"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is an adage that works when it comes to the now-continued tour of country artists Doug Stone and Sammy Sadler. And with that mindset at the forefront, the performers have announced they'll continue their Real Country Music Tour into 2012.
Sadler, in a Jan. 13, 2012, interview with Suite101, said he and Stone first embarked on the double-feature tour in 2011 with a mission to give country music-loving crowds that which they longed for more: "A great evening of the real stuff, true country music.”
Because of the overwhelming response from concertgoers, Stone and Sadler recently decided to extend their joint tour; thus, leg No. 2 of the Real Country Music outing is now on the road and set to hit even more stages in the coming months, from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, to Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky—and then some.
“Man, it sounds like the worst cliché ever, but our lives are really like a couple of banged-up country songs!” Sadler shared with Suite101, referring to the music that he and Stone play for fans. “We’re just so blessed to still be doing what we love, and I just can’t say enough about how great it is to tour with my friend, Doug.”
Sammy Sadler Survives Infamous 'Murder on Music Row'
Indeed, the Memphis-born, Texas-reared Sadler has a life history that, at times, has read more like a fictional episode of a compelling TV-crime show. But as harrowing and bizarre as it may seem, it’s Sadler’s real life and it has made it to TV as a featured news piece, including on U.S. television shows such as A&E Unsolved Mysteries, Cold Case Files, I Survived, Dateline with Stone Phillips and Nancy Grace.
As some country fans may recall, Sadler, in his 20s, was on the fast track to big success in country music’s commercial realm. At just 22, he had scored a deal with independent label Evergreen Records and quickly accrued a string of six chart successes. However, his career froze in time when, in January 1990, he and friend Kevin Hughes were shot and left for dead after having dinner together in Nashville.
The tragic incident, which has come to be known as “Murder on Music Row,” was found to be part of a plan to cover up unethical business dealings by industry trade CashBox Magazine, where Hughes—who did not survive the attack—was employed.
Sadler, who was never implicated in the chart-fixing allegations associated with CashBox, ultimately overcame his serious injuries and began working to reignite his stalled career. Since returning to his country-music calling, he has recorded and released the 11-song Heart Shaped Like Texas album, which is his latest full-length offering. The record’s first single, “I’ll Always Have Denver,” features guitar ace and country hit-maker Steve Wariner, who co-penned the song with Bill Anderson.
Regarding Sadler's Real Country Music touring mate, the platinum-selling Stone has eight No. 1 singles and 15 top-15 hits to his discography’s credit, including his debut single for Epic Records, the Grammy-nominated “I’d Be Better Off (In A Pine Box),” which spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on 1990 and peaked at No. 4.
Doug Stone Extends Career to Include Acting, Movie Soundtracks
In more recent years, Stone has extended his artistic endeavors beyond making hit-country, including singles such as “In A Different Light,” “I Thought It Was You,” “A Jukebox with A Country Song,” “Little Houses” and “Why Didn’t I Think of That,” to include acting. He made his acting debut in 1995’s Gordy film, wherein he portrayed struggling musician Luke McAllister and several tunes from his More Love CD were featured in the flick.
More recently, in fall 2011, Stone acted in the action-western titled When The Storm God Ride, a Thomas E. Kelly film produced by Storm God Studios of Georgia. In the picture, which was based on a book by Kelly, Stone plays a storekeeper who helps the good guys, in addition to singing the main tracks on the film’s soundtrack.
Sammy Sadler & Doug Stone Enjoy Real Country Music Tour, Fan Support
As for the 2012 Real Country Music Tour, both Stone and Sadler report they are content to do what they do best; namely, play their respective brands of country music for the live-show crowds.
“It’s an honor every time I take the stage and sings these songs for the fans,” the Georgia-born Stone told Suite101 on Jan. 13, 2012. “They just keep on lovin’ the songs and supporting me … and that’s a great feeling!”
Adds Sadler: “I survived the ‘Murder on Music Row’ back in Nashville in 1989 and Doug has survived a heart attack, stroke and plane crash. God has truly had His hand on both of our lives. We are thankful to be here and still be doing what we love.”
To view the latest Real Country Music Tour dates, please access www.trcmt.com or www.sammysadler.com for more information.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
