Bluebird Cafe To Host Weekend Benefit Shows

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The Bluebird Cafe is hosting benefit shows this weekend for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and the John Jarrard Foundation.

On Friday, March 2 organizers of the Music City Tennis Invitational, which benefits the Center for Child Development at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, will host a fundraiser at the venue. The 9:30 p.m. show will feature Heidi Newfield, Leslie Satcher, Marv Green, and Kendell Marvel.

This weekend’s event leads up to the 39th Annual Music City Tennis Invitational, set for April 21-22 at the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center at Vanderbilt University. Details at www.musiccitytennis.com or by calling (615) 322-7733.

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On Saturday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. the fourth annual John Jarrard Foundation Night at the Bluebird will feature Richard Leigh, John Driskell Hopkins, James Dean Hicks and Joanna Cotten.

The foundation started in memory of songwriter John Jarrard has raised over $1,000,000 since its inception to benefit charities including The Boys and Girls Clubs, Good News Clinics, and Good News at Noon. www.johnjarrardfoundation.com

Reservations are suggested for both events at www.bluebirdcafe.com or by phone at (615) 383-1461.

KREK’s Dusty Edwards Passes

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MusicRow sends its condolences to family and friends of KREK/Bristow, OK MD Dusty Edwards, who passed away Friday (Feb. 24) in Tulsa. He was 49.

Known as Ron Schmidt to his family and friends, Edwards was born in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma and went on to serve in the United States Air Force after finishing high school. He joined KREK in 1992, where he worked for 20 years, including time as MD and on-air talent. Basketball was also a passion of his, and he served as the voice for Bristow Pirate basketball games.

Edwards had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in early February, and began chemotherapy treatment. Last week, he suffered a heart attack that left him in a coma. After a period with no change, he was taken off life support and passed away shortly after. He had taken leave from KREK in December 2011 prior to his diagnosis.

He is survived by his father Ronald Sr., mother Gladys, brother Donald (aka “Shorty”), sister Gidget, daughter Tascha, granddaughter Makayla, and two nieces and a nephew. His first grandson is also on the way. He was preceded in death by his brother David.

Funeral services have been scheduled for Thursday, March 1, at 11 am at the Freeland Center in Bristow, with interment to follow at Tecumseh Cemetery in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked memorial contributions be made to assist with medical bills, through a fund set up in his name. Contributions can be sent to Dusty Edwards Benefit Fund, c/o Community Bank, PO Box 1010, Bristow, OK 74010.

For correspondence, contact Gidget Miller, 15606 E. Tecumseh, Norman, OK, 73026.

The McClymonts – I Could Be A Cowboy

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Australian natives The McClymonts have released their second US single “I Could Be A Cowboy,” which was produced by Nathan Chapman. Co-written by the three McClymont sisters (Brooke, Samantha and Mollie) and Chapman, “I Could Be a Cowbody” was released in January, during Nasvhille’s CRS Radio Convention. The country trio also performed the number at MusicRow’s 10th Annual CRS Meet & Greet.

“I’ve always been fascinated by cowboys and what they do,” said Brooke. “So I started to think about what it would be like if one of us started to date a cowboy. It seemed to me, they would never be home. So when we wrote this, we came from the woman’s perspective. Obviously we could never be cowboys, ‘cause we’re women, but it was a concept that we’d never explored before. This ballad says a lot without saying too much.”

The sisters have been met with great success in Australia. Their first four singles topped the Country Music Charts in Australia and their first two albums achieved Australian Recording Industry (ARIA) Gold certifications.

In June 2011, The McClymonts relocated to Nashville, TN, and released Wrapped Up Good on BSM Music (distributed by Fontana Distribution). Wrapped Up Good was produced by Nathan Chapman and Adam Anders (Fox TV’s Glee, Shania Twain, Hannah Montana). The album’s title track peaked at No. 28 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. They are scheduled to release their third album, Two Worlds Collide, in the states later this year.

www.themmcclymonts.net
www.facebook.com/themcclymontsau
www.twitter.com/themcclymonts

Management : Stephen White Management
Stephen White – 760 846 0754Zac Taylor – 419 371 4636[email protected]

Publicity : Webster and Associates
Montine Felso – [email protected]
Kirt Webster – [email protected]

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Joanna Smith – We Can’t Be Friends

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Columbia Nashville is proudly releasing “We Can’t Be Friends,” the new single from Joanna Smith, to country radio. The song was written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Shelley Skidmore and produced by Buddy Cannon.

Smith was raised on a farm in tiny Crestview unincorporated, Georgia, and has displayed her rural roots in songs like “Farm Girl” and “Gettin’ Married.” After arriving in Nashville, she honed her live performance chops in front of the rowdy nighttime crowds at legendary Broadway hang Tootsie’s. She has landed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV-Monument, as well as opened for Glen Campbell at the Ryman Auditorium. Smith is currently working on her debut album for Columbia.

