Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:13:03 -0600 http://www.philvassar.com/main/ Phil Vassar News en-us http://www.philvassar.com/main/images/logo.gif http://www.philvassar.com/main/ mrmx@mrmx.net http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article140.html America’s most recognizable name in economy lodging hosts a meet and greet with Country Music star, Phil Vassar at the Red Roof in Nashville Red Roof Brand Ambassadors and Country Music sensation, Phil Vassar will hold a meet and greet on Monday, November 24th at 1pm as part Red Roof’s branded entertainment campaign. The meet and greet will take place at the Red Roof located at 510 Claridge Drive in Nashville. Leveraging its guest’s love for Country Music and the growing power of the industry, Red Roof, America’s leader in economy lodging, launched a branded entertainment, multi-media Red Roof Loves Country Road Trips campaign targeted at Country Music fans and followers. This campaign is held in conjunction with Great American Country (GAC) TV, and will feature Red Roof and Country Music artists in 30 second short film promos on the network as well as in 3-minute short films featuring songs from each artist on Red Roof’s dedicated interactive website, redrooflovescountry.com. The spots are produced by Rink Entertainment, a pioneering Branded Entertainment and Television production company. “Red Roof knows its guests,” says Red Roof CEO, Joe Wheeling. “They love Country Music, they love football; they are patriotic and hard working. Red Roof Loves Country is our way of giving back to our customers, connecting them to the music and artists they love.” Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:13:03 -0600 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article139.html Hey all! Just wanted to let everyone know we've discounted ALL apparel in the Phil Vassar Online Store just in time for that early Christmas shopping. Get an extra $5, $10, or even $15 off select merchandise. Make sure to get your order in by December 10th to guarantee delivery by Christmas (that holiday rush can be a nightmare at the good old Post Office!). Click here to head to the store and get your Christmas discounts today - make sure to check out the newly added items at the bottom of the page!!!. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:39:28 -0600 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article138.html Phil Vassar will perform Tuesday night at the Coastal Carolina Fair. He's written hits for some of country music's hottest artists, but those who don't consider themselves die-hard fans of country music might not immediately recognize the name Phil Vassar. Now, in the midst of a tour to promote his new album, "Prayer of a Common Man," Vassar is in the spotlight as he brings his signature down-home style of music to the Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson on Tuesday night. "I love Charleston," he said in a phone interview Monday. "I have a lot of friends who are gonna be [at the show]." Winner of multiple songwriter of the year and writer/artist of the year awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Vassar made a name for himself by penning hit songs like "Bye Bye," "Right on the Money," "For a Little While" and "Little Red Rodeo" for artists Jo Dee Messina, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Collin Raye, respectively. Vassar says he began writing music in high school. "I actually wrote a song for my high school graduation," he said. "That was my first real song." Vassar didn't stay behind the scenes for long, though, releasing four albums under Arista Records between 2000 and 2006. He gained immediate recognition with upbeat, light-hearted hits like "Carlene," "Just Another Day In Paradise," and "Six-Pack Summer," and his piano-driven melodies soon found their place in the guitar-dominated country genre, earning him the title of country music's "Piano Man." Since the release of his last album of new material in 2004 (he has since released a greatest hits album), Vassar said he's been doing "a lot of shows, a lot of writing songs, just trying to do it all." An involved father of two daughters, he served as a celebrity judge on the reality show "Nashville Star" for a couple of seasons but eventually left the show. "It was taking too much time away from the girls," he said. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:37:24 -0600 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article137.html from cmt.comPhil Vassar has been named official spokesperson of the inaugural Hunger Action Month, a campaign sponsored by Feeding America. The agency, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization, was formerly known as America's Second Harvest. Vassar and members of the Fisk Jubilee Singers re-recorded the title song of his latest album, Prayer of a Common Man, to help raise awareness about hunger in America. The download will be available Tuesday (Sept. 9) on Rhapsody. Feeding America will receive a portion of the proceeds for each download of the song through the end of the year. CMT serves as the official media partner for Hunger Action Month. