Lincoln resident pre-releases honky-tonk album May 5

Talent can come from the most unexpected places, and Lincoln is no exception. Western musician Mae McCoy is beaming with talent, with experience not only performing but also as a record label owner, Western Swing Society vice president, Texas Recording Artist Hall of Fame inductee and loving mother to her family in Lincoln. McCoy grew up in Silicon Valley and was obsessed with listening to a variety of music genres. She was obsessed with punk rock music from Lookout Records, known for producing Green Day and Operation Ivy. She later discovered rockabilly, an early form of rock n' roll, which eventually led her to an interest in swing, then western music. When she began trying music for herself, she started by playing guitar, bass guitar, drums and piano. "I was just obsessed with music, so I wanted to play it," McCoy said. McCoy began to do live performances, pursuing music as a hobby to start. The more shows she did, the more she realized she wanted to take her music career to the next level. "Throughout the years, it's really fun to go out and do live shows … but I also have a family and a full-time job, so right now, I run a record label to where I can take my hobby of playing music more seriously and put my music out there with my upcoming album," McCoy said. She's more into the "promotion of music" now as not only the owner of Neon Star Records but also as vice president of the Western Swing Society, a Sacramento-based group established in 1981 with a mission to preserve Western Swing. They meet monthly and support local musicians. "Not only do I love to play music and hear it, but I like to promote what I do, which I was a little shy before," McCoy said. "But, I certainly like to promote my friends through our nonprofit association." Taking her hobby in music more seriously has allowed her to support her family in Lincoln. "Lincoln's a great town with great history and great people. I'm really happy to be living here," McCoy said. "The scene here is just incredible. It's a great place for the family and a great place for music." Mae McCoy and her Neon Stars will launch their new honky-tonk album this month that pays "homage to the classic country sounds that continue to inspire us," McCoy said. "At Sundown" will pre-launch May 5 at the Western Swing Society at 2749 Sunrise Blvd. from 1 to 3 p.m. The album will be available digitally on all streaming platforms May 11. "This album is a labor of love and we're grateful to everyone who contributed to making it a reality," McCoy said. McCoy chose the album's cover of "Walk on By" as her favorite song on the album because she got to record alongside Justin Trevino, her producer and notable honky-tonk artist who has performed with Asleep at the Wheel, Ray Price and Johnny Bush. "I was so thrilled to collaborate with him. To be able to sing a country standard and to sing it with him is just a personification of a dream come true for me," McCoy said. McCoy and her band will also perform at the Rocklin Community Festival on May 10 at Johnson Springview Park at 5480 5th St. For future events and to learn more about Mae McCoy and her Neon Stars, visit maemccoymusic.com.