Quick Pics

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(L-R): Armiger, Doug Gray, Bo Bice

The Marshall Tucker Band brought southern rock to the riverfront stage in Nashville at the Music City BBQ Fest (8/26).

Bo Bice and Katie Armiger made surprise appearances to join their heroes onstage contributing to “Fire On The Mountain,” and “Can’t You See,” respectively.

“Performing on-stage with the Marshall Tucker Band was like a dream come true,” notes Armiger. “My dad played their music all throughout my childhood. They’re like Rock and Roll royalty!”

This year The Marshall Tucker Band celebrated its 40th anniversary with the releases of a Greatest Hits CD, and lead singer Doug Gray’s lost solo recordings, Soul Of The South. The band recently returned from entertaining United States military personnel on a five-concert tour of Iraq and Kuwait.

(L-R): Caroline Cutbirth, Tayla Lynn, Jennifer Wayne

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Stealing Angels just returned from a 10-day trip throughout Iraq and Kuwait to entertain U.S. troops as part of the United States Forces Iraq J-1 Entertainment Office “Homecoming Tour.”

 

 

 

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(L-R): Sarah Darling and Carl Edwards

Sarah Darling performed (8/27) for NASCAR fans on the GAC stage at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN. While at Bristol, Darling caught up with GAC’s Nan Kelley to tape GAC Top 20 Country Countdown, expected to air beginning Friday (9/2). Also appearing in the countdown this week is Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford and the No. 60 Fastenal Mustang.

Sarah Darling’s music video “Something To Do With Your Hands,” from her CD Angels & Devils, reached No. 2 on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown and No. 1 on CMT.com. Darling has joined forces with producer Dann Huff for her upcoming album.

 

Charlie Craig Memorial Set For Tuesday

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Late songwriter Charlie Craig

Doug Johnson, Rob Crosby and other Music Row songwriters plan to celebrate the music and the memory of the late Nashville songwriting great Charlie Craig. The event will take place at Douglas Corner on Tuesday, Sept. 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“It will be an informal gathering to raise a toast to Charlie and share our memories of his long and successful career and his wonderful character and friendship,” says Crosby.

Charlie Craig passed away at age 73 on July 1 following a long battle with cancer.

During his lengthy career, Craig had more than 300 recordings of his songs by the biggest stars in Nashville. Among his hits are “Wanted” (Alan Jackson, 1990), “I Would Like to See You Again” (Johnny Cash, 1978), “She’s Single Again” (Janie Fricke, 1985), “Between an Old Memory and Me” (Travis Tritt, 1994) and “Leavin’s Been a Long Time Comin’” (Shenandoah, 1992). All of these are BMI award winners.

Charlie Craig also provided songs for the Oscar winning 1983 film Tender Mercies starring Robert Duvall. In addition, his songs were heard on the soundtracks of such TV shows as Mary Hartman and Northern Exposure.

Among the dozens of artists who have recorded Charlie Craig songs are Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, George Strait, Kitty Wells, Jerry Reed, Tanya Tucker, Barbara Mandrell, Ray Charles, Keith Whitley and Waylon Jennings. His career stretched from the 1960s to the present.

Born in 1937 in South Carolina, Charlie Craig was a cotton-mill worker who began playing part-time in bands in 1957. He came to Nashville to record as a solo artist in 1967. In 1968, Hank Locklin, Nat Stuckey and Judy Lynn became the first country stars to record his tunes.

He first made the charts as a songwriter in 1969, thanks to Johnny Duncan and Jeannie C. Riley. The latter was nominated for a Grammy Award for singing Craig’s “The Generation Gap.” Roy Rogers brought the songwriter his first top-40 hit in 1970 with “Money Can’t Buy Love.”

Craig’s “Lay a Little Lovin’ on Me” became a hit for Del Reeves in 1973 and was subsequently recorded by Bill Medley, B.J. Thomas and Wayne Newton. Similarly, after Johnny Cash popularized “I Would Like to See You Again” in 1978, the song was recorded by Kenny Rogers, Don Williams and many others.

In 1980, “Following the Feeling,” as recorded by Moe Bandy and Judy Bailey, became Craig’s first top-10 success. Bandy and Becky Hobbs hit the top-10 with Craig’s “Let’s Get Over Them Together” three years later. Also in 1983, not only were five of Craig’s songs selected for Tender Mercies, he appeared on the film’s soundtrack LP singing three of them.

Other notable successes during this period included the Billie Jo Spears hit “Rainy Days and Stormy Nights” in 1979 and Keith Stegall’s hit with “California” in 1985.

