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Donna Ulisse hosts Bluegrass Ridge on Heartland TV!
May 20, 2016
Hadley Music Group recording artist was recently in the studios taping a month’s worth of shows as the host for Bluegrass Ridge, a bluegrass video program on the Heartland TV Network. The show is thirty minutes long featuring videos from the top bluegrass music acts as well as interviews. Along with Heartland TV, the show also airs on The Family Channel, Angel Two (Dish-TV), AMG-TV, Keep It Country TV-UK/Ireland, Country TV (New Zealand) and DTC Cable (check local listings). Donna will be the host for the full month of August 2016.
The show has added Donna’s videos of the songs “Hard Cry Moon”, “Showin’ My Roots”, “I Am A Child of God”, “Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground” and “These Troubles” into rotation and also featured Donna in an interview. They will also be adding her Christmas video of “He Is Here” into their Christmas programming.
Donna Ulisse’s new album to be featured on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction!
January 7, 2016
Donna Ulisse was recently in the SiriusXM studios taping “Track by Track” with host Kyle Cantrell as they chatted about her current release Hard Cry Moon as well as played all of the tracks from the album. As always, Donna shared some of the stories behind the songs that she had a hand in writing.
The shows will air on the following dates and times:
Wed. Jan. 20, 2016 • 11 AM EST
Thurs. Jan. 21, 2016 • 9 PM EST
Sat. Jan 23, 2016 • 8 AM EST
Sun. Jan 24, 2016 • 12 PM EST
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Donna Ulisse nominated for IBMA Songwriter of Year 4th year in a row!
August 14, 2015
Hadley Music Group writer Donna Ulisse has been nominated for the fourth year running for IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Songwriter of the Year.
Other nominees are Mark “Brink” Brinkman, Becky Buller, Shawn Lane, and Bill Castle. Between these five writers, they have had an impressive list of songs recorded. The award is voted on by committee that examines the accomplishments of each songwriter during the given time period for the award. Things considered are songs recorded, chart positions, radio airplay, sales, songwriter workshops given and other things done during the year to further the craft of songwriting.
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Hadley Music Group releases Showin’ My Roots by Donna Ulisse!
October 15, 2013
It might seem surprising for a performer who has been nominated as IBMA’s top songwriter for two successive years to be releasing a “covers” album, but ― in a sense ― that’s what Donna Ulisse has done with her latest effort.
Yet, while Showin’ My Roots puts Ulisse’s interpretive skills on fine display, it stands as far more than a stylistic exercise or even a tribute. Although her deft touch as a lyricist and composer is present on only two of these 13 tracks, the rest are songs that form the bedrock of her musical heritage: She has lived and breathed them for so long, she might as well have written them.
And she breathes new life into them with her magnificent voice, as warm and supple as ever, backed by some of the finest musicians in bluegrass music. Ulisse co-produced Showin’ My Roots with acoustic guitar virtuoso Bryan Sutton, and the supporting cast includes Scott Vestal on banjo, Rob Ickes on Dobro, Andy Leftwich on mandolin and fiddle, and Viktor Krauss and Byron House on upright bass. Sam Bush duets on the traditional work song “Take This Hammer,” and harmony vocalists include John Cowan, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Fayssoux McLean, Larry Stephenson, Frank Solivan, Jerry Salley and Rick Stanley, Ulisse’s husband and band mate.
This is a diverse collection of songs, in tempo and sentiment. The Stanley Brothers (cousins of Ulisse’s husband) are represented in songs penned by Carter (the sprightly “How Mountain Girls Can Love”) and Ralph (the resigned “If That’s The Way You Feel”). Ulisse honors two heroes with her spin on Merle Haggard’s version of Dolly Parton’s “In The Good Old Days When Times Were Bad.” “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” made famous by Tammy Wynette, shows her feisty side, as does Loretta Lynn’s “Fist City.” She serves up a gorgeously wistful take on Hank Locklin’s “Send Me The Pillow You Dream On,” and an earnestly prayerful “Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus.”
Two songs that Ulisse wrote with her husband bookend this album. Both beautifully illustrate the love that went into this project. The album-opening title track is an ode to those whose “singin’ and writin’ lit a fire in me”: Haggard, Parton, Lynn, Carter Stanley. And “I’ve Always Had a Song I Can Lean On,” closes the album with a message that illustrates the importance music has always played in Ulisse’s life.
From beginning to end, Showin’ My Roots is as an extended love song to her influences, and one that lovers of bluegrass and traditional country music are sure to enjoy again and again. These timeless performances may well light a fire in generations to come.
