Tuesday, June 11, 2013

SC's Roberts helps relaunch Sun Records

Country singer and Lancaster, SC-native Julie Roberts announced last week at a CMA Fest fan event that she'll partner with legendary Sun Records on her upcoming album "Good Wine and Bad Decisions," which is scheduled for release October 29.

The new album marks Sun's first new release in decades. At its height the Memphis label was home to legendary artists Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Earlier this week Roberts launched a PledgeMusic campaign to pre-sell the album. Fans can "donate" funds to the cause, but in return they get everything from an immediate download of her new single "Gasoline and Matches" to a full band concert for the top supporter amount of $10,000. Click here to pledge.

"It's always been a vision of mine to work with new music at Sun," Sun Records Vice President Collin Brace said in a press release. "I knew it had to be the right artist...We found something special in Julie Roberts. Her enthusiasm and music bring new life to an icon like Sun. With Julie we are continuing to write the rich story of Sun Records with authenticity and a fresh spirit."

The collaboration not only signals Sun's return to the label game, but continues Roberts ascent back into the country music mainstream.

Roberts struggled to reignite her career following the initial success of her 2004 Top 20 single "Break Down Here," a gold debut album, and a respectable 2006 follow-up. She took time off to focus on acting for a film that never materialized. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and lost her home to the Nashville floods in 2010, but made a confident return as an independent artist with the 2011 album "Alive."

She teamed with NASCAR for the lively single and video "NASCAR Party." Earlier this year she auditioned for "The Voice," but wasn't chosen to compete.