Bobby Karl Works The Rock Hall Inductions

Chapter 394

Carole King inducts the late Don Kirshner.

Photos from rockhall.com.

Bobby Karl took his act on the road this month, namely to Saturday’s 27th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, staged this year in Cleveland, Ohio (4/14).

The black-tie gala was held in the city’s historic Public Hall. That’s a cool, Art Deco venue about a block from the museum.

This year’s honorees were/are the Beastie Boys, Donovan, Guns N’ Roses, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Small Faces/The Faces, plus Freddie King as an early influence and non performers Don Kirshner, Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns. Plus, there were the “make-up” inductions of the previously overlooked bands The Miracles, The Comets, The Blue Caps, The Famous Flames, The Midnighters and Music City’s own The CricketsJ.I./Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin and Sonny Curtis, as well as the late Nikki Sullivan.

Following a fabulous cocktail dinner—more on this later—we took our assigned dessert tables upstairs for the ceremony. About 6,000 fans were in the two balconies above us, gazing down at our black-tie splendor. I thought about tossing desserts up to them. My guess is that there were 2,000 industry dignitaries on the floor. So that was a much, much bigger crowd than attends the event at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan, the gig’s usual home. It comes to Cleveland once every three years, and this was my first time to attend the gala in Ohio.

Musically, the highlights included Green Day kicking things off with an incendiary “Letter Bomb,” Darlene Love’s magnificently Spectorian rendition of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” Donovan’s set and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ finale all-star jam on “Higher Ground.”

Green Day opens the ceremony.

Rock Hall president/CEO Terry Stewart welcomed everyone, noting that, “the entire city has been on fire for the past 11 days,” with the opening of the Hall’s Library & Archives, a new Grateful Dead exhibit and the first 17 plaques of a new Walk of Fame on downtown streets. Cleveland does make a big deal out of this, much more so than Nashville does with its awards events or New York and Los Angeles do with theirs. Here’s something you would never see in the South: When Stewart introduced Ohio Governor John Kasich, the whole room booed loudly.

Jann Wenner’s speech and the video clips of this year’s inductees were wildly cheered by the fans. Their enthusiasm made a real difference in the night’s vibe.

Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top inducted the late bluesman Freddie King and played his songs. Dusty saluted his late brother Rocky Hill, as well as Freddie, saying, “Long live Freddie King and long live the blues.” Daughter Wanda King accepted.

John Mellencamp inducted Donovan, who sang “Catch the Wind,” “Sunshine Superman” and “Season of the Witch.”

Bette Midler became emotional inducting the late Laura Nyro, emphasizing her feminism as well as her awesome songwriting. Sara Bareilles sang “Stoney End” in salute. Laura’s son Gil Bianchini accepted.

Carole King inducted the late Don Kirshner. Widow Sheila Kirshner accepted. Bandleader Paul Shaffer did his famed Kirshner imitation, drawing laughs, and then Darlene brought down the house.

An “In Memoriam” video sequence was accompanied by Ledisi singing “At Last.” Our own late Steve Popovich was among those applauded.

Miami Steve Van Zandt inducted The Faces/Small Faces. Rod Stewart was absent due to the flu, but Mick Hucknall ably sang lead in his absence.

Smokey Robinson inducts the Blue Caps, the Crickets, the Comets, the Famous Flames, the Midnighters and the Miracles.

Next, Smokey Robinson did the honors for the six previously overlooked bands. “The bands don’t stand behind us; we stand together,” he said. “We play together.” The Crickets did not attend.

Chuck D of Public Enemy and LL Cool J inducted The Beastie Boys. Then Kid Rock, The Roots and Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes performed the salute.

Robbie Robertson inducted Casimo Matassa, Glyn Johns and the late Tom Dowd. By now it was one o’clock in the morning, and we’d been there since the 5 PM dinner.

Chris Rock inducted Guns N’ Roses. His remarks included a jab at the band’s boycotting lead singer Axl Rose.

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day did the talking for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and their performance brought the ceremony to its end at around 1:30.

