Biography

The Tyme for Bluegrass is Now at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®

New Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out CD Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed Arrives Today

LEBANON, Tenn. - (January 7, 2013) – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® guests can really take a Tyme out now with a new album from one of bluegrass music’s most decorated bands, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed is a unique project by the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) seven-time Vocal Group of the Year, fronted by the IBMA’s most awarded Male Vocalist of the Year (five-time), that features classic country hits originally recorded by Elvis, Willie Nelson, Don Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette and more – all re-recorded in the band’s signature bluegrass style. The album also features special guest vocalists Sonya Isaacs and Pam Tillis, and was produced by Barry Bales of Alison Krauss & Union Station. Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed is available today in all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations as well as on crackerbarrel.com, Amazon.com and iTunes.

In support of the release, the band appeared on the cover of the December issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazineand enjoyed a World Premier Track By Track on Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction with Kyle Cantrell on December 12. This week, to celebrate the album’s release, the band will hold a series of performances in Nashville, Tenn. beginning on Wednesday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Loveless Barn for a Music City Roots taping. On Thursday, January 10, they will perform during a live broadcast on 650 AM WSM from the legendary Station Inn. Check local listings for airing details. Finally, on Saturday, January 12 they will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. To purchase tickets, visit www.opry.com.

Producer Barry Bales says, “Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out has been traveling the highways and byways of this country for over twenty years, bringing their talents to bluegrass music fans all over North America. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has been providing great food and comfort to many of those same folks traveling many of those same roads. So it seems only fitting that they would now be bringing you a collection of new music from Russell and the boys. Cracker Barrel and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out all under one roof - what could be better?”

Commenting on the remake of his original “Farewell Party,” Gene Watson says, “I’m a huge fan of Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. It means a lot to me that they appreciate this timeless song. It’s living proof that a great song can be recorded for any format of music and be appreciated for eternity. And what a great job they’ve done on it!”

Bobby Osborne of The Osborne Brothers, writer of “Big Spike Hammer,” added, “I’ve always appreciated and admired Russell Moore for what he has done for bluegrass music through the years and this project just validates my admiration for him and IIIrd Tyme Out.”

Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed by Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out is the latest in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program. Since 2005, Cracker Barrel has released CDs with a wide variety of artists, some of which have debuted in the top three spots on a range of Billboard magazine’s charts including Top DVD Music Videos, Top Country Albums, Top Christian Albums and Top Bluegrass Albums. In addition, An Evening With ... Dolly earned a Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold award, Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers won “Album of the Year” from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and a track on that CD was nominated for a Grammy® award, and Smokey Robinson’s Now & Then was nominated for an NAACP IMAGE AWARD. Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program includes CDs with Alabama, Rodney Atkins, Jason Michael Carroll, The Charlie Daniels Band, Ronnie Dunn, Edens Edge, Sara Evans, Bill Gaither, Montgomery Gentry, Amy Grant, The Grascals, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Craig Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Randy Travis, Josh Turner, Wynonna, and the Zac Brown Band. The National Music Council recognized Cracker Barrel with the 2012 American Eagle Award for the company’s positive contributions to the nation’s musical culture and heritage. For details visit crackerbarrel.com.

Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed Track Listing:
1. “Gentle On My Mind” (previously released by Glen Campbell, Elvis)
2. “Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde” (previously released by Travis Tritt)
3. “Golden Ring” (previously released by George Jones and Tammy Wynette) featuring Sonya Isaacs
4. “The Old Home Place” (previously released by JD Crowe & The New South, The Dillards)
5. “Only You” (previously released by The Platters)
6. “Take Me Home Country Roads” (previously released by John Denver)
7. “My Window Faces The South” (previously released by Willie Nelson)
8. “Farewell Party” (previously released by Gene Watson)
9. “Big Spike Hammer” (previously released by the Osborne Brothers)
10. “Tulsa Time” (previously released by Don Williams)
11. “Mama Tried” (previously released by Merle Haggard)
12. “John and Mary” (previously released in a different version by Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out)
featuring Pam Tillis

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that’s surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America’s country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n’ dumplins as well as its made from scratch biscuits using an old family recipe.

The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 621 company-owned locations in 42 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com.

About Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
The International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) most awarded Male Vocalist of the Year (five-time) Russell Moore is truly at the top of his game. Fronting one of the most popular bands in bluegrass history, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out is celebrating 20 years as one of the genres most awarded and influential groups in modern day bluegrass. All in all, the band has garnered over 50 industry accolades since their inception in 1991 including being named the IBMA’s Vocal Group of the Year seven consecutive years. Their a cappella renditions of many songs can rarely be matched and their superb instrumentation provides even more quality sound to their rich vocal blend featuring one of the most respected lead vocalists of all time. All this along with a heavy touring schedule, including many performances on the Grand Ole Opry as well as GAC and RFD channel programs, over 16 recordings to date, and a desire to present their fans with the best music possible, makes this "supergroup" one of bluegrass music's most recognized and in-demand bands. For more information, please visit www.iiirdtymeout.com.

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Media Contacts:
For Cracker Barrel
Jeanne Ludington / (615) 443-9115
jeanne.ludington@crackerbarrel.com

Ebie McFarland or Amanda French
Essential Broadcast Media
615-327-3259
ebie@ebmediapr.com / amanda@ebmediapr.com

For Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
East Public Relations
Kimberly Williams
931-808-8083
info@eastpublicrelations.com