DISClaimer: Rhiannon Giddens, Plus Three Discs of the Day

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Rhiannon Giddens albumDisClaimer takes a tour through the land of Americana this week and finds a lot to like.

So much so, that we’re giving out four prizes, instead of our usual two. The Disc of the Day honor is divided like an awards show. The Male Vocalist award goes to Tim O’Brien.

OBrien

Our Female Vocalist winner is Andrea Zonn.

Zonn

The Group prize goes to The Black Lillies.

The Black Lillies

One name stands tall as the winner of this week’s DisCovery Award. It is Rhiannon Giddens, whose solo CD should be in every home.

TIM O’BRIEN/Pompadour
Writer: Tim O’Brien; Publisher: No Bad Ham, ASCAP; Producer: Tim O’Brien; Howdy Skies
-Best known in bluegrass circles for his role in Hot Rize, O’Brien is also notable as a duet partner with artists such as Kathy Mattea and Darrell Scott. On his solo outings, he is an eclectic stylist, ranging through several roots styles. The title tune of his latest, for instance, is a wry, slightly goofy, blues outing about waking up with a brand new hairdo. It includes trumpet embellishments, yodeling and marimba playing. How’s that for eclectic?

LYNN TAYLOR & THE BAR FLIES/Hollow Man
Writer: Lynn Taylor; Publisher: None listed; Producer: Lynn Taylor; Lamon
-This Nashville outfit does regular club gigs showcasing the songs of its leader, who sings in a drawling, raspy, strangulated, soulful bawl. The title tune of its new CD wanders out of yer speakers with woozy, loosey-goosey, tipsy-sounding charm. Dobro and fiddle weave in and out of the mix.

DUKE ROBILLARD & SUNNY CROWNOVER/Evangeline
Writer: Robbie Robertson; Publisher: Medicine Hat, no performance rights listed; Producer: Duke Robillard; Stony Plain
-Blues-guitar champ Robillard has recorded his first acoustic collection. Titled The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard, it finds him sampling the catalogs of Big Bill Broonzy, Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Sleepy John Estes, The Delmore Brothers, W.C. Handy, Stephen Foster and more. Guests include Maria Muldaur, Jay McShann and Sunny Crownover, who handles lead vocals on this great swamp classic by The Band.

THE BLACK LILLIES/Hard to Please
Writers: Cruz Contreras/Bowman Townsend; Publishers: Black Lilly Music / Attack Monkey Productions; Producer: Ryan Hewitt; Attack Monkey
-For its fourth album, The Black Lillies enlisted an outside producer and Nashville guest musicians for the first time. The title tune delightfully mashes together thumping percussion, raucous electric guitar, saxophone, hand claps and soul-sister backup vocals on a rollicking r&b tune. Romping, stomping fun.

JIM LAUDERDALE/You Were Here
Writer: Jim Lauderdale; Publisher: Jim Lauderdale, SESAC; Producers: Jim Lauderdale/Luther Dickinson; Sky Crunch
-Lauderdale’s latest is an ambitious double CD called Soul Searching. One 13-track disc is Vol. 1 Memphis, and the other 13-track collection is Vol. 2 Nashville. The latter is not as “country” as you might expect. It kicks off with this moody, minor-key, rhythm-heavy moan. As you might expect, the musicianship is as outstanding as the songwriting. Also lend an ear to “Black Widow Spider,” “Tarzan Houdini,” “What Do I Know About Anything,” and “Why Does God Let That Happen,” the last named featuring The McCrary Sisters.

JAMES HAND/Why Oh Why
Writer: James Hand; Publisher: Slim Hand, BMI; Producer: Deborah J. Perry; Slim Hand.
-The latest by this countrier-than-country Austin artist is Stormclouds in Heaven, a bluegrassy gospel collection. He still sounds like George Jones, but this time he’s surrounded by mandolins and fiddles instead of steel guitars, as this lead-off track attests.

RHIANNON GIDDENS/Tomorrow Is My Turn
Writers: Charles Aznavour/Marcel Stellman/Yves Stephane; Publisher: None listed; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Nonesuch
-For her solo CD debut, this former member of The Carolina Chocolate Drops applies her liquid voice to songs originated by everyone from Dolly Parton and Odetta to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Patsy Cline. The title tune is associated with the great Nina Simone. Giddens performs it as a languid, haunting, cabaret chanson that thoroughly hypnotizes. Essential listening. Also available on vinyl, by the way.

