{"key":"232694","name":"Alan Jackson","bio":"Alan Eugene Jackson is an American singer and songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 16 studio albums, three greatest hits albums, two Christmas albums, two gospel albums and several compilations. Jackson has sold over 80 million records worldwide, placing 66 titles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Of the 66 titles, and six featured singles, 38 have reached the top five and 35 have claimed the number one spot. Out of 15 titles to reach the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, nine have been certified multi-platinum. He is the recipient of two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, 17 ACM Awards and nominee of multiple other awards. He is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 by Loretta Lynn.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/www.aaemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Alan-Jackson.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"6099","name":"Connie Smith","bio":"Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador 14 August 1941, in Elkhart, Indiana) is an American country music singer. She is best known for her 1964 hit song \"Once a Day\", which spent 8 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Country music charts, the longest of any female country music artist in history. This was Smith's only single to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.In less than a year, Connie Smith moved from being a small-town Ohio housewife to country stardom with a number one single to her credit. Perhaps overly compared to and identified with Patsy Cline, Smith is still considered by many to be one of the best and most underrated vocalists in country history. Her lonely desperation came straight from the heart, also: Her father was abusive when she was a child, causing Smith to suffer a mental breakdown while she was in her teens. \"Once a Day\" launched Connie Smith straight to the top of the country music industry and, for a brief period, she was one of the top female stars of the genre during the mid 1960s. Although she never achieved the level of commercial success as some of her contemporaries, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Lynn Anderson and Dolly Parton, she is often hailed by music critics as one of the finest voices in country music, voted in 2001 by fellow artists and members of the Country Music industry as #9 of the 40 Greatest Women of Country Music of all time (CMT).Biography & career Early life & rise to fameSmith was born Constance June Meador in 1941 in Elkhart, Indiana. Although she was born in Indiana, she spent much of her early years in West Virginia and later in Ohio. Both of Smith's parents were from West Virginia. Her father was abusive when she was a child, causing Smith to suffer a mental breakdown while she was in her teens. In West Virginia, she began to start singing locally. She was soon married and became a housewife and had children. By the early 1960s, Smith had already become a married woman with a four-month old son, living in Marietta, Ohio. During this time, Smith started singing locally again and appeared on local TV shows around her hometown area. While singing near Columbus, Ohio in August 1963, she was discovered by country singer Bill Anderson after winning a talent show contest. He recognized Smith's talents and offered his help into getting Smith a recording contract, Smith accepted his offer. A few months later, she was signed onto RCA Records, where she worked with legendary RCA producer Chet Atkins. The success of \"Once a Day\" & the peak of her career in the 60sAt RCA, Smith recorded her signature song, \"Once a Day\" during one of her first sessions at the studio. The song, written by Bill Anderson took him over two years to write. He finally finished the song after hearing Smith needed songs for her recording sessions. \"Once a Day\", was released as a single in September and hit the top of the country charts, reigning as number one for eight weeks. To date, \"Once a Day\" is still the longest song in Country music history to stay at the No. 1 spot on the Country charts. The only other frmale singer who has recently came close to Smith's long-standing record was Carrie Underwood, who's 2006's \"Jesus Take the Wheel\" spent six weeks at the No. 1 spot. \"Once a Day\" is Smith's only No. 1 Country hit to date.Image:Connie Smith-Opry.jpg Connie Smith performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee in June 2004.Smith's follow-up, \"Then and Only Then,\" hit number four (even the flip side reached the Top 25), and her Top Ten streak continued until late 1968, including the big hits \"If I Talk to Him,\" \"Ain't Had No Lovin',\" and \"The Hurtin's All Over.