Friday, November 23, 2012

INTERVIEW: Easton Corbin, DeSoto Music Fest headliner, 'honored' by George Strait comparisons


Gilchrist County native Easton Corbin has shunned the contemporary country trend toward pop and arena rock, winning fans over with neo-traditionalist tunes like his current smash "Lovin' You is Fun."

It's a wonderfully basic celebration of romance. A peppy melody kissed with steel guitar and honky tonk piano. The kind of song that will surely elicit a big, smiley sing along when Corbin performs the ditty Saturday during the debut of the DeSoto Music Fest at the Manatee County Fairgrounds.

"I love when the crowd gets in and starts singing," Corbin said during a recent phone interview. "It's very flattering."

The great Nashville songwriter Bob DiPiero, whose credits include the George Strait hits "Clear Blue Sky" and "Cowboys Like Us," co-wrote "Lovin' You Is Fun."

Listening, it's easy to imagine the song being sung by King George.

Since he broke on the scene in 2009, Corbin has been regularly compared to the traditionalist titan.

"I'm honored to be mentioned with him," Corbin said. "But nobody will ever replace George Strait."

Read more.

—Publicity photo of Easton Corbin.

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