Nashville, TN (Jeff Bates Official Website) -
Jeff Bates continues to make the ladies swoon and inspire men to make their relationships better on his highly anticipated sophomore album, Leave The
Light On, being released on RCA Records April 11. As a follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut album,
Rainbow Man, Bates lends his distinctive voice to a 12-track collection that focuses on the good things that happen when people open up to each other.
'The sexiest thing a man or a woman can do is be vulnerable,' says Bates. 'Just let go. Stop all the pretending. You can't maintain a façade. If you love somebody, love them. Tell them you love them, show them you love them.'
Bates, who co-wrote several tracks on Leave The Light On, was looking for emotional songs that talk about truly connecting, especially in love. Working with co-producers Kenny Beard and Blake Chancey, Bates, crafted an album that looks at relationships from all levels, from the honesty in songs like 'The Woman He Walked On' and current single 'No Shame' to the playfulness and humor in songs like 'Hands On Man' and the Billy 'Crash' Craddock classic 'Rub It In.'
'I think a great song should hit you emotionally first, and then make you think,' explains Bates. 'Every singer that I've respected and admired hit me from the emotional side, and made me feel something.'
And for Bates, that musical philosophy has truly found resonance with his fans. In addition to his dedicated female fans, Bates continues to be approached by men thanking him for helping them find the words to tell the special women in their lives how they truly feel.
'Guys come up to me all the time and say, 'You know, your song helped save my marriage, because I was listening to it and I realized I hadn't been showing my partner all the attention that she deserved,'' explains Bates. 'Women often tell me the same thing.'
Bates' loyal female fans have banded together to form Women on a Mission, named after a line in the Rainbow Man track 'Lovin' Like That.' This devoted group continue to spread Bates' message about love and most recently have formed Operation Circle of Love (named after another Rainbow Man lyric from the Top 10 hit 'The Love Song') through which they send care packages to soldiers in Iraq.
Named by USA Today as 'The Next Big Thing,' Bates was also chosen as one of the hot new artists in country music to perform at the 2006 New Faces Show at this year's Country Radio Seminar (CRS).
