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WFMC Jams
WFMC Jams is an online internet radio station committed to bringing you original music as well as your favorite classics from a variety of local artists in the area. The station was founded on June 24, 2012 right after the Third Annual Fam Jam music festival in Manchester, TN. The idea came up as a way to continue to give back to the local and regional songwriters and performers in the area year round by promoting their music.
Website URL: https://www.wfmcjams.com
Ridge Banks is a singer-songwriter in Nashville, recently relocated from Washington DC. Originally from the small town of Fenton, Michigan, Ridge grew up in a very musical family and started performing at a young age. He is the pioneer of the recent Rugged Acoustic Movement incorporating the picking styles of Jim Croce, John Denver and Eric Clapton with the percussive, rhythmic pulse of artists such as Ed Sheeran, John Mayer and Tommy Emmanuel. Ridge’s use of alternative tunings gives his music an authentic edge resembling Steven Stills, Joe Bonamassa or Dave Mathews. His music has been described as “a contrast of Light and Darkness in attempt to reflect our most Authentic selves”. His first 5 song EP was released in 2016, and his debut album was released in November 2018. Ridge is also the co-founder of GreenScotch Productions, an entertainment company and recording studio, working out of its Washington DC studio from 2009-2019, before moving to Nashville in 2019. Ridge is working on a new album with his recently formed, quarantine, garage band. Look for "Ridge Banks and the Wall of Sound" on tour when the world's stages open up again.
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The Midnight Madness Show can be heard live on WFMC Jams every Tuesday from 7-9pm central
Macy Tabor is a 17 year old singer songwriter who is a force to be reckoned with. Her stage presence and impressive yodels, set her in a niche of her own. Compared to a young Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, or Tanya Tucker, this seasoned young artist has been said to have all the sassiness and class of her idols Shania Twain and Miranda Lambert. Macy has been performing on stage since the wee age of four. She says the bigger the crowd to perform in front of, the better. That would explain why performing the National Anthem in front of nearly 10,000 spectators in attendance for the Vanderbilt Commodores, came so naturally for her. She has performed on stages from Los Angeles, CA, Ft. Myers, FL, Sevierville, TN, Chattanooga, TN, to where she can now be found performing regularly at some of Nashville's hottest spots. She has also performed on several different stages during the CMA Music Festival over the past several years. As a former co-host on an internet radio show in Nashville called The Kids Radio Club Show, Macy was also a former emcee and performer on The Nashville Spotlight. In 2016, as a nominee in several categories, Macy had the honor of performing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center during the Josie Music Awards for Independent Artist in Nashville, TN. She was the 2017 Young Adult Rising Star Award Winner at the JMAs. In 2018, Macy was nominated for Young Adult Vocalist and Young Adult Artist of The Year at The Josie Music Awards. With receiving three nominations in 2019, Macy brought home the JMA Young Adult Artist of The Year Award for Independent Artist. As winner of the first Lynchburg Winery Shine On Series Singer/Songwriter Competiton in 2018, Macy's songwriting has been compared to that of a young Taylor Swift's style of writing. Winning this competition gave her the opportunity to be the first artist to ever play on the main stage, of the first ever Lynchburg Music Festival in 2019. In 2018, Macy held the title of Miss Lynchburg Outstanding Teen. She serves as a Lead Junior Spokesmodel for the Confidently Ready by Josie Passantino cosmetic, skin care, and hair care line. In her spare time, Macy enjoys volunteering in her community, and for any cause that is in support of our military and our veterans. Macy serves as an advocate for Notes for Notes, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing youth with completely free access to music instruments, instruction, and recording studio environments. Her involvement with "Notes For Notes" lead her to being able to perform all four days at the 2019 Bonnaroo Music Festival, in her hometown of Manchester, TN, on the Musicians On Call Stage. She has also had the honor of being part of a collaboration with country music siinger/songwriter Kane Brown and US Bank at the Notes For Notes studio in Nashville. This was on a continuation series with the CMA Foundation to support music education opportunities in schools and nonprofit organizations where there is a great need. Not only is she a sought after singer songwriter, she is also an accredited actress and model.
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The Midnight Madness Show can be heard live on WFMC Jams every Tuesday from 7-9pm central
A great voice, good looks and a magnetic personality have long been the minimum standard for those striving for stardom in today’s Country music market. Only a few entertainers reach the top: the bold, the extraordinary, the lucky; those with the undefinable “it” factor that marks them for success. Jimmy Charles easily meets those requirements with his rugged good looks, soulful voice, and empowered performance style. He’s made a national name for himself with his compelling originals, and he’s toured the country opening for Lady Antebellum, Montgomery Gentry, Kip Moore, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Turner, Merle Haggard, and others.
