Red Barn BBQ Steaks & Sports presents Country Music Legend Johnny Rodriguez in concert!

June 23, 2012 - PRLog -- "After the reaction from the crowd when Johnny Rodriguez sat in for a few tunes at our Grand Opening, I knew we had to have him back for a show with his full band" said owner Von Husbands.

Red Barn BBQ Steaks & Sports http://www.redbarnmidcities.com is quickly becoming one of the top spots to see local and national musicians in concert. The excellent acoustics of the venue along with world class food and service are becoming legendary quickly.

This show should be over the top. Tickets and table reservations can be purchased through Outhouse Tickets http://www.outhousetickets.com/Venue/Red_Barn_BBQ_/  .

Overall in the course of his career, Rodriguez released 26 albums and 45 charted singles. He has also had six No. 1 hits on the country charts.

http://www.johnnyrodriguezmusic.com/index.html

He was born Juan Raul Davis Rodriguez in Sabinal, Texas the second youngest in a family of ten children living in a four-room house in this small town situated ninety miles from Mexico.

Growing up in Sabinal, Rodriguez was a good student in school and an altar boy for his church. He was also the captain of his junior high school football team. When Rodriguez was sixteen, his father died of cancer and his older brother Andres died in an automobile accident the following year. The two incidents soon had an effect on Rodriguez and he became a troubled teen In 1969, he and some friends were caught by law enforcement officers after stealing and barbecuing a goat. This unfortunate incident and subsequent jail sentence led to his ultimate break in the music business. He often would sing in his cell and was overheard by Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson, who was very impressed and told promoter "Happy" Shahan about him.

Shahan then hired Johnny to perform at his local tourist attraction called the Alamo Village. While singing at this venue, he came to the attention of country singers Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare, who encouraged the young singer to fly up to the country music capital Nashville, Tennessee in 1971.

The 21-year old singer arrived in Nashville with nothing more than a guitar in his hand and $14 in his pocket. Fortunately, Hall soon found work for Rodriguez fronting his band, as well as writing songs.

After signing with Mercury, Rodriguez was soon on the way to becoming famous. His first single to be released for Mercury was 1972s "Pass Me By." This recording was a big success, going to #9 on the Hot Country Songs list that year, and making him a country star overnight. Rodriguez officially became the first Latin American country singer.

In 1972 Rodriguez was voted the Most Promising Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. The next year, he achieved his first No. 1 hit song, "You Always Come Back to Hurting Me." Another song that year, "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico," was also a No. 1 hit. Rodriguez wrote some of his own material such as the song "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico." In 1973, his debut album was released, which rose to #1 on the "Top Country Albums" chart.

He was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year by the CMA Awards. In addition to his success in Country music, he also had a role on the television show Adam-12 and also made a guest appearance on The Dating Game in 1974. Since then, he has often appeared on talk shows and other television shows.

In  1975 all the singles he released (3 in all) soared to No. 1 on the country charts. These songs were, "I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind" "Just Get Up and Close the Door," and "Love Put a Song in My Heart."

Success on the country charts continued throughout much of the '70s. He recorded songs not only written by himself around this time, but also covers of others' songs such as Linda Hargrove's "Just Get Up and Close the Door," Mickey Newbury's "Poison Red Berries," and Billy Joe Shaver's "Texas Up Here Tennessee."

Since 1998, Rodriguez has toured the United States and world, performing in countries including Switzerland, Poland, England, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico. He has performed concerts at the famed Ryman Auditorium and Carnegie Hall. He has been honored by three U.S. presidents: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. He played at George H.W. Bush's inaugural ball.
He is now living in Texas. Johnny has achieved a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

On August 18, 2007, Rodriguez was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Carthage, Texas.

On October 23, 2010, Johnny Rodriguez received the Institute of Hispanic Culture Pioneer Award, in recognition of his accomplishment as the first major Hispanic singer in country music.

Rodriguez continues to tour and record new material, performing dates in the United States and Canada, where his music remains popular.

This could be as good a show as you will see all year. Opening for Johnny will be local favorite Kyle Redd who is one of the fastest rising local acts around.