Rodney Hayden

Birth Name:
Born:
Origin:
Years active:
Labels:

Phoots comi...

Halfway to Hazard was an American country music duo composed of singer-songwriters David Tolliver and Chad Warrix. Though Tolliver and Warrix grew up in different towns in southeastern Kentucky, their band's origins are in Hazard, Kentucky, which was halfway between their hometowns.

Their debut single, "Daisy", was a Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in 2007. The song was also featured as iTunes' single of the week on August 6, 2007. In addition, they toured as Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's opening act on their Soul2Soul 2007 Tour. McGraw helped to produce the album.[1]

On October 14, 2007, the duo performed the national anthem prior to the Green Bay Packers' home game against the Washington Redskins.[2] Later that season they performed again at Lambeau Field for the Packers NFC Championship game against the New York Giants.[1]

In May 2008, they were nominated by the Academy of Country music for their "Duo of the Year," award. Halfway to Hazard toured again on the Live Your Voice tour with Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

A single from their second album, "I Know Where Heaven Is," was released on July 20, 2009. The album, Come on Time, was released on October 19, 2009. Neither charted.

On January 20, 2010, Tolliver announced he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the duo via their website. All future tour dates were indefinitely postponed. The future of the act is unknown.

Hayden's first album, The Real Thing, came out in 2001 and it only took one listen to realize that the world had been introduced to the perfect stone-country singer in the tradition of Haggard and Jones. A collection of seven original songs and four dead-solid covers, The Real Thing was a strong debut that left fans of COUNTRY MUSIC hungry for more. It is here. Hayden's second album, Living the Good Life, was released in 2003 on the Audium/Koch label. Keeping the promises made on his first album, he offers up another stunning collection of songs. Eight new originals, co-written with Bill Whitbeck, run the emotional gamut from the honky-tonk fun of the first single, "Trying to Get a Little Love," to the heartbreak of "The First Day." "Goodbye to My Hometown" is the timeless story of a young man leaving home to find his place in the world. The achingly beautiful "Mr. Mockingbird" is an instant classic.

Once again Hayden carefully chooses a sweet selection of songs from other writers. Fellow Texans Clay Blaker and Tracy Byrd's "Living Everyday Like It's Saturday Night" is a dose of dance hall goodness. Slaid Cleaves' "Broke Down" makes a heartbreak feel pretty damn good. Russell Smith's haunting "Della's Long Brown Hair" will make even the coldest of hearts yearn for true love's embrace.

A cast of great musicians came together under the masterful guidance of producer Rich Brotherton to make an album that is spellbinding. A core group of musicians, including Brotherton himself on guitars and vocals, was joined by some very special pickers. Guitarist Redd Volkaert, of Merle Haggard's Strangers, lit a fire on several tracks. Veteran of Johnny Cash's band and thousands of sessions, Earl Poole Ball turned the studio into a roadhouse with his rockin' piano. Bluegrass legend Mike Auldridge is featured on one song and David Grissom (John Mellencamp, Dixie Chicks) is simply one of the best guitarists around.