Jimmy’s succeeded in a business where great singers are a dime a dozen and your good looks won’t buy you a cup of coffee. “I was always focused on baseball and football, but I fell in love with the ‘3-chord and the truth’ songs my dad played,” the Ocean City native recalls. “I learned from him and the memories of us just sitting around together playing are some of my favorites.” After graduating from Towson University, Jimmy began playing at clubs across Maryland. “I woke up one day and realized that the days of shoulder pads and helmets were over, and I made the decision to pursue my music seriously. I never looked back,” Charles reflects. “I moved to Nashville after getting my degree, tried out for Nashville Star along with 40,000 other people and made it to the Top 50,” he says. “Even though I didn’t win, getting that far made me believe I could do this.”
A Season 9 American Idol contestant who earned his ticket to “Hollywood” via unanimous vote, Jimmy proved again and again that he had the ability – and the drive – to make it as a member of a very exclusive club; successful entertainers with the power to change lives. And that’s exactly what Jimmy is banking on as he gives his all to his music every day. Unlike most who strive for stardom, it isn’t money, glamour or ego that motivate him; Jimmy is propelled forward by the desire to make a positive difference in people’s lives. A national spokesman for ZERO Cancer since 2014, Charles is melding music and mission to spread the message of cancer prevention/early detection, using his talent to amplify his reach. “They’re focused on prostate cancer and are a huge voice for men,” Jimmy notes of ZERO. “They want to conquer the disease through research, advocacy and education. It is an amazing organization with a fantastic mission and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
While the singer/songwriter found early success in 2014 with his first single, “Whatever It Takes,” the power of “Superman” earned him a solid national presence. Written specifically for ZERO to promote prostate cancer awareness with friend and bandmate Goose Gossett (who also produced) and cancer survivor/mentor Phil Shulka, the song’s companion video premiered on CMT, trending in the #1 spot for over a week. The clip also aired on GAC, ZUUS (now known as The Country Network) and Heartland, putting the newcomer front and center before hundreds of thousands of fans.
“We got over 5,000 shares the first day on CMT,” Charles recalls. “That’s not views, it’s shares. When I started getting emails and Facebook messages from folks who’d lost a loved one, or who were struggling with cancer themselves, and it hit me how much difference a song could make. When you know you can have that kind of impact, it seems incredibly selfish not to give it your all.” Giving it his all is the norm for Jimmy. He is still heavily involved with ZERO, performing at runs/walks across the country and helping to raise millions for the organization. He was named Outstanding Young Tennessean (2017) for his work against the disease and is nominated for Ten Outstanding Young Americans award this year. In addition to his work for ZERO, Charles recently formed his own non-profit, #IAMNOTALONE, which focuses on the strength and well-being of cancer survivors. “It’s not limited to one type of cancer patient,” Jimmy notes. “There’s an old saying that ‘to be inspired is great, to inspire others is amazing’ and that’s so true,” he admits. “We’ve all been touched by this disease – I’ve lost my grandmother and two uncles and have one uncle who’s a survivor. We should all be willing to do whatever is in our power to do to change that.”
“Superman” put Jimmy in the spotlight and his next single, “Bout Summertime,” showcased his more adventurous and carefree side, and landed him on the MusicRow Chart. “It’s just a fun song about the beach,” Jimmy admits with a laugh. “I wrote it based on my own memories of growing up around the ocean.” The bouncy, feel-good number’s companion video was filmed while Charles was in the U.S. Virgin Islands to perform during the renowned Texas Society of the Virgin Islands festival in Brewers Bay Beach. The clip continues to enjoy play in Margaritaville locations, casinos, and other Country-oriented outlets.
Jimmy’s current single is the passionate “I Am Not Alone” a song he co-wrote with C.J. Garton and Rich Fehle. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell (Rod Stewart, Al Green, John Mayer), the song’s compelling message of hope and strength offers Jimmy’s best vocal performance to date. “The single is already getting enormous early response from my fans, and it will be on my upcoming EP, TEN,” says the humble singer/songwriter. The project is due out in November and Charles believes its truly defines him as an artist. “I’m a guy who writes and sings and loves music,” Jimmy states. “I wanna share that love. I’ve learned so much from these survivors and I want to continue to help them anyway that I can,” he says. “Their stories break my heart, but our journey together makes me whole.”
LINKS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cowboy-soul/id563317270
www.reverbnation.com/jimmycharles
www.facebook.com/jimmycharlesfans
www.twitter.com/jimmycharles92
Jimmy’s succeeded in a business where great singers are a dime a dozen and your good looks won’t buy you a cup of coffee. “I was always focused on baseball and football, but I fell in love with the ‘3-chord and the truth’ songs my dad played,” the Ocean City native recalls. “I learned from him and the memories of us just sitting around together playing are some of my favorites.” After graduating from Towson University, Jimmy began playing at clubs across Maryland. “I woke up one day and realized that the days of shoulder pads and helmets were over, and I made the decision to pursue my music seriously. I never looked back,” Charles reflects. “I moved to Nashville after getting my degree, tried out for Nashville Star along with 40,000 other people and made it to the Top 50,” he says. “Even though I didn’t win, getting that far made me believe I could do this.”
