Country Music People March 2020 | Page 4

country MUSIC PEOPLE MARCH 2020 Volume 51 Number 3 Issue 601 Editor Duncan Warwick Contributors David Allan, Janet Aspley, Donnie Ayers, Craig Baguley, Tony Byworth, Larry Delaney, Don Cusic, Julie Flaskett, Michael Hingston, Stan Hitchcock, Tony Ives, Spencer Leigh, John Lomax III, Adrian Peel, Paul Riley, Alex Rossi, Wayne Smart, Chris Smith, Tom Travis, Walt Trott, Dave Watkins, Jack Watkins New release consultant: Steve Tidbury Assistant editor / Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory Photographers Patricia Presley, Barry Dixon, Billie McAleer Printed by Micropress www.micropress.co.uk Distributor Seymour International Press Distributors Ltd. 2 East Poultry Avenue London EC1A 9PT Telephone [phone] Country Music People is published the last Thursday of each month by KICKIN’ CUTS LIMITED 24 Darley Close, Wittering, Peterborough PE8 6EQ, UK Telephone [phone] - 783689 [email protected] www.cmpcountry.com ©2020 Kickin’ Cuts Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for statement of fact or opinion expressed by contributors. The views of the contributors are not necessarily those of Country Music People or its editor. 4 cmp - MARCH 2020 News Walt Trott in Nashville Duncan Warwick in London dem opry bones The Grand Ole Opry returned to television last month via 60-minute programmes made up of performances from the previous week’s shows. Broadcast on the Circle Network, ‘Opry’ features performances, features, and behind-the-scenes segments. Hosting and producing the show is radio personality, Dancing With The Stars winner, and American Idol mentor Bobby Bones, once dubbed “the most powerful man in country music” by Forbes magazine. 50 years of the wheel The Grammy-winning Austin-based Western Swing band Asleep At The Wheel celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with UK dates. Started by Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans in 1970, AATW have almost single-handedly been responsible for reviving the popularity of Western Swing and in particular the music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys for half a century. Led by the imposing figure of 6’7” frontman Ray Benson, the band has had more than 80 members pass through its ranks over the years including Jann Brown, Rosie Flores, Cindy Cashdollar, Jason Roberts, and Larry Franklin. Their biggest hit on the Billboard Country chart was 1975’s Top 10 The Letter That Johnny Walker Read and over the years The Wheel have collaborated with big names from the world of country music such as Dolly Parton, George Strait, Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks as well as notables from other genres like The Manhattan Transfer. The band’s most recent album was New Routes which showcased new fiddle player Katie Shore. The tour begins May 27 in Gateshead and culminates with a London gig at the Islington Assembly Hall on June 4. They also headline the Red Rooster Festival.