“I want to sing country songs that hard-working, real people can relate to,” says Joanna. “Songs that folks can connect with through the ups and downs of life.”

http://www.joannasmithofficial.com
http://www.facebook.com/JoannaSmithOfficial

Nashville Parties With Aldean, Bryan, and Alaina

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A sold-out crowd surrounded the stage in the Bridgestone Arena Friday night for the My Kinda Party Tour with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Lauren Alaina. The show proudly delivered a hybrid of both the energy of a fully produced Garth Brooks show and pitch-perfect vocals allowing fans the opportunity to let their hair down and satisfy a critic’s pick.

The set list was undeniably country, and rightly so, with all three acts hailing from the state of Georgia. They played to that niche all evening with songs about “Georgia Peaches,” “Drinkin’ Beer and Wastin’ Bullets” and a “Big Green Tractor.”

Alaina skipped onstage wearing a shimmery metallic sundress to perform songs from her post-American Idol release Wildflower. She reflected on her first Idol audition happening in the Bridgestone, “my dream started in this building.”

Though Aldean’s name was on the concert marquee that night, Bryan too easily captivated the arena. The audience shone as brightly the LED stage risers that flashed L-U-K-E as he displayed the hits that put him on the stage. Although he fist-pumped a guitar when he walked onstage, Bryan spent a majority of his set showcasing his charismatic personality. He ran up and down the ramps showing off his tight jeans with enthusiasm for an admiring crowd.

He slowed the tempo only a few times, one to cover Adele’s “Someone Like You” behind a piano, exhibiting a rare and tantalizing falsetto. “In a city of the world’s greatest musicians, I am playing the piano? I suck at the piano!” he said in playful self-deprecation. It was no stretch of the imagination to understand why Bryan’s Spring Break event is so enjoyable, the audience was left burning-hot for Aldean.

Headliner Aldean’s high-octane energy continued the party through his set, which was apparently a night of firsts, “This is the first show we’ve done with fans behind us, and our first full show in Nashville, and it sold out.”

Aldean shared his stage set-up with the two opening acts, but when he appeared beds of intelligent lights aligned to resemble crops planted in a row—perfect for his farm referencing songs “Amarillo Sky” and “Flyover States.”

After a few of his hits on the main stage, Aldean was quickly escorted to an acoustic stage in the back of the arena where was joined by Bryan to duet on Shenandoah’s “Sunday in the South,” Tracy Lawrence’s “Time Marches On,” and Alabama’s “Love in the First Degree.” The pair also played Bryan’s “We Rode in Trucks,” requested by Aldean who said, “this is one of my favorite songs Luke doesn’t play in his set anymore.” The intro to “Don’t You Wanna Stay” brought deafening cheers when Kelly Clarkson surprised the audience for the spot usually covered on tour by Alaina.

The last rows of the balcony danced just as hard as the audience up front, all fueled by the electricity from the stage—everyone came to party. It left us amazed at the effects of electricity.

CRS 2012 Attendance Shows Growth

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Country Radio Seminar 2012 showed an increase in attendance for the fourth consecutive year, rising 9.6 percent higher than last year’s totals.

A total of 2,904 registrants attended the gathering of country radio and music professionals held Feb. 22-24 in Nashville, including 2,190 full registrants (attendees, exhibitors, panelists and sponsors) and 714 participant registrants. Participants are attend individual CRS events or purchase single day seminar passes only. Total CRS attendance in 2011 was 2,649, up from 2,181 attendees in 2010.

“With attendance jumping nearly 10 percent this year, daily superstar performances, improved on-site conveniences and more event sponsors than ever before, CRS 2012 was a great success,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. “This is the fourth straight year we’ve enjoyed growth in our attendance numbers, and it really goes to show how the Country radio industry is not only remaining relevant, but thriving in today’s media saturated marketplace.”

CRS 2013 is scheduled for Feb. 27-March 1, 2013 at the Nashville Convention Center

MusicRowPics: GAC’s ACM New Artist of the Year Taping

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Last night (2/26) at Marathon Music Works, GAC taped its ACM New Artist of the Year special. Artists featured on the show include The Band Perry, last year’s New Artist winner, along with this year’s nominees Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert and Hunter Hayes. The special will premiere Mar. 19 at 9 PM/ET on GAC.

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[Photos: Caitlin Rantala]

NEEDTOBREATHE Reckons With The Ryman

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On Friday night (2/24), South Carolina band NEEDTOBREATHE sold out the Ryman for the second consecutive night on The Reckoning Tour.

Nashville native Ben Rector opened the show, warming the crowd up with his songs including “Never Gonna Let You Go” and “When A Heart Breaks.” He mixed it up a little, inviting the audience to help him make up the third verse for his song “Loving You Is Easy.” When he accepted the challenge from an audience member to sing the third verse about pickles, he made a deal with the crowd. “If this goes poorly – and it probably will – if you were thinking to yourself ‘Hey, I’m going to buy this guy’s CD and/or t-shirt,’ still do,” he teased. But his improvised act didn’t go poorly and the cheering audience was rewarded with a cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

While the audience was quick to show Rector a lot of love, nothing compared to the deafening applause when NEEDTOBREATHE took the stage. Their set included an intricate backdrop that resembled old school typewriter keys. The only thing visible when band members Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart, Seth Bolt and Joe Stillwell stepped onto the stage were letters spelling out “The Reckoning.”

