Help Pour Out the Rain

Background:

A “Nashville Star” alumnus, Buddy Jewell immediately achieved success after releasing his debut album in 2003. Proving he was more than a talent contest winner, Jewell stood proud with the top 5 singles “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song)” and “Sweet Southern Comfort.” Soon, the gold debut album brought him several award nominations, including one for a Country Music award. He also earned a Grammy nomination for his gospel project. Jewell continued doing well with his sophomore recording, Times Like These (2005), which spawned the single “If She Were Any Other Woman.”

Aside from his rising music career, Jewell was handed a Fatherhood Award by the National Fatherhood Initiative in April 2005. As a humanitarian, he became the spokesperson for the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, actively participates in the Angel Tree fund drive and frequently holds special performances for St. Jude’s children’s hospital. He also performed on the MDA telethon and volunteered for the Compassion International organization. As for his family life, Jewell is the father of three (two sons and a daughter) from his marriage with Tene (1988-now).


Struggle From the Bottom

Childhood and Family:

Buddy Jewell was born on April 2, 1961, in Osceola, Arkansas, to country music lover parents. Although he was an athletic student in high school, Buddy was more interested in music and started performing in clubs while in college.

Dropping out from college, he was briefly married. At age 21, Buddy began singing professionally with a band after previously taking low-paying jobs.

In 1988, he married Tene, whom he first met at a Texas club. They now have three children: Buddy III (born in 1989), Joshua (born in 2000) and Lacey (born in 1994).


Nashville Star

Career:

With the band White Oak, Buddy Jewell briefly made several local performances before eventually leaving for a solo career. He also took minor roles in some western movies while singing in clubs. In 1992, Jewell enlisted in the televised talent search contest “Star Search” and earned the Male Vocalist title in some of its episodes.

Moving to Nashville, he landed a contract with Music Row and became a popular demo singer, singing over 4,000 songs. He also contributed his vocals for Bill Engvall’s single “I’m a Cowboy” (1998) and Ray Price’s album Time (2002).

Jewell’s fortune flipped 180 degrees after joining a new country music singing contest called “Nashville Star” (2003), where he became the first winner of the talent search competition. He quickly had a record deal with Sony BMG/Columbia Records and released a self-titled debut album in 2003.

Although working for only several weeks, Jewell did well in astonishing his listeners with the Top 5 lead single “Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey’s Song),” his self-written lyrical account of a conversation with his daughter. Telling about the death of a child, the song moved many hearts and flew to the charts’ top position. It was followed with another top 5 single, “Sweet Southern Comfort,” whose video earned him a Country Music award nomination, as well as “One Step at a Time.” The debut album was successful and received gold certification. In addition, the newcomer was nominated for an ACM for Best New Artist and a Grammy for his participation in Amazing Grace III, a special gospel project.

In 2005, Jewell launched the sophomore recording Times Like These. Produced by country music big name Garth Fundis, the album forked out the bluesy groove single “If She Were Any Other Woman.” For the album, Jewell also wrote four tracks, including “Addicted to the Rain” and the titular song, both of which came from his experience with his sons, as well as “Dyess, Arkansas,” the story of his late father. The album also became his final recording with Sony BMG/Columbia Records because on November 9, 2005, he was released from the label.


Award:
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