ENHANCED CD WITH 13 LIVE AUDIO TRACKS, FOUR BONUS VIDEOS FOR QUICKTIME, AN EXTENSIVE 32-PAGES BOOKLET AND A BOB STYLE BUMPER STICKER FOR YOUR TRUCK!
Check out the BOOKLET at
http://www.bob-style.com/pic/Vorschau.pdf
Check out a VIDEO SAMPLE at
http://www.bob-style.com/pic/nummer_2.mov
Check out the BUMPER STICKER at
http://www.bob-style.com/pic/CountryfiedAvailable
Read all about the PROJECT at
http://www.bob-style.com/live/CountryfiedE.html
THE ALBUM AND THE STORY BEHIND IT:
German country artist Bob Style always had something going for the USA. When he first listened to country music on German radio, he was only 16 years old. This music touched Bob so much that he started saving money for a flight and two years later, he flew to America for the very first time - all alone. He started playing on the streets of New Orleans and Atlanta, in the bars of Nashville and Memphis, with local bands in the clubs of Los Angeles. Bob paid his dues and learned what it means to be a country artist from his fellow musicians in America, while finishing school back home in Germany.
To improve his skills, young Bob kept coming back to the US. When he was 21, Bob met Keith Urban in Nashville. Back then this Australian musician was a newcomer in America and seemed to have a similar background like Bob. After listening to Bob sing, Keith advised him to become a professional country artist back home. For the next couple of years Bob commenced his career in Europe, playing his modern country music in Germany, Austria, France and England and later in Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. He founded his own band in Germany, one of very few professional country bands and Europe’s only country-top-40-act, whose repertoire includes every single song of the current Billboard country single charts among with original material. In Germany, Bob even had several #1-hits on the Radio Starlet country charts with songs he has written. Unfortunately, country music is still not very popular outside North America and so Bob hoped to find a broader audience for his music in the cradle of the genre.
When USA Network was looking for the next “Nashville Star” in 2003, Bob travelled to the US once again to audition for this televised music contest. Bob tried out in several markets and made the local finals in two different states. In Georgia and Oklahoma Bob was voted among the best ten contestants, which brought him attention from American network radio and television. During the auditions, Bob socialized with his fellow contestants and met incredibly talented musicians, while his American fan base increased.
He was even invited to perform at the famous Oklahoma Opry, where artists like Bryan White and Katrina Elam started their careers. Manager Grant Leftwich was delighted to hear Bob sing and invited him back to play his new venue, the Centennial Rodeo Opry one year later.
At this time, Bob was touring the USA one more time, playing for the troops in Hawaii, opening for American Idol's Nikki McKibbin in Texas and performing on lower Broadway in Nashville. Bob gladly accepted the invitation to sing at the new Opry in Oklahoma City. As the house-band is probably the best you can find in the West, Bob wanted to record the concert for a live album.
You are holding the result of this recording in your hands right now. This production has been one of the highlights of Bob's career and it is meant to be a gift for the people who keep supporting Bob in Europe. But foremost, it is a tribute to America, its music and its people. “I know I am blessed to work with all these talented people and it makes me proud that I am allowed to do what I love to do”, Bob admits. But this album is more than a live concert. The booklet contains plenty of photographs that show Bob touring the USA and there are even bonus videos included, which show Bob performing on American stages and television. This CD has been produced with the help of generous sponsors to make the project affordable. The main idea of this production is to spread the love of country music and to look back on Bob Style's unforgettable 2004/2005 Countryfied-US-tour.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Simply put, the music of Bob Style brings a contagious enthusiasm to the table that is waiting to explode on today’s prime time country music scene. This German native delivers live shows with an energy level that would excite fans of Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw alike. Whether it’s singing among the crowd or on top of a guitar amplifier, Bob has the ability to make his shows seem larger than life, yet honest and intimate at the same time. Combine this stage show with a vocal that evokes a blend of Keith Urban meets Brad Paisley for up-tempo songs and a George Strait sound in his ballads, and it becomes evident why Bob exudes a unique showmanship in country music that is often missing among today’s major label artists. He communicates with his listeners both live and on recordings, and therefore delivers an experience, not just a concert or CD.
