Your Country's Right Here: The Randy Rogers Band Talk ACMs, Texas Music, And Willie Nelson
posted in: Country • Music News
Randy Rogers, who fronts the band that bears his name, didn’t take it lightly when they received a nomination for Top Vocal Group from the Academy of Country Music.
Just before heading to Las Vegas for the April 3 event, hosted by Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton, Rogers said that the nomination was one of the highlights of his career. He didn’t even focus on the award. Other nominees in that category are Little Big Town, the Band Perry, the Zac Brown Band and the award winner Lady Antebellum.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it means the world to us,” says Rogers of the nomination. “It’s a huge deal for all of us, the band and crew. My parents [came] to Vegas for it. It’s a huge, huge deal to us. We’ve taken a different path when it comes to the national spotlight.”
The band has truly carved its path the old-fashioned way during its 10-year career, playing 200-plus concerts a year, charity events and appearing on late night television. The nod for the award in one of the most prestigious nationally recognized categories makes Rogers and his team feel as if all the hard work has paid off.
The band is also set apart from some others because they make it a point to constantly interact with fans during meet-and-greets and through social media. Rogers and his team take pride in having solid relationships with the fan base.
“I’m proud to bear the flag and wave the flag of the hard working acts out there,” said Rogers. “A lot of them don’t have label support like we do. A lot of them are putting out indie records and earning their fan bases. That is what we’ve done. Time with our fans is time well spent.”
Although it’s a fairly open secret that Texas-based bands may have a harder time making it than those in Nashville, the Randy Rogers Band has had some high-level fans”including Willie Nelson and Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel”rooting for them.
Rogers even mentions that he’s discussed recording with Nelson and Benson but it’s too soon to tell if that will materialize when the band begins pre-production for their eighth studio album this summer. If they do it, though, they won’t be shooting for a high charting record although they’d love to have one.
“We have been talking about that in the front lounge of the bus,” said Rogers. “I don’t think we ever tried too hard and I don’t think we are trying too much this time. We never had a radio hit. This will be the eighth record we are going to make and we’re just going to be us.
“Every time I’m writing a song, I won’t be thinking about a possible radio hit or if it would make a catchy tune on the radio. I’m going to write a record for us, that we want to play every night and that represents our band and who we are.”
The Randy Rogers Band are on tour. For concert and other information, check their Web site.