\" Between 1965 and 1966 Smith had three No. 1 Billboard Country albums, Connie Smith, Cute 'n' Country, and Born to Sing. At this time, Smith was one of the most successful female vocalists of the genre, having the similar success Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette would later have. During this time, Smith had been twice nominated for Grammy Awards, one for \"Once a Day\" in 1965 and another for \"Ain't Had No Lovin'\" in 1967.Meanwhile, her success began to take a toll; constant appearances on the road, in films, and on The Lawrence Welk Show pushed Smith to the brink of suicide in 1968. She credits her Christian faith with saving her from killing herself. In 1969, Smith did a cover version of Marty Robbins' 1965 No. 1 hit \"Ribbon Of Darkness,\" that made it to No. 13 on the Country singles chart. That same year, she recorded a duet album with Nat Stuckey entitled Young Love. A single also called \"Young Love\", which was originally a hit for Sonny James in 1956, only made it to No. 20 for Smith. Connie and Nat also did a gospel album in 1970 called Sunday Morning With Connie and Nat \u2013 later re-released in 2001 under the title God Will.She was a top draw in country music concert venues and even branched into minor movie stardom, appearing in such films as Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966) with Ferlin Husky and Jayne Mansfield, and \"Hell's Angels on Wheels\" (1967) with Marty Robbins. Nevertheless, Smith did not give her career 100 percent like many of her contemporaries, touring considerably less, stating her main priority was being a wife and mother. Career slows down in the 1970sAfter Smith recovered from the pressure of being a female country star, she began to balance chart success with a lighter schedule. Though her country hits were rarer than in her mid-'60s heyday, she was a better performer \u2014 and person \u2014 for it. Smith still managed the Top Tens \"You and Your Sweet Love\" in 1969, \"I Never Once Stopped Loving You\" the following year, and \"Just One Time\" in 1971. Her most successful year during the '70s was 1972. She recorded three big hits: the number five \"Just What I Am,\" the number seven \"If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone),\" and the number eight \"Love Is the Look You're Looking For.\" Smith continued to cut a lot of hits by Bill Anderson, but also cut a lot by Dallas Frazier, including, \"If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone)\".By 1972, Smith began to incorporate more Gospel into her act. With the help of her third husband, Evangelist Marshall Haynes, she turned her live show into a traveling gospel road show and signed with Columbia, which permitted her to record more straight gospel songs. Though the material didn't score as well on the charts as her secular singles had, she managed to stay in the Top 20 during much of the '70s. Smith recorded more Gospel albums under Columbia, including 1974's God Is Abundant, and was nominated for Grammy for Best Gospel Performance for her song, \"All the Praises\". Smith's Country career, didn't remain as successful, her hits rarely hit the Top 10. Her last Top 10 came in 1976 with \"('Til) I Kissed You\", which peaked at No. 10, the very top of the top 10.Image:Connie Smith-Newer.jpg Connie Smith later photo.When Smith was signed to Monument, she broke away from recording too much Gospel. Instead, Smith's Country music got more Pop-sounding, as Smith was keeping up with the times, during a the time when Country music was becoming more Pop-sounding. This type of sound was evident in some of her biggest hits from the late 70s, including the Top 10, \"(Till) I Kissed You\" and \"I Don't Want to Talk It Over Anymore\".After she signed with Monument in 1977, most of her singles dropped out of the Top 40. Her 1978 single \"I Just Want to Be Your Everything\" was Smith's last significant hit on the country music charts, making it to No. 14. The single was originally a hit for Barry Gibb, who formed the popular Pop group The Bee Gees. Smith's version has been said to be the only notable cover version because it sounds like the original. As for her other singles released between 1978 and 1979 (most notably, \"Smooth Sailin'\" and \"Ten Thousand and One\"), they failed to become hits, and peaked outside the Country Top 40. Although these songs were updated to fit the time period, Smith was not one hundred percent focused on touring, performing and promotiing, focusing more of her time on family and later raising her children, which is one of the reasons for why she later temporarily left the business.Smith was nominated three times for the Country Music Association \"Female Vocalist of the Year\" award and earned 10 various Grammy nominations but has won neither. Smith has also occasionally dabbled in songwriting, penning over 30 songs and earning a Broadcast Music Incorporated award for her 1967 hit \"I'll Come Running.\" Another Smith-penned hit \"You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me\" was later recorded by Reba McEntire. Later career & life todaySmith left Monument records in 1979, and officially left recording and touring for awhile for Smith to raise her children. However, in 1985, Smith returned on the Epic Records label to record one single titled, \"A Far Cry From You\", which peaked at only at No. 71. No album was ever released from the label. Smith did not release any studio albums in the 1980s.In 1992, she released her first album in many years called The Wayward Wind. The following year, Smith did a live album entitled Live In Branson, Missouri, USA. Since 1997, she has been married to 90s Neo-Traditionalist Country star Marty Stuart, 17 years her junior. Connie and Marty actually met back in the 60's when as a kid he went to see her in concert. On the way home he reportedly told his mother \"One day I'll marry her!