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| 'Singer of simple songs' sells 50 million albums | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 24 2008, 04:35 PM (69 Views) | |
| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:35 PM Post #1 |
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'Singer of simple songs' sells 50 million albums - Alan Jackson stays true to traditional country music When Alan Jackson learned his album sales had reached 50 million, his thoughts turned not to the moments when he had received the industry's highest awards, but to all the years he struggled, wondering if he'd ever be able to make a living in music. On Wednesday, Jackson's rare achievement will be celebrated at an invitation-only party hosted by his label, Sony BMG Nashville. "Alan's honesty in his singing and songwriting over all these years has led to this monumental achievement — 50 million albums sold," said Joe Galante, chairman of Sony BMG Nashville. "He continues to put out records like his latest hit — and 33rd No. 1 — 'Good Time,' and he will continue to set even higher sales plateaus as the years go on." Jackson, who will turn 50 in October, said the accomplishment is special, especially in today's environment of decreased record sales. "I'm just very proud of it, and surprised as well that it's still going on after nearly 20 years." Growing up, Jackson listened to traditional country artists such as Conway Twitty and George Jones. "At the time, they were kind of secondary to some of the more contemporary pop stuff that was hot in country music. I kept saying, 'Somebody young needs to carry on that sound. That is real country music.' "Randy Travis came along before I moved to Nashville and opened the door for all of that. That is why I came to town; I wanted to carry that on." Jackson remains frustrated by the music industry's treatment of traditional country artists. "From day one, no matter how many albums or tickets me or anybody else that does real country music has sold, or awards they've won, it seems like you're always secondary, or Nashville is always apologizing for real country music and always trying to broaden their appeal by changing the style of music. That has always bugged me." He pauses, then adds, "It's hard for me to complain about any of that, because radio has played me all along." Driving ambitions Clad in khaki shorts and a lime green polo shirt, Jackson sits in a black leather chair in a spotless building that houses his desk, which is fashioned out of the front of a red Ford pickup, and an impressive collection of shiny vintage cars. To the Jacksons, it's "the garage," but it's not like any garage most people will ever see. The son of a Newnan, Ga., mechanic, Jackson developed an interest in cars at an early age and even worked in the used-car business. By age 20, however, he had begun performing covers of country songs with local bands and writing some of his own songs. In 1985, Jackson moved to Nashville with wife Denise, a flight attendant, to try to make it as a country singer. "I was so ignorant about it," he says. " 'I don't know anything, but I'm going to give it five years, and if I can't get something going, I guess I can just go back to Newnan and try to make a living some way.' I think it was just about five years when I finally got the record deal," he adds, laughing. But, as he quickly learned, that was only the beginning. He released his debut album, Here in the Real World, on Arista/Nashville in 1990. His first single, "Blue Blooded Woman," topped out at No. 44 on the country singles charts. "All of these years, Denise and I were waiting to have children until we felt like we could afford to have them," said Jackson. "All of a sudden, she was pregnant with Mattie and my first single died. It was like, 'Uh oh. If I don't have the next single, that is probably it. That's probably the end of my career, and we haven't even made a dime.' " Fortunately for him, that next single, "Here in the Real World," reached No. 1 and was named the TNN/Music City News song of the year. The album turned out to contain four No. 1 hits. It was certified gold in September 1990 and platinum six months later. He won the Academy of Country Music's award as top new male vocalist in 1990. The Jacksons made their first significant purchase with his increased earnings. "I remember us looking for baby furniture," he said. "The whole set — dresser, rocking chair and baby bed — was like $1,500-$1,800. We had to call our business manager, 'Can we buy this?' We were still living in a basement apartment of a brick house in Donelson. I remember that was one of the first big purchases that we could write a check for." Keep on rolling Jackson followed up his 2 million-selling debut album with 1991's Don't Rock the Jukebox, which sold 4 million copies and spawned five No. 1 hits. But he says it was 1992's