After keeping an unusually low profile for much of 1999, country music baritone John Anderson [ tickets ] is ready to record and tour again. He is in the studio with Dixie Chicks producers Blake Chancey and Paul Worley, working on a new album for Epic Records Nashville. Meanwhile, Anderson's camp is busy assembling the artist's touring plans for the year, with several dates already confirmed.

Following the Universal Music Group's merger with Polygram in late 1998, Anderson found himself without a label. In mid-1999, the singer-songwriter inked a deal with Sony Music Nashville, which owns Epic Records Nashville. (The conglomerate didn't immediately announce for which of its labels he would record.) The new album is targeted for release by mid-year, according to the label.

A Florida native who grew up in Tennessee, Anderson will share a bill with John Michael Montgomery [ tickets ] on Jan. 17 during the New South Florida Fair (Coral Sky Pavilion) in West Palm Beach. He will follow that with a Jan. 19 concert at the Florida Citrus Festival in Winter Haven.

Anderson first hit the country music scene in 1978, and in the ensuing years he has recorded about 20 albums. Among those releases were three multi-platinum and four gold albums. Along the way, he picked up several industry awards .

His hit ''Swingin'' was one of country music's top songs of the '80s, taking ''Single Of The Year'' honors from the Country Music Association in 1983 as well as ''Country Song Of The Year'' from the readers of Music City News.