Street Date: October 15 2013
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Tags: Andy Leftwich, banjo, bluegrass, Bryan Sutton, Byron House, Carl Jackson, Carter Stanley, dobro, Dolly Parton, Donna Ulisse, Fayssoux McLean, fiddle, Frank Solivan, Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle, Larry Stephenson, Loretta Lynn, mandolin, Merle Haggard, Ralph Stanley, Rob Ickes, Sam Bush, Scott Vestal, Tammy Wynette, upright bass, Viktor Krauss
Donna Ulisse guests on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction in December
December 27, 2012
Donna Ulisse was recently in the SiriusXM studios with the Kyle Cantrell, host of Bluegrass Junction’s “Track by Track”.
The show is a popular hour long show which introduces the Bluegrass Junction audience to new bluegrass releases. To quote Kyle as he spoke about Donna’s new album on air, “this album is a masterpiece.”
The show aired on Channel 61 SiriusXM over the Christmas holidays five times with its’ final airing on Christmas night. Thank you to all who listened and for your positive feedback and comments through the website and Facebook. Below was the schedule of airings.
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Accolades in abundance for Donna Ulisse’s “All The Way To Bethlehem
December 24, 2012
“If you buy only one new Christmas album this year, make it “All The Way to Bethlehem.” – Dan McIntosh/Country Standard Time
“All The Way To Bethlehem” is not your run of the mill Christmas album.” -Derek Halsey/Herald-Dispatch/Huntington, WV
“Her energetic and moving song cycle captures the emotions of every character in the biblical story found in Luke 1-3 of the events leading up to and surrounding Jesus’ birth.” -Henry L. Carrigan/Engine 145
“Anyone looking for a fresh take on Christmas albums this holiday season won’t go wrong with this collection.” – John Goad/BluegrassToday.com
“This isn’t just another Christmas album. Donna Ulisse has written a song cycle that has been thought-out and given caring attention to detail that surpasses most others.” -Greg Victor/Parcbench.com
“The Christmas story and something more, All The Way To Bethlehemtranscends not only the time frame of its narrative but our own time as well. As much a literary as a musical event, it belongs, at once, to all seasons and to the ages.” -David McGee/Bluegrass Special
“Listening to the words of these songs provides a wonderful insight into the journey and conditions during which Christ was born. A masterpiece!” -David Foster/Bluegrass Unlimited
To read all of the full reviews click here.
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Donna Ulisse nominated for 2012 IBMA Songwriter of the Year!
August 25, 2012
Donna receiving a congratulatory hug from Carl Jackson after her name was called.
Donna Ulisse was nominated for the first ever International Bluegrass Music Association’s Songwriter of the Year Award along with Jon Weisberger and Tom T. and Dixie Hall. The award is one of the Special Awards given at the Thursday Awards luncheon during the IBMA World of Bluegrass Conference each year. The nominees were decided upon by a committee of peers after looking over strict criteria for the body of work during the eligibility period.
Hadley Music Group is proud to not only be Donna’s record label but also be the home of her complete songwriting catalog.
Group photo of all the nominees at the IBMA press conference.
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“Let It Rain” moves into Top 5!
August 20, 2012
Congratulations to Donna Ulisse on her first Top 5 song in the Bluegrass Unlimited chart. “Let It Rain” is the lead track on her 2011 release An Easy Climb which has been in the chart for twelve months.
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Donna Ulisse invited to be “Daughter of Bluegrass”
August 8, 2012
L to R: Becky Schlegel, Jana Dolakova Mougin, Miss Dixie Hall, Rebekah Long, Donna Ulisse & Jeanette Williams
Hadley Music artist Donna Ulisse was thrilled to get a call from Miss Dixie Hall to sing on her upcoming Daughters of Bluegrass project. The project will be a boxed set of songs written by Dixie Hall and Tom T. Hall. All of the instrumentation and vocals are provided by women in the Bluegrass music arena.
Donna had an added thrill when one of her longtime vocal favorites Fayssoux McLean drove in from South Carolina to sing harmony with her and then found out that Pam Tillis added her voice to the tune also!
Fayssoux McLean and Donna Ulisse
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Natasha Borzilova plays WDVX Blue Plate Special
July 30, 2012
Natasha Borzilova made her debut appearance on the world famous WDVX Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN on July 26, 2012. The show is broadcast live from the Knoxville Visitor’s Center in downtown Knoxville and people listen in online from the world over.
Natasha performing on WDVX Blue Plate Special
Natasha with Blue Plate Special host Red Hickey
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