• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Bobby Karl Works The NATD Honors Banquet

November 12, 2014/by Bobby Karl

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
 Chapter 476

Pictured (L-R): Tim Corbin, Rob Beckham, Charlie Daniels, Demetria Kalodimos, Michael W. Smith, Gov. Bill Haslam. Photo: Jason Davis / Getty Images for NATD

Pictured (L-R): Tim Corbin, Rob Beckham, Charlie Daniels, Demetria Kalodimos, Michael W. Smith, Gov. Bill Haslam. Photo: Jason Davis / Getty Images for NATD


All intimate music-industry galas should be held at the elegantly gorgeous Hermitage Hotel.
“Welcome to the beautiful NATD living room, for the evening,” greeted Nashville Association of Talent Directors president Steve Tolman. The 50-year-old organization staged its fourth annual Honors Banquet at the Hermitage on Tuesday night (Nov. 11).
The hotel is a landmark, beaux-arts architectural monument, opened in 1910. The NATD’s cocktail hour was held in the building’s opulent lobby. Awesome, two-story, light-blue archways embellished with polychromed medallions support the stained-glass ceiling. Heavy brocade drapes and tapestry wall hangings are staged between veined white marble columns.
The ballroom hosted dinner for 150. The gold-and-white coffered ceiling panels soar above chocolate-toned wood walls with hand-carved accents. These are hung with portraits of Tennessee-bred U.S. presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson as well as with sublime landscape oils. The room’s stunning, antique-bronze chandeliers with multiple teardrop-glass globes are beyond sumptuous.
This year’s honorees were Gov. Bill Haslam, pop/CCM star Michael W. Smith, WSMV news anchor and filmmaker Demetria Kalodimos, Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin, manager and producer J. P. Williams, William Morris Endeavors honcho Rob Beckham and country, rock and Opry star Charlie Daniels. WKRN’s Stephanie Langston hosted.
“I’m too young to get this,” protested Beckham before the banquet. “Yes, you are,” I agreed. He is, however, more than deserving. Beckham recalled coming from the world of rock promotion in the Pacific Northwest. His first country concert as a promoter was Randy Travis, followed by The Judds and Reba McEntire. They all sold out. So he stuck around.
“We are living the dream,” said Michael W. Smith. He recalled working as a waiter and for Coca-Cola before Amy Grant hired him for her band and changed his life forever. Chaz Corzine, Greg Ham and John Huie presented his honor.
Kalodimos got her statuette from venerable Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Dickens, who turns 93 next month. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” she said.
Bebe Evans presented Charlie Daniels with his award. C.T. Wyatt did the honors for J.P. Williams. Chip Esten, ”Deacon” on TV’s Nashville, saluted Haslam.
“I have made this my home,” said Esten. “My family moved here one-and-a-half years ago. And we sold our home in L.A. last week. We [the show’s cast] are fans not only of the city of Nashville, but of the whole state….I appreciate the support of the Governor so much.”
“My kids are totally unimpressed that I am the governor,” said Haslam. “But they are totally impressed with the fact that I know Chip…The people in this room make our job easier,” he added, referring to the fact that the glamor of the entertainment industry helps lure other businesses to the state.
Industry mavens working the room included Ray Shelide, Bonnie Sugarman, Paula Szeigis, Dean Unkefer, Randi Perkins with The Voice TV contestant and niece Kat Perkins, Rod Essig, Bob Romeo, Kate Richardson, Preshus Tomes, Debbie Moore & Carrie Moore-Reed (that’s twin singing sisters Moore & Moore, to you), Ree Guyer Buchanan, Tinti Moffatt, David & Carolyn Corlew, Verlon Thompson (who is working on a new solo album), Steve Lassiter, Holly Ashby, Kirt Webster and the Rev. Joseph Patrick Breen, who delivered the Veterans-Day themed invocation.
NATD founding member Tandy Rice, who was kidded for looking like Santa Claus, was named the first inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Bobby Karl
Bobby Karl
Bobby Karl
Latest posts by Bobby Karl (see all)
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Grammy Chapter Hosts ‘Party Of The Year’ - June 2, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Dolly Tosses A Rock & Roll Party - May 17, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Church, Chambers, Spyridon Bring Walk Of Fame Tally To 100 - May 5, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/NATD-2014-featured.jpg 260 390 Bobby Karl https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Bobby Karl2014-11-12 09:14:222014-11-12 09:14:22Bobby Karl Works The NATD Honors Banquet
You might also like
Weekly Chart Report (11/29/2012)
CMA Honors Nominees and Broadcast Awards Winners
Weekly Register: The Lumineers, Chris Stapleton, Tim McGraw Top Charts
Industry Veteran Chip Peay Caters To Music Industry Home Seekers
DisClaimer: Trio Riding High
Underwood Leads CMT Noms
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • On The Row: Emily Ann Roberts Shares Her Story & Classic Country Style June 2, 2023
  • Warren Zeiders’ ‘Pretty Little Poison’ Due In August June 2, 2023
  • Sony Music Nashville Partners With Ryan Tedder’s Runner Music To Sign David J June 2, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Buddy Jewell, Lee Greenwood, T. Graham Brown, More June 2, 2023
  • Ashley McBryde Turns It Up A Notch On Upcoming LP, ‘The Devil I Know’ June 2, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Grammy Chapter Hosts ‘Party Of The Year’ June 2, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Wendy Moten Releases A ‘Groove-Saturated Sonic Slab Of Soul’ June 2, 2023
  • 23rd Annual Truist Hot Dog Day To Be Held On June 8 June 2, 2023
  • 2023 TSU Music Business Accelerator Program Concludes June 2, 2023
  • Jon Pardi Brings ‘Your Heart Or Mine’ To The Top Of The MusicRow Chart June 2, 2023
  • Rachel Fontenot Exits Position At Leo33 June 2, 2023
  • Big Machine Music Extends Publishing Deals With Chart-Topping Songwriters June 1, 2023
  • Recording Academy Elects National Officers, Leaders To 2023-2024 Board June 1, 2023
  • Dierks Bentley To Host 2023 NHL Awards At Bridgestone Arena June 1, 2023
  • K-Love Awards Set To Air On TBN June 2 June 1, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top