DisClaimer: A Soul Cleansing

/by

Reverend Lawrence D. Thomison

Reverend Lawrence D. Thomison


It’s time for a soul cleansing. Our journey begins this week at the Eastside Gospel Music Store on Gallatin Pike near Trinity Lane. Owner Jeffrey Wilford maintains a rack of CDs there by Nashville-based artists. It reveals that CeCe Winans, Take 6, Bobby Jones, BeBe Winans and The McCrary Sisters are merely the tip of a very large iceberg of local African-American religious singers. From that rack comes our Disc of the Day by the Rev. Lawrence Thomison. I bought the DisCovery Award winner there, as well. She is Karen Clark Sheard. Rounding out this Christian-music column are three of the genre’s mainstream stars. Among them is Jason Crabb, who is essential listening.
EVERETT DRAKE/Amen Goes Right There
Writers: Derrick Lee/Everett Drake; Producer: Derrick Lee; Publishers: Dherico/Alkian/Conexion, SESAC/BMI; DM (track)
-The title tune to Drake’s current CD is a big-production, synth-dominated ballad with socially conscious lyrics. A soaring choir answers his earnest tenor entreaties. This Nashville singer has performed as a backup vocalist for Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Donna Fargo, Barbara Mandrell, Brooks & Dunn, Brenda Lee, Wynonna, Eddie Rabbitt, Martina McBride and Garth Brooks and is a featured vocalist on the Bobby Jones Gospel TV show on BET.
DeWITT JOHNSON/Thou Art Holy
Writers: DeWitt Johnson; Producer: Daniel Miree; Publisher: none listed; Commandment
-His group The James Johnson Ensemble has earned a Gold Record and a Grammy nomination, and he has a local TV show that airs on Channel 5+ and Fox Channel 17. Johnson is noted for his songwriting ability, as this title track of his current CD reflects. His hoarse, urgent, penetrating vocal delivery suggests that he is a dynamic live performer. Recommended.
BENITA WASHINGTON/The Word Remains
Writers: D. Weatherspoon/B. Washington; Producers: Daniel Weatherspoon and Virgil Straford; Publishers: Spoonfed/MySymone; ASCAP; Shanachie (track)
-This soulful, funky, horn-punctuated track kicks off her CD with panache. Her wailing delivery remains pretty much at the top of her vocal range throughout the track. Fortunately, she tones it down elsewhere on the album.
REV. LAWRENCE THOMISON/Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Writers: T. Chisholm/W. Runyan; Producers: Jonathan Winstead & Chris Carr; Publisher: Hope, ASCAP; Lawrence (track)
-I have been a big fan of this guy ever since his days of recording for New Haven Records on Music Row. He remains a gripping, soul-piercing stylist on his current collection, Hymns of the Church. On this standard, he deploys superb vocal dynamics, ranging from a whisper to a hair-raising shout. A mighty, mighty man.
ELDER ZEEK McPHEE/Heaven Is My Home
Writer: Elder Zeek McPhee; Producers: Chris Carr and Jonathan Winstead; Publisher: none listed, BMI; EZM (track)
-This has an old-timey feel with its simple piano and hand-claps accompaniment. He pauses in mid-song for a spoken-word, “testifying” passage about his conversion as a boy in the Bahamas. Sincerity is the hallmark here, rather than vocal athleticism.
Karen Clark Sheard

