Justin Peters Honors Grammy Winner, Country Music Hall Of Famer / Multi Instrumentalist Charlie Mccoy On “Harmonica Heaven”
Founder of Platinum Planet Records, Justin Peters’ latest release Harmonica Heaven hits all purchasing and streaming platforms on Wednesday, July 13. Peters was compelled to write the tune as a duet with Charlie McCoy.
“I’m pretty sure when you go to Webster’s dictionary and look up pro musician it says see Charlie McCoy. He represents all that is good in this business. He made a dream come true when he joined me on this song I co-wrote for him, Harmonica Heaven. I think it turned out quite nice. I’m proud to put it out.” – Justin Peters
McCoy is most noted for playing harmonica and being featured on iconic tracks such as “Candy Man,” by Roy Orbison, “Highway 61,” “Blond on Blond,” “John Wesley Harding,” and “Nashville Skyline” by Bob Dylan. You can also hear Charlie on Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” in addition to many other hits from multiple genres.
“A fun song about my favorite subject. Y’all can imagine how much fun we have at Harmonica Heaven!” – Charlie McCoy
Verse 1:
When itʼs played by a fire in the deep of the night
Itʼs a travelersʼ comfort,
A cowboysʼ delight
Air going in and air going out
Beautiful music is what itʼs about
Chorus:
Harmonic, Heaven Harmonic, Heaven
Itʼs good for the soul It never gets old
Harmonic, Heaven Harmonic, Heaven
Slow or upbeat
The music is sweet
Harmonic, Heaven Harmonic, Heaven
The melody in this song brings out a feeling of brightness and friendship, leaving listeners feeling as if you almost know Charlie and Justin. A master of their crafts, their warm personalities, invite listeners to join in campfire style on this traditional country tune.
Harmonica Heaven Credits
Produced by: Justin Peters
Featured Singer: Justin Peters
Featured Musician: Charlie McCoy
Co-Writers: Justin Peters, Steven Rupe
Recorded by: Sam Cannon
Mixed by: Mark Capps
Bass: Gary Lunn
Drums and Percussion: Steve Brewster
Twelve-String Acoustic: Wanda Vick Burchfield
About Justin Peters
At the age of six, he had his first paying gig as an actor with Minnie Pearl. Deciding at a young age that his career path was the entertainment business, Justin put his formula to work while studying at Belmont University. During this time, he was an exclusive songwriter for Buddy Killen’s Tree Publishing for two years. He also met his future bride and source of inspiration, Elizabeth Peters, in a video production class on campus. In 1984, he had his first #1 song, “Believers,” recorded by Michael James Murphy. In 1986, he and Steve Davis had a #1 pop hit in Hong Kong with the song, “Miracle.” In this same year, he wrote a song for the Blue Angels Navy Flying Team entitled “Angels,” which received much recognition. While still working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business, he formed his own publishing company, Justin Peters Music. Two years later, he was co-writer and publisher of the AC Song of the Year in Christian Country Music, “Saved By Love.” The Amy Grant A&M Records release received platinum status and was featured on “The Tonight Show” and “Entertainment Tonight.” Justin was also voted American Songwriter of the Year (Gospel Music Category).
Justin earned the privilege to work with many Grammy, CMA and Dove Award winning writers such as Justin Bieber, Rhonda Vincent, Steven Curtis Chapman, Dennis Morgan, Mitchell Musso, Eric Fearman, Jimmy Fortune, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Armond Morales, Sanchez Harley, Dez Dickerson, Phil Naish, Rich Mullins, Greg Nelson, Billy Sprague, Bill McCorvey, and the list goes on. His songs have been recorded by Dailey & Vincent, B.J. Thomas, Charley Pride, Joe English, Rusty Goodman, Russ Taff, Gary Chapman, First Call, The Imperials, 4 Him, Wayne Watson, Cynthia Clawson, Al Denson, Rick Cua, Kelly Nelon Thompson, Dallas Holm, The Speer Family, O’Landa Draper & Associates, Truth, Bill Engvall, The McKameys, and many more.
