{"id":21002,"date":"2023-06-02T11:06:55","date_gmt":"2023-06-02T18:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/?p=21002"},"modified":"2023-06-02T11:06:55","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T18:06:55","slug":"the-kody-norris-show-otto-wood-with-web-exclusive-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/2023\/06\/the-kody-norris-show-otto-wood-with-web-exclusive-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"THE KODY NORRIS SHOW &#8220;Otto Wood&#8221; &#8211; with Web-Exclusive Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>THE KODY NORRIS SHOW \u201cOtto Wood\u201d \u2013 with Web-Exclusive Interview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Musician:\u00a0 THE KODY NORRIS SHOW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video:\u00a0 \u201cOtto Wood\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o5Mx3BMfizE\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>THE KODY NORRIS SHOW\u2019S<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><em>RHINESTONE REVIVAL<\/em><\/strong><strong> AND BLUEGRASS REVOLUTION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">by Rodeo Hanson and Merlin David<\/p>\n<p>A ten-gallon Stetson hat perched above Kody Norris accentuates his cherubic face,\u00a0sideburns, beaming smile and\u00a0youthful exuberance.\u00a0Arrayed in flamboyant\u00a0suits adorned\u00a0with embroidered pink flamingos, butterflies, flowers, rhinestones,\u00a0fringes and ornate cowboy boots, the singer-songwriter and musician invokes Porter\u00a0Wagoner and the early days<em>\u00a0<\/em>of The Grand Ole Opry. He is the frontman of the eponymous bluegrass quartet The Kody Norris Show. Since 2015, Norris\u2019 music has delivered new devotees into the fold of the Appalachian-rooted American genre. The Kody Norris Show is now perfectly poised to bring a piece of Johnson County, Tennessee honky-tonk to the world with their 2023 sophomore release <em>Rhinestone Revival,<\/em>\u00a0which is filled\u00a0to the brim with a dozen new tracks worthy\u00a0of a belletrist.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\nRhinestone Revival<em>\u00a0<\/em><em>transports the listener to the mountains of East Tennessee.\u00a0With the accuracy of an inspired auteur,\u00a0The Kody Norris Show frames each musical vignette with\u00a0banjo picking and fiddle playing virtuosity.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Kody Norris\u2019 backstory begins in Johnson County, Tennessee home\u00a0to musicians like Clint Howard, Fred Price and Clarence \u201cTom\u201d Ashley. As of the 2020 census, Johnson County reported a population of 17,948 people. Virginia and North Carolina are the community\u2019s neighbors, but the area has broadened its geographical borders by crossing over and into pop culture. Steve Earle\u2019s song \u201cCopperhead Road,\u201d a dark moonshine and bootlegging cautionary tale is set in Johnson County. In April 2023, The Tennessee General Assembly ratified an act acknowledging the composition as the state\u2019s eleventh official state song.\u00a0Joan Van Ark played a character named Valene Ewing on the CBS prime time television soap\u00a0<em>Dallas.\u00a0<\/em>Ewing\u2019s childhood home in the script was Johnson County.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01-The-Kody-Norris-Show.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21003\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01-The-Kody-Norris-Show.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01-The-Kody-Norris-Show.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/01-The-Kody-Norris-Show-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Norris grew\u00a0up in the mountains of East Tennessee, and those cordilleras are part of his DNA, both personally and musically. The creative spark for Norris was ignited when he was 10 years old in the form of a used mandolin, a gift from his parents. East Tennessee\u2019s music flavor is bluegrass, which led to Norris expanding his resume of music instrument proclivity to include guitar, banjo and bass. At 15, Kody sought out opportunities to be part of the music business. He played many roles: sideman, studio musician, music instructor and emcee. It was Norris\u2019 talents as a multi-instrumentalist and singer which resulted in stints playing with bluegrass artists Ralph Stanley, Ralph Stanley II and Joe Isaacs.<\/p>\n<p>Sharing a birthday with bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, it is almost as if fate has ordained Norris as the artist responsible for carrying the torch for early American music in the 21<sup>st<\/sup>\u00a0century.\u00a0A fortuitous encounter with Campbell Mercer, executive producer of the\u00a0<em>Cumberland Highlanders Show\u00a0<\/em>on the RFD-TV network, resulted in a nine-year spell for Norris playing guitar on the program. In 2006, Norris formed his own band, Kody Norris and the Watauga Mountain Boys, drawing upon his early creative influences: Bill\u00a0Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, Jim and Jesse, and others. In 2015, the band was denominated The Kody Norris Show, a moniker fitting its engineer.