Rodney Atkins and Chuck Wicks in Concert at Georgia National Fair October 11, 2009

RODNEY ATKINS
There’s a very good reason that no less than four songs from Rodney Atkins’ platinum-selling 2006 album If You’re Going Through Hell became No. 1 hits—a feat that no one had accomplished since 2002. It’s the same reason that two of those songs became the most-played of 2006 (“If You’re Going Through Hell [Before the Devil Even Knows]”) and 2007 (“Watching You”), and why concert audiences all over the country are cheering him on and singing along.
It’s because Atkins has a rare gift for reflecting the lives of his listeners in his music—their hopes, their concerns, their spirit, their adversities, even their sense of humor. Simply put, as he sang in another chart-topping smash, “These Are My People.” A native of small-town East Tennessee, the adopted son of a loving family and the proud father to a family of his own, Atkins understands regular lives because he still leads one. “People always talk about image—‘You’re the guy in the ball cap, the All-American country boy,’” says Atkins, who does indeed still favor caps to cowboy hats. “But if the songs don’t connect with the folks listening, then none of that stuff matters.”
Atkins makes that connection again and again on his new album, It’s America. Just listen to the down-home philosophy of “Got It Good” and “Tell a Country Boy,” the heartfelt balladry of “The River Knows,” the fist pumping feel good “It’s America” and much more from across the musical and emotional spectrum. “I try to sing songs with an honest view of ourselves, of myself, of the struggle, of the laughter,” he says. “It’s about being human.”
Credit Atkins’ honest view to his upbringing. He was adopted as a frail, sickly infant from the Holston Methodist Home for Children in Greenville, Tennessee. Two families returned him to the home, because the burden of caring for him was too great. Then Allan and Margaret Atkins took him in. “From what I understand, I became more sick than I had ever been during that time,” he says. “But it just never crossed their mind to take me back.”
With their love and care that weak, ill child grew into a strong, healthy young man. He began singing in church as a boy, and learned to play guitar and write songs while in high school. Soon after he headed off to college, Atkins began making regular trips to Nashville in order to write, perform and learn the business. Word got around quickly about this talented and charismatic up-and-comer, and soon he was signed to Curb Records. Atkins’ 2003 debut album, Honesty, earned him a Top 5 hit with “Honesty (Write Me a List).”

CHUCK WICKS
A gifted songwriter and vocalist, Chuck Wicks made a compelling impression with his Top 5 smash, “Stealing Cinderella,” the fastest-rising single by a debut country act in 2007. Expanding upon his musical talents, Wicks was a celebrity cast member of the eighth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. By the time his first album, Starting Now, was released in January 2008, he had begun a year-long 750,000 fan-packed tour opening for superstar Brad Paisley. Wicks copenned 10 of the 11 songs on his debut CD, including his second hit, “All I Ever Wanted,” and the new single, “Man of the House,” a touching story-song about a boy taking on beyond-his-years' responsibilities as his father is on military assignment.
A Delaware native, Chuck was raised on a family farm, where he grew up loving a variety of music – from traditional country to R&B – but his early career aspirations focused on his passion for sports. He attended Florida Southern College to play baseball, but by his senior year, he found that music had overtaken his athletic aspirations.
Chuck began a series of trips to Nashville, and early interest from record label RCA Nashville inspired a permanent move to Music City, where Chuck spent several years paying his dues, honing his craft, and learning – earning his place within the city’s songwriting community and ultimately landing a recording contract with RCA.
For more information, please go to: www.chuckwicks.com or www.myspace.com/chuckwicks.

Official Website: http://www.georgianationalfair.com