SHAWN MULLINS/My Stupid Heart
Writers: Shawn Mullins/Chuck Cannon; Publishers: Roadieodie/Warner Chappell/Chuck Cannon, BMI; Producer: Lari White; Sugar Hill
-I remain a fan. The excellent title tune of this singer-songwriter’s latest collection has him singing in a baritone whisper as it begins, then rising in intensity and volume as the ballad aches even deeper. The cello, steel and electric guitar effects are brilliantly blended. Applause for everyone involved.

ANDREA ZONN/Rise
Writers: Luke Bulla/Andrea Zonn; Publishers: Redding Theory/Zondrea/BMG Bumblebee, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Andrea Zonn; Compass.
-This Nashville vocalist, songwriter and musician is best known for backing superstars like James Taylor and Vince Gill. Judging from her new solo CD, she has an address book to die for. Taylor and Gill appear, as do Keb Mo, Jerry Douglas, Mac McAnally, Sam Bush, Alison Brown, John Cowan and Bryan Sutton. Guest Trace Adkins is particularly awesome on the beautifully written “Ships.” The album’s atmospheric title track, “Rise,” has her lilting soprano offering a lyric of hope and optimism amid storm and danger.

KYLE FREDERICK/Eventide
Writer: Kyle Frederick; Publishers: Vandermont/Cry Angel/Melody Chief, BMI; Producers: Byron House/Kyle Frederick; Melody.
-This Nashville veteran has recorded in contexts ranging from country to rock. The title tune of his new collection finds is a doomy, urgent, echoey rocker with swirling organ, lumbering rhythm and deep-twang guitar, plus a harmony vocal by Emmylou Harris. Intriguing.

Muzooka Connects Unsung Talent With Local Music Venues

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Muzooka CEO Shawn Wilson

Muzooka CEO Shawn Wilson

Long before signing a record deal or boarding a tour bus for a sold-out arena tour, countless aspiring bands and artists make the trek to Nashville, and spend night after night honing their skills before appreciative (if they are lucky) audiences in one of the numerous music venues throughout Music City.

For the men and women responsible for booking the talent in these venues, wading through performance submissions—a tangled mass of CDs, massive file attachments, and links to music samples across numerous websites−is a daunting task. Talent booking site Muzooka, founded by Ottawa native and entrepreneur Shawn Wilson, streamlines the booking process for venues (and by extent, for aspiring artists).

“I was hanging with Mike Grimes of [mainstay Nashville venue] The Basement and asked him, ‘How many demos do you get?’ When he told me that going through all the music submitted is one of the toughest parts of his day-to-day business, I saw an opportunity to help,” Wilson says.

With Muzooka, music venue owners can listen to numerous submissions from various bands in one centralized chart. Artists upload content to one site, and submit music for a performance slot at their favorite venues. The service is free for artists.

The Basement and The Basement East now use Muzooka as one of their main booking resources. Other participating venues include The Wildhorse Saloon, City Winery, Tin Roof, and Mercy Lounge. Popular Nashville music series Whiskey Jam will soon join the Muzooka stable.

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The Ryman Auditorium has also signed on to use Muzooka for its Sam’s Place series, though Wilson stresses that venues like The Basement (approximately 100-person capacity) or Mercy Lounge (500) are more typical of the venues utilizing Muzooka.

Other venues utilizing the service include The Viper Room (Los Angeles), House of Blues (Dallas), and Roc Bar (Cleveland).

A prized attraction is Muzooka’s Discover feature. When an artist uploads a song, they can feature “the best 10 seconds of a song, like the trailer for the song,” Wilson says. Talent bookers listen through 10-second song segments, swiping left if they don’t like the song, and swiping right if they do like it. Songs that get positive swipes are sent in their entirety into the venue’s Discover playlist. “It’s like Tinder for music venue operators,” Wilson says.

Muzooka’s Partner Platform allows venues to discover great local talent. “Lightning 100 used it for their Music City Mayhem, as well as their Live on the Green contest. It would have taken them days to go through all the submissions, but with Muzooka, it took them a few hours.”