A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love) that really "broke" him as a new act. That album included four No. 1 singles, including the smash "Chattahoochee," which won CMA awards for single and song of the year, and eventually sold 6 million copies. "My second daughter, Ali, was born the day we had either a No. 1 party or platinum party for the album," said Jackson. "Denise couldn't come; she was in the hospital. I went to the party and I had a big button made with Ali's footprint on it. We always called her the 'Chattahoochee baby.' " Although Jackson's career has never been cold — he won the Country Music Association's entertainer of the year award in 1995, 2002 and 2003 — it's had its ups and downs. "They always tell me, 'Your career is like this: You're hot (and) come out with some songs that impact people. Then your sales go up. Then you flatten out for a while. . . . Then you have another big album.' " His 11th album, Drive, released in 2002, was one of those "big albums," selling 4 million copies and winning album of the year awards at the CMAs and ACMs. Among the songs on Drive was the No. 1 hit "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," a song about 9/11 that won the CMA and ACM awards for single and song of the year and a Grammy for best country song. "That was a special song that came out of nowhere," he says. "I think it took me to a different level as a songwriter. A lot of people treated me different for a while. It felt kind of weird, actually. I hated for people to talk to me about it, because they looked at me like I was some kind of saint or something for writing it. I kept saying, 'It's like the song says: I'm just a singer of simple songs.' That (song) came express mail from somewhere else." Still not coasting Jackson says many of the places and people he encountered along the way are a blur now, because he spent more than 300 days a year on the road in the early days. "It's sad, in a way, because I've had so many experiences," he says. "I've met legendary actors like Jimmy Stewart. I've been to the White House two or three times and played for three presidents. I've played some of the nastiest dives you could ever imagine. I've done a lot of great things, (but) it does all run together." Still, he doesn't take any of it for granted. "I'm glad my career has lasted this long and for my children to be old enough to see what I do and have done and be able to remember it," he says. "If my career had died when they were young, they wouldn't have remembered much about it. "I see acts who opened for me and went on to be big acts, and might have even outsold me for a year or two, and then they're gone. It's sad." By now, Jackson has released 17 albums and more than 50 singles, and he says he hasn't worried about his career since the late '90s. "I felt I was very fortunate to have lasted as long as I have, so anything after that is icing on the cake." Just as he doesn't take his success for granted, however, neither is he resting on his laurels. "I wasn't just going to quit trying to make good albums. You've got to tour a little bit or you appear to have retired. I've seen other artists say, 'I'm going to quit touring,' and the next thing you know, they have a hard time trying to get songs on the radio. "Gosh, I don't work enough now to even qualify for a real job," he says, laughing, "so it's hard to 'retire' from what I do. "If it keeps going, great. If it slows down to where I can't sell tickets out there anymore and radio won't play my songs and album sales drop and the whole thing fizzles out, I'll just retire. It's like (being) a boxer: You've got to figure out when to step down or you start looking bad. "But even then, I think I would still make records, even if I couldn't tour like I would want to, because I enjoy making them. That is the most fulfilling part. I think I'd still sell a few, because people want to hear something." Reach Beverly Keel at 615-259-8073 or beverly@tennessean.com. |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:36 PM Post #2 |
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Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Heart Alan Jackson performs at the Nightly Concert on the Vault Concert Stage LP Field Saturday, June 7 in Downtown Nashville during the 2008 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: John Russell / CMA Aug. 13, 2008 — Alan Jackson will be celebrating a major milestone Wednesday when Arista Records honors him in Nashville for selling more than 50 million albums during his career. "I'm just very proud of it and surprised as well that it's still going on after nearly 20 years," Alan told The Tennessean. It’s a major accomplishment for anyone, but particularly for someone who doggedly records traditional country music, even when that sound is not in vogue. Alan was a fan of George Jones and Conway Twitty as he grew up in the 1970s and ‘80s, and he still listens to