Opry North

Opry North

Name: Alan Eugene Jackson

Age: 42

Birth date: October 17, 1958

Birth place: Newnan, Georgia, USA

Home town: Newnan, Georgia

Resides in: Brentwood, Tennessee, USA

Pets: Three horses, one donkey, dog Buddy and cat Jasper.

Group name: The Strayhorns

Instruments played: Guitar

Started performing at age: 17

Most memorable performance: N/A

What do you do to relax: Fishing, water skiing, boating (anything on a lake), flying small planes, collecting classic cars and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, spending time with the family.

Finished CD's: 10

CD's for sale: - "Here In The Real World" - released 1990

                           "Don't Rock The Jukebox" - released 1991

                           "A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love)" - released 1992

                           "Honky Tonk Christmas" - released 1993

                           "Who I Am" - released 1994

                           "The Greatest Hits Collection" - released 1995

                           "Everything I Love" - released 1996

                           "High Mileage" - released 1998

                           "Under The Influence" - released 1999

                           "When Somebody Loves You" - released 2000

Management: Chip Peay Entertainment

1101 17th Avenue South

Nashville, TN 37212

PH: (615) 321-0111

FAX: (615) 321-2112

Record Label: Arista Nashville

Website: http://www.alanjackson.com

Alan Eugene Jackson grew up in Georgia as the only son of Eugene and Mattie Ruth (who's maiden name, coincidentally, was Musick). With four older sisters, two of whom are twins, I'm sure Alan had his share of getting to hear the 'female' point of view from a very early age. And with the wife and three daughters that he has now, I'm sure it continues to this day. Alan's family has been the basis for many of his ideas when he's been writing songs and the life of the 'common folk' has played a large role in his music too, for which we may all be grateful. Songs like "Living On Love", inspired by his parents (sadly, dad Eugene passed away last year) or "The Little Man" may be attributed to the way life used to be, and for many, still is. Alan has evolved into the major force he is on the side of traditional country music largely as a result of the way he is, which is the way he always was. He's the guy who loves to work on cars, who is still shy, who paid the ultimate compliment to his girl by giving her a bumper for her car when she had a minor fender bender. Now, if that didn't say 'love' to anyone else it sure did to Denise, who puts up with that car fixation still.

Alan and Denise started their relationship in a scene that could be from Mayberry. The Dairy Queen in Newnan, Georgia after church one Sunday evening found them sitting together. According to Denise it was the combination of his car and his hair that set her off. When Alan was 21, he married his girl and embarked on a series of jobs that ranged from furniture salesman to homebuilder. And then, there was music. When Alan was a teenager his parents presented him with a $50.00 guitar and he soon learned how to play well enough to start sitting in with different fellows. He also began to write his own songs, something he proved to be pretty good at. He'd work during the day and head out the odd night to play at a club with some other guys while Denise went to school and became a flight attendant. In 1985 Denise ran into Glen Campbell while at work and mentioned to him that her husband was a songwriter, so Glen gave her a business card and suggested Alan call. That call resulted in Alan and Denise packing up and moving to Nashville, where Alan began to make the rounds of the publishing companies with his songs, before being hired on as a songwriter at one of them. From there, it was a short hop to the realization that this songwriter sang as well as he wrote, and Alan got a record deal.

Lest you get the impression that his rise to the top was completed at tornado speeds, I must tell you it wasn't really. Alan's love of music evolved over the years and the thought of actually doing it for a living took some time. He was 20 before he attended his first concert, for example, and that laconic speed for which he's known has been with him his whole life and you know how fast he moves. He's also a self confessed procrastinator, always feeling like it's okay to put off that which you could do today, but why not just do it tomorrow? Well, fast or slow doesn't matter to me - what does matter is that he got there eventually and I think he's fantastic. And, to judge from the sell out shows, so do thousands upon thousands of other people. And we can't all be wrong!

Alan Jackson has been the recipient of many awards since he became the country music hero in the white hat who burst out into the 90's. He's become the idol of hundreds of thousands of fans, although he has always remained true to his convictions and has begun to take on a 'renegade' type of stance on many things. He has been accepted by the open arms of the Grand Ole Opry, becoming a member in 1991 (relatively early in his career compared to some, who waited 20 years or more to be invited). And he has stood out, white hat above the crowd, acting as a beacon to the traditionalist newcomers who may have been put off by the 'flashier' aspects of some of the new country sensations. I have always felt that Alan Jackson has made it possible for those like Brad Paisley, Darryl Singletary and others to know that they're still in the running too. Alan has put his feelings into his songs, like it or not, with the duet "Murder On Music Row" with fellow traditionalist George Strait and "Three Minute Positive Not Too Country Up-Tempo Love Song", a pokin' fun look at the 'requirements' set out by others. He's bucked the system and done what he's felt is right, as witnessed by thousands at the 1999 CMA awards when he abruptly switched into the George Jones tune "Choices" in mid-stream, then turned and left the stage instead of doing what had been choreographed for him, leaving no doubt as to his opinion of the treatment George had received from the show organizers. Country music couldn't have chosen a better defender to wear the white hat than the man who looks like it was made for him - Alan Jackson.

With the advent of traditionalist re-popularity brought on by Randy Travis in the late 80's Alan felt like there might be a spot for him in the ranks after all (so thank Heaven for Randy Travis). The Grand Ole Opry must have felt like there was hope for the future too, admitting Randy into the Opry in 1986, the same year he released his first album. Now that's making sure that one didn't get away. Five years later they did it again, grabbing Alan within one year of the first album and making him a member on June 7, 1991. And the membership is something that Alan doesn't take lightly, making sure even after all these years that he does his share of shows on the Opry stage. Mind you, sometimes they don't get a lot of notice before these appearances. They've said, "He'll call, and ask if there's room in the show for him and we always say yes, even though it might be a tight fit. But we'd never say no to Alan if he wants to come down." Usually he's calling from his plane, and he's been flying in from somewhere else and realizes that he'll make it after all if they'd have the room. Alan had remarked on the George Jones hit "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" by saying "I don't know whether I can fill 'em, but I'd sure like to try 'em on." Looks like a perfect fit to me!

While he is a traditionalist, without a doubt, Alan Jackson is proving that moving into the 21st century is something that country can do too by embracing the new technology available; namely the Internet. Alan has established his website (and you'll find the address on your ticket, right under his name) and has engaged in his first online chat with fans. He's even immortalized the new media in his song "www.memory", although he has admitted that it was more from exasperation at 'everything coming with a dot com these days'. So while the country in Alan's music won't change, how Alan promotes his music will and I for one am all for it. So much for the nay say-ers who had declared there'd be no place for country music in the future. Alan is proving that changing with the times won't mean the end of country and he's making it look as effortless as it should be (and is). How prophetic that he should look that good in a white hat. Country music couldn't be in better hands.

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