Jeff Bates Didn't Have To Kiss These Guys (Luckily)

NASHVILLE, TN. (SONY BMG) - It's not every day that you see a full-grown man sporting a beard, wearing a dress and matching hat, and riding a bicycle down Nashville's Music Row. It's rarer still to see three full-grown men doing it, but a bet's a bet and someone has to pay up. In this case, Kenny Beard, producer, songwriting partner, and friend, of RCA's sexy-voiced baritone Jeff Bates, is the bettor who lost.

The idea came to Beard when he realized that singles on the country radio chart were taking a very long time to climb, so he issued a challenge to the RCA radio promotion staff. The initial claim was that if Jeff's current single, 'Long, Slow Kisses,' got into the teens he'd do cartwheels down Music Row naked. As 'Long, Slow Kisses' made its ascent, Kenny got more and more nervous as it looked like he'd have to make good on his claim.

Recently, the Bates-penned song achieved the milestone and Beard needed moral support, so he invited a couple of 'Good People,' members of Jeff's band, to join him on the memorable jaunt. However, in the interest of good taste and public safety, Jeff convinced Beard and the guys to keep their clothes on, and jump on bikes instead. Drummer and tour manager Wesley Pryor and guitarist Jason Jordan donned dresses and hats, and peddled with Beard down Music Row. Needless to say, the party garnered quite a few stares and lots of laughs.

'Long, Slow Kisses' starts week 38 on the country radio charts where it occupies the No 15 spot while still going strong. Jeff's album, the critically acclaimed Rainbow Man, also continues its impressive sales story, and recently held the Top Heatseekers spot in Billboard. The Mississippian's debut album received rave reviews from Entertainment Weekly (Grade: A), USA Today, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dallas Morning News, Billboard and many others since its release.

With the recent success of 'Long, Slow Kisses,' Jeff has been invited to perform on the main stage at the Nashville Coliseum during CMA Music Festival next week. He will be joined on Sunday, June 12 by other country hitmakers such as Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Diamond Rio and Andy Griggs.