About the Show
Music City Roots
A weekly concert and live radio show presented from The Loveless Cafe Barn in Nashville, TN.
As we kick off a very different year and a new chapter for MCR, we have a new show coming to you featuring Maybe April (country/roots female trio), Mike Younger (Nashville songwriter), Hannah Aldridge (Muscle Shoals native, Nashville-based dark roots rocker), and Billy Burnette (Memphis native, rock and roll hero and great songwriter).
Maybe April is a Country Americana trio made up of Kristen Castro, Katy DuBois (Bishop), and Alaina Stacey. Hailing from Simi Valley, CA, Jonesboro, AR, and Chicago, IL, the three met in the summer of 2012 at a music industry camp in Nashville, TN and wrote a song that would later take them to Los Angeles to play at a GRAMMY week event, along with Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Allen Shamblin, Gavin DeGraw, J.D. Souther, Joy Williams from the Civil Wars, and many others. Since then, amongst hundreds of shows, the girls have opened for Brandy Clark and Sarah Jarosz, and have played Pilgrimage Music Festival and IBMA’s Wide Open Bluegrass Festival. Maybe April is recognized for their three-part harmonies, strength as instrumentalists, original songs, and shared roles as frontwomen, each adding something different from their musical backgrounds to create a unique sound. Just like their harmonies, Alaina, Katy, and Kristen are a perfect fit. Their love for each other and their music continues to push them in their endeavors in Nashville, where they have been based since 2013.
Singer/songwriter Mike Younger was a homeless street musician when an appearance on a New Orleans radio station brought him to the attention of Rodney Crowell. With the country star’s aid, Younger was quickly signed to Beyond Music, and in the fall of 1999 he issued his debut album Somethin’ in the Air.
There are few artists that can truly encapsulate the essence and true range of Americana like Muscle Shoals artist Hannah Aldridge, whose musical pedigree precedes her and speaks for itself.
Hannah Aldridge is the daughter of Alabama Music Hall of Famer Walt Aldridge, who is one of the most prolific songwriters of the modern musical era. Twice named by Billboard magazine as one of the Top Country Songwriters of the year, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, and countless Number One and Top Ten hits recorded by the likes of Lou Reed, Reba McEntire, Travis Tritt, Earl Thomas Conley, Ricky Van Shelton, Ronnie Milsap, and Conway Twitty.
With sounds ranging from blues in the Mississippi Delta to the dusty, dixieland jazz sounds from New Orleans, the musical stylings of Muscle Shoals on up to the primitive roots of American Country music, Hannah Aldridge leaves no inspiration or influence untapped.
Billy Burnette is the epitome of a rock star – he exudes talent, good looks, and the rock star aura wherever he goes and understandably so, given his journey as a musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist.
Born in Memphis, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Dorsey William Burnette III (aka Billy Burnette) spent most of his youth in the presence of father Dorsey and uncle Johnny (of the legendary Rock and Roll Trio). The Trio made the Rockabilly name famous by combining the name Billy and his cousin Rocky for the 1953 “Rockabilly Boogie” – thus making the term Rockabilly a household name.
It’s not surprising given his upbringing that Billy’s list of accomplishments in the music arena is both impressive and diverse. Billy has amassed four decades of experience recording music, writing songs, and performing since embarking upon his career at age 7.
His first single, a Christmas song, “Hey Daddy” was recorded on Dot Records. When he was only 11, Billy recorded several songs for A&M Records, including one from Dr. Seuss titled “Just Because We’re Kids,” which Herb Albert produced and played trumpet on. By 13, the young Burnette was entertaining the troops with Brenda Lee in the Far East.
In the last few years, Billy Burnette contributed his talents as a guitar player and singer on tours with legendary musicians Bob Dylan and John Fogerty. Additionally, Burnette has also collaborated regularly with the Mick Fleetwood Band.
And so, that brings Billy Burnette’s incredible musical journey up to the present. Where to from here? Billy continues to write, record and perform. He has a number of projects in the works including a new solo album. Despite over 40 years of making and sharing his songs with the world, Burnette’s musical journey is far from over.
