Aaron Halliday’s popular “Keepin’ It Country” tribute is coming to The Majestic Theatre in Bashaw on Aug. 15.
Country music superstar Alan Jackson is not shy about expressing his mixed views on modern country music.
Although the native of Newman, Georgia, enjoys contemporary music and artists, he feels that many country recording artists drift too far into the pop realm and lose sight of country music’s roots. His “Keepin’ It Country” underscores that opinion perfectly.
Apparently country music fans the world over agree because they’ve bought more than 75 million of his records. An astounding 66 of Jackson’s songs have landed on the Billboard Hot Country chart, 35 making it to No. 1.
His first major hit was 1990s, Here In The Real World, quickly followed by Don’t Rock The Jukebox, Midnight In Montgomery, Chattahoochie, Gone Country, Itty Bitty and many others. But his biggest hit was Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning) which he wrote as a tribute to the victims of 911.
A member of The Grand Ole Opry, he has also been inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame and The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. So far, he has collected two Grammys, 16 Country Music Assocation awards and 17 American Country Music Awards.
Growing up in a musical family in Canada’s Annapolis Valley, Halliday seemed destined to have a career in music and it wasn’t long before he was fronting a band and performing the popular country/rock songs of the day.
His repertoire always included lots of Alan Jackson’s simple, highly entertaining songs, like Chatahoochie and Itty Bitty which also have a humourous side, something Aaron found especially appealing.
Life on the road gave Aaron an opportunity to experience Canada’s many flavours and he eventually gravitated to the beautiful Okanagan valley in B.C., where he and his wife Sharyn live today.
It has been said that we don’t always see what is closest to us and in fact it was friends and fans who realized how much Halliday looks and sounds like Jackson and suggested he create a tribute show.
Now, 25 years later, Halliday’s “Keepin’ It Country” tribute to Jackson is going strong and attracting new fans at every show.
Over the years, Jackson’s influence has given Halliday the confidence to write and record his own songs. His latest album Workin’ On A Tan and the single Light’em Up are currently receiving plenty of airplay and positive notices across Canada.
Tickets are available at 403-358-8575 or 403-588-9958.