Recently his label Platinum Planet Records produced and released the soundtrack for the movie “The Farmer and the Belle: Saving Santaland” which he also acted in. The opening song in that movie is a duet he sings with Rhonda Vincent entitled “Santaland.”
Currently, Justin is President of Platinum Planet Records representing a variety of artists and is also President of Songs For The Planet, Inc., representing many quality publishing companies. The catalogs he manages include recordings from ten different Entertainers Of The Year. Justin continues to write and publish songs all over the world from all genres of music. He is developing new songwriters and artists by instilling the same values that have held strong for him throughout his career.
About Charlie McCoy
A member of the Country Music Hall Of Fame
There are numerous super-session musicians in Nashville, but very few with the longevity of Charlie McCoy. In addition to being a fixture in Nashville studios for 48 years, he also has his own recording career going full tilt. (He has recorded 35 solo albums.) He served as the music director for eighteen years for the syndicated television series, “Hee Haw.”
Charlie McCoy began working sessions in the early 60s, one of the first being “Candy Man” by Roy Orbison. “Forty nine dollars,” says Charlie. “That’s how much I was paid for that session back in 1961. It got Roy another hit and me a career. For a twenty year old to make $49 for three hours work back then, it was a dream.
Shortly after the release of “Candy Man,” Charlie became one of the in-demand session players in Nashville. His session credits are literally a who’s who of country music. For a fifteen year stretch, he did more than 400 sessions a year. A grand total would number more than 12,000. (And, he’s still going.) In the last twenty years, he has been touring more with many appearances in Europe and Japan.
In addition to country sessions, Charlie was a mainstay on Elvis Presley recordings both in Nashville and Los Angeles. When Bob Dylan recorded “Highway 61,” “Blond On Blond,” “John Wesley Harding,” and “Nashville Skyline,” Charlie was there, playing on these land-mark recordings. He was also heard on Simon and Garfunkle’s “The Boxer” in addition to many hits from genres other than country music.
Charlie McCoy began recording for Monument Records in the late 60s and recorded 14 albums for the label, beginning with “The World Of Charlie McCoy.” He won the Grammy in 1972 for his album, “The Real McCoy.” He won CMA’s “Instrumentalist Of The Year” two times and the Academy Of Country Music’s “Specialty Instrument Award” seven times. He is a member of the International Musicians’ Hall Of Fame and the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame.
In addition to making his own recordings, Charlie was a member of a legendary recording band, “Area Code 615.” The band featured many of the top session players in Nashville. While Charlie is predominately known as a harmonica player, his musical prowess encompasses other instruments including guitar, bass, mallet percussion, (vibes, marimba, bells, Etc.), keyboards, and various wind instruments.
Charlie has toured in Europe and Japan regularly since 1989 and has released albums in France, Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic.
In addition to “Hee Haw,” Charlie served a music director for other television shows including “The Colgate Country Showdown” and “The Arthritis Telethon.” He was in the house band for the TNN show “Music City Tonight” with Crook and Chase.
Charlie was given the “Musician” award from the Reunion Of Professional Entertainers in 1994, elected to the German-American Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1998, The Hall Of Fame of the North American Country Music Association International in 2000, the International Musicians’ Hall Of Fame and the Old Time Country Music Hall of fame in 2007, and the West Virginia Music Hall Of fame in 2008.
On Feb. 4, 2009, it was announced that Charlie would be inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame along with Roy Clark and Barbara Mandrell.
Charlie was shocked and pleased on stage at the Grand Ole Opry on June 11, 2022, with the question many musicians dream of hearing but only few ever do: Will you become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry?
He accepted without missing a beat. He was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry at the Saturday performance, the first time in decades that two artists received an invitation during the same Opry broadcast, per the show.
“I’ve had so many amazing things happen, but I wanna tell you what: This is the icing on my cake,” he said on stage as he soaked in the moment.