PLA Media’s Talented Artists Are Giving Back This Holiday Season
Tyler Williams, Matt Rogers, Joe Hott, Ben Rue and Lexi Larsen will be giving the joy of Christmas to thousands of Middle Tennessee children by being a part of the Christmas 4 Kids Tour Bus Show Monday, December 11th. They will be joined alongside other prominent artists including 3 Doors Down, 38 special, Shenandoah, Halfway to Hazard and TG Sheppard.
The Christmas 4 Kids Bus Show/Artist Meet & Greet takes place Monday, December 11, from 5 PM to 9 PM (weather permitting) at the Hendersonville, TN Wal-Mart (204 North Anderson Lane, Hendersonville, TN).
Christmas 4 Kids has been assisting families throughout Middle Tennessee since 1992. The organization hosts fundraisers each year to buy presents for households that cannot afford to provide the Christmas memories that we all cherish every year. Artists that have participated in the event throughout its history include Taylor Swift, Hunter Hayes, Chris Young, Gretchen Wilson, Trace Adkins and Trisha Yearwood to name a few. For more information about Christmas 4 Kids, visit christmas4kids.org and facebook.com/Christmas4Kids.
About Tyler Williams
This Stone Mountain, GA native was reared in a household with parents that spun the hits of Marvin Gaye and Michael W. Smith while Tyler and his older brother were discovering the hit makers of the 90s – Alan Jackson, George Strait, Boyz II Men & Mariah Carey. Recognizing early on that he wanted a career in entertainment, he would capture a role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and performed for two years at the Fox Theater in Atlanta at ages 11 and 12. However, a failed performance at age 13 in a rock band caused him to change directions. Tyler would then spend his summers with his uncles in the auto shop learning the mechanics behind combustion engines and began his path to the NASCAR late model and sprint car racing series. After nearly a decade of milestones that would find him capturing his first victory lane among 15 years veterans during his fourth year as a driver and even finishing as the #2 ranking position in points in his series, he decided to finally overcome his fear of the stage and redirected his focus to music. This journey would spawn a debut EP, Believe Again, and the inspirational and motivational look at the lessons he’s learned in the racing and now music community with his book I Have a Voice. Continuing to hone his craft while he furthers his racing career, Tyler is debuting preview singles from his sophomore release this fall with the first being Good For Me, a song co-penned by Tyler and produced by Jonathan Roye (Kelsea Ballerini, Hunter Hayes & Kid Rock). The Good For Me album pre-sale launched on iTunes and all major online retailers on December 2 with the album dropping on January 26.
tylerwilliamslive.com
About Matt Rogers
NSAI Top-40 songwriter and Georgia Country Awards Overall Artist of the Year, Matt Rogers, is no stranger to the stage. With over 200 performances a year playing venues across the southeast and opening for some of country music’s hottest names, including Cole Swindell, Lo Cash and Michael Ray, Matt has built a devout fan base with his electrifying stage presence. Matt Rogers kicked off 2017 with the announcement of him becoming one of the first Brand Ambassadors for Durango Boots. “Matt has a rich, unique and bold style to his music that authentically connects to his fans which is the type of artist that represents our brand perfectly,” says Erin DeLong, Durango Marketing Manager. Breedlove guitars and 64 Audio also sponsor Rogers. His debut EP, Richest Place On Earth, was released on May 26th. The title track from the EP received the DisCovery Award from industry tastemaker Robert K. Oermann. “Extremely well written and sung with fire and conviction. Play this,” raves Oermann. On the heels of the release, he appeared as an Emerging Artist at CMA Fest’s Fan Fair X where he spent four days meeting 80k+ fans from across the world and performing at some of Music City’s legendary venues such as the Bluebird Café and Wildhorse Saloon. Matt’s touring schedule is shaping up to be one of his most extensive yet spanning across the country.
mattrogerscountry.com
About Joe Hott
A unique blend of retro-bluegrass, traditional country and gospel provides the mixture needed to make 22-year-old Joe Hott a rare treasure in today’s music scene. The lanky 6-foot-4-inch preacher’s son found a fascination early in life with the tradition-steeped sounds of artists like Dr. Ralph Stanley, Flatt & Scruggs, Hank Williams, Sr. and Bill Monroe. This spun the fabric of Joe’s creative inspiration, formed his vocal interpretations and set the foundation for his songwriting. His latest release, The Last Thing on My Mind, showcases the West Virginia native’s musical maturity and leaves little doubt that all things old are new again. Featuring 11 songs, a selection of both self-penned tracks and traditional favorites, the album showcases Joe’s genuine authenticity and commitment to being true to both himself and his influences. He most recently stepped inside the famed circle at The Grand Old Opry performing on the Dr. Ralph Stanley tribute show.
joehott.com
About Ben Rue
2017 saw the release of his new album, Back To The Nights, and the lead single Making Out, a coy country tune he co-wrote describing the best response to an ex that just won’t stop contacting you. Ben’s last project Be My Wife (I Can’t Wait) spent 14 weeks inside the Billboard Country Airplay Top 60. He’s a genuine farmboy that was reared on a 2,000-acre grass seed farm in Silverton, OR. He landed on the roster at William Morris and has been presented with the opportunity to open for a ton of notable acts including Craig Campbell, Hunter Hayes, Jon Pardi, Jerrod Niemann, Craig Morgan, Dustin Lynch, Jo Dee Messina, Darius Rucker, Chris Lane, Brett Eldredge and Joe Nichols. He recently teamed up with Roche Diabetes Care, makers of Accu-Chek® Guide, serving as an artist ambassador for the organization at a variety of fairs, festivals and concert experiences. This Oregon-reared performer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14.
benruemusic.com
About Lexi Larsen
Born and raised in western Nebraska, Lexi Larsen is a soulful sounding small-town girl with big city appeal. Lexi has been building a solid fan base across the country. Her single, You Can Leave, from her debut EP, Good Memories, topped at #53 on the Billboard indicator chart and reached top 40 on Music Row. The country music newcomer released her sophomore EP, Shakin’, in April. Larsen recently gained sponsorship from Durango. The Nashville-based singer/songwriter has captivated crowds as far away as Xian, China with a combination of her unassuming charm and powerhouse voice. Named CMA’s Artist to Watch 2014. She has opened for Country Music Hall of famer Ronnie Milsap, hitmaker Phil Vassar, Jon Pardi, country legend Dwight Yoakam as well as acts like Grammy-nominated Emerson Drive.
lexilarsen.com
About Christmas 4 Kids
Christmas 4 Kids (a division of Christmas For Kids, Inc.) is a 501(c)-3 Non-Profit Organization that was created in 1982, originally called Christmas Caravan. In 1992, it incorporated and changed its name to Christmas For Kids, Inc. For over twenty years, Christmas 4 Kids has given the joy of Christmas to thousands of Middle Tennessee children that might not otherwise experience it. Each December, local businesses, volunteers, celebrities, recording artists, and their bus drivers set aside two days from their busy schedules for these special children.