People are ready for real country music again, says Randy Houser, and there are few people in a better position to give it to them. Blessed with one of his generations great voices, he is also a world-class songwriter, penning hits for artists including Trace Adkins and Justin Moore, and a seasoned entertainer known for the passion and energy he brings to every performance. His debut album, Anything Goes, introduced him as an exceptional artist, someone with both a cutting-edge sound and a deep respect for classic country. Fans, media and peers alike recognized that he possesses an artistic vision equal to his formidable talent. The strong reaction to his music was evident when David Letterman heard the albums powerful first single, Anything Goes, and invited Randy to perform on the Late Show, introducing him to an even broader nationwide audience. A searing portrayal of emptiness and loss, Anything Goes rose quickly into the Top 20. Randy followed it with one of the rowdiest songs and coolest videos of recent years, Boots On, which rocketed to #2. Randy was named Country Airchecks No. 1 New Country Artist in terms of airplay for 2009, and was a presenter and a nominee at both the ACM Awards (Video of the Year for Boots On) and the CMA Awards (New Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year), as well as garnering a nomination for the 2010 CMT Music Awards Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award. At the awards show he helped host Kid Rock kick off the festivities with a surprise appearance on stage during a medley of "Cowboy," "Bawitdaba" and "Good Ol' Boys." With one of country musics most promising young careers, Randy is taking a major step forward with his sophomore album, They Call Me Cadillac. I wanted to make a record I wanted to hear, he explains. I put my heart into this, and the result is something Im really proud of. From the beginning, Randy and co-producers Cliff Audretch III and Mark Wright agreed on a straightforward approach that focused on the meaningful lyrics of the songs. I want to catch peoples ears not just with a guitar hook, but with the words. I didnt want too much going on around it. The result, recorded with Randys own band, rather than studio musicians, is a stark and straightforward effort that does full justice to an artist heavily influenced by the classic works of idols like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Waylon Jennings. The album covers a great deal of musical and thematic ground. Randy includes pure fun, rowdy, foot-stomping tracks like Out Here in the Country and Whistlin Dixie, but also manages to capture the ups and downs of love on other tracks, demonstrating his artistic range. The manic and mile-a-minute declaration of Im All About It contrasts sharply with the naked need of Addicted. The poignant look at love and longing that is Here With Me is a great compliment to the clever, rough-edged nod to loves losers in Lowdown and Lonesome. Man Like Me, with its straight-ahead country approach and lyrics steeped in love and gratitude, is heavily reminiscent of the best of Don Williams and Randy Travis. While these songs are a fantastic representation of Randys songwriting prowess, the remaining songs on the project complete this impressive collection and prove why Randy deserves to stand out among his peers. He excels on the blues-drenched Somewhere South Of Memphis and the pure gospel loveliness of Lead Me Home, a song that explores, with grace and wonder, the end of the human journey. Both songs let him stretch vocally, and together they offer a stunning example of the scope and quality of his work.Showcasing his classic country side, If I Could Buy Me Some Time responds to the roller coaster life of a touring musician, while, with its weepy steel resonance and its anguished introspection, Randy truly shines on Will I Always Be This Way. Overall, the mix of moods and topics is the projects appeal. I wanted the flow to carry you up for a bit so you could have fun, Randy adds, and then I wanted it to come back down to where you really had to listen. The albums title song is a nod to Randys nickname. My buddy Dallas Davidson is the one who came up with that, he says with a grin. Thats my identity to my friends around here. It has to do with being relaxed and laid back and comfortable. I guess Im comfortable in my own skin and when you think about Cadillacs, thats what they arebig and comfortable. They Call Me Cadillac is an album that proves why Randy is among the most talented of his generation and of crucial importance to the genre. With the help of his good friends and collaborators Jamey Johnson and Jerrod Niemann, he has brought a needed dose of rugged individualism to the airwaves. Together they form the core of a group of modern-day artists who live and breathe country music road warriors who lay aside formulaic notions of commercialism and appeal to audiences with respect to traditionalism and their individual passions. Were just doing what we do. We dont strive to be something were not. We would be unhappy just following the status quo. If you dont really dig into yourself you're never going to separate yourself from the pack, so why not do it how you want to? Were just people who do it our own way. Randy has been making music his own way since his earliest days in Lake, Mississippi. He was exposed to the best of the regions rich mix of music, including country, gospel, rock, and blues. He learned to love creating and playing music from his father, a professional musician.The funny thing is I've known this is what I wanted to do since I was five or six years old. I wanted to be an entertainer, a songwriter. I didnt know at that age I was going to have a talent for it. I didnt know about chasing girls or good times. It was pure and simple about something I really loved, which is music. For years Randy stayed closed to home, playing clubs all throughout Mississippi, but after his father died when he was 21, he decided to move to Nashville. His standout focal prowess voice impressed one person after another, and the connections kept multiplying. He earned a publishing deal and began turning out songs for Trace Adkins, Justin Moore, and Jessie James, among others. It wasnt long before he began his own ascent up the charts as a recording artist. I spent a lot of years working my ass off to get lucky, he says with a wry grin. His passion for his craft shows not only in every cut, but also in every performance. When I go out there and sing, I cannot half-ass it. That's just part of the way I grew up. You go at something, you want to sell it. When I've got something to say, especially in a song, I want you to get it, so Im not one of those quiet singers. I can't just lullaby you. I'm getting on it. The result is a mix of passion, talent, and showmanship that place him among this generations most compelling artists. Combine those with the integrity he brings to his music and his knowledge of and respect for country musics traditions, and it's clear that Randy is on his way to becoming one for the ages.