Among those who endured were Holly Gleason, Holly George and Robert Burke Warren, George Clinton, Lance Freed, Berry Gordy Jr., Terry Likona, Andy Schwartz, Parke Puterbaugh, Brad Tolinski and his rock-musician girlfriend Izzy Lay, Harry Weinger, Jim Brickman and Rob Bowman. Ted Drozdowski of The Scissormen was representing Music City, as was Hall of Fame member Felix Cavalieri, who produced one of inductee Nyro’s LPs.

Slash and Jann Wenner

Now about that cocktail dinner: Beneath the Public Hall is a massive space. One ballroom was sparkling in silver and white with beads and feathers. Another was lit in red with black-and-crimson gothic décor. Black tablecloths were splashed with red rose petals. The “pastel” room was lit in lavender. Lime green orchids decorated aqua tablecloths. The most intimate room was lit in orange and was decorated with dozens of Moroccan lamps.

Throughout these spaces stood robot-like statuesque women and bare-chested men wearing quasi-military white attire featuring lighted epaulettes with floor-length fringe and captain’s hats fronted with silver CDs. They held scepters whose globed tops constantly shifted colors. The women had silver designs painted around their eyes. The men’s bodies were shaved and spray tanned.

All the rooms had tables of giant prawns, seared tuna, encrusted salmon, beef tenderloin, pasta stations, boxed Napa cabbage salads and veggies including marinated mushrooms and steamed carrots, asparagus and green beans. Desserts in the induction hall included chocolate-covered Pringles, shortbread cookies, strawberries, brie-and-crackers, grapes, tasty dough balls, a whole tray of chocolates and another tray of cupcakes.

An edited version of this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebration will air HBO on May 5. Tune in.

Friday Photo Roundup (4/13/12)

Merle Haggard made a surprise appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s public interview program My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers this week. He was joined on stage by Norm Hamlet and Don Markham, longtime members of Haggard’s band, the Strangers. The men began the discussion by paying tribute to Fuzzy Owen, the man who gave Haggard his first recording contract, produced and played steel on his early records, and has managed his career for decades. The program was presented in support of the major exhibition The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and California Country. 

(L-R): Museum Editor and Co-Curator Michael Gray, Norm Hamlet, Merle Haggard, Don Markham, Vice President of Museum Services Carolyn Tate and Fuzzy Owen. Photo: Donn Jones

• • •

Luke and Beth Laird celebrated the opening of their new music publishing and management company Creative Nation with music row friends recently. Their new office space is also shared with Ready Set, the management and record company owned by Trent and Kristen Dabbs (Ten out of Tenn, Sugar and the Hi-Lows).

(L-R): Jennifer Dean, Barry Dean (Creative Nation Writer), Luke Laird (Creative Nation Co-owner, Songwriter, Producer), Beth Laird (Creative Nation Co-owner and General Manager), Kristen Dabbs (Ready Set Co-owner and General Manger) and Trent Dabbs (Ready Set Co-owner, Artist, Writer)

• • •

Craig Morgan appeared on Conan April 11 to perform the title track from his new CD, This Ole Boy. To view a clip of the show click here.

Photo: TBS

Martina McBride Invites Fans on Unique Theater Tour

Photo: Republic Nashville/Randee St. Nicholas

Martina McBride kicked-off the first of several intimate theater performances yesterday evening (4/12) in Panama City, FL. Tonight (4/13) the tour makes a stop in St. Augustine, FL, and tomorrow (4/14) it will hit Durham, NC.

The songstress will take her fans through a unique journey of music she wrote and recorded for her album Eleven (Republic Nashville) in one-night only experiences. Each night, Martina will change up her set to perform fan favorites from her catalog of eleven studio albums. Fans will also hear stories behind the songs, including her current single “Marry Me,” which is a duet with Pat Monahan from Train.

“I believe the concert experience is about sharing,” said McBride. “It’s not just an artist up on stage singing songs for an audience. There has to be a connection for it to work…for both of us. In an arena, I always feel like my mission is to keep people up on their feet all night. These theater shows are going to be more about making memories I hope they never forget.”