In the late 1980s, Charlie Craig began collaborating with the then unknown Alan Jackson. In addition to the CMA Song of the Year nominee “Wanted,” the superstar has recorded Craig’s co-written “All American Country Boy,” “Tropical Depression,” “What a Day Yesterday Was” and “Bring on the Night.”

In recent years, Charlie Craig provided tunes to The Wilkinsons, Tyler Alexander, Billy Joe Royal and the late Porter Wagoner. He was inducted into the South Carolina Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1998.

He also worked at Gusto/Starday Records. He issued his debut CD, The Hitmaker, on Gusto in 2008 and published his autobiography Old Memories and Me in 2009.

“I think we will share the love and respect that Charlie deserves from Music Row,” says Crosby of the upcoming event. Among those planning to honor Charlie Craig at Tuesday’s gathering are Keith Stegall, Tim DuBois, Monty Allen and Jerry Crutchfield. Douglas Corner is at 2106 8th Avenue South.

Bobby Karl Works The Room

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Connie Smith with featured guests Dallas Frazier, Kostas and Marty Stuart before her second Artist-in-Residency show Monday night (8/29) at the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum. The theme for the evening was “Connie and the Songwriters.” Smith’s final residency program will be Sept. 12. Pictured (L-R): VP of Museum Programs Jay Orr, Kostas, Dallas Frazier, Connie Smith, Museum Director Kyle Young and Marty Stuart. Photo: Donn Jones

Chapter 372

Inspiration. Celebration. Jubilation.

These were the themes as the party boy made his rounds this week on Music Row. And all were at events that made me fall in love with country music all over again.

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I caught the second of Connie Smith’s Artist In Residence performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater on Monday (8/29). In a word, wow. I walked out of there tingling, with my spirit completely full of inspiration.

In the first place, she’s one of my favorite singers of all time.

In the second place, our seats were in the second row, center, practically in Connie’s lap. It was as if she was singing to me in her living room.

“This week, it’s about the songs,” she said. So she sang songs she’s written, as well as those of her guests Kostas, Dallas Frazier and Marty Stuart. She was backed by her super band The Sundowners – guitarist Rick Wright, steel man Gary Carter, drummer Ric McClure and bass player Rod Ham, abetted by guitar session stalwart and Opry band member Mark Casstevens and Fabulous Superlatives member Paul Martin. They also play on her new Long Line of Heartaches, her 53rd album.

As Kyle Young reminded us, Connie was famously discovered by Bill Anderson. A song demo tape of his tunes landed her an RCA Records contract in 1964. On it was “Tiny Blue Transister Radio,” which he wrote with Skeeter Davis in mind. Instead, it became a Connie hit, which she sang. She has, by the way, recorded 33 Anderson tunes.

From the new CD, she did the lovely “I’m Not Blue,” cowritten with Kostas. At her invitation, he sang “Blame It On Your Heart.”

“Marty’s a joy to write with,” she said in introducing her husband, producer and songwriting collaborator. “Marty’s a joy to work with. Marty’s a joy to live with.”

“This is how we got together in the first place, writing songs,” he replied. “Our first date, we wrote a country song with Harlan Howard.” He urged her to sing some of her composing efforts, including “If You’re Gonna Go (Take Me With You),” which she penned for Dolly Parton, but never pitched. Marty also read lyrics that Merle Haggard had sent for the occasion, “Too Much Boogie Woogie (And Not Enough Connie Smith).”

She told us that she has recorded 69 Dallas Frazier songs, including “Where Is My Castle,” “Ain’t Love a Good Thing” and “Run Away Little Tears,” which she performed, magnificently. At her invitation, Dallas sang his “Fourteen Carat Mind,” “All I Have to Offer You Is Me” and “If My Heart Had Windows.” The last named was penned for his wife of 53 years, Sharon Frazier, who sat on the front row. Dallas also penned “A Heart Like You” (with attendee Glenn Ashworth), the song that kick-started Connie’s new CD.

A standing ovation followed Connie’s “Peace in the Valley.” She encored with her signature song, Anderson’s “Once a Day.” Then she greeted fans and signed autographs in the Conservatory.

“That was so inspiring,” said Don Henry afterward. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.” I heartily agreed.

The capacity crowd also included Diane Berry, Jo Walker-Meador, Jerry Foster, Bill Denny, Barry Mazor, Duane & Nora Lee Allen, Danny Flowers, Jerry & Ernie Williams, Peter Cronin, Mary Gauthier and Connie’s daughters Julie Ray Barnick and Jodi Lee Seyfried. Along with sister Jeanne Haynes, they’ll be on stage with Connie at her third Artist In Residence show on Sept. 12. That one will spotlight female vocalists.

Connie is the ninth Artist In Residence and its first female. She follows Jack Clement, Guy Clark, Jerry Douglas, Buddy Miller and Hall of Fame members Tom T. Hall, Earl Scruggs, Kris Kristofferson and Vince Gill.