Karen Clark Sheard


KAREN CLARK SHEARD/Favor
Writers: Israel Houghton/Aaron Lindsey; Producers: Karen Clark Sheard, Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey; Publisher: Integrity’s Praise/Aaron Lindsey, BMI; Word/Curb/Warner
-Most of Sheard’s It’s Not Over CD is recorded live. Among the three studio tracks is this lustrous ballad. As a singer, she is capable of both ecstatic, “in the spirit” shouting and the sweet, lilting, caressing delivery displayed here. In any mode, she is a powerhouse.
THE ORIGINAL VOICES OF NASHVILLE/There Is A Man
Writer: Howard Wilks, Jr.; Producer: Howard Wilks, Jr.; Publisher: none listed, BMI; HW (track)
-The Original Voices of Nashville are the Rev. Howard Kelly Wilkes, Howard Kelly Wilkes Jr., Chanita D. Caldwell and Carmelita D. Wilkes. They stir the soul on their CD. This title tune, for instance, boasts thumping rhythm and mesmerizing, call-and-response vocals featuring extemporaneous interjections and shout-outs from all four singers. Definitely back to church.
MATT MAHER/Lord, I Need You
Writers: Matt Maher/Jesse Reeves/Kristian Stanfill/Christy Nockels/Daniel Carson; Producer: Paul Moak; Publishers: Thankyou/EMI CMG/worshiptogether.com/sixsteps/Sweater Weather/Valley of Songs, PRS/ASCAP/BMI; Provident/Essential
-This Nashvillian is unusual in the CCM field in that he is Catholic. His CD All the People Said Amen collects 13 of his favorites, including this inspiring, intensely sung shout of praise that begins softly and builds to a crescendo. Dazzling.
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN/Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
Writers: Louisa M.R. Stead/William J. Kilpatrick; Producer: Brent Milligan and Steven Curtis Chapman; Publisher: none listed; Cracker Barrel
-Christian superstar Chapman is marketing his Deep Roots CD via Cracker Barrel. It’s a collection of standards interpreted in acoustic arrangements that reflect his Kentucky childhood. On this lead-off track, he is accompanied by mandolin strums, keening fiddle and sighing dobro. Ricky Skaggs guests on “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” A refreshing change of pace for this always involving stylist.
JASON CRABB/Love Is Stronger
Writers: none listed; Producers: Jay DeMarcus, Ed Cash and Wayne Haun; Publisher: none listed; Gaither (track)
-This guy gets me every time. His searing tenor delivery is a burning arrow of soul power. On the title tune of his new CD, he sends shivers up and down your spine with each note. If you haven’t heard this man sing, you haven’t lived. Thrilling in the extreme.

Weekly Register: Summer Slump Lingers

/by

Josh Thompson

Josh Thompson


Summer sales are plodding along without many noteworthy country debuts. As a result, year-to-date sales are shrinking.
Josh Thompson’s “Cold Beer With Your Name On It” brought a sip of relief this week, selling 12.5K tracks out of the gate. It is his first release on Show Dog Universal Music and has an official radio add date of Aug. 12.
The latest album from revered songwriter Guy Clark, My Favorite Picture of You, debuted with 5.6K units.
In the rest of the country world, Florida Georgia Line continued its reign at No. 1 on the albums and tracks charts. Here’s To The Good Times sold 30K for a RTD total of 917K, and “Cruise” kept speeding with 119K TW for a RTD total of 5.4 million (both versions combined).
Pop hitmaker (and Taylor Swift bestie) Selena Gomez had the week’s highest album debut with 97K.
The Vince Gill & Paul Franklin album Bakersfield was released Tuesday by MCA Nashville, so next week’s report will include sales numbers for it.
On the horizon in August are albums from new Warner Music Nashville artists Brett Eldredge (Aug. 6, Bring You Back) and Charlie Worsham (Aug. 20, Rubberband) which are getting good word of mouth around The Row. The lone release from a star next month is Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party (Aug. 13, Capitol Nashville). Lead single and title track is burning hot, selling 66K downloads this week for a RTD total of 1.1 million.
Meanwhile the Show-Dog Universal project Alabama & Friends, set for release Aug. 27, has real hit potential (remember Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee?).

Bandit Records To Release George Jones Gospel Collection

/by

georgejones_amazinggrace_cov1Bandit Records is set to release George Jones – Amazing Grace on Sept. 10, two days before what would have been Jones’ 82nd birthday. Jones, a partner in Bandit Records, recorded the gospel songs with producer Billy Sherrill in 2002 with the exception of one track, “Great Judgment Morning,” which was produced by Brian Ahern in 1994.
The songs produced by Sherrill are from the final studio sessions between Jones and Sherrill. It also marks Jones’ first entire Gospel project.
“Great Judgment Morning” was recorded during a session for his 1994 album The Bradley Barn Sessions. Assembled that day were friends such as Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Travis Tritt, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and Connie Smith who all added their vocals to the gospel favorite. Jones’ rendition of the classic hymn “Amazing Grace” was used during the video/bio segment of his Kennedy Center Honors Induction in 2008.
Jones passed away on April 26, 2013 surrounded by family and friends.

