Easton Corbin to sing at Sill

By Monica Wood, Fort Sill FMWRJune 21, 2012

Easton Corbin
Easton Corbin will perform at the June 30 Army Concert Tour featuring Alan Jackson on Polo Field. Corbin, a traditional country music artist, said he looks forward to celebrating the Independence Day weekend with community members at the concert. A f... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla.-- When you buy tickets to the Army Concert Tour held on the Fort Sill Polo Field June 30, you'll get more bang for your buck.

In addition to the headliner for the show, award winning country music star Alan Jackson, special guests Gloriana and Easton Corbin will perform. Both opening acts are award winning shows and bring more value to the ticket price.

Gloriana

The concert opens at 7 p.m. with the up and coming trio Gloriana. Gloriana is a relatively new trio with brothers Tom and Mike Gossin and Rachel Reinert, who released their debut album in 2009 and went on to become the best-selling debut country act of 2009.

The group debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 3 on the Top 200 chart. The hit single from that album, "Wild At Heart," became a gold-certified hit single.

The band went on to win the fan-voted-on American Music Award for Breakthrough Artist and the "Nationwide On Your Side" honor at the Country Music Television Awards.

In 2010, Gloriana won the Academy of Country Music's Award for Top New Vocal Group and was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for "Choice Country Group."

The group's second album, "A Thousand Miles Left Behind," is due for release in July. The first single off the album, "Kissed You Good Night," is climbing the country charts, while its accompanying video (starring Megan Park and Tyler Hilton) had its premier on ABC Family in January.

Easton Corbin

After Gloriana, Easton Corbin, the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two consecutive singles -- "A Little More Country Than That," and "Roll With It," will take the stage.

Corbin, a Mercury Nashville recording artist, is being lauded for his traditional country sound, authentic lyrics and mastery of understatement. USA Today said Corbin "is a country music throwback with an easygoing, old-school style."

He said he has ties to the military in a recent telephone interview.

"My dad served a tour of duty in Vietnam but he didn't become a career Soldier," said Corbin, who understands the sacrifices Soldiers and their families make every day. "It's an honor to be able to play for the Soldiers who risk their lives and put everything on the line. They make the ultimate sacrifice for their country so we can have our freedom and do what we want to do every day. For me to be able to play for them is amazing."

Corbin, who received 13 country music award nominations and won three country music trophies in a six-month period, said he is looking forward to celebrating the Independence Day weekend with Lawton Fort Sill.

"It's going to be a great time. I always love a fireworks display."

The accolades have been rolling in for Corbin. Most recently, he received three nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Solo Vocalist as well as Single and Song of the Year for his debut hit, "A Little More Country Than That."

He won 2010 American Country Awards in the three breakthrough artist categories: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Artist and Music Video for "A Little More Country Than That."

He tied with Lady Antebellum to earn the most nominations, garnering seven. In addition, he received nominations for Best New Artist, and Single and Song of the Year for "A Little More Country Than That," at the 2010 Country Music Association Awards.

Billboard named Corbin the Top New Country Artist of 2010 and "Roll With It" the No. 6 Hot Country Song of the Year, while "A Little More Country Than That" was ranked No. 19. His album was also named Country Breakthrough Album of the Year by iTunes Rewind.

The Nashville Scene's 11th annual Country Music Critics' Poll named Corbin the Best New Act of 2010 and included his self-titled album in its Best Albums list at No. 19. "A Little More Country Than That" was ranked No. 11 on its Best Singles list.

"This is a dream come true," he said. "This is something I've wanted all of my life. To be able to do this for a living and have people like it, I couldn't ask for any better.

I am so blessed," he said. "Every day being able to sing for a living is a vacation to me."

My new record is due out Sept. 18, and my current single, "Lovin You is Fun," is Top 25 right now and hopefully it'll keep moving on up the charts, said the singer.

Born and raised in rural Gilchrist County, Fla., Corbin spent much of his time on his grandparent's cattle farm after his parents divorced when he was young.

"I lived a mile from the Suwannee River. I grew up fishing on it and loved to work on the farm. Every weekend, that's where I'd be. I really was a country boy growing up. I'm from Trent, which is a one-light town," he said.

He said the best part of playing country music is his fans.

"They are so loyal and they support you. They make it all worthwhile."

Corbin said he's always loved country music because it is about real life.

"It's always spoken to me. I remember listening to the old country music singers and thinking I would love to be able to do that. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity, and I'm honored to be able to do it."

Corbin said he has loved every minute of his musical career, and it has been an adventure. But, there are some moments that stand out in his memory.

"One of my highlights was the first time I played at the Grand Ol' Opry and my grandparents were able to come see me perform. My grandparents liked to watch the Opry," Corbin recalled. "We'd start Saturday night off with 'Hee Haw' and then 'Opry Backstage' and then 'Opry Live.' I grew up watching it with them so it was really special for me."

Corbin said he has never opened for Jackson but he is a huge fan. "I've met him one time, and I am excited to share that stage with him. I would say my music is right down that same line as Alan Jackson or George Strait, who are traditional country. I love traditional country music. He has been an influence on me as well.

"I would like for the readers to know my music is recorded and sung by me and it's real. I feel if you are real with your music and you're real with what you do that people will appreciate that and it will be real to them and they will relate to it," said Corbin.

Visit www.easton corbin.com or www.umgnashville.com to learn more about the Florida native or to hear his new video "Lovin' You Is Fun."

Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson is one of the most successful and respected singer-songwriters in music. He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who've written more than 20 songs that they've recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the 10 best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica. Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide, topped the country singles charts 35 times, and scored more than 50 Top 10 hits.

He has written or co-written 24 of his 35 No. 1 hit singles. Jackson is a 17-time American Country Music Award winner, a 16-time Country Music Association Award recipient, and a two-time Grammy-winning artist whose songwriting has earned him the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as a 2011 Songwriter/Artist inductee.

Ticket information

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

Getting advance concert tickets just got easier. Tickets can now be purchased at area EZ Go stores, both Adventure Travel locations in Building 4700 on Fort Sill and downtown in the Mall and at Lawton and Duncan Crutcher's Western Wear locations. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.sillmwr.com or by calling 800-999-2987. Advanced ticket price is $30 and tickets will cost $35 at the gate. Children age 6 and under are free.

Michele Flanagan, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation marketing director said advance tickets can be purchased for the $30 price up until the day of show.

"Advance tickets will be available at all the ticket outlets until 2 p.m. on June 30. After 2 p.m. concert-goers will have to get their tickets at the gate," she said.

The concert, at Polo Field, is part of the 2012 Army Concert Tour. The show will end with a spectacular fireworks display.

Flanagan said Jackson's new single, "So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore," is on radio stations now and the video for the song is airing on CMT and Great American Country. You can also view the video at http://vevo.ly/yrfkrc.

The single is from the forthcoming debut album from the joint venture between ACR (Alan's Country Records) and EMI Records Nashville, which was recently released.

For ticket information, call 800-999-2987.