Acclaimed FAME Songwriter Gary Nichols Releases Debut Album on December 7th/ The Way We Do It Down South Receives Additional Lift from Firefly Vodka

NASHVILLE, TN, November 21, 2010 (Press-News.org) Seasoned performer and celebrated songwriter Gary Nichols releases his debut album The Way We Do It Down South on December 7th. This long-awaited collection of rich, resonant tunes was recorded at the historic FAME studios in Muscle Shoals and exudes the soulful, gritty spirit that has become synonymous with the Alabama landmark. Recognizing his undeniable southern charm, Firefly Vodka is teaming up with Nichols to support the release and the Firefly Tailgate Challenge.

The laid back, porch swing attitude of South Carolina's Firefly Vodka aligns seamlessly with Nichols' songs about carefree weekends and simple living. Firefly Vodka is taking an old-fashioned RV road trip to share the good spirit of Firefly with football fans at some of the biggest college and professional games of the season, giving away prizes all around the country. Firefly is pairing Nichols' single "Tailgate" with their Tailgate Challenge and offering a free download of the track to all who participate.

With his warm, magnetic voice, Nichols' combines country, rock and soul to create an album that exemplifies the "Muscle Shoals Sound." Nichols signed with House of FAME Publishing in 2002 and went on to write cuts for Randy Travis, James Otto, Andy Griggs and Bo Bice. The Way We Do It Down South is his first full-length album, although he saw previous success with several singles released on Universal Mercury Records, including 2007's "Unbroken Ground," which reached #39 on the charts. This past year he co-wrote "Good Thing's Gone Bad" with James Otto, featured as a duet with Ronnie Milsap on Otto's new release Shake What God Gave You; and in April of 2010, Nichols took on a new endeavor, replacing Chris Stapleton as the lead singer and guitarist of contemporary bluegrass heavy-hitters The SteelDrivers.

"I've always known, deep inside, that I wanted to be a musician," says Gary Nichols. "Music is what makes me feel alive. And I know in my heart that I will be making music as long as I live."

The Way We Do It Down South, produced by Nichols and FAME's Rodney Hall, starts off rocking with the party anthem, "Life With the Tailgate Down." It then tears into the rip-roaring country rocker "Something with Some Attitude" before settling into the southern-fried soul of "Down South" and the funky groove of "Makin' Love for a Livin'." This debut album features the added touch of other renowned songwriters including Craig Wiseman and John Paul White, as well as FAME hit-makers James LeBlanc, Walt Aldridge and Brad Crisler.

The Way We Do It Down South will be released on December 7th, with a pre-sale beginning on November 16th. Upon purchase of a pre-sale package, fans will receive an immediate download of three bonus tracks, including an acoustic version of "Life with the Tailgate Down." For more information about Firefly Vodka's Tailgate Challenge, please visit http://www.fireflyonthefly.com. For more information about Gary Nichols and FAME, please visit http://www.fame2.com.

FAME Studios was founded in 1959 and is located in Muscle Shoals, Ala. Other entities under the FAME umbrella include FAME Publishing and HOUSE OF FAME Publishing, FAME Records and Muscle Shoals Records. Current writer/artists include James LeBlanc, Angela Hacker, Jason Isbell, Dylan LeBlanc, Jami Grooms, Jaime Fox and The Uglistick.

Catalogs represented by FAME: Walt Aldridge, Tony Colton, Russell Smith, Dave Gibson, Robert Byrne, Mark Hall, Bruce Miller, Matt Warren, Steven Dale Jones and Victoria Banks.