EXCLUSIVE

Tuesday, 18 November, 2008 3:32 AM

Country star Randy Owen signs copies of new album, book at Borders

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Randy Owen stands with a copy of his new book, "Born Country".

TAYLOR, Mich. -- It’s 6:55 p.m. and the former lead singer of Alabama has just arrived at Borders in Taylor. Randy Owen is here to autograph copies of his new album “One on One” and his new book “Born Country”, both of which were released on Election Day.

A day earlier, Owen performed at the 2nd Annual Fox Stripped Live concert at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit. He was one of 10 artists that entertained the crowd at the listener appreciation concert. Owen joined the likes of Josh Turner, Billy Currington, Heidi Newfield and Darius Rucker, just to name a few.

“It was a fascinating show,” Owen said. “It was something that hopefully the customers that were there understood what a significant accomplishment it was for this area to get all those great writers and singers and performers in this area. Of course, that incredible venue is just like a legendary wonderful place that you’d love to store in every city…as far as the acoustics.”

When asked if there would be a reunion tour for Alabama in the future, the former lead singer said, “No”.

Owen was one of three judges on the 5th season of TV’s Nashville Star. He joined Blake Shelton and Anastasia Brown.

“It was unique working with Anastasia and Blake,” Owen recalls. “They were very good friends. A lot of fun to be around. I enjoyed it. It’s not really my bag doing that. You know, I was looking more to probably to advise the kids rather than critique them.”

Owen is now a solo artist with a brand new single on the radio, “Like I Never Broke Her Heart”.

“It was a song by Shannon Lawson and a couple of his friends,” he said. “It was the only song I’ve ever done or sung where I’m the bad guy. So it was a really great song. It was one you could not record.”

Randy Owen’s new album is titled One on One and it was released on Nov. 4th.

“To me, it’s like having children. They’re all favorites,” says Owen of his new record. “They’re all equal. They all have their own unique stories. Most of them I wrote or co-wrote. That always makes it more personal. What I hope to accomplish with the CD is…it’s almost been eight years since I’ve actually went in the studio and recorded a new song for country radio.”

“I’m hoping if I get an opportunity to continue the work I do with St. Jude and other charities that I’m involved with. In today’s sound bite society if you don’t have something current, the effectiveness of the message that you have for the public is pretty diminished. My hope is we can get some singles played and when I trade my work in that I do for my fellow man that I get an opportunity.”

Owen established the St. Jude “Country Cares for Kids” radiothon in 1989. It is one of the most-successful radio fundraisers in history.

“First of all, we got started with the right frame of mind…that is about ‘we’ and not ‘me’. It was about hoping that day in 1989 when I asked the Country Radio Seminar that they would get involved in some sort of nationwide hookup or effort. That materialized after a couple years got more streamlined, some of the really great men and women who know how to program radio and special events, they got together and basically invented the word ‘radiothon’. It’s been very successful. Some of the children I first met now have families of their own. It’s a great accomplishment for all of us. I believe Danny would be proud of country music for what we’ve done.”

The songwriter and former lead singer of Alabama also released a book titled “Born Country” on the same day that his new album debuted.

“Basically, it talks about my life and how growing up in rural, northeastern Alabama and all the way through the life and the highlights and lowlights to the tough times and happy times. It’s something that will hopefully encourage the kids that are born in the country and on the farms that they can take a lot of pride in what their lives are about. They can accomplish a whole lot if they have the opportunity. It’s cool to be who you really are.”

"I like him for what he stands for, what he portrays," said Bonnie Quiel of Taylor, Mich. "A very wholesome, unique, young man. I got the book and the CD. I saw them before Alabama was known. It was a morning show on TV. I was mesmerized by it. He has a wonderful voice."

"I've always liked Alabama," said Mary Quimby of Stryker, Ohio. "I've seen him 11 times. It's a good book about him growing up. Never got an autograph before. My first one. I like Randy Owen."

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The book signing began at 7 p.m. at the Borders location in Taylor, Mich.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A sign indicates that Randy Owen will be autographing copies of his new book.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Randy Owen released his new book, "Born Country", and his new album, One on One, on the same day -- Nov. 4, 2008.