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Sunday, 7 February, 2010 1:20 PM
CMA New Artist Spotlight: 'Greg
Hanna'
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Photo
by Tony Phipps
Greg
Hanna |
| By
Bob Doerschuk |
| ©
2010 CMA Close Up News Service |
A self-styled “Northern
Hillbilly,” Greg Hanna is indisputably from the North —
specifically, from eastern Ontario, Canada. But he’s also
as Country as they come, having been raised on a dairy farm near
Finch, a community of around 400 neighbors and friends. Family values
were central to his upbringing; so was a willingness to work hard
and, in Hanna’s case, a talent for writing and playing Country
songs.
After lofting “Ain’t
No Justice in Love” into the Canadian Top 10 in 1999, Hanna
moved down to Nashville the following year. His intense vocals and
dynamic stage presence raised his local profile quickly; he was
even offered a berth in the third season of “Nashville Star”
until conflict issues arose due to his contract with Combustion
Entertainment. Still, he continued to chart in Canada and make connections
in Music City, leading to his signing with Buddy Lee Attractions.
With a lineup of producers
that includes Buddy Cannon, Chris Farren, David Kalmusky, Kim Tribble
and Hanna, this self-titled U.S. debut album, released on his own
Pheromone Records imprint and distributed by Megaforce and Sony,
is unified by Hanna’s infectious performance. There’s
a conversational essence to his delivery even when it rides a challenging
melody, as on “In Between Dreams,” by Hanna, Brad Mates
of Emerson Drive and Shane Minor, one of Hanna’s eight co-writes
among these 11 songs.
Energetic on the up-tempo
rockers, earnest and sincere on ballads, he targets the midpoint
between these extremes on his single, “It’s a Man’s
Job.” Written by Ashley Gorley, Wade Kirby and Tribble, it
lays down a swaggering beat that gives Hanna the foundation he needs
to bring the toughness, romance and humor of the lyric home in one
irresistible package.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Q&A
MUSICAL HERO
“Buck Owens.”
DREAM DUET PARTNER
“Dwight Yoakam.”
SONG YOU’D
LOVE TO COVER
“‘He Stopped Loving Her Today.’”
FAVORITE FOOD ON
THE ROAD
“Bacon and eggs for breakfast.”
MOMENT YOU’D
LOVE TO RELIVE
“The day I got married, I sang to my wife as she walked down
the aisle.”
TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY
“When You Believe, Everything Is Possible.”
SONG YOU SING IN
THE SHOWER
“Usually classic Country.”
PET PEEVE
“When someone tells me ‘yes,’ but doesn't deliver
on their promise.”
PHRASE YOU SAY ALL
THE TIME
"Well, there you go.”
PREFERRED METHOD
OF TRANSPORTATION
“Pickup truck.”
On the Web: www.GregHanna.com
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