Confederate Railroad's Danny Shirley Will Host Upcoming Episodes Of Heartland TV's 'Country Classics'‏

By Timothy Yap Jun 04, 2016 07:27 AM EDT

ACM award-winning group Confederate Railroad will bring their music to Heartland TV's hit show, "Country Classics." Beginning this week, lead singer Danny Shirley will guest host four upcoming episodes. The show focuses on classic country from the 70s, 80s and 90s, highlighting some of the genre's biggest hits. The multi-platinum selling band will release their upcoming album, Lucky to be Alive, on July 15. The project features guest appearances by Willie Nelson, John Anderson, Colt Ford and former NFL coach, Jerry Glanville, on a special 20th anniversary version of their signature smash, "Trashy Women." Fans can pre-order a copy HERE.

"Country Classics" will air new episodes, beginning this week. Additional all-new episodes will air on June 6, June 13 and June 20. Along with Heartland TV, the show airs on Blue Highways TV, The Family Channel, Angel Two (DISH TV), AMG-TV, Country TV (New Zealand) and DTC Cable (check local listings).

The multi-platinum recording artists will hit the road in support of their upcoming project. They are bringing their unique blend of Country and Rock to audiences nationwide, with a blockbuster tour that will hit both the east and west coast and everywhere in between (see tour dates below).

Confederate Railroad On Tour:
Jun 03 Tuscaloosa. Ala. - Druid City Music Hall
Jun 04 Sanford, Fla. - The Barn - M.F.C. for J.O.S.H.
Jun 09 Wise, Va. - Virginia Kentucky District Fair
Jun 10 Nashville, Tenn. - CMA Music Fest - WSM Stage and Nashville Palace
Jun 11 Waynesville, Ohio - Keeping It Country Farm
Jun 12 Nashville, Tenn - CMA Music Fest - Digital Rodeo Stage
Jun 17 Frankfort, Ky. - Knights Club
Jun 18 Tell City, Ind. - Pour Haus
Jun 24 Central City, Iowa - The Linn County Fair
Jun 25 New Albany, Miss. - Hill Country Blackberry Festival
Jul 01 Prospect, Pa. - Big Butler Fair
Jul 03 Arley, Ala. - Concert On The Water
Jul 04 Decatur. Tenn. - Downtown Square/Downtown Summer Nights
Jul 09 Brainerd, Minn. - Green Lantern
Jul 15 Arthur, Ill. - Moultrie Douglas County Fair
Jul 16 Beckley, W.Va. - Friends of Coal Auto Fair
Aug 03 Tuolumne, Calif. - Willow Creek Lounge - Black Oak Casino
Aug 04 Corvallis, Ore. - Benton County Fair & Rodeo
Aug 05 Crescent City, Calif. - Del Norte County Fair
Aug 07 Brooks, Calif. - Cache Creek Casino Resort - Club 88
Aug 11 Point Pleasant, W.Va. - Mason County Fair
Aug 13 Des Moines, Iowa - Iowa State Fair - Mid American Stage
Aug 26 Guntersville, Ala. - Civitan Park - Bill Moore Field
Aug 27 Summerville, Ga. - Chattanooga County Ag Fair
Sep 17 Eldorado, Ill. - Eldorado Town & Country Days
Sep 24 Liberty, Ky. - Casey County Apple Festival - Courthouse Square
Oct 07 Springfield, Ga. - Springfield Fall Festival

For more information on Confederate Railroad, visitconfederaterailroad.net.

About Confederate Railroad:
Overnight sensation. One of the most over-used and misapplied coronations ever. It's been used to describe CONFEDERATE RAILROAD in that very manner.

In the case of Railroad, it most often refers to the frenzy that surrounded the 1994 mega-hit, "Trashy Women." From lead singer, DANNY SHIRLEY's perspective, "We weren't an overnight sensation; 'Trashy Women' was."

The facts are simple. The debut self-titled album had three singles before "Trashy Women" and was selling well. On the strength of "She Took It Like A Man," "Jesus and Mama" and "Queen of Memphis" the album sold more than 500,000 copies in its first 72 weeks. However, it sold more than 500,000 copies in the first seven weeks "Trashy Women" was the designated single. It was a song that had every chance of never being recorded which is the stuff of ironic legends.

Headed by founder and frontman Danny Shirley, the former backup band for both David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck got their big break by signing with Atlantic Records. The first single from their debut album ("Confederate Railroad") was "She Took It Like A Man". It went to No. 26, a preview of what was to come. "The next two singles, "Jesus and Mama" and "Queen of Memphis" went to the top of the charts. Three more huge hits followed, "Trashy Women", "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back", and "She Never Cried". "Trashy" would lead to a Grammy nomination and become their signature song. That album with six hits and nearly three million sales brought Confederate the Academy of Country Music's Best New Group Award in 1993 as well as numerous nominations from the Country Music Association and the British Country Music Foundation.

The second album, "Notorious", produced one of the group's most popular songs "Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind" which became a No. One video as well. "Elvis and Andy" and "Summer in Dixie" would further establish the Railroad as one of the most versatile acts in the business. This album would sell more than one million. Their overall totals are 18 charted hits and five million albums sold.

From rowdy country to raw emotion, a Confederate Railroad concert today still runs the emotional gamut.

Whatever the venue, they are right at home...be it a fair, a club, or a biker show. Shirley, the lead singer and vocalist, and his mates, Mark Dufresne on drums, Wayne Secrest on bass, Rusty Hendrix on lead guitar and Bobby Randall on steel guitar, fiddle and vocals and Mo Thaxton on guitar & vocals are obviously having fun right along with their appreciative audience. At the end of each show, the band stays around until every fan who wants an autograph, or to pose with the group for a picture or just say "hello" is taken care of.