Kenny Rogers... no way! Yes way!!

Kenny Rogers along with Chance McKinney n' CrossWire on August 26th

I'd be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to say how thankful I am for opportunities like this that come up in this journey.  I stepped off the plane last week in Portland, OR preparing for the Willamette Country Music Festival with artists like Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town and Blake Shelton only to find a text message from one of the biggest promoters in the Pacific Northwest on my phone.  It read... "You're IN for Kenny Rogers."  Period.  That's it.  No, not quite eloquent, but damn fine in spirit and "cut to the point"-ness.

 

I literally was Tweeting (as in Twittering) and Facebooking in the car rental line "just got asked to open for Kenny Rogers.  Is hellfrickinyeah one word or three?"  Over 50 comments and 120 likes later I realized the magnitude of what was just presented to me on a platter.  Dude, you and your band are going to open for one of the greatest ALL-TIME country artists.  I mean, a guy you grew up listening to on the portable AM radio that ran on batteries out in the fishin' boat with Mom, Dad and your brother.

 

Do you think I knew, (at age 5-ish) while I was casting away tryin' to keep up with the rest of 'em at a game of "whose stringer of bass was fullest", that I'd be sharing the stage one day with THAT GUY?!  No way...  the gravity still escapes me.  It usually hits right about showtime when we (the boys from CrossWire and I) are about to step on stage.  The headliner bus, limo, van, whatever pulls up and I catch a glimpse of Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson or that guy (Kenny Rogers) on their way to their hospitality trailer.  That's when it hits me.  I have 30-45 minutes to engage an audience and prepare them for a legitimate star.  No, not someone who just dresses the part or got to where they are because "daddy had some money" but literal "stars."  I mean, people who ooze talent.  And here I am, former high school teacher, CMT winner with a band full of talented musicians but still a kid from rural Montana responsible for flipping the switch.   That, is the moment.  That's the high.  That's the challenge.  And that, is why I love what I do.

 

Tonight, I'll be on stage with Paul, Ray and Brian "flippin' the switch."  Wanna know how the story ends?  It doesn't... but I'll try to keep you updated along the way through Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/chancemckinney), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chance-McKinney/160688966444) and Website (http://www.chancemckinney.com) if you're interested in taggin' along.

 

CM

A week in Nashville...

After spending 19 of the past 27 weeks out on the road, it's time to make a trip to the homeland.  I can't say I'm not lookin' forward to a couple months of "downtime" before we get geared up for the Summer Run of shows.  Already on the books are John Rich, Sebastian Bach, Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Sunny Sweeney, Steve Azar, Phil Vassar and Alan Jackson.

I'm totally lookin' forward to this week in Nashville.  Not only will I get an opportunity to sit down with some good friends (my booking agent BS, my attorney WH and my co-writer KL), but I'll also get to meet with some folks who could take this to another level AND write at a clinic with some of the greatest writers of all time (Rivers Rutherford and Bob DiPiero).

This is just ONE of the many cool aspects of this job.  It's ONE that off-sets so many of the negatives we hear about in the media.  The friendships that exist "behind the scenes" and the creation of new music keep me going.  The idea of bringin' something new to the table (whether it be songs, bookings, appearances, whatever) is always an exciting time especially when it comes to making a living at something you love.

Back on the road in April, but for now... it's "creativity" time and "family" time.  See you soon, CM

New TOUR DATES added as of 03/09/11

Chance McKinney n' CrossWire have added additional 2011 Tour Dates to their online schedule (http://www.ChanceMcKinney.com/tour.html).  More Tour Dates are on the way as Summer and Fall scheduling gets finalized for the National artist.  Rumored dates include, Sunny Sweeney, Phil Vassar, Steve Azar, Alan Jackson, Three Dog Night, Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town and Blake Shelton.

Back to Mukilteo... what a "welcome home."

Published on Wed, Feb 9, 2011 by Sara Bruestle

 Local country star Chance McKinney is busy touring the nation  – but that doesn’t mean he’s too busy to return home to Mukilteo.

McKinney and the band CrossWire are scheduled to play an all-ages show at the Rosehill Community Center on Friday, Feb. 11, to benefit Kamiak High School’s senior class.  It will be the first concert at the new venue.

McKinney, a former math teacher at Kamiak, beat out 63 other unsigned country singer-songwriters to win CMT’s Music City Madness contest in 2009.

Since winning CMT’s contest, McKinney has been touring nationwide, performing most of his shows in the Pacific Northwest.

