VOA常速英语:Jim Brickman Goes Country on 'Home'

Has best-selling pop and New Age pianist Jim Brickman gone country?  Jim's new album "Home" reveals his seldom heard country music skills.

Brickman has performed on concert stages the world over, but never on one of the most famous stages of them all, The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.  On November 6, Jim made his debut at the country music landmark with Victoria Shaw singing his hit song "The Gift."  He also accompanied network news anchor Robin Meade, who sang "Welcome Home" for U.S. troops returning from deployment overseas.

"Welcome Home" is one of 18 originals from Jim's new album, alongside tunes featuring Australian pop singer Delta Goodrem, Canadian vocalist Mark Masri, country star Ty Herndon, and "American Idol" finalist Matt Giraud.

Of course, Jim delivers plenty of his trademark piano solos, like "Sunday Drive."

Jim Brickman first studied classical piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  The release of his debut album, "No Words," came at the height of the New Age music boom in 1994, marking the first time in seven years that legendary New Age music label Windham Hill Records offered a contract to a solo artist.

Today, Jim keeps an ever-busy schedule on and off the stage.  In addition to his work in the studio, he hosts a syndicated radio show called "Your Weekend," featuring celebrity interviews, pop music, and entertainment reports.  And, for one week out of the year, he performs a series of concerts on his popular "fan cruise."  In 2011, the cruise sets sail for an inter-island tour of Hawaii.

Jim Brickman's 2010 holiday concert tour of 30 cities across the U.S. will include seasonal favorites, as well as his new single "Thank You," featuring vocalist Matt Giraud.