Artist/Writer Roundup

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Waylon Tribute CD; Matthews Joins Davis Music; and Brody Releases Environmental Video
>>The ninth anniversary of the passing of country legend Waylon Jennings is being commemorated with a tribute CD, The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume 1, releasing Tues., Feb. 8. Conceived as a three volume series, work on the unique project began almost three years ago as a labor of love for Waylon’s widow Jessi Colter, son Shooter Jennings, guitarist Reggie Young and Producer Witt Stewart. This first volume, on ScatterRecords and Big Machine features Waylon’s most critically and commercially acclaimed tracks, uniquely interpreted and performed by yesterday’s and today’s country legends, including Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Patty Griffin, Randy Houser and John Hiatt. Also included are new recordings by Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter and the Jennings classic “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” the first new music in over ten years from super-group Alabama. Volume II is scheduled to release on June 14, the day before what would have been Waylon’s 74th birthday. Volume III is slated to release Fall 2011, the day prior to Waylon and Jessi’s 42nd wedding anniversary.

Trey Mattews


>>Trey Matthews has signed a publishing deal with Davis Music, according to the Group’s GM Gator Michaels. “Trey is a welcomed addition to our songwriting team,” says Michaels. “In a town full of talented songwriters, his strong county roots and great lyrical abilities really stand above the pack.” Matthews was most recently a writer for Bigger Picture with songs cut on numerous country albums including Jerrod Niemann’s current album, plus Tracy Byrd, Daryle Singletary, Mark McGuinn, Billy Dean, Cole Degges and The Lonesome, The Harters and several others.
>>Grammy nominee Lane Brody has released a video for her latest single, “Flame’s Turned Blue” on GMV Records. The song, written and produced by the artist, is focused upon a humanitarian response to environmental issues developing around the globe and is part of Brody’s new CD On The Wings Of Songs. The video was directed, edited and shot by Australian native, Ross Ward.

Photos: Josh Gracin, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia

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Gracin at the City of Hope.


>>Average Joes artist Josh Gracin visited the The Academy of Country Music office in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, he sang “Nothing to Lose” and others including his current single “Over Me,” on the new ACM Stage. While in LA, Gracin also visited with patients and staff in the Pediatrics Cancer Program at City of Hope treatment facility. Gracin is currently wrapping up his first project on Average Joe’s, Redemption, with a new single impacting radio next month.

Pictured: Josh Gracin with the Academy staff; Photo Credit: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music


>>Montgomery Gentry recently wrapped up a week-long USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to Korea and Japan. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry traveled more than 15 hours to the Pacific to visit more than 8,000 soldiers, Marines and airmen and their families stationed in Korea and Okinawa. The tour included two acoustic performances and four full-band shows.

Pictured: Montgomery Gentry with a Blackhawk helicopter flight crew stationed at Yongsan Garrison in South Korea Jan. 26. Photo credit: USO photo by Jackie Zettles


Steel Magnolia on Tennessee Mornings


>>Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey, of Steel Magnolia, performed live on Fox 17’s Tennessee Mornings recently. Steel Magnolia will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman to perform “Last Night Again,” tonight (2/7) at 10:30 pm CT.

Artists Drive Fans To ACM Polls

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Artists are going viral to drive ACM votes from fans. The nominees in the new artist categories are using free downloads, Facebook and funny videos to spur fans to vote for them here.
Voting goes through Feb. 24 and the winner in each category will be announced in March. Those winners will then move on to compete for the Top New Artist prize through online voting. The Top New Artist will be announced live on the April 3 ACM Awards.
Eric Church‘s campaign for Top New Solo Vocalist is being boosted by his video “Everyone Is Doing It” at ericchurch.com. Fans can share the link via email and social media and the person who draws the most views through their personal link will win a trip to the CMA Music Festival.
For his campaign, fans of Randy Houser will be entertained by this funny animal kingdom video.
Easton Corbin posted a video message to fans on his Facebook page, and his official website has a free download available.
In the running for Top New Vocal Duo or Group, The Band Perry, Steel Magnolia and the JaneDear girls are offering free song downloads to drive votes via the above links.

