John Rich To Grand Marshal Parade

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John Rich

John Rich

John Rich will serve as Parade Grand Marshal for the 57th annual Nashville Christmas Parade, hosted by Piedmont Natural Gas. The parade benefits Piedmont’s Share the Warmth Round Up program, and kicks-off the Christmas season in downtown Nashville on Friday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. CST.

Rich and Mayor Karl Dean will light the Nashville Christmas Tree at the Public Square, near the intersection of 2nd Ave and Union Street. Following the tree lighting, the Parade will start at the intersection of Broadway and 6th Avenue in front of the Sommet Center and continue through Nashville’s historic downtown, concluding at LP Field. Fireworks sponsored by the Nashville Downtown Partnership will kick off the parade.

Swift on SNL

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swift200AOL country fan site TheBoot.com is kicking the media competition when it comes to reporting on Taylor Swift’s upcoming Saturday Night Live experience as host and musical guest (11/7). Here’s a few of the insider tips being revealed. Swift will participate in a spoof of the Kanye West incident which involves a promo with SNL castmember Bill Hader who gets a last minute on-air call from West. The site also reports that Swift tweeted, “Starting the SNL process. I kinda feel like I might have a heart attack or pass out in the pitch meeting. I’m that excited.”

The video below shows Swift seeking advice from late night host Jimmy Fallon about how to act and interact with the SNL crowd. “I have a lot of questions for you,” said Taylor. “I have my first meeting tonight … so what happens there?” Check out Fallon’s responses.

Pahanish at 12th And Porter, Avetts at Ryman

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BMI Presents at 12th Porter attracted a wall-to-wall crowd last week. The quarterly showcase featured Music Row buzz artist Dave Pahanish, who co-wrote Jimmy Wayne’s chart-topper “Do You Believe Me Now?”; southern California roots duo the Pawn Shop Kings; and promising young honky tonker Tyler Farr.

Pictured are (l-r): BMI’s Perry Howard, Pahanish’s guitarist Tom Bukovac, Wright of Center Music’s Cole Wright, band member Kristin Lee, Dave Pahanish, and BMI’s Bradley Collins.

Pictured (l-r): BMI’s Perry Howard, Pahanish’s guitarist Tom Bukovac, Wright of Center Music’s Cole Wright, band member Kristin Lee, Dave Pahanish, and BMI’s Bradley Collins.

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The Avett Brothers rocked the Ryman Auditorium on Halloween night. The roots group’s major label debut was released in September on American Recordings/Columbia Records. I and Love and You was produced by multi Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin.

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L-R: Seth Avett, Brian Penix/Outback Concerts, Sally Williams/GM Ryman Auditorium, Bob Crawford, Scott Avett, Paul Lohr/New Frontier Booking, Joe Kwon. Photo: Brian Wagner

Gary Nicholson Celebrates 60 With NSAI Benefit

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Tgnop notch tunesmith Gary Nicholson will celebrate his 60th birthday this Saturday, Nov. 7 with a benefit for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

The Grammy winner has recruited tons of songwriter/artist friends to join him for the show at 3rd & Lindsley. Set to perform are Fortunate Sons (Kenny Greenberg, Michael Rhodes, Chad Cromwell, Reese Winans, Gary Nicholson); Steve Cropper, Ashley Cleveland, Pam Tillis, Jessi Alexander, Leslie Satcher, Luke and the Latenites, Jonell Mosser, A.J. Croce, Pat McLaughlin, Tony Arata, Danny Flowers, Chuck Cannon, Lari White, Tom Hambridge, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Mike Reid, Colin Linden and surprise guests.The evening, hosted by TV personality Harry Chapman, will also commemorate Nicholson’s 30 years in Nashville.

Doors open at 6:00 PM. Show starts at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $15 and available at www.3rdandlindsley.com and at the door. Proceeds will benefit NSAI’s advocacy work on behalf of songwriters.

Kenny Rogers’ Christmas Tour, Symphony Show

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Kkenny rogersenny Rogers will join the Nashville Symphony for a special performance on Fri., Feb. 5, 2010. From the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, he will be backed by the expansive sound of the orchestra to perform his most beloved songs such as “Lucille,” “The Gambler” and “Buy Me a Rose.” Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $37.50 and may be purchased online at NashvilleSymphony.org, or through the Schermerhorn Box Office at 615-687-6400.

Rogers is also embarking on his annual holiday tour, with the 2009 edition set to feature Rebecca Lynn Howard. The show will launch Nov. 27 in Bossier City, LA and visit 20 cities before wrapping Dec. 23 in Westbury, NY. This year’s Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour will be sponsored by World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization that serves the poor and those in need in more than 100 countries.

