Murder may have been committed on Music Row, but down on Nashville’s Lower Broadway real country music is alive and swingin’. There’s no shortage of steel or fiddle at Robert’s Western World, where John England and The Western Swingers hold down the regular  Monday night spot. While the band has solid country roots it won’t be Waylon, Johnny or George Jones’ music you’ll be hearing. The band's repertoire takes the listener on a journey a little farther back on country music’s road to the days when Bob Wills was as good as King.

Western Swing was popularized seven decades ago as country music’s answer to the hot new craze of the day: the big band sound. Combining jazz, country with the big band Western Swing brought brought a resurgence of interest in country music across Oklahoma, California and Texas. Country music's always been a niche genre and through a progression of waxes and wanes, western swing's held its own little corner of the dancehall. Over the years it's been kept alive by such legends as Pee Wee King, Hank Thompson, Spade Cooley and Tex Williams. In the latter years Western Swing has still held onto it's own with a little help from Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Strait and Asleep at the Wheel.

As a genre, Western Swing has always been as much about the individual components as it has been about the songs. Production, musicianship and a tangible relationship with the listener are all as equally important as the end product. The Western Swingers consists of an impressive selection of those valuable components, whose collective resume reads like a country music history book.

Bandleader John England also currently works with Loretta Lynn and along with his talents as a vocalist and musician he also writes music, covering a span of genres from traditional country to punk rock. Gene "Pappy" Merritts shines on fiddle while also lending his vocal talent. He's played with some of country music's most legendary icons and stylists: Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Patsy Cline and Benny Martin. He's made presidential performances, played the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling, WV and spent 24 years performing for Opryland's "Country Music USA" show.

Tommy Hannum's steel guitar has plenty of opportunity to shine on this project and serves up many a highlight. Tommy's has also been Ricky Van Shelton's bandleader for 15 years and played with a few legends himself: Emmylou Harris, Jeannie Sealy, Jack Greene and Vern Gosdin and has been on the recordings of Vince Gill, Tammy Wynette and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Tickling the ivories of the honky tonk piano is Tom McBryde who's also served as Dollywood's Musical Director since 1990 while also keeping busy as a composer of jingles and children's songs. Randy Mason (drums, vocals) is a staple with Jimmy C Newman's Cajun Country Band and has also toured with Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty. In addition, it's Randy's talents you hear on drums on Merle Haggard's Peer Session recordings. David Spicher (bass, vocals -- yes he's related to 'the' Buddy Spicher) has performed with Crystal Gayle, Merle Haggard, Pam Tillis and Jerry Douglas.

Just in case a trip to Robert’s Western World isn’t exactly convenient for those who live outside of Nashville the band’s put together a CD of some of the favorites from their show that’ll serve as the next best thing to being there. John England’s pulled together a disc of solid western swing fun that showcases the individual talents that make up ‘the Western Swingers’ aptly titled "Swinging Broadway.'

The album kicks off with Little Liza Jane but if you’re thinking Vince Gill – dig a little further back to the Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. The song sets the pace for the fun and talent to come as Pappy then takes the lead with John on harmony vocals for Jesse Ashcock's The Kind Of Love I Can't Forget.

While the album is packed with timeless chestnuts, the one original tune blends in so well it would be hard for most to pick out from the batch. John England's Your Turn To Cry is written and sung with all the gusto of someone who loves what they do for a living. The tune particularly deserves a little extra time in the spotlight with solid steel guitar pickin' and honky tonk piano.

Bob Wills wasn’t the only early influence on the music the evolved into western swing, the music of the Father of Country Music Jimmie Rodgers’, also had a musical impact and the band celebrates that connection with the  Rodgers' classic Peach Pickin’ Time In Georgia. Also among the more familiar tunes: the 1940's Henny Penny classic "Little Red Wagon" and "Deep Water" in which the band puts the emphasis on 'western' as they deliver flawlessly with the vocal harmonies of John, David and Tommy.

Sometimes the music is all you need and this album includes a couple of instrumentals. Listeners will tap their toes to the Dixieland swing of "Stumbling" and an unforgettable rendition of Under the Double Eagle, again with piano and steel highlights.

Swinging Broadway is an album worthy to be included in any country music fans' collection. It's a tribute to the days when fun, personality and showmanship stood proud alongside of country music. The musicianship is top rate and the vocals smooth and flawless down to the last A Ha!

John England and the Western Swingers are to be commended for carrying on the tradition for the next generation with a style and flair Bob Wills would be proud of.