In February, Lost Highway Records released Shelby Lynne's 10th studio album, "Just a Little Lovin'. The collection is a spare, mesmerizing tribute to the late Dusty Springfield that Lynne sums up by saying. "This is sacred ground to me." To promote the new album, Shelby and her band have embarked on a US tour, which will be followed by dates in the UK in the fall. On stage everything that needs a microphone, gets a Heil microphone. Including Shelby Lynne.

As with most happenings in the music world, the journey to bring these two together began well before the tour hit the road. Heil Sound and their artist liaison, Greg McVeigh, owner of Guesthouse Projects, began a dialog with Brian Harrison, Shelby Lynne's bassist as well as a respected record producer in Nashville. Heil PR 20's, PR 30's and PR 40's were tested at Brian's Rendering Plant studio and immediately put into service on drums, bass guitar rig, guitar amps and piano. Shelby's vocal microphone was a different matter, however. Bob Heil explains, "It became evident during rehearsals that any handling noise was going to be an issue. Shelby's show is very intimate and quiet, so quiet in fact that even when the mic cable moves there is a risk of noise." Heil continues, "After several late nights in the lab we were able utilize new internal shock mount technology that I had been developing and integrate it into what is now our new model PR 22. The microphone made its debut with Shelby on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Greg McVeigh concludes, "This is how artist relations can be-a high level partnership. It also demonstrates the value of getting direct feedback from the market, or end user, to a company that can actually react to that need. So, it's great to work with people like Shelby Lynne and Bob Heil. She will tell you what she likes and doesn't like, and Bob Heil will make it happen."

Established in 1966, Heil Sound Ltd. has developed many professional audio innovations over the years, and is currently a world leader in the design and manufacture of large diaphragm dynamic, professional grade microphones for live sound, broadcast, recording, and amateur radio markets. Heil Sound maintains corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Fairview Heights, Illinois.