Diamond Rio Releases Album Today, Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Diamond Rio (l- r): Dana Williams, Jimmy Olander, Marty Roe, Dan Truman, Gene Johnson, Brian Prout. Photo: Russ Harrington

Diamond Rio is releasing their tenth studio album today (Sept. 18), featuring eleven new songs. The title track “I Made It” was co-written by lead guitarist Jimmy Olander, who co-produced the project with Michael D Clute. It is available at iTunes and through Rio Hot Records at diamondrio.com. In celebration of the release for a limited time, fans can receive a free MP3 of the title track by visiting www.diamondrio.com.

“As artists producing music as long as Diamond Rio has, fresh subject matter tends to get more and more difficult to come by,” says Olander. “As a writer on the title track ‘I Made It,’ simply telling our story is freeing. This is a very specific story, the autobiographical melding of the migration stories my partners and I share about moving to Nashville. Collectively, we have achieved the amount of success that dreams are made of, but at the end of the day have learned having someone to share this amazing life with – ‘love’ and ‘be loved by’ is the real measure of success. It’s true, ‘I Made It.’”

“We were fortunate to not be rushed with this project,” shares Gene Johnson. “Over the past few years we’ve taken the time to work on several projects that were on our bucket list; a Christmas album and our first-ever Christian and live albums.”

Dan Truman further explains, “Instead of cutting the album in a 2 week period, or 2 month period we’d cut a few songs every year. What that allowed us to do is be very selective about what we cut and to take the time to live with these songs, making the proper edits and decisions.”

Marty Roe and Dana Williams both agree that, collectively, this may be the best group of songs the band has ever recorded. “We’ve always had a sense of excitement when a new CD was being released. However, since this is our first new music from Diamond Rio in many years, it almost feels like it did when our very first record came out 25 years ago. At least for me, there is some nervous tension anticipating what our new and longtime fans think about it.”

Brian Prout concludes saying, “We are proud of this CD and we hope that our fans will enjoy listening to it as much as we did recording it.”

Diamond Rio signed to Arista Records and in 1991, and with the release of “Meet In The Middle” became the first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the band is known for their hits “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “One More Day,” “Beautiful Mess,” “Unbelievable,” “In A Week or Two,” and more. The band is known for playing every note on every album, and has sold more than 10 million units.

I Made It Track Listing
“I Love This Song”
Writers: Jeffrey Steele, Marcel Chagnon

“Ride The Range”
Writers: Bobby Terry, Catt Gravitt

“I Made It”
Writers: Jimmy Olander, Josh Shilling, Michael Dulaney

“I Can’t Think Of Anything But You”
Writers: Skip Ewing, David Fertitta, Allan Dennis Rich

“Crazy Life”
Writers: Peter Kevin Fisher

“Beckett’s Back Forty Acres”
Writers: Ashley Gorley, Matthew Rossi, Hugh Bryan Simpson

“Lay Your Lovin’ On Me”
Writers: Ben Hayslip, Jimmy Yeary

“Findin’ My Way Back Home”
Writers: Craig Wiseman, Chris Stapleton

“If You’re Willing”
Writers: Jason Sellers, Stewart Harris

“I’ll Wait For You”
Writers: Shane Minor, Shannon Brown, Joshua Stevens

Bonus Track: “Walking By Beauty” featuring Joshua Bell
Writers: Patrick Jason Matthews, Jason White
Track Benefiting: do Terra Healing Hands Foundation