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:51:40 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article136.html from gacTV.com With the election less than two weeks away, it’s tough to avoid the swamp of news about the campaigns of John McCain and Barack Obama, and plenty of musicians have gotten sucked into the fray. One who has not is Phil Vassar. Phil says he prefers candidates who "tell the truth and not just say stuff to get themselves elected," but he refuses to endorse any individuals. "As far as campaigns go, I never really wanna get involved in that," he told Dial-Global. "I just think it's silly. I think a lot of celebrities do it just because they think it's cool and everybody thinks it's hip to be supporting this candidate or that candidate. And I just think in the end they just look like idiots, I really do. I'm really disappointed ... when I see some of my heroes, they back a candidate or something. I say, 'You know what? That's great. Just make good music.'" Among the artists who’ve gotten out on the stump in favor of McCain are Gretchen Wilson, who’s performing at a Wednesday rally in Cincinnati; and the Bellamy Brothers, who make their second appearance for the ticket Thursday in Beaver Falls, Pa. Hank Williams Jr. and Lee Greenwood have also played at campaign events for the Republican ticket. The Democrats have had their supporters in Music City, too. This week’s club circuit boasted a three-night series of shows called Obamarama, with Hal Ketchum, Michael Johnson and a number of songwriters, including Jon Vezner ("Where’ve You Been"), Larry Weiss ("Rhinestone Cowboy"), Danny Flowers ("Tulsa Time") and Angela Kaset ("Something In Red"). Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:45:24 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article135.html Contemporary country singer Phil Vassar made his name as a chart-topping songwriter before landing a record deal and becoming a hit making artist in his own right. Phil Vassar performed LIVE in front of a packed KASE 101 Sprint Live Music Lounge! Watch him perform hits including "Another Day in Paradise", "Love Is a Beautiful Thing", and "Carlene". Don't miss his cover of Lionel Ritchie's "Easy Like Sunday Morning"! Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:18:57 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article134.html Just wanted to let everyone know that pre-sale tickets are on sale for Charlie Daniels' "Christmas For Kids" show; pre-sale tickets are available for Phil Vassar Phan Club Members at the Christmas For Kids website right here. The concert is November 24 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, and benefits the Christmas For Kids, Inc. charity. Grab your tickets before they go on sale to general public! Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:01:37 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article133.html from newsadvance.comPhil Vassar is a country music superstar. He’s sold millions of albums, released a slew of hit singles and has been named ASCAP’s songwriter of the year multiple times. But we, of course, know him best as one of Lynchburg’s hometown heroes. He’ll be back in town next month for a special performance at E.C. Glass High School. Vassar decided it was time for another concert here when he was in the Hill City last spring, shooting footage for a “Great American Country” special. “I love coming home,” he said recently. “When we were filming down by the river, it hit me that I haven’t played in Lynchburg in a really long time. I wanted to come back and do that. I want to come home and play for all my friends.” Vassar and his band will take the stage at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at E.C. Glass and will perform songs from his current album, “Prayer of a Common Man,” as well as some of his greatest hits, like “Just Another Day in Paradise,” “Carlene” and “In A Real Love.” The Brookville High School grad moved to Nashville in 1987 and made a living playing piano in local clubs while he wrote his own original music. Those tunes would soon wow Nashville, as Vassar penned hits for Tim McGraw (“For a Little While”), Jo Dee Messina (“Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright”) and Alan Jackson (“Right On the Money”). “Prayer of a Common Man” is Vassar’s fourth studio album, and its lead single, “Love Is a Beautiful Thing,” was a chart topper that’s particularly close to Vassar’s heart. “It reminds me of growing up back home in Virginia,” he says on his Web site. “It really paints a portrait of Americana. Every time I hear that second verse about giving away your daughter at her wedding, it makes me tear up. In a way, the song reminds me of every family reunion or get-together we had in my family.” All seats for his upcoming show are reserved and range in price from $25 to $30. “It was important to me to keep the ticket prices low so everyone could afford to come out,” Vassar says. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at or by phone at (434) 846-8100. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:53:03 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article132.html Click here to check out the Gospel Video Awards website, where you can vote for Phil's video "Love Is A Beautiful Thing" - up for Gospel-Country Video Of The Year! Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:33:32 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article131.html from inRich.com Phil Vassar and Kellie Pickler have navigated distinctly different routes to their current membership in the exclusive club of Nashville artists who enjoy heavy rotation in mainstream country radio airwaves. Lynchburg native Vassar did it the old fashioned way. After completing his studies at James Madison University, he relocated to Nashville, wrote songs for others by day, and played clubs by night while mastering the art of feel-good, more-pop-than-country radio fare. Vassar's publicity machine occasionally describes its boy as "Country Music's Piano Man." Not sure if he's earned Billy Joel status, but the piano is certainly the key element in Vassar's formula for success. Surrounded by his five-man band, Vassar stood in front of his piano at center stage and opened his set by pounding out "I'm Alright" and the lightweight but irresistible "Carlene." Vassar doesn't try to impress listeners with the depth of his thoughts or complexity of his lyrics, which, with few exceptions, cover the topics of God, country and/or family. Thought the cynic might characterize "Six-Pack Summer," "In A Real Love" and "Last Day of My Life" as cotton-candy light, Vassar's vocals and keyboard work turn otherwise ordinary songs into pop music that's worth a three-minute investment of time. Like Pickler, Vassar had some new product to share from his recently released "Prayer of a Common Man." Fans of his early work will be relieved to know that while "Baby Rocks" has some fiddle-produced edge not heard before, the familiar feel of tunes like "I Would" and "Love is a Beautiful Thing" are evidence that Vassar is finding no reason to fix the unbroken hit-making strategy that is serving him so well. Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:17:42 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article130.html from richmond.com Country recording star Phil Vassar can’t wait until he’s back on Virginia soil. The Lynchburg-native will be performing at the State Fair of Virginia on Sept. 25. This isn’t the first time Vassar has appeared at the State Fair. He opened the fair in 2003. “Coming back to the State Fair of Virginia is a big deal for me,” Vassar said during an interview from Flint, Michigan. “I want to concentrate on coming back home to perform. I miss my family and friends. You think of those things as you grow up.” Vassar, who moved to Nashville in 1987, was named Top New Male Vocalist at the 2002 Academy of Country Music Awards and has won ASCAP awards for writing and performing several times. His current album “Prayer of a Common Man” is his first studio album in four years and his fist venture with Universal South Records. His last single from the album, “Love is a Beautiful Thing,” was a chart topper. Vassar is often referred as “country’s leading piano man.” That may be part of the reason he ventured out on an acoustic tour earlier this year. “It was just me and a piano,” he said. “It was one of the coolest things I’ve done in a long time.” During the tour, Vassar played to smaller venues that seat up to 3,000 people. “I started with a list of songs but then I started asking people what they wanted to hear,” he said. “It was fun. I wanted to try this and it worked. Every show sold out.” Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:26:58 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article129.html Guess who will give you a wake-up call next time you stay at a Red Roof Inn. Phil Vassar. Or Little Big Town. It’s your choice, according to a story in The New York Times. It’s part of a new campaign that’s capitalizing on the love RRI customers have for country music. I’m not sure which songs would be the best ones to wake up to. Maybe “Just Another Day in Paradise” or “Boondocks.” It’s too bad they aren’t using Steve Holy, too, because I can’t think of a better song to start my day than “Good Morning, Beautiful.” Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:25:58 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article128.html Just wanted to let everyone know that pre-sale tickets go on sale TODAY for Charlie Daniels' "Christmas For Kids" show; pre-sale tickets are available for Phil Vassar Phan Club Members at the Christmas For Kids website right here. The concert is November 24 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, and benefits the Christmas For Kids, Inc. charity. See you there! Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article127.html Phil has donated a bunch of items to CMTAuctions.com to benefit the "Feeding America" Charity (the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization). Click here to check out all the cool stuff and place your bid! Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:56:52 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article126.html What does it look like to be a bird at a Phil Vassar show? We thought this picture taken at the House of Blues in Los Angeles would give everyone a good idea...enjoy! Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:02:19 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article125.html More than 100 Communities Nationwide Join Forces to Bring Greater Awareness of Hunger in America Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization (formerly known as America’s Second Harvest), commemorates the inaugural Hunger Action Month, a nationwide call-to-action effort to mobilize the public, bring greater attention to the issue of hunger in America, and promote ways for individuals everywhere to get involved with the movement to end hunger in America. Cable network CMT serves as the official media partner for Hunger Action Month and Universal Records South recording artist Phil Vassar has teamed with Feeding America to serve as the official spokesperson of the campaign. Vassar has re-recorded the song “Prayer of a Common Man,” from his latest album of the same name, to help raise awareness about the about the state of hunger in America. “I have seen the devastating effects that hunger can have on a person and on a family,” said Vassar, who recorded the updated version of “Prayer” with members from the Fisk University Jubilee Singers. “By partnering with Feeding America, it’s my hope that I can help draw more people to the cause and shed more light on hunger relief opportunities.” The song will be available for download exclusively on Rhapsody on Tuesday, September 9. Feeding America will receive a portion of the proceeds for each download of the song through the end of the year. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:53:58 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article124.html Just wanted to let everyone know - we're giving away lots of signed Phil loot every month - just in time for the holidays! We've got a pile of stuff to give away - and all you have to do to qualify is make ANY purchase in the store! Buy a Phan Club membership, grab a t-shirt, or even get one of the new SIGNED Phil CD's! There's also a few new items to check out...so don't miss it! Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:27:22 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article123.html from CMT NewsPhil Vassar has been named official spokesperson of the inaugural Hunger Action Month, a campaign sponsored by Feeding America. The agency, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization, was formerly known as America's Second Harvest. Vassar and members of the Fisk Jubilee Singers re-recorded the title song of his latest album, Prayer of a Common Man, to help raise awareness about hunger in America. The download will be available Tuesday (Sept. 9) on Rhapsody. Feeding America will receive a portion of the proceeds for each download of the song through the end of the year. CMT serves as the official media partner for Hunger Action Month. Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:36:58 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article122.html Vassar's "Prayer of a Common Man" Re-recorded To Highlight Issue of Hunger in America Universal Records South recording artist Phil Vassar has teamed up with Feeding America (formerly named America's Second Harvest), the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, to help bring greater awareness to the issue of hunger in America during September's Hunger Action Month. Vassar's re-recorded with the Fisk University Jubilee Singers "Prayer of a Common Man," a song on his latest album of the same name, to help raise funds for the Feeding America network. The song will be available for download exclusively on Rhapsody beginning on Tuesday, September 9. Feeding America will receive a portion of the proceeds for each download of the song through the end of the year. "I know that hunger in America is an issue that affects every community," said Vassar. "By lending my voice to Feeding America's Hunger Action Month campaign, it's my hope that we can get millions of Americans involved in the fight to end hunger." The Feeding America network includes more than 200 food banks around the country that provide services to more than 63,000 agencies who, in turn, help feed 25 million Americans each year. "We are incredibly thankful that Phil Vassar has joined the ranks of our hunger relief ambassadors," said Vicki Escarra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Feeding America. "Phil's voice is sure to help us draw more people to hunger relief activities. Whether it's volunteering, dropping off food or making a financial donation, every person's contributions can make a difference." In 2002, Feeding America launched Hunger Awareness Day in an effort to spur national hunger awareness. For 2008, the commemoration was modified to Hunger Action