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Whether it’s military members in Iraq cutting a hip-hop album in hopes of making it big, or an established country music star penning a new tune in tribute to the troops, we’ve got our eye on the intersection of the military and the music industry. Check out our reviews, interviews and hot picks.

Interviews

Rapper Young Buck focusing on charity work, new image
Nashville, Tenn., rapper Young Buck introduced himself worldwide with a tough-thug glower, brandishing two relentlessly street-tough (and massively successful) albums: superstar rap crew...
‘Big Dog’ Toby Keith finds peace in own yard
Although Toby Keith’s latest album is called “Big Dog Daddy,” the country singer for whom confidence is never in short supply still considers himself an underdog.
Indigo Girls still rocking after nearly 30 years
After nearly 30 years of playing music together, it’s not always easy for the Indigo Girls to choose a set list.
Pianist from the South shared music with world
In 1921, a postal worker in Americus, Ga., watched intently as his baby son, Matthew, ran his fingers along the table as if he was playing piano.
Bluegrass star Krauss hits road with new disc
Two decades after signing a record deal as a 14-year-old fiddler and singer from Illinois, Alison Krauss has become one of the most recognizable faces — and voices — in contemporary...
Hart trades apron for record deal
When Victoria Hart gets to giggling, there’s no stopping her.
It’s a ‘Beautiful’ summer for Kingston
Rapper Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” describes a personal heartbreak, but one that has worked out nicely for the 17-year-old newcomer.
Bands embrace lengthy song titles
“We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.” “Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die. Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live.” “Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?”
Johnny Cash’s band gets rhythm on the road with old hits
When American icon Johnny Cash retired from the concert stage because of failing health, the two longest-serving members of his Tennessee Three backup band thought that four decades of unforgettable...
Brad Paisley brings concert special to GAC network
In large chunks of America’s midsection, Brad Paisley is way too famous.
Touring Keith Urban says boredom drove him to drugs
Rehearsing in Arizona for the launch of his North American concert tour in Phoenix Friday night, recently rehabbed country superstar Keith Urban says he has found a new self-awareness that should...
Connick’s new album is one for New Orleans
Harry Connick Jr. had a simple motivation for his latest album, “Oh, My NOLA.”
McCartney adds to his memory bank
On “Memory Almost Full,” a title inspired by the warning that flashed when his cellphone maxed out on text and voice mails, Paul McCartney seesaws between impulses to dwell on the past...
McCartney’s future melds with ever-present past
That’s a comfortable upholstered chair on the cover of Paul McCartney’s “Memory Almost Full “album, but it’s not a rocker. On the cusp of turning 65, the ex-Beatle...
Country singer Taylor Swift refuses to grow up too fast
Although a tour with Brad Paisley forced Taylor Swift to skip her prom this spring, the high school junior is the belle of her own ball as she makes appearances across the country and in Canada in...
Moore hopes for a bright new day
NEW YORK — Pop stars are not known as early risers. But Mandy Moore insists that she’s a morning person.
Baseball blessings: Sheffield family boasts a gospel star
When the Tigers acquired slugger Gary Sheffield last winter, Detroit got more than one of baseball’s best players. The city got one of gospel music’s best voices.
Ne-Yo keeps tunes coming
Ne-Yo already was making a name for himself as a songwriter before last year’s debut album, “In My Own Words,” made him a star. He hopes his second, “Because of You,”...
‘Hippy-Hippy Shake’ singer first Latino in Rockabilly Hall of Fame
Chan Romero doesn’t look like the other Rockabilly Hall of Famers — he doesn’t have long sideburns or a pompadour ala Elvis.
The greatest stories ever told on Sirius radio?
NEW YORK — Dave and Susan Konig are having a ball on their new radio show, mocking their least favorite Bible movies.
Soft rock stays in that ’70s groove
If you grew up in the’70s, chances are you were familiar with the pop oeuvre of Neil Sedaka and Donny Osmond. And chances are, it wasn’t something you bragged about.
Bette Midler will storm Caesars Palace in 2008
What titanic talent could possibly replace Celine Dion in Las Vegas when the singer concludes her almost five-year run at Caesars Palace?
Mellencamp supports troops in show at Walter Reed
If it means supporting the troops, John Mellencamp is happy to shut up and sing. The outspoken lefty will perform a televised concert April 27 for about 300 patients at Walter Reed Army Medical...
Who killed hip-hop? Nas launches investigation
The way Nas sees it, the industry has sucked the life out of rap music with an overemphasis on moneymaking and thug imagery. He hopes his new “Hip Hop Is Dead” helps restore its dulled...
‘I Just Came Back From A War’
First thing I did when that plane finally landed
This one’s for you
Flying through a combat zone during a USO tour to the Middle East, country musician Darryl Worley’s plane hit turbulence, “and the plane dropped like 800 feet in one second,” he...
Taylor-made for military wives
There are certain moments, April Taylor says, that make her musical career worthwhile. Such as when she performed her first single for a friend, who listened with tears streaming down her face.
Winger returns with rock salute to troops
Thirteen years after their last album came out, during the waning days of hair metal and the rise of grunge, Winger is back.
‘Six String General’ wages air-guitar warfare
The Washington Post: Air Guitar General warms up

