Daryle Singletary-

It's often been said that a man-or, in this case, a singer -- is known by the company he keeps. If that's true, then Daryle Singletary must be one pretty special entertainer. Why else would such legendary singers as Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck and Dwight Yoakam lend their considerable talents and reputations to Daryle's new Audium Records CD, That's Why I Sing This Way? But that's exactly what they've done. And the result is nothing short of spectacular. An album that otherwise could've held its own purely on the strength of its classic material and Daryle's country-to-the-bone vocals now moves into the "must have" category. And Daryle has never been more in his element - or more proud of an album. Because, simply put, these are the songs and singers he loves.

"This is the music that moved me to Nashville," explains the Whigham, Georgia, native. "I grew up singin' gospel music, but always was a big fan of traditional country music. And these are the songs that actually made me move here. These singers are the guys that made me move here."

It's easy to understand why. Both the material and the voices on Daryle's 12-song CD are the essence of traditional country. Whether it's George Jones wrapping his unmistakable vocals around the harmony part on "Walk Through This World With Me" - a song he took to No. 1 in 1967, Dwight Yoakam bringing a touch of modern-day Bakersfield to the 1963 chart-topper his buddy Buck Owens had with "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" or Merle Haggard singing as only he can on "Make-Up And Faded Blue Jeans," the 1985 hit he wrote and recorded -- these truly are the best of the best. And let's not forget Johnny Paycheck who, in spite of ongoing health problems, interrupts a hospital stay to give an achingly moving recitation on "Old Violin," a song he wrote and took to No. 21 in 1986.

Credit Source-countrymusic.about.com