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Ned LeDoux Wraps Up A Career Defining and Memorable 2017

Invited to Open for Superstar Garth Brooks
in Nashville Last Friday

Debut Album Lands at No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart

Wins Best Male Vocalist at the
2017 Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards
Honoring the Best in Country Music from Colorado, Wyoming,
Utah, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska

Ned LeDoux was invited to open for Garth Brooks last Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. Ned and his band visited with Brooks before the show.
(l to r: Lane Turner, Ned LeDoux, Garth Brooks, Mark Sissel, KW Turnbow)
Photo credit: Pamela Coss

NASHVILLE, TN – December 19, 2017- Ned LeDoux wraps up an already career defining and memorable 2017 which was capped with an invitation to open for one of music’s biggest superstars and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks last Friday night in Nashville, TN. LeDoux performed in front of Brooks’ sold out crowd at Bridgestone Arena.

This year also included Ned taking home his first major award win - Best Male Vocalist at the 2017 Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards honoring the best in country music from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska.

In November Ned released his first full-length album Sagebrush which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. The Heatseekers chart is the week's top-selling albums by new or developing acts, defined as those who have never appeared on the top 100 at the Billboard 200 or the top 10 of R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Country Albums, Latin Albums, Christian Album or Gospel Albums.

These career moments are the result of almost 20 years of hard work and touring. On stage since the late 90s as the drummer in his dad’s band, he put down the sticks two years ago, picked up a guitar and stepped to the front of the stage where he continues to tour heavily all over the US as a solo artist. The heavy touring and energetic shows have paid off earning Ned his own fervent and loyal following of fans who were eager for the release of his first full-length debut album Sagebrush.

Sagebrush is now available at all digital retailers. Sagebrush carries on the traditions, music and cowboy way of life passed down to him by his mom and dad, Peggy and Chris LeDoux.

Cowboys & Indians exclusively previewed his song “Some People Do.” Click HERE for the exclusive premiere.

Sagebrush carries on the traditions, music and cowboy way of life passed down to him by his mom and dad, Peggy and Chris LeDoux. Produced by award-winning Mac McAnally, Sagebrush completes and follows on the heels of his debut EP Forever A Cowboy released last year. Ned wrote or co-wrote eight of the 12 songs included on Sagebrush, and each song leaves no doubt as to what the LeDoux name stands for in country music.

Click HERE to learn more about Ned LeDoux and his inspiration for Sagebrush and carrying on his dad’s legacy while at the same time forging his own.

About Ned LeDoux:
It has been over 12 years since Chris LeDoux passed and Ned believes that people want to hear something new. His passion for music began at the age of five when he received his first drum kit. Ned went on to play in a number of different bands in Wyoming before landing a job as the drummer in his Dad Chris’s band Western Underground in 1998. Ned knew from that early age that he had “no plan b” but to play music. “Once I got the taste of the road, and being in front of a crowd and just the sound of it, it was...freedom,” he explained.

When his dad passed away in 2005, Ned continued to tour with his father’s band to keep the musical spirit of Chris LeDoux alive. This drove him to pick up the guitar and try his hand at some of his dad’s songs. It started with “Rodeo Man,” and before long Ned had a whole catalogue of his father’s early hits ready to play. When the other band members heard Ned’s voice, he found himself front and center singing at the shows. Stepping out from behind the drums stirred something inside of Ned that he hadn’t felt before, “It’s a different kind of rush, getting up with a guitar and standing behind a microphone...shoot I’m getting butterflies thinking about it right now."

Carrying on with his family traditions and cowboy way of life is important to Ned as you can hear in the song “Forever A Cowboy.” Ned puts his own spin on his endless touring with “Brother Highway” about all the time he has spent on the road with various bands since his days in high school before landing full time as the drummer in his Dad’s band Western Underground. Ned says he doesn’t even need a road map anymore–that he and the highway are like brothers. He wants to write songs about what he knows, keep the themes simple and harken back to the sound of good ole country music but with an edge.

Ned has been burning up the highway to bring his new music to his loyal and dedicated fans sharing the stage with artists Toby Keith, Josh Turner, Chris Janson and Randy Houser. On tour, the show is a special blend of Ned’s original songs along with a few of his Dad’s.

