Rocket Club

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“One Thing Beautiful”
Feather Moon Music

“Pinning Rocket Club down isn’t easy. It’s a wide variety of influences, a ton of energy and talent, and hooky melodies. Rocket Club really can’t be simplified down to any one thing – except really good.”
Gregg Swedberg, PD—KEEY/K102 Minneapolis

In 2009, Rocket Club (Don Smithmier, Brian Kroening, Matt Kirkwold, Chris Hawkey and Billy Thommes) took the music industry by surprise when they appeared on the Billboard Country charts, staying for 7 weeks and reaching No. 49 with their single “One More Day.” Now the Minnesota group is back on the charts with the single “One Thing Beautiful,” from their newly released EP American Serenade.

Released in October 2008, Rocket Club’s debut album was quick to earn the band local praise and attention as their music quickly found a home on Minneapolis radio stations K102 and Cities 97. They began to appear and perform live on these stations, and to play music festivals as well as some of the city’s prominent live music venues. This early national success came despite the fact that they are an unsigned band with a self‐produced album, hailing from the North Country of Minneapolis, Minnesota, far from the country music Mecca of Nashville.

http://www.rocketclub.info/

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CMA Awards Presenters; History Book

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Tim McGraw will present at the upcoming CMA Awards.

“Country Music’s Biggest Night(tm)” continues to get bigger as The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Jerrod Niemann, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon are announced as the first group of presenters for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards.”

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” airs Nov. 10, live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The Band Perry, Bryan, Niemann, Young and Corbin received their first nominations this year.

•••••••
Author Deborah Evans Price is making a splash with her first book, The CMA Awards Vault: Country Music’s Biggest Night! This is the first book to extensively cover The CMA Awards from its inception as a radio-only broadcast in 1967 to the glittery three-hour, network television spectacle of today.

She will have a booksigning Thursday, November 4th, 7:00 pm, at Davis Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills. The following afternoon, November 5th, Price and video director/CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton will discuss the show’s history at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The general public is invited to attend.

The coffee table book contains never-before-published photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. Tucked into dozens of pockets throughout the book are replicas of such items as a program from that first CMA Awards in 1967; a note to the CMA from the Charlie Daniels Band in 1980; a ticket to “The 40th CMA Anniversary” show; and the set-design blueprint from the 2009 CMA Awards.

Kenny Chesney has written the foreword for the book and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Mandrell has supplied the afterword.

The book is available at www.CMAawards.com, with a discount for CMA members. Tickets for the 2010 CMA Awards are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Country Hall Salutes Bonnie Garner

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Bonnie Garner

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present an interview honoring visionary music executive Bonnie Garner, as part of the Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum series. The forum is set for Tuesday, November 16, at 6 p.m. in the Ford Theater. It is free and open to the public.

The interview with Garner, whose multi-faceted career has included concert promotion, label A&R work, and artist management, will be hosted by Museum Writer/Editor Michael McCall. They will discuss her 40-year career and memories of the artists, songs, issues, opportunities and challenges. The interview will be illustrated with recordings, film clips and photos from the Museum’s archives, and Garner’s personal collection.

Garner’s career began at Chicago’s Conrad Hilton hotel, and then moved on to working for Playboy Press, as a member of Hugh Hefner’s staff. She eventually moved to Los Angeles and joined Hefner’s Playboy after Dark syndicated television show as a talent coordinator. Among the artists she was responsible for booking were Joe Cocker, the Grateful Dead, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Ike and Tina Turner. Transitioning to daytime programming, Garner relocated to New York to take a similar position at ABC-TV’s Dick Cavett Show where she booked Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Janis Joplin and Frank Zappa. When legendary concert promoter Bill Graham appeared on Cavett’s show, Garner worked with his executive assistant, Dale Franklin, who persuaded Garner to take a job at Graham’s Fillmore East concert hall.

From there she joined Kip Cohen’s A&R staff at Columbia Records, as the pop department’s only female, working with Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and many others. She moved to Nashville in the ’70s and set up Columbia and Epic Records’ first Nashville pop division, with a roster including Fogelberg, John Hiatt, Tracy Nelson and others. Garner later joined the labels’ country division.

Garner’s career switched to management when she teamed with industry veteran Mark Rothbaum to run his Nashville office, managing Emmylou Harris, the Highwaymen, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, the O’Kanes and Marty Stuart. Her own Bonnie Garner Management worked with Lynn Anderson, Bonnie Bramlett, Andy Griggs, Lee Roy Parnell, Stuart and Joy Lynn White.

In 2002, with Mary Martin and Luke Lewis, Garner received a Grammy Award for co-producing Timeless, a tribute to Hank Williams. Garner retired from the music industry in 2007, and has devoted much of her free time to working with animals.

The Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, made possible by the Gibson Foundation, was established in 2007 to honor music industry leaders who can be seen as the legatees of Scruggs, the wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs and the first woman in country music to take on roles as a booker and manager.

Photos: Josh Thompson, Dakota Bradley and the Bella Bash

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Dakota Bradley recently appeared on Tennessee Mornings on Nashville’s Fox 17 channel to perform an acoustic version of “Any Part of Your Heart.” The 16-year-old artist made his television debut two weeks ago on Ellen.

Pictured (L-R): John Dunn, Bradley, and Kelly Sutton.

•••••

The 3rd annual Bella Bash Concert to benefit the Angel Wings Foundation took place recently at the Loveless Barn. The sold-out night of music, comedy and entertainment featured over 500 supporters and celebrities such as Delilah, Melinda Doolittle, Danny Gokey, Russ Taff, Henry Cho, Bruce Carroll and Tim Akers & the Smoking Section.

In his introduction, Angel Wings Foundation founder Regie Hamm announced an exciting new joint initiative with Vanderbilt’s Kennedy Center to establish the Angel Center, a Middle Tennessee facility for comprehensive therapy, diagnosis, and support for children battling profoundly challenging mental and/or genetic disabilities.

Pictured (L-R): Doolittle, Hamm, Delilah, Gokey, Cho and Taff

••••

Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson met two of his musical heroes for the first time – George Jones and Charlie Daniels – after performing  at the Grand Ole Opry last week.

Pictured (L-R): Thompson, Jones

Pictured (L-R): Thompson, Daniels

Lorrie Morgan Co-Founds REDHot Jingle Co.

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Marty and Lorrie Morgan

Recording artist Lorrie Morgan has partnered with her brother Marty Morgan and producer Mark Oliverius to form The REDHot Jingle Company, a full service music production and commercial jingle service for TV, radio, film and new media.

“Some people might say the last thing Nashville needs is another jingle company,” explains Morgan. “But we think the fresh new style of compelling music we are creating for marketers will set us apart. Everything we do is centered on the ‘hook.’ Making messaging that is almost impossible to forget is our trademark. We’re applying the same formulas we use for hit songs to create hit jingles.”

Marty Morgan is a marketing executive with experience in Birmingham, Dallas, Kansas City and Nashville. He will serve as the company’s lead writer, while Lorrie and Oliverius will focus on production, melody and lyrics. The company’s offices will be located at the Horton Group building on Charlotte Pk. and 21st Ave. N. Reach Marty at 615-865-4090.

Gospel Music Hall of Fame Names New Class

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Top (l-r): Hoss Allen, Johnny Cash; Bottom (l-r): DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet

The GMA Foundation (GMAF) announced today that it will induct Johnny Cash, DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet, and Bill “Hoss” Allen into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on January 24, 2011.

“The impact this group of individuals has made on gospel music is immeasurable. It’s an honor to recognize these inductees for their contributions.” said Ed Harper, Chairman, GMA Foundation.

“I’m very excited about this year’s slate of inductees. All come from different cultures and backgrounds but have helped elevate gospel music to a much higher plateau throughout our universe which is in need of good news more than ever,” added Tom Long, Chairman, GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Committee.

Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key landed their first record deal at age 16 and over the next 17 years, recorded 15 albums of faith-filled, blues-influenced rock music. They earned seven GRAMMY and 17 Dove Award nominations. The duo created some of the first in-roads into the world of Christian music videos and was the first contemporary Christian artist to be aired on MTV.

The most popular of the Jubilee quartets, the Golden Gate Quartet was made up of Willie Johnson (baritone and narrator), Henry Owens (first tenor) William Langford (second tenor), and Orlandus Wilson (bass). They offered sophisticated harmonies, laced with a heavy dose of jazz.

In the mid 1950s, Hoss Allen established himself as a deejay for WLAC’s 50,000 watt radio station, a powerful entity that had broadcast capabilities stretching from Michigan to Mobile, Ala. Allen soon gained a reputation for playing the newest releases and is even credited for helping jumpstart the careers of James Brown and Jimi Hendrix through his airplay. Around 1975, Allen reformatted his program as “Early Morning Gospel Time With the Hossman,” providing a solid platform for this kind of music which had previously not existed.

Famed country music singer Johnny Cash was a lifelong Christian who recorded numerous Gospel albums and often incorporated Gospel music into his TV shows and concerts.

The GMA Foundation (GMAF) will induct the honorees into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Monday, January 24, 2011, at Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, TN at 6:00 PM. Admission is free to the public.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, established in 1971, has inducted more than 150 members since its inception. Previous inductees include Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Statler Brothers, the Winans, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Sandi Patty, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Billy Graham, the Jordanaires, and many more.

CMA Announces New Hires, Promotions

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The Country Music Association has announced several new additions and promotions to its staff.

