Jason Sturgeon

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“Simple Life”

Toolpusher/Spinville/Nine North

When Jason Sturgeon sings his debut single “Simple Life,” he’s not just painting a picture of small town America. He’s describing who he is. Born and raised in Petersburg, IN, (pop. 3500) Sturgeon grew up in a family of coal miners, oilmen and farmers who literally made their living off the land, and still do to this day. His upcoming album is titled That’s Me.

Sturgeon grew up deeply involved with his family’s farming business and participating in equestrian competitions, but his love of music had him singing from the time he was a child of six. After high school, Sturgeon attended college and landed a job as a medical device engineer, but couldn’t shake the call of being a musician. He formed a band called Red Eye Max and began playing shows, eventually earning a regional following. The band was even tapped to be a part of Kenny Chesney’s “Next Big Star” competition and, though they didn’t win, the experience gave Sturgeon the confidence to continue pursuing his dream. His journey so far culminates in That’s Me, which finds him paired with John Mellencamp band member (and fellow Hoosier state resident) Dane Clark.

“I named the album That’s Me and I think you can really hear who I am in the songs,” says Sturgeon. “I’m just a fan of music, and I dig a lot of it. And all I can really say is that’s me, that’s my background, and what comes out of me and what I’m into, and it better come across in my music or I’ve done my job wrong! I just really want people to hear this and feel it and have a better understanding of who I am just from what I’ve written. And I think they will.”

http://jasonsturgeon.net/
http://www.myspace.com/jasonsturgeonmusic

Gwen Sebastian

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“V.I.P. (Barefoot Girl)”

Open Road Records/Lofton Creek

Gwen Sebastian describes her sound as “contemporary country music with spunk,” best evidenced by her latest single, “V.I.P. (Barefoot Girl).” Co-written by Sebastian with Brian Eckert and Dean Miller, the song’s lyrics paint a picture of her country roots. A North Dakota native who grew up in a town with a population of less than 800, Sebastian is a self-professed “barefoot girl.” Sebastian has recently been on the road visiting radio stations in support of this single.

Named as an “Artist to Watch” in 2010 by Country Weekly magazine, Gwen’s debut album on Open Road/Lofton Creek is slated for release on May 25th. The six song EP will feature “V.I.P. (Barefoot Girl)” as well as her debut single “Hard Rain.”

http://www.gwensebastian.com/
http://www.myspace.com/gwensebastian

Bobby Karl Works The Tin Pan Kick-Off Party

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The Consortium’s Mike Martinovich, NSAI’s Susan Myers, Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless and hit songwriter Brian White (“Watching You”). All photos by Bev Moser

Chapter 335

A pre-party works much better.

Until a couple of years ago, Tin Pan South celebrated its successes with post-event bashes. Now it has a kick-off party that catches people while they’re still fresh for the fray. What’s more, it is a top-notch bash.

Staged by presenting sponsor Region’s Bank on Monday (3/29), the event featured yummy catering and an A-list crowd.

NSAI’s Susan Myers, ole’s Robert Ott, wife Robin, ole songwriter Chris Wallin (“Don’t Blink”) and ole’s Shane Barrett gather to celebrate the start of Tin Pan South.

I met Guy Gilchrist, which was a thrill. “Guy, who?” you ask. He is the cartoonist behind Nancy, the one who puts country stars names on the fronts of Aunt Fritzi Ritz’s tight, well-endowed shirts in the comic strip. It turns out that (1) he’s a Nashville resident and (2) is a country songwriter. Who knew? Anyway, he looks kinda like a kindly country outlaw with his long hair and big cowboy hat.

When I looked at the newspaper this morning next to the comic strip, sure enough, his web address is guygilchristmusic.com. And when you go there, you can hear him singing and have the opportunity to buy his debut EP. Go for it, buddy.

Also in the crowd were such out-of-town tunesmiths as Steve Dorff (“I Cross My Heart,” “Heartland”) and Eric Kaz (“Cry Like a Rainstorm,” “Love Has No Pride”).

Another visiting from out of town was Ken Paulson, the CEO of the Freedom Forum, Newseum and Diversity Institute in D.C. Ken is preparing a gala to honor Mary Chapin Carpenter there, and he had a very good question for Erika Wollam Nichols: “How do you tell who to let in from the online/blogosphere community?” “That’s a very good question, and I don’t know the answer,” sez I. “You’ll have to ask a publicist.” Where was attendee Kay Clary when we needed her? Does anyone else know the answer to this?

