Mark Chesnutt performing at Sky City Casino

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

PUEBLO OF ACOMA — Country recording artist Mark Chesnutt is performing Saturday at Sky City Casino Hotel.
Chesnutt has reached major success in the country music industry and has just completed recording vocals for a new CD titled “Rollin With the Flow,” which will be released April 28.

“It will be everywhere you can buy music,” he said in a telephone interview from Nashville, Tenn.

He said George Jones is probably his all time favorite country music artist, which is unintentionally slightly reflected in the tone of his music.

“You can hear it a little can’t you?” he asked.

His father was a singer and took him on trips to Nashville from his home in Beaumont, Texas, and while on those trips Chesnutt liked to listen to some legendary recording artists, some of whom are known by one name, Waylon and Willie.

These artists help influence Chesnutt to bring a classic flavor to his music, and his latest single, “Rollin’,” has all the qualities needed to be a number one hit. It was first recorded by Charlie Rich in 1977 and tells of a man “rollin’ ” from town to town.

He said the CD is currently in post production with the studio creating masters, dubbing and mixing.

The song has some classic violin backup music in it, not always something one would hear in a country song, but Chesnutt said he has a fiddle player who can help the on stage song seem nearly like the CD.

“I really like some rock and roll artists from the 70s,” he said, “Kiss, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Ray Charles and the 70s Van Halen, when David Lee Roth was the lead singer.

“You would be surprised how many country singers like all kinds of music. In fact, Steve Tyler (lead singer of Aerosmith), likes country,” he said. And, of course, Chesnutt likes the ultimate one name music legend, Elvis.

“Who doesn’t?” he asked.

Chesnutt has 14 number one hits, 23 number one hits, two top 10 singles and four platinum albums. He also has five gold records and continues to tour heavily.

Chesnutt will perform one show at Sky City at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person

Information, tickets: (505) 552-6017.