Martina McBride Theater Event Schedule:

April 13           St. Augustine, FL                    St. Augustine Amphitheater
April 14           Durham, NC                           Durham Performing Arts Center
April 28           Ivins, UT                                   Tuacahn Center for the Arts
May 12           Clear Lake, IA                        Surf Ballroom
May 13           Wabash, IN                            Honeywell Center
May 17           Austin, TX                                Austin City Limits Live
May 18           Houston, TX                            Arena Theatre
June 13          Vienna, VA                            Wolf Trap Filene Center
June 14          Kettering, OH                         Fraze Pavilion
June 22          Interlochen, MI                      Kresge Auditorium
August 24       Wallingford, CT                      Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre
August 25       Hyannis, MA                          Cape Cod Melody Tent
August 26       Cohasset, MA                       South Shore Music Circus

Weekend Updates (4/13/12)

CBS will air “ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – In Concert” tonight (4/13) at 8 pm CT. The special tribute event, filmed in Las Vegas after the ACM Awards, features superstar performances by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Marc Anthony, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, and Blake Shelton, plus a special appearance by Nicole Richie. Proceeds from the event went to ACM Lifting Lives.

• • • •

CMT will present a special airing of the first episode of the revamped MTV’s PUNK’D featuring Taylor Swift and prankster teen superstar Justin Bieber tomorrow (4/14) at 1 pm CT. In the episode, Swift arrives at a seaside house under the pretense of writing with Bieber and is convinced to set off fireworks, which concludes with a wedding being ruined and a boat catching fire. “I was to going to pass out, I was like ‘this is the end’ – like I’m rotting in a jail cell forever because Justin Bieber made me push a button,” said Swift after finding out it was a hoax.

• • • •

The 3rd Annual GBT Presents Hope in the Hills takes place at 7 pm Saturday (4/14) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. Performers at the event include Irresponsible Laundry, Ravello, and KDSML, and there will be a live auction with items including Bonnaroo passes, Lollapalooza passes, and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple, as it is the official color of Pancreatic cancer awareness. Proceeds benefit Linda’s Hope. More info here.

• • • •

The Nashville Chapter of Autism Speaks will host its inaugural gala, “A Blue Affair” on Saturday (4/14) at 6 pm at the Gaylord Springs Golf Club. Performers include Burning Las Vegas and Austism Speaks’ Tennessee Youth Ambassador Katie Chance. All event proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks’ work.

• • • •

Belcourt Taps & Tapas will sponsor two songwriters rounds on Saturday (4/14) at 8:30 and 10:30 pm to benefit no kill animal rescue organization Proverbs 12:10. Performing at the benefit will be Chalee Tennison, Karen Taylor Good with Stowe Dailey Shockey, Lorna Flowers, Kirsti Manna, Matt King with Morgan Myles, Jeff Jacob, Orleck, Suzahn Fiering, and The Crows. Cost is $10 for one show or $15 for both.

• • • •

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will cut the ribbon to officially open Cumberland Park at 1:30 pm on Sunday (4/15). The innovative new public space offers nature-inspired play features, a climbing wall, and spray-grounds with jets. The park is located near LP Field between the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Casey James to Open Shows For Alan Jackson

BMI recently invited Casey James to perform at the 2012 NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. The NAB SLC attracts radio and TV executives from across the country who come to DC to discuss legislative issues affecting the broadcast industry. (L-R): BMI’s Dan Spears, Casey James, and NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith. Photo: Eddie Arrossi

Casey James’ single “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” is currently approaching the Top 20 on all the charts, and now the American Idol alumnus is scheduled to open shows this weekend for iconic country star Alan Jackson.

Tonight (4/13), James will open for Jackson in Benton, TX and tomorrow (4/14), the show will take place in Las Cruces, NM. James is set to play the Country Thunder Festival in Florence, AZ on Sunday (4/15).

“It’s Alan Freakin’ Jackson!” said James. “He is a poetic storyteller, and one of the best artist/writers there is. And as a performer, he has been entertaining and selling out shows year after year. It’s a huge honor to open for him.”

James’ self-titled debut album recently hit No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart. Nine of the album’s tracks were co-written by James, and he contributed his own guitar work.

Lauren Alaina Becomes Special Olympics Ambassador

Lauren Alaina (first row second from L) spends time with a group from the Special Olympics at the 23rd Annual National Service-Learning Conference in Minneapolis.

Special Olympics Project UNIFY has made 19/Mercury Nashville artist Lauren Alaina Ambassador for North America. The announcement was introduced by Special Olympics Minnesota athlete and National Youth Activation Committee member, Danielle Liebl as part of the 23rd Annual National Service-Learning Conference.

