Photos: Chris Hollo

MCA Records Nashville’s Vince Gill celebrated his milestone 25th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with two memorable shows ‪Saturday night (Aug. 13) at the Grand Ole Opry House. Gill was inducted as an Opry member on August 10, 1991.

 

Gill shared the stage, collaborating with family and close friends including Amy Grant, Rodney Crowell, Patty Loveless, The Time Jumpers, Ashley Monroe, Andrea Zonn, Bill Anderson, Jenny Gill, Paul Franklin, and Charlie Worsham. Grant and Crowell even joined the Opry Square Dancers.

 

After opening the night with his classic hit “One More Last Chance,” an emotional Gill welcomed everyone saying, “This evening is filled with people I hold more than dear. They have made my entire life.” 

The first show ran almost an hour over its two-hour allotted time. “Sorry we made you late,” Gill said to a packed audience at the top of the night’s second show. “We were having a blast in here.”

Daughter Jenny Gill reminisced of the time she was in first grade and her dad finally got the call he had been waiting for– the Grand Ole Opry inviting him to make his debut. However, he had to decline the long-awaited opportunity, saying he was already booked. He had promised Jenny he would accompany her on guitar on “You Are My Sunshine” for her school’s talent show. She remarked, “It’s a great thing they called him back, don’t you think?”

“It’s always been an honor to sing with Vince Gill,” said longtime friend Patty Loveless said before the two performed Gill’s iconic classics: “When I Call Your Name” and “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”

 

 

 

“Vince has truly become family to all of us at the Opry,” said Pete Fisher, VP/GM, Opry. “Like Mr. Acuff before him, his dressing room door is always open, and he’s often ready to pick one backstage and catch up with friends in the wings as well as to collaborate with them musically on the Opry stage.

“It is obvious in watching clips from Vince’s Opry induction 25 years ago that Opry patriarch Roy Acuff was a big Vince Gill fan and that he was hoping Vince would help carry on the magic of the Opry for future generations,” Fisher continued. “Though Roy died the next year, there is no doubt he would be proud tonight of all that Vince has accomplished and everything he has meant to Mr. Roy’s beloved show.”

 

 

 

In addition to collaborations, Gill performed the title track of his current album, Down To My Last Habit. Gill is also a member of The Time Jumpers, which will release their third album, Kid Sister, on Sept. 9. The ensemble joined him on performances of “Corinne, Corinna” and “Faint of Heart,” featuring a singer in Gill’s touring band, Wendy Moten.

 

 

 

Business managers and longtime colleagues Dwight Wiles and Rob Taylor have announced a new name for their firm: Wiles + Taylor & Co., LLC. The accounting offices were formerly known as Smith, Wiles & Co., a name that was kept for eight years out of respect for Gary Smith, a company founder who was killed in a hunting accident in 2008.

Taylor, who has worked for the firm for 20 years, has been promoted to Vice President and Partner. Over those same 20 years, the company has gradually grown from a small office on Music Row into a newly-expanded building in the Gulch. The inviting space is decorated with concert posters, autographed memorabilia, and original artwork from friends and loved ones. A comical painting of Wiles hangs in the employee kitchen, a clear display of reverence and irreverence.

Wiles, a former band manager and tour manager, changed career paths in the early 1990s, earning a Master’s degree and becoming a Certified Public Accountant. After a few years of having his own firm, he joined with Smith in 1995 to form Smith Wiles & Co. Leading up to the next phase of the business, Wiles and Taylor chatted with MusicRow about their philosophy of success.

MusicRow: What were the conversations leading up to the name change?

Wiles: You mean over the past 20 years? (both laugh) This is something that has been developing for a long time. Rob has been invaluable to me and to the firm even before Gary’s death, but certainly after Gary’s death. We wanted to honor Gary but Rob has definitely earned his name on the building, so to speak. I hope he agrees with me but I think I’ve treated him as a partner for a long time. And it was time to make it official.

I know a lot of our readers will remember Gary. For those who didn’t know him, how would you describe his personality?