MCA Releases Gill & Franklin’s 'Bakersfield,' Announces Website, Tour

/by

bakersfield album11With today’s (July 30) release of Vince Gill and Paul Franklin’s album Bakersfield, a 2013 tour has been announced in addition to an interactive promotional website for the MCA Nashville project: roadtobakersfield.com.
Updated weekly, the newly created website is designed to draw fans into the Bakersfield milieu with music and videos from Gill, a Country Music Hall of Famer, and Franklin, a 19-time recipient of MusicRow’s steel guitar musician award. Additionally, users are able to upload, decorate, and share photos with period garb from either Owens’ band, the Buckaroos, or Haggard’s band, the Strangers.
Gill and Franklin’s full-band tour is set between August to November, with an obligatory Bakersfield, Calif. stop on Oct. 25. Full dates listed below.
Gill and Franklin cover five songs from each artist, paying homage to their distinctive West Coast honky-tonk sound. Order your copy here.
Meanwhile, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Bakersfield Sound exhibit is scheduled to run through the end of 2013 in Nashville.
Gill and Franklin’s Bakersfield Tour:
Aug. 8                         Niagara Falls ON
Aug. 9                          Malone, NY
Aug. 10                        Cohasset, MA
Aug. 11                        Westhampton Beach, NY
Aug. 22                        Halifax, NS
Aug. 23                       Moncton, NB
Aug. 24                        Moncton, NB
Aug. 25                        Sydney, NS
Aug. 27                        Kingston, ONT
Aug. 28                        Syracuse, N.Y.
Sept. 6                         Springfield, Ohio
Sept. 7                         Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Sept. 8                         Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 28                       Hillsdale, Mich.
Sept. 29                       Louisville, Ky.
Oct. 10                        Shippensburg, Pa.
Oct. 11                        Windsor, Ont.
Oct. 12                        Zanesville, Ohio
Oct. 20                       Niceville, Fla.
Oct. 24                        Mesa, Ariz.
Oct. 25                        Bakersfield, Calif.
Oct. 26                        Turlock, Calif.
Oct. 27                        Carmel, Calif.
Oct. 29                        Redding, Calif.
Oct. 30                        Santa Rosa, Calif.
Nov. 1                         Visalia, Calif.
Nov. 2                         Palm Desert, Calif.
Nov. 3                         Tucson, Ariz.

Song Factory Adds Six Writers

/by

song factory logoIndependent music publishing company Song Factory has signed six new songwriters to the roster, including Bart Butler, Dillon Carmichael, Olivia Rudeen, Nathan Christopher, Terry Lee Palmer and Larry McCoy.
Butler has produced several artists and has cuts by Kevin Fowler, Johnny Bush, Johnny Rodriquez, Clay Walker, Dierks Bentley, Mark Wills, Thomas Rhett and Jon Pardi.
Carmichael moved to Nashville in 2012 to pursue a career in music full-time. He is an accomplished artist and is the nephew of country music artists Eddie and John Michael Montgomery.
Colorado-born Rudeen recently graduated from The University of Denver with a degree in Music Industry Studies. She has shared the stage with a variety of acts including  DeVotchKa and American Idol winner Lee DeWyze.
Christopher is an artist from Canada who has written with Bobby Pinson, Kendell Marvel and Rivers Rutherford.
Houston-native Palmer attended both Middle Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University for Music Studies. He has been playing guitar on the road with Capitol artist Jon Pardi since 2013 and recently signed a publishing co-venture with Pardi and the Song Factory.
McCoy moved to Nashville from Oklahoma in 1993 and landed a record deal with RCA a month later. After that deal ended he spent the next several years playing guitar for artists Brian White, Joe Diffie, Eddie Money and Ray Stevens. McCoy has cuts by Thomas Rhett, James Wesley and Ray Stevens.
Song Factory was established in 2008 as the shared vision of Jennifer Johnson and Jim Kaufman. For more information, visit songfactorymusic.com.

