Cyndi Lauper Explains Her Country ‘Detour’ During MusicRow Visit

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Cyndi Lauper may be best known for her sleek ’80s pop classics including “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and “She Bop,” “Time After Time” and “True Colors,” but before she was pop music’s darling, she was fronting the rockabilly band Blue Angel.

With Detour, her 11th album and first foray into country music, it is clear Lauper hasn’t forgotten those early roots, as she showcases her own unique interpretation of a dozen country classics from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. Lauper tackles songs like “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Heartaches By The Number,” and “Funnel of Love.”

She spoke with MusicRow about crafting the project in Nashville with legendary producer Tony Brown.

“He kind of knew the lay of the land, and he knew how far he could go,” says Lauper. “I didn’t come to reinvent the wheel. I just wanted to sing these songs and these wonderful stories, and figure out a way to have my voice find the right sound and marry the blues with country.”

Lauper says the sounds of Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Johnny Cash and other country and rockabilly singers filled the air during her early childhood, listening to music in her Aunt Gracie’s kitchen. “I didn’t realize until we were doing the album, that a lot of these songs were very much a part of our lives in pop. These were pop songs.”

“When I was little, Loretta Lynn was it,” Lauper continues. “She was on TV, and it was part of our culture. Loretta Lynn was on television quite a bit. Johnny Cash and June Carter had the TV show they used to do, and Pete Seeger was on, and all these cool people. I think Loretta was on that, too. Anybody who was anybody was. They were like the pre-John and Yoko. They were rebels and singing in jails….”

Lauper welcomes several country luminaries to collaborate on the project. Emmylou Harris collaborates on the title track, while Alison Krauss lends her voice to Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas.” Jewel makes an appearance on “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”

Lauper says she insisted on bringing Vince Gill into a session after seeing The Time Jumpers perform locally. He offered his musical talents on two tracks, “Detour” and “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly.”

“First of all, we are living in a country with the biggest prison population, I think, in the world,” Lauper said of her decision to record the song “Detour.” “Has it become a business? Because in our country, the only things that become big are businesses. I thought to myself, ‘Why not speak to them?’ ‘Detour’ Is perfect for that. I researched the song, and its history. After I saw Vince play in Nashville…I went to Tony [Brown] and said, ‘Let’s get Vince and members of [The Time Jumpers] over, and let’s do ‘Detour.’ So we did ‘Detour’ and ‘You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly.’”

Pictured (L-R): Ingrid Michelson, Cyndi Lauper, and Kelsea Ballerini perform on Skyville Live.

Pictured (L-R): Ingrid Michaelson, Cyndi Lauper, and Kelsea Ballerini perform on Skyville Live.

On Thursday night (Jan. 28), Lauper joined country newcomer Kelsea Ballerini and pop singer Ingrid Michaelson in Nashville to perform as part of online concert series Skyville Live. Lauper launched the episode with Ray Price’s “Heartaches By The Number,” and her set included “Walkin’ After Midnight,” as well as her own pop hits, “True Colors” and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.”

The album’s first radio single will be “Funnel of Love.” Detour releases May 6 on Sire Records.

Pictured (L-R): Troy Stephenson, Craig Shelburne, Eric Parker, Cyndi Lauper, Robert K Oermann, Jessica Nicholson, Sherod Robertson, Molly Hannula

Pictured (L-R): Troy Stephenson, Craig Shelburne, Eric Parker, Cyndi Lauper, Robert K Oermann, Jessica Nicholson, Sherod Robertson, Molly Hannula

UK To Launch Official Americana Albums Chart

Americana Official Chart

The UK Americana Music Association has partnered with Official Chart Company to debut The Official Americana Albums Chart, the first chart in the United Kingdom dedicated to Americana music.

The Official Americana Albums Chart was revealed on Bob Harris’ BBC Radio 2 Country broadcast and first published Friday (Jan. 29) on OfficialCharts.com. The chart is based on album sales and streams, and will also feature artists whose work is influenced by Americana. The Official Americana Albums Chart will be published each Friday on OfficialCharts.com.

