We’ve started a new series that will go through discographies of select artists and we’ve chosen to kick off the series with Billy Yates. Don’t know who Billy Yates is? Well, that’s kind of the point of this new series.
Born in the small town of Doniphan, Missouri, Billy Yates grew-up loving the traditional country music played by his parents at home and eventually made his way to Nashville where he became an in-demand singer and songwriter after co-writing the award-winning George Jones hit “I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair,” in 1992. Jones later went on to record “Choices,” a track from Yates 1998 debut album for the major indie Almo Sounds. Other artists who have recorded Billy Yates’s songs over the years include Daryle Singletary, Chris Young, Gene Watson, Ricochet, John Michael Montgomery, Brady Seals, Ricky Van Shelton, Joe Diffie, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Tracy Lawrence and George Strait among many others.
After the Almo Sounds label folded, Billy Yates signed with Columbia Records Nashville and released a couple singles (“Shadows” and “What Do You Want From Me Now”) before growing tired of the – as his bio puts it – the major label treadmill. Instead of moving to a different major label, Billy started up his M.O.D Record Label (My Own Damn Record Label) in 2001 and it’s been a decade of remarkable, self-made success. In many ways he’s had the “American dream” as he not only has pursued his dream but he succeeded doing it his own way as he’s become one of the biggest country stars in Europe, where he regularly tours. Along the way Billy has released six studio albums on the label with 2006’s Favorites being a compilation of past tunes.
Billy’s Discography:
1998 – Billy Yates
2001 – If I Could Go Back
2003 – Country
2004 – Anywhere But Nashville
2005 – Harmony Man
2006 – Favorites
2008 – That’s Why I Run
2009 – Bills Barber Shop
Over the next few days we’ll feature reviews of each of these albums. Check back to this article to have easy access to the reviews of each of Billy’s albums.
0 Comments