CLEVELAND, Miss. — Christmas comes early to the Bologna Performing Arts Center, presenting Diamond Rio: Holiday and Hits on Tuesday, December 5. The award-winning country group made a splash on the Music City scene in the early 90s and are noted for their smooth harmonies and timeless country music. Featuring a set of their top-charting hits as well as holiday classics, Diamond Rio: Holiday and Hits showcases a joyful setlist just in time for the holiday season.
Diamond Rio signed to Arista Records in 1991 and with the release of “Meet In The Middle,” and became the first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single. The band is also known for their hits “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “One More Day,” “Beautiful Mess,” “Unbelievable,” “In A Week or Two,” and more. They released their first-ever autobiography, Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio on Thomas Nelson in 2009.
The band known for playing every note on every album recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary, has sold more than 10 million albums, won a GRAMMY Award, a Dove Award, six Vocal Group of the Year wins (CMA and ACM), released two greatest hits albums, a live and Christmas project, earned five multi-week number 1 singles, 22 top 10 singles, three certified platinum and five gold albums, and released an autobiography. Known for their charity commitments including long-time spokespersons for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the band has raised over $1,000,000.00 for non-profits and received the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award.
Diamond Rio’s most recent release, I Made It, is their tenth studio album. The title track was co-written by the band’s lead guitarist, Jimmy Olander, and features 11 new songs. Produced by Olander and Mike Clute, I Made It is available on iTunes and www.diamondrio.com.
Known for making timeless country music for over thirty years, Diamond Rio recently announced new music and band member changes. “The Kick,” the highly anticipated track, not only showcases the GRAMMY award-winning band’s talents, but also signifies a new chapter in their distinguished career with the introduction of two new bandmates. The formation that became known as the six-time Vocal Group of the Year, Diamond Rio, was formed in 1989 and consisted of Marty Roe (lead vocals), Jimmy Olander (guitar/banjo), Dana Williams (bass/vocals), Dan Truman (piano), Brian Prout (drums), and Gene Johnson (mandolin/vocals), and up until recently have had no member changes. After a remarkable 33-year journey, the band bid farewell to retiring members, Brian Prout and Gene Johnson, and welcomes new bandmates, Carson McKee (fiddle/harmony vocals) and Micah Schweinsberg (drums).
“The Kick,” is the first song and video to be released under the new band configuration and displays the mastery of their respective instruments as it delivers a captivating blend of country-meets-bluegrass. The fast-paced and musically intriguing instrumental features the two new members in the accompanying music video filmed in Franklin, Tennessee. The video was directed by the band’s drummer and new member Micah Schweinsberg. The band’s long-time guitar player, Jimmy Olander, developed and wrote the treatment.
The BPAC Fall 2023 Series is made possible by support from the following Premier Sponsors: Cannon Motors, Needle Specialty Products, Robinson Electric Company, and Wade, Inc.; Executive Sponsors Bolivar Medical Center, Gainspoletti Financial, Guaranty Bank, Planters Bank, and Quality Steel; and VIP Sponsors Agriworld, Inc., BankPlus, Bayer, Cleveland State Bank, Cotton House, Entergy, Renasant Bank, and Visit Cleveland.
For more information about Diamond Rio: Holiday and Hits and venue features, please visit bolognapac.comor contact the ticket office at the Bologna Performing Arts Center at 662-846-4626.
