Country Music Madness: Zac Brown Band - Portrait Magazine, November 2008 Issue

Country Music Madness - November Column
Written by: Emily (Age 15, USA)

Artist Spotlight

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Zac Brown Band

The Zac Brown Band

Based in Atlanta Georgia, the Zac Brown Band is a country music band. The band has five members with no girls. The lead vocals and guitar player is Zac Brown. Jimmy De Martini is the fiddle player and vocals. Then there is John Hopkins on the bass guitar, as well as singing vocals. Coy Bowles is on the guitar and the organ. And lastly, Chris Fryar is on the drums.

For a few years, Zac Brown was a solo artist. Around four years ago, he formed the Zac Brown Band. Their first album, Home Grown, was self released albums. Their 2007 album, Live from the Rock Bus Tour, was released January 3rd.

The band’s newest CD is titled The Foundation, which was released in September of 2008. As of October 19th, their song “Chicken Fried” is number nineteen on the American Country Countdown, hosted every week. On the US Country Chart, they are at number eleven and on the US Hot 100, they are at number 47 with their song.

Zac Brown is a chef and also a former restaurant owner. He is known for his homemade sauces and Southern cooking. He is working on developing a foundation for charity to run a camp for children. Zac calls his in-the-works camp and foundation his life works.

“Having the camp and giving back is important for me," he says. "I'm very blessed to have what I have, and I know a lot of that's on credit for what I do down the road. It's very important for me to keep that in mind. I want to leave something behind that does some good after I'm gone."

Although Zac Brown is focused on working on his foundation and camp, he isn’t stopping the band. The band is still together, focusing on touring and bringing in more fans. The Zac Brown Band is all about their fans and the people who support them.

Country Related News

-Look out for Taylor Swift’s sophomore CD, dropping November 11th, 2008. Fearless includes songs such as her latest two hits, “Love Story” and “Fearless,” the title track.

-Vote for your favorite! Carrie Underwood, Rebe McEntire, and Taylor Swift are up for Country Music Artist–Favorite Female Artist at the 2008 American Music Awards. Male Artist nominees are Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and Brad Paisley. Favorite Band, Duo, or Group nominees are Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts, and Sugarland. The nominees for the Favorite Country Album are Garth Brooks, The Ultimate Hits, Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride, and Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good. Voting closes November 7th, while the show airs Sunday, November 23rd, 8/7c.

-Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will both host the 42nd annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. The show will air on November 12th, 2008.

-When Rascal Flatts resumes their Bob That Head tour in 2009, they’ll have a new opening act. Current act, Taylor Swift, will finish up the rest of the year’s shows, ending November 2nd in Uncasville, Connecticut. Jessica Simpson will be the new opening act starting in mid-January with around 25 dates scheduled.