Thanks for the Music - Country Music for the Country Music Enthusiast

Country Music News for the Country Music Enthusiast

The Innocent Years

"I need to go down and wash my face
Deep in the river of my old homeplace
I need to walk in the waters
That once gave me life
Go over and walk the old railroad tracks
See if I can follow it all the way back
back to where my vision is clear
Back to the days of the innocent years"
from "Innocent Years"

Artist: KATHY MATTEA
Album Title: The Innocent Years
Producers: Ben Wisch, Keith Stegall 
            & Kathy Mattea
Release Date: May 16, 2000
First Single: "Trouble With Angels"

Kathy Mattea has earned the respect of country music fans, music critics and industry insiders time and time again with her amazing voice and impeccable song choices. After three years Mattea returns with one of her most emotional and cohesive projects to date. The Innocent Years marks the first time Mattea has worked with producer Keith Stegall and she again works with Ben Wisch. Mattea spent much of the last few years dealing with the emotional roller coaster of her parents' fragile health and the record reflects the way the prospect of loss forces one to reassess life's priorities.

"A lot of us have so much information coming at us every day, and life has gotten so complicated," says Mattea. "A lot of people are trying to get back to something simpler, to the essence of what life is about. That's what I'm trying to explore in my music."

Photo by Joey Jackson

Kathy Mattea Album Discography

Title	Released
Kathy Mattea	03/22/84
From My Heart	03/07/85
Walk The Way The Wind Blows	10/06/86
Untasted Honey	10/05/87
Willow In The Wind	03/27/89
A Collection Of Hits	08/21/90
Time Passes By	03/19/91
Lonesome Standard Time	10/06/92
Good News	10/05/93
Walking Away A Winner	05/17/94
Red Hot + Country (compilation)	09/13/94
Love Travels	02/04/97
The Innocent Years	05/16/2000

Kathy Mattea and Her Band - Concert Shots

Kathy getting ready to go on The Grand Ole Opry	Kathy performing at her Fan Club Party June 1999
Kathy performing at her Fan Club Party	Kathy in concert
Kathy's band member Carson Whitsett	Kathy and her very talented band
Kathy's long time band member Bill Cooley	One of Kathy's roadies Jay Lipschutz
Kathy's long time band member Gerry Gillespie	Kathy's band member backup singer Terri Wilson

Kathy's band member Chris Carmichael.

A special note from Glenda S. Paradee of Thanks for the Music

When I first heard Kathy Mattea's new CD, "The Innocent Years", I was floored. It is such a wonderful CD. Every song has such deep emotion and each song contain a special message. The whole CD flows from the first tract to the last. Mattea invited many talented musicians and backup singers on this CD. To me, this CD is a masterpiece. It affected me in a very personal way. This will be one of my most favorite CD's, ever! Please go out and get it and see for yourselves.

The other day I was lucky enough to get thru on the phone to a radio program called "Nashville Live". They had Kathy Mattea in the studio that night for a live interview. I got to ask Kathy a question live on the radio. I asked Kathy: "What is your favorite aspect of being a Country Music Star?" Kathy answered, "I've been doing this for 15 years now. It's a wonderful way to make a living. It's great to make a living at something you do even if they didn't pay you." "I've gotten to see the world and I've managed to make connections with people that I don't even know that sometimes are very real. And people come up to you and tell you stories about songs and it could be a real moving thing. I've made a lot of friends! It's just a wonderful life!"

Kathy-Thanks for the Music!

Back to the Spotlight On Kathy Mattea
Kathy and Her Special Relationship with her Fans
Spotlight Home Page