Sammy Kershaw

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sammy Kershaw
Audium/Koch, Category 5
, Boomerville, Big Hit, Cleopatra
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2001; div. 2007)​
Websitewww.sammykershaw.com

Samuel Paul Cashat (born February 24, 1958), known professionally as Sammy Kershaw, is an American

Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer", "I Can't Reach Her Anymore", "National Working Woman's Holiday", "Third Rate Romance", "Meant to Be", "Vidalia", and "Love of My Life
".

Kershaw tried to enter politics, running as a

lieutenant governor of Louisiana in 2007 and 2010. In 2007 he finished third in the jungle primary, but Democrat Mitch Landrieu won strongly in the general election. In 2010 he carried more parishes than any other candidate, but placed third. He endorsed Republican Jay Dardenne
, Secretary of State, for the position, who won the general election.

Early life and career

Samuel Paul Cashat was born in the

Wal-Mart
.

Musical career

One of Kershaw's demonstration tapes made its way to

RIAA, and it produced four hit singles. The lead-off, "Cadillac Style", went to No. 3 in late 1991 and early 1992, followed by the title track at No. 12, "Yard Sale" at No. 17, and "Anywhere but Here" at No. 10. Kershaw was initially reluctant to release "Cadillac Style" because he felt that it was not suitable for his style; however, his co-producer, Buddy Cannon, convinced him to give the song a chance. Kershaw's often honky-tonk material and singing voice led to critical comparisons to George Jones
, and he covered one of Jones's early singles, "What Am I Worth", on his debut as well.

Kershaw's second album,

AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country, produced by the Red Hot Organization
.

Kostas and Jack Tempchin
), the first single of Kershaw's career not to reach the Top 40.

Mid-late 1990s

Kershaw's fourth studio album, the gold-certified Politics, Religion and Her, was issued in 1996. It produced Top 10 hits in "Meant to Be" and "Vidalia", the latter of which Kershaw also considered a risky song, saying, "If radio will play this one more than twice—so people can get the story and learn what a Vidalia onion is—it'll be a smash." These songs were followed by "Fit to Be Tied Down" and the title track, both of which hit the Top 30. Also included on Politics, Religion and Her were covers of Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee" and Sammy Johns' "Chevy Van". The same year, Kershaw briefly took ownership of a NASCAR Busch series team (now Xfinity Series).

Labor of Love was issued later in 1997 as his fifth album. Unlike his previous albums, this one was predominantly composed of ballads.[3] It produced a No. 2 (and final US Top 10 hit) in "Love of My Life", and although none of the other three singles ("Matches", "Honky Tonk America" and "One Day Left to Live") reached higher than No. 22, the album was nonetheless certified platinum. His next album, Maybe Not Tonight, brought a Top 20 duet with Lorrie Morgan.[3]

Kershaw stated that he enjoyed working with Morgan on the song, telling Country Weekly magazine, "I knew our vocals would match up… Plus, we have fun together. We're friends and we have been friends for a long time." "Maybe Not Tonight" was commercially less successful than its predecessors, however, and it became the first album of Kershaw's career not to achieve an RIAA certification. Following "Maybe Not Tonight" were the singles "When You Love Someone" and "Me and Maxine", both of which peaked in the thirties. "Louisiana Hot Sauce", the final release from Maybe Not Tonight, was also the first single of his career not to enter the charts.

In 2000, Kershaw released an album of

Dr. Hook
's "Little Bit More", a previously unreleased cover which Kershaw had recorded during the sessions for Labor of Love.

2000s

By 2001, Kershaw and Morgan had married. The two recorded a vocal duet album in 2001 entitled

I Finally Found Someone (the title track being a cover of the Barbra Streisand/Bryan Adams
duet). This album was less successful commercially, with its only Top 40 hit being the No. 39 "He Drinks Tequila". Shortly afterward, a second 'greatest hits' package was released, and Kershaw left Mercury's roster.