\" The two met again while Stuart was producing Smith's 1998 comeback album, Connie Smith. Although the album didn't gain any attention, Smith co-wrote nine of the ten tracks on the album. The album was released on Stuart's label, Warner Brothers. In 2003, Connie Smith released a Christian album with Barbara Fairchild and Sharon White (from the country group The Whites) entitled Love Never Fails.In 2002, Smith was voted at No. 9 on CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music, one of the highest honors of her career. George Jones also credits Smith as his favorite female country music singer in his book I Lived To Tell It All.Dolly Parton has also credited Smith by once saying, \"There\u2019s only three real female singers: Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, and Connie Smith. The rest of us are only pretending.\" The quote was put on Smith's 1995 comnpilation album by RCA, The Essential Connie Smith.Most recently country singer Martina McBride recorded a cover version of Smith's signature tune \"Once a Day\" and was put in McBride's 2005 album, Timeless. Smith continues to be a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry, and when not on the Opry, she does occasional dates with her husband. As a solo artist, Smith continues to tour on her own. In May 2007, she sang \"A World of Our Own\", a hit for Sonny James, at the Country Music Hall of Fame's Medallion Ceremony honoring James' induction into the Hall of Fame. In 2007, Smith joined her husband on his album, Compadres for a duet. Personal lifeSmith has been through many marriages. Now Smith is married to Stuart. Smith has five children and five grandchildren. One of children lives overseas in Norway. Smith is a devout Christian, and has made pilgrimages to Israel in the past, including one with Waylon Jennings and his wife, Country singer Jessi Colter. Awards & NominationsYear Award Program Award Result 1964 Grammy Awards Best Female Country Vocal, \"Once a Day\" Nominated 1964 Grammy Awards Best New Country Artist Nominated 1964 Grammy Awards Best Country & Western Single, \"Once A Day\" Nominated 1966 Grammy Awards Best Female Country Vocal, \"Ain't Had No Lovin'\" Nominated 1966 Grammy Awards Best Sacred Recording, \"Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs\" Nominated 1967 Grammy Awards Best Female Country Vocal, \"Cincinnati, Ohio\" Nominated 1967 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated 1969 Grammy Awards Best Female Country Vocal, \"Ribbon Of Darkness\" Nominated 1969 Grammy Awards Best Sacred Performance, \"Whispering Hope\" with Nat Stuckey Nominated 1970 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated 1972 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated 1972 Music City News Top Female Vocalist Nominated 1973 Grammy Awards Best Inspirational Performance, \"All the Praises\" Nominated 1974 Music City News Top Female Vocalist Nominated 1975 Music City News Top Female Vocalist Nominated 1975 Grammy Awards Best Gospel Performance (Other Than Soul Gospel), \"Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel\" Nominated 1979 Music City News Gospel Group\/Act of the Year Won DiscographyMain article: Connie Smith discography DVD Releases featuring Connie Smith1966 Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar (performs \"Once a Day\"). Time Life, 2006. See review of the movie on this URL: In the Balcony - Latest DVD Views. 1966 The Las Vegas Hillbillys (performs \"Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)\"). VCI Home Video, 2000. URL: VCI Entertainment 1967 Road to Nashville (performs \"I'll Never Get Over Loving You\", \"Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)\"). Rhino, 2000. URL:Rhino. 1967 Hell on Wheels (performs 2 songs). Rhino, 2000. References^ Connie Smith at All Music Guide ^ Connie Smith at All Music Guide ^ Connie Smith at All Music Guide ^ Connie Smith at All Music ^ Connie Smith at All Music Guide ^ Connie Smith at All Music Guide ^ Connie Smith biography at All Music Guide ^ Connie Smith at All Music Guide Cooper, Daniel. (1998). \"Connie Smith\". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 490-1. External linksConnie Smith at CMT.com Connie Smith at Opry.com Connie Smith at All Music Guide Connie Smith Brief Biography & Annotated discography Connie Smith at LP Discography to the left: scroll down to 'S' and to 'SMITH Connie' (this discography is quite complete w\/ original picture sleeves, chart positions and lyrics)","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/6099_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"25,000 - 75,000"}

{"key":"232972","name":"Dionne Warwick","bio":"Dionne Warwick is a Grammy Award-winning singer, actress, television host, and former United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization and United States Ambassador of Health. Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest hitmakers of the entire rock era (1955-1999), based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. She is one of the most-charted female vocalists of all time, with 56 of her singles making the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998, and 80 singles making all Billboard charts combined. Born into a musical family, Warwick began singing gospel music in a church choir at a Baptist church in Newark, New Jersey. Many of her family members were in the Drinkard Singers, a renowned family gospel group that frequently performed throughout the New York metropolitan area. A cousin of the late Whitney Houston, Warwick notes in her 2011 autobiography, \u201cMy Life As I See It,\u201d that she is also a cousin of opera star Leontyne Price. Warwick, whose musical style has been described as sophisticated, sings in a way inspired and informed by rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz, but the blend is all her own.