The stage remained dim while the band opened the set with “Oohs and Ahhs,” but when they hit the first chorus, the auditorium was hit with bursts of blinding lights that sporadically lit up the stage and offered a brief glimpse of what was to come. The sneak preview approach worked. After the opening number, the Ryman became standing room only. Everyone refused to sit, afraid of what they might miss.

NEEDTOBREATHE’s straightforward continuous, back-to-back performances included the “Devil’s Been Talking” and “Drive All Night,” both of which were crowd pleasers. But after a few uptempo numbers, the band slowed it down with “Washed By the Water,” a track off an earlier album, The Heat. Although released five years ago, the crowd swayed to the song like they were dancing with an old friend and sang the lyrics back right back to the band.

A big highlight of the night was the performance of “Girl Named Tennessee,” which struck a happy chord, close to home, with the Nashville crowd. As the song played on, no one could help dancing along to the beat. The dancing continued as the night closed with the title track from the band’s 2009 album The Outsiders.

If you’re kicking yourself for missing this rocking show, don’t worry. Lead vocal man, Bear, promised the audience that the band would be back to perform in Nashville again. And, if Friday night was any indicator, Nashville’s gonna hold ’em to it.

[All photos by Caitlin Rantala]

Photos: CRS Late Nights

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L-R: Robert Carlton, Rachael Wollstadt, Courtney Cole, Robert Chavers, Kam Luchterhand, Celia Froehlig, John Alexander, Emily Hungate, Doug Johnson, Gordon Kerr, Nick Autry, James Lanier, Dawn Delvo, Greg McCarn, Brian Rhoads, Due West's Brad Hull; Katie McCartney, Megan Good, Due West's Tim Gates; Due West's Matt Lopez; Glen Templeton; Joe Carrol, and Sarah Darling

The Black River Entertainment team, following BRE Live, in the FISK room on Thursday (2/23) during CRS. Glen Templeton performed his new single, “Sing That Song Again” and Sarah Darling and Due West also performed new music from their upcoming releases.

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Average Joes Entertainment's staff and artist gather on stage after the label's "Dark Side of the Moonshine" event at The Patron Platinum Club.

Average Joes Entertainment President Tom Baldrica hosted the powerhouse indie labels “Dark Side of the Moonshine” event, Thursday evening (2/23) at The Patron Platinum Club located at The Bridgestone Arena. CRS attendees enjoyed performances by newcomer Rachel Farley, Texas chart toppers Kevin Fowler and JB and the Moonshine Band, followed with performances by Ira Dean and Matt Stillwell.  Montgomery Gentry closed the night ending with their recent Top 15 smash “Where I Come From.”

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L-R: Vince Benedetto, president and CEO of Bold Gold Media Group; Bob Saporiti, general manager of Savannah Music Group, Nashville; Paul Ciliberto, market manager and general manager of Bold Gold Media Group; Tommy Steele, singer/songwriter; Mark Wayne Glasmire, singer/songwriter; and Billy Block. Photo: Denise Fussell, Fussell Graphics

CRS patrons enjoy Billy Block’s show last week at the Rutledge.

Musician/Photographer Bev LeCroy Passes

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Bev LeCroy

James Beverly LeCroy was notable in Nashville for his classical and jazz contributions, as well as for his work as a photographer.

Bev LeCroy died on Saturday, Feb. 25, at age 93. LeCroy first picked up the trombone at age 13 in his native Chattanooga. He played in the University of Chattanooga marching band as well as on WDOD radio.

He moved to Nashville in 1943 and became a charter member of the revived Nashville Symphony Orchestra. He also played in the big swing bands of Francis Craig, Beasley Smith and Owen Bradley.

LeCroy performed “Near You” while with Craig. The band’s 1947 recording of this song became Nashville’s first million-selling record. Demand was so great for “Near You” that the city’s first record-pressing plant was built to meet it. The song still holds the record for remaining at No. 1 on the pop charts longer than any other, 17 weeks.

The trombonist was known to many Nashvillians for his long-running stint as a member of WSM radio’s Waking Crew band. In the early days of television, The Waking Crew also performed on WSMV’s “Noon Show.”

In the 1960s, Bev LeCroy began a second career as a staff photographer for the National Life & Accident Insurance Company. His photos of r&b singer Etta James in action on stage at Nashville’s New Era Club were used on the LP jacket of Etta James Rocks the House. These images were featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s celebrated “Night Train to Nashville” exhibit in 2004-05.

Bev Le Croy is survived by his wife Katherine, son James, daughter Donna, granddaughter Sylvia and great-grandson Austin. Funeral services will be held Tuesday (2/28) at 10 a.m. in Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall, 660 Thompson Lane.