Jack White Donates $200,000 For Recording Preservation

jack white1

Jack White


Jack White has donated $200,000 to the National Recording Preservation Foundation. The NRPF is an independent, non-profit organization created by the U.S. Congress. The organization aims to preserve American radio music and sound recordings and to support archives, libraries and other institutions.
“Here we have a whole nation of cultural heritage in recorded sound [and] a lot of it is in precarious shape,” Executive Director Gerald Seligman tells the Washington Post, “Some was recorded on very fragile media — like old cylinders, acetates, reel-to-reel tapes — and it’s turning into shards. Some of these things have got to be saved quick.”
White is on the board of directors for the NRPF. The foundation was chartered in 2010 and is the third component of the National Recording Preservation Act.
The first element of the act established a national recording registry for music, radio broadcasts and any sounds that have made their way into the public consciousness–including recordings of AOL’s “You’ve Got Mail” and the “NBC Chimes.” The second element, the National Recording Preservation Board, oversees the selection process for the registry.

'Shania: Still The One' To Return To Las Vegas

shaniaLas Vegas’ newest resident, Shania Twain, will return to the stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for Shania: Still The One this October.
Following a four-month hiatus, Twain will begin her next run of 22 performances beginning on Oct. 15; the concert event will run through Dec. 14.
The entertainer has released a behind-the-scenes video (below) that allows fans a look at her journey from backstage to center stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lCmUvdv8NY&feature=youtu.be
Tickets are available here.

CRS Battle of the Bands Set For September

CRS battle of the bands 2014
Country Radio Seminar will hold the second annual “CRS Battle of the Bands” on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 6-9 p.m at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley.
Bands formed from Nashville’s music industry executives will compete against one another in front of their friends and peers. Last year’s event featured bands with members from Broken Bow Records, Capitol Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, UMG Nashville and Warner Music Nashville.
The event proceeds will benefit the CRS Scholarship Fund and The Country Radio Hall of Fame.
“CRS Battle of the Bands” is a private, industry-only event. Last year’s event was sold out. For more information on sponsorships and group table sales, please call the CRS offices at (615) 327-4487.
CRS 2014 will be held at the Nashville Convention Center from Feb. 19-21, 2014. For more information, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Dierks Bentley To Host 7th Annual ACM Honors

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Dierks Bentley


Dierks Bentley will return to host the 7th Annual ACM Honors, dedicated to the honorees and off-camera category winners of the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music awards. The event will take place Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Tickets, priced at $40.00, will go on sale to the public at 8 a.m. PST on Friday, Aug. 2, 2013. They will be available at ticketmaster.com and at the Ryman box office.
This is Bentley’s second consecutive time hosting the event, and the fourth time the ceremony will be held at the Ryman Auditorium. The evening is sponsored in part by American Airlines, City National Bank and Spot Shot®.
Those being honored include Special Award recipients Jason Aldean, Guy Clark, Blake Shelton, Tommy Wiggins, Lady Antebellum and The Judds. Keith Whitley and Hank Williams will also be honored posthumously. The evening also recognizes winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories, which are not presented during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition, Dallas Davidson will be recognized as the winner of Songwriter of the Year.

Keith Urban Lights The Fuse on 2013 Tour

Keith Urban in Georgia on his 2013 Light The Fuse Tour.

Keith Urban in Georgia on his 2013 ‘Light The Fuse’ tour.


Without a doubt, Keith Urban is igniting a flurry of excitement across the country during his current tour with opening acts Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch. On Saturday (July 27), Universal Music Group invited a group of Nashville industry players to Alpharetta, Ga.’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park to experience the second week of this headlining phenomenon billed as the Light The Fuse tour.
Fresh from his role as a judge on season 12 of American Idol, Urban proved a reliable authority not only for vocal prowess and entertainment charisma but for production quality. Together with set designer Travis Shirley, Urban has created a signature experience including lighting, CGI, video and confetti cannons for a must-see spectacle.
Throughout the evening, the Georgia audience was treated to a sampling of his new music with the tunes “Little Bit Of Everything” and “Even the Stars Fall For You,” alongside a slew of recognizable hits including “Kiss A Girl,” “Sweet Thing” and “Stupid Boy.” Event surprises included UMG opening act Little Big Town joining Urban for “You’re Gonna Fly,” as well as a satellite stage in the lawn, and to the delight of the audience, an invitation from the singer for two sign-waving sisters to join him on stage for a conversation and picture.
Keith Urban with opening label mates Little Big Town on the 'Light The Fuse' Tour singing "You Gonna Fly."