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/www.aaemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Dionne-Warwick.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"232896","name":"Alabama","bio":"Alabama is a country-rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama. The iconic Southern rock band formed in 1969 and originally used the name Wildcountry until they switched to their current name in 1977. The current lineup consists of Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Teddy Gentry (bass, backing vocals), Jeff Cook (lead guitar, fiddle, keyboards, lead vocals) and Mike Shawcross (drums). Between 1980 and 2011, Alabama had 33 #1 singles on Billboard's Hot Country chart. They are the most successful band in country music history, having sold more than 75 million records.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/www.aaemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Alabama-band.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"232840","name":"Fantasia","bio":"From high school dropout to American Idol winner to Grammy award-winning artist, Fantasia Barrino is proof that sometimes life can be a fairy tale. In her empowering stage appearances the soulful songstress discusses the joys and pitfalls of single motherhood, talks openly about her efforts to overcome her difficult past and to become fully literate, and draws on her triumphs as a woman and as an artist to inspire her adoring fans to reach for the stars\u2014and grasp them. The North Carolina native first dawned on the public consciousness with her stirring performances on the third season of American Idol, which prompted Simon Cowell to pronounce her the best contestant of the 70-plus international Idols crowned since the show began. On the lecture stage Fantasia describes her thrill at being voted the new American Idol, and her joy at the success of her debut album, Free Yourself, and its hit track \u201cI Believe\u201d\u2014which made her the first artist ever to enter the Hot 100 at number one with her very first single. She also speaks candidly about her powerful religious faith, and about the painful but cathartic filming of the Lifetime Television biopic based on her bestselling autobiography Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, which required her to reenact both the triumphs and tragedies of her past. On October 16, 2014, she was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Barrino has been nicknamed \"Baby Patti LaBelle\" by her idol Patti LaBelle. A strong woman whose dazzling musical gifts and courageous spirit have been an inspiration to millions, Fantasia is a delightful and engaging speaker who never fails to enchant her listeners, no matter what the topic.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/www.aaemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Fantasia-Barrino.jpg","feeRange":"100,000 - 200,000"}

{"key":"2939","name":"Amy Grant","bio":"Amy Grant (born November 25, 1960) is an American Christian and pop singer-songwriter and has done some television. She has also sold 30 million albums world wide during her career.Grant made her debut in 1977 under the guidance of Myrrh Records, and became the first Christian recording act to have an album be certified platinum. Following her marriage to Gary Chapman in 1982 and a subsequent deal between her record company and A&M Records, a series of successful pop-crossover records consolidated her position as both Christian music's highest-selling act and a formidable force in mainstream music, and according to Billboard magazine she was the most successful Christian recording artist of the 1980s and 1990s.After giving birth to her fourth child Corinna Grant Gill, Grant returned to her gospel music roots with the 2002 release of Legacy...Hymns & Faith. The album featured a Vince Gill-influenced mix of bluegrass and gospel and marked Grant's 25th anniversary in the music industry. Grant followed this up with the pop release Simple Things in 2003. The album did not see the success of her previous pop efforts, and soon after the album, Amy and Interscope\/A&M parted ways.Grant released a sequel to her hymns collection in 2005 titled Rock of Ages\u2026 Hymns & Faith. Despite publicly musing that life would be easier if she weren't working, Grant joined the reality television phenomenon by hosting Three Wishes, a show in which she and a team of helpers make wishes come true for small-town residents. The show debuted on NBC in the fall of 2005, but was cancelled in November after 10 episodes. After Three Wishes was cancelled, Grant won her 6th Grammy Award for Rock of Ages.In a February, 2006 webchat, Amy stated she believes her \"best music is still ahead\".Amy Grant recorded a live cd\/dvd album in early 2006 and it was released later in the year. To date Amy Grant has sold more than 25 million records worldwide and is a 6 time Grammy winning artist.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/2939_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"40,000 - 75,000"}

