New Kris Kristofferson Double Album Announced

/by
Kris Kristofferson. Photo: Marina Chavez

Kris Kristofferson. Photo: Marina Chavez

Kris Kristofferson will issue a new, two-volume album titled The Cedar Creek Sessions on June 17, just five days before his 80th birthday.

He recorded the album at Cedar Creek Recording in Austin, Texas, over three days in 2014, using some of his favorite musicians and giving the session a live feel.

The ensemble includes Shawn Camp on lead guitar, Kevin Smith on bass, Michael Ramos on keyboard, and Mike Meadows on drums. Camp and Tamara Saviano co-produced the session.

unnamedSheryl Crow is a special guest on a duet of “The Loving Gift,” a Kristofferson composition made famous by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, but never recorded by Kristofferson.

Track Listing for The Cedar Creek Sessions:

Volume One
1. “Duvalier’s Dream”
2. “The Loving Gift” (with special guest Sheryl Crow)
3. “The Sabre and the Rose”
4. “The Law is for the Protection of the People”
5. “It No Longer Matters What I Do”
6. “Stagger Mountain Tragedy”
7. “The Wife You Save”
8. “Lay Me Down and Love the World Away”
9. “The Bigger the Fool (The Harder the Fall)”
10. “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”
11. “Spooky Lady’s Revenge”
12. “Forever In Your Love”
13. “Winter”

Volume Two
1. “Darby’s Castle”
2. “Me and Bobby McGee”
3. “Broken Freedom Song”
4. “Casey’s Last Ride”
5. “Billy Dee”
6. “Easter Island”
7. “For the Good Times”
8. “Help Me Make It Through the Night”
9. “Jody and the Kid”
10. “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)”
11. “Risky Business”
12. “To Beat the Devil”

Kenny Chesney Launches Spread The Love Tour To 50,000+ Fans

/by
Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney kicked off his 2016 Spread the Love Tour in Auburn, Alabama, on Saturday night (April 23) with an attendance of 50,430. It was the first-ever concert held in the 75-year history of Jordan-Hare Stadium at Auburn University.

The show was billed as the Music & Miracles Superfest in honor of the late Kevin Brown, who co-founded the Chicken Salad Chick restaurant chain with his wife, Stacy. Before his death from cancer in November, he came up with the concept of the concert to raise money for cancer-related organizations. One of the beneficiaries was Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

To honor Brown’s memory, Chesney played “My Home’s in Alabama” on piano. Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion were also part of the concert lineup.

“Sometimes you can feel the energy long before you hit the stage,” Chesney said. “It’s gathering, and you can sense it. This was one of those shows, one of those times. It was so intense, it was so there, this is the reason we do this: to play music and feel all that energy coming at us.”

An aerial view of Chesney's concert in Auburn, Alabama. Photo: Allister Ann

An aerial view of Chesney’s concert in Auburn, Alabama. Photo: Allister Ann

Rhapsody Music Names First CEO

/by

rhapsody-logoStreaming service Rhapsody International has named Mike Davis as its first CEO, reports Billboard. Until now, the Seattle-based parent company Rhapsody International had been operating with out a CEO.

Davis joins after the service after his most recent post as Sr. Operating consultant for The Gores Group. He also served in a CEO role for Alliance Entertainment and at Gavin De Becker & Associates, before a Executive VP of Universal Music Enterprises role.

“I am thrilled to join Rhapsody at such a dynamic time for both the company and the music industry,” said Davis. “For 15 years, Rhapsody has led innovation in streaming music and remains a best-in-class streaming music service. Thanks to the biggest and best partners in the world and a roadmap of innovative new features, we are primed for continued global growth during one of the most pivotal years in music.”