Military musicians

New CDs feature troops, veterans
To The Fallen Records, a label featuring only active military personnel and veterans, has released two new compilations — odes to country music and rock.
Get free music downloads this Thanksgiving
Active and retired military personnel can download a CD’s worth of free music this Thanksgiving courtesy of 13 popular recording artists — it’s their way of saying thanks for your...
2007 Soldier Show tour schedule
The 2007 Soldier Show is now underway and will be on tour through the end of October.
Military record label prepping next album
To The Fallen Records, a label featuring only current and former military personnel, is gearing up to release its next albums. Their first CD, “To the Fallen — Vol. 1,” a hip-hop...
Singing sailor squeaks by on ‘Idol’
Phil Stacey had a close call on “American Idol” Wednesday night, singled out early in the episode as one of the week’s three lowest vote-getters, but even though he was one of...
Judges cold on singing sailor on latest ‘Idol’
After singing a song made famous by a teenage country star and being dressed down by all three celebrity judges for his “odd” choice, sailor and “American Idol” contestant...
Military record label drops its first album
When former Army Capt. Sean Gilfillan left the service, he wasn’t sure how to transition back to civilian life. But thanks to his love of music and loyalty to the service members with whom...
Clips from ‘To The Fallen — Volume I’
These clips appear on the debut album from To The Fallen Records. Read about this troops-only label.
‘Idol’ voters keep sailor another week
Perhaps not since the Battle of the Philippine Sea, when Adm. Ray Spruance and the 5th fleet routed Imperial Japan’s carrier forces in the Pacific, has the U.S. Navy notched such a commanding...
Stacey sends Navy a shout-out in ‘Idol’ song
Singing sailor Phil Stacey gave the lead-off performance on Tuesday’s “American Idol,” and where he might’ve played down his Navy connections before, this time they were front...
Navy ‘Idol’ to face viewers again tonight
He was safe for a few days, but Phil Stacey, the Navy’s singing sailor on “American Idol,” has to outperform his competitors at 8 p.m. tonight if he wants to stay on the show.
Sailor makes it to next round of ‘Idol’
Like the title of his song Tuesday night, Phil Stacey could not ask for more.
N.H.-based band back from Iraq
CONCORD, N.H. — A New Hampshire-based band is back home after a ten-day road trip to the war zone in Iraq.
The sound & the fury
Now that some of the military's most promising hip-hop "Voices" are being heard, the next step might be showing their faces.
Singing sailor safe — until next week
Fans of sailor Phil Stacey can breathe easier — the bald singer will be back for next week’s “American Idol.”
Sailor tries to make Idol judges ‘love him’
Results from Tuesday’s American Idol voting won’t be revealed until Wednesday night, so there is no way to know yet whether viewers have forgiven Navy singer Phil Stacey for his...
The first decade
During the Air Force’s first decade, from 1947 to 1957, I was a child and teenager growing up in Washington, D.C.

Music reviews

Country music catches radio wave
So far, 2007 is a great year for country music ... on the radio. In this year’s first six months, country songs accounted for nearly one-fourth of radio’s top 100 songs, as measured in...
Back again as you always remembered them!
Will Spice Girls fans hear what they really, really want?
Someone new from ‘the Lou’
Dance-floor heat: St. Louis rapper Huey and his management team knew they were on to something last fall with “Pop, Lock & Drop It” which has in recent weeks stormed up the...
What’s in your iPod? Here’s a mix that’s made for cruising
Maps? Check. Cooler? Check. Radar detector? Check. Music? Music?
Road trip: In tune with Tennessee
ALONG THE I-40 “MUSIC HIGHWAY,” Tenn. - When “American Idol” withdrawal sets in for the summer, it strikes hard, strikes deep and silently carves a crater in your karaoke...
Will Silverman be magic for MTV awards?
In an attempt to boost viewership for its 2007 MTV “Movie Awards” (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET/PT), the network is presenting the program live for the first time. And it has a raunchy host:...
Festivals dot summer music landscape
If you’re serious about music, chances are you’re seriously considering attending a summer music festival.
After 20 years, The Tragically Hip remains big
Why is it, Gord Sinclair, that The Tragically Hip is so popular around these parts?
Women a force of nature at country music awards
Taylor Swift grew up comfortably with parents ready to dote on her.
And the best country albums of 2006 are ...
It’s not that 2006 was a bad year for music; it just didn’t feel like a particularly great one.
Music year in review: Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley lead the way
The USA Today music staff looks back at the year’s best recordings, tours and other positive musical developments.
Music picks: Week of Dec. 19
Nas, “Hip Hop Is Dead” (Three and one-half stars out of four)
Gift guide ’06: Best of the music box sets
This year’s box-set subjects range from The Byrds to Tori Amos, Fats Waller to Tiny Tim and Duke Ellington to the Dukes of Dixieland. Despite staggering variety that finds Goth compilations and...
Music picks: Week of Nov. 28
Genre: Long-delayed rap
Music picks: Week of Nov. 21
Genre: Fab four fabulosity
Eagles’ ‘Road,’ smooth as ever
When Eagles records were omnipresent in the ’70s, it was easy to shrug off their painstaking craftsmanship and perfect harmonies as overly polished studio exercises in hookmanship. But...

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Final Salute
Final Salute is a stunning tribute to the brave troops who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and to the families who continue to mourn them. Military Appreciation Month - Save 10%