LOUISA/NASHVILLE —
With a guest appearance by his more famous cousin, country singer and songwriter Bobby Cyrus of Louisa will debut on the Great American Country channel today with a video for the song “Milkman’s Eyes.”
“We shot the part with Billy Ray and myself in Nashville at a place called Winners — which is right next to a place called Losers,” Cyrus said this week amid a whirlwind of business meetings in Music City as part of the pending launch of his new recording “Homeplace.”
Cyrus said everyone involved had a tight schedule, including cousin Billy Ray Cyrus, whose mother became ill and was in the hospital while they were set to shoot. “You know he was really cool about doing this. We first did this song together at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg back in ’06 and we had both lost our dads the year before. We wanted to do something fun and light-hearted together at the end of the show and he had planned to sing ‘Pain in My Gas,’ and I said, ‘I got one you probably ain’t heard in a while,’” Cyrus said, recalling the song co-written by Flatwoods resident Jim McKnight and Billy Ray Cyrus in 1982.
“I had a cassette demo of that song that Billy Ray recorded in his bedroom ... Billy didn’t even know I knew that song. They put out two guitars and two stools for us that night and the place went nuts over it. Billy said, ‘You need to cut that song,’ and I said, ‘Only if you do it with me.’”
The cousins teamed back up to record the song for Cyrus’ first record, with Billy Ray adding backup vocals as well as taking a turn on the verses of “Milkman’s Eyes.” For the video, they called upon the help of buddy Jimmy Carr. “He’s a great songwriter and a longtime friend, and he is funnier than a monkey. We had him play the milkman,” Cyrus said with a laugh.
The song and video take a humorous glance at a familiar tale, Cyrus said.
“It’s the old story about, you know ... the men are all gone to work in the ’50s when you had milkmen running around delivering bottles,” he said.
Cyrus said he is confident people will judge his music for what he brings to it, and not based on his relationship to an established star. “Billy has done great with his music and his career. I’m a fan of Billy Ray Cyrus. But, being related to him doesn’t enter my thought process,” he said. “This was a great opportunity to do something fun and cool with my cousin. I mean, I guess it is working for me right now, but we are different. I’m a little more country than him.”
While many describe Cyrus’ sound as traditional country, the singer isn’t so sure that’s especially accurate. “Really, I want the fans to tell me what they think it is. I call it country music.”
Cyrus, 43, remains a proud resident of Louisa.
“I do not live in Nashville,” he said with a chuckle, explaining he drives to Music City often and maintains the highest appreciation for everyone who has helped him get this far. Even with the major splash of a video to help promote his new album, which will be released Dec. 1, Cyrus said isn’t counting on fame and fortune just yet.
“It’s been over 20 years chasing this thing,” he said. “There’s no guarantees in the music business, but the bottom line is we’re doing it.”
The video for “Milkman’s Eyes” is scheduled to air on GAC at 1:15 p.m. local time.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
Local News
Bobby Cyrus video features cousin Billy Ray
- Local News
-
-
Morehead State student killed in crash
Molly McBride, 21, of Morehead and a sophomore at Morehead State University, was killed early Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on the Bluegrass Parkway near Bardstown in Nelson County, The Morehead News reported..
-
Wurtland parents angry over principal's demotion
A number of parents are hopping mad that Wurtland Elementary School principal Barbara Cook has been demoted and plan to confront the school board about it Monday.
-
Meth busts in Westwood, Ashland
One man was taken into custody Friday in Ashland by deputies with the Boyd County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force, and felony charges are pending against another.
-
Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
-
Guitar builder Paul Reed Smith to visit Ashland
Paul Reed Smith isn’t a rock star, although he does have legions of fans who revere his contributions to live and recorded performances worldwide and his name or initials grace the headstocks of guitars used by some of the most recognized names in rock, jazz and country music.
The legendary luthier from Maryland will visit Ashland’s 4 O’Clock Rock Guitar Shop on Wednesday to inspect their collection of his instruments. Store owner Dave McCoy said he was almost immediately overwhelmed with responses after announcing Smith will be at the shop at 2328 Greenup Ave., to meet fans and sign autographs starting at 6 p.m. A crowd is expected to be there, McCoy confirmed Friday afternoon, reporting he expects PRS owners, collectors and fans alike to be in the crowd awaiting Smith’s appearance. -
Wurtland OKs raising residential sewer rates
Wurtland sewer rates for residential customers are going up. Over the next three months, the rates will gradually rise by 30 percent.
The rate increase will affect approximately 500 customers and is necessary in the wake of the closure of Sun Chemical, known as PCI, in February. The residential rate increase follows a prior industrial rate increase of 100 percent, which was implemented in March. -
East prank means no graduation
As many as 10,000 crickets were released by a group of students at East Carter High School on Thursday morning. By Friday, seven seniors had received disciplinary action.
Although school administrators cannot comment about those disciplinary measures, sources say that these students will not be allowed to participate in this morning's commencement. -
RONNIE ELLIS: Fallout from scandals remains to be seen
Scandals like those roiling Washington often look more or less nefarious as time and facts unfold. After all, what at first looked like a third-rate burglary turned into Watergate.
-
05/16/2013 — What's Happening
Local news
-
Assisted living facility gets another perfect score
King’s Daughters and Sons Home assisted living has received a perfect score from the state.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Morehead State student killed in crash
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