<\/p>\n<p>Accolades followed The Kody Norris Show two years after its inception.\u00a0\u201cWhen I Get The Money Made\u201d released in 2017,\u00a0secured Bluegrass Album of the Year from the National Traditional Country Music Association (NTCMA). In\u00a02018, Kody Norris earned the slot of Rising Legend Recipient from the NTCMA. That same year, the Society for Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) recognized the ensemble with six nominations for the SPBGMA Awards:\u00a0Male Vocalist of the Year, Fiddle Performer of the Year, Guitar Performer of the Year, Banjo Performer of the Year, Bass Performer of the Year, and Best Overall Bluegrass Group.\u00a0Rebel Records based in Charlottesville, VA\u00a0has been a home for renowned bluegrass artists since the 1960s. In 2019, the label signed The Kody Norris Show, and three years\u00a0later\u00a0<em>All Suited Up<\/em>\u00a0was\u00a0released. The album debuted at #7 on the Billboard Music Charts. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) tapped the troupe as Momentum Band of the Year Finalist.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02-Alt-Logo-The-Kody-Norris-Show.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21004\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02-Alt-Logo-The-Kody-Norris-Show.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"514\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02-Alt-Logo-The-Kody-Norris-Show.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/02-Alt-Logo-The-Kody-Norris-Show-300x234.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Rhinestone Revival<\/em>\u00a0transports the listener to the mountains of East Tennessee.\u00a0With the accuracy of an inspired auteur,\u00a0The Kody Norris Show frames each musical vignette with\u00a0banjo picking and fiddle playing virtuosity.\u00a0Kody Norris lovingly caresses\u00a0guitar strings. Norris\u2019 \u201clittle sweetie,\u201d and wife Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris provides the rich fiddle sound for the group. Before joining The Kody Norris Show,\u00a0Rachel was a member of\u00a0Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers. Josiah Tyree on banjo, and \u2018Cousin\u2019 Charlie Lowman on bass complete the lineup and complement the band\u2019s musical identity.<\/p>\n<p>The album\u00a0hits the ground running with upbeat tempos\u00a0more\u00a0energizing than the caffeine in a double shot of\u00a0espresso. \u201cMountain Rosalie,\u201d is a definitive ditty celebrating the virtues of mountain sweethearts,\u00a0hillbilly babies and pistol-packing mamas. It served as the album\u2019s first single in October 2022, along with a lyric video.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBaltimore I\u2019m Leaving\u201d is an ode of a country boy who tries to adjust to bright lights and big city life. The women he encounters have ulterior motives and aren\u2019t the marrying kind.\u00a0He is subsequently disillusioned by the Metropolitan\u2019s thin facade and superficial values,\u00a0longing to return to his farm in Tennessee. Norris amplifies the autobiographical sentiment of the composition, \u201cGrowing up in the mountains of East Tennessee, most people would tell you\u2014if you want a good job, head to a northern city and try your luck. Well, me being in the music business and Baltimore being a hub for bluegrass music, I headed that way. I found the money and also found out in a hurry that the city life wasn\u2019t my cup of tea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFiddler\u2019s Rock\u201d just squeaked by making the final cut for the album. Mary Rachel pushed Norris for years to record the song, but he always pushed it to the side. Once they got into the studio with a fresh arrangement, Norris feels it\u2019s probably one of the strongest cuts on the album, \u201cI love history, and this is definitely a song about that! I\u2019m excited to take a piece of history to the masses about my home county in Tennessee\u2014Johnson County.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLooking at the World through a Windshield\u201d is a straight forward story as the title implies of a truck driver\u2019s perspective on life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease Tell Me Why\u201d\u00a0explores in\u00a0painful detail hearts associated with dwindling flames of a dying romance.\u00a0The lyrical content displays tear-jerking honesty. This is the perfect song for a couple\u2019s last dance\u00a0as they sway back and forth in each other\u2019s arms before calling it quits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGotta Get My Baby Back\u201d has an alternate take on rocky romances. The story\u2019s narrator is more optimistic about restoring the relationship and winning his baby back, and a more positive resolution is delivered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEndless Highway\u201d is another entry for the lovelorn, told from the woman\u2019s point of view, and\u00a0the object of her affection resides like all good things on the album in Tennessee. Mary Rachel\u00a0Nalley-Norris takes center stage, lending a lead vocal to the song which was popularized by Alison Krauss in 1990.