Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Montgomery Gentry Brings Country to the Crown by JEFF CASHWELL and JANICE BURTON of the year. Period." The album won Vocal Duo of the Year award at the Country Music Monday through Wednesday, Troy Gentry is just an average guy. He fulfills the role of classroom dad at his daughter's school; attends her softball games and mows his own Association Awards in 2000, but it didn't stop there. The vocal brotherhood won the Top New Vocal Duo or Group award from the Academy of Country Music and the 2000 yard. But Thursday through Sunday, it's a different story. Favorite New Artist in the Country category at the American Music Awards. Their first Gentry, one part of the country power-house Montgomery Gentry, and his partner, album went certified platinum in 2001. Eddie Montgomery, have spent a lot of time on the road, but these days, they have Like their second album name suggests, the band continued their success with altered their touring to mini-tours so that they can spend more time at home, taking part in the lives they've made instead of watching them from the road. Carrying On. The album's first single "She Couldn't Change Me" broke new ground for "We are basically doing what we call weekend warrior shows," said Gentry, during a the group, reaching Number 2 in the country charts. recent telephone interview. "The hardest part about being on long tours is being away Their fourth album, You Do Your Thing, released in 2004, produced two number 1 from family. In our younger years, it wasn't a big thing. The country hits "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" and "Something to Be tour was one big party. We were meeting people and having a Proud Of." The album became their third platinum-selling album lot of fun. Now that our kids are getting older, we realize that after Tattoos & Scars and My Town. The album's major success we missed a lot. I have a child in college and my little one is 10. was followed up by their 2004-2005 tour with Trace Adkins. I'm trying to be at home more and do more things with her like Their latest album, Rebels on The Run, was released in 2011. sports, school and church." Thanks to a new record label, they were allowed more freedom On Friday, July 12, one of those weekend warrior shows will than previous albums that led to the album's first single "Where I make a stop in Fayetteville, as the duo performs at the Crown Come From." Theater. The group's dedication to country music earned them Montgomery Gentry is undoubtedly one of the greatest a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best Country Vocal country music duos to ever hit the music scene. Known for Performance by a Duo or Group for their single "Lucky Man." their homegrown, Southern rock n' roll style, they have earned Montgomery Gentry has been nominated and won many their spot among the ranks of other country artists over the awards for their continuing excellence in country music and their past two decades. Responsible for smash hits "She Couldn't admiration of their millions of fans. Change Me," "Gone" and "Where I Come From," their songs Fayetteville, being home to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Montgomery Gentry is set to perform at the are instantly recognizable by anyone with an appreciation for Division, is no stranger to patriotism and military pride — neither Crown on July 12. country music. is Montgomery Gentry. Supporting our troops has been a large Vocalist Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry were both born and raised in the part of their effort ever since their debut in 1999. But for the first time in 2006, they Bluegrass state of Kentucky, which is steeped in a rich history of country music. They're were able to travel to Kuwait, Iraq and Germany as part of a USO Tour. Military familiar with what makes country music tick. Entering the mainstream with their debut personnel, active duty and retired alike, can appreciate the hard work this group has put single, "Hillbilly Shoes," it took the band little time to gather a strong following. forth to relieve the stress of men and women serving in our military with their tales of Their concerts can be described as a honky-tonkin', toe-tapping good time with a work, love, loss, spirit, life and patriotism balanced by the hard-partying nature of their tinge of southern rock. Famous for their music, which echoes a working-class mentality, songs. strongly rooted in God and everyday family struggles, the group has created a musical They were awarded by the Academy of Country Music as the 2010 winners of its legacy that always rings true. to its roots. Humanitarian Award. In addition to supporting our troops, they are active in charitable Gentry, who says his Dad was into country and his mom rock and roll, said their organizations such as the T.J. Martell Foundation, Camp Horsin' Around and Make-Amusic is a blend of the two. Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee. "When we first started recording, we had more of a grittier, party-anthem type of Following the tragedies that have recently unfolded in Boston, Texas and Oklahoma, stuff," said Gentry. "Today we go into writing sessions with a different outlook.It really Montgomery Gentry has launched a campaign to recognize the everyday heroes that reflects more of the environment that we are in now. We have always spoken to and sang have helped to save a life or make a difference in the life of somebody affected by about the working class — ups and downs of life — but we really try to find songs that these disasters. The superstar duo being supporters of our military, teachers and other affect us personally at a given moment or that people out there can identify with." unspoken heroes, wants to give their fans a chance to submit their heroes for a chance Originally known as Early Tymz, the band consisted of Montgomery, his younger to receive concert tickets and meet & greet passes to hangout with the group backstage brother John Michael Montgomery and Gentry. In the early 1990s, John Michael left at their concert stops this summer. To nominate a hero, type a letter explaining why you the group and started a solo career. Eddie and Troy, the remaining members of the have chosen this person and submit your entry to MontgomeryGentry.com/heroes. group, then went through several name changes before they decided to call themselves Perhaps one of their proudest achievements is being inducted into Nashville's Grand Montgomery Gentry. In 1994, Gentry won the Jim Beam National Talent Contest and Ole Opry in 2009. Inducted by Opry members Little Jimmy Dickens he began to open for acts such as Patty Loveless and Tracy Byrd. Gentry was unable to and Marty Stuart, the two performers were left without words to find a solo record deal, so he teamed up with Montgomery once again to form the duo express their gratitude and excitement for the historic opportunity. Montgomery Gentry, signing with Columbia Records Nashville in 1999. Tickets for the show can be purchased Montgomery Gentry's first album, Tattoos & Scars, released in 1999, boasts 11 online at TicketMaster through the Crown JEFF CASHWELL, Intern COMMENTS? Editor@upandCenter's website (crowncoliseum.com). tracks that can be described as a homage to the blue-collar lifestyle. The album was comingweekly.com. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. on July 12. received positively with Thom Jurek of Allmusic calling it "one of the best pop records THE RAYNOR LAW FIRM A General Practice Law Firm • 2003 North Carolina County Attorney of the Year • Civil Litigation & Administrative Hearings, Collections, Traffic, Disability & Personal Injury HARVEY W. RAYNOR, III 208 Rowan Street • Fayetteville, NC 28301 (910) 587-5543 www.theraynorlawfirm.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 3-9, 2013 UCW 11