Junior Brown prepares for new album release, tour

Junior Brown, who hopes to release a follow-up to his 1998 album "Long Walk Back" within the next few months, plans to open a tour of U.S. clubs in mid-February. The country musician's new album will include collaborations with rock artists including Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots.

On his official website, Brown describes the song he co-wrote with DeLeo as "full of energy that reflects both of our personalities and our love of the guitar sound." The two met last year when Brown and Stone Temple Pilots were guests on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

Brown plans to finish writing songs with "a couple more rock artists" before the new album is complete, according to the website. The new material is said to be influenced by traditional country and rock styles, as well as alternative rock.

A singer, songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist, Brown is best known for his virtuosity on the "guit-steel," an instrument that combines a standard 6-string guitar with a steel guitar. Brown invented the "guit-steel" in the mid-'80s, and guitar maker Michael Stevens has since built two of the instruments for the performer.