Keith Urban with opening label mates Little Big Town on the ‘Light The Fuse’ Tour singing “You Gonna Fly.”


Although Urban is capable of carrying the show solo, his talented bandmates Danny Rader, Brian Nutter, Chris McHugh and Jerry Flowers add a thrilling dimension to the audio and visual production. Meanwhile, Urban remains a dedicated musical cheerleader for his audience, as the first one on the stage and the last to leave. There is never a time the class act isn’t wearing his heart on his sleeve. Judging from the Georgia show, crowds are having no trouble embracing the entertainer as their own.
Additionally, Little Big Town showcased why they are the reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year during their opening set. Saving big guns “Pontoon” and “Boondocks” for the end, the band performed a set that included soulful vocal harmonies and instrumental proficiency with “Little White Church,” “Tornado” and “Your Side Of The Bed.”
Catch upcoming dates for the 2013 tour here. Urban’s forthcoming album Fuse will be available September 10.

Lady Antebellum Announces Take Me Downtown Tour Dates

Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum


Multiple award-winning band Lady Antebellum will launch the headlining Take Me Downtown Tour on Nov. 8 in Southhaven, Miss. The tour, which will feature artists Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves, will run through December.
“We spent almost every day last year backstage writing for our album Golden, so we were really focused on writing songs that would connect with the fans in these arenas,” says Lady Antebellum band member Charles Kelley. “We definitely learned a lot about ourselves as live performers and the type of catalog we wanted to have so that we could go out and try to give the fans the best show they’ve ever experienced. All of that was the jumping off point for this tour, and now it’s time to take it to the next level.”
Fans can purchase tickets and VIP packages for the band’s upcoming tour starting September 13. For more information, visit ladyantebellum.com.
Take Me Downtown Tour Dates:
Nov. 8 Southaven, Miss.—Landers Center
Nov. 9 St. Louis—Chaifetz Arena
Nov. 10 Evansville, Ind.—Ford Center
Nov. 12 Grand Rapids, Mich.—Van Andel Arena
Nov. 15 Chicago—Allstate Arena
Nov. 16 Toledo, Ohio—Huntington Center
Nov. 17 Cleveland, Ohio—Quicken Loans Arena
Nov. 19 Fargo, N.D.—Fargodome
Nov. 21 Rapid City, S.D.—Rusmore Plaza Civic Center
Nov. 22 Denver, Colo.—Pepsi Center
Nov. 23 Salt Lake City—EnergySolutions Arena
Dec. 3 Springfield, Mo.—JQH Arena
Dec. 5 Minneapolis—Target Center
Dec. 6 Kansas City, Mo.—Sprint Center
Dec. 7 Omaha, Neb.—CenturyLink Center
Dec. 12 Cincinnati—U.S. Bank Arena
Dec. 14 Peoria, Ill.—Peoria Civic Center

John Fogerty To Launch Tour in October

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John Fogerty


John Fogerty recently released his latest project, Wrote A Song For Everyone, which includes collaborations with several of country music’s top-selling artists. Mixed by Bob Clearmountain and produced by Fogerty, the project was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville, except for “Proud Mary,” which was recorded in New Orleans with Allen Toussaint and the Rebirth Brass Band.
The entertainer will launch a string of solo tour dates in support of the project beginning with an Oct. 10 show at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. The tour wraps Nov. 13 with a show in New York City.
Oct. 10 Los Angeles—Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
Oct. 11 Paso Robles, Calif. —Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Oct. 12 Berkeley, Calif. —Greek Theater Berkeley
Oct. 15 Denver, Colo. —The Fillmore Auditorium
Oct. 17 Tulsa, Okla. —Hard Rock
Oct. 18 Dallas—Verizon Theatre
Oct. 19 Austin, Texas—ACL
Oct. 20 Houston—Pavilion-Woodlands
Oct. 22 Tupelo, Miss.—BancorpSouth Arena
Oct. 23 Huntsville, Ala.—Von Braun Center
Oct. 25 Alpharetta, Ga. —Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Oct. 26 St. Augustine, Fla.—St. Augustine Amphitheater
Oct. 27 Tampa, Fla.—Starz Center For The Arts
Oct. 29 Hollywood, Fla.—Hard Rock
Oct. 30 Orlando, Fla.—Hard Rock
Nov. 1 Salisbury, Md.—Wicomico Civic Center
Nov. 2 Atlantic City, N.J.—Borgata
Nov. 3 Durham, N.C.—Durham PAC
Nov. 5 California, Pa.—Cal U Convocation Center
Nov. 6 Baltimore, Md.—Lyric Theatre
Nov. 8 Washington, D.C.—DAR
Nov. 9 Wallingford, Conn.—Oakdale Theatre
Nov. 10 Albany, N.Y.—Times Union Center
Nov. 12 New York—Beacon Theater
Nov. 13 New York—Beacon Theater

Influential Stylist J.J. Cale Passes

J.J. Cale, photo by Jane Richey

J.J. Cale, photo by Jane Richey


Singer-songwriter J.J. Cale died Friday, July 26, at age 74. Cale achieved his greatest successes while living and working in Nashville during the 1970s. Among his best-known songs are “After Midnight,” “Call Me the Breeze,” “Clyde,” “The Sensitive Kind,” “Crazy Mama” and “Cocaine.”
He was born John Weldon Cale in Oklahoma City and came of age in Tulsa alongside such future music greats as David Gates (Bread) and Leon Russell. In 1959, he came to Nashville to work as a guitarist backing a troupe of Grand Ole Opry stars on tour.
After stints in Los Angeles and back home in Tulsa, he returned to Music City in 1970. Cale teamed up with Nashville producer and song publisher Audie Ashworth (1936-2000). They created his landmark 1971 LP Naturally for Russell’s Shelter Records label. It contained Cale’s versions of “Call Me the Breeze,” “Clyde,” “After Midnight” and “Crazy Mama.”
In 1972, the last-named became J.J. Cale’s biggest hit as an artist. “Crazy Mama” has since been recorded by such stars as Johnny Rivers, The Band and Nashville’s Mac Gayden and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Cale crafted his next seven albums in Nashville, including 1972’s Really, 1974’s Okie, 1976’s Troubadour (which included “Cocaine”) and 1983’s #8. These records established his reputation as a highly influential, genre-defying artist. Cale’s laid-back, groove-soaked music reflected such diverse styles as blues, country, rock, folk and jazz.
In 1975, he and Ashworth built a Nashville recording studio. While living on Old Hickory Lake north of The Hermitage in 1978, Cale also built a home studio. All eight of Cale’s career-building collections were produced with Ashworth.
Despite being a prolific record maker during those early years, J.J. Cale was never interested in being a “star.” He was more than content to have others popularize the songs he introduced on his albums.
“After Midnight” became a big pop hit for Eric Clapton in 1970 and has since been recorded by everyone from Chet Atkins to Jerry Garcia. Clapton also had a hit with Cale’s “Cocaine,” in 1980.
“Call Me the Breeze” became an enormously popular song in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s repertoire in 1974. It has also been recorded by Bobby Bare, David Allan Coe, Johnny Cash, The Mavericks, Larry Cordle and James Otto, among others.
“Clyde” became a top-10 country hit for Waylon Jennings in 1980. “The Sensitive Kind” failed as a J.J. Cale single, but Santana took it up the pop charts in 1981.
The singer-songwriter left Music City in 1980, but his successes with the community’s musicians continued for years afterward. Nashville-based jazz guitarist Larry Carlton, for instance, revived “Crazy Mama” in 1991.
Cale’s “Any Way the Wind Blows” was a country single for Brother Phelps in 1995. The songwriter’s “If You’re Ever in Oklahoma” has been recorded by several bluegrass groups, including The Front Porch String Band (1992), Bluegrass Alliance (2001) and Yonder Mountain String Band (2001).
The rock band Widespread Panic has recorded other J.J. Cale songs, as has Clapton. Cale and Clapton retained their relationship and won a blues Grammy Award for their 2006 album The Road to Escondido. Cale also maintained a musical relationship with Nashville’s Leon Russell for many years.
In 1981-2013, J.J. Cale lived and recorded six more albums in southern California for such labels as BMG/Silvertone, Virgin, Blue Note and Rounder. He was the star of the 2006 film documentary To Tulsa and Back.
His Music City works were reissued on such collections as 1997’s Any Way the Wind Blows and 2007’s Rewind. He was nominated for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
Among the dozens of artists who have recorded Cale’s songs are Maria Muldaur, Bobby Bland, Poco, Jose Feliciano, Redbone, Bryan Ferry, Kansas, Herbie Mann, Dr. Hook, Jimmy Hall, Nazareth, John Mayall, George Thorogood and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.
J.J. Cale died of a heart attack in La Jolla, CA.