Reviver Records Songwriter Michael Tyler Notches First Chart-Topper

/by
Michael Tyler with Dierks Bentley. Photo: Jeremy Westby / Webster Public Relations

Michael Tyler with Dierks Bentley. Photo: Jeremy Westby / Webster Public Relations

Reviver Records singer-songwriter Michael Tyler has gained his first No. 1 single, as a co-writer on Dierks Bentley’s latest hit “Somewhere on a Beach.” After remaining on Billboard Hot Country Song chart for 13 weeks, the single arose to the top of the Billboard chart ranking and reached No. 1 status the week of April 30.

The song is the lead single from Bentley’s eighth studio album, Black, due out on May 27.

“Michael is a hugely talented young songwriter,” said Reviver Records President David Ross. “Since signing with Reviver Records, we’ve mentioned time and again that the industry would quickly find out about Michael’s talents as both a writer and musician, and it looks as though it’s already happening!”

Tyler, a descendant of Jimmie Rodgers, is a singer-songwriter/musician hailing from Thayer, Missouri. Since moving to Nashville, he has had a hand in writing “Shipwrecked” and “Ain’t Startin’ Tonight” for Reviver Records label mates LOCASH. He also co-wrote “Laid Back” from Jason Aldean’s Old Boots, New Dirt album.

Tyler is signed with peermusic for publishing.

Jason Aldean Sells Out Fenway Park Concert In 90 Minutes

/by
Jason Aldean. Photo: Jim Wright

Jason Aldean. Photo: Jim Wright

After previously breaking attendance records set by Paul McCartney and Dave Matthews Band at Boston’s Fenway Park, Jason Aldean will return to a sold out crowd at the home of the Red Sox on Sept. 9. Fans made the show a sell-out within 90 minutes Friday morning (April 22). The “Lights Come On” singer will co-headline the stop with multi-Platinum award-winner Kid Rock as part of his Six String Circus Tour.

Aldean’s Six String Circus Tour launches May 19 in Rogers, Arkansas, with continued support from Thomas Rhett and A Thousand Horses.

Listen: Dallas Davidson Collaborates With Big Boi, Mannie Fresh, Maggie Rose

/by
Dallas Davidson

Dallas Davidson

Songwriter-publisher Dallas Davidson has penned approximately two dozen No. 1 singles for artists such as Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean, but on Friday (April 22), the singer-songwriter released his own music, with the single “Laid Back.” The song is a collaboration with hip-hop recording artists Mannie Fresh (Cash Money Records) and Big Boi, as well as Davidson’s own Play It Again Music Publishing artist Maggie Rose.

“That’s been knocking around in my brain for a long time,” Davidson tells MusicRow of “Laid Back.””I’ve gotten a bunch of record deal offers over the years, but I chose not to do that. I chose to write songs, and just do my thing. So, if I was going to do something, it had to be something crazy.”

He called Catherine Brewton in BMI’s Atlanta office, who suggested hip-hop producer Mannie Fresh as a collaborator. “I said, ‘I’m gonna be me and be country,'” says Davidson. “Instead of a country record with a rapper on it, we did a hip-hop record with me singing country in a feature. [Mannie] flew in and it was one of the most rewarding, entertaining, creative things I’ve ever done. Mannie is so chill. His beats he plays…words were just flying out of my mouth. Melodies I’ve never used before. Words I’d never said before. He was just so chill to write it. He’s a pro. I hope people like it, I know we are proud of it.”

Mannie Fresh and Big Boi will join Rose and Georgia native Davidson onstage to perform the song live as part of the upcoming third annual Georgia On My Mind Concert, slated for May 10 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Davidson shared a snippet of the track on social media via a tweet earlier today:

Excited to share #LaidBack feat. the talented @BigBoi @IAmMaggieRose & @manniefresh: https://t.co/D3BsELyZ82 pic.twitter.com/aFhMYTj6Mx

LifeNotes: Guitarist Lonnie Mack Dies At 74

/by

71lfCs9xhlL._SL1064_

Guitar icon and longtime Nashville-area resident Lonnie Mack passed away on Thursday, April 21, in Smithville, Tennessee. He was 74 years old.

