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Jeff Bridges Signs Major Label Record Deal

By Bruce Edwin  

Having earned an Academy Award for "Best Actor" for his portrayal of a grizzled former country music legend in the 2009 film Crazy Heart, actor and musician Jeff Bridges has signed a recording deal with EMI's Blue Note Records, which will release his major-label debut album in late summer, reports music industry veteran Bruce Edwin. Jeff Brides is not merely an actor, Bruce states; he is also fueled by a life-long passion for music and art.

Inspired by their collaboration on Crazy Heart, Jeff Bridges has chosen to record the album with his long-time friend, the multiple-Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician, and producer T-Bone Burnett, Bruce Edwin states. T. Bone is known for his work with Allison Krauss and Robert Plant, Elton John, Leon Russell, and the Grammy-winning soundtracks to O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Walk the Line, among more.

Image: Actor Jeff Kicks out the Jams, (c) 2011, Esquire Magazine, www.Esquire.com www.TheHollywoodSentinel.com

Jeff Bridges and Mr. Burnett met more than 30 years ago when Kris Kristofferson introduced them during the filming of the 1980 motion picture Heaven's Gate, adds Bruce Edwin. The relationship has continued over the years as Burnett selected the songs that appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, starring Mr. Bridges, as well as co-writing several songs for the soundtrack to Crazy Heart, including "The Weary Kind," which earned Mr. Burnett his second Oscar nomination and first win (along with songwriter Ryan Bingham) for "Best Original Song."

Jeff Bridges' album for Blue Note is an organic extension and culmination of his personal, professional, and now musical friendship with Burnett. As Bridges stated, "It's a relationship that's really inflamed my music." Mr. Burnett has assembled a number of his key repertory players to perform on Mr. Bridges' album, including Keefus Ciancia, Mark Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Jay Bellerose, guest vocalists Rosanne Cash, Sam Phillips, and Benji Hughes. Jeff Bridges will contribute several of his own compositions as well as perform material by a collection of world-class songwriters, including Mr. Burnett's Crazy Heart collaborators- the late Stephen Bruton and John Goodwin, as well as Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, Tom Waits, and others, music reporter Bruce Edwin continues. Bruce Edwin states, "Jeff Bridges, is Hollywood's favorite underdog character.

In addition to iconic roles in cinema from The Big Lebowski to True Grit, and more, Jeff Bridges has the look that women love and men consider cool. His public crossover into music has been gradual and calculated, and exemplifies the exceeding adept artistry and talent of this truly great Hollywood legend."

For more about Jeff Bridges, please visit his personal website www.jeffbridges.com

Bruce Edwin is editor of The Hollywood Sentinel and President of Starpower Management, the celebrity model and talent firm. Contact Bruce at www.TheHollywoodSentinel.com