Lansing State Journal (July 12th 2002)

Country acts push forward

Rising stars try to get beyond that first big hit

[edited version]

In the country music world, the first hit is the important one.

That's the one that gets people listening. You'll be able to tell that tonight at the annual Common Ground festival.

Steve Azar will sing "I Don't Have to Be Me Until Monday," a tune that connects with anyone in the work world. "It's the song people can relate to the most," he said by phone. "The reaction from everyone is just great."

Brad Martin will do "Before I Knew Better," a song of youthful errors. "I always do it last in the show," he said. "You can feel a new energy."

Blake Shelton, however, has moved beyond the first-hit stage. "That really takes a lot of pressure off," he said.

When Shelton was in town this winter, opening for Lonestar, he had only one hit, but that one, "Austin," was huge. It was only the second time (after "Achy-Breaky Heart") that a debut single was No. 1 on the country charts for five weeks.

Now, by comparison, he has three hits and a career. The second was "All Over Me"; the third is "Ol' Red," a delightful story-song that's a success for Shelton, despite having been previously recorded by George Jones, Kenny Rogers and Hoyt Axton.

Indeed, it was Axton who first told Shelton - then a teenage house painter - about the song.

"We were in his trailer," Shelton said. "He pulled out his guitar and said, 'Here, kid, listen to this one.' "

Consider it one step on the road that whisks guys to Nashville from small towns everywhere.

Martin is from Greenfield, Ohio. "It's 5,500 people and four spotlights," he said.

Azar is from Greenville - yes, even the names sound alike - in one of the sleepier parts of the South. "My dad had the first private liquor store in Mississippi," he said.

Shelton is from Ada, Okla. That's the spot where Mae Axton - co-writer of "Heartbreak Hotel" and mother of Hoyt Axton, the singer-actor - taught school.

The town invited her back for a tribute and invited its top talent to perform.

That included Shelton, then a high school senior. She said she could help him out when he got to Nashville.

He got there two weeks after graduation. Mae hired him to paint her house; Hoyt invited him to visit his trailer, in the driveway.

"I guess they weren't getting along that well," Shelton said. "Instead of going into the house, he just stayed out there."

On Shelton's 18th birthday, Hoyt gave him a Bowie knife. On other days, he gave him advice and memories and a chance to hear "Ol' Red."

The song tells of a guy who's in a prison for killing his wife and her lover. He's put in charge of the warden's bloodhound, then maneuvers the dog's love life to ease his own escape.

For six years, Shelton wished he had a place to put the song. Then came his Warner Brothers deal; the album was stuffed with lots of new songs, plus "Ol' Red."

Ironically, "Austin" - a love tale centering on answering machines - was the last song to get a spot.

"When I heard it, it was very much a piano tune," Shelton said. "I had to take it home for a few days, to see if it could work as a guitar song."

It could. Shelton had his first hit, which is where Azar and Martin are now.