artists such as the Carter Family and Vern Gosdin on his bus. "At the time, [traditional acts] were kind of secondary to some of the more contemporary pop stuff that was hot in country music," Alan said, recalling the music from his teen years. "I kept saying, 'Somebody young needs to carry on that sound. THAT IS REAL COUNTRY MUSIC.' Randy Travis came along before I moved to Nashville and opened the door for all of that. That is why I came to town; I wanted to carry that on." When Randy first started making albums in 1985, Nashville executives generally assumed that traditional acts could only go gold at best, so when Randy started hitting multi-platinum levels by selling 2 million or 3 million copies of an album, he completely stunned the industry’s decision-makers. Nevertheless, Alan feels Nashville’s music community still tends to apologize for traditional music, concentrating instead on making music that has broader stylistic boundaries. "It's hard for me to complain about any of that," he added, "because radio has played me all along." Indeed, "Good Time" recently went to No. 1, becoming the 33rd single of Alan’s career to top the country charts. That’s another tradition he wouldn’t mind keeping alive. |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:37 PM Post #3 |
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Alan Jackson Celebrates with Bologna Sandwiches By Eileen Finan  Denise and Alan Jackson Photo by: Tony R. Phipps / WireImage How does a country superstar celebrate hitting the 50 million mark in album sales? For Alan Jackson, it was with grits and bologna sandwiches. Jackson's wife, bestselling author Denise, his three daughters and about 400 friends, including Trace Adkins, gathered in Nashville to honor the 49-year-old singer Wednesday night. They were treated to upscale twists on down-home grub as a nod to the man who has a song called "I Still Like Bologna" on his latest album, Good Time. "This is really rarefied air," Sony BMG Nashville head Joe Galante told the crowd of Jackson's 50 million achievement. Jackson – whose first album, Here in the Real World, came out in 1990 – tells PEOPLE that his ambitions weren't so grand in the early days. "Back then I was just glad to have a record deal," says Jackson. "I figured if you could last five years you were lucky, so that was the only goal I could see. This would have been unbelievable." Adds Denise: "We never even dreamed this big." Jackson is fast approaching another milestone: taking his eldest daughter, Mattie, 18, to college. Mattie, who was valedictorian of her high school class, will be a freshman at Wake Forest in North Carolina this fall. "My wife is a little teary eyed and I might be when the time comes but I just feel like you raise them and prepare them for that and that's what you gear them up to do," the proud father says philosophically. "That's part of life." But, Denise admits, "I'm already feeling the loss!" |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:38 PM Post #4 |
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CMT News Music Row Helps Alan Jackson Celebrate Sales of 50 Million Albums - Singer-Songwriter Accepts Praise With Characteristic Humility August 14, 2008 Written by Edward Morris  Alan Jackson "It's 50 times better than that first million, I guess," Alan Jackson quipped when a reporter asked him how it felt to have sold 50 million albums. The tall, laconic superstar spoke to the press Wednesday (Aug. 13) at Vanderbilt University's Student Life Center in Nashville just before a party got underway to herald his Olympian achievement. Approximately 350 guests attended the celebration in the cavernous ballroom. Among those were Trace Adkins, who will tour with Jackson this fall, Grand Ole Opry stars Jack Greene and Jimmy C. Newman, Country Music Hall of Famer Mel Tillis, songwriters Harley Allen, Tim Nichols and Roger Murrah and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. The focal point at the party (at least when Jackson wasn't in the room) was a row of six large (and dripping) ice blocks into which were imbedded LP-size reproductions of Jackson's album covers. The blocks loomed high above a platform wreathed with trays of hors d'oeuvres. A few yards away, another food station offered stemmed glasses of pan-heated grits with an array of toppings, ranging from hot peppers to shrimp. There were two full-service bars, both in heavy use and one of which was shaped and painted like a guitar. To keep the mood properly down-home, uniformed waitress circulated through the crowd, bearing trays of fancy triangular sandwiches -- made of white bread, bologna and American cheese, each with a pickle slice toothpicked on the top. Jackson seemed ill at ease talking about his sales numbers. "I still go back to the music," he told the reporters. "That's the part of the business that I like best." He said it felt good to know that one of his CDs