 Sammy
Kershaw, well-known for his own pure
country sound, is paying homage to his friend,
hero and country music legend, George Jones with
the release of his new album, Do You Know Me? A
Tribute To George Jones. As a young boy in
Louisiana, Sammy began listening to the
recordings of George Jones. The music often
brought tears to his eyes, even though at that
age he had yet to live those life experiences.
Sammy comments, “I hadn’t lived those
stories, but when he sang those songs I sure felt
it.”
George Jones would become a steadfast influence
to Sammy, as he mentions in the liner notes,
“ …thank you to my friend, George
Jones, for giving me the inspiration when I was
just a little boy of about 4 or 5 years old. Your
voice and country soul gave me the dream that I
had and direction I wanted my life to go
in…” The first time he met the
“King of Country Soul” was at the age
of 14, but years later they would become friends.
This album spotlights some classic George Jones
material, opening with “The Grand Tour”
and finishing with a song written by Sammy
entitled “The Route That I Took.” In
between are a string of unforgettable favorites
“Once You’ve Had The Best,”
“She Thinks I Still Care,” “Why
Baby Why,” “Walk Through This World
With Me,” “Window Up Above,”
“White Lightning,” “Near You”
(duet with Georgette Jones), “He Stopped
Loving Her Today,” “The Race Is
On,” “Who’s Gonna Fill Their
Shoes,” and a song George never got around
to recording, “Do You Know Me?”
Often compared to his mentor, Sammy’s voice
has that same emotional pull he first heard on a
George Jones record, but this album is not about
comparisons, it is simply a loving tribute to
George Jones from a man that called him friend. |