“Given the integrity and authority of Official Charts Company, I couldn’t be more thrilled that a new Americana chart will be produced by this prestigious outfit,” says Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “Americana is a vital and thriving musical art form. Its influences are global. It’s no surprise to me that the UK have recognized the expansion and legitimacy of the Americana genre before any of the American chart services, given their appreciation for music and the arts as culturally important.”

“I am so pleased to see the founding of a new Americana chart,” says Harris, a well-known BBC Radio 2 Country show personality. “It is important and appropriate that the popularity of this wonderful, vibrant and creative genre is acknowledged in this way.”

“We are always looking for ways to spotlight specific areas of music consumption in the UK,” adds Official Charts Company Chief Executive Martin Talbot, “and Americana is a genre that is thriving in terms of new artists and events across the country.The launch of the Americana Albums Chart will provide a fresh and official insight into yet another fascinating genre.”

Rascal Flatts Discuss Upcoming Las Vegas Residency

Pictured L-R: Jay Demarcus, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney

Pictured L-R: Jay Demarcus, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney

Rascal Flatts met with members of the country music media at The Sutler in Nashville on Friday morning (Jan. 29). They discussed their second Las Vegas residence, which will begin next month at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Joint seats approximately 4,000 people.

The band compared playing the smaller venue to their days playing as a bar band.

“We had gotten so used to playing amphitheaters and arenas that seat 15,000+ people,” says the band’s Jay DeMarcus. “It’s fun to do a more intimate show where it feels like we’re connecting with the crowd. We started out as a bar band. There are elements from those days that we talk about all the time that we miss. You can’t manufacture the feeling of connecting with a small crowd and connecting with every single person in the room. When we were just starting out playing covers down on Printers Alley, we could see the crowd dancing and knew what they wanted so we can feed off them. With an arena show, everything is more mapped out and you lose that spontaneity. With a crowd like we’ll have at The Joint, you can keep the spontaneity, some of that energy and some of that freshness.”

Rascal Flatts Rhythm & Roots will run from Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Saturday, March 5.

Tickets are available at the Hard Rock Hotel box office, or by calling 888.9.AXS.TIX or online at axs.com.

Grand Ole Opry Announces Lineup For CRS Show

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Opry members Trace Adkins and Martina McBride are confirmed for a performance of the Grand Ole Opry at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) on Feb. 8.

Ashley Campbell, Easton Corbin, Chris Janson, Tracy Lawrence, Maddie & Tae and David Nail are also scheduled to appear.

With the Opry’s signature barn backdrop and famous microphone stands on stage, the Omni Hotel’s Broadway Ballroom will be transformed to provide a real taste of the Opry and the Grand Ole Opry House in the middle of CRS.

The show will begin at 7 p.m., following the CRS Welcome Reception. All CRS registrants can attend, with both seating and standing room available. The Grand Ole Opry at CRS 2016 is sponsored by Disabled American Veterans.

The Opry, radio’s longest-running program, has rarely staged shows outside its regular program schedule and its permanent home (the Grand Ole Opry House) or its winter residence (Ryman Auditorium). Past Opry performances played outside the show’s home venues include performances staged at prestigious theaters such as New York City’s Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Al Anderson Tapped For CMHoF’s Poets And Prophets Series

Al Anderson

Al Anderson

Al Anderson, award-winning songwriter and former longtime member of eclectic roots-rock band NRBQ, will share stories and songs in the songwriter series Poets and Prophets, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 1:30 p.m.

Hosted by museum editor Michael Gray, the interview will be illustrated with rare recordings, photos and vintage film clips from Anderson’s career. Anderson will offer a brief performance.

Poets and Prophets is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Seating is limited, and passes are required for admittance. Museum members can reserve their program passes in advance by phone (615-416-2050) or via reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org.

This program takes place in the Museum’s Ford Theater and will also be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming. The live stream is powered by NewTek TriCaster. Anderson will sign a commemorative Hatch Show Print poster, available for purchase in the Museum Store following the program.

