Dierks Bentley and UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan surprise Jon Pardi with a Gold plaque for California Sunrise. Sacramento, Calif. Aug. 19, 2017
Photo Credit: Zachary Belcher
Jon Pardi’s impressive breakthrough year hit another milestone Saturday night as he celebrated his first-ever GOLD-certified album for sophomore release California Sunrise. During the Sacramento What the Hell World Tour stop, Dierks Bentley brought Pardi back on stage as the California-native may have expected, but Bentley had a surprise for his good friend and tour mate. Bentley then welcomed their label head, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan to join them as they presented the rising country star with a gold plaque acknowledging 500,000 sales of California Sunrise. The sold-out crowd showed their pride in the Dixon local with boisterous cheering, toasting and a lively chant of “PARDI! PARDI! PARDI!” View video HERE.
An incredibly grateful Pardi shares, “That was definitely a surprise, and for it to be acknowledged in front of a hometown crowd of 18,000 in Northern California, amongst my friends and family and early supporters, made it an emotional moment. I will never forget it.”
Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville’s CEO & Chairman Mike Dungan, Jon Pardi
Photo Credit: Nolan Feldpausch
Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, California Sunrise released to overwhelming praise from press highlighting Pardi’s ability to blend together modern production and traditional soundscapes. Rolling Stone proclaims, “Traditionalism isn’t dead … and [California Sunrise] is a fine example, mixing a pronounced California twang and George Strait’s easy swing with some meaty guitar riffs,” while The Tennessean notes, “In a time when many country artists are incorporating progressive, edgy studio tricks to contemporize their sound, Jon Pardi eschewed trends and made a boot scootin’, honky-tonkin’ country album.” HITS calls the album “a triumph of gritty, honky-tonkin’, old-school country with a healthy dose of ballsy guitar rock,” with Billboard adding that California Sunrise is “loaded with attitude…[and] manages to have both a sonic edginess and a defiant grasp of country tradition.”
California Sunrise features Pardi’s back-to-back No. 1 hits with the Platinum-selling “Head Over Boots” and the three-week No. 1, “Dirt On My Boots,” along with his current single climbing country radio airplay’s Top 10, “Heartache on the Dance Floor.”
Pardi found his lane within the wide-open gates of the country music genre. With an invigorating energy across the album dispensed by a live seven-man band, his confident and authoritative low baritone and a blue-collar spirit, he amassed a loyal following of fans and listeners with a sound that sets him apart from the rest. In the past year, Pardi’s distinct blend landed his name on several ‘Best Of’ lists, appearances on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” and multiple CMT Music Award nominations.
The reigning ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year is currently on one of the hottest tours of the summer with Bentley’s What the Hell World Tour before the road warrior heads out with Luke Bryan for next month’s Farm Tour. Next, Pardi headlines CMT On Tour Presents: Jon Pardi’s Lucky Tonight Tour kicking off Oct. 12. Multiple dates are already sold out for Pardi’s headlining fall run. For a full list of tour dates, tickets and more, visit www.jonpardi.com.
About Jon Pardi:
Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi is one of country music’s fastest-rising new stars. Pardi’s sound is undeniably country, and his laid back, fun-loving approach towards life comes through in his music and his raucous live show. The California native’s charisma and authenticity strike a chord with country audiences and fellow artists alike. Pardi has toured with Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band; he was hand-picked by country legend Alan Jackson to join him on his 25th anniversary tour; he is currently on the What the Hell World Tour with Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell; and he was recently named this year’s ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year.
Pardi’s latest album, California Sunrise, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and includes his very first No. 1 single, the Platinum-selling “Head Over Boots,” along with the three-week No. 1 smash “Dirt on My Boots,” and Pardi’s current Top 10 radio single, “Heartache on the Dance Floor.” The album landed on multiple “Best of the Year” lists including those from Rolling Stone, Music Aficionado, The Tennessean and NASH Country Daily. California Sunrise is the follow-up to Pardi’s highly-praised debut, Write You A Song, which also landed on several “Best of” lists including the Los Angeles Times’ Mikael Wood’s all-genre Top 10 and both Rhapsody’s and Taste of Country’s Top 10 Country Albums. Additional hits include the Top 10 RIAA Gold-certified single “Up All Night,” “When I’ve Been Drinkin,’” “What I Can’t Put Down,” and “Missin’ You Crazy.”
