Fresh Face

Lady Antebellum

In the summer of 2006, three gifted young adults walked into a house hoping to create music together—and Lady Antebellum walked out.

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The sound that Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood cooked up while hanging at the Nashville-area home of Charles’ brother throughout the summer of 2006 is a unique blend that mingles classic country, 1960s R&B soulfulness and the heart-on-the-sleeve openness of 1970s singer-songwriters, all presented with a razor-sharp contemporary edge. Already the trio has been nominated for “Top New Group” at the 2008 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards.

Each also brought diverse influences into the collaboration, ranging from The Allman Brothers Band to Vince Gill, from The Eagles to Keith Urban, and from Gladys Knight to Travis Tritt. All those elements added up to something distinctly modern, yet grounded in old-fashioned gut-level passion. “It’s like a Neapolitan blend of all these flavors,” Dave says. “It’s a really great marriage, musically and lyrically.” Their old-school influences led them to choose an old-time moniker, inspired by a just-for-fun photo shoot in front of an Antebellum-style home: Lady Antebellum. (“There’s not anything too terribly meaningful behind it,” Charles admits.)

The three began posting demos on MySpace to see what kind of reaction they’d receive, and visitor feedback was immediately, overwhelmingly positive. Their new CD debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. Hear Lady Antebellum’s fresh, new country sound on 101.5 The Eagle.

Previous Fresh Faces

Luke Bryan

Originally from Georgia, Luke now calls Nashville home since signing a major music deal with Capitol. His first hit was “All My Friends Say” and was a top 10 party song. Luke has a boyish, downhome charm. That matched with intelligent wit make him a skilled songwriter, singer and musician. Luke was recently named one of Billboard’s “Faces to Watch in 2007”, the only country star named on the list. He got his first guitar at 14, and playing in a local tavern by 15. At 16, he was writing songs and singing in his own band. Luke says George Strait, Alan Jackson and Clint Black are all major influences. Luke says being a country star is not work. He says “spreading fertilizer and hauling peanut wagons, now that’s work!”

Luke was recently married and welcomed his first child in February. Listen for Luke Bryan, one of the Eagle’s Fresh Faces. Luke is playing loud and proud on 101.5 The Eagle, Fresh Country!

Rodney Adkins

His first chart-topper came in 2006 with “If You’re Going Through Hell”. His downhome, genuine approach to music sets Rodney apart from other artists, as Rodney comes across as just a regular guy. Recently, Rodney toured with Brad Paisley, bringing his music to thousands in Utah and across the country.

Rodney understands that country music, the way it ought to be played, isn’t just about life – it is life. “It’s about what people face every day. That’s what they want to hear in country music. And that’s what I draw on, what brought me here, every time I sing.”

Rodney Adkins is married to wife, Tammy Jo, and has teenage stepdaughters. As well, Rodney’s son Elijah, 6, was the focus of Rodney’s hit “Watching You” or the Buckaroo song.

Listen for more on Fresh Face Rodney Adkins on 101.5 The Eagle, Utah’s Fresh Country!

Chuck Wicks

Chuck Wicks’ debut song on 101.5 The Eagle is “Stealing Cinderella.” But before he sang this hit, Wicks spent several years paying his dues by parking cars and writing songs. That hard work paid off with his debut album “Starting Now,” which showcases the depth of his artistry as a vocalist and songwriter.

Growing up on his family’s farm in Smyrna, Delaware, Wicks immersed himself in a variety of music. However, he really didn’t give much thought to making it a career. Like many young men, sports dominated his world, and he dreamed of being a professional baseball player. He moved south to attend Florida Southern College and play baseball, but it was during his senior year that the desire to play music began eclipsing his athletic aspirations.

“My passion for country music just kind of took over and I learned about Nashville,” recalls Wicks, who began performing during college. “I decided to take a couple of trips there and figure out how to get into music. I quit college two classes short of graduation and ended up getting a development deal on RCA Records.”

Fly with 101.5 The Eagle for more on Fresh Face Chuck Wicks!