2010-2011 Season
Buddy Jewel
Monday, September 13, 2010
Grammy-Nominated Country Music Star
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After being crowned the winner of the televised music
competition Nashville Star in 2003, Arkansas native Buddy Jewell took
the world of country music by storm with his tender, heartfelt voice
that gained him millions of fans nationwide.
Two albums down the road, the show that won him a record deal with Sony
based Columbia Records also ended up costing him his deal in 2005 when
Jewell and the label parted ways for financial purposes.
“From what I understand, as long as I was an artist on Sony Records,
Nashville Star was going to get half of what the label was making on
me,” Jewell explains. “It didn’t make good business sense for Sony to
keep pouring money down a hole that they were only getting half of their
money back on.”
With his fan base stronger than ever, Jewell continued to tour and
spread the word of his music.
“A lot of my fans have told me hey, we know you don’t have a deal right
now but we want you to keep making music and keep making records,” says
Jewell.
Jewell decided to try his hand in the independent music scene in early
2008 when he formed his own label Diamond Dust Records.
“It’s all me,” the singer says with a chuckle. “I’m the President,
Secretary, and the Janitor – you name it! There’s a lot of peace in the
freedom of having all of the control. I’m not opposed to another record
deal, but it’s kind of nice being my own boss.”
Jewell’s first album on the label, Country Enough, has already become a
fan favorite. The album is available at his live shows, through his
website, and also through iTunes.
“A large part of my fans that I talk to say we love your first two
records, but we really liked those independent things you put out before
Nashville Star because it was all the things you had written,” Jewell
says.
The result is a 13-track album filled with all songs written or
co-written by Jewell that shows the proud American in the singer with
songs like “What This Country’s Comin’ To” and the album’s debut single
“This Aint Mexico,” in which Jewell states his opinion of illegal
immigration in United States.
“Every now and then I get somebody mad at me, but they are definitely
entitled to their opinions,” he says. “That’s what makes this America.
It wouldn’t be controversial if it pleased everybody.”
Fans of Jewell’s softer side will enjoy tracks such as “Leavin’ Louisana,”
“Second Chance of a Lifetime,” and “The Ones I Love The Most.”
“I’m really proud of this whole project,” he says. “It’s a collection of
songs that I’ve written and become fond of in the past two or three
years. I just hope everybody likes it as much as I do.”
Four of Jewell’s biggest fans are his wife of 20 years, Tené, and their
three children, sons Buddy III, 18, Joshua, 7, and daughter Lacey, 14,
who was the inspiration behind Jewell’s first hit “Help Pour Out The
Rain (Lacey’s Song).”
“I was so busy those first few years after Nashville Star and trying to
support the first two albums that I missed a lot of time at home,”
Jewell says softly. “It’s become a much more manageable pace for me now.
It was great getting out, seeing all the fans and playing everywhere
though. Back then I was still really lucky to be home about every week,
even when I was doing 140 shows a year.”
Throughout his career, Jewell has earned recognition with award
nominations from the ACM for Best New Artist, the CMA for the Horizon
Award, a CMT Flameworthy Breakout Video nod and a Grammy nomination for
his participation on the country gospel compilation album, Amazing Grace
III. ABC Radio Network also awarded Jewell in 2003 with their Listener’s
Choice Award for New Artist of the Year and was given Music Row
magazine’s Critic’s Pick Award.
Other honorable mentions for Jewell include being the spokesperson for
the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, his extensive work with St. Jude’s
Children’s Research and his participation with the Angel Tree fund
drive.
“There are thousands of people who move to Nashville every year trying
to do what I do and what I have gotten to do. I have been so blessed. If
it all ends today, I don’t have anything to complain about. I can’t ever
look back at the Nashville Star experience and be bitter because it
opened that door,” Jewell notes. “Just to be given this opportunity is
all I can ask for.”
Jewell's latest CD, "Country Enough" is available via iTunes, Rhapsody
and other on line retailers as well as through his official web site,
www.BuddyJewell.com and
http://myspace.com/buddyjewell