I'm Up and Around after a Week on the Ground!!!!

Well I'm up and around somewhat now, after having surgery last Thursday February 15. I'm finally able to gather up enough steam to be able to write a few posts. For those of you interested, I had what's called an anterior cervical fusion. Basically three discs in my neck were degenerative(combination of years of skiing, mountain biking and lifting heavy speakers at music gigs) and Raleigh neurosurgeon Dennis Bullard had to take the degenerative discs out and put in three bone grafts, along with bone marrow and stem cells from my own hip. After inserting the bone grafts he secured it all with a titanium plate and some screws in my vertabrae. Sounds attractive doesn't it? I mean I never knew as much about the spine as I've learned over the past month with this ordeal. I woke up early in January with numbing pain down my neck and right arm(sort of felt like a stroke) and I thought I must have pulled something. After getting X-rays and an MRI the docs at Carolina Back discovered my spine was in serious trouble. So I consulted with quite a few folks, went to Raleigh Orthopedic and then finally to Triangle Neurosurgery. Needless to say the surgery went well. I can't drive for six weeks while it all heals, but it feels great to have the nerves working again in my right arm. For the record, this was the first time in my 42 years I've ever had any surgery(besides my tonsils and wisdom teeth) I guess I've been lucky, because I never knew how real pain felt. I can safely say I have seen that road and don't wanna go back. From here on out I'll eat more fruits and vegetables, drink tons of water and exercise like crazy.

In order for your spine to stay healthy you need to do all of the above. If you have any pain whatsoever, don't hestitate to see a doctor. It could save your back and your life.

For more details and some good resources online go to www.espine.com, www.spineuniverse.com, www.spine-health.com All of these websites are great resources if you're having back problems. Remember exercise is the best medicine to keeping your back healthy and strong!!! I'm gonna go full tilt once I'm up and running at full speed ahead. Drinking lots of water helps keep your discs hydrated as well.

I'm hoping to get back on the radio within the next week or two. My surgery involved going thru the front of my neck and moving my vocal cords as well as my esophagus so I'm still pretty sore, but my voice is getting stronger every day!!! Pretty soon I'll be as good as new..

Talk to ya soon!

Dallas

Valentines Day is Wednesday and The Kids Need You!!!

Valentine's Day is a time to share with those you love, and in that spirit we are broadcasting LIVE all day at Duke Children's Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. We've love for you to listen and donate what you can from the heart.
I toured the hospital today and can tell you from the heart that our dollars are used for a special purpose. I believe God put us all here for a reason. Sometimes it's hard to see what we as individuals can do to help others but in this case I can say that every dollar you give to Duke Children's Hospital will help out kids across North Carolina(and around the world) Most of their patients are from right here in North Carolina and Virginia. Whether it's a premature baby, cancer, bone marrow transplant, heart trouble or casatrophic illness, Duke can help. I myself saw a seven month old baby hooked up to a machine that costs thousands of dollars. Yet this machine was repumping the baby's blood out of and back into its body completely re-oxygenated, so the baby can live. That takes money. Money won't solve all problems but in this case it helps fund these machines, research and possible cures, not only for kids but for adults as well. Because really when it comes down to it, we're all human. We live, we love, we die. But in that time in between the dashes on your grave you can make a difference by donating. Because the life you save today, might be your own one day. Or your children's lives. I am proud of the state I live in and its people. We are caring, giving and resisiliant and always reach out to help our fellow man. On Valentine's Day make that call 919-684-1015 or toll free 1-866-684-1015. Or donate online at our website: www.999genuinecountry.com
Give what you can, give from the heart....
God will bless you!!
Dallas