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOtto Wood\u201d is a true-crime slice of Americana\u2014a thief who challenges society\u2019s rules\u00a0and a sheriff. It\u00a0showcases a rip-roaring acoustic intro featuring guitar and harmonica. It\u2019s an old murder ballad that reflects the influence of Jimmy Martin, in particular. Otto Wood was a man who went into a pawn shop and after an altercation, he handled the situation in an unfortunate way\u2014resulting with life in prison. As the song story delivers, Otto refused to accept his fate\u2014making an escape from prison his only option. Although the ending for Otto didn\u2019t work out, his story has been around for years, and The Kody Norris Show has managed to tell the story\u2014as only they can.\u00a0The track has a history with Norris. He\u00a0learned the song from his\u00a0good friend Clint Howard, who played with Doc Watson in the 60s. Norris played banjo with Clint\u2019s band when he (Norris) was\u00a0younger and\u00a0they did this song often.\u00a0Norris adds, \u201cWe experimented around with this song and found a different feel. Josiah plays the harmonica and I love to play drop D tuning on the guitar. This song was the perfect one to add those touches to, and happy we recorded it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mmusicmag.com is featuring \u201cOtto Wood.\u201d Norris loves story songs and this is one of his\u00a0favorites. Kody Norris says, \u201cIt goes into detail about his life and his ultimate demise\u2014offering the listener a true story of a man who may have made some bad decisions. But this many years later, he is still remembered. I sure hope you like it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI Call Her Sunshine\u201d a romantic metaphor floods the album\u2019s canvas with bright colors needed to balance the other romance-based narratives with a lead vocal by banjo picker\u00a0Josiah Tyree.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet All the Girls Know You\u2019re a Cowboy\u201d and\u00a0\u201cMy Home in Virginia\u201d\u00a0signal the end of the journey. Both\u00a0tracks are unapologetic, self- assured and have the potential to become bluegrass anthems.<\/p>\n<p><em>Rhinestone Revival<\/em>\u00a0is produced by Darin Aldridge, who also contributes mandolin to several tracks. The album highlights\u00a0additional guests\u2019 talents: Brooke Aldridge (Darin\u2019s wife) furnishing\u00a0 harmony vocals, Jason Barie (from Joe Mullins &amp; The Radio Ramblers) contributing\u00a0 second fiddle to several songs, percussionist Tony Creasman, and David Johnson, whose passionate harmonica playing on \u201cOtto Wood\u201d bestows a distinct country flavor to the song.<\/p>\n<p>Kody Norris was the scribe for\u00a0four of the\u00a0compositions: \u201cBaltimore I\u2019m Leaving,\u201d \u201cFiddler\u2019s Rock,\u201d \u201cPlease Tell Me Why,\u201d and \u201cGotta Get My Baby Back.\u201d\u00a0\u201cWe are so excited to share the news of our brand-new album\u00a0available today for pre-order on your favorite streaming platforms,\u201d shares Kody Norris.<\/p>\n<p>The Kody Norris Show\u00a0tours consistently. In 2019, the group played more than 110 dates. They are scheduled for several dates throughout North America this summer.<\/p>\n<p><em>Rhinestone Revival<\/em>\u00a0is a virtual road trip of our musical expression and has something to offer every listener. Recording this project was a blast and we certainly hope you enjoy it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/05-40-AJRP1456-1-scaled-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21007\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/05-40-AJRP1456-1-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/05-40-AJRP1456-1-scaled-1.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/05-40-AJRP1456-1-scaled-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>M Music &amp; Musicians\u00a0<\/em>magazine talked with Kody Norris about his eclectic musical influences, the importance of a good song, highlights in his career so far, and what inspires him to keep making music.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What one main thing did you learn about yourself after recording the new album <em>Rhinestone Revival<\/em>?<br \/>\n<\/strong>One thing I can honestly say that I learned about myself through the recording process is perseverance. Some days in the studio, and even some days live, you don\u2019t feel you\u2019re up to 100 percent, but you have to have the mindset to keep going. During the recording process, I was battling some sinus problems. However, I stuck it out. And I\u2019m so happy I did. The album turned out to be one of my favorites this far.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did this album evolve? Did one song inspire the rest of the album?<br \/>\n<\/strong>I think sometimes when I\u2019m going into recording an album, there\u2019s no rhyme or reason to what I\u2019m going to do. I usually just let the music lead the way.