Jeff Bates Releasing New Album On April 8, 2008

Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Black River Music Group) - Jeff Bates—whose 'Long, Slow Kisses' and 'I Wanna Make You Cry' charmed country fans—arrives April 8 with a brand new album called simply Jeff Bates. Released on the Black River Music Group label, the 13-cut album features 10 of Bates' own compositions.

'It's the most honest and accurate representation of me and my music yet,' Bates proclaims. Jimmy Nichols, who co-produced the album with Kenny Beard and Mickey Jack Cones, agrees with that assessment. 'Working with Jeff on this new album,' he says, 'reminded me of why I came to Nashville—great songs, great singing and passion for the music. Jeff is the future of country music, but he never lets us forget its past.'

To sharpen his lyrical voice, Bates teamed on the album with such stellar co-writers as Lonnie Wilson, Kim Williams, Ben Hayslip, Brandon Kinney, Jimmy Yeary, Robert Arthur, Kirk Roth, Jim McCormick, Jason Matthews and Kenny Beard. Paul Overstreet, Deborah Allen, Frank Rogers and Casey Beathard also contributed songs.

A native of Mississippi, Bates signed with RCA Records in 2002. That association yielded two albums—Rainbow Man in 2003 and Leave The Light On in 2006—plus seven charted singles: 'The Love Song,' 'Rainbow Man,' 'I Wanna Make You Cry,' 'Long, Slow Kisses,' 'Good People,' 'No Shame' and 'One Second Chance.'

The first single from the new album will be the driving up-tempo 'Don't Hate Me For Loving You.' It will be released February 25.

Black River Music Group signed Bates last year as its flagship artist. It has since added Sarah Darling to its label and publishing roster.