He was initially a rockabilly instrumentalist with such 1963 hits as “Memphis” and “Wham!” Later in his career, he was also widely respected as a blue-eyed soul singer.

Born Lonnie McIntosh in 1941, he came of age in rural Indiana. He listened to both the Grand Ole Opry and R&B radio as a boy and began playing guitar at age 7. His family formed a bluegrass band.

Mack dropped out of school at age 13, obtained a fake I.D. and started playing in the roadhouses of Cincinnati, Ohio. His first records were country performances on small local labels. Mack’s early hits were on the Cincinnati label Fraternity Records.

He also recorded as a session musician. Mack’s distinctive guitar sound achieved its twang from him hitting the whammy bar of his Gibson Flying V. He influenced virtually every rock guitarist who followed him — Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Mike Bloomfield among many others.

513iZnwayoL._SS280His emotional singing combined elements of both country and soul music. In 1968, he signed with Elektra Records in Los Angeles. His albums for the label mixed blues, country and rock elements. He also continued to work as a studio sideman, notably on The Doors LP Morrison Hotel.

Mack was hired by Elektra in A&R. But he became frustrated with corporate life and resigned. He moved to rural Kentucky.

In the 1970s, he leaned more toward country sounds. His 1971 LP The Hills of Indiana was a particular highlight. He relocated to Texas and reemerged in the 1980s as a blues-rock artist. He began collaborating with Stevie Ray Vaughan, who produced the Lonnie Mack comeback LP Strike Like Lightning on Alligator Records.

In 1988 Lonnie Mack landed at Epic Records, for whom he recorded the rockabilly album Roadhouses and Dance Halls. He guested on Saturday Night Live in 1989.

He retired to Middle Tennessee in the 1990s, but occasionally toured Europe and performed at benefit concerts and special events in the U.S.

Lonnie Mack died of natural causes at Centennial Medical Center in Smithville. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Artist Updates: Reba, Maren Morris, Frankie Ballard, Rory Feek

/by

Reba To Appear On ‘The Talk’ April 27

Reba. Photo: Justin McIntosh

Reba. Photo: Justin McIntosh

Reba will appear on The Talk Wednesday, April 27 to chat about her 40-year career that spans across music, television, film, theater and retail, including flourishing lifestyle brand with Dillard’s and product from the Reba Beauty line. The show, which airs on CBS at 2 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. PT/CT, is hosted by Sharon Osbourne, Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Aisha Tyler and Sheryl Underwood.

 

Frankie Ballard’s El Rio Album Streaming On Apple Music

unnamed-1Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville’s Frankie Ballard, in a first-of-its-kind partnership with Apple Music, is streaming his new album El Rio today in its entirety for a full 24 hours on Apple Music Connect. The album is also available for pre-order beginning today and is set to release everywhere on June 10.

A six-minute YouTube documentary, entitled Journey To Sonic Ranch: The Making Of El Rio, chronicles the record-making process in Texas where Ballard, his bandmates and his producer Marshall Altman immersed themselves in creating this album 24/7.

 

Maren Morris To Make Television Debut

Maren-Morris_Hero_CoverMaren Morris will make her television debut on Monday, April 25 on Good Morning America with a performance of her hit song, “My Church.”

The single is the lead track from her upcoming album, Hero, which releases on Columbia Nashville June 3.

Morris’ first single for country radio, “My Church,” set the record for the most chart reporting stations of a debut artist’s first single on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with 107 stations spinning the song.

Morris will hit the road this summer on Keith Urban’s RipCORD World Tour 2016 beginning June 2 in Kansas City, Kansas.

 

Nashville Film Festival Announces Prizes In Feature Filmmaking

Screen Shot 2016-04-22 at 9.45.10 AM

The Nashville Film Festival announced the prizes in feature filmmaking at the 2016 Nashville Film Festival, with one of the top awards going to Josephine, directed by Rory Feek.

