Artists that have drifted away

[Uncle Lumpy]

Jan 15, 2015 22:27:48 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Jan 15, 2015 16:29:50 GMT -5 gardyfan said:

I remember hearing David Kersh had to retire due to vocal issues.

I hear that he quit because he just didn't want to do it anymore. He had a notice saying as such on his website a long time ago.

I went to a free album preview mini-concert when Tim McGraw released his "Set This Circus Down" album & Kersh was in the crowd. I remember thinking how sad it was that he had a couple of big hits a few years earlier and here he was surrounded by country fans & nobody recognized him. I wanted to approach him but Im super paranoid artists I enjoy are gonna be buttholes & I dont wanna mess that up. After he kinda disappeared I kicked myself , wishing I had said hey.

[Kanenrá:ke]

Just my personal opinion but for artists who've done stuff in the last 5 years (2010-2014) I don't think I can consider them as having "drifted away". Sometimes especially for independent artists it takes time to record a new album. 5+ years is when they start to become "drifters" in my mind.

So here's a list of people who I think have left us musically for the time being...
(Alphabetical order)

Anita Cochran - Last album was 'Serenity' in 2009. Last I heard she's playing backup to Terri Clark.

Billy Gilman - last album was 'Billy Gilman' in 2008. He's working on new music so he'll make a comeback of sorts soon.

Blaine Larsen - last album was 'Rockin' You Tonight' in 2006. Yes he tried with a 3rd album, but he's been busy with his religion and has basically retired.

Bobbie Cryner - last album was 'Girl Of Your Dreams' in 1996. This one is obvious that she wasn't making new music of her own, but she was still writing for a few years after her last album but just suddenly stopped. Never found out what happened.

Brian McComas - last album was 'Back Up Again' in 2006. I knew he wouldn't be mainstream again but I figured we'd get some more independent music from him. I think I heard he was still playing in Nashville as recently as last year.

Caitlin & Will - never actually released an album, but had music out in 2009. I thought they both would've appeared somewhere by now but I can't find any new music produced by either of them. 

Carmen Rasmusen - first and only album 'Nothin' Like The Summer' in 2007. I know she wasn't ever big but I thought for a small time independent artist she would've got something else out to the public, her American Idol connection I thought would've carried her a bit further.

Chad Brock - last album was 'III' in 2001. He signed to Broken Bow afterwards and when that failed he basically disappeared.

Chalee Tennison - last album was 'Parading In The Rain' in 2003. Here's one artist I never understood why she never took off, but also don't understand how she got 3 chances at doing so with so little success. Last I heard she's a registered masseuse and runs a spa somewhere in Tennessee (not sure if true).

Clay Davidson - last and first album was 'Unconditional' in 2000. Virgin Nashville closed and he apparently made the move to Capitol Nashville but I never heard another peep about him.

Clint Black - last album (ep) was 'The Long Cool EP' in 2008. He was apparently working on new music but when his label Equity closed it's doors he disappeared with them.

Cole Deggs & The Lonesome - first and last album was 'Cole Deggs & The Lonesome' in 2007. Cole's gotten a few co-writes over the years but he seemed like somebody who would've kept his music career going much stronger.

Cyndi Thomson - Last album (ep) was 'This Time' in 2009. She had already disappeared for 8 years before TT so having her gone again is disappointing to say the least. She's teased a few new songs coming soon but nothing's been released as far as I can tell.

David Kersh - last album was 'If I Never Stop Loving You' in 1998. As discussed above he retired due to either frustrations or medical reasons.

David Lee Murphy - last album was 'Tryin' To Get There' in 2004. Here's a weird one to me, he still writes songs that become hits. He's got one of the most played gold singles in "Dust On The Bottle". His style seems to be popular over the last 10 years. and 'Tryin' To Get There' had a hit on it with "Loco" going Top 5. Yet he's never released anything else, while more than anybody on this list probably having the money to do so. Anybody know why he's not released anything?

Diamond Rio - last album was 'The Reason' in 2009. Yes they went Christian on the last album but it was a successful album for them as far as I'm aware. and yet while remaining together as a group they haven't returned to studio yet?

Dusty Drake -  last album was 'Dusty Drake' in 2003. I know he got a second chance at the big time with Big Machine, but he seemed like somebody who would go the independent route. 

Eric Heatherly - last album was 'The Lower East Side Of Life' in 2005. Such a great talent but I think he probably got tired of the grind. If anybody has more info on where he went after this I'd be appreciative.

Erika Jo - first and only album was 'Erika Jo' in 2005. I know she wasn't a success, but when we talk about artists disappearing she really did a great job at doing so as I can't even find a twitter account like most other artists.

Fisher Stevenson - never released an album while with Big Machine but like Erika Jo seemingly fell off the face of the planet after being dropped.

Houston County - had the single "I Can't Make It Rain" (#49) in 2009 on Stroudavarious Records, then apparently died as I can't find any info past that. 

James Bonamy - last album was 'Roots & Wings' in 1997. He had one big hit and while not what I'd call a runaway success I thought he had more music to come. I still hope one day to hear him singing again but from what I hear he's happy in his choice to walk away.

Jason Sellers - last album was 'A Matter Of Time' in 1999. I know he still writes but much like David Lee Murphy he's making money off of his writing career and I thought we'd have heard new music by now. 

Jedd Hughes - last album (ep) was 'Jedd Hughes' in 2009. Here's another super talented guy who still writes and plays for a lot of others who I wish would release new stuff of his own on the side. A song here or there would be great.

Jeff Carson - last album was 'Real Life' in 2001. He got Curbed is what I heard which is a shame as he showed a lot of promise.
Now is apparently a police officer if I remember right? or was that David Kersh?