A Season 9 American Idol contestant who earned his ticket to “Hollywood” via unanimous vote, Jimmy proved again and again that he had the ability – and the drive – to make it as a member of a very exclusive club; successful entertainers with the power to change lives. And that’s exactly what Jimmy is banking on as he gives his all to his music every day. Unlike most who strive for stardom, it isn’t money, glamour or ego that motivate him; Jimmy is propelled forward by the desire to make a positive difference in people’s lives. A national spokesman for ZERO Cancer since 2014, Charles is melding music and mission to spread the message of cancer prevention/early detection, using his talent to amplify his reach. “They’re focused on prostate cancer and are a huge voice for men,” Jimmy notes of ZERO. “They want to conquer the disease through research, advocacy and education. It is an amazing organization with a fantastic mission and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
While the singer/songwriter found early success in 2014 with his first single, “Whatever It Takes,” the power of “Superman” earned him a solid national presence. Written specifically for ZERO to promote prostate cancer awareness with friend and bandmate Goose Gossett (who also produced) and cancer survivor/mentor Phil Shulka, the song’s companion video premiered on CMT, trending in the #1 spot for over a week. The clip also aired on GAC, ZUUS (now known as The Country Network) and Heartland, putting the newcomer front and center before hundreds of thousands of fans.
“We got over 5,000 shares the first day on CMT,” Charles recalls. “That’s not views, it’s shares. When I started getting emails and Facebook messages from folks who’d lost a loved one, or who were struggling with cancer themselves, and it hit me how much difference a song could make. When you know you can have that kind of impact, it seems incredibly selfish not to give it your all.” Giving it his all is the norm for Jimmy. He is still heavily involved with ZERO, performing at runs/walks across the country and helping to raise millions for the organization. He was named Outstanding Young Tennessean (2017) for his work against the disease and is nominated for Ten Outstanding Young Americans award this year. In addition to his work for ZERO, Charles recently formed his own non-profit, #IAMNOTALONE, which focuses on the strength and well-being of cancer survivors. “It’s not limited to one type of cancer patient,” Jimmy notes. “There’s an old saying that ‘to be inspired is great, to inspire others is amazing’ and that’s so true,” he admits. “We’ve all been touched by this disease – I’ve lost my grandmother and two uncles and have one uncle who’s a survivor. We should all be willing to do whatever is in our power to do to change that.”
“Superman” put Jimmy in the spotlight and his next single, “Bout Summertime,” showcased his more adventurous and carefree side, and landed him on the MusicRow Chart. “It’s just a fun song about the beach,” Jimmy admits with a laugh. “I wrote it based on my own memories of growing up around the ocean.” The bouncy, feel-good number’s companion video was filmed while Charles was in the U.S. Virgin Islands to perform during the renowned Texas Society of the Virgin Islands festival in Brewers Bay Beach. The clip continues to enjoy play in Margaritaville locations, casinos, and other Country-oriented outlets.
Jimmy’s current single is the passionate “I Am Not Alone” a song he co-wrote with C.J. Garton and Rich Fehle. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell (Rod Stewart, Al Green, John Mayer), the song’s compelling message of hope and strength offers Jimmy’s best vocal performance to date. “The single is already getting enormous early response from my fans, and it will be on my upcoming EP, TEN,” says the humble singer/songwriter. The project is due out in November and Charles believes its truly defines him as an artist. “I’m a guy who writes and sings and loves music,” Jimmy states. “I wanna share that love. I’ve learned so much from these survivors and I want to continue to help them anyway that I can,” he says. “Their stories break my heart, but our journey together makes me whole.”
LINKS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cowboy-soul/id563317270
www.reverbnation.com/jimmycharles
www.facebook.com/jimmycharlesfans
www.twitter.com/jimmycharles92
The Midnight Madness Show can be heard live on WFMC Jams every Tuesday from 7-9pm central
"It sounds like Johnathan has written a soundtrack to a sequel film for 'That Thing You Do,' if there ever were to be one."
He doesn’t hail from Liverpool or the sunny beaches of California, but Johnathan Pushkar is a modern power pop artist worthy of your toe-tapping time. In the words of Lord Rutledge’s Faster and Louder Blog, “Pushkar’s music is a reminder that there’s no shelf life for perfect melodies, relatable lyrical storytelling, and utterly endearing vocals. The future of power pop is a lot like it’s past, and we should all be glad!” Give Johnathan a minute of your time, and he will have you bopping to his catchy tunes.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, Johnathan’s biggest influences were the pop artists of the 1960s, primarily the "British Invasion.” Acts like The Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The Searchers, The Beach Boys, and The Monkees were in constant rotation for Pushkar growing up. Later, he came around to “That Thing You Do!” and Fountains of Wayne, which infused a modern influence on his music.
Johnathan began playing guitar at age 10 and writing songs in his early teens. Though he dabbled with guitar lessons, he’s mostly self-taught. After graduating from the Department of Public Relations at Belmont University in Nashville, he stayed in Music City to further his music career.
Website: https://www.johnathanpushkar.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_pushkar/
The Midnight Madness Show can be heard live on WFMC Jams every Tuesday from 7-9pm central