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It was sunny and breezy on the BMI patio roof on Tuesday afternoon (8/30). The celebration was for “Dirt Road Anthem.” The year’s biggest Nashville pop crossover hit is sung by the year’s biggest-selling country artist, Jason Aldean.

“This is a historic day at BMI, because this is Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford’s first number-one country single,” said Clay Bradley. “Brantley Gilbert has developed a wide following because of his commitment to hard touring….Colt Ford is loaded with charisma and instinct, performing more than 200 shows a year [with] hip-hop and honky-tonk authentically mashed together.”

Both writers are also recording artists. In fact, Brantley’s “Country Must Be Country Wide” is in the top-20 and climbing and his debut CD drops soon. He also co-wrote Jason’s CD’s title tune and a hit earlier this year, “My Kinda Party.”

Jason has, “redefined his career with every step he takes,” Clay continued. “’Dirt Road Anthem’ is his fifth single with one million downloads.” Presentations and plaudits came to Steve Markland, Michael Knox and Broken Bow’s Jon Loba.

The label upstaged the host. Broken Bow owner Benny Brown presented Jason’s wife Jessica Aldean with a white, convertible Lexus. We looked down to see it parked six floors below on Music Circle East (15th Avenue South) wrapped in a big red bow.

We snacked on cheeseburger sliders, melon bites, roasted corn salsa and barbecue & slaw on cornbread. Lorianne Crook, Charlie Chase, Kevin Lamb, Ron Samuels, Hunter Kelly, Clarence Spalding, Steve Moore, Chris Parr, Charlie Monk, Bill Cody, Brandi Simms, Diane Pearson, Susan Stewart, John Dorris, Bill Mayne, Pete Fisher, Debbie Carroll and Tom Baldrica schmoozed in the sunshine.

BMI toasted Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, and Jason Aldean at a party honoring the no. 1 hit “Dirt Road Anthem,” held August 30 on the rooftop of the company’s Music Row offices. Both successful recording artists in their own right, Ford and Gilbert topped the charts for the first time as a songwriting duo. “Dirt Road Anthem” marks Aldean’s seventh trip to the top. Pictured (L-R): producer Michael Knox, Warner/Chappell Music’s Steve Markland, BMI’s Jody Williams, co-writer Colt Ford, Jason Aldean, co-writer Brantley Gilbert and BMI’s Clay Bradley. Photo: Rick Diamond

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That evening (830), we gathered downtown at Avenue for a “Neon Jubilee” party for Chris Young. The jubilation was for his No. 1 hit and Gold single “Tomorrow,” for the Gold certification of his CD The Man I Want to Be and for his newly released collection Neon. Appropriately, the party decorations and swizzle sticks glowed in the dark, neon style.

“I just wanna say, hot-damn, I got a Gold Record,” Chris exclaimed. “Everybody that’s in this room right now, thank you for everything you’ve done for me….I love you…..I’m gonna give a Gold Record to everybody I know.” He also noted that “Tomorrow,” which will be Platinum in two weeks, is the first single he’s had to go Gold before its parent album even came out.

His co-writers on “Tomorrow” are BMI affiliated Frank Myers and SESAC affiliated Anthony Smith. Chris is with ASCAP. So all three PROs had presentations to make. Jody Williams noted that this is Frank’s 11th No. 1 record. Tim Fink presented to Anthony. Tim DuBois said, “Chris started out as a writer and became an artist.”

Also parading across the stage with a variety of framed objects were Ben Vaughn, Butch Baker, Tom Luteran, James Stroud, Marion Kraft, Becky Harris and host-with-the-most Gary Overton.

We noshed on cheeseburger sliders (again), soft pretzels and a smorgasbord of franks and sausages. There went my diet. Will Byrd, Will Rambeaux, Cindy Watts, Cindy Heath, Kay Clary, Kay West, Sarah Skates, Ken Tucker, Ron Cox, Sherod Robertson, Ralph Murphy, Celia Froehlig, David Ross, Tim Nichols, Shannon & Rob Hatch, Kris Wilkinson, Jim McBride, Judy Harris, Norbert Nix, John Mullens, Suzanne Gordon, Julian King and Steve Buchanan joined the jubilation.

Chris Young celebrated the Gold certification of sophomore album The Man I Want To Be, and latest No. 1 “Tomorrow,” which has sold over 750,000 downloads. Young wrote his fourth consecutive chart topper with Frank Myers and Anthony Smith. Pictured (L-R): Sony Nashville chairman Gary Overton, manager Marion Kraft, Anthony Smith, Chris Young, Frank Myers, and producer James Stroud