In 2003, Kershaw signed to

Audium Entertainment to release the album I Want My Money Back.[3] This album produced a No. 33-peaking in its title track, but the second single "I've Never Been Anywhere" fell short of the Top 40. The third and final single, "Beer, Bait & Ammo" (which failed to chart), was previously recorded and written by Kevin Fowler on his 2000 debut album of the same name, and would later be recorded by Mark Chesnutt on his 2004 album Savin' the Honky Tonk
.

After Audium closed its Nashville division, Kershaw signed to Category 5 Records, then a newly established independent label, in 2006. His first release for the label and first chart single in three years, "Tennessee Girl", fell three spaces short of the Top 40 that year. It was the first release from his 2006 album Honky Tonk Boots. The album's only other single, a cover of Mel McDaniel's Number One hit "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On", failed to chart, and financial difficulties caused the label to close in 2007.

In 2008, Sammy Kershaw was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in honor of his career achievements and was also inducted into the Louisiana Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame in 2010.

Kershaw's first single in two years, "Real People", was released in late 2008 in the Boomerville/Big Hit label. However, the single failed to chart. His tenth studio album, Better Than I Used to Be, was released on August 31, 2010.

Political activity

Kershaw had become increasingly interested in politics. On June 13, 2007, he announced his candidacy for

special election
. Kershaw finished second with 30 percent of the vote, but Landrieu won re-election with a majority on the first ballot.

Watching his state embroiled in the Gulf Oil Spill in April 2010, Kershaw, a Lafayette resident, became the official spokesperson for Protect Our Coastline, a non-profit dedicated to providing relief to the fishermen and shrimpers affected most by the spill.

On August 28, 2010, Kershaw announced his second bid for lieutenant governor in the October 2

runoff election,[6] joining him at campaign events, and giving Dardenne a "bear hug" at his victory celebration.[7]

In the 2011 race for lieutenant governor, Kershaw endorsed Dardenne's opponent, fellow Republican Billy Nungesser. Dardenne ultimately defeated Nungesser 53%-47%.[8]

2010s

Kershaw continues touring throughout the year with his band, as well as performances with his often sold-out acoustic "Roots and Boots" tour, which has featured himself onstage with other artists including Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie, Pam Tillis, Darryl Worley and Collin Raye.

Sammy Kershaw live in concert, with band members Steve Farmer (piano) and Robert Wright (bass guitar), Norway, Michigan - July 3, 2016

Discography

Main article: Sammy Kershaw discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations

TNN/Music City News Country Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 Sammy Kershaw Star of Tomorrow Nominated
1994 Nominated

Country Music Association Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 Sammy Kershaw Horizon Award Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Sandwich Fair full of fun". The Times-Press. September 9, 1999. p. 9. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "February birthdays". The Kaplan Journal. February 1, 1962. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  3. ^
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved October 3, 2008.
  4. ^ "Sammy Kershaw tells tales of battling booze, bankruptcy and Lorrie Morgan". Villages-News.com. June 28, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  5. ^ Tidmore, Christopher (October 11, 2010). "Louisiana Lt. Governor's Race: Dardenne Vs. Fayard Is Gender, Party, Region Showdown". BayouBuzz News. Retrieved October 17, 2010. Tidmore argues that Kershaw attracted most of the Tea Party voters.
  6. ^ Anderson, Ed (October 8, 2010). "Dardenne, Fayard garner ex-rivals' endorsements: Two left in race for lieutenant governor". Times-Picayune. No. Saint Tammany Edition. p. A3. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  7. ^ Anderson, Ed (November 3, 2010). "Dardenne tops Fayard in lieutenant governor race: He rolls up big victory after intense campaign". Times-Picayune. No. Metro Edition. p. A14. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  8. ^ [1] Archived October 25, 2011, at archive.today

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sammy_Kershaw&oldid=1215689784"