Big Machine Label Group Takes Over The Brickyard 400

/by

Big Machine Label Group showcased the talents of several artists on its star-studded roster at last weekend’s Brickyard 400 Presented by Big Machine Label Group race. Laura Bell Bundy, Justin Moore, Cassadee Pope and The Cadillac Three all performed during the event, held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Pope (winner of season 3 of NBC’s The Voice) performed the national anthem prior to the race. Bundy offered her rendition of “America The Beautiful,” in addition to a set of her own tunes, including her current single “Two Step.” Big Machine Music songwriter Dustin Lynch also performed a set of his hits, including “Cowboys and Angels.”

Justin Moore gets an enthusiastic crowd response during his performance at the Brickyard 400.

Justin Moore gets an enthusiastic crowd response during his performance at the Brickyard 400.


Laura Bell Bundy performs her single "Two Step" on the Brickfest stage.

Laura Bell Bundy performs her single “Two Step” on the Brickfest stage.


Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta, Cassadee Pope, and members of The Cadillac Three at the Brickyard 400.

Pictured (L-R): Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Cadillac Three’s Kelby Ray and Neil Mason, and Cassadee Pope.


Pictured (L-R):

Pictured (L-R): Cadillac Three’s Kelby Ray, Laura Bell Bundy, Justin Moore, Cassadee Pope, Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston and Neil Mason.


Big Machine Label Group artists and reps get ready to kiss the bricks.

Big Machine Label Group gets ready to kiss the bricks.


Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta with Brickyard 400 winner Ryan Newman.

Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta with Carl Edwards.

The Mavericks To Tape PBS Concert Special

/by

The Mavericks. Photo: Mark Tucker

The Mavericks. Photo: Mark Tucker


After spending 10 days touring in the UK, The Mavericks will visit Nashville to tape IN TIME Live, a concert event named after the group’s recent album In Time, for PBS. The taping is open to the public and will be held at Nashville’s Marathon Village on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. It will air on PBS in December.
Tickets are on sale for $20-$25 and can be purchased here.
After visiting Music City, The Mavericks will continue their tour in Canada.

Columbia Nashville Adds To Artist Roster

/by

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Columbia Nashville artist Leah Turner, Sony Music Nashville A&R exec Jim Catino. Photo Credit: Brian Kaplan

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Columbia Nashville artist Leah Turner, Sony Music Nashville A&R exec Jim Catino. Photo Credit: Brian Kaplan


Columbia Nashville has added 26-year-old singer-songwriter Leah Turner to the label’s artist roster.
The deal came as Turner’s official birthday wish, as Leah turned 26 yesterday (July 29). Currently writing and recording her debut album, Turner’s first single under Columbia Nashville will be her co-penned track “Take the Keys,” which is slated for an Oct. 7 radio release.
The single can be previewed here.

NPR's 'Song Travels' Features Chris Young

/by

chris young A.M1NPR‘s Song Travels has featured its first country artist. Chris Young took a recent musical journey with entertainer Michael Feinstein. Taped last year in Los Angeles, Young explores his musical past, present and future during the one-hour program, recounting how music and the art of songwriting have shaped his journey.
The program features performances of Young’s hits “You” and “Gettin’ You Home.” He also joins Feinstein for an impromptu performance of the 1960’s song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” A stream of the broadcast can be heard here.
Past guests on the program include Bette Midler, Liza Minelli, Mark O’Connor, and David Hyde Pierce.
Young’s fourth album, A.M., is available for pre-order today.

New Title For SESAC's Justin Levenson

/by

Justin Levenson

Justin Levenson


SESAC has promoted Justin Levenson to the position of Director, Licensing Operations. Levenson will be responsible for reviewing the productivity and efficiency of SESAC’s Licensing department utilizing systematic and measurable processes to ensure alignment with SESAC’s Organizational goals. Levenson, who has been with SESAC for over 12 years, previously served as Manager, Licensing Operations.
“Justin has proven himself to be a creative and valuable member of the Licensing department,” said Bill Lee, SESAC’s Senior Vice President, Licensing Operations. “There are many exciting new initiatives in the future and we are confident Justin’s contribution to SESAC’s continuing growth will be significant.”
Levenson is a Leadership Music alumnus and is on the Board of Directors for WO Smith Community Music School as well as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Troubadour Society Advisory Board and Strategic Outreach Committee Chair. He is a Library of Congress Board Member and is currently President of the Nashville Emerging Leader program (NEL).