Alan Jackson, from Newnan, Georgia, is an American country music singer, known for blending honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 14 studio albums and several compilations, all on the Arista Nashville label. More than 50 of his singles have appeared on Billboard’s list of the “Top 30 Country Songs”. Of Jackson’s entries, 25 were number-one hits. He is the recipient and nominee of multiple awards. Jackson is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
These notables in their own respective spaces are either Artists, Writers, Producers & Guitarists who either own, play or have had a Voyage Air on their tour bus. Regardless, they are not endorsers rather ones who know the value of the original folding guitar, Voyage Air.
Don Alder is the 2010 winner of the competition, beating out nine other guitar finalists. Selected from thousands of entries, Don was the only contestant to play an acoustic guitar in the finals, and also the only contestant to receive a standing ovation.
Don’s style of guitar playing (“percussive acoustic”) made him an unusual entry in this otherwise electric, solo-noodle-driven contest. His unique style incorporates fingerpicking with simultaneous percussion on the soundboard to create a wall of sound. In the recent past, Don was the winner of the 2007 International Fingerstyle Champion competition in Winfield, Kansas. Don also has a long list of other awards under his belt.
After the competition, Don met with us to check out the Voyage-Air Guitar, and he was clearly impressed with the guitar’s playability and tone. You can see his playing style and hear some brief comments in the videos below along with playing his Voyage-Air at NAMM 2011 in an incredible style.
It’s not every day that you meet a singer/songwriter who is actually from Nashville, Tennessee…..especially one as unique as Nolan Neal.
This prolific artist is perhaps best described by a fan, who saw him sitting on a waist-high brick wall one September evening in 2001 on Nashville’s famous 2nd Avenue, strumming his guitar and belting out a song. “He was beginning to draw a crowd, so we took a seat next to him. I remember thinking how he reminded me of John Lennon, with a voice better than Creed’s lead singer. We sat and listened to him play his guitar and sing for about two hours. His music is like a soul trip, his voice is the kind that gets under your skin.
He can play a guitar like no one I’ve heard in real life and his music and voice are full of emotion. Before we left he gave me his autograph…which I received on a Bible handout someone had dropped in his guitar case, and I now keep in a safe place.”
The Voice
Nolan is a comeback artist from Season 10. After his Season 10 audition, Adam Levine commented on his rasp and range and asked Nolan to sing another song on the spot. After his second song, all four coaches knew they had made a mistake by not selecting him. Since his time in Los Angeles, Nolan has focused on songwriting, producing tracks for several bands and recording songs for his upcoming record. Nolan’s two children were able to see their dad on The Voice and are extremely proud of him.
Jody Maphis goes Voyage-Air! Jody Maphis started playing guitar at the age of six under the watchful eye of his father,country great Joe Maphis. While growing up in California, Jody’s musical influences ranged from the “Bakersfield Sounds” of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, to the LA based country-rock styles of The Byrds,The Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco.
After moving to Nashville, Jody’s musical background and ability to play guitar (as well as several other instruments) landed him road work and session dates with such acts as Barbara Mandrell, The Earl Scruggs Revue, Michael Martin Murhphey, Johnny Rodriguez, Johnny Cash, Lynn Anderson, Matraca Berg, Marty Stuart and Gary Allan.
After a spin on the new Voyage-Air electric guitars, Jody was sold, and only too happy to say he’s going to be playing a Voyage-Air guitar. Check the video below!
Jody is currently working on a studio project of songs written and recorded by his parents Joe and Rose Lee Maphis. If you are in Nashville you can find Jody at the Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar in Printers Alley, mixing sound… and playing his guitar.
Mark has had an amazing 30 year career as a guitar player, pro audio / video producer, touring the US and Europe. It’s been quoted, “His sensationally hot guitar playing and sparkling charisma are a few characteristics that best describe Mark Dreyer.” After attending Berkley Collage of Music in Boston on a full scholarship, Mark moved to Nashville to play with Bee Spears of the Willie Nelson & Family Band then soon after landed a job at Gaylord Entertainment’s Tim Watson show with many appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and national TV shows. Mark has opened for stellar acts such as The Little River Band, Bo Diddly, Kansas, Toby Keith and Alabama and many more.
Mark’s brings a wealth of diverse talent including including Studio 23 Lakeside Recording Pro Audio Video Production production facility, he directed and produced over 1,000 television broadcasts for Comcast & Charter cable http://www.youtube.com/MarkDreyerProduction and hundreds of live recording studio webcam productions. Mark is the owner publisher of the Nashville Music Business Directory. He has enjoyed nearly 30 years in Nashville and has over 6,000 shows under his belt with numerous different bands. He has also toured Europe as an artist and musical director, marking his 23rd trip abroad.
Hit songwriter and mega-vocalist, Curtis Wright had his first tune cut by a major artist in 1988 when Patty Lovelace recorded “You Saved Me.”
His first of four number one hits was with Ronnie Milsap for the song “A Woman in Love.” Having crafted songs recorded by Conway Twitty, Shenandoah and Steve Wariner, Curtis is a multi-talented artist.
He toured as a member of Pure Prairie League and also toured as background vocalist for artists Tim McGraw, Reba McIntire, The Eagles, Darryl Worley and Billy Dean.
