Don't Go Near the Water at 35: Revisiting Sammy Kershaw's Debut Album
On October 8, 1991, Mercury Records released Don't Go Near the Water, the debut studio album from Kaplan native Sammy Kershaw. Thirty-five years later, the record still holds up as a snapshot of a South Louisiana voice arriving in Nashville at the height of the neotraditional era, with ten songs, four charting singles, and a sound built on honky tonk.
From Kaplan to Music Row
Born Samuel Paul Cashat in Kaplan, Kershaw grew up in the heart of Acadiana and counts Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw as a third cousin. His father died when he was 11, and he spent his teenage years working day jobs while playing roadhouses at night to help support his family. Along the way he played in the Acadiana band of J.B. Perry, a regional bandleader who helped shape his early years on stage.
In 1988, Kershaw stepped away from music and took a full-time job supervising store remodels for Walmart. It was songwriter friend Barry Jackson who encouraged him to send a demo tape to Mercury Records in 1990. A showcase followed, and Kershaw signed with the label, trading his remodeling tools for a recording contract.
Inside the Record
Don't Go Near the Water was cut at Music Mill in Nashville with producers Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson. The album runs just under 32 minutes across ten tracks, a lean, focused introduction that leaves plenty of room for Kershaw's voice to carry each song.
The track list draws from a deep bench of Nashville writers, including Bob McDill on the opener Real Old-Fashioned Broken Heart, Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah on Kickin' In, and Larry Cordle on Every Third Monday. Cannon himself co-wrote Anywhere but Here alongside Bob DiPiero and John Scott Sherrill.
The Singles
Four singles from the album reached the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Cadillac Style came first, released October 1, 1991, a week ahead of the album. Written by Mark Petersen, it tells the story of a narrator who may not have much, but whose sweetheart loves him like he drives a Cadillac. The song peaked at number 3 in both the United States and Canada. According to accounts of the session, Kershaw was not sold on Cannon's rough demo at first, but Cannon convinced the band to cut it in the final 15 minutes of studio time. Kershaw came around, and the song became his introduction to country radio.
Don't Go Near the Water, the title track written by Chapin Hartford and Jim Foster, followed in January 1992. It reached number 12 in the U.S. and number 5 in Canada.
Yard Sale, from writers Larry Bastian and Dewayne Blackwell, arrived in June 1992 and climbed to number 17.
Anywhere but Here closed out the run, released in September 1992 and reaching number 10, giving Kershaw his second Top Ten single from the album.
A Nod to George Jones
George Jones was one of Kershaw's heroes and a defining influence on his singing, and Kershaw made that plain on his debut by covering What Am I Worth, a song Jones co-wrote with Darrell Edwards and recorded on his 1957 debut, Grand Ole Opry's New Star. The two would team up in 1994 on the duet Never Bit a Bullet Like This, and in 2014 Kershaw paid tribute to Jones with an entire album of his songs, Do You Know Me?
How It Performed
On the album charts, Don't Go Near the Water reached number 17 on Billboard's Top Country Albums, and number 95 on the Billboard 200. The album went on to earn platinum certification in the United States, and its 1993 follow-up, Haunted Heart, also went platinum, producing Kershaw's first number one, She Don't Know She's Beautiful.
The Water Still Runs Deep
Kershaw's later honors include induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Louisiana Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 2010. But the starting point for all of it is this ten-song record from 1991, built on a Kaplan voice, a George Jones influence, and a song he almost passed on. Thirty-five years later, Don't Go Near the Water remains a welcome reason to dive right in.
Follow Sammy Kershaw
FAQ
When was Sammy Kershaw's debut album released?
Don't Go Near the Water was released on October 8, 1991, on Mercury Records.
What singles came from Don't Go Near the Water?
Four: Cadillac Style (number 3), Don't Go Near the Water (number 12), Yard Sale (number 17), and Anywhere but Here (number 10) on Billboard's Hot Country chart.
Who produced Don't Go Near the Water?
Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson produced the album at Music Mill in Nashville.
Where is Sammy Kershaw from?
Kershaw was born and raised in Kaplan, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana.
Love Stories Like This?
Subscribe to the Louisiana Country Music Newsletter for more artist spotlights, new releases, and stories from artists with Louisiana roots.
Follow your favorite Louisiana artists HERE.
This article is for informational and editorial purposes only. Details such as release dates, event information, and artist updates are subject to change. Featuring an artist does not imply any endorsement, partnership, representation, or business relationship unless explicitly stated. All trademarks, images, and music referenced remain the property of their respective owners.
Comments