In Europe, quite a lot of country fans know the young German with the unmistakable voice and unique show. Loved by his fans and sharply criticized by his traditional-orientated opponents because of his country-pop music - Bob Style polarizes the scene. His slogan, strictly new country," describes Bob’s musical preference and repertoire. Solo or with his band, Bob is the only European artist to perform the biggest American country hits of the last ten years, as well as songs from the current country single charts. Of course, Bob also writes and performs his own material, but in nations where contemporary American Country stars rarely come for a tour, people appreciate, that Bob´s live performances include the hits they hear on the radio. At age 16, Bob discovered his passion for Garth Brooks and was introduced to the new-country-music-genre. From then on, Bob travelled the USA and learned what it takes to become a successful country singer as he played in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans and other cities where he was invited to perform. In the year 2000, Bob went to Nashville, where he sang for another upcoming star, Keith Urban. The Australian newcomer, by now no doubt one of the most successful recording artists in the country music industry, was delighted by what he heard and persuaded Bob to become a professional Country singer in Europe. Today the musician looks back on several European tours as well as on concerts in the USA. Bob had the honor of being invited to Asia, where he performed in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. He regularly records with other artists, even playing with Grammy-nominated and Grammy-awarded acts. Bob’s own demo-album, “My Heroes Wear Hats,” made it to the independent online charts. His fan club membership is increasing and some devoted fans follow Bob from gig to gig. Bob has also been privileged to appear on both national and international television. Recently Bob Style participated in the USA Network show “Nashville Star” and made it to the local finals in both, Atlanta and Oklahoma City. He was voted by a professional jury to be one of the 10 best singers out of approximately 200 contestants in each city. Bob was also featured on other shows from NBC and ABC Radio Networks, as it was so unusual that a German country singer got that far. Recently, German independent TV even granted Bob his own 90-minute special to promote his current demo CD.
In 2003, Bob was nominated for the Horizon Award in Germany and had his own booth on European Fan Fair for the second year in a row. As one of the milestones in his career, Bob had the opportunity to perform at the world-famous Oklahoma Opry.
In 2004, Bob Style went to the US again to play in Tennessee and Texas (where he sang with American Idol´s Nicky McKibbin) and to record his new single, which was released in Europe in early 2005 and became is first number one hit on the German Radio Starlet country charts for seven weeks. Bob´s second single went #1 on the country charts as well for several weeks. Those two songs were written by Bob and once more proved the talent and success of this young artist. "Becky´s Song" was even voted "Song of the year 2005" by the Radio Starlet listeners. Bob´s highly anticipated first live album "Countryfied - LIVE in the USA!" was released in the US and Europe and impressed both, critics and fans. In spring of 2005 Bob returned to the United States to perform for the troops in Hawaii and at the new Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma City, where the audience welcomed him back with standing ovations. Back in Germany, Bob Style is touring again, solo and with the Bob Style Band. The band consists of seven full-time musicians who have studied their instruments in the Netherlands, Germany and Nashville (as steel guitar and fiddle are not taught in Europe). Bob is the only European act to perform the Billboard country top 40 and even the American audience is surprised at how close he is able to come to the original songs. In 2006 Bob received his Masters degree in Musicology. His final thesis was titled "Towards the Construction of Authenticity in Country Music." Now Bob is also working on his PhD about the Country Music industry. Shortly after that Bob announced, that he will take a break from touring to sign an entertainment contract with one of America´s finest cruise ship companies. At the moment Bob is performing every night on a vessel in the USA, the Caribbean and South East Asia. But when time allows, Bob is still playing concerts elsewhere. Bob keeps fascinating audiences around the world and as there is no end of his success in sight, Bob is reaching out to new markets like Russia, where his music has been released recently, without forgetting his artistic roots and fans elsewhere. Bottom line, Bob Style should be making records. He is a deeply talented musician - an exceptional vocalist of course, but Bob is a fine keyboardist as well. He is as determined a young man as you´ve ever come across. He has a distinct vision for his music, and is a consummate artist.
Some statements you might want to know about:
"the next Garth Brooks" (Ed Murray, CBS)
"Awesome! This guy is country to the core!" (Tara McNamara, CMT)
(Bob is) “a class act not to be missed”. (Nashville Star Oklahoma City finalist Waylon Henley)
“He will make it and you can quote me on that!” (Cindy Lou Harrington, President of the Georgia Music Industry Association, Inc.)
“He has what it takes to be in Nashville!” (RCS producer Ron Simpson)
“a great talent” (Bourbon Street Beat)
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