DAVE ADKINS - http://daveadkinsmusic.com

 

There is no mistaking the raw and powerful vocals by singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Adkins. His significant chart success, coupled with his stellar live performances, have made him one of most talked about artist in acoustic music.

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Adkins was born in Pikeville, Kentucky and makes his home in Elkhorn City. He began playing and singing when he was just eight years old and joined a band with fellow classmates performing at schools and other venues. At 17, he began playing bluegrass music at Dollywood where he stayed two years. A year later, Adkins was named a Kentucky Colonel – the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the governor and the secretary of state to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. He is also a proud Mason and Shriner.

 

After Dollywood, Adkins took a turn doing solo Country shows and later performed with a Rock band especially in the Chicago area. He also served as a Country Radio DJ as Brave Dave Adkins, the Original Midnight Cowboy at WBHR in Pikeville, Ky. In 2010, he returned to the genre that was his first love, Bluegrass and formed the group, Dave Adkins & Republik Steele. Adkins’ soulful vocals earned him a 2013 SPBGMA nomination as Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary category.

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Adkins is also an accomplished songwriter, contributing three original songs to the band’s That’s Just The Way I Roll on the Rural Rhythm Records in 2013. The album made its debut #7 on Billboard’s Top 10 Bluegrass Album Chart and was mentioned in a CMT feature article, titled “New Independent Music” along with the Steeldrivers and Wood and Wires. Adkins was asked to join the all-star artists line-up for the February 12, 2013 album, God Didn’t Choose Sides, Volume 1 – Civil War True Stories About Real People also featuring Marty Raybon, Lonesome River Band, Carrie Hassler, Russell Moore, Ronnie Bowman, Dale Ann Bradley, and more.

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By February 2014, he moved to the Mountain Fever Records label who released Adkins first solo album, Nothing To Lose. He again contributed his songwriting talents penning three originals and co-writing another track on his most chart successful album to date. His original song, “Pike County Jail” was an instant chart hit and was the 7th most played song on the Bluegrass Today Top 30 Song of 2014. It also appeared on the Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s National Bluegrass Survey Top 30 Song Chart for 10 months reaching as high as #2, and was named in the publication’s Best of 2014. The title track, “Nothing to Lose” garnered the #1 spot on Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction’s Most Played Tracks. Six of the twelve tracks received chart action with numerous #1s on Bluegrass Today’s Top 20 Weekly and Monthly Song Chart and the Roots Music Report Top 50 Bluegrass Songs Chart. Two tracks, “I Can’t Even Walk” and “Don’t Pray That Way,” appeared in the Top 5 on the gospel music charts. Nothing To Lose appeared on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Albums of 2014 and 2015.

 

Mountain Fever Records released a collaborative album with Dave Adkins and Edgar Loudermilk in March 2015 titled Adkins & Loudermilk that help garner the duo a Nomination by the International Bluegrass Music Association for the 2015 Emerging Artist of the Year Award. The first single release, titled “Back Side of Losing,” was written by Dave Adkins and Mark “Brink” Brinkman and appeared on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s Top 50 Songs of 2015. The album also appeared at #17 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 150 Albums of 2015.

Adkins carefully chose each track for his self-titled album released on Mountain Fever Records late February 2016. From the clever “Fool-o-sophy” co-written by Larry Cordle and Chris Stapleton to the unforgettable and beautiful “Angel Song” co-written by Corey Lee Barker and Chris Laffey, he once again proves he is a powerhouse of vocal talent. The impressive Singer-Songwriter contributed six original songs to the album including the first single release “Change Her Mind,” “A Whole Lot More To Tell,” and “One and Only.” He co-wrote three additional tunes – “You Don’t Have To Go To Be Gone” with Paula Breedlove and Brink Brinkman, and two with Dawn Kenny and David Morris – the impressive “Russell Fork River” and the fast paced “Turn and Burn.” Country music fans will no doubt love his rendition of the hit song “Sold” made famous by John Michael Montgomery and “It’s Not Over (Til I Get Over You)” by Terry Foust, Ray Edwards, and Tom T. Hall. Radio stations have also been spinning the Kentucky flavored “Emmaline” by Michael Huffman, Richard Williams, and Alan Laney along with “Wasting Away” written by Randall Hylton.

 

Adkins refers to his loyal legion of fans as his friends. With a heart made of gold, he is truly sincere with his appreciation of their support for so many years. Those friends have anxiously been awaiting his new album that will release February 26, 2016 on Mountain Fever Records. With a killer track list of tunes written by the industry’s most talented songwriters, along with Adkins original songs and co-writes, fans will not be disappointed. Dave Adkins is now available to radio stations at AirPlay Direct.