To find out more about Ned LeDoux go to: www.NedLedoux.com or follow him on TWITTER, FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM.

To connect with Ned LeDoux:
FACEBOOOK: https://www.instagram.com/nedledoux/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/nedledoux
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nedledoux/SARH customer celebrates centenary with family, friends and neighbours

A surprise party has helped Lillian Johnson, known to everyone as Rene, celebrate her 100th birthday in style with family and friends, as well as neighbours, at the Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) You First Independent Living Scheme in Stafford where she’s lived for the past four years.

When Rene was born, fighting was still raging in the trenches of the Western Front and David Lloyd George was in number 10 Downing Street. A century on, the world looks very different and the former cleaner and Cub Scout leader is the life and soul of the party as she celebrates 100 not out!

Although she no longer plays netball – in her younger years she made the position of goal defence her own – Rene is as active as ever and a regular at Marston Court social events. She also helps serve up the food at the Independent Living Scheme’s Monday and Wednesday breakfast clubs.

Toby Horton, You First Independent Living Scheme Manager, commented: “Rene is always the life and soul of the party, and it was fantastic to see so many family, friends and neighbours turn out to wish her well on this very special birthday.”

Born in Weston, Rene left school at 14 before entering domestic service and moved to Doxey with her late husband Reg, who she met at a local dance hall. She eventually moved back to Weston, living in a bungalow that was later bought by the council and then Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH).

Now she’s happily settled at a local You First Independent Living Scheme managed by the area’s leading provider of affordable homes, Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) and Chief Executive, Karen Armitage, was a special guest at the party.

Karen, who celebrated her own birthday on the same day, presented Rene with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the housing association.

“Rene has a few years on me, but it was fantastic to be able to join in her birthday celebrations,” Karen said. “To see so many people at the party reflects how well thought of she is, and we’d like to all wish her a very happy birthday!”

A self-confessed bingo addict Rene commented: “The party was a very big surprise, and it was wonderful to see so many family and friends.”

Caption: Rene Johnson receives a bouquet of flowers from SARH Chief Executive Karen Armitage, watched by son and daughter-in-law Anthony and Mary Johnson.

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About Stafford and Rural Homes

Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) is the largest social landlord in Stafford with around 6,000 homes across Stafford, Stone and the rural villages across the Borough. Established in 2006 to own and manage the former Stafford Borough Council housing stock, SARH set up a trading subsidiary company Housing Worx, to deliver planned maintenance works to its properties and fulfil commercial contracts in 2012. SARH also offers 18 Independent Living schemes for people aged over 55 and an award winning Telecare home safety and personal security system for the elderly and vulnerable. SARH has invested more than £100 million on improvement and regeneration programmes and building over 500 high quality new homes for rent and shared ownership which have benefited SARH customers by improving neighbourhoods and creating job opportunities for local people. The housing association works in partnership with local authorities, health trusts, statutory bodies and a range of voluntary organisations to create safe, sustainable communities where residents can ‘Live, Work and Grow’.

Follow SARH on Twitter @SARHomes

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NFIB Thanks House Leaders, Members for Historic Tax Cut
National Federation of Independent Business says tax cut will drive economic growth in 2018 and beyond

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 19, 2017—The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) issued the following statement today on behalf of President and CEO Juanita Duggan on the House’s passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

“The House made history this afternoon. This is a once-in-a-generation achievement. We are grateful to Speaker Ryan, Chairman Brady, and the members of the House who voted to provide major tax relief to American small businesses. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashes taxes for millions of small businesses so they can reinvest their money, grow, and create jobs.

“Small business accounts for half the nation’s jobs and half its GDP. This legislation recognizes the importance of small business, and we look forward to the President signing it into law.”

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Celebrating its 75 anniversary in 2018, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America's economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. NFIB’s educational mission is to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have very different challenges and priorities.

National Federation of Independent Business | 1201 F Street, Suite 200 | Washington, D.C. 20004
202-554-9000 | www.nfib.com | Twitter: @NFIB