Taylor: He was really low-key. He didn’t get overly excited, no matter what was going on. From the tax side of things, he was definitely my mentor. But he cut up all the time, which is similar to us. We’re serious when we need to be, but we cut up a lot and we try to have fun here, and that’s what we want everyone else to be doing. He had the old cliché that he told me many times: “I just want to work hard and play harder.” He was a very steady, calming person. That’s how I always remember him.

That demeanor must attract clients, to see someone in the music business who is calm and collected.

Taylor: I think we both go after that same thing. We get people who get irate over what we might consider little things, but it’s very personal. We don’t take that for granted. But it’s nice for them. I get that a lot too: “You have such a calming sense about you and I am freaked out about the I.R.S.” So I help them through it and let them know we’re going to take care of it, and make that happen.

Are the roles changing along the name change? Or is it the same dynamic?

Wiles: I think it’s the same.

Taylor: As Dwight said, I’ve been treated like a partner for a long time. I think we complement each other well with our strengths and weaknesses. I’m not taking on any new, additional stuff. I already did. I think it’s more of a “making it official” kind of situation.

Wiles: You sure about that? (laughs)

Taylor: I guess Monday I’ll find out. (all laugh) I might see a to-do list!

One advantage you have at this company is perspective, and seeing what’s happened in Nashville over the last 20 years. How is that beneficial to you as a company?

Wiles: Well, my perspective is related solely to the music industry, so I can only comment on the music/entertainment industry. I’ve always enjoyed the community of Nashville and the music community. It’s hard to break into, but once you get in that club, it’s nice. From my perspective, Nashville is a fantastic place to live and raise a family. Hopefully it will stay like that. Who knows?

But the music industry, sure, it’s changed, but Nashville’s always been an artist-development town. I felt when I moved here that publishing companies really had a lot more to do with running this town, musically, than in L.A. or New York for example. I still think that’s true. It’s neat that hasn’t changed over all those years.

And the fact that Sony moved their publishing administration down here, and I hear rumors about other companies doing the same thing. That just says to me that we have a good music talent pool down here, probably because of Belmont and MTSU and there’s a lot of talented, inexpensive labor here, much more than you’re going to find in New York or Los Angeles.

From my standpoint, I think the industry has shrunk a little bit, with record companies and that sort of thing, but on the other hand, we’ve grown. Me, I’m optimistic about the music business. I think we’re going to figure out the digital streams and I think we’re going to figure out how the money flows to the artists and creators. We’ll figure out how to get them compensated fairly.

Is there a guiding principle that you’ve been using this whole time that you’re still using today?

Wiles: I think so. One of my mantras to the staff is “Do the right thing.” I mean, if you do the right thing, it should be OK. That’s about as simple as I can put it.

Taylor: We all have a passion and reward of helping somebody at the end of the day. If you’re always doing the right thing, and you’re able to help somebody, how do you go wrong?

Wiles: I think that’s a very key component to what we do. One of the rewards of our business is being able to help people. I mean, some of them have dreams of making a bunch of money and retiring early. Not many. And some of them just want to buy everything they can get their hands on. (laughs)

Taylor: And either way, we’re helping them! (all laugh)

Wiles: We try to lay down in front of the bus, and most of the time we get run over. (laughs) But I think our philosophy is that if you do the right thing, it’s going to be OK.

Photos: Jason Myers Photo

YEP (Young Entertainment Professionals) held a quarterly Rewind gathering at The Basement East on Wednesday (Aug. 10). YEP Rewind: Millennium Night, sponsored by BMI, featured performances from Maddie & Tae, Chuck Wicks, Brandon Lay, Kree Harrison and many more. The sold out fundraiser raised over $2,500 to benefit Musicians on Call.

The next Rewind show will take place on Nov. 8. Additional events in the coming weeks include a free show with Joey Hyde, Mary Sarah and Chris Bandi at Exit In on Tuesday (Aug. 16). A group outing to the Sounds Game will take place Sept. 1.

