DeLon is a voting member of the COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION(CMA) and has been a member since 2002.
DeLon has reached a new milestone in his music career: Beginning in APRIL, 2006, through March 7, 2012, DeLon has 71 consecutive months of being ranked on the Joyce Ramgatie "TOP 200" total airplay chart. Following is the breakdown of this tremendous achievement AS this streak continues on:
In April, 2006, DeLon was informed that he had made his debut at the #67 position on the Joyce Ramgatie "top 200" total airplay chart. This chart is published regularly in The Netherlands. Each charting period finds more than 3,000 independent artists, from around the world, competing for these coveted 200 spots on Joyce's chart. You may view the Ramgatie charts at: www.eboards4all.com/206687
Within two months, DeLon moved rapidly up this chart and attained his first #1 ranking on the chart ending June 30, 2006. From APRIL, 2006, through the most recent chart of March 7, 2012, where he is currently ranked #1, DeLon has had a total of ELEVEN #1 rankings; SIXTEEN #2 rankings; FIFTEEN #3 rankings, FOUR #4 rankings, and TWELVE #5 rankings for a total of 58 spots within the "top 5" of this "TOP 200" airplay chart.
For your listening pleasure, DeLon is a songwriter/artist, who is staying true to the sounds of "TRADITIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC", and who refuses to get caught up in the new Nashville trend of "contemporary pop/rock" country music.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS ALBUM:
"WHEN I MOVED OUT OF TULSA" a #1 song on the independent
singles charts
"CRAZY COUNTRY BOY" a #3 song on the independent
singles charts
"45-CALIBER WOMAN a #1 song on the independent
singles charts
In 1996, DeLon conferred with Skeeter Davis, his long-time personal friend and sister in Christ about what he wanted to do, regarding a career in country music. She directed him to John Rees, who became his producer, music arranger and keyboard player on this first album and his future albums. John assembled an all-star cast of musicians, including Weldon Myrick and Hal Rugg, both members of the steel guitar player's Hall of Fame, and former members of the Grand Ole Opry staff band. Jimmy Capps, on lead guitar, and still a member of the Grand Ole Opry staff band, lends his many skills to this album also. Miss Skeeter Davis passed away recently on September 19, 2004 and she will be missed by so many, who knew her. This album, released in 1997, was dedicated to her and her on-going battle with cancer. She fought a good fight. DeLon and Skeeter had been friends and fellow Christians for over thirty years. And, sadly, Hal Rugg, also lost his battle with cancer during the summer of 2005. DeLon and Hal had been friends and fellow Christians since working on this album, beginning in 1996. His musical talents shall be missed, but moreso, the man himself.
DeLon, a former pro baseball player and businessman, launched his career in 1997, when he went to Nashville to began recording this album. He is an active physical fitness buff, working out 3-5 times per week. He plays fast-pitch baseball regularly, when not out performing in concert. All of this exercise helps him to remain a "flat belly" as the much younger current stars of Nashville country music are called.
In this album, DeLon covers past classic hit songs, made famous by Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves, who were DeLon's inspiration and major influences, for his beginning interest in country music. You will hear his versions of "MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY"; "HE'LL HAVE TO GO"; AND "FOUR WALLS". And, as DeLon likes to say, "we country-fied a couple of songs, "HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT" and "I LOVE HOW YOU LOVE ME", using only the basic country instruments and adding a sax to give them a "country-doo-wop sound". His self-penned songs are written from the heart, allowing you to enjoy the stories, the love songs, and the good feelings associated with them.
"WHAT CONDITION IS OUR COUNTRY IN? is a song, that takes a look at conditions in America and asks that very important question.
Please check out his new albums, "HIGHWAYS OF LIFE", released in 2002; "GIT", released in 2007; and "HEART TO HEART" released in 2008.
DeLon has just finished recording his first-ever country/Gospel album in Nashville in July, 2008. The album title is "HE'S MY ALL IN ALL". This album will be released in 2009, but should be available on cdbaby.com in the latter part of 2008. This album has received a DOVE AWARD nomination for best album of the year in the country/Gospel category, from the Gospel Music Association(GMA).
During the month of October, 2011, DeLon was in Nashville to record his second country/Gospel album, "GOD's FLOWER GARDEN", which will be officially released in January, 2012. At the same time he recorded half of the songs that will be needed for a new country album. This project is scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2012.
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