Greg Fuson

Greg Fuson has joined the organization as its Marketing Research Director, where he brings extensive tourism knowledge from working with many convention and visitors bureaus. Fuson has also managed research projects for companies including Nortel, Cisco Systems, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Lowes, Ruby Tuesday and O’Charleys.

Ken Sanderson

In Finance and Aministration, Ken Sanderson has been hired as CMA Senior Manager of IT. He brings years of experience to the table, including IT needs for events and the entertainment industry. Jody Pace has been hired as a Staff Accountant. She holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from David Lipscomb University and has experience in accounting, HR, and business administration. Veronica Costilla has been hired as the Finance and Administration Coordinator. Costilla graduated from MTSU in Recording Industry, Production & Technology and worked with FBMM and the Haber Corporation prior to CMA.

Jody Pace

CMA’s Strategic Marketing department has added Eric Jensen and Marty Filogamo. Jensen, a 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, has been hired as Marketing Coordinator. He most recently worked in a similar role with GAC, assisting with online marketing campaigns and digital content. Filogamo, a 2010 graduate of Ball State, will take on the role of Junior Web Designer/Production Coordinator. His previous experience includes internships with the Big Machine Label Group.

Brandi Simms

CMA staffers Brandi Simms and Betsy Walker also received promotions. Simms has been promoted to Senior Manager for Membership and Balloting, where her responsibilities include overseeing the Membership department, the CMA Awards Balloting process, CMA Broadcast Awards, and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She joined CMA in 2002 as Executive Assistant to Ed Benson, before being promoted to Sr. Manager of Executive Programs in 2009.

Walker has been promoted to Senior Coordinator of Member Relations and Services, where she works closely with CMA’s membership base. A 2005 graduate of Western Carolina University, she joined the staff in 2005 as Executive Assistant to Tammy Genovese before being promoted to Senior Coordinator of Membership and Industry Relations in 2009.

Paisley, Bon Jovi And Flatts Live On Letterman

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Rascal Flatts

Brad Paisley, Bon Jovi and Rascal Flatts will be featured on the CBS Interactive Music Group’s webcast series, Live On Letterman in November. The music program will stream live from the Ed Sullivan Theater online and on-demand through CBS properties, Vevo.com, Vevo on YouTube and Vevo’s mobile app.

The artists’ webcasts will follow the taping of their performances on the Late Show with David Letterman, which will be broadcast later the same evening on CBS.

Performance dates include Brad Paisley on Nov. 3, Bon Jovi on Nov. 9, and Rascal Flatts on Nov. 15. For more details click here.

In addition to Letterman, Paisley will appear on Good Morning America on ABC on Nov. 4, The 44th Annual CMA Awards as co-host and performer on Nov. 10 on ABC and CMA Country Christmas on Nov. 29 on ABC. His double-disc Hits Alive release will be in stores Nov. 2

Johnson and McConaughey “Playing The Part”

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Jamey Johnson’s music video for “Playing The Part” is directed by Matthew McConaughey. The video, shot in L.A., was the actor’s first directing attempt and the first video from Johnson’s new 2-disc set The Guitar Song.

“Jamey, and this song, both have a great sense of humor, so I wanted the video to have a ‘wink’ to it,” says McConaughey. “For any video, if you like the song, you should like it even more after you see the video. I wanted this video to support the lyrics, and elevate the song. This is a story with a beginning, middle and a surprise at the end. I started out with a 250-pound stripper leaving work in the morning, and ended up with a man in a gorilla suit getting fired from used tire store.”

McConaughey met Johnson during the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, where Johnson received the Song of the Year award for “In Color.” McConaughey presented the award for album of the year, for which Johnson was also nominated. “I met Jamey backstage,” McConaughey notes.”He hit on Camila, we shared a few laughs, and we stayed in touch.”

The video below offers some interview footage and fun “making of the video” stories from backstage on the set of “Playing The Part.”

Johnson, who is currently on tour, will perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, October 26.

Baker Joins New Revolution

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New Revolution Entertainment has hired music and radio veteran Doug Baker to cover radio promotion in the southeast region recently vacated by Tony Morreale. Baker will be based in Nashville.

“To have the caliber of experience and knowledge that Doug brings to our team transcends the traditional promotion role on many levels,” said New Revolution co-owner Rob Dalton. “Now, let’s write some future together!”

“I’m excited to join the New Revolution team and continue to provide great results for our artists and country radio,” said Baker. “The business of music and radio are changing fast. I’m looking forward to joining Rob, Jeff and Renee on this journey.”

Baker’s experience covers stints at KNIX in Phoenix and WFMS in Indianapolis, and WSIX won numerous awards under his leadership as program director of the station. On the label side, Baker held national director titles at RCA and Virgin and worked as director of radio marketing at Capitol Nashville. He served on the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors for nine years and is an alumnus of Leadership Music.