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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 4, 2022) - Billy Blue Records starlet Kristy Cox continues to make a name for herself in bluegrass with the release of her brand-new full-length album Shades of Blue produced by Grammy-nominated Jerry Salley. Out everywhere today, Shades of Blue puts Australian-native Cox’s highly-acclaimed vocals on full display. With the lead single off the project “Person of the Year,” a tribute to those working on the front lines throughout the pandemic, Cox makes a statement with this project that will resonate with the masses. The most recent single off of the project “Appalachian Blue” was released January 14, 2022, and debuted in the Top 15 in both the Australian Country Songs Chart and the Australian iTunes Chart.
“Kristy shows risk-taking as an artist that comes with the confidence and experience to not only meet but exceed expectations of what a contemporary bluegrass singer can do.”
- Country Standard Time
With the release of her full album, Cox made her WSM-AM Radio debut this morning at 8am CST. She will also be celebrating the release of the project tonight at her Album Launch Party at the World Famous Station Inn in Nashville, TN.
Kristy Cox commented on the release of Shades of Blue saying, “I am so excited to be releasing this brand-new album on my new label Billy Blue Records. Thanks Jerry, Ed, Kyle, Carla, and Joe Dan and the rest of the team for all of your hard work getting this album together. I have been extremely blessed in my career so far and have so many people who have helped me in this journey, especially over what has been a tough couple of years in music.”
Shades of Blue Track Listing:
1. Appalachian Blue (3:21)
2. Good Morning Moon (3:10)
3. Person Of The Year (3:24)
4. Moonlight, Moonshine, And Blue Moon Of Kentucky (3:00)
5. Kentucky’s Never Been This Far from Tennessee (Duet with Marty Raybon) (3:44)
6. An Old Abandoned Church (3:40)
7. Dirt Road (3:20)
8. The Devil Was An Angel Too (2:58)
9. I’m Not Built That Way (3:14)
10. This Is Where You Kiss Me (3:07)
11. Blue Ain’t Just A Color Anymore (3:00)
12. If Heaven Was A House (3:59)
Grab your copy today here: https://ffm.to/kc_sob
Person of the Year OUT NOW!
Nashville, TENN --- Australia’s “Queen of Bluegrass,” Kristy Cox, is set to release her debut single on Billy Blue Records, and it’s a very special tribute to dedicated workers on the health care front line.
“Person of the Year” will appear on Kristy’s 7th album, (her first on Billy Blue Records), entitled Shades of Blue.
“I am so excited for my first single release on Billy Blue Records,” Cox says. “‘Person of the Year’ is such a special song that pays tribute to nurses and doctors who work tirelessly to save others. The last 18 months have been especially hard on them.”
Written by Jerry Salley and Bill Whyte, the song will be released Friday, August 27th. A companion music video is expected for later release.
“Jerry and Bill brought tears to my eyes with their lyrics that ring so true,” Cox says. “I have multiple family members who work in this field and this song is for them and so many others.”
Songwriter, Billy Whyte, shared his thoughts on the inspiration for “Person of the Year,” saying, “Like everyone else, I’ve been moved by the pictures of our doctors and nurses fighting the brave battle and trying to save the lives of those infected with Covid. I had seen a Time Magazine cover for ‘Person of the Year’ and frankly, I don’t remember who was on the cover, but I thought those on the front line certainly should be, especially right now. So I took my idea to my buddy Jerry Salley who loved the idea, and we sat down to write it together. I’m glad we’re able to say ‘thank you’ to those amazing folks in this song.”
Kristy Cox has topped the Billboard charts and is a multiple winner of Australia’s CMAA Golden Guitar Awards. In 2014, she was named Australian Country Music Independent Artist of the Year. Born in Australia, Kristy and her family now reside in Nashville, and she will become a US citizen in October of 2021.
Kirsty’s new album is being produced by Jerry Salley. The two share a rich musical history - from years of recording together, to co-writing, to touring together in her native Australia. They have worked together on all 6 of her prior albums.
Shades of Blue will be available in January of 2022.
Kristy signs to Billy Blue Records…
She’s known as Australia’s “Queen of Bluegrass” and she’s placing her shining crown soundly on the mantle at Nashville’s Billy Blue Records .
Kristy Cox has topped the Billboard charts and is a multiple winner of Australia’s CMAA Golden Guitar Awards. In 2014, she was named Australian Country Music Independent Artist of the Year.
She and her growing family made Nashville home just 8 years ago. Born in Adelaide, Australia, Kristy will become a US citizen in October of 2021. Her two young children have names that tip a hat to original and new hometowns; son, Ryman and daughter, Adelaide. When Kristy is not writing, recording or performing, she’s one of Nashville’s favorite barista’s, the owner of a mobile Australian coffee van.
Jerry Salley, Creative and A&R Director of Billy Blue Records, was effusive in making his announcement.
“I have known Kristy since she was a very young lady, and she is truly one of the hardest working women I have ever been associated with in the music business,” Jerry Salley says. “We will start recording our 7th bluegrass album together, and her incredible vocal talent is only matched by her ambition and drive to get things done! I am beyond excited to welcome Kristy to Billy Blue Records. She is exactly the kind of artist and person that we want to become a member of this label family.
Cox and Salley have shared a rich musical history – from years of recording together, to co-writing, to touring together in her native Australia. The two will head into the studio in June to begin that album with Salley in the producer’s seat.
“When I first visited Nashville,” Kristy says, “I met Jerry Salley, and since then, he has become not only a huge part of my career through our 6 albums together, but a huge part of my family. Jerry is my son’s godfather, and he is my ‘go-to’ person for just about everything. He’s the closest thing we have to family on this side of the big pond. It felt completely natural to me that we start working together on a label front, having worked together for over 12 years and on 6 albums, I trust him completely, and seeing the amazing work that Ed [Leonard], Jerry and the whole team are doing is inspiring.”
“I am looking forward to this next chapter and joining this amazing label family,” Kristy says
Kristy wins 2021 Bluegrass Recording of the Year Golden Guitar
Australia’s Queen of Bluegrass – Kristy Cox – added to her impressive Golden Guitar Award tally on Saturday night taking out Bluegrass Recording of the Year with her good friend and Australian music legend, Tommy Emmanuel CGP, for their track, “Finger Picking Good”. The win took Kristy’s personal tally to five Golden Guitar Awards making her one of the most decorated female Bluegrass artists in Australia.
“I am completely blown away and speechless to have received this award for the third year in a row. I love Bluegrass music, it’s where my heart is and this award means so much to me”, said Kristy.
“I can’t thank all those who voted for the track enough for their ongoing support and the industry as a whole. Recording this track with Tommy is one of the highlights of my career so far … he truly is amazing!”
Kristy celebrated under slightly unusual circumstances this year with Covid restrictions rendering it impossible for her to get home to Australia as she traditionally would.
This year, she was snuggled up under a blanket in her favourite pyjamas watching via live stream in Nashville.
“It felt very strange not to be in Australia for the Tamworth festival and the awards. This is the first festival I have missed in over 20 years. Setting my alarm for 2am and watching the awards in my PJ’s was a completely new experience but it didn’t take away from the excitement of the event though … wow, what a night!”
And it didn’t stop there, Kristy, Tommy and her band which also included producer, Jerry Salley, recorded a show stopping performance of the winning song that was played during the awards ceremony showcasing the reason why Kristy Cox is by far one of our greatest music exports. The performance was so good that CMT Australia instantly added the video across the board to full rotation - airing for the first time on Australia Day.
Kristy’s current album, “No Headlights”, featuring the Golden Guitar Award winning “Finger Picking Good” is out now via Mountain Fever Records.