In her capacity as Ambassador, the American Idol Season 10 runner up will assist efforts to raise awareness and change the attitudes of youth toward people with intellectual disabilities. Alaina will play a role influencing young people across the nation to embrace and live the Special Olympics’ message of inclusion.

“I am honored to be asked to be an Ambassador for Special Olympics,” said Alaina. “I have been involved with the local chapter in my hometown since I was in 6th grade. I have made friends for life and they did their part to support me throughout my run on American Idol. Now, it is my turn to support them and help bring awareness to this wonderful organization.”

Project UNIFY brings youth from school community with and without intellectual disabilities together through education, sports and related initiatives to provide the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for promoting acceptance, respect and human dignity.

Alaina is currently touring with Sugarland as part of the “In Your Hands” tour. In addition, she is performing in select cities with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan as part of the “My Kinda Party” tour.

No. 1 Party: Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly”

(L-R): Capitol Records’ Tom Becci and Steve Hodges, ASCAP’s Marc Driskill, producer Dann Huff, co-writer Jaren Johnston, Keith Urban, co-writers Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, and BMI’s Jody Williams.

On Wednesday (4/11), the day after being invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Capitol Records’ Keith Urban joined songwriters Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, and Jaren Johnston at Chappy’s to celebrate their No. 1 hit “You Gonna Fly.” BMI and ASCAP co-hosted the event, which honored Urban’s 14th time to hit the top spot. Urban co-produced the hit with Dann Huff.

Following presentations by BMI’s Jody Williams and ASCAP’s Marc Driskill, other industry executives on hand to bestow honors were Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Capitol Records’ Steve Hodges, CMA’s Brandi Simms and CRB’s Bill Mayne. Avenue Bank’s Cooper Samuels also presented a financial contribution in the name of the honorees to St. Jude.

Huff gave high praise to Urban saying, “To work with a guy like this, it makes me and everybody who works with him better.”

Brust and Lucas, also known as the duo LoCash Cowboys, and Johnston, the lead singer in The Cadillac Black, each shared their intriguing recollection of receiving calls of gratitude from Urban for the song.

To the writers, Urban said, “It’s so cool this song has so many firsts; first cut for you guys, your first No. 1, first one on hold for the record. I want to thank you for trusting me with your song. Thank you for letting me cut your song.” He also thanked his wife Nicole who was in the crowd, saying “Baby girl, thank you so much for coming down.”

The party ended with a special treat for the attendees, a performance of “You Gonna Fly” by Urban, the writers and his band.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

Once upon a time, the sound of a banjo in the woods was linked with terror and nightmares, thanks to its inclusion in the 1972 film Deliverance and numerous parodies. A few notes of that memorable “Dueling Banjos” sequence and that was one’s cue to get out of town post-haste.

Well, Big Machine’s Rascal Flatts is aiming to set the record straight with CountryBreakout No. 1 song “Banjo,” penned by Tony Martin, Wendell Mobley, and Neil Thrasher. The uptempo single makes the deep woods sound like a place of fantastic escape and respite, built on a bed of chugging guitars and mixed with some incredibly deft banjo pickin’. The superstar trio recently played the song on the ACM Awards stage with comic legend and banjo aficionado Steve Martin.

This No. 1 accolade is well-timed, of course. Rascal Flatts’ eighth studio album Changed just hit stores on April 3, debuting at No. 1 with over 130k units sold. The group went for a unique and high-visibility approach for the release, offering a one-night-only movie theater concert experience which aired on more than 650 screens nationwide.

Grammy Block Party Lineup Revealed

The Recording Academy’s annual Grammy Block Party is set for 4:30 pm Tuesday, May 8 at Nashville’s Owen Bradley Park. The event will be hosted by Storme Warren and feature performances by Luke Bryan, Elenowen, the Mavericks, Keb’ Mo’, Tenth Avenue North and Wynonna. Nashville electronic artists KDSML and Sam Shacklock will also appear.

The event is free for Recording Academy members, who may purchase one guest ticket for $50.