Wilson’s entrepreneurial background includes The Canadian Equity Group, which became a top-frequented mortgage website in Canada. He sold the business in 2004 and co-founded Strategic Sales Delivery, offering development and marketing for a new mortgage delivery platform. He also co-founded dating site Datepad.com.

“It’s about helping venues, booking agents and promoters quickly pass on bands until they find those gems, those really talented ones,” Wilson sums. “Though we focus on solving problems for venues and agents, inevitably, we actually solve one of the biggest problems for artists, because the number one thing most artists want to do is play live.”

For more information, visit muzooka.com.

MusicRowPics: Ryan Kinder Finds Career Revival Thanks To Label Deal, Zac Brown

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Ryan Kinder2

Ryan Kinder showcases songs during a performance for MusicRow.

Though Ryan Kinder now finds himself as one of Warner Music Nashville’s new artists, his career nearly ended before it began. When independent label Bigger Picture Group shuttered in 2014,  singer/songwriter/guitarist Kinder was among the artists who suddenly found themselves without a label home. “I didn’t know it at the time, but it was a great learning experience,” said Kinder, who had been with the label since 2012. “After that label fell apart, I remember we still had a bunch of radio shows, and we still went out and played them.”

Eventually, funds ran low and the Alabama native was forced to consider other options. Kinder said he nearly took a job driving for Uber when he got an unexpected call from one of country’s biggest stars.

“I was going to get my car checked to work for Uber, when I get this call from a Georgia number on my phone,” Kinder recalled. “It was Zac Brown. I thought it was [Kinder’s friend] Nate doing a prank on me, so I actually hung up on Zac Brown. He called back, and I was like, ‘Oh crap, it really was him.’ He helped me get out of that label deal, which blew me away that somebody of that stature would want to help someone he didn’t know from Adam. I credit Zac with saving my musical career because he took us on the road for two months, and helped me financially and every other way.”

Kinder’s music caught the attention of Warner Music Nashville President/CEO John Esposito and Executive VP/GM Peter Strickland, and Kinder soon found a new label home with Warner Music Nashville.

Kinder previewed a trio of songs during a visit to MusicRow, where he showcased his ace guitar musicianship on “Something” and his angst-ridden current single, “Tonight.”

The latter song was inspired an on-again, off-again relationship with an old girlfriend. “It’s an unrequited love song about a high school sweetheart of mine,” Kinder said. “We went to different colleges for a little while and tried to make it work. She called me at 3 a.m. one time really drunk and talking about this other guy. I was like, ‘Oh hell no.’ So we ended it right there. I was pretty bummed after the call because we had been dating for a long time. I immediately ran to a piece of paper to write down what I said to her, and it ended up being the chorus.”

Like many songwriters, Kinder channeled his heartbreak into music, crafting “Tonight” with songwriter Luke Sheets. “Tonight” was originally released in 2013 under Bigger Picture Group, but was retooled into a grittier version under the production of Paul Worley (Lady Antebellum, Dixie Chicks) for Kinder’s Warner Music Nashville release. “I’m in a really good place here,” said Kinder of his new label home.

With a new label deal and a chart-climbing radio single, it seems Uber won’t count Kinder as a driver anytime soon. “Yeah, I turned the car around after that phone call,” said Kinder.

Ryan Kinder with MusicRow staffers.

Ryan Kinder with MusicRow staffers.

BMI and YEP Showcase Up-And-Coming Country Acts

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Pictured: (L-R, back row): Backroad Anthem members; Ashley Gearing, BMI songwriter; Leslie Roberts, BMI. Front Row: Mark Mason, BMI; Craig Strickland, Backroad Anthem; Perry Howard, BMI

Pictured: (L-R, back row) Toby Freeman, Backroad Anthem; Brandon Robold, Backroad Anthem; Ashley Gearing, BMI songwriter; Leslie Roberts, BMI; Andrew Cohen, YEP. (L-R, front row) Mark Mason, BMI; Craig Strickland, Backroad Anthem; Perry Howard, BMI

BMI and local entertainment industry networking group Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) presented a showcase of top burgeoning country acts at Nashville’s Exit/In on Tuesday night (Nov. 17).

Rockers Jericho Woods, crooners Backroad Anthem and songstress Ashley Gearing took to the stage to highlight the diverse sounds of up-and-coming talent in the country genre. The quarterly showcases gives country acts from the Southeast the opportunity to play to industry executives, friends and fans in Nashville.

