Stuart covers "Poor Side of Town"

"One of the smiles the 'Songs I Sing in the Dark' series has brought is, some of the songs have taken me back in a heartfelt way to my earliest days as a musician, to a time when I was falling head over heels in love with music. Those hot Mississippi summers of the 1960s were defined by the songs on the radio, adding records to my stack, watching my favorite musical television shows and the pure joy of becoming a guitar player."

"It felt so noble. The ultimate thrill was getting to actually take my Fender guitar somewhere and playing it for the people. Gospel music, country music, rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll seemed to meet me wherever I'd go. After all, we're talking Mississippi. When you cross the state line the sign reads, "Welcome to Mississippi, the Birthplace of American Music.' It's a place where every denomination of music is welcomed, and I fell right in line with that way of thinking."

"In the 1960s, Johnny Rivers was especially popular in the Magnolia State. His songs seemed to just float along on the breeze and make themselves at home wherever they landed. His music paid no attention to categorical boundaries, and bands from almost every genre played his songs. Johnny Rivers was sharp. His red Gibson guitar, stylish clothes, modern hair, California vibe, sneer, and especially his radio songs made him among the coolest of cats in my eyes."

"I was a guitar goner the first time I heard his recording of 'Secret Agent Man.' I still think it's one of the baddest records of all time. Johnny Rivers has so many great songs to his credit, but his and Lou Adler's composition of 'Poor Side of Town' is the one that has followed me around year after year. I've always loved to sing it just so I can play the famous guitar lick that is so much a part of the song."

"When Johnny came to guest on my television show, I requested that he do 'Poor Side of Town.' He obliged, and it sounded wonderful. That encounter was the one, and only time I have ever been in the same room as Johnny Rivers. He's a great artist, an essential, timeless cat, and I believe with all my heart that he deserves to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And 'Poor Side of Town' is just one of the many reasons why."

Stuart will share a new song from the album a month. Stuart said of his new collection, "The title tells the story. I have a long line of songs that range from obscure, originals to favorites from various musical worlds that I often sing to myself when I'm alone. Until recently, I had never formally made a list of all the titles. When I did, I saw in those titles so many great songs that need to be remembered and passed down. There was a mighty congregation of names of profound songwriters whose presence and lyrics are to be cherished. And looking into those songs I could hear the music of those brilliant musicians, arrangers and singers who brought those tunes to life, and gave the world reason to love them. In the wake of these revelations, I was inspired to finally go to work on the idea of 'Songs I Sing in the Dark.'"

The Country Music Association announced the induction of Stuart into the Country Music Hall of Fame's class of 2020 in the Modern Era Artist category. Stuart is inducted alongside Dean Dillon (Songwriter Category) and Hank Williams Jr. (Veterans Era Artist).

Stuart is currently raising funds and awareness for The Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music (MSCCM) in Philadelphia, Miss., which will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of country music through live musical performance and educational programming. This tribute to the culture and rural ethics of America will be presented in a country music museum and performing arts center. Stuart has assembled a collection that spans over 20,000 pieces.

Tour dates are
Sept. 4 Temple Theater Lufkin, TX
Sept. 10 Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua Bayfield, WI
Sept. 11 Door Community Auditorium Fish Creek, WI
Sept. 16 Edmonds Center For The Arts Edmonds, WA
Sept. 17 Lincoln Theatre Center Mt. Vernon, WA
Sept. 18 Admiral Theatre Bremerton, WA
Sept. 19 Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
Sept. 21 Freight & Salvage Berkeley, CA
Sept. 22 Freight & Salvage Berkeley, CA
Sept. 23 Crest Theatre Sacramento, CA
Sept. 24 Crystal Bay Club Casino Crystal Bay, NV
Sept. 25 Uptown Theatre Napa Napa, CA
Sept. 26 The Chapel San Francisco, CA
Sept. 29 The Fremont Theater San Luis Obispo, CA
Sept. 30 Sunset Center Carmel, CA
Oct. 2 Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
Oct. 3 Lensic Performing Arts Center Santa Fe, NM
Oct. 4 Albuquerque Journal Theatre Albuquerque, NM
Oct. 15 Narrows Center For The Arts Fall River, MA
Oct. 16 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield, ME
Oct. 17 Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Bethel, NY
Oct. 20 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE
Oct. 21 The Blue Note Columbia, MO
Oct. 22 Sheldon Concert Hall St Louis
Oct. 23 Englert Theatre Iowa City, IA
Oct. 24 Ordway Concert Hall St. Paul, MN
Oct. 28 Gateway City Arts Holyoke, MA
Oct. 29 Center For The Arts Of Homer Homer, NY
Oct. 30 Penn's Peak Jim Thorpe, PA
Nov. 4 Kenneth & Ramona Cherry Theater Columbia, TN
Nov. 6 Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center Huntingdon, TN
Nov. 11 Florida Theatre Jacksonville, FL
Nov. 18 Victory Theatre Evansville, IN
Nov. 19 Blue Gate Performing Arts Center Shipshewana, IN
Nov. 20 Stoughton Opera House Stoughton, WI
Dec. 17 Walker Theatre Chattanooga, TN
Dec. 18 Bijou Theatre Knoxville, TN
Jan. 15 Gary & Laura Maurer Concert Hall Chicago