Radio Host Kidd Kraddick Dead at 53

David "Kidd" Kraddick

David “Kidd” Kraddick


David “Kidd” Kraddick, the radio and TV host of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show, died on Saturday (July 27) during his Kidd’s Kids charity function in New Orleans. Kraddick was 53.
The Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show is heard on more than 75 Top 40 and Hot AC radio stations. Additionally, the radio program is transmitted globally on American Forces Radio Network. Kraddick has been in the Dallas market since 1984.
“He died doing what he loved, and his final day was spent selflessly focused on those special children that meant the world to him,” said a statement on the website of Dallas-based radio station KHKS. “All of us at KISS-FM, ClearChannel Dallas, affiliated Clear Channel stations and markets, YEA Networks, and the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning crew are heartbroken over the loss of our dear friend and leader. Kidd devoted his life to making people smile every morning, and for 21 years, his foundation has been dedicated to bringing joy to thousands of chronically and terminally ill children.” Kraddick worked at the station since the early 1990s; he syndicated his show beginning in 2001.
Kidd’s Kids is part of the 501 (c)3 charity, The Kraddick Foundation, that was founded in 1991. The organization is dedicated to helping impact the lives of children with terminal or chronic diseases. Kidd’s Kids takes a planeload of children, ages 5-11, and their families to Walt Disney World for five days each November.
 

Jamie Campbell and the Redneck Romeos – "Insane Country Girls"

jamieLooking for a dynamic country rock band that is sure to bring the crowd to its feet? Then look no further than Jamie Campbell and the Redneck Romeos! Established in 2011, these five musicians quickly made their mark in the Rockford, Chicago land and southern Wisconsin areas. “Crowd pleasing” describes them best – Jamie’s energetic stage presence, charming antics, and strong vocals engage audiences everywhere, making every performance a memorable one.
Jamie has personally opened for several national acts, including Justin Moore, Jamey Johnson, David Allan Coe Band, and Randy Houser, and he has performed at venues such as Cadillac Ranch in Nashville, Tootsies,Stage and more. He is a favorite on the Broadway Circuit in Nashville. This commercial music venture follows Jamie’s success in the CMT competition, Nashville Star.
Jamie is joined on stage by Mike Armato on drums, Jacob Addis on rhythm guitar, Mike Hysmith on bass, Tim Sanford on Lead Guitar and Jason Bruner on Vocals and Rhythm. all who have previously opened for national acts during their individual musical careers.
The band’s original music has an edgy flare, but still stays within country limits, Jamie Campbell and the Redneck Romeos take country to a whole new level – you won’t want to miss them!
www.jamiecampbelltheredneckromeos.com
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