Weblinks: AEG Finds New Ticketing Solution

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AEG teams with Outbox • AOL buying Huffington Post • Aguilera’s Super Bowl snafu • The Daily for iPad
>>>Promoter AEG is partnering with ticketing company Outbox Enterprises to sell tickets at 105 venues later this year. AEG is working to distance itself from Ticketmaster following its merger with competitor Live Nation.
Within the next 6-12 months, the first venues will have Outbox up-and-running. Nearly all of its worldwide venues are expected to be on the new system within two years.
Outbox differs from Ticketmaster in that it gives venues the ability to sell tickets through their own websites, instead of a centralized website. More here.

Arianna Huffington


>>>As it continues to build its media and news presence, AOL revealed plans this morning to buy news blog The Huffington Post for $315 million. Under terms of the agreement, founder Arianna Huffington will stay on board. Keep reading.
>>>Blogs are buzzing about Christiana Aguilera’s botched rendition of the national anthem at last night’s (2/6) Super Bowl. Instead of singing the correct line: “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming,” she mistakenly sang: “What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last reaming.”
The Grammy-winning singer’s apology statement says, “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.” Read more.
>>>In the latest example of traditional media trying to blend with new technology, The Daily newspaper launched last week exclusively on the iPad. The brainchild of media mogul Rupert Murdoch costs $39.99 for an annual subscription. More online.

Top CAA Agent Ron Baird Passes

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Ron Baird


Ron Baird, former head of CAA’s Nashville office and agent to many of country music’s leading artists, died in Nashville on February 3, 2011, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 60.
A celebration of his life will take place on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Hillwood Country Club (6201 Hickory Valley Road, Nashville, TN). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org); The Salvation Army (www.Salarmy-Nashville.org); and the Glacier National Park Fund (www.glaciernationalparkfund.org).
Ron is survived by his wife Cheryl, their sons John (and wife Jenny) and Marc (and wife Kennon); and four grandchildren, James, Kate, Finley and Cooper.
Ron joined CAA in 1991 to open the company’s Nashville office. The one-man operation that started in Ron’s garage grew into the 55-person team it is today. In his 13 years as a CAA agent, Ron oversaw the careers of Clint Black, Billy Dean, Jennifer Hanson, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Barbara Mandrell, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Joe Nichols, Olivia Newton John, Little Texas, Jamie O’Neal, Julie Roberts and Shania Twain, among many others. He retired in 2004.
“Ron was an extraordinary man whose dedication to and passion for his clients and colleagues alike have long inspired us,” said Rob Light, managing partner and head of the music department at CAA. “He had great love of music, a heart of gold and a generous spirit, and it is those qualities that will be the legacy of this wonderful soul. Ron will always be the cornerstone of CAA Nashville. It was an honor to know him and we extend our deepest sympathies to Ron’s beloved family.”
Ron was born and raised in Bigfork, Montana and maintained close ties to his home state throughout his life. He was an avid skier and outdoorsman, often taking backpacking trips in Glacier National Park.
Ron formed his first band when he was in the second grade, and played his first paying gig when he was in the fourth grade, marking the beginning of his lifelong career in music. Upon high school graduation, he went on the road full-time and toured the Western United States before attending Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and Schiller College in Heidelberg, Germany. He graduated from the University of Montana, with a degree in Philosophy.
In 1975, Ron put his touring days behind him and took a job as an agent at Good Music Agency, a small rock-and-roll agency based in Missoula, Montana. He accepted a job in 1977 at Jim Halsey Co., at the time the largest country music agency in the world, and relocated to their headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At Jim Halsey, Ron booked artists including Roy Clark, Donna Fargo, Merle Haggard, George Jones, The Judds, Brenda Lee, Ronnie Milsap, Rick Nelson, Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Conway Twitty, Don Williams, Tammy Wynette and Dottie West, among others.
By 1987, Jim Halsey Co. had moved its headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, and Ron was elevated to senior vice president and general sales manager. A year later, the firm was acquired by the William Morris Agency.  Ron accepted a position with CAA in 1991.
Ron served as Chairman of the Board for the Country Music Association in 2003 and was President of the Country Music Association in 2002. He was also an associate board member of W.O. Smith and an alumnus of Leadership Music. Voted Country Agent of the Year for three years (1996-1998) by Performance Magazine, he was named Third Coast Agent of the Year in 1999 by Pollstar.

