Levi Riggs offers customized song for football markets For the second time in six months, country music artist Levi Riggs has a hit song on his hands … but this one is requiring some special handling. Upon releasing is his second single, “Tailgate Time,” with a football theme, in late August as the 2010 gridiron season was beginning, Riggs decided to customize the song for a few specific markets, adjusting the lyrics to include high school, college and professional team references for some of his favorite teams. Riggs, whose first single, “F-150,” rose as high as No. 19 on the New Music Weekly Country Music Chart, created special versions of “Tailgate Time” for radio stations in Indiana (Purdue Boilermakers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Indianapolis (Colts), other Midwestern states (Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, Iowa State Cyclones and Minnesota Vikings) and throughout the South (New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and Arkansas Razorbacks) and the East (Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and New York Jets). “Tailgate Time” speaks to one of Levi’s passions – the sport of football and being a fan. He co-wrote the song with Scott Rottler and Bart Skrzypczak with the blue-collar worker in mind, knowing how people this time of year look forward to the weekends, putting on the jersey of their favorite team and having a great time around America’s favorite sport. Riggs decided that listeners would have greater appreciation for his song if it spoke of their team. So, Levi spent countless extra hours in the recording studio creating customized versions of “Tailgate Time” for more than 30 separate markets. The work is paying off as “Tailgate Time” climbs the charts, opening at No. 206 on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart and making steady progress in the past four weeks to No. 105 toward the projection that this song would eventually be another top 20 hit for Riggs. “We enjoyed writing this song and we are happy that people are having fun listening to it,” says Riggs. “I love football — I loved playing the sport and now I love being a fan. I get pumped up this time of year just with the anticipation of seeing the action, the big hits, the impact plays, and the strategy. Having played both sides of the ball, quarterback on offense and linebacker on defense, I watch the game from both points of view — trying to figure out what the linebacker is thinking the quarterback is trying to do and then thinking like a quarterback in how he’s going to cope with the intense linebacker. It’s great strategy and great fun.” Riggs’ popularity continues to escalate. More than 157,000 fans have listened to Levi’s songs on MySpace since the web site launched last April. He’s been busy with numerous interviews for television, radio and print. The 25-year-old Riggs graduated from Purdue with an honors degree in agricultural sales and marketing. As a student, he sang tenor for the world-famous Purdue Varsity Glee Club for four years, Continue reading Tailgate Time with Levi Riggs→