Sizing up the Grammies

The 49th Annual Grammy awards are coming up this Sunday night and to many musicians around the world these are the penutlimate awards because they are voted on exclusively by industry folks. Writers, performers, producers etc.....
The acceptance by professional peers is often the highest form of flattery and that's why so many performers covet the Grammy Award.
With that being said, these awards often don't reflect the realities of the marketplace. Because what's popular with the public isn't neccesarily gonna resonant with performers.
That's why, once again some folks who deserve to win won't, and some who don't really merit the award will win. Make sense?
For instance, can you believe George Strait, the undisputed heavyweight king of country music with 53 number one hits, has NEVER won a Grammy. That just doesn't seem real. I couldn't believe that when I found out.
George is up for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and I for one hope he wins this year. He is most deserving.
Bon Jovi has never won a Grammy either and this year could be Jon's first and it's in the country category with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. "Who Says You Can't Go Home" was a HUGE hit and had tons of crossover appeal. I for one love the song and many folks who love country music are fans of Bon Jovi as well. His songs are true grit and heartland all the way.(even though he's from New Jersey)
The Wreckers are up for best vocal duo performance but somehow I get the feeling industry people will vote for the Dixie Chicks in this category.
South Carolina native Josh Turner is also up for a Grammy. What a year it's been for him. Great new album, new baby with his wife and now a Grammy nomination. Josh is the real thing.
Carrie Underwood is a double nominee and a performer on the show as well. She's one of the biggest runaway successes ever!!! If Carrie wins the all-genre "Best New Artist" award Sunday night, it'll be the first time a country act has done that 1996. The winner back then.....teenager LeAnn Rimes.
Carrie will perform with Rascal Flatts with an introduction by Reba McEntire. Carrie is a true American Idol.
And Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood are up for a Grammy as well for best country collaboration. If they win it would be their first win as husband and wife. Now that's romantic!!!
Hats off to Little Big Town who are up for two Grammies and are my pick for best new country group of the past year.(even though they've been around quite a few years....this was their first big breakthru year)
Now my picks and pans............

Best Country Female vocalist....... Winner will be Carrie Underwood. My pick....Carrie Underwood

Best Male Country Vocal.....Winner will be Keith Urban.... My pick...George Strait

Best Country performance by a duo or group.... Winner will be the Dixie Chicks My pick is Little Big Town

Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
Winner will be Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles....my pick Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles

Best Country Instrumental
Winner will be Whiskey before Breakfast Doc Watson with Bryan Sutton My pick..Doc Watson and Brian Sutton

Best Country Song Winner will be Like Red On A Rose Alan Jackson my pick....Jesus Take The Wheel Carrie Underwood

Best Country Album Winner will be the Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way... my pick is The Road To Here, Little Big Town

And finally Carrie Underwood will win the Best New Artist in all genres of music.
Let's see how it goes!!!!
Here's to country music!!!

Bucky Covington Is Everywhere!!!!

Rockingham, North Carolina native Bucky Covington recently signed a record deal with Lyric Street Records(the home to Rascal Flatts, Trent Tomlinson, Sarah Buxton, Josh Gracin, SheDaisy and more) With some help from Sawyer Brown frontman Mark Miller, Bucky is now on his way to superstardom. Mark's son was a Bucky fan during the fifth season of American Idol.
It seems Miller's son Gunner was walking around the Miller household saying, "Bucky this and Bucky that" . Intrigued, Mark tuned into the show and after Bucky was voted off, Miller put in a call to Bucky. The rest as they say is history. With Miller's connections, Bucky was soon on the tantilizing treadmill to Superstardom.
I think Bucky is perfect for country music right now. He's down home, nice as can be, very honest, and is as real as anybody will ever get. Humble is a great description as well.
His debut album is slated to come out about April 17th. The first single is called "Different World" It's a great tune for those of us who grew up with only three channels on the TV and no cell phones.
Check out the poll Country Weekly magazine did the week after season
five of American Idol wrapped up:
89 percent said I'm buying Bucky.
10 percent said I'm picking Pickler
1 percent said I'm all Idoled out


And here's just a sampling of where you'll see, hear and find Bucky Covington in the coming months:
Feb 9 TV Guide Channel "Idol Chat" Feb 12 Country Weekly Who’s New Feb 26 Country Weekly 1pg single story Feb CMT Insider March 9 Grand Ole Opry (not televised) Mar/Apr CMA Close Up new artist profile Mar/Apr CMA Close Up story on country stars who got their start on talent competitions Mar/Apr ACM Tempo new artist profile April 7 GAC Grand Ole Opry April 17 GAC On The Streets April 23 Fox Nashville Tennessee Mornings April 30 CBS Nashville Talk of the Town April GAC Nights April CNN Entertainment April CNN Larry King Live April EXTRA April Country Weekly feature story April American Idol Magazine feature
Whew!!! That my friends is one busy schedule. Here's to another Carolina boy making everybody proud. The future's so bright he's gotta wear shades!!!
Go Bucky!!!