Country music’s Sammy Kershaw is honoring his late friend and mentor George Jones with the release of a new album dedicated entirely to the “Possum.” Kershaw will release Do You Know Me? – A Tribute To George Jones on July 22, 2014. Throughout his career, the Country music industry and critics have consistently compared Kershaw’s vocal style to that of the legendary George Jones. Kershaw proudly embraces those similarities and holds his memories and peronal friendship with Jones very close to his heart.
“When I was four or five years old, I can remember hearing George Jones sing and even though I hadn’t yet lived any of those heartbreaking songs, I could hear that natural tear in his voice and it would make me cry,” says Kershaw. “I felt every word in every story that he was singing. I can remember that when I was that little kid, I felt like I already knew him.”
A decade later, Kershaw’s boyhood dream would come true when he met Jones in-person. Kershaw recounts, “When I was 14 years old I had the honor of meeting Jones for the first time and was able to open several shows for him, which for me was the opportunity of a lifetime. Sometimes things in life are hard to explain but like I said, I always felt like I knew George Jones before I ever met him.”
Kershaw tackles some of Jones’ biggest career songs on the 14-track album. The tribute includes Kershaw’s renditions of “White Lightning,” “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” “The Grand Tour,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “The Race Is On,” among others. Two all new songs, inspired by Jones, are also included and Kershaw has tapped the “Possum’s” daughter Georgette Jones for the classic duet, “Near You.”
“When it comes to doing a George Jones and Tammy Wynette duet there was no way that I couldn’t ask Georgette Jones to do her mother’s part,” notes Kershaw. “I knew I wanted her on the album and when I asked her she said yes right away and that sure made me happy. I am so honored to have her on this project.” On Kershaw and the upcoming tribute album, Georgette Jones remarks, “Sammy has always been one of my favorites and he’s also the closest voice I know to my Dad’s. I’m so thrilled he’s done this tribute and it was a huge honor to record this duet with him. He had a special bond with my Dad and I know he’d be so proud.”
Kershaw adds, “George Jones was and still is the King of Country Soul music and there is no other and there never will be another. I had to do this tribute album to Jones because I believe that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have ever discovered the talent that God gave me.”
Do You Know Me? – A Tribute To George Jones is produced by Kershaw and will be released through his label, Big Hit Records. The album will be available in stores as well as digitally through i-Tunes and Amazon. Digital pre-sales are available starting June 23, 2014.
About Sammy Kershaw
Often referred to as the heir apparent to the legendary George Jones, GRAMMY®-nominated Sammy Kershaw’s hit songs include “Cadillac Style,” “Queen Of My Double Wide Trailer,” “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday” and “Love Of My Life.” Kershaw is a multi-platinum selling artist whose history includes six Gold and five Platinum albums that have sold millions of records.
For additional information on Sammy Kershaw, visit www.sammykershaw.com.