Tracy Byrd has always been something of a maverick. In an industry where careers are often decided in committee, Byrd has always held fast to his own creative vision and has never been afraid to take the road less traveled. That unbridled spirit again prevails on his newest release, “Different Things.” Not only does Tracy continue to deliver no-holds-barred country music, he does so while embarking on a new business model that is setting the standard for artists in today’s competitive music industry. Byrd is the first country artist to partner with Artist 2 Market Distribution (A2M), the Handleman Company’s independent distribution arm. A2M will sell and distribute “Different Things” to retail outlets nationwide.
“We had more control doing it this way and even though it’s a little more work, there’s also a little more payback if things go well,” says the talented Texan, who has 13 top ten singles in his arsenal of hits. “There are people saying that this is the future and this is the way it’s going to be. I believe that it can be, especially for established artists. People already know who you are. You already have a track record. They already know your hits.”
Tracy Byrd’s hits are well known among legions of country music fans and routinely spun by radio programmers from coast to coast. Since signing his first record deal in 1992, Byrd has become one of country music’s core artists, a Texas born traditionalist equally skilled at serving up playful hits like “Watermelon Crawl” and “The Truth About Men” as well as poignant ballads such as his signature song “Keeper of the Stars,” which netted the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year accolade in 1996.
He became a popular entertainer on Beaumont’s competitive club scene and soon attracted attention from Nashville. He signed with MCA Records in 1992 and scored a No. 1 hit with the single “Holdin’ Heaven.” His self-titled debut album was certified gold, signifying sales of more than half a million albums. His next four albums achieved gold status, with “No Ordinary Man” being certified double-platinum and remaining in the top ten on the chart for over 30 weeks.
Like his heroes, Haggard and Jones, Tracy Byrd is in it for the long haul. “I feel I still have a lot to offer in music,” he states. “When I first started, I thought I’d have maybe a five-year career because that’s what was happening to most people. But we kept plugging along and kept working, building a great fan base, and we’ve been able to stay around. I’m just tickled to death. I want to see it through to 20 years and beyond.”
Take 2
"Take2," a classic rock 'n roll cover band from Tyler, Texas, has been playing private functions and entertaining local audiences for years, and each member has decades of experience in live and recorded situations. This five-piece band with three-part harmony allows for a variety of styles and sounds sure to please age groups from 16 to 60. Classic rock 'n roll is the theme, but the band covers urban contemporary, jazz, funk, and even some country as well. Take2 band can tailor each show to suit the audience, and special music selections for weddings or any other event can be prepared upon advanced request. Take2 strives for accuracy when covering your classic favorites, from exact arrangements of the original songs right down to vocal emulation. If you want to hear the songs like you remember them, then Take2 delivers!