might be playing in a truck in Montana or being downloaded to an iPod in New Jersey. In many ways, he said, he's still pretty much the shy guy he was when he started. He recalled auditioning a drummer for his band during those early days. Years later, he said, the drummer remarked that Jackson had been so shy during the audition that he wouldn't make eye contact with him. Jackson vowed that the celebration of his massive sales wouldn't send him on a shopping spree. "I've kind of burned out [on buying things]," he said. "I've owned so much stuff. ... Even before I moved to Nashville, I probably owned four or five hundred cars, boats and motorcycles. ... I've had the Ferraris and the Porsches, and I'm over that now. I drive an old Ford truck." Despite his successes, Jackson said he still didn't see himself as an equal among such musical heroes as George Jones, Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard. "That's a whole different level of magic," he said. "Keith Whitley was probably the last [singer] that touched me." Finally, Jackson acknowledged he might have made some small contribution to country music. "I feel by today's standards I've earned a little respect as an artist and songwriter," he mumbled modestly. A reporter reminded him that he had another 50 to celebrate this year -- his 50th birthday (which comes on Oct. 17). "That's a couple of good milestones," he said, "and I appreciate them both." The actual ceremonies were brief and consisted of a short video illustrating Jackson's career highlights and a few observations and recollections Jackson shared with the crowd. Joe Galante, the chief of Sony BMG Records, introduced the video and noted that Jackson is one of only six country artists to have sold 50 million albums or more. At the conclusion of the video, Jackson and Galante moved to the front of the ice blocks where Galante presented him with a large commemorative plaque. To use his own term, Jackson "rambled" through his remarks, telling anecdotes and thanking such pivotal figures as Keith Stegall (his longtime producer) and Tim DuBois, (who signed him to his Arista Records deal). He also praised the musicians who'd made his albums sound good. "Nobody ever paid me to play a guitar," he said wryly. Jackson recalled one incident that told him he might be important to his label. "[Arista founder] Clive Davis came down from New York and did his speech for me," he said. "That was a high honor for a country boy." Generally, he said, the people who've headed Arista have let him go his own way. "They pretty much let me alone, and I leave them alone -- sometimes." He thanked his fan club president and described his wide base of fans. "Some have to have walkers to get to the shows," he said, "and some have to have their mamas to carry them there." Jackson credited Randy Travis for "kicking that door down for us" that enabled them to record and perform traditional country music. "As my mama used to say," Jackson said, "I'm just so blessed." Obviously it takes more than selling 50 million albums to transform Jackson's self-effacing drawl into a yelp of triumph. |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:40 PM Post #5 |
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 Ice sculptures at the party on Aug. 13, 2008, celebrating Alan Jackson's sales of 50 million albums Photo Credit: Marilu White  Seventeen albums are represented in ice sculptures at the party on Aug. 13, 2008. Photo Credit: Marilu White  Attending the Party Joe Galante (left), Trace Adkins and his wife Rhonda at the party on Aug. 13, 2008, celebrating Alan Jackson and his sales of 50 million albums Photo Credit: Marilu White |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:42 PM Post #6 |
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 View From Above A guitar-shaped bar greeted partygoers at the party on Aug. 13, 2008, that celebrated Alan Jackson and his sales of 50 million albums. Photo Credit: Marilu White  Atop the Guitar A huge martini glass decorated the guitar-shaped bar at the party on Aug. 13, 2008. Photo Credit: Marilu White  Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis (left) and a friend at the party honoring Alan Jackson on Aug. 13, 2008 Photo Credit: Marilu White |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:43 PM Post #7 |
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 A First Look Alan Jackson looks at the plaque commemorating sales of 50 million albums throughout his career. Photo Credit: Marilu White  Million Seller Albums This plaque was presented to Alan Jackson on Aug. 13, 2008. It commemorates sales of 50 million albums. Photo Credit: Marilu White  Speaking to the Partygoers Alan Jackson thanks friends and business associates at the party on Aug. 13, 2008. Photo Credit: Marilu White |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:44 PM Post #8 |
