Jim Lauderdale, a longtime ambassador of the Americana genre, has released his 28th album, “This Changes Everything,” which was largely recorded during a single day in Austin while on a break from his summertime tour. Lauderdale is supporting the new album release with appearances on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass annual event in Raleigh, North Carolina, and on Sunday, Oct. 2, at Muddy Creek Music Hall just outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The following is from the press release regarding the album release:
The album presents the songwriter’s own version of the traditional Texas dancehall sound, filled with shuffles, rave-ups, plenty of sharp songwriting and appearances by a handful of genuine Texas legends, including producer and pedal steel player Tommy Detamore, drummer Tom Lewis (Heybale, Whitney Rose), pianist Floyd Domino (an original member of Asleep at the Wheel), Bobby Flores (Ray Price’s longtime fiddle player), Kevin Smith (bass player for Willie Nelson), Chris Masterson (one-half of the Mastersons, as well as Steve Earle’s electric guitarist), vocalistsBrennen Leigh, Noel McKay and Sunny Sweeney.
The Texas superstar presented Lauderdale with the WagonMaster award, which recognizes an Americana pioneer whose career continues to roll ahead, leaving a large legacy in its wake. Strait and Lauderdale performed “The King of Broken Hearts” together, which Strait recorded on 1992’s Pure Country soundtrack. A documentary of the same name, Jim Lauderdale: The King Of The Broken Hearts, was also released in 2014, celebrating Jim‘s unconventional career.
Lauderdale has released more than two dozen albums of award-winning American roots music through the years. He co-hosts the acclaimed radio show Music City Roots, and has hosted the annual awards show consecutively for 14 years. He has collaborated with legends like Buddy Miller, Ralph Stanley, and Robert Hunter, among many others, and is one of the most recognizable names in songwriting. Strait himself has recorded 14 of Lauderdale‘s songs, as well as Lee Ann Womack, Patty Loveless, Elvis Costello, the Dixie Chicks, Solomon Burke and many more.