Rural Route Music by Bluegrass Johnson 

 

BITTER SWEET, Ky. — If you are a country music fan, and I know you are, then you have to be an Alan Jackson fan, as well. I mean this guy is the epitome of what country music is all about.

The Georgia native has been in the business for 25 years and has released an impressive collection of albums including three greatest hits collections, two gospel albums and a bluegrass album.

Some of his biggest hits include Don’t Rock the Jukebox, Midnight in Montgomery and Chattahoochee – all three are truly traditional country songs.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his musical catalogue. Jackson has sold nearly 60 million records with 60 career singles.

Some of my favorite country songs happen to be by Jackson; and while he has not released anything in more than a year, he released his only bluegrass album in 2013 and the second of his gospel collections. In fact, it is his latest gospel selection Precious Memories II, which I have been listening to lately. The spiritual collection is comprised of very traditional gospel songs, many of which we all know by heart.

It reminds me of the little country church I attended as a child; a place complete with wooden pews, church fans and a church bell that rang every Sunday morning. As is so often the case, some of my favorite performers bring forth some of my favorite memories through their music.

Jackson is able to do that for me. But it was his moving ballad Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) that I think got everyone’s attention as he paid tribute to all those who lost their lives on 9-11. It was a tough time in our history, and I think Jackson’s words brought us all a little closer together.

The singer/songwriter has been celebrating his silver anniversary in country music since last summer with the opening of an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum titled Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, which will run through June of this year.

He also kicked off his 2015 Keepin’ it Country Tour in January with tour dates running through May and more dates to be added. Jackson deserves an A+ in my classroom for staying true to his roots; creating a ton of great country hits and helping me remember the sound of that church bell one more time.

Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.