A native of Windsor, Connecticut, Anderson formed the Wildweeds in his late teens and achieved his first songwriting success with the rock & roll band’s 1967 single “No Good to Cry.” After joining NRBQ in 1971, Anderson played guitar, sang, and wrote band favorites such as “Ridin’ in My Car” and “It Comes to Me Naturally.” “Big Al” left NRBQ in the early 1990s and began writing hit songs for country acts, including “Every Little Thing” (Carlene Carter); “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” (Mavericks); “Unbelievable” (Diamond Rio); “The Cowboy in Me” (Tim McGraw); and “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” (George Strait). Most recently, Anderson penned Zac Brown Band’s “Loving You Easy” and Strait’s “Cold Beer Conversation.”

Anderson has written dozens of songs with Chris Stapleton; an audio sample of some of their unreleased demo recordings will be played during the Poets and Prophets program. Anderson now splits his time between Nashville and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and plays with the World Famous Headliners. In 1993, Musician magazine recognized him as one of the 20th century’s Top 100 guitarists, and in 2000 he was BMI’s Country Songwriter of the Year.

The Poets and Prophets series honors songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music history. Previous subjects include Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock, Wayne Carson, Buzz Cason, Jerry Chesnut, Hank Cochran, Roger Cook, Sonny Curtis, Dean Dillon, Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Kye Fleming, Jerry Foster, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, Dickey Lee, John D. Loudermilk, Bob McDill, Roger Murrah, Dan Penn, Gretchen Peters, Curly Putman, Allen Reynolds, Mark D. Sanders, Don Schlitz, Whitey Shafer, Red Simpson, Jeffrey Steele, Sonny Throckmorton, Billy Edd Wheeler, Norro Wilson and Craig Wiseman.

Artist Updates: Zac Brown, Chris Janson, Lori McKenna

Zac Brown Debuts Z Alexander Brown Wine Brand

Pictured (L-R): John Killebrew, Zac Brown

Pictured (L-R): John Killebrew, Zac Brown

Zac Brown Band lead singer Zac Brown has teamed with winemaker John Killebrew to debut Z Alexander Brown “Uncaged” Wines. The brand’s official website lists a cabernet sauvignon (2013-North Coast), which boasts notes of black cherry, cola, and mocha. There is also the Uncaged proprietary red blend (2013-North Coast), which incorporates aromas of blueberry, black cherry and baking spice. 

“Wine has always fascinated me because of its inherent connection to the land and the artistry necessary to craft a distinct and memorable experience,” said Brown.

For more information, visit zalexanderbrown.com.

 

Chris Janson Performs For Grand Ole Opry Employees

Chris Janson performs for Grand Ole Opry employees.

Chris Janson performs for Grand Ole Opry employees.

Chris Janson is a regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry, having played the revered stage more than 120 times already during his career. The Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville artist recently performed at a gathering of Grand Ole Opry employees, performing four songs, including “Buy Me A Boat” and “Power of Positive Drinkin'”.

“It’s incredibly humbling to play in a room full of heroes and patriots who love America as much as I do,” says Janson. “ And when The Opry calls – I’m always there!”

Named to MusicRow Magazine’s 2016 Next Big Thing list, Janson will perform at the New Faces concert during Country Radio Seminar on Feb. 10 in Nashville.

 

Lori McKenna Recording With Dave Cobb

Pictured (L-R): Dave Cobb, Lori McKenna. Photo: Becky Fluke

Pictured (L-R): Dave Cobb, Lori McKenna. Photo: Becky Fluke

Lori McKenna, a co-writer on Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” is a recording artist in her own right. The multi-talented McKenna has been in the studio working with superstar producer Dave Cobb, who is known for his work with Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, A Thousand Horses, and more.

McKenna released the project Unglamorous on Warner Bros. Nashville in 2007. Her latest release, Numbered Doors, released in 2014 via Hoodie Songs.

