 With sand still in his shoes, country music singer Rick Tanksley has crossed the desert and is headed for a promised land of simple things. After a lengthy touring hiatus, Tanksley is singing a different song these days with his debut release, The Desert. "A few years ago, my empty search for money, stardom, and things came to an end. The lyrics to one of the songs on my album are the words of my testimony set to music. You're the Best Thing was written by Mississippi songwriter Jim Weatherly and was made popular back in the late seventies by Gladys Knight. I wanted to sing it country-style and put it on the album. The lyrics say exactly what I wanted to say about my experience...'If anyone should ever write my life story/ You'll be there between each line of pain and glory/ (Lord) You're the best thing that ever happened to me.' It has taken me a long time and a lot of dry places to find my way back to what really matters," Tanksley said.
Following the same road to stardom as country superstars, Bryan White and Alan Jackson, Tanksley's rise to fame and fortune took a downward slide. Tanksley spent his early years as a musician playing clubs on weekends. His big break came when he met Glen Campbell's manager, who also managed White and Jackson. Tanksley moved to Nashville and shared an apartment with White. Putting together a hot band with some of the best pickers in Nashville, Tanksley hit the road -- touring from one side of the country to the other.
Tanksley finally began to realize his life-long dream of living the celebrity life only to watch it transform into a nightmare of drinking and drugs. Like a huge siphon, the road drained Tanksley of his family, friends, money, and coveted career as a country music performer. For almost two years, his drinking was out of control. Tanksley later found his drug of choice, quit the music business, and came home with no money, no future and no way out. His free-fall landed him in a drug addiction center where he received a letter from a former rock-and-roll musician. The born-again bass player had found what he was searching for when he found Christ. Now a minister, he encouraged Tanksley to seek God for help. "I was sick, and I knew I needed someone or something to save me from myself. I knew that the life I was living was destroying everything and everyone around me that I loved. I was tired of all the waste, and with the Lord's help, I was determined to be that one-percent who made it." Tanksley confessed.
Now, the forty-year-old Mississippi native is back in Sebastopol, Mississippi, with his wife of nineteen years, Shellie, and his three children, Natalie, Zach, and Nick. He found his place - a record contract with Giant Records, a country album appropriately entitled The Desert, and a life in Christ. "It's hard to believe that someone singing in front of thousands of people can be in such a lonely place. It is a desert. I guess I always wanted to be 'untouchable.' But that's not what God wanted. God wants me to reach out to people who might be walking that same lonely road. I can truly thank the Lord for His salvation, life's simple things, and the sand in my shoes." |
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The Desert
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| 7. Best Thing That Ever Happened ... |
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| 8. Shelter From The Storm |
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..:: Rick Tanksley Online |
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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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