Duo of the Year : Brooks and Dunn
Canadian Artist of the Year : Shania Twain
Australian Artist of the Year : Keith Urban
Album of the Year : Shock'n Y'all - Toby Keith
Email Voting Award : Keith Urban
www.chartcountry.com
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- Concert Recently in Phoenix
- One concert recently in Phoenix ,Keith did a
couple of songs with Charlie Pride, and Glenn Campbell, who were in the
audience.
Back here in Oz, the country is singing the praises of our boy from Oz..
and his Grammy nominations, its been so heart warming to see Keith getting
recognition in the press here. AND HE DESERVES IT!
Even Tommy Emmanuel , heaped praise on Keith to his audience at a recent
concert he held. Keith had once said about Tommys guitar playing," that some
people are touched by the hands of God, Tommy is the hands of God, the way
he plays guitar"!
I found it so heart warming to hear that Tommy gave Keith alot of praise for
his hard work and achievements.
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- "I am truly humbled by all that I have experienced this year, and for these
Grammy nominations, I am grateful for the gifts I have been given, first by
God, and also by you, the amazing fans and supporters who give me the
greatest gift of all - letting me share this love of music with so many
people." Keith Urban
Congratulations Keith! Keith has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Male
Country Vocal Performance (You'll Think Of Me) and Best Country Album for
his hit album Be Here.
SUPPORT ACT FOR AUSTRALIA CHOSEN
Singer songwriter SAM HAWKSLEY had been awarded the opening spot on
Keith's February Australian Tour. With over 20 artists submitting for the tour, Urban's huge increase in profile in both Australia and the USA and a sell
out tour, it was one of the most hotly contested opening spots of the
summer. I'd been told that Keith had heard and liked my CD "On Any Other
Day" and I think it will be great to share |
Tamworth
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