NBC Previews ‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors’ Movie

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Photo: Jeff Lipsky/NBC

Photo: Jeff Lipsky/NBC

NBC has unveiled a three-minute preview of the movie special, Dolly Parton‘s Coat of Many Colors.

The upcoming primetime special was inspired by a true story from Parton’s life growing up in East Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains in 1955. It is neither a biopic nor a musical about the country music legend’s whole life and performing career, but rather a family-oriented, faith-based story about the incidents in her and her family’s life around the time she was 9 years old.

Alyvia Alyn Lind will portray 9-year-old Parton, with Jennifer Nettles as Parton’s mother, Ricky Schroder as her father and Gerald McRaney as her grandfather.

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors is written by Pamela K. Long. She executive produces with Sam Haskell and Parton. The film is a production of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and DP Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Stephen Herek directs.

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors airs Dec. 10 at 9/8c on NBC.

LifeNotes: Joseph Anthony Galante, Father of Joe Galante, Passes

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candle lifenotes11

Joseph Anthony Galante, the father of former chairman of Sony Music Nashville and Founding Council member of Leadership Music Joe Galante, passed away on Tuesday (Nov. 17) in Nashville. He was 96.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. at Cathedral of Christ the King, located at 3001 Belmont Boulevard in Nashville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Abe’s Garden, an Alzheimer’s and Memory Care center in Nashville.

Willie Nelson To Receive Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

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Willie Nelson Photo: Danny Clinch

Willie Nelson. Photo: Danny Clinch

Willie Nelson will be honored by the The Library of Congress tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 18) as he has been named the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The event will take place in Washington D.C. and will include a concert event featuring performances by Nelson himself along with Edie Brickell, Leon Bridges, Rosanne Cash, Ana Gabriel, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Cyndi Lauper, Raul Malo of The Mavericks, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Paul Simon, Neil Young and Buckwheat Zydeco. The master of ceremonies for the event will be actor Don Johnson.

“It is a great honor to be receiving the Gershwin award,” said Nelson.  “I have been a fan of Ira and George Gershwins‘ music since I was a little guy and in appreciation for the award-and also I wanted to make some great music-I’ve just recorded a complete Gershwin album. It’s called Summertime.”

The two-day celebration began with a presentation yesterday (Tue. 11/17) and special display on in the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building with a group of the nation’s lawmakers, who recognized Nelson for his contributions to popular music.

“Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize” will air on PBS stations nationwide at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 15. The program also will be broadcast at a later date via the American Forces Network to U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world.

Lee Brice To Headline ‘Life Off My Years’ Tour In 2016

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Pictured (L-R): Lee Brice, Tyler Farr.

Pictured (L-R): Lee Brice, Tyler Farr.

Curb Records artist Lee Brice will headline the “Life Off My Years” tour, beginning in Salisbury, Maryland, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Columbia Nashville’s Tyler Farr will join Brice as special guest as they take shows to 21 U.S. cities.

Brice recently played his 50th state show in Rome, Georgia, becoming the first country artist to perform in all 50 states in 2015.

Performance dates for Brice’s “Life Off My Years” 2016 tour include:

2/4: Salisbury, MD
2/5: Rochester, NY
2/6: Kingston, RI
2/12: Rockford, IL
2/13: Kearney, NE
2/14: Brookings, SD
2/18: Southaven, MS
2/19: Augusta, GA
2/20: Pikeville, KY
3/17: Lowell, MA
3/18: Allentown, PA
3/19: Indiana, PA
4/7: Milwaukee, WI
4/8: Kalamazoo, MI
4/9: Chicago, IL
4/14: Saginaw, MI
4/15: Highland Heights, KY
4/16: Huntington, WV
4/21: Dayton, OH
4/22: Youngstown, OH
4/23: Toledo, OH

Artist Updates: Kimberly Schlapman, Kenny Chesney, Thompson Square, Jessie James Decker

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Kimberly Schlapman Visits Cracker Barrel in Boise

 

Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman surprised fans this past Friday (Nov. 13) visiting the Cracker Barrel in Boise, Idaho, to celebrate the launch of her 50-piece home goods and kitchenware collection at the Old Country Store. Schlapman met fans, signed products from her exclusive Oh Gussie! collection, took photos, and gave away concert tickets to Little Big Town’s show that night at the Taco Bell Arena.