Artists, Songwriters To Honor Todd Cerney

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Todd with wife, Kip Kirby


On Mon., Feb. 28 a star studded lineup will come together to honor songwriter Todd Cerney, recently diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. Grammy nominated Cerney, is known for writing hits such as “I’ll Still Be Loving You” by Restless Heart, “Good Morning Beautiful” by Steve Holy, and “No Mercy” by Ty Herndon. Artists set to perform include Restless Heart, Steve Holy, Ty Herndon, Bo Bice and Jeff Bates.
A series of songwriters will also perform including Rivers Rutherford, Fred Knobloch, Rich Fagan, Pete Huttlinger, Lisa Carver, Wood Newton, Trevor Finlay, Doug Gill, Lynn Langham and Jim Parker, followed by performances from Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden (“Everlasting Love”), Casey Kelly and Leslie Ellis, Bill Lloyd, and Thom Shepherd & the Nashville Hit Songwriters Band. Special guest Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits will join Restless Heart onstage to sing his 1967 classic, “A Kind of a Hush.”  Also reuniting especially for this fundraiser will be Nashville cult favorite The Piggys, a legendary Nashville rock band that hasn’t played live together in more than 25 years.
There will be a Silent Auction at the event with numerous items for bidding, including Todd’s own handwritten, personally-autographed lyric sheets for his two biggest hits, “I’ll Still Be Loving You” and “Good Morning Beautiful.”
The Todd Cerney Benefit Concert will be held Monday, Feb. 28 at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall located at 1530 Demonbreun Street, just off Music Row’s Roundabout. There is plenty of free parking across the street. Doors open at 6 pm, and music starts at 6:30 pm. Admission is $15 at the door, and all proceeds from the event will go toward the mounting medical bills for Todd’s illness. Donations may be made at any time to the Friends of Todd Cerney account through Regions Bank in Nashville.

Lifenotes: Don Butler [updated]

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[Update] Visitation will be held Sunday, February 6th from 1-4pm at Brentwood United Methodist Church in the Narthex; a private ceremony will be held for family.
Donald W. Butler, Sr., a founder of the Gospel Music Association and longtime Christian music businessman, has died. He was 80 and had been battling a lengthy illness.
In May 1964, Butler and two others chartered the GMA. He later spent 15 years as Executive Director of the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Research Library and Museum.
His 35-year career included time as President of Nashville’s Sumar Talent Agency, and working with artists like The Stamps Quartet and The Blackwood Brothers. As a television producer, he handled the GMA Dove Awards, and syndicated shows Singing Time in Dixie and Glory Road.
Butler was actively involved in NARAS, including time as a national vice president, president of the Nashville chapter, and a national trustee. Among the other organizations he worked with were WO Smith Music School, the Nashville Music Association and the Nashville Entertainment Association.
Butler served as Vice President of Academics for the Stamps-Blackwood School of Music. He was an author, composer and popular speaker.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Butler completed post graduate work at Emory University and Southern Methodist University.
He is survived by wife Peggy and other family members. Arrangements have not been finalized at this time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gospel Music Association Trust Fund, PO Box 144, Goodlettsville, TN 37070.

