St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital will benefit from the musical likings of some of today’s most inspirational country artists at their Third Annual Concert for Kids, hosted by KIX 97.9 FM.
Headliner Josh Turner as well as Steve Holy, Brett Eldredge and Ashton Shepherd will come together to perform at the Calvin Theater in Northampton on Friday, Feb. 25.
Although he enjoys notoriety on the big stage of the Grand Ole Opry, Turner has roots in smaller venues. A devout Christian, Turner sang in church choirs as a youngster, and participated in a number of gospel singing groups in his home town of Hannah, S.C. However humble his beginnings, Turner’s career went big after his attendance at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., where he trained in classical vocals.
Turner’s freshman album, “Long Black Train,” was certified platinum. The title track spent over 40 weeks on the Billboard country charts in 2003. The track itself was certified gold. The single speaks a lot of his Christian upbringing. The lyrics warn of the devil’s temptations and the “victory in the Lord.” During their Inspirational Country Music Awards, the Christian Country Music Association deemed the track worthy of their Song of the Year, while also granting Turner the title of Songwriter of the Year and best Mainstream Country Artist.
Following his second album, “Your Man,” Turner continued to release singles like “Me and God” on Christian radio. While these singles were successful on their own, they did not compare to the height on the country singles charts that “Your Man” and “Would You Go With Me” reached. In 2006, both tracks eventually topped the country singles charts, and held that position for several weeks at a time.
Turner’s third Top 10 hit would come on his third album, “Everything is Fine.” “Firecracker,” the album’s lead off single, peaked as the second most popular song on the country music charts in 2007. This album was also certified gold featuring another track entitled “Another Try,” a duet with fellow country music star Trisha Yearwood.
The country star earned his fourth Top 10, and third No. 1 hit on the country music charts on his most recent album, “Haywire.” The lead single, “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the country charts in February 2010.
Turner was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Oct. 27, 2007 by Vince Gill.
Turner’s co-star at this event, Holy, has enjoyed his share of success with two albums, “Blue Moon” and “Brand New Girlfriend.” At its initial release, “Blue Moon” sold very poorly. Only after it was re-released 2001 with the track “Good Morning, Beautiful” did the record experience success in retail. The track was originally featured on the soundtrack to the film, “Angel Eyes.” “Good Morning, Beautiful” spent five weeks at No. 1 on the country charts.
“Brand New Girlfriend,” the album’s titled track, was Holy’s second No. 1 hit. However, the track reached No. 1 in its 36th week on the charts, second slowest to reach No. 1, only behind Tracy Lawrence’s single, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” Holy has enjoyed a number of non-album singles like, “Love Don’t Run” and “Baby Don’t Go.”
The two other stars of this event, Shepherd and Eldredge, are both up and coming country music artists.
Shepherd, whose career launched as a result of winning a talent contest, released her first album in 2008 titled, “Sounds So Good.” Her debut album features songs like “Takin’ Off This Pain” and the album’s namesake, “Sounds So Good.” Her most recent single, “Look It Up,” reached the Top 40 of the charts in its third week.
Eldredge, who has yet to release an album, released a single this year called “Raymond,” which is a song about an elderly Alzheimer’s patient. Country Weekly has named Eldredge an artist to watch in 2011.
Turner’s notoriously deep voice is sure to please a crowd into the Calvin Theater where they will also enjoy performances by Holy, Shepherd and Eldredge.
Josh Turner, Steve Holy, Ashton Shepherd and Brett Eldredge will perform for the KIX and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital “Concert for Kids” at the Calvin Theater in Northampton at 8 p.m. tonight. A limited amount of tickets are still available at www.kix979.com.
Alexandra Lowder can be reached at [email protected].