More Music Debuting Via Exclusive Agreements

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rihannaAn increasing number of artists are sharing their new music with select partners first. R&B/pop star Rihanna will showcase her much-anticipated new material exclusively to Nokia mobile phone users, in the latest such agreement. Nokia owners will get to hear the songs more than a week before the album, Rated R, streets on Nov. 23.

Through a partnership between Nokia, Island Def Jam Music Group, and Universal Music Group International, she will perform the new tracks in a secret London location for a globally streamed concert on Nov. 16.  There will be simultaneous listening parties in multiple locations worldwide, and bloggers at the event will record, broadcast and share elements of the concert with fans via social networking.

The event coincides with the release of Nokia’s new X6 entertainment device. The mobile phone company is also offering exclusive Rihanna content to its Comes With Music customers, such as an exclusive version of Rated R with a bonus track, remix and more. Nokia will also make available an exclusive Rihanna application, exclusive footage, and the track, “Wait Your Turn” from the album before its release.

McMurry Entertainment Opens On The Row

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Howard Fields 02

Howard Fields

Longtime music businessmen Howard Fields and Everett Zinn have launched McMurry Entertainment Group, an independent music company based in Nashville. The enterprise is a three-way partnership between Fields, Zinn and Wyoming entrepreneur Doris McMurry, and is comprised of a record label and management company all under the MEG moniker. In the works are a distribution deal and artist signings to be announced in the coming weeks.

Consultant Larry Shell will head up MEG’s A&R efforts. Most recently, he was VP of A&R at Broken Bow Records. Claire Cook will oversee publicity for the new company and consult on public relations and marketing efforts.

Fields, a former army lieutenant colonel, has been involved in artist management since 1992 and has worked with such artists as Kenny Rogers, Jo Dee Messina, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Ashley Gearing. Zinn published George Strait’s early hits, including “Unwound,” “Down and Out,” and “Marina Del Rey.”

McMurry Entertainment Group is located on Music Row at 1103 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212; Phone 615-457-1515; Fax 615-457-1616. E-mails addresses include: [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

CMA Update: Kid Rock Duets W/ Jamey Johnson; Martina Sings

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martina250The carefully managed 43rd Annual CMA Awards info stream continues to tantalize with new details regarding performers and presenters. Just announced is a duet with Kid Rock and four-time nominee Jamey Johnson—their first ever on TV, and Martina McBride will perform during the show.

Newly announced presenters include nine-time CMA Award winners The Judds, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson, and six-time CMA Award winner Lee Ann Womack. Kid Rock will also present an Award during the evening.

Performers already announced include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.

johnson250Previously announced presenters include Dale Earnhardt Jr.; stars of ABC’s “The Middle”  Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton; Julianne Hough; nominee Randy Houser (for both New Artist and Music Video of the Year for “Boots On”); nominee Jake Owen (New Artist of the Year); Kellie Pickler; LeAnn Rimes; and ABC News’s Robin Roberts, co-anchor of “Good Morning America” and host of the upcoming “Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville” ABC television special (airing Nov. 10). Love And Theft will host the Pre-Telecast Awards.

Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office.

“The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the rock250Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Reba Makes Media Rounds, Wy Joins Tribute Show

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rebaReba is busy on the talk show circuit this week. She will make her first visit to Rachael Ray’s kitchen table today (11/5) as the show’s only  celebrity guest. Later in the evening, she visits ABC’s Nightline to discuss her musical influences,  career and new album. Earlier this week she stopped by Live! with Regis & Kelly and made her debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

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Wynnona has joined the Gibson Guitar tribute to the late innovator Les Paul, set for Thurs., Nov. 19 at the Ryman. The free concert will feature Paul’s godson Steve Miller, John Rich, Emerson Drive, JD Souther, Steve Wariner, Joan Jett, Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde, Jennifer Batten, and Josh Kelly. Also set to perform are jazz artists Sarah Partridge and Anna Wilson. The Les Paul Trio, known for their Monday night performances with Paul at the Iridium in New York prior to his death, will serve as the house band. For fans that missed out on getting a free ticket in October, Gibson will soon be releasing a special allotment of tickets to the general public on the website www.gibson.com/lespaultribute.

Tracy Lawrence Turkey Fry, Guitar Center Food Drive

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tracy-lawrenceTracy Lawrence’s 4th annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry will take place Tues., Nov. 24 from 8 AM-5 PM at the Nashville Mission parking lot (639 Lafayette St.). Lorrie Morgan, Burns and Poe, Sarah Darling, and Brad Arnold are among the guests who will join Lawrence that day. Since the food drive’s inception, Lawrence and celebrity pals have raised almost $200,000 worth of meals and cash donations.

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Guitar Center is holding a nationwide food drive at all of its retail locations until Nov. 15.  The donations will go to local food banks. As a special thanks, anyone who donates a non-perishable item will receive a coupon for 10% off their next Guitar Center purchase. Guitar Center Nashville is at 721 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tennessee 37204.