Military Performances

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Adam Craig Band Performs for Heartland Heroes • Craig Morgan at Camp Victory/Baghdad

Adam Craig Band Performs for Heartland Heroes

The Adam Craig Band performed for the third annual Heartland Heroes Hunt January 28 in Garden City, Kansas. Heartland Heroes Hunt was born out of a high school graduation project that Garden City resident, Tim Telinde and his daughter, Mackenzie, worked on together. Activities include swimming and games for the kids, manicure and hair appointments for the wives, and a day of pheasant hunting for the soldiers. Telinde, who owns a hunting and guide business in Garden City, and fellow business man, Brian Beavers, meet with Warrior Transition Teams at Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Riley, Kansas each year to choose up to 20 families to come to the all-expenses paid weekend.

(L-R): Tim Telinde; Adam Craig Band’s Brian Smith, Adam Craig, Jimi Hendrix and Ryan Jones; Retired First Sergeant TJ Inslee; and Heartland Heroes Hunt VP Brian Beavers.

Craig Morgan at Camp Victory/Baghdad

Craig Morgan recently completed his Not Alone Tour through Kuwait and Iraq, his ninth overseas visit to US troops stationed abroad. During his visit to Camp Victory in Baghdad on Monday (1/31), Morgan and his band played for approximately 1,000 soldiers stationed at the base.

Luna Chica Starts 2011 With Momentum

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Luna Chica Records International is looking ahead with new signings, a new international division, and multi-channel digital success. The label’s internet-driven business model launched in May 2010 and signaled what GM/Dir. of A&R Brenda Cline calls a “re-birth.”
“We are very proud of the level of talent that we have delivered to radio and the extremely positive feedback we are receiving,” she comments.
Joining the Luna Chica roster are the diverse talents of Don and Steve White, the Red Dirt Rangers, Christi Bauerlee, Tarryn Smith, and Marty Grebb. They join existing Luna Chica artists Jesse and Noah Bellamy, Tommy Job, Burrito Deluxe and Ty Crook.
Red Dirt Rangers ended up at No. 1 on the AirPlay Direct’s Top 50 Americana/AAA Albums chart for December 2010 and at No. 2 for January 2011 with Ranger Motel. Digital releases of Jesse and Noah’s “I Want Texas For Christmas” and Grebb’s “The Very Best Christmas” both garnered significant download attention from radio stations worldwide. Grebb’s album, High Steppin’, charted at No. 2 on the AirPlay Direct’s Top 50 Blues Albums chart in January.

Jesse and Noah Bellamy


Luna Chica also announced the launch of its international division, with European radio CMR Nashville owner Lee Williams directing. International artists are expected to be announced soon.

Benefit News: Tiger Jam and Chords of Hope

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>>Keith Urban and John Mayer will perform together Sat., April 30 to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. The two Grammy winners will plug in their guitars at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for an exclusive VIP concert event.
“I’m thrilled these two talented musicians are joining us for Tiger Jam,” event host Tiger Woods said. “We have had so much success with this event over the last 13 years, raising more than $12 million for programs of my Foundation, and we are excited to continue that tradition.”
Evening highlights will include top-notch epicurean fare plus exclusive live and silent auctions featuring one-of-a-kind luxury items. Following the dinner and auctions, the celebration will move to the Mandalay Bay Events Center stage, where Woods will welcome Urban and Mayer. Concert tickets go on sale Feb. 12 at all Ticketmaster locations and Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400.
>>In honor of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, multi-platinum recording artist Clay Walker and friends will gather at the famed Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on March 2 to present Chords of Hope, a benefit concert aimed at raising money and awareness for MS which currently affects over 400,000 Americans. All proceeds from the second annual Chords of Hope will benefit MS research taking place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. MS is a cause is very close to Clay’s heart, as he has been living with the disease for nearly 15 years. Tickets to Chords of Hope are available at the Wildhorse Saloon or by calling (615) 902-8211. Guest artists will be announced in the coming weeks.