Three years after the breakup of popular country music band Little Texas, lead singer Tim Rushlow is back with a dynamic solo album that shows off a matured singer and an estimable songwriter.
The stories on his debut solo album "Tim Rushlow" (Atlantic Nashville) are about as real as they come.
A devoted wife nurses her husband through Alzheimer's disease ("She Misses Him"). A struggling couple puts aside their individual dreams of fame and fortune in favor of building a happy family ("In The Meantime"). A husband sends his wife reminders of his undying love from the grave ("The Package"). Even the sheer joy of having a great ride, and a girl to impress with it ("American Cars").
Unique glimpses of everyday life, the songs are a direct reflection of the long journey Rush low has taken from lead singer of the multi-platinum band Little Texas to now.
"Songs to me are all snapshots," Rush low said. "They're all pictures of things I may feel or want to sing about. I'm a real emotional person, so that's why I ended up with an emotional record. I like to sing songs about real issues."
After the amiable demise of Little Texas in 1997, 6 million in record sales in eight years, Rushlow chose not to rush into a solo career.
Like a diamond through the fire, Rushlow has emerged from that journey a much more centered and focused artist which shines through on his Atlantic debut, both in his songwriting and keenly sharpened vocals. Though always hardworking and devoted to his music, he demonstrated a real dedication to his craft by opting to start all over again and pay dues in launching a solo career.
"I decided to take some time to reinvent myself after the band broke up," Rushlow said. "All I knew how to do was be the frontman of the band. So I realized if I'm going to cut a Tim Rushlow record, it's going to have to be me standing on my own when I absolutely don't have any question about who I am. So I had to do some soul-searching and songwriting and find that."
The search, though tough, proved to be a fruitful one, and eventually led him straight into the studio with producer David Malloy (Reba).
Tim Rushlow was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma at Tinkers Air Force base, where his father Tom was serving in the Air Force. After getting out of the military, Tom Rushlow moved his family to Arlington, Texas, where he joined his wife Patricia's three brothers in a band called Moby Dick and the Whalers.
"The Whalers were one of those good regional acts that opened for stars like Mitch Ryder and James Brown," remembers the proud son. "They put out their own records, and even came close to appearing on 'American Bandstand.' They got real close to making it."
Rushlow followed in the footsteps of his uncles and father, learning to play drums, bass, piano and guitar. He sang to his parents' Buddy Holly, Monkees and Beatles records and then discovered country music group Alabama.
"I remember trying to imitate Randy Owen (lead singer of Alabama), and I sang like Willie Nelson on 'Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,"' Rushlow said.
In his teens, Rushlow sang in school choirs and was soon jamming in garage bands that led to the band performing in Texas and Oklahoma. At 17, he landed a job performing at Six Flags over Texas and soon after at Opryland theme park in Nashville.
The job taught him stamina, and enabled him to make business connections that would prove invaluable later in his career.
"I learned endurance and it really prepared me to become a front man," Rushlow recalled of his days imitating legends like Owen and Jim Reeves at the theme parks.
Little Texas was formed in 1988 with Rushlow's high school buddies Duane Propes and Porter Howell moved to Nashville.
"We played clubs for years before we got signed, traveling the country in a trailer and booking ourselves and being our own crew," remembers Rushlow. "We'd drive 1000 miles from one gig to another. We lived and breathed Little Texas and weren't going to stop until we achieved it, and that work ethic is still something I carry with me today."
Their first hit came in 1991, and "Some Guys Have All the Love" launched the band on a six-year ride of hit albums and sold-out concerts.
"I want people to know that I have a serious sense of pride for Little Texas," Rushlow said. "I'll always talk about it, and I'll always perform Little Texas songs live."
"Tim Rushlow," produced by David Malloy, showcases an artist still in touch with that Little Texas sense of fun and adventure-witness the breezy "American Cars." But he's also used his time out of the spotlight to hone his songwriting chops and explore more sensitive territory.
To help him find his niche musically, Rushlow spent some time secluded from other music and videos that he felt might influence his own writing.
"I'm a chameleon," he explains, "I'm good at seeing something and wanting to copy it because I like it. So in order to avoid that, I quit watching TV and listening to the radio and just focused on my sound. It was an emotional time-an honest time."
Few singers could interpret delicate ballads like "She Misses Him" and "The Package" with the maturity Rushlow displays. His heartfelt vocals on the touching first single, "She Misses Him," lend an air of vulnerability and emotion to the song not often experienced on the airwaves these days. The song struck an immediate chord with listeners, who identified with the tender yet delicate subject of caring for a loved one with a debilitating disease.
"The song blew me away when I first heard it. I got choked up and all emotional. It really moved me," remembers Rushlow.
Lighter material like "Crazy Life," an anthem to the zany chaos that makes up everyday life, and "In the Meantime" are gently philosophical, urging listeners to make the most of life, and be grateful for life's small pleasures.
Rushlow says he relates to that sentiment, as a recording artist making the transition from band member to solo star.
"I don't take anything for granted," Rushlow said. "A lot of people don't get the chance to do this once, much less twice. I feel very blessed and flattered to get the chance to do this again. I want to go out and play these new songs for people, play some old songs from my band days too, and celebrate my past and future in one fell swoop.
"I've got a shot at chapter two here, and I'm swinging for the bleachers."
Source: http://www.thatscountry.com/Artists/timrushlow/index.htm
