Life's Highway CD Release Party

Life's Highway CD Release Party
By Ron Harman

     On November 15, 2003, OMS Records held a âCD Release Partyâ for
Jeannie Seelyâs new acoustic and bluegrass album project, Lifeâs Highway. 
The event took place in conjunction with the weekly broadcast of the
world-famous Midnite Jamboree. 
     The Midnite Jamboree is America's second longest running radio show,
broadcast every Saturday night from the Texas Troubadour Theater of the Ernest
Tubb Record Shop located in the Music Valley Village.  The show is heard on WSM
650-AM following the Grand Ole Opry, online at www.wsmam.com, and via Sirius
Satellite Radio.  
       Jeannie served as host of the Jamboree and opened the show with
âRoarinâ And Runninââ, a self-written song which she had performed
earlier that same evening on the Grand Ole Opry stage.  
        Opry and Hall of Fame member Charlie Louvin and Jennifer OâBrien
joined Jeannie onstage to sing flawless harmony vocals on âCry Myself To
Sleepâ.  Both Charlie and Jennifer also provided vocals on the Lifeâs
Highway release.  
         Jeannieâs longtime backup singer Terri Williams was joined by
Jennifer to contribute backing vocals to âThe Next Voice You Hearâ, a song
written by prolific songwriter Cindy Walker.  Jeannie paid a special tribute to
Cindy, designating her as a longtime hero.   
          Surprise guests who offered their congratulations to Jeannie in
person included fellow Opry members Jack Greene and Jean Shepard.  Jack and
Jeannie recalled their many years as duet partners and collaborated on a
captivating version of âThere Goes My Everythingâ.  Jean, Jeannie, Terri,
and Jennifer paid homage to Kitty Wells with their remake of the timeless
classic âMaking Believeâ.
           Guests in the audience and listening on radio were treated
throughout the evening to the incredible talents of Uncle Josh Graves, a dobro
legend and an International Bluegrass Music Association âHall of Honorâ
member.  Following praise and remarks from Jeannie, Josh entertained the
audience with his rousing instrumental number âFireballâ.  Playing amongst
the band members on stage were the co-producers of Lifeâs Highway â
Joshâs son Billy Troy on guitar and Hugh Moore on banjo.  Jeannie turned the
spotlight over to Billy who delivered a consummate version of Jimmie Rodgersâ
âCalifornia Bluesâ.
          One of the highlights of the evening was Jeannieâs rendition of
âItâs A Heartacheâ, a tune made popular in the 1980âs by both Bonnie
Tyler and Juice Newton.  With its infectious new arrangement on I Lifeâs
Highway, the song has been afforded a whole new life
          Jeannie touched upon some special memories on her own lifeâs
highway by reminiscing about late friends John and Marie Hartford.  In their
memory she dedicated her performance of âIâll Be All Smiles Tonightâ, a
song she had performed by request at their wedding.
          The CD release celebration did not end with Jeannieâs last
performance onstage, but continued for some time afterwards with a jubilant
reception and autograph signing for Lifeâs Highway in the Ernest Tubb Record
Shop.

Life's Highway is available from OMS Records (www.omsrecords.com) and The
Ernest Tubb Record Shop (www.etrecordshop.com)