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 Thanking His Friends Alan Jackson addresses the crowd at the party on Aug. 13, 2008. Photo Credit: Marilu White  Father and Daughters Alan Jackson with two of his daughters at the party on Aug. 13, 2008, that celebrated his sales of 50 million albums Photo Credit: Marilu White  A Family Affair Alan Jackson is joined by his wife, Denise, and their daughters at the celebration on Aug. 13, 2008. Photo Credit: Marilu White |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:46 PM Post #9 |
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from alanjackson.com: REACHING 50 MILLION IN ALBUM SALES LEAVES ALAN JACKSON IN AWE 08/14/08 By BEVERLY KEEL The Tennessean More than 400 people, including Trace Adkins, were on hand to celebrate Alan Jackson's career milestone of reaching 50 million in album sales. Guests enjoyed mini bologna sandwiches and blue "Good Time 'tinis" at the Vanderbilt Student Life Center, where Alan's album covers were featured in the ice sculptures. Sony BMG Nashville execs compiled a few fun facts to put those 50 million albums in perspective: A stack of 50 million CDs would be 296 miles high. With 50 million CDs, you could create 2,532 stacks as high as the AT&T Tower. All those CDs stretched end-to-end would reach 4,439 miles — farther than traveling from Nashville to Paris. "It's just 50 times better than that first million, I guess," Alan said. "I was thinking about it. I still go back to that music. It's a lot of music." And making music remains his favorite part of the music business process. "I think about, there's 50 million CDs out there somewhere, in some guy's truck in his CD player out there in Montana, or somebody has downloaded an album on their iPod in New Jersey. That is what still amazes me. "I don't travel the world, really, but I've been to a lot of places. I fly into these little ol' islands in the Bahamas … and I've gone to places where you think it's remote as it can be, and I'll land and get out of the airplane, and a little native fellow there will be holding one of my CDs wanting me to sign it." Beforehand, Alan said he hadn't prepared a speech. "I did try to sit down a minute and think of what it was representing," he said. "They are here honoring me for 50 million records, but there's a lot of people — and a lot of them will be here this evening — that had a little something to do with all of the success of those 50 million albums. I tried to just think of some of the ones I could remember." |
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| Kim | Aug 24 2008, 04:47 PM Post #10 |
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GACTV.com: Alan Jackson: 50 Million & Counting Aug. 14, 2008 — "I never thought we’d sell 10 million — or 1 million — when we started, so I’m happy." That was Alan Jackson’s quote years ago when he first reached eight digits in album sales, but he’s gone way past that number by now. His label, Arista Records, threw a party for him Wednesday on the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville to mark the sale of 50 million albums, which puts him in "rarified air," as label executive Joe Galante put it. Alan is, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, just the fourth country artist to sell that many units, outstripped only by Garth Brooks (128 million), George Strait (67.5 million) and Kenny Rogers (51 million). Elvis Presley and the Eagles have each hit 100 million, though neither act is strictly considered country. "I’m overwhelmed by the longevity of it all," Alan said. Dripping ice sculptures encased the album jackets from each of the 17 projects Alan’s released, and the menu for the occasion included blue "Good Time" tinis, an obvious nod to his recent No. 1 hit; baloney sandwiches, honoring the Good Time album cut "I Still Like Bologna"; and grits — just ‘cause Alan’s from Georgia. The guest list was impressive, too, including fellow Grand Ole Opry members Trace Adkins, Jack Greene, Jimmy C. Newman and Mel Tillis. Tim DuBois, who signed Alan to his first recording contract, was on hand, as were TV personalities Charlie Chase and Harry Chapman (who appears in Alan’s "Good Time" video), plus a bundle of songwriters such as Tim Nichols ("That’d Be Alright"), Charlie Craig ("Wanted") and Bob McDill ("Gone Country"). The party was also attended by Alan's producer, Keith Stegall; former Barbara Mandrell producer Tom Collins; numerous members of Alan’s road band, the Strayhorns; and studio musicians who’ve played on his albums. "I owe a lot of [this success] to them," Alan said. "Nobody’s ever paid me to play guitar." Symbolic of both his roots at home and his desire to move forward in his career, Alan also made a point of thanking his wife, Denise, and his three daughters for their support. "They love me," he said, "whether I’ve sold 51 million albums or zero." Edited by Kim, Aug 24 2008, 04:50 PM.
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