YEP Rewind: Millennium Night Full Set List

Aaron Eshuis, “California”
Jillian Jacqueline, “Crazy”
Kree Harrison, “What A Girl Wants”
CJ Solar, “All My Life”
Ryan Kinder, “Smooth”
Brandon Lay,”Burn”
Nickolas Wayne, “Cry Me A River”
R.Lum.R., “Let Me Love You”
Ruston Kelly , “Mr. Brightside”
Maggie Chapman, “Toxic”
Chuck Wicks, “Back At One”
Leigh Nash, “Kiss Me”
Maddie & Tae, “If I Ain’t Got You”
Jackie Lee, “Oops I Did It Again”
J. Human, “Ignition”

Carrie Underwood and fellow songwriters Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell celebrated the No. 1 hits “Heartbeat” and “Church Bells” with a party at The Bell Tower on Thursday (Aug. 11). James, Lindsey, and Crowell co-wrote the single “Church Bells,” while Underwood, Gorley and Crowell co-wrote “Heartbeat,” with Crowell also serving as producer on the song.

“Thank you guys so much for being here,” said Underwood. “God is good and I’m so incredibly blessed throughout my life and career but mainly because I get to work with the best. That is a blessing beyond blessings. That goes for the people I write with and record with.”

She thanked manager Ann Edelblute, the Sony label staff and everyone that supports the artist, songwriters and songs.

BMI’s Jody Williams, ASCAP’s John Titta and Michael Martin, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery, Underwood’s “Church Bells” producer Mark Bright, CMA’s Brandi Simms, and CRB’s Bill Mayne also offered words of praise for “Church Bells” and “Heartbeat.”

Birthday girl Hillary Lindsey was feted not only with praise for co-writing “Church Bells,” but with a cake honoring her special day. Attendees also dined on cupcakes specially made with toppings shaped like hearts and bells from Nashville bakery IveyCake.

“I turned 40 today,” said Lindsey. “If anyone had asked me when I was little what I would be doing on my 40th birthday, I never would have imagined that I would be onstage with some of my dearest friends and singing songs with friends I’ve made over the past 20 years, with a freakin’ superstar that I was just downstairs in hair and makeup and she’s giving me tips on eyelashes and preschools. I never would have imagined I would be here with this audience celebrating. I’m super thankful for all of this and for all of your friendships.”

“Everyone who knows me knows that my favorite thing about this business is not the music that we make, but the friends that we make,” said James, “and I’m on a stage with dear friends here tonight. I’m honored to be part of this.”

Avenue Bank made donations on behalf of each songwriter to Underwood’s C.A.T.S. Foundation, which was established in 2009 to improve Underwood’s Checotah, Oklahoma, hometown by assisting with causes and providing services to the community.

Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman reminded the audience of Underwood’s accomplishments leading into the CMA Awards voting season.

“There is an opportune time for everything under the sun,” said Goodman. “At a time when some compare our cherished women to a salad brunch, we all know Carrie has never been anything but the main course.”

Underwood has indeed been busy in the past year. In addition to earning chart-topping hits from her latest album, Storyteller, she has also been on the road since January, entertaining crowds on her The Storyteller Tour: Stories In The Round, which runs through November.

Underwood released her fourth installment of the Sunday Night Football theme song, collaboratively rewriting the lyrics to “Somethin’ Bad” to fit the sports theme. She has played the UK four times, including headlining at C2C and most notably as the first country headliner for the Apple Music Festival in London. She will head to Australia in December with a string of tour dates with Keith Urban. Before that, she will co-host the 50th annual CMA Awards with Brad Paisley.

“She is not only a consummate artist but also an ambassador for our format,” Goodman said. “Indefatigable is the only way I can describe Carrie’s work ethic. A wise man did say there is a time for everything and when you ponder all that Carrie Underwood is and what she means to our genre, I think you all will agree that her time is now. Her time is now.”

The evening ended appropriately in song, with Underwood, James (who owns The Bell Tower) and Lindsey trading lines and harmonies on “Heartbeat,” “Church Bells,” and Underwood’s 2005 debut single, “Jesus Take the Wheel.”

The hit stories from Storyteller will keep coming, as Underwood ended the evening by introducing her upcoming fourth single from the album, “Dirty Laundry.”