Joe Moore is keeping it country

Traditional fans of the Grand Ole Opry would love Joe Moore in Nashville. The man from Dungiven sings country from its source, staying ever true to the fountains from which the music sprung.

The Scania Man is the latest album from Joe. The 12-track compilation was produced and arranged by the genial Stephen Smyth in Portaferry.

Sweden is home to the Scania trucks and Joe Moore has made several trips to Sweden and the Scandinavian region over the years, where he enjoys immense popularity on the radio stations.

Country music has a huge following in those countries, with several stations playing country music all day.

The title track on the new album, In My Heart, is written by Joe Kelly as well as Randy Travis, while the legendary Eddie Crozier from the Lough Shore in Co Derry composed The Scania 164 song. Joe has a special love for trucking songs. In America, albums have been dedicated to the trucking fraternity, those hauling freight through the night with not much but late night country radio soothing the mind and soul during the long, lonely hours when radio is their only friend.

Big T (Trevor Campbell), who hosts a hugely popular show on Downtown Radio in Belfast, says Joe Moore is a special talent.

“I loved Joe’s deep baritone voice the first time I heard it some years ago. He is a big, quiet man who would be more liable to take his hat off than tell you that he has enjoyed much success singing at festivals in America, Scandinavia, Australasia and Europe.

“This is a great album with a few trucking songs, as we have come to expect. The album also features songs from his special favourites like Randy Travis, Clint Black and Vince Gill

“Country fans will love Joe’s version of the Bobby Bare classic, Four Strong Winds, especially since he is joined on it by fellow country artist, Chris Logue. Chris also joins Joe on Margaritaville. Lucky Ole Colorado and Diana are two great ballads, while he also includes a lovely version of The Old Rugged Cross,” says Big T.

A few years ago while performing at a country festival in France, he was joined on stage by none other than David Soul, a man who topped the international charts on a few occasions. David, also of Starsky and Hutch fame, was charmed by the way Joe delivered a country song and asked him up again to do an encore.

He then joined Joe for a duet of the Merle Haggard song, Holding Things Together.

“That was a special moment, singing a duet with David Soul,” says Joe. “Country music has an amazing outreach and is such a part of my life. It has taken me to places I hardly knew about. I am looking forward to my fifth trip to Sweden and Norway in August where I will perform at a number of shows. I love going back to those countries, the welcome is always brilliant.”

On the home front, he continues to feature as a guest performer on various concert shows, especially those promoted by Sean Wallace around the Ulster region.

When Joe Moore sings, no one questions his country credentials. He’s the real deal.