 "What I want out of life," says Marty Raybon, "is to do some things that bring honor and glory to the Lord, and to do some things that bring some joy and some peace to me as well. Making this bluegrass album, Full Circle, was something that was burning in my heart to do. When you want to do it, whether you're a musician or a fan, bluegrass has that certain drive, that feeling of 'I love it, and this is going to be part of my life.'"
That feeling is one Marty's known since his days as a teenager in Florida in the early 1970s. "I'd sit in school, and I would draw the Bluegrass Unlimited logo or the peghead of Monroe's mandolin in my notebook," he chuckles, but it wasn't long before he was performing as a member of the American Bluegrass Express with his dad Ken and brothers Tim and Rick. Inspired by national acts like the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse and Jimmy Martin and regional ones like the Bluegrass Tarheels, the Express took its music seriously, making its first recording in 1975 - Marty was still in high school then - and becoming one of the first Florida-based acts to travel widely beyond their home state.
The grind of part-time playing and full-time work eventually wore out the American Bluegrass Express, and inspired by the success of bluegrasser-turned-country-star Ricky Skaggs, Marty headed for Nashville in 1984. By the following year, he'd scored a publishing deal and moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, joining the band that would eventually become Shenandoah.
Shenandoah framed Marty's smoky voice with bluegrass-tinged harmonies and crisp contemporary instrumentation on hits like their first #1, "The Church On Cumberland Road," making the group one of the most popular during the country boom of the late 80s and early 90s. Named the Academy of Country Music's Top Vocal Group for 1990, they helped pave the way to prominence for bluegrass diva Alison Krauss, as their duet, "Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart," hit the Top 10 in late 1994 and earned Country Music Association and Grammy awards the following year.
Despite the group's success, Marty's growing spirituality and creative restlessness eventually led him to leave. Over the next several years, he recorded an album with his brother Tim, a solo country CD and several gospel albums that complemented his growing evangelical calling. Yet as he recalls, the idea of a return to bluegrass was growing, too. "When Tim and I were doing 'Butterfly Kisses,' he said, 'Marty, there are some things going on with bluegrass right now, you need to do a bluegrass album.' And after thinking about it, I decided I was going to do it."
Even after the decision had been made, it took time to bring the project to fruition - a process eventually jump-started by Marty's friend David Johnson of the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame. "He told me that if I was really going to do it, he'd book the studio - and that's exactly what he did. And then he said, 'you better get some musicians," Raybon laughs. A few phone calls were made, and in April, 2002, an A-list team of bluegrass musicians - banjo man David Talbot, guitar and mandolin virtuoso Bryan Sutton, Donnie Allen on rhythm guitar, fiddler Shad Cobb, Rob Ickes on Dobro, and bassist Terry Smith - were in Muscle Shoals' renowned Fame Studio, recording the tracks for Full Circle, with singers Paul Brewster and Tim Raybon nailing down the harmonies.
The result is a sensational bluegrass album that includes a half dozen classics from Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and Jimmy Martin, remakes of two Shenandoah hits and a gem from his solo album of 2000, and three new songs written or-cowritten by Marty, one featuring a guest vocal from bluegrass gospel and country singer Sonya Isaacs. "When I went in to record," Marty notes, "there was absolutely no pressure here. I didn't have to worry about answering to somebody. It was just a matter of doing something I've got a vision about." With the completed album in hand, Raybon found the right home for it - and him - on Tim Austin's respected Doobie Shea label. "I believe in the vision that he has for his label," Marty says. "He was the one who didn't just talk about what he could do for me, but asked me to be part of something."
With Full Circle slated for a March, 2003 release, Raybon has turned his attention to completing his return to the bluegrass community through personal appearances. "Right now the only bluegrass band member I've got is me," he chuckles, "but I'll be putting a good group together, and we're going to go out and not just play music - we're going to entertain." |
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Full Circle
| 6. All In The Hands Of Jesus |
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| 8. Next To You, Next To Me |
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| 12. Prayer Bells Of Heaven |
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| http://www.martyraybon.com/ |
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| Congratulations to Gayla Earlene and Her "Pure Country Band" |
The Texas International Music Awards were Held in October and Terajay's very own Gayla Earlene won Entertainer of the year honors....
But the awards don't stop there... October 21st of 2006, Gayla's band "Pure Country" won the CGMA's (Country Gospel Music Association) "Band of the Year" honors.... Congratulations Gayla and band.
You can find Gayla Earlene's product right here on the Terajay Website.
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| Radio Host talks about Branded's new Christmas album |
Even though seasonal in presentation you might find you want to play this one by Branded all year around. It's got a lot of heart, soul and a sense of humor wrapped up in this wonderful Christmas addition to the season. From the recognizable standards that when you hear them you will also hear Brandedís original stamp on each tune. Included are a couple of acoustic style, heart-stirring originals, "First Christmas In Heaven" and "King In The Cradle", along with last years hit "King Of Glory". Then there's a few that are just dance around the Christmas tree fun in "No White Christmas's In Houston". And you know these boys are proud Texas born, they would have to be to also include a Texas swing version of "O Holy Night". Make sure to expand your Christmas season music library with Brandedís new Christmas CD. It will bring
you the joys of the season for years to come.
Robby Lynn
Sunday's Kind Of Country
Syndicated Radio & Video Program
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| New Albums Available!!! Branded and Cross Country |
Branded has a brand new Christmas album, just released, that is sure to keep your toes tapping in that Texas Style that they do so well...with classic Christmas Hyms and soulfully written original songs that could become classics...Look for it now on the Branded product page of this site...
Cross Country is allowing you to Worship in a style they have dubbed "Contemporary Country Worship"..
With classic worship songs like, "Lord I Lift Your Name On High", "Strong Tower", Come Now Is The Time To Worship", and many more, done in the Cross Country Contemporary Country style....a worship album anyone can listen to and never tire....Ask about the soundtrax for this product. Look for it on the Cross Country the band product page on this site... If you can't find what you're looking for, Call our distribution office at (903)-223-6671 and we'll handle your order... |
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