{"key":"79111","name":"Kierra Sheard","bio":"Kierra \"Kiki\" Sheard (born Kierra Valencia Sheard) is a Grammy Award-nominated American gospel recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard (member of the seminal gospel singing group The Clark Sisters) and the granddaughter of legendary gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sheard spent her formative years surrounded by the strong influences of her family, their faith, and their music. At age 6, she began singing in the choir at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, pastored by her father Superintendent J. Drew Sheard. Even at a young age, Sheard had a preternatural grip on the signature \"Clark sound\" pioneered by her mother and aunts, executing high and fast melismas, riffs, runs, and deep, throaty growls sometimes referred to as \"squalls\" (the latter is prominently displayed on \"Done Did It\", a traditional gospel leaning track from her album I Owe You)","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/79111_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"79112","name":"Tasha Cobbs","bio":"Tasha Cobbs is proving herself to be more than just \u201cthe next big voice\u201d in gospel. Yes, her voice is amazing but after listening to the songs on her upcoming solo project, you will quickly learn, this chick is a triple threat! A prolific songwriter, a true singer\u2019s singer ( think a little bit of Kelly Price, Kari Jobe and Jasmine Sullivan) and shes an incredible preacher. After hearing only a few moments of her singing, you understand she has power, can deliver a mighty and smooth alto AND will smash you to pieces!Creative as a little girl, this PK was born the only daughter to Bishop Fritz and Lady Bertha Cobbs. Raised in Jesup, Ga, Tasha passed the time singing with her first cousins who all are incredible minstrels as well.One would be surprised to learn she was a bit of a tomboy in her formative years. She initially possessed little desire to do the whole \u201cgirlie thing,\u201d so it\u2019s no surprise that it wasn\u2019t until high school that she began to express her gift of being a \u201cfashionista\u201d. One look at her stylish creations and you\u2019ll definitely be sold on her clothing line which is soon to come.In 2006, as fate would have it, she heard the voice of God telling her to relocate to Atlanta. Her father came to her with a confirming word and within hours, she loaded her belongings and began her journey to pursue destiny. She attended service at the dReam Center church of ATLANTA and was assured that it was where God desired for her to be. Without hesitation, she approached the altar becoming the first official partner of the ministry.Within months, she connected with her Pastor, William H. Murphy, iii and became one of his background vocalist. Under his guidance and care she has grown to higher heights in prayer, worship and leadership. She\u2019s also been blessed to record with Murphy and many other artists as a lead and background vocalist.Tasha is currently completing her undergraduate studies at Beulah Heights University. As her gift continues to make room for her and place her before great men, Tasha prays daily that God would \u201ckeep me humbled at your feet and never take your anointing away.\u201d She\u2019s extremely proud that she\u2019s a submitted daughter to Pastors William and Danielle Murphy who have entrusted her to be the Worship pastor at the dReam Center church of ATLANTA.Brighter days are ahead as she releases her First Solo Project\u2026Summer 2010!","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/79112_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"79113","name":"William McDowell","bio":"Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, William began playing piano at age five. By age 13 he was playing drums for his church. At age 16 he was playing organ for the church, and at age 18 began leading worship at the church. Since then, William has ministered with some of the most respected and well- known pastors, speakers and worship leaders in the world.In 2001 after relocating to Orlando, Florida, William was hired as the Music Director and keyboardist for Ron Kenoly. It was during his time with Dr. Kenoly that William had the opportunity to travel all over the world and experience the presence of God in multiple cultures and expressions. This experience impacted his ministry tremendously. William has an ability to connect with people of multiple cultures and reach multiple generations in the same setting so that everyone can experience the presence of God together.In 2003 utilizing his educational background (B.S. in Entertainment Business) and fulfilling a God given desire, \"The Delivery Room\" recording studio was established. William recorded his first solo effort, \"The Reason I Live\" out of the studio, along with hosting numerous other sessions. In 2005 \"The Delivery Room\" expanded into a brand new 2300 sq ft space and has hosted several artists and producers such as Martha Munizzi, Group One Crew, KJ-52, Tito Nieves, Loris Holland, Aaron Pearce, and EA Sports.In 2006, William accepted the position of worship leader at The Gathering Place in Lake Mary, FL., serving alongside Pastor Sam Hinn. In 2007 William was ordained as a pastor at The Gathering Place and while serving this multicultural body has hosted recording artist and worship leaders such as Hillsong United, Martha Munizzi (also a member of the church), Jeff Deyo, Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Ricardo Sanchez and others.In addition to music, William is a teacher who ministers the Word in churches and conferences, and is fully committed to establishing an organization that deals with some of the global goliath's facing our world today such as hunger, clean drinking water, and domestic H.S. graduation.The Williams Brothers","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/79113_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}