Jennifer Hanson - last album was 'Thankful' in 2008. I know she's still getting cuts (Mickey Guyton's new single), and she's another I wish would release an ep here or there for her fans.

Jimmy Wayne - last album was 'Sara Smile' in 2009. He's been doing a lot of charity work over the years but I'd like to hear more music soon. 

Joanna Cotten - last album was 'Joanna Cotten' in 2009. She's a really talented vocalist but never really got a ton of attention. unfortunately I haven't heard of new music in a long while.

John Anderson - last album was 'Bigger Hands' in 2009. He's still recording with other artists but I haven't heard of him working on a new album yet.

John Michael Montgomery - last album was 'Time Flies' in 2008. He had a hit from TF and was reported to be recording with his brother for a project a few years back but nothing ever came of it and I don't hear much if anything from him anymore.

Jon Randall - last album was 'Walking Among The Living' in 2005. He's gotten a lot of writing credits and while he had a lot of record deals, he seemed like another who'd keep releasing on his own.

Joy Lynn White - last album was 'One More Time' in 2005. Never really a big name, but she was critically acclaimed back in the 90's. After her last album I haven't heard another thing about her. 

Julie Reeves - last and first album was 'It's About Time' in 1999. After this the only thing I've heard about her was that she had a baby with Cledus T. Judd...

Katrina Elam - first and last album was 'Katrina Elam' in 2004. Another successful songwriter who seems to have abandoned her singing career.

Keith Anderson - last album was 'C'Mon' in 2008. For a guy who seemed to be doing alright I was surprised he was dropped and then hasn't done much of anything since.

Keith Harling - last album was 'Bring It On' in 1999. He got his first two albums out quickly and on two different labels to boot. Then proceeded to vanish.

Kellie Coffey - last album (ep) was 'Why I'm Alive' in 2009. Kellie did decently after leaving the mainstream and released two albums that got decent amounts of attention but she's seemed to have disappeared now.

Keni Thomas - last album was 'Gunslinger' in 2008. He never had a hit but he seemed like a strong independent artist who'd stick around but I didn't hear anything from him since. 

Kevin Denney - first and last album was 'Kevin Denney' in 2002. I think he's put stuff out afterwards but I can't find it.

Kippi Brannon - first and last album was 'I'd Be With You' in 1997. For somebody who was around since the 80's to keep trying for almost 20 years before releasing her album, she sure disappeared very quickly afterwards.

Lari White - last album was 'My First Affair (soundtrack)' in 2007. She was always a c-lister at best but she had already released two independent albums that I figured we'd hear more from her.

Laura Bryna - first and last album was 'Trying To Be Me' in 2008. When Equity closed she was dropped and I remember reading an interview with her saying she was going to start working on a new album soon. 

Lee Roy Parnell - last album was 'Tell The Truth' in 2006. Another artist who was never big but he had a successful career that I thought would be still going with independent albums.

Lila McCann - last album was 'Complete' in 2001. She tried having a comeback with Broken Bow for a couple of years and when that deal ended she went into hiding.

Linda Davis - last album was 'Young At Heart' in 2007. Her last two albums were Christian projects and her last country album was 'I'm Yours' in 1998. I haven't even heard if she still performs from time to time or not. :(

Mark McGuinn - last album was 'One Man's Crazy' in 2006. In recent years he's written a song for George Jones & Georgette Jones but that's about all I can find.

Mila Mason - last album was 'Stained Glass Window' in 2003. From an interview a few years back she's apparently working in artist development in Nashville. 

Pake McEntire - last album was 'The Other Side Of Me' in 2008. 

[musicbuff78]

Anita is actually with Ty Herndon and has been playing guitar for him and I believe singing background as well.

Julie Reeves did have a pledgemusic page up a month or so ago but I don't know if all of the funds were received.

[McCreerian]

Jan 14, 2015 19:26:08 GMT -5 @cjbhab said:

Jan 14, 2015 19:04:21 GMT -5 @cjbhab said:

And by Toby Keith seems to have quit you mean he keeps hammering out mediocre efforts year after year.

and as for Clay Walker.. he performed "Rock The Radio" on the riverfront in Nashville last June and said it was his new single.. but it has never been released as far as i know.

i'll throw out Tyler Dickerson.

edit sorry for the double post, thought i was editing.

Tyler has moved back to Nashville and is trying to get a record deal again. He has been posting his own music online and even shot a video last year to one of his new songs. I'm actually friends with him on his personal FB page and we've talked a couple times. He's wanting to get back in it but admits the new-traditional route he wants to take is at odds with Bro-Country radio. Hopefully the tide will be changing and help him out a bit on that.



He has 3 of his songs here: www.reverbnation.com/tylerdickerson

[Andy]

John Anderson is my biggest. Not a peep since 2009.

[thy4568]

Ricky Van Shelton: he has been promising to release a new self-composed songs album for the last 10 years, but the record has never materialized. A shame; he has a great voice.

Holly Dunn: last album was a Gospel album in 2003; quit the music business now a full time artist (as in a painter) who sets of shows of her art (paintings).

Dude Mowrey: the guy who have us "Hold on Elroy," "Turn for the Worse," etc... took a turn for the worse by leaving the music industry, put on lots of weight and is a lawyer in Florida.

Danielle Alexander: Mercury Records' artist in the early 90s who gave us a top 10 hit and 2 albums now is a realtor.

Cleve Francis: one of the few African-American artists left Capitol Records after 3 fabulous albums, now is a cardiologist.

But a few came back from "retirement:" Clint Black, KT Oslin, John Conlee.... so never say never. I would love for RVS to come back....