\u00a0<em>Rhinestone Revival<\/em>\u00a0is definitely a roller coaster of emotions from \u201cGotta Get My Baby Back\u201d barn burner to the sad broken-hearted man in \u201cPlease Tell Me Why.\u201d We are big fans of letting the album tell us what we need to play.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/04-All-Suited-Up.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21006\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/04-All-Suited-Up.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/04-All-Suited-Up.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/04-All-Suited-Up-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/04-All-Suited-Up-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Which 5 songwriters continue to influence you?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Joe Isaacs, Carter Stanley, Gordon Lightfoot, Loretta Lynn and Albert E. Brumley.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is there a\u00a0songwriting tip you\u2019d like to offer?<br \/>\n<\/strong>If you feel it and it moves you\u2014write about it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which song of yours do you continue to include in almost every live show?<br \/>\n<\/strong>A song of mine that we continue to incorporate in the show is definitely \u201cLove Bug.\u201d That song relaunched the Kody Norris Show as it was our first single released from Rebel Records to radio.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us 5 albums you listened to the most.<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/strong><em>16 Greatest Hits<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The Stanley Brothers<br \/>\n<em>Tarheel Country<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The Bluegrass Tarheels<br \/>\n<em>Bill Monroe at His Best<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Bill Monroe<br \/>\n<em>Greatest Hits<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Porter Wagoner<br \/>\n<em>Ballad of Finley Preston<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Clint Howard &amp; Fred Price (with their sons Clarence Howard &amp; Kenny Price)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us about a moment in your musical journey so far\u2014that you are really proud of\u2014and that continues to inspire you to keep making music.<br \/>\n<\/strong>One of my special moments by far was in February of 2022.\u00a0We were so fortunate to bring home the Entertainer of the Year Award from the Society for Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA). I\u2019ve dedicated my entire life to bluegrass music and I always try to present it in a classy manner in which I think fans will enjoy. So receiving\u00a0this award nominated by the fans made everything come full circle.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where can new fans get more info and stay updated?<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thekodynorrisshow.com\/\">www.TheKodyNorrisShow.com<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thekodynorrisshow\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thekodynorrisshow<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thekodynorrisshow\/\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thekodynorrisshow\/<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thekodynorrisshow\">https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thekodynorrisshow<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kodynorrisshow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/kodynorrisshow<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCEl6QOzdNT3oeJFTC37b71w\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCEl6QOzdNT3oeJFTC37b71w<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/06-The-Kody-Norris-Show-scaled-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21008\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/06-The-Kody-Norris-Show-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/06-The-Kody-Norris-Show-scaled-1.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/06-The-Kody-Norris-Show-scaled-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE KODY NORRIS SHOW \u201cOtto Wood\u201d \u2013 with Web-Exclusive Interview Musician:\u00a0 THE KODY NORRIS SHOW Video:\u00a0 \u201cOtto Wood\u201d \ufeff \u00a0 \u00a0THE KODY NORRIS SHOW\u2019S RHINESTONE REVIVAL AND BLUEGRASS REVOLUTION by Rodeo Hanson and Merlin David A ten-gallon Stetson hat perched above Kody Norris accentuates his cherubic face,\u00a0sideburns, beaming smile and\u00a0youthful exuberance.\u00a0Arrayed in flamboyant\u00a0suits adorned\u00a0with embroidered [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":21012,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7725],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21002"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21002"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21011,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21002\/revisions\/21011"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}