Kenny Chesney Adds Second Boston date for 2016

Kenny Chesney launches The Big Revival Tour in Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Kenny Chesney launches The Big Revival Tour 2015 in Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Kenny Chesney has added a second show at Boston’s Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 27 because pre-sale numbers were so high for the first show, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 26. Tickets for both shows will go on sale to the public on Friday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. ET.

This show marks Chesney’s 15th play in the home of the New England Patriots, with Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion joining him for the weekend during his Spread the Love Tour.

Syndicated Online Series Reveals Thompson Square Interview

 

Syndicated online series, The Pickup, covers country music headlines, happenings and untold stories with its latest episode featuring an interview with Thompson Square. Keifer and Shawna Thompson welcomed host Adam Wurtzel into their tour bus to chat about what keeps them up at night.

In addition, Wurtzel travels to Toronto to celebrate the legacy of Sharon, Lois & Bram, whose music entertained a generation of young viewers via The Elephant Show on Nickelodeon and Skinnamarink TV on TLC. The episode also features Hank Williams Jr.‘s CMA Awards opening number, a preview of this year’s CMT Artists of the Year, and Tanya Tucker’s upcoming appearance at this year’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Christmas Tree Lighting.

New episodes can be viewed on the 1st and 15th of every month on major broadcasters’ websites, various online media sites and Sky TV’s CM&T program.

Jessie James Decker Tops Holiday Chart for Second Year with Big Yellow Dog

JessieJamesDeckerChristmas

Jessie James Decker released her new single “This Christmas” with Big Yellow Dog Music last Friday (Nov. 13), and for the second consecutive year, Decker debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Holiday Chart.

The release comes on the heels of her performance of The National Anthem at Thursday’s (Nov. 12) NY Jets vs. Buffalo Bills game, shows at iPlay America in New Jersey, and a sold-out Cutting Room show in New York on Saturday night (Nov. 14).

BBR Music Group Expands Digital, Marketing Departments

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Pictured (L-R): Addie Saloman, Chelsea Reynolds

Pictured (L-R): Addie Saloman, Chelsea Reynolds

BBR Music Group has expanded its team, with the additions of Addie Saloman as Director of Digital and Chelsea Reynolds as Manager of Marketing. Responsibilities for both newly-created positions will extend across all BBR Music Group entities.

Saloman comes to BBR Music Group from the Academy of Country Music in Encino, California, where she previously held the position of Manager of Membership. There, she handled the Academy’s professional memberships and outreach initiatives, oversaw annual awards balloting and maintained the academy’s awards voting research. In her new role, Saloman will support BBR Music Group’s VP of Digital, Lynette Garbonola.

“I’m so happy to have Addie on the digital team. I’m confident that she will be an incredible asset to this department and to BBR Music Group’s roster of artists,” says Garbonola.

“After interning with BBR Music Group while attending Belmont University in 2010, I’ve always known that if I moved back to Nashville, it would only be to work for this company!” says Saloman. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to reunite with Lynette and the BBR Music Group team to help grow the digital department and work with a brilliant roster of artists.”

Reynolds joins BBR Music Group from BMG Nashville where she served as Creative Assistant. Prior to that, she held the position of Executive Assistant to the President of Motion Picture Music at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, she has also worked for several of Hollywood’s leading film composers including Hans Zimmer, Henry Jackman, Ramin Djawadi, as well as various music supervisors. In her new role, Reynolds will report directly to Mary Forest Findley, VP of Marketing for BBR Music Group.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Chelsea to the BBR Music Group family. She brings the perfect balance of strategic decision-making and creative thinking to our department,” says Findley. “I can’t wait for her to put these talents to use as we head into what will be an incredibly busy and exciting 2016.”

“I am thrilled to be a part of BBR Music Group’s marketing team. Since moving to Nashville, I have had my eye on this company, and I’m very excited to assist Mary Forest and the rest of the creative team!” says Reynolds.

Both Saloman’s and Reynolds’ new positions are effective immediately.

Saloman may be reached at (615) 610-2119 and [email protected].

Reynolds may be reached at (615) 610-2157 and [email protected].