We noted such stellar Nashville songwriting names as Fred Knobloch, Buzz Cason, Liz Hengber (she has the new Bucky Covington single), Wood Newton, James Dean Hicks, Tim DuBois, Todd Cerney and Liz Rose. Songwriter Jimbeau Hinson and his wife Brenda (the Midsouth Exteriors TV lady) Fielder were also working the room.

I was happy to congratulate Will Kimbrough on his super new CD Wings. Check out his highly personable EPK on his website.

Trent Summar (Jack Ingram’s “Free” and “Love You”) reports that he has signed with Universal as a tunesmith. His wife, Casey Gill Summar, is the executive director of Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which gives legal aid to underprivileged songwriters, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists and such. Isn’t that a worthy thing?

“I never see you at Music Row parties,” said Alan Rhody wryly. “That’s because you never go to any,” I replied, to which he heartily agreed, laughing.

Songwriters Trent Jeffcoat (The Writer’s Den Music Group) and Billy Worley (Memphis Music Association).

If you thought the BMI and ASCAP lobbies were echo chambers, let me introduce you to the marble-and-glass lobby of Regions Bank. As the event progressed, the place became deafeningly loud.

But there were definitely compensations. Lisa Harless informed us that the party was (brilliantly) catered by Maggiano’s. We dined on shish-ka-bobs, meatballs, prosciutto-wrapped melon, asparagus and other roasted veggies, plus lox, capers and hard boiled eggs, among more delights. One table groaned under a bounty of cookies, tortes, puddings, fruits, brownies, cakes, bon-bons and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Bart Herbison, Mark Brown, Mark Ford, Mike Sistad, Mike Martinovich, Alan Mayor, Al Schiltz, Leslie Tomasino DiPiero, Bobby Tomberlin (“One More Day,” plus singing on TV’s The Singing Bee), Sherrill Blackman, Joyce Simans, Charlie Monk, Preshias Tomes, Jim Schmidt, Jon Freeman and Trent Jeffcoat schmoozed. So now it is official: The 18th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival is off and running. Have fun!

MP3 Players Plug In To More Cars

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Listening to an iPod or other MP3 player via connection to a car stereo is growing in popularity. Just released information from an Arbitron/Edison Infinite Dial national survey shows that 24 percent of persons over age 12 have ever listened to an iPod, iPhone or other MP3 player while connected to a car stereo.

The results, which will be revealed in full on April 8, come from a national survey of 1753 Americans age 12 and up. Forty-four percent of respondents said they own an MP3 player, and 54 percent of those said they have connected their players for listening in the car. The study shows that most of those who listen by connecing in the car do so more than once a week.

Larry Rosin, President of Edison Research, says this is a significant development because he calls the car “a crucial battleground for people’s attention.”

The complete study, “The Infinite Dial 2010 – Digital Platforms and the Future of Audio,” will be presented in a webinar on April 8, details here.

Gretchen Wilson Release Via Redneck Records

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Gretchen Wilson’s first album for her recently launched Redneck Records, I Got Your Country Right Here, hits stores today (3/30). Among the promotional stops is a performance of her hit single “Work Hard, Play Harder” tomorrow on the CBS Early Show.

Wilson produced the album with Blake Chancey and John Rich. She co-wrote two songs on the project and for the other cuts she turned to Rich, Rivers Rutherford, Monty Criswell, Al Anderson, Dave Berg, Becca Bramlett, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, Bob DiPiero, Tom Hambridge, Terry McBride, Vicky McGehee, Chris Stapleton, Jeffrey Steele, Sam & Annie Tate, and Bobby Terry.

Redneck Records is offering a Deluxe Edition Package of I Got Your Country Right Here at www.RedneckRecords.com, and Wilson is autographing the first 500 copies. She recently wrapped up a two-month tour.

ACM, Muzak To Host Music Camps

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ACM Lifting Lives™ and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities today announced plans for the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp. The Camp will have a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities, and providing music enrichment through performance and education. The camp will be located in Nashville, and will be open to individuals with developmental disabilities talented in music from around the nation.

With a $30,000 grant, ACM Lifting Lives is fully funding the first year of the camp, which was previously called the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Music Camp.

ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp will be a week-long residential camp offering participants opportunities in a songwriting and recording, culminating in a live performance at the Grand Ole Opry. There will also be visits from top country artists. Last year’s camp featured visits from LeAnn Rimes, Kix Brooks, Eddie Montgomery and more.

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The Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation is partnering with Belmont University to bring its NOISE! Music Camp to the Belmont campus this summer from July 18-28. Students aged 15-17 throughout the U.S. with a passion for music who are interested in making a career within the music industry are encouraged to apply for the camp at www.heart.muzak.com. Applications must be returned by April 2, 2010.

Josh Turner And Team Toast No. 1

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BMI and ASCAP co-hosted a spirited celebration at Cabana on Tuesday, March 23 to honor the four-week #1 smash “Why Don’t We Just Dance.” Recorded by Josh Turner and co-written by Jim Beavers, Darrell Brown, and Jonathan Singleton, the song marks Turner’s third chart-topper and is the debut single off his February 2010 release, Haywire.

Pictured are (l-r): ASCAP’s Tim Dubois, co-writer Jonathan Singleton, Crosstown Songs’ Megan Galbraith and Darrell Franklin, MCA Nashville’s Van Haze, Kobalt Music Publishing’s Whitney Daane, MCA Nashville’s Royce Risser, co-writer Darrell Brown, Josh Turner, co-writer Jim Beavers, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, producer Frank Rogers, and BMI’s Jody Williams.

Jackson’s “Freight Train” Runs Today

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The Big D and Bubba Show kicked off a week-long series of interviews with Alan Jackson yesterday in conjunction with the release of "Freight Train." Pictured left to right: Bubba, Alan Jackson and Big D

The latest album from superstar Alan Jackson comes out today (3/30) and he’s marking the release with street-date performances on NBC’s Today show and CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman. Freight Train has already produced the hit single “It’s Just That Way,” currently No. 15 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart.

During his time in New York, Jackson is also set to tape A&E’s acclaimed interview and performance series, Private Sessions with Lynn Hoffman. It will premiere Sunday, April 11, at 9 AM ET.

Upcoming television visits also include NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 14, and the syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 16. Jackson’s summer tour opens April 8 and he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a public ceremony on April 16.

Lambert, Shelton Benefit Raises $70,000

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Lambert and Shelton at the benefit.

For the second year in a row, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton performed at a benefit concert in Tishomingo, OK to help local charities. Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation hosted the event which raised nearly $70,000. There were acoustic performances from Lambert, Shelton and Shelton’s cousin Clancy Davis, as well as a cocktail party, dinner and live and silent auctions. Tickets sold out well in advance, drawing attendees from all over Oklahoma and Texas. Proceeds went to causes in Tishomingo, OK and surrounding areas, with specific attention to the local Veteran’s program and the Tishomingo Animal Shelter.

Lambert with her dog Delilah

Lambert’s Third Annual “Cause for Paws” Benefit in Tyler, TX is coming up on Saturday, May 15, 2010 with proceeds going to The Humane Society of East Texas. Special guests include Whiskey Myers, Kacey Musgraves and Nan Kelley for an intimate evening of music and cuisine in the serene setting of Villa Di Felicita.

Thanks to Miranda’s loyal Ran Fans and the East Texas Citizens, The Humane Society of East Texas has become a no kill sanctuary since the fundraiser began three years ago.

CRB Board Update; 615 Music Expands

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® President Mike Culotta has finalized the CRB Board of Directors for 2010-2011 with three one-year term, At-Large appointments. This year’s appointees are: Johnny Chiang (OM, Cox Radio Houston), Dan Halyburton (President, RadioTime) and Clarence Spalding (President, Spalding Entertainment).

In addition to the 27 elected CRB Directors and Director Emeritus Charlie Monk, the three board appointees join the CRB Board immediately and will serve through the completion of next year’s Country Radio Seminar 2011, to be held March 2-4, 2011.

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615 Music has launched Song Street Records focusing on licensing music from emerging artists for film, TV, new media and more. Pres. and CEO Randy Wachtler describes it as a “virtual record label for a virtual world.”

The Song Street model is different than many similar services because it will represent artists on an exclusive basis.

Leveraging 615 Music’s sales, marketing, A&R and production teams, Song Street Records will identify up and coming artists, secure placements, and do all of the licensing legwork. Clients will also have the ability to find music themselves via the Song Street Records search engine.