NASHVILLE , TN. (Phil Vassar Official Website) - Acclaimed, chart-topping country singer and songwriter
Phil Vassar knows a thing or two about success in the music business. After all, his new single "
The Woman In My Life" is racing toward the top 30 this week. And his most recent No. 1 "
Last Day Of My Life" - the fastest rising single of his career - is still in rotation on Adult Contemporary radio. Quite a feat for a Virginia country boy.
And that doesn't even take into account the Phil Vassar Video Collection coming to stores this week (9/27) with six hit videos and bonus material. Factor in his dynamic, piano-pounding live performances and country music's fair-haired hit maker might qualify as an expert in the field. Which maybe explains last week's turn as a guest lecturer at Vassar College .
That's right, Phil was the featured professor for "Vassar at Vassar," a 90-minute master course on songwriting, music and the music business held last week at the Hudson Valley-based institution of higher learning. The man who wrote hits for Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina and more before going on to his own well-established career as a recording artist offered his insight, played a few songs and even engaged in a Q&A with students in a packed lecture hall.
While not every country artist could hold his own teaching a college course, Vassar is anything but conventional. The New York Times calls him "one of country music's most appealing voices," and the Denver Post adds, "Vassar has carved out his own distinctive sound." His latest album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1, is a great example as it departs from traditional format to include newly recorded versions of hit songs he wrote that were first recorded by others. Vassar's place as the genre's sole piano-focused performer also sets him apart.
Vassar's greatest calling card, however, may just be his highly-combustible live performances. His well-regarded stage show has been hailed recently by both the Chicago Tribune and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after stops in those cities. He continues to bring his set to audiences across the country as the special guest on Montgomery Gentry's current tour, in addition to many headlining dates. Upcoming shows with Montgomery Gentry include:
10/19 Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
10/20 SeaGate Convention Center, Toledo , OH
10/21 Roberts Stadium, Evansville, IN
10/26 Wesbanco Arena, Wheeling, WV
10/27 Viking Hall, Bristol, TN
10/28 Executive Inn, Paducah, KY
For more tour dates, please visit Phil's website at www.PhilVassar.com.
