Industry Ink Thursday

Chris Keaton Produces Broadway Project
Nashville producer Chris Keaton recently completed recording a new project by Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga. The Journey So Far is a live album set for release Aug. 9 by LML Music/Allegro Distribution. Salonga, the Filipina singer and actress who is best known for originating the lead role of “Kim” in the musical Miss Saigon, will accompany the release of the CD with a worldwide tour throughout 2011 and 2012.

Lea Salonga signs a recording contract with LML Music.(L-R): attorney Robert Perlstein, Lea Salonga, producer Chris Keaton, and LML Music President Lee Lessack.

Belmont Promotes Jamie Stamey

Jamie Stamey

Belmont University has promoted Jamie Stamey to Internship Coordinator. She joined the Curb College in 2008 and most recently served as Academic Advisor/Intern Coordinator. In her new role, Stamey will work with faculty mentors to create internship opportunities in the entertainment industry. She works under Sarah Cates who serves as Sr. Director of Curb College Initiatives.

Additionally, Stamey will work to develop unique, team-based internship experiences like the recent Belmont/BMI Catalog Cast initiative. This project had ten Belmont seniors mine the BMI catalog for potential hits, and resulted in American Idol champ Scotty McCreery recording “Out of Summertime.”

Songwriter Agency Hires Cheri Blankenship

Cheri Blankenship

Cheri Hendrix Blankenship has joined The Songwriter Agency, handling bookings in Texas and the Western U.S. Blankenship was with PACE/Live Nation for ten years, and also founded Hendrix Music Agency providing artist representation and talent buying services for live music venues in the state of Texas. Blankenship is based in Houston and can be reached at [email protected] or (281) 995-3179.

Randy Harrell co-founded the agency which represents Don Schlitz, Steve Wariner, Richie McDonald and others. Harrell can be reached at [email protected], or (615) 879-1224.

Woody Bomar’s Road Crew Honored
Publishing vet Woody Bomar and his Route 66 tribute band The Road Crew were honored during the 2011 International Route 66 Association Festival Awards Banquet on June 11 in Amarillo, Texas. The group received the inaugural Bobby Troup Artistic Recognition Award, named for the composer of the iconic song “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66.”

(L-R): Jason Harmon, Don King, Michael Wallis (Author/Route 66 Historian), Woody Bomar, Joe Loesch.