Jim Grosjean, Monisa Angell (viola); Bob Mason, Anthony Lamarchina (cello); Harvey Thompson (tenor saxophone); Jim Horn (baritone saxophone); Steve Patrick (trumpet); Charles Rose (trombone); John Jarvis, Jimmy Nichols (keyboards); Michael Rhodes (bass); Greg Morrow (drums); Tom Roady, Eric Darken (percussion); Blair Masters (programming); Cindy Richardson-Walker, Liana Manis (background vocals). Producers: Don Cook, Blake Chancey, David Malloy. Engineers: Mike Bradley, Billy Sherrill, Tony Castle. Recorded at The Soundshop & Westwood Sound Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. ""One Voice"" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and for Best Country Song. With LeeAnn Rimes aging gracefully, pre-teen Billy Gilman is the latest entry in the Young Superstar Sweepstakes, country division. He sings in a spunky, slightly nasal, breathy fashion that resembles pop-country diva Brenda Lee and, occasionally, a pre-THRILLER Michael Jackson or a '70s Donnie Osmond. Gilman injects a little country-swing into the R&B vocal-group standard ""Little Bitty Pretty One"" (coincidentally formerly covered by The Jacksons, among others). There are plenty of innocent, animated, pop-charged country songs about holding hands (""I Wanna Get to Ya"" is as catchy as anything by Abba), sung with enough adolescent insouciance to add a little edge. Gilman sings with a genuine wail of longing for a long-lost father on ""Oklahoma,"" interesting because the story's told from the child's point of view, and wrings the Tammy Wynette classic ""Till I Can Make It on My Own"" for all the emotion it's got. The music is alternately lush and snappy, full of mildly twanging guitars, pedal steel, strings, and buoyant background choruses. With this debut, Billy Gilman proves himself worthy of the mantle of (Talented) Teen Heartthrob.Q (1/01, p.108) - 3 out of 5 stars - ""...A pint-sized Billy Ray Cyrus....The title track - a sub-Lonestar, heartstring-tugging ballad - is the kid's calling card..."""  (less)

cotton-candy pop oldies ("Little Things" and "Little Bitty Pretty One"), oddball novelties ("The Snake Song"), or inspirational fare ("There's a Hero"). His credible delivery of "Oklahoma," the moving tale of one boy's trip to meet a long-vanished father, is a fine performance that transcends his age. Don't blame him for the weak spots. Credit for the cookie-cutter arrangements and such soggy ballads as the preachy title track goes to multiple producers Don Cook (Music Row's dean of formulaic production), David Malloy, and Blake Chancey. As always, their goals are to satisfy the one-dimensional country-radio consultants who dictate what gets played, nothing more. Long ago, producers Owen Bradley and Billy Sherrill helped Brenda Lee and Tany...  (less)