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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 5, 2004 Zimmy Sez Neal McCoy bringing fun to casino Steve Zimmerman Neal McCoy first burst on the music scene in 1989 after signing a record deal with Atlantic Records. From 1989 to 2000, he was a country music hit machine. With hits like "If You Can't be Good, be Good at It," "No Doubt About It," "You Gotta Love That" and "Then You can Tell Me Goodbye," McCoy's string of hits was as long as Interstate 5. But label problems (the folding of Atlantic and his subsequent signing to and release from Warner Brothers, which is struggling to stay afloat) led to McCoy's slide from the top of the charts. But you wouldn't know it by attendance at his concerts. McCoy's fans are among the most loyal in the entire music business. Saturday night, McCoy performs a Mother's Day concert at Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville. It will also be a celebration for McCoy, who just inked a new record deal, one so new he couldn't talk about it. "As for touring, it is the same old thing, we're working," he said from his bus just north of San Diego. "That means we are doing something right and people are coming back to see us. "As far as recording, we are going in May 10," he said. "I can't give you the name of the new label just yet. It is a new new label. The Warner Brothers thing just didn't work out for us or them. We did what we thought was a great album but that is neither here or there." The new album will be totally new. McCoy was not allowed to take anything from the unreleased album with him. "It was one of those deals where they wanted you to take all or nothing," he said. "We couldn't pick or choose so we decided on nothing." McCoy said this is a brand new start for him and the label. "I think we have found some great new material," he said. "It is going to be typical Neal McCoy stuff, which has worked for us in the past. We have been in a few years now where that stuff wasn't working but it wasn't all our fault. We are finding a lot of fun stuff and some great songs and that is what this album's going to be about. That is what I have been about all my life." McCoy grew up idolizing The Jackson Five and started dancing and entertaining at a young age. He joined up with country legends Janie Fricke and Charlie Pride. His association with Pride as a backup singer, led to his opening some of Pride's shows. When Pride opened his own short-lived label, 16th Avenue Records, McCoy was his first signee. He released one album before that label dissolved. But McCoy had made a mark and was quickly signed to Atlantic Records. On 16th Avenue, McCoy released a single, "That's American," whose theme resonates just as strong today as in 1989. I have been teasing McCoy ever since that he should bring the song back. Finally, I may have won him over. "You have been saying that for years," he said. "You might be right about bringing that back now. It may be the right time. And there would be a story there. It wouldn't be like we just came up with the song right now, we recorded it in 1988." With McCoy, the music is great. But it is the show that has made his fan club one of the biggest and most loyal in all of country music. He talked about what brings them back show after show. "If we had done this interview 10 years ago, I would have said it was the loyalty of country music fans," he said. "But now, I would say I think it is their loyalty to me. Now, the loyalty is not there with country music fans because the times are changing. "Country music, in a lot of cases, has become pop music. You have a lot of younger people listening to it and country radio has forced their hand by making it a flavor of the month kind of thing. Country radio listeners are now a fan of the songs and not the entertainer." And expect McCoy to continue his tradition of having a great time and taking that fun to the audience. He continues to perform two of his fans' favorites, "Day O, The Banana Boat Song" and his hilarious country rap version of "The Theme From The Beverly Hillbillies." Come prepared to see a consummate showman and come prepared to laugh your self sick. McCoy's concerts are high energy, non-stop fun. It is a show well worth seeing, over and over again. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams