Artist Of The Day: Alan Jackson

Artist Of The Day:

Alan Jackson

• Alan Jackson started performing professionally when he was 20, later starting his own Dixie Steel Band. His debut album, 1990’s “Here In The Real World,” produced his first No. 1 – “I’d Love You All Over Again.” His next album, “Don’t Rock The Jukebox,” produced four No. 1 singles with the title track, “Someday,” “Dallas” and “Love’s Got A Hold On You.”
  
• “What I Do” debuted at No. 1 in 2004 and included the No. 1 tune “Remember When,” as well as “USA Today,” “The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues,” “Monday Morning Church” and “Too Much of a Good Thing.”
  
• “Precious Memories,” a gospel album, was released in early 2006. The disc was named Country Album of the Year at the Dove awards. Later that year, Alan released “Like Red on a Rose,” produced by Alison Krauss.
  
• “Good Time” was released in March 2008. The album helped Jackson reach the 50 million album sales mark. The title track topped the list of the 10 most requested and played songs of 2008. “Country Boy” also hit No. 1, as did “Small Town Southern Man.” Other hits from the album included “Sissy’s Song” and “I Still Like Bologna.”
  
• Alan’s album “Freight Train” hit stores in March 2010. The album features 12 new tracks including “It’s Just That Way” and “Hard Hat and a Hammer.” Jackson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 16, 2010.
  
• Jackson celebrated the 20-year anniversary of his debut album with the November release of “34 Number Ones,” a career-spanning, double-disc collection featuring all 34 of his No. 1 hits, from 1990’s “Here in the Real World” to 2009’s “Country Boy.” The project debuted on the Top 10 on the country album chart and features a few bonus cuts, including a remake of Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” and his duet with the Zac Brown Band, “As She’s Walking Away.” That song earned Alan a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration.
  
• Jackson was recipient of the American Country Awards first Greatest Hits Award in December 2010. The 17-time ACM Award winner, 16-time CMA Award recipient, two-time Grammy-honored artist and 2011 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has written or co-written 24 of his 35 No. 1 singles, placing him in the company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. He’s one of the 10 best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside Eminem and Metallica.
  
• Jackson’s latest hit, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” is from his forthcoming album, which will be released this year. Jackson will perform the song on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on March 30th. The video for the single was shot at Coney Island in New York City.
  
• Official website: www.alanjackson.com