DEADWOOD, S.D. (07/17/23) – Multi-Platinum country music artist Clay Walker will be bringing his brand of high energy country back to the Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center on Friday, November 17.
There’s more to the duality of Clay Walker’s debut ‘Show Dog’ Nashville album ‘Texas To Tennessee’ than the title. Certainly, the realities of place are as central as this comeback album’s name implies: Nashville busily working toward the next fresh hit; Texas moving at its inimitable and familiar pace. There’s also a mix of songwriting and production approaches, evident and more nuanced relationships between the songs themselves, and the overarching presence of a naturally gifted vocalist who relentlessly pursues his own development as a singer.
But don’t mistake those dualities for dichotomy –and certainly not polarity. In a storied career dotted with smash singles, platinum albums and countless honors and acclaim, maybe the connection between country’s timeless themes and music-of-the-moment timeliness has been there all along. Many of the country fans behind the almost 20 million on-demand and video streams for his latest single “Need A Bar Sometimes” –who may also be among his 750,000 TikTok followers –are wholly unaware of Walker’s history.
Discovered in a Beaumont area bar by noted producer and head of Giant Records James Stroud (Toby Keith, Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, Kenny Rogers), Walker was in his early twenties when he started rattling off a string of smash hits. Among them, “Live Until I Die,” “Dreaming With My Eyes Open,” “This Woman And This Man,” “Hypnotize The Moon,” “Rumor Has It,” “Then What,” “I Can’t Sleep” and “She Won’t Be Lonely Long.” His self-titled debut album rocketed to platinum status, the first of four to cross the million-sold mark.
Racking up more than 30 charted singles and 11 No. 1’s wasn’t without its struggles, however.” Being born and raised in the Houston area, I thought of myself in the line of George Strait and Clint Black, but my first producer had other ideas,” Walker says. “James Stroud pushed me more towards pop sounds I fought with. What he was saying, and I think he was right, was, ‘Clay, you’ve got some gears to you that will excite people if you let it. ‘I was young –23 –and didn’t really settle with that. But now I’m in a sweet spot in music, in life, and I definitely feel the audience has swung around to appreciating music that makes those connections.
“Those links are obvious on Texas To Tennessee. ”Anything To Do With You” opens the album with smooth bore country that would feel right at home on any of Walker’s four platinum CDs. Song two is the counterweight single, with its processed steel guitar lick, wistful pandemic-perfect theme and explosive streaming numbers. Production was handled in tandem by acclaimed multi-platinum producer Michael Knox (Jason Aldean) and chart-topping songwriter Jaron Boyer (“Somewhere On A Beach,” “Hell Of Night,” “Girl Like You”).
Recording took place in Galveston and Nashville. “Jaron Boyer is the best songwriter I’ve ever written with,” Walker says. “He’s had a bunch of No. 1s and lots of album cuts. Plus, he’s a phenomenal singer and track builder. The total package. As a writer, his phrasing and melodies are just insane.”
While Boyer is second only to Walker himself on writing credits, the duo of songs at the heart of the album finds Walker working with the formerly married songwriting powerhouse of Jennifer Hanson and Mark Nesler. “Cowboy Loves A Woman” embodies the “Texas” in the album title. It’s sequel, the title track, narrates Walker’s journey. Together, they are the most direct encapsulation of his core as an artist and as a man.
“Catching Up With An Ol’ Memory” is perhaps the album’s singular moment. The exception that stands astride both worlds with its fresh sonic bed, echoes of heroes past and an airy, vocals-up mix. “The studio can be intimidating for artists because we don’t do this all the time,” Walker says. “I’m sure this is part of producers doing their job in being cheerleaders, but when I was singing ‘Memory,’ Michael Knox got on the talk-back mic with the band and goes, ‘We got us a real singer, boys. I think this might be the album take. ‘That was nice to hear. And then for him to show the respect for that vocal in how it was mixed with vocals at the forefront and all that space around it… Singing well is important to me. Having integrity in my vocal cords, continuing to take voice lessons and working on having what I’m going to call free tone –hey, if you’re not trying to get better you never will.”
“Cowboy” is inarguably the album’s “Texas” anchor. “It reminds me of what made country music great,” Walker says. “Not that it’s the greatest country song. Don’t misunderstand. Nor am I the best singer in country music. I have never and would never claim those things. But I might be in a place where I can connect the value in a song that sounds like ‘Need A Bar’ and one like ‘Cowboy.’ And vocally, I’m at my best right now. There’s an ease in my voice –particularly on ‘Cowboy’–that just makes sense. I sang it through a couple times and we were done. I didn’t have to press. We just had it.”
Walker is quick to point fingers. “Throughout my career, there have been key people who helped me put albums together, find or write good songs and get them out to fans,” he says. “But I saw something with this album I’ve not experienced: what it takes to make a championship happen. The songs are your deep-threat wide receivers. The full support of your record label is the offensive line. Michael and Jaron–these guys ran through walls for me. Everyone has done their part and it’s impressive. You can have talent, be famous or have a few hits, but you can’t win the Super Bowl without champions around you. Man, I’ve got ’em”.
Teamwork is also at the core of Walker’s battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Diagnosed in 1996, he has become a passionate advocate and fundraiser for others with the disease through his Band Against MS. Among his efforts are the annual Clay Walker Charity Classic at Pebble Beach. The golf event highlights the highly active way Walker has approached MS, continuing to perform and raise a growing family while showing no signs of slowing. “It’s very gratifying to be at a point in my life where I can offer something in its fullness,” he continues. “I’ve never quite had that before. I was pegged as a neo-traditionalist early on, but I don’t think I fit that mold. For a lot of reasons –maybe the pendulum of music is in the perfect spot –but today’s music and my style have hit center on this album.”
Tickets go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 18 and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, July 21. They will be available at The Spotlight Box Office, 605-559-1188 – or at ticketmaster.com. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND. Please note Ticketmaster and The Company Store Box Office are the only official ticket outlets for Deadwood Mountain Grand shows. Beware of third party ticket brokers.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-0386. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
