Janie Fricke has once again added to her already hefty musical arsenal.
After going from a jingle singer (Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Red Lobster are among the corporations that featured her vocals) to a back up singer for A-list hit makers including Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, to a duet partner with Merle Haggard and Charlie Rich, Fricke became an A-list singer herself starting with the 1981 solo hit “Down to My Last Broken Heart.” Now the singer, who has 18 No. 1 singles, is touring behind Country Side of Bluegrass and reintroducing her songs and voice to a new generation of fans.
“At first when they asked me to do it, I thought it’d be pretty interesting,” said Fricke of the album she completed with famed Nashville producer Bil VornDick. “Then the whole plan came together that included [recording and some touring] with the Roys.”
Combining the sound of the brother and sister duo of Elaine Roy and Lee Roy, two-time Inspirational Country Music Duo of the Year award winners, with the much-lauded Fricke whose awards include the much coveted CMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” Award, give the album’s 12 tracks (plus the “Ring of Fire” bonus track) true distinction.
