Western
Beat Artists
Jill Block
Jill Block is a gorgeous, multi-talented rock and roll singer-songwriter. Her strengths include finding just the right groove for the songs she writes and her impeccable taste in covers. Jill is releasing her sophomore pop-rock CD, Tang the Hump, co-produced by Dennis Belfield (Rufus) and husband/drummer Billy Block. She co-wrote most of the material with powerhouse collaborators like Phil Lee, Kent Agee, Carter Wood, Walt Wilkins and Angelo and covers original tunes by Nashville favorites Lonesome Bob, John England, Duane Jarvis and Joy Lynn White. Her choices of Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” and Grace Slick’s “Somebody To Love” highlight her influences as an artist and her ability to bring new life to two old favorites. While her new CD Tang The Hump is an excellent recording, Jill Block is a dynamo onstage and her greatest gift is that of the consummate entertainer.
The Big Happy
The Big Happy has been compared with other boy/girl rock bands like Fleetwood Mac and the Mama’s and the Papa’s. “We’re not quite sure why, I suppose its our husband/wife pairings, our harmonies and our free spirited approach to rock n’ roll” says Pru Clearwater. Difficult to categorize, it’s a hippy-jam-pop -rock & roll experience!. The Big Happy has just released their self-titled Western Beat debut CD co-produced by Springsteen’s E Street Band bassist, Garry Tallent. Recent Big Happy shows have found the band sharing stages with everyone from Southern Culture on the Skids in Chicago to 38 Special at Summerfest in Milwaukee. Garry Tallent joins the band on bass for this Western Beat show.
Buck Jones
What about Buck Jones? Buck Jones sings about the cool things he has done, the great places he’s gone and the great characters he has met along the way on his euphoric ride in life. Some people are born to be great athletes or great scholars or great philosophers; in Buck’s case he was born to sing, to write an occasional song, to weave a tale of truths and half-truths and pay homage to those that have been there for him along the way. He was currently in the studio recording original songs and some Texas favorites from the mighty pens of Walter Hyatt, Chris Wall and Walt Wilkins. Buck Jones promises a set of good ol’ fashioned, sawdust-on-the-floor, raise-some-hell, honky-tonk Texas music.
Jubal Lee Young
Jubal Lee Young’s songs are reckless, deep and spiritual—meticulously crafted, delivered by an amazing voice that can go in a heartbeat from a falsetto whisper to a lion’s roar. Here’s a young rocker who has experienced life’s darker sides, yet transcends them in his songs. Don’t think that tamed him down … he just chose a different road. Which Jubal cites as one of his main inspirations when he was a budding young songwriter. Along the way, he came up with a unique sound that could be an unexpected rebirth of southern rock. Jubal Lee Young has learned from the greats, first- hand, right there at his own kitchen table. You can hear it—he’s the real deal.
Walt Wilkins
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the CD here!
Walt Wilkins has one of those wonderful gifts of being able to see a situation from a totally unique perspective and then write a song about it in a way that is commercially viable and full of artistic integrity. A rare gift indeed. Raised in the sun of San Antonio, Austin and Honolulu, Wilkins is a troubadour of the Guy Clark and Kris Kristofferson tradition. His GrooveTone release “Fire, Honey and Angels”garnered rave reviews and the song "Ruby's 2 Sad Daughters" is a classic. He is currently a staff writer at Curb Music and scored the title track to Ty Herndon's Big Hopes CD and Ricky Skaggs recorded his song Seven Hillsides on his Grammy winning gospel CD. Walt’s Western Beat Records debut Rivertown is in stores now. Walt Wilkins is the heir apparent of the Texas songwriter’s crown.
Toni Catlin
Toni
Catlin
Roots-Rock talent Toni Catlin has an authentic quality to her music that
is engaging. With a passionate, powerful and distinctively rich voice,
Toni possesses a sound and style that is uniquely her own. She writes
simple yet provocative lyrics that weave around catchy hooks and great
melodies. Toni grew up in Vermont and N.Y., went to school in Europe,
worked as a ski instructor & wilderness trip leader out west, and
traveled in Central America before heading to Nashville to pursue her
music. Toni recently released her debut album, Heartache on the Run.
Produced by Preston Sullivan, and featuring some of Nashville's most innovative
session players, Heartache on the Run showcases Toni's versatility
as an artist. Billy Block was impressed enough to promote Toni's CD through
his Western Beat Records label.
David Serby
David Serby
Bio coming soon.
Ansel Brown
Ansel Brown
In 2004, Ansel started focusing on his musical passion – country music. A true fan of the genre, Ansel grew up listening to Alabama, Garth Brooks, George Straight, Tim McGraw, Sawyer Brown and others. However, Ansel began to feel that singing country was more than a passion; it was more like a calling. Ansel began to write country songs and he eventually recorded a three-song demo, which he forwarded to one of Nashville’s best up-and-coming producers – Cliff Downs. Downs had recently helped to discover a teenage prodigy named Ashley Gearing. Her career had started to take off and Downs was ready to find his next successful artist. After hearing the three-song demo from Ansel, Downs believed that Ansel had what it takes to be a successful country artist – simmering passion, an honest and wholesome sound and great commercial appeal.
©2007 Western Beat Entertainment