“I love it,” McKinney said of the change from teaching to performing.  “I get to do music for a living.  

“It’s huge, really.  It’s like being a kid and playing all the time.”

When the Kamiak Grad Knight Committee contacted him about returning to Mukilteo for a benefit concert, he was more than willing to do it.  

“We thought this would be a great opportunity for him to come back and see the community again, help the senior class and promote his music,” said Mary Cartwright, chair of the concert.

 “Most of the shows are 21 and over, so it’s a rare all-ages opportunity. Most of the places are either bars or casinos.”

All proceeds from the concert go to Kamiak’s Grad Night, an all-night safe and sober party for Kamiak seniors after they graduate.

This is the second concert McKinney has performed to benefit Kamiak.  The first was held last January.

Ever since the first benefit concert in Mukilteo, Cartwright and her friend Janet Hammond – they met at the concert – have been Chance McKinney fans.  They go to as many shows as they can where they help to manage T-shirt and CD sales for the band.

“I’m proud of them,” she said.  “It’s been very fun to say, ‘Wow, we were there from the beginning.’”

McKinney said the concert at Rosehill represents his continued thanks to the 2,200 students at Kamiak for telling friends and family in at least 28 states and five countries to vote for his original song “Be Real.”

“After all of the opportunities they opened up for me in this last year, the least I can do is come back whenever it makes sense to help out any way I can.”

After the first benefit concert, the band immediately started touring.  They performed on TV and radio and for venues all over Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Utah – reaching the ears of 13 million in their first week.

In between concerts, they flew to Nashville, Tenn., to film a Studio 330 session for www.cmt.com and audition with the Valory Music Co., which signed Reba McEntire.

So far, the band has toured with the likes of Blake Shelton – the CMA male vocalist of the year – as well as Luke Bryan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Pat Green, Jamie O’Neal and more.

With all the touring, McKinney had to resign as a math teacher at Kamiak.  He now has places in Washington, Tennessee and Utah, which alternate as his home whether he’s off or on tour.

“It’s been a little bit hectic,” McKinney said.  “I’ve been on the road quite a bit.”

Valory held onto McKinney’s signing rights until December – the company decided to sign Rascal Flatts instead of him – so now he’s back on the market, looking for a label.  McKinney said they’ve met with several other labels since then.

“There’s a bunch of labels out there,” he said.  “It’s just finding the right fit, I mean, who believes in what you’re doing, and we’ll see what shakes out.”

Since last February, the band has added 62 new and original songs to their repertoire.  They’ll be performing some of the new songs, some covers and some songs from their CD “Be Real” at the Feb. 11 concert.

Cartwright said the support from the Mukilteo community – and especially the Kamiak High School community – was instrumental in McKinney’s success.  The concert is an opportunity to see that success, she said.

“Just to see where he’s gone and where he’s going, and to be a part of that exciting ride,” she said.  “In less than a year, he’s gone from being a math teacher to touring nationwide.”

“We’re all a part of the history of the band.  I know that sounds corny, but it’s just been really neat.  I really think they’re going to go places.”

Advance tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults, and are available now. All tickets are $15 at the door. For tickets or more information, e-mail khs2011seniorparty@hotmail.com.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for concessions and raffles; the concert starts at 7 p.m.

Check out Chance McKinney at his Web site www.chancemkinney.com or follow him on Twitter @ChanceMcKinney.  Download the songs from his “Be Real” CD before the concert at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/be-real/id354579911.

.38 Special... Montana... Lynyrd Skynyrd!

What's a great way to top off your first summer of touring after winning CMT's Music City Madness and doing shows with Dwight Yoakam, Jamie O'Neal, Grand Funk Railroad, Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan?  How about opening for .38 Special on Tuesday in Monroe, WA at the Evergreen State Fair, then flying to Montana to headline at the Ravalli County Fair the next night and then flying back to WA to meet up with Lynyrd Skynyrd for the final show of the year at the Tulalip Amphitheatre?

That's what Chance McKinney and the CrossWire boys have planned for this upcoming week.  Just your everyday normal routine.  Open for two of the greatest southern rock bands in history AND fly to the Bitterroot Valley where Chance grew up.  Sounds like a plan!

.38 Special Link for Tickets:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/122941/

Ravalli County Fair Link:

http://www.ravallicountyfair.org/schedule_events.htm

Lynyrd Skynyrd Link for Tickets:

SOLD OUT