Her songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw (“Humble and Kind”), Faith Hill (“Stealing Kisses,” “Fireflies”), RaeLynn (“God Made Girls”), Hunter Hayes (“I Want Crazy”), Reba (“Until They Don’t Love You”), Carrie Underwood (“Like I’ll Never Love You Again”) and more.

Frankie Ballard Lines Up International Tour Dates for March

Frankie Ballard. Photo: Drew Reynolds

Frankie Ballard. Photo: Drew Reynolds

Frankie Ballard is taking his energetic live shows internationally this year, with nine concerts scheduled in the UK and Germany in March.

Ballard will make his debut performance at London’s Country to Country (C2C) Festival on March 11 and 13, with gigs on the Yamaha Stage and during a C2C After Show Party

“This is my first time overseas, and if I’m honest, I’m both nervous and excited to see how we’re received,” said Ballard, who is slated to release a new album in 2016. “What can I say? It’s a big deal for me. I know one thing though, we’re gonna be bringin’ the heat.”

Frankie Ballard European Tour Dates
March 11 – London, UK, Country to Country Festival
March 13 – London, UK, Country To Country Festival
March 14 – Birmingham, UK, O2 Institute 3
March 15 – Glasgow, UK, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
March 16 – Manchester, UK, Deaf Institute
March 17 – London, UK, Hoxton Bar and Kitchen
March 20 – Hamburg, DE, Rock Cafe
March 21 – Berlin, DE, Frannz Club
March 22 – Munich, DE, Backstage

Weekly Chart Report (1/29/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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Pinnacle and Avenue Bank Announce Merger

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 5.42.01 PMPinnacle and Avenue Bank have jointly announced today (Jan. 28) the signing of a definitive agreement for Avenue to merge into Pinnacle.

The proposed merger has been approved by each company’s Board of Directors and is expected to close later this year. Completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approvals and the approval of Avenue’s shareholders.

Ron Samuels, Avenue’s chairman and chief executive officer, will be named vice chairman of Pinnacle’s board of directors once the acquisition is completed. He will serve on Pinnacle’s Senior Leadership Team and will report to Pinnacle’s president and chief executive officer, M. Terry Turner.

Samuels will be responsible for continuing Avenue’s development of a national franchise focused on the music industry as well as ensuring that Avenue’s history of strong growth continues in the combined firm.

“Both we and Pinnacle have been committed to the idea that Nashville deserves a large and impactful local bank. Bringing Nashville’s two best locally owned banks together is a fabulous thing for this city,” Samuels said. “By joining forces, Pinnacle and Avenue can grow faster and more efficiently, realize more value for our shareholders and provide a broader array of banking services to the client base than we could as independent firms. Since Avenue’s founding in 2006 we have focused on offering sophisticated services to Middle Tennessee’s businesses and their owners with a personal touch, and we will continue that tradition with Pinnacle.”

The full press release can be read here.

BMI Showcases Indie Rock Talent With Eastside Sounds Series

Pictured: BMI’s Penny Gattis with members of Daniel Ellsworth The Great Lakes and BMI’s Mark Mason

Pictured (L-R): Penny Gattis, BMI; members of Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes; Mark Mason, BMI

BMI and ALT 98.3 presented the Eastside Sounds showcase on Wednesday night (Jan. 27) at the Basement East, featuring electronic Florida-based band Polyenso and ALT 98.3 Artist in Residence indie band Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes. The music series highlights up-and-coming talent in the indie rock world.

Artists receive exclusive interviews and live performances from the ALT 98.3 studios in the week leading up to the showcase, building buzz for the free event. The next installments of Eastside Sounds will take place March 30, May 25, July 27, Sept. 28, and Nov. 16, with different acts featured on each show.

IMG 3473: BMI’s Penny Gattis sits with members of Polyenso and BMI’s Jody Williams and Nina Carter

Pictured (L-R): Penny Gattis, BMI; members of Polyenso; Jody Williams and Nina Carter, BMI