Weekly Chart Report (4/13/2012)

Erica Nicole visited MusicRow’s Reporter of the Year, Jim Quinton, at WPPL, Blue Ridge, GA. She celebrated Quinton’s 50th birthday during the visit and promotd her current single "What You Think About Us." The single lands her a spot ‘on deck’ on this week's chart.

SPIN ZONE
Kudos to Rascal Flatts, Big Machine Label Group, and associated promotion personnel on earning the new CountryBreakout No. 1 song with “Banjo.” Flatts’ latest picks up 147 extra spins in the latest chart and stays ahead of Miranda Lambert’s “Over You.” Eric Church’s “Springsteen” charges ahead to No. 3, followed by Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States” and Carrie Underwood’s red hot “Good Girl” at No. 5.

Also red hot: Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw’s duet “Feel Like a Rock Star.” Unveiled in live performance on the ACM Awards stage, the superstar collaboration debuted at No. 39 last week and picked up an additional 937 (!) spins to grab the No. 20 spot. Dierks Bentley’s “5-1-5-0” is also going a little wild, gaining 360 spins and moving onward to No. 28.

Keith Urban’s “For You,” which also had its first televised performance on the ACM Awards Stage, is the week’s big debut at No. 61. Urban’s Capitol label mate Jon Pardi is right behind at No. 62 with “Missin’ You Crazy,” now in its second week charting. Outside the Top 80, Montgomery Gentry’s new “So Called Life” looks poised for a strong debut in the next chart.

Frozen Reports: KITX, KVVP, KYKX, WKBQ, WQNZ

Upcoming Singles
April 16
Greg Bates/Did It For The Girl/Republic Nashville
Rachele Lynae/Party ‘Til The Cows Come Home/Momentum
Tammie Davis/ It’s a Beautiful Life/ ATP Records.
Kellie Pickler/100 Proof/19/BNA
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol
Hali Hicks/I Can Still Breathe/Phull

April 23
Rick Monroe/Crazy Not To/Render
Kelly Clarkson/Mr. Know It All/19/RCA
Eric Lee Beddingfield/Come On/Rebel Dawg
Neal McCoy/Shotgun Rider/Blaster/Rodeowave

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol — 61
Brad Wolf/Too Many Mondays/Evergreen — 74
Jerrod Niemann/Shinin’ On Me/Sea Gayle/Arista — 76
Lucas Hoge/Give A Damn/Animal House — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw/Feel Like A Rock Star/BNA — 937
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol — 381
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol — 360
Toby Keith/Beers Ago/Show Dog—Universal — 259
Luke Bryan/Drunk On You/Capitol — 231

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw/Feel Like A Rock Star/BNA — 32
Keith Urban/For You/Capitol — 29
Dierks Bentley/5-1-5-0/Capitol — 13
Montgomery Gentry/So Called Life/Average Joe’s — 12
Martina McBride feat. Pat Monahan/Marry Me/Republic Nashville — 10
Jon Pardi/Missin’ You Crazy/Capitol — 10
Jaida Dreyer/Guy’s Girl/Soundstream — 9
Greg Bates/Did It For The Girl/Republic Nashville — 9

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Steve Richard/Toothbrush/Force MP — 204
Chad Warrix/Rain On The Roof — 193
Justin Haigh/People Like Me — 186
Josh Abbott Band/Touch/PDT — 180
Erica Nicole/Tell Me What You Think About Us/Heaven Records — 172

Flying Island’s flagship artist Gwen Sebastian visited WIVK/Knoxville and shared some experiences about filming NBC’s The Voice, and being on tour with Blake Shelton. (L-R): Katherine Torbett, WIVK; Bob Raleigh, PD WIVK; Frog; Flying Island’s Gwen Sebastian; Jill Tomalty, FIE; Louis Newman, FIE Exec.; and Spencer Bassett, band member.

Blair Garner’s After MidNite remote studio at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas found country music artists including Justin Moore and The Band Perry immediately following the 47th Annual ACM Awards.

Up-and-coming duo Florida Georgia Line passed through Pulaski, TN recently and visited with MusicRow CountryBreakout reporter WKSR. The duo, comprised of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, is promoting the new single “Cruise” which appears on the forthcoming EP produced by Joey Moi. (L-R): Hubbard, WKSR PD Ed Carter, Kelley