Album Notes

After years of performing two different styles of music, I decided to finally come clean with my fans on both sides of the musical equation. BIG BAND COUNTRY is the result. I am also thrilled to re-unite with my favorite producer, Randy Gardner, for the first time since "Come Dance with Me".

I truly love country and big band, and have spent my career happily performing both. At the Illinois State Fair, I would spend my days singing with the Sawyer Brother's Band on the Family Fun Stage and then make my way to the ballroom to sing with the orchestra at night. The Rickman Auditorium in St. Louis booked me to open for Conway Twitty, Lee Greenwood and Glen Campbell singing country, and then another season brought me back to sing big band as the opener for the Smothers Brothers. In Las Vegas, i sang big band music with the Caesar's Palace Orchestra at Circus Maximum Showroom and then sang country at the Riviera Bistro Theatre for cowboys attending the National Finals Rodeo.

I have always been a combination of both musical styles. I spent my teenage summers singing country music at Opryland USA, while falling asleep to Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. I was as passionate when writing simple acoustic songs about farms and family, as I was when belting out the big band standards with my high school jazz band.

So one day is struck me, why not put them together? Isn't my ability to sing both styles what makes me unique? Haven't other artists combined country with rock or Latin flavors? Haven't great jazz artists combined R & B with jazz, blues and other styles?

There's no denying it, Big Band Country really shows you who Nancy Hays is as a vocalist. It's all here-- my love of swing and standards, a song I composed for my beloved father, the first song I ever sang for my husband, a long time rodeo favorite for the UK fans, and much, much more.

I hope you enjoy listening and dancing to these songs as much as I enjoy performing them. For the first time ever, this record was truly effortless for me. I hope you like getting to know the complete Nancy Hays. Thanks for listening!