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* PREVIEW: Jimmy Wayne, Randy Houser to perform at 98 FM KCQ Country Music Fest *

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Jimmy Wayne will perform at the 98 FM KCQ Country Music Fest.

by Jason Rzucidlo americajr@americajr.com

SAGINAW, Mich. -- If you loved the Downtown Hoedown, then this festival is for you. Even if not, you should still check out the 98 FM KCQ Country Music Fest. It is held annually on Saginaw's Ojibway Island and you can get there on one tank of gas. This year's headliners are Jimmy Wayne, Randy Houser, Richie McDonald and Jason Michael Carroll. Local band Stone Cold will perform at 11 a.m. and then in between each artist on the new Island Stage. There is also a classic car show, motorcycle show, kid's tent and an arts and craft area.

The festival is FREE and open to the public. It is being held on Saturday, June 21st from 9 a.m. until about 5:30 p.m. Entries for the car show and the Biker's Heaven motorcycle show are accepted beginning at 7 a.m.

Additional activities include an arts and crafts area, a children's area, a giant food tent and an information tent. Famous Dave's BBQ and Jet's Pizza are some of the restaurants that will be set up on the island along with traditional carnival food -- hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, etc.

Jimmy Wayne is headlining the Country Music Fest this year at 4 p.m. He was born on Oct. 23, 1972 in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. After finishing high school, Wayne worked as a guard at the Gaston Correctional Facility. He took songwriting advice from an inmate. Later, Wayne earned an associate's degree in criminal justice at a community college. He worked as a corrections officer for four years before moving to Nashville and becoming a musician.

He wrote the song "Put Your Hand in Mine," which was picked up by Tracy Byrd in 1999. Two years later, Wayne got a recording contract with Dreamworks Nashville. His debut single, "Stay Gone," was released in 2003. It made it to No. 3 on the Billboard Country Music Singles chart. His self-titled debut album was produced by Chris Lindsey and James Stroud. His next single was "I Love You This Much."

Wayne moved to Big Machine Records after Dreamworks went out of business in 2005. He later moved to sister label Valory Music Group. "Do You Believe Me Now" debuted on the country charts in April and became his third top ten hit in August. In Sept. 2009, Wayne did a cover version of the Hall & Oates song "Sara Smile." It is lead-off single to his second album, which is one store shelves right now. On Jan. 1, he began a 1,660 mile walk across the country from Nashville to Phoenix. It was all to raise awareness for homeless youth.

Randy Houser will perform at the Country Music Fest at 3:00 p.m. He was born in Lake, Mississippi. Houser formed a band at the young age of 13 while attending East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss. He co-wrote the song "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," which was picked up by Trace Adkins. Then, Houser shifted to performing instead of songwriting.

He received a recording contract with Universal South in 2008. Houser's first single, "Anything Goes," was released in May of that year. His debut album of the same name was released in Nov. 2008. "Boots On" became his first top ten hit in July 2009. Houser received two nominations at the 2009 CMA Awards for New Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year for that song.

Houser released his third single, "Whistlin' Dixie" in Oct. 2009. His second studio album, They Call Me Cadillac, was released on Sept. 14, 2010. Houser's second single off the album is "I'm All About It." He was nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award and a CMT Music Award earlier this year.

Richie McDonald will perform at the Country Music Fest at 1:15 p.m. He was born on Feb. 6, 1962 in Lubbock, Texas. McDonald was the founding member of the band Lonestar in 192. He served as the lead vocalist of the band. Lonestar was signed to BNA Records in 1995. He released seven studio albums and a Christmas album with the group. McDonald also wrote songs for other artists such as Clay Walker, The Wilkinsons, Billy Dean, Sara Evans and Heartland.

He announced his separation from the group in 2007. Cody Collins became the new lead singer of Lonestar. McDonald went on his own as a solo artist. His first album as a solo artist, I Turn to You, was released on June 3, 2008. In 2009, McDonald released two singles, "How Do I Just Stop" and "Six Foot Teddy Bear." His next album will be titled Slow Down and will be released at a later date.

Jason Michael Carroll will perform at the Country Music Fest at noon. He was born on June 13, 1978 in Houston, Texas. Carroll was encouraged by his mother to participate a local singing competition called Gimme the Mic, hosted by WRAZ-TV Fox 50. He won the competition and later finished writing the song "Alyssa Lies." Carroll was discovered by the same man who producer Hootie & the Blowfish, Rusty Harmon. He received a recording contract with Arista Nashville.

His debut album, Waitin' in the Country, was released on Feb. 6, 2007. Carroll's second single from the album, "Livin' Our Love Song," made it to No. 6 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. His next single, "I Can Sleep When I'm Dead," was released in 2008. Carroll released a second studio album, Growing Up is Getting Old, on April 28, 2009. So far, he has released two singles off that record, "Where I'm From" and "Hurry Home." Carroll was dropped by Arista Nashville in Feb. 2010.

Local country band Stone Cold will perform at 11 a.m. and also in between the main stage artists during set changes.

The Country Music Fest is organized by Saginaw radio station WKCQ 98.1 FM. The event started in 1992 with its first performers being Trisha Yearwood and Aaron Tippin. Ever since, it has grown into one of the largest FREE country concerts in the region.

 

PHOTO BY GLORIA RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Randy Houser is also scheduled to perform at the 98 FM KCQ Country Music Fest.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Richie McDonald will perform at the Country Music Fest at 1:15 p.m.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Jason Michael Carroll is scheduled to perform at the Country Music Fest at noon.

 

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