Belmont University’s Don Cusic is releasing his new book The Beatles and Country Music.

In the book Cusic examines The Beatles’ earliest influences, including skiffle and folk music, as well as early rockabilly influences from Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Bill Haley and Carl Perkins. Early in their career, The Beatles performed country songs in Hamburg and at the Cavern in Liverpool.

When the group first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, George Harrison was playing a Gretsch guitar—inspired by his love of Chet Atkins, who also played a Gretsch.

Gene Autry was one of Ringo’s biggest musical influences, according to the book. And Ringo sang the Buck Owens hit, “Act Naturally,” on an album by The Beatles. Ringo recorded his 1970 album Beaucoups of Blues in Nashville, which was produced by legendary Music City steel guitarist Pete Drake.

Drake also played on George Harrison’s album, All Things Must Pass and Harrison’s song “Behind That Locked Door.”

The book documents Paul McCartney’s 1974 Nashville recording sessions with local steel guitarist Lloyd Green.

Cusic writes about country artists who have recorded Beatles songs, including Chet Atkins, who also played on a McCartney song.

This is the 26th book by Cusic. He has written biographies of Eddy Arnold, Roger Miller, and Gene Autry. Other books include Elvis and Nashville, Baseball and Country Music, and Saved By Song: A History of Gospel and Christian Music.

The Beatles and Country Music is available here.

Kip Moore

The Country Music Association and the critically-acclaimed music series “Front and Center” have announced Kip Moore along with Brett James and Jaren Johnston as the stars of the next songwriters series taping, to be held Sept. 21 at the Iridium in New York City.

Moore co-wrote all three of his No.1 singles; every track on his latest album Wild Ones; and penned songs for Jake Owen and Thompson Square.

Both James and Johnston have written hit songs cut by artists including Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and more.

“Front and Center” is the critically-acclaimed, original one-hour concert series that airs commercial-free on public television. Now in its sixth season, the show has presented an eclectic mix of Grammy, CMA, and American Music Award winners, rock icons, and multi-Platinum sellers including Bentley, Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, Jack Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, The Fray, Train, Urban, and more.

For more information on the “Front and Center” music series, visit frontandcenter.com.

Brett James

Jaren Johnston

When Wisconsin native Josh Thompson performed for the MusicRow staff he was greeted by a member of the Green Bay Packers.

After releasing his debut album in 2010, singer-songwriter Josh Thompson enjoyed the success of three Top 30 singles, including “Way Out Here,” “Beer on the Table” and “Won’t Be Lonely Long.”

His new album, Change: The Lost Record, Volume One, the first in a two EP series, was originally recorded in 2011 while Thompson was still signed to RCA Nashville. After parting ways with the label, Thompson held onto the songs, refashioning them into his new project, set for digital release Oct. 9 via partnership with ole Digital/The Orchard.

Thompson visited the MusicRow office to preview a few songs from the project, including “Work In The Mornin’,” “Same Ol’ Plain Ol’ Me,” and a track he calls the “leavin’ song” on the album, “Over Me.”

“I could have released it on another label, but I would have had to release it to them, so I kept it and decided to release it now,” said Thompson.

After his last record release, Turn It Up in 2014, Thompson has been cranking out the songs, writing an average of 80-120 songs per year. He penned Joe Nichols’ current single, “Freaks Like Me,” which he obliged MusicRow staffers with an acoustic rendition, before ending with a snippet of his 2013 hit “Cold Beer With Your Name On It.”

Thompson also recently teamed with band The LACS for the song “Tonight On Repeat.”

Josh Thompson and his team with MusicRow staff.

Lady Antebellum brings their headlining show to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Lady Antebellum owned the night Friday (Sept 11), as they played their first-ever headlining show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena as part of their Wheels Up Tour. Taking off with dramatic smoke and lasers to complement the Fleetwood Mac–like energy of “Long Stretch Of Love,” Lady A members Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood flawlessly flowed through a set that took the crowd on an emotional ride through the past nine years they’ve been together.

Cruising into a crowd (and beer vendor) favorite, “Hey Bartender,” the trio had the crowd drinking and dancing in full swing throughout the arena before slowing it down with their No. 1 hit “American Honey.” The Capitol Nashville group gave a nod to the writers on this song, specifically Cary Barlowe, who was present.

They continued full speed with “Freestyle” and “Our Kind Of Love,” only to pull on the emotional strings once again as everything went silent, except for Haywood in the spotlight playing the piano opening to “Just A Kiss.” As the song continued with a night-themed backdrop of a full moon and stars, Scott took time to humbly thank the crowd, saying, “Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, this is such a bucket list moment for us, thank you!”

Running through the crowd during “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore,” and onto a center platform, Lady A broke it down to a special acoustic performance of “One Great Mystery,” as well as “Dancing Away With My Heart,” and a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” In honor of Sept. 11, dedicated a special a cappella version of “Hello World” to all servicemen and women. As Haywood came slowly in with the guitar and Kelley took a strong vocal lead, he exclaimed, “It’s a special day and it’s also my birthday. This means the world to us.”

The show continued back onto the main stage as they moved from anthem “Downtown” into a fierce rendition of Shania Twain’s “Any Man Of Mine,” which brought everyone to their feet as Scott strutted down the runway. During the Nathan Chapman-produced “Compass,” show opener Hunter Hayes joined on banjo, with Chapman on guitar. Hayes soon after reappeared, sporting a Preds jersey, along with fellow show opener Sam Hunt in an American flag tank, to help close the show as Lady A rocked Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”

The trio returned for an encore with smoke and silhouette lighting to capture a powerful version of their title track “747.” Continuing with fan favorites “Need You Now,” and “We Owned The Night,” the Wheels Up Tour touched down with dramatic close, a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”

Opener Hunt started off the show with a high-energy set, moving around the premise of the floor seats and hugging fans along the way. Hayes kept the energy alive playing up and down the stage and engaging the audience to sing and dance to Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up And Dance.”

Pictured (L-R): FairTrade Services vice president of A&R James Rueger and FairTrade Services president/founder Jeff Moseley; Newsboys’ Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips and Michael Tait.

CCM band Newsboys have signed an exclusive recording agreement with FairTrade Services. The band is working on their FairTrade Services debut project, which is slated to release in March 2016.

“It’s great to be reunited with Wes Campbell and the Newsboys again,” said Jeff Moseley, president/founder, FairTrade Services. “Our association goes back a long way and I am excited to be working alongside this iconic band and team again. The music is fantastic and we are working diligently on a promotion plan that will match the outstanding music.”

“The Newsboys have had a long relationship with Jeff Moseley and his team,” said Campbell, president/founder, First Company Management. “FairTrade’s commitment to the artist, their passion for helping challenge artists’ musical talents and creativity, and their out-of-the-box marketing and distribution concepts are exciting to us, and we look forward to continuing to push the envelope together for many years to come.”

Comprised of lead vocalist Michael Tait, Jody Davis (guitar), Jeff Frankenstein (keys) and Duncan Phillips (drums), Newsboys will launch their We Believe…God’s Not Dead 2015 Fall Tour on Sept. 18, and will travel to more than 40 markets across the country.

FairTrade Services, LLC launched in June 2011 by music industry veteran Jeff Moseley. Located in Brentwood, Tenn., FairTrade’s roster includes MercyMe, Laura Story, Audio Adrenaline, The Afters, Hawk Nelson, Shane & Shane, Sara Groves, Phil Wickham, and more. FairTrade Services is distributed by Provident Distribution and Sony Music.