"Texas Radio" Eddy & Ria Veldkamp, Regio FM: The Netherlands

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Howdy and g'day from way down under. I have received your CD "NO PAIN" and let me tell you, I had "no pain" listening to it, loved it totally and will be sure to give it airplay on my program.  

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Thank you so much for sendin' Michael's latest album " No Pain". This sounds so familiar and GOOD. It's wonderful that you've recorded a new album and this is truly a very good one. We've scheduled this album for our Album of the Week on June 5, 2005 in our radio show. Of course we'll give this album lots of spins before and after that date.

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Your CD "NO PAIN" is a great Texas product, and I wish I could join this circle of satisfied friends that had the party in your Hill Country Home. The CD includes songs as we country music fans by the old school prefer and know, but they have been spiced by you and the musicians so it is easy to swallow for us freaks of Michael Ballew and pure Texas Music.... DJ Dann Hansen ,Roskilde Dampradio, Denmark

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The "DAMN GOOD TEXAS BAND" will be on tour for the month of July, 2005. First stop, the AMERICANA FESTIVAL in Nottingham, England; then onward to Pau, France; BILLY BOBS @ at Disney world in PARIS; RATTLESNAKE SALOON in MUNICH; SCHAFFARM in Merlischachen, Switzerland; NASHVILLE CLUB in Terrassa Spain; the FRENCH RIVIERA FESTIVAL; DENMARK TRUCKER FESTIVAL and last stop will be at ANNAS SALOON in Hamburg on July 31st. Details and up-dates forthcoming.

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Read the four star review by COUNTRY SPECIAL RADIO BERLIN on Micheal's RODEO COOL CD !!! (Scroll down for the English version)

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...Rather than taking a political stance on current world matters, Ballew reminds us that "America is the world's brillilant child" and his latest single "I'm An American" is gaining ground. Bob Cole, KVET, Austin said Ballew's latest song is very, very good. Not political, just proud to be an American. I like it! This is a personal song and Ballew's gift to the music world.

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After belt buckles as big as steak platters, big ten-gallon hats and well-worn jeans Michael Ballew & the Damn Good Texas Band had four tremendous tours in 2002. Travelling from the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, England and France the band discovered just how much Europeans love country music. Ballew said, "Thank you. The band was hot and the crowds were tremendous. We are grateful for your support of real country music played down-home & honky-tonk style." We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2004.

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Michael's second European single following the release of the title cut from the album "Rodeo Cool" joins the elite band of acts that have debuted at #1. The European Independent Airplay Chart reflects tracks proving to be the most popular as voted for by the most influential country DJs in Europe. American singer Michael Ballew's amazing ballad "Top Of The World" stayed in the #1 poll position (commencing October 14) for 4 weeks in a row and remained on the Top 40 Airplay chart for 14 weeks.

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Ballew wants to encourage all songwriters to join up to network and learn with other local songwriters. "It's a great opportunity to exchange information, said Ballew. Austin Songwriters Group

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"Those who favour pure Texas style country music could do themselves a big favor by listening to this man...Ballew's voice, like that of many Texan performers, is a little rough around the edges, but that roughness adds to the flavour of the music, the embodiment of all that Texas honkytonk has come to represent. Check him out--he's worth the effort. Al Moir

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This is a super album. Great country sounds honed to perfection through years of toiling the barrooms and beer gardens of Texas.

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BALLEW'S EUROPEAN SUCCESSES ADD UP - Ballew enjoyed huge successes with three chart singles in 2002. He became one of that small, select group of recording artists to enter the European Media Services (EMS) Top 40 at #1 with his single "TOP OF THE WORLD". Already building a name for himself in the European market place through tour appearances, Ballew broke over to radio audiences when the title track of his "RODEO COOL" CD enjoyed a 13-week run peaking at #4 (July, 2001). Michael's single "Darkside of the Dance Floor" enjoyed a solid 7 weeks on the charts peaking at #6 (August 10, 2002) on the EMS independent Top 40. Michael's earlier national attention came with USA Billboard Top 40 chart hits "YOUR DADDY DON'T LIVE IN HEAVEN.. HE'S IN HOUSTON" and "PRETENDING FOOL".

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Country Music & More Magazine, England. One of the Lone Star States's best kept secrets. Michael Ballew and the Damn Good Texas Band have been spreading their international wings. This overview Rodeo Cool album is gaining favor from all quarters so another Texas secret is moving into the public domain. .....I feel that Michael could be the guy that could bring that sleeping giant of real country music in Britain back to activity on a grand scale. Brian Ahern

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"I love this whole album. Every genuine country music lover out there should do everything in their power to help this artist receive greater recognition". Alan Cackett (England)

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You don't want to miss Michael Ballew and the Damn Good Texas band. Last year they enjoyed playing the Americana International Festival in Nottingham, England; Mr. Banjo Country Festival in Spain and the Equiblues International Festival & Rodeo in France which brought out the best in everyone. Michael and the band look forward to a return visit in 2004 at many festivals and clubs. It's always a good sign when the band couldn't see the end of the lines as they sold cd's and signed autographs....2004 will be an exciting year for the band and their soon to be sold-out clubs & concerts.