For presenting a concise, powerful portrayal of a woman in her last-ditch efforts to find her husband in the bleak final days of war, featuring incredible performances and production values, the Tennessee First Grand Jury Prize was presented to Feek’s Josephine.

Additionally, Country Music Hall of Fame PR staffer Drew Maynard was honored with the First Place Tennessee Horizon Audience Award for Best Short, for his work The Saurus.

Carnival Music/Thirty Tigers To Release Derik Hultquist Project ‘Southern Iron’

/by

Southern Iron Derik Hultquist

Singer/songwriter Derik Hultquist will release his full-length debut Southern Iron June 17 through Carnival Music/Thirty Tigers.

The album’s title Southern Iron comes from a gym his father, Chip Hultquist, owned in Tallahassee, Florida.

“It represents the triumph of wills that have given me strength in the face of life’s unanswerable questions,” Derik says. “My father, who’s had not one, but two types of cancer at the same time, is in treatment now,” says Hultquist. “Southern Iron seemed an appropriate title for a man who is most assuredly the strongest person I have ever known. This album is dedicated to him, my grandmother, my family and those fighting the good fight with the greatest appreciation and endless love.”

Frank Liddell (Brandi Carlile, Miranda Lambert, Aubrie Sellers) and Eric Masse (Mikky Ekko, Rayland Baxter, Robert Ellis) produced the album at Masse’s Casino Studio in East Nashville.

“Frank and Eric were great to work with. Recording was a blast because we did a lot of interesting things in the studio. We used dynamic and old ribbon mics on the entire record. We recorded my vocals through Telefunken U47 and Shure SM7s for that ‘I’m whispering in your ear’ effect,” said Hultquist.

“We chose Luke Reynolds for guitars because he’s open to trying different sounds and naturally thinks beyond chords and solos,” said Masse. “Jordan Lehning brought it all together with his string arrangements.”

“When we met Derik three years ago, we knew he was someone special,” said Liddell. “He’s a prolific writer. He solely wrote all but one song for this album, and each of the songs on his prior EPs.”

His last EP, Mockingbirds Mouth, led to a booking deal with Paradigm and opening slots for Sturgill Simpson at The Troubadour.

Southern Iron Track Listing:
1. Darkside of Town
2. Garden of Roses
3. 1983
4. Strangeness Of The Vine
5. Racing To A Red Light
6. My New Orleans
7. Falling Out Of Love
8. Back When I Was Young
9. Devil’s In The Details
10. Highline Poles
11. One Horse Town
12. American Highway

Bobby Bones Added To Musicians On Call Board Of Directors

/by
Bobby Bones Musicians On Call

Pictured (L-R): Tom Poleman, Lindsay Ell and Bobby Bones visit with a patient as part of Musicians On Call.

On-air personality Bobby Bones has been added to the Board of Directors for Musicians On Call, a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.

Bones, who is host of iHeartMedia’s The Bobby Bones Show and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, reaches 4.8 million weekly listeners on more than 100 stations nationwide.

“The work that Musicians On Call does is amazing and I’m such a big supporter of theirs,” said Bones. “I’m thankful that I’m able to play a bigger part in a truly great organization like this and help continue to bring music to those who need it most.”

“I’m so excited to have Bobby join Musicians On Call’s Board of Directors,” said Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President. “If you listen to his show or spend any time with Bobby, it’s easy to see how sincere and passionate he is about helping others. We look forward to working with him to bring the healing power of music to even more patients nationwide.”

As a Musicians On Call Volunteer Musician, Bones played at the bedsides of patients at the Nashville VA and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with the help of some of his friends like Lindsay Ell and Tom Poleman, President of iHeartMedia’s National Programming Group and Musicians On Call Board Member. Bones released his The Critics Give It 5 Stars comedy/country album with Black River Entertainment, with portions of the proceeds donated for charity. His live shows have raised over $2 million for charity.

Bones’ most recent “Pimpin Joy” merchandise campaign raised $20,000 for Musicians On Call and he continues to raise funds for MOC through his current “Bobby For President” campaign.