January 2014 Newsletter
COUNTRY MUSIC CRUISE CONNECTION - JANUARY 2014
Time to Plan Your Week on Board The Country Music Cruise 2014
The Country Music Cruise sets sail this month. We have been putting the finishing touches on our programming and packing our bags for what promises to be just the first sailing of an amazing annual event.
Not only will you hear incredible music from country’s favorite stars in intimate venues throughout the week, but imagine getting up close and personal with country royalty during guitar seminars with the Artists, songwriter workshops, Q&As with Lorianne Crook and the stars, panel discussions, and many more interactive events. There are just a few cabins left on this amazing voyage, but it’s not too late to get on board or invite a friend.
Preview the Fun With The Country Music Cruise Souvenir Program
Our Entertainment Cruise Production Guests have been asking for advanced copies of the souvenir program for years, so we have decided to let the cat out of the bag early this year.
The image at right will take you directly to the souvenir program forThe Country Music Cruise, complete with all of the performances, events and themes. Our Guests will also receive the souvenir program as they board the ship, but we thought we would give you a little extra time to better plan your week. That is good news for those who will be sailing with us on the cruise!
As you can see from the program, Guests on The Country Music Cruise will be treated to more than 18 talented Artists, more than 40 live performances and more than 30 interactive celebrity events. From a very special George Jones Tribute Concert hosted byLorianne Crook with special guest Nancy Jones, to an uplifting gospel hour featuring The Gatlin Brothers, The Roys and more special Guests, there will be countless one-of-a-kind performances throughout the week. Plus panel discussions, meet and greets, even a live television show taping called Backstage Pass.
Special Rates Remain
For those who are still considering sailing with us, don’t delay. There are only a few remaining cabins so please act quickly to be part of the fun. As you can see, it’s going to be an amazing sailing and you don’t want to miss out on being part of the inaugural event. Plus, you can still take advantage of our Florida motor coach program. More information on cabin availability, rates and payment options below.
Fan Favorite Pricing:
The CMC Fan Favorite Pricing, starting at just $1,925 for the Deluxe Inside Cabin, is still in effect for as long as these cabins last. See the details.
Special Offer for Florida Residents:
If you reside in Central or Southern Florida, we will pick you up, take you right to the pier for The Country Music Cruise and take you home when the cruise is over ... for FREE! The Country Music Cruise motor coaches will pick up Guests at four Florida locations: Sarasota, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Daytona and Jupiter. The precise locations will be identified shortly. If you are interested in riding with us, contact the office at 888.852.9987 or email us at reservations@ecpcruises.com.
Country Superstar … Your Chance to be a Star at Sea
Ever wished you could be onstage entertaining an audience full of admiring fans? Now imagine yourself opening the last night’s show on the cruise before our concert on the Mainstage. With our new program, Country Superstar, you may just have that chance. Signups will be held on the first sea day. Remember to pack your background music or instrument because that will not be provided. Participate in the qualifying rounds of the talent show throughout the week. Make it through, and compete in the final round judged by the very Guests you have been sailing with for the week. The WINNER will perform on the last night of the cruise on the Mainstage and perform twice for the 2,000 Guests onboard. Nowhere else in the world do you have the opportunity to perform and open for a show of country music stars and for 2,000 fans of country music.
Get to Know … The Warren Brothers
This year, the Warren Brothers scored their fourth No. 1 hit as songwriters with Tim McGraw’s “Highway Don’t Care,” featuring Keith Urban on guitar and Taylor Swift. But the Warrens’ career started back in Tampa, Fla., where Brett and Brad Warren grew up listening to rock music and playing in a local Christian metal band, St. Warren. They moved to Nashville in 1995 and landed a contract with RCA’s BNA label. Recently, their recording career has taken a backseat to their songwriting.
In advance of their appearance on The Country Music Cruise, Brad Warren sat down to tell us some things about the Warrens’ one-of-a-kind career.
Was going into songwriting a conscious choice or just a natural progression?
It was pretty much a conscious choice. We always loved to write, but then we had hits with a couple of songs for Faith Hill, “The Lucky One” and “Red Umbrella.” It didn’t take long to figure we weren’t just better off financially as songwriters, but we were better at it. We let go of being recording artists a little at a time. Now it’s a real buzz writing songs that help an artist find their voice.
Who, to your mind, are the greatest country songwriters?
We worked some with Harlan Howard (“I Fall to Pieces,” “Heartaches by the Number,” “Busted” and many more) and Guy Clark (“Heartbroke,” “Desperados Waiting for a Train” and many more)—old-school guys who can write something funny, poetic and meaningful. That’s a talent, and to do it for so many years is a real talent. After working at it for a while, you naturally respect anyone who writes more than one No. 1 hit. That’s my definition of a great songwriter because I know how hard it is.
Did you consciously study the great songs to figure out what made them great or just jump in feet first? Do you figure out trends in what’s selling and try to accommodate those trends?
I’ve been writing songs since I was 12. In all that time, I’ve never studied what was selling or tried to figure out coming trends. We just try to write something that pushes a button. Something that makes listeners say, “Hell, yeah.”
You’ve written songs for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and Tim sang on your “Sell a Lot of Beer” record. How did you get acquainted?
Way back when we were recording, we opened for Faith, and then we started playing basketball with Tim during the days on tour. We call ourselves the Kato Kaelin of the McGraw-Hill family!
Do you ever go to the studio when Tim, Faith, Martina, Keith Urban record your songs?
Oh, yeah. Brett often sings “scratch” tracks (guide vocals) for Tim, but yes, we try to be there every time someone records one of our songs. We’ll sing background, too.
Professionally, what has been your biggest moment?
Having a No. 1 song, “Highway Don’t Care,” with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban playing guitar.
Some people might not know you’ve had rock hits as well. Do you write differently for rock or does your publisher just decide to pitch the songs outside country?
Like a lot of country acts and country songwriters these days, we come from rock. Doesn’t every 15-year-old boy want to be a rock star? One of the first cuts we had after we started writing professionally for other artists was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Red, White and Blue” (on their 2003 album “Vicious Cycle”). That was the first song we wrote that we didn’t cut. Later on, we wrote forHinder’s “All American Nightmare” album and we cowrote Joss Stone’s single “Karma,” andNickelback’s “Trying Not to Love You.”
Have you ever done a cruise before?
Yeah, we did a cruise back in 2008, but I’ll be honest with you, we were drinking then and I don’t remember too much about it. But we don’t drink these days, so we’re looking forward to enjoying every moment with the audiences and the other Artists. Maybe we’ll even come off board with a hit!
Is there one thing about the Warren Brothers that our audiences don’t know — that you’d want to tell them?
Yes, and they’ll find out all about it on the cruise!
Congratulations to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton on their Grammy Nomination
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton have received their third joint Grammy nomination for “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” in the category of Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The announcement was made Friday, Dec. 6.
Share the Music With Our Group Leader Program
What could be better than spending a week at sea with some of the biggest names in country music? Enjoying the experience with your friends and family! While getting together with friends and loved ones this holiday season, consider organizing your friends and family into a group as part of our Group Leader Program. Booked Guests are eligible for this special program, which allows you to earn credits and cash against the price of your cabin by building the number of booked passengers in your group. Learn more about the program.