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"Darkside of the Dance Floor" receiving excellent reviews from DJ's in Europe...Here's a few***Veronica Capaldi / BBC Radio / What a great track!***Frank Hambleton / The Edge FM Radio, UK Up to his high standard***Adrian Farley /Linedance DJ / Excellent***Tommy Truesdale / West Sound Radio / Very good release***Joe Butler / KCR Radio, UK This guy is good ***Barry Thistleton / CMRU magazine / Excellent in every aspect ***Helen MacPherson / Moray Firth Radio, This is a very good song***Ted Clark / JRRI Radio, Holland, He is the Honky tonk king! ***Lloyd Coles / Swansea Sound Radio, UK Excellent***Laurence Richardson / CMRU magazine / Real country***Dave Street / BBC Radio South, Very enjoyable***Otto Waldoft / Radio Gladsaxe, Denmark Fine and traditional

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BALLEW has performed with Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Michael Martin Murphy, John Conlee, B. W. Stevenson, Doc Watson, Alan Jackson, Johnny Gimble, Junior Brown, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Bonnie Raitt, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Platters, Jimmy Reed, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Mathis, and Leroy Parnell to name just a few. Michael spent some time in Nashville writing with Mac Davis, David Wills and Leroy Parnell, and had his material recorded and performed by many top country and western artists. His songs have been heard on TV in the Dolly Parton Christmas Special and on movie soundtracks, including 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure,' and ‘Grave Secrets.’ Check out Ballew's bio & read more about this amazing musician.

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"Yeeeee-hah!" or "Eeeee-hah. There is passionate disagreement on this subject, but it comes down to whether this exclamatory utterance begins with a "y" or not. In short, depending upon the writer's personal experience, it can be written either way. Over the years, it has been spelled several other ways, but they are all incorrect and signal an abysmal ignorance of and insensitivity to indigenous (i.e., hillbilly or redneck) linguistic tradition.

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Ballew will be hosting a Texas Special on the UK based Internet Country Show airing throughout the summer & fall of 2002. On the show Michael will illustrate a wide expanse of Texas music and feature several of the Lone Star State's favorite artists and songwriters. The show's regular host, David Allan, is Britains most well known and respected country DJ whose musical tastes run towards the more basic roots of country music. The web site is receiving several thousand hits every week and proves once again that people are anxious to hear 'real' country music. Hence Michael Ballew. Now Ballew has been given the opportunity to present the kind of country music that originates out of Texas -- "an impossible task within an hour or so, but I hope it will sharpen the listener's appetite by showing what a weath of music we have in Texas," he says. The Internet Country Show was created in 2000 with the intention of producing a show representing the more basic roots of country music rather than the pop-oriented stuff that's called "country" these days.

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Since leaving England & Spain, Michael Ballew and the Damn Good Texas Band are ready to play all night on Saturday, August 17th headlining at the International Equiblues Festival & Rodeo in France. Other acts appearing during the day include Stop the Truck from Austin, Texas and Joni Harms from the USA. The Damn Good Texas Band (DGTB) is drawing packed crowds whereever they go this summer.

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This week (August 10, 2002) Michael Ballew's latest single moved up to #6 on the EMS Top 40 Most Popular Independent Charts. "Darkside of the Dance Floor" can be found on Michael's latest Rodeo Cool CD. The song jumped six places this week. Congratulations Michael.

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Michael Ballew & the Damned Good Texas Band. Don't miss seeing the DGT Band in concert. A performance you don't want to miss. THE SUPER LINEUP: GENE KURTZ has played on countless recording sessions and co-wrote the international hit "Treat Her Right" which was also featured in the movie "The Commitments. Gene will be playing bass with the Damn Good Texas Band. He has toured with Paul Revere and The Raiders; worked with Roy Head, Edgar Winter, Booker T., The Mills Bros., Kay Starr, Charlie Rich, Johnny Lee, Augie Meyers, The Platters, The Coasters, Brook Benton, Johnny Nash, Pat Boone, Andy Williams, The 5th Dimenson, Trini Lopez, Mose Allison, Nat Adderly & Percy Sledge. DODD MEREDITH, drums. Dodd has played with Floyd Tillman, Hank Thompson, Roy Head Show Band, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Gene Watson, Darrell McCall and on and on; DON RABY will bring his amazing fiddle, mandolin and vocals. Don has played with the likes of Hank Thompson, Chris Wall, Junior Brown, Don Walser, Jess Demain, Floyd Tillman & on and on. And the Lone Star State's Secret Weapon....MICHAEL BALLEW, lead guitar & vocals.

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Michael Ballew and the Damn Good Texas Band head out this week for the International Country Western Festival in Artolec•Nová Bystrice, Czech Republic. The band is ready to go after warming up on their last two tours. Watch out everyone in CZ!!!

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A country western beer anthem, beer swilling new single “Damned Ol’ Beer” was released in Europe & Australia in March. After seven weeks 'Damned Ol' Beer' remained in the top five chart position. With the direction Ballew’s songs are going this honky tonk bar room song is sure to increase his ever growing fan base. With two successful chart releases last year this single is catching the attention of dj's and everyone in Europe. Drink one for me Michael!

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Michael Ballew and the Damn Good Texas Band will be a headline act at the Country Music Festival (July 19-21, 2002) appearing on Saturday, July 20th and Sunday, July 21st in Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.

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Great news... Starting July 6, 2002 (& Michael's birthday) Michael and his "Damn Good Texas Band" will perform on Stage 1 at the Americana International Festival in Notthingshire, UK". The Americana International is one of the largest and most prestigious three day country music concerts in all of Europe.

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ECMA lists "Top of the World" at #31 in February, 2002. Thank you to all my DJ friends and fans in Europe.

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COUNTRY MUSIC ROUND UP - Ballew makes the cover "Country Music Roundup" Magazine (August Edition)

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Already building a name in the Europe marketplace through tour appearances, Michael broke over to radio audiences when the title track of his "Rodeo Cool" CD enjoyed a 13-week run in the EMS European Country Chart peaking at No. 4 during July, 2001.

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