Month to allow for greater participation in the campaign, bring greater attention to the issue of hunger in America and promote ways for individuals anywhere to get involved with the movement. Cable network CMT serves as Hunger Action Month's official media partner for the second straight year. To find out more information on Hunger Action Month and how to get involved, visit www.feedingamerica.org About Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network) Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:49:31 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article121.html from The Marion Star Country singer Phil Vassar, who will play at The Marion Popcorn Festival Friday, said the performance will be a fun one. "I can guarantee that," he said. "We don't dillydally around." Vassar, who just finished touring for a bit out west, is headed to Ohio to perform songs off of his newest album, "Prayer of a Common Man," as well as his hits, including "Just Another Day in Paradise" and "Six-Pack Summer." Festival-goers should expect a little bit of everything. "It's a ruckusy show," he said. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article120.html Vassar performs Saturday at the Cuyahoga Jam at the county’s fairgrounds. When looking for a reason why it took country singer Phil Vassar nearly four years to release the follow-up to his 2004 album “Shaken Not Stirred,” the Lynchburg, Va., native admits life simply got in the way of his music. While a label change is the easy answer, the 44-year-old artist acknowledges a tough personal period that ended up in a divorce was a huge reason. However, Vassar is back with new album “Prayer of a Common Man,” which includes hit singles “This Is My Life” and “Love Is a Beautiful Thing.” Considering Vassar was already known for crafting everyman tales, such as No. 1 hits “Just Another Day in Paradise” and “In a Real Love,” you better believe this country singer found a wealth of material in his own life. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article119.html Download Phil Vassar's new version of his song "Prayer for a Common Man," rewritten for Hunger Action Month. Vassar is the official spokesperson for Hunger Action Month. The song will be available Sept. 9 at www.rhapsody.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Feeding America. You can also call your favorite country station and ask them to play the song. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:57:55 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article118.html from the Arizona Star An older man going through the pain of a divorce poured out his regrets to country songwriter-singer Phil Vassar one night in Las Vegas. It was last December, and Vassar, newly divorced himself, was contemplating his first Christmas as a single man. As his new friend rattled on about what he would do differently to turn time back to the happy beginnings of the marriage, Vassar's songwriting inclinations kicked in. "I went up to my room and I had a piano up there and it kept sticking in my head: 'I would do this' and 'I would do that.' So I just wrote the song down," Vassar recalled in a phone interview last week to talk about his concert tonight at Desert Diamond Casino. "And I didn't have a tape recorder so I just called my house and left it on my answering machine from Vegas. "When I got home I was checking all my messages, scrolling through. Of course I had the Orkin man and the 50 million other ones. And then I came across this song. 'Oh yeah, I forgot about that.'" That nearly forgotten song, "I Would," is the third and latest single off his months-old album, "Prayer of a Common Man." The album is his fifth in a career that started back in the mid-1990s when he was a Nashville songwriter and restaurateur. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:28:30 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article117.html Phil's good friend Granger Smith publishes a weekly pseudo-diary of his exploits on the Texas Country Music Circuit. This week, he "pitches Phil Vassar A Song" he wrote...and we thought it was hilarious. Enjoy! Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.philvassar.com/main/Article116.html from myrtlebeachonline.com Phil Vassar said he has been singing all his life, but he'll diverge when listing his occupation. "I am so proud to be a songwriter," he said Tuesday by phone from Nashville, Tenn. "When everybody asks me what I do, I'll write down songwriter." Vassar, whose next concert is Saturday at House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, said whenever he hears one of his numbers on the radio for the first time, he treats it as a miracle. "There's just so many songs," the pianist said, "and so few slots. To have a single is amazing." Vassar's music has been a staple on country radio for more than a decade. Before landing his own hits such as "Just Another Day in Paradise," "American Child," "In a Real Love" and "Last Day of My Life," he climbed the charts with his pen. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:00:00 -0500