George Strait Named Texas Musician Of The Year

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Photo Credit: Vanessa Gavalya

George Strait will be honored today (May 18) by the Texas State Legislature as they officially appoint him 2017’s State Musician of the Year at a ceremony in Austin, Texas. The general public nominates candidates for the honor, and recipients are selected from those nominees by the Texas Commission on the Arts through several committee processes.

“It’s a great honor for me to be selected as Texas State Musician of 2017 and join this very prestigious list of other honorees,” proclaimed Strait. “I’m a very proud Texan and love to sing the praises of our great state every chance I get. Thank you very, very much.”

Selections for the State Musician honor are made every two years. Other artists holding the renowned title include Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

Strait adds the accolade to his growing list of honors and achievements which include his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006, selling more than 70 million albums, having 33 albums go Platinum or multi-Platinum, earning more than 60 major entertainment industry awards and having 60 singles go No. 1 on the charts.

Last Bandoleros To Launch ‘Crooked Little Halo’ Summer Tour

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The Last Bandoleros are returning to the United States following a slate of Spring shows across Europe and South America alongside Sting for their own “Crooked Little Halo” Tour. The headlining trek will take their genre-bending sound across the country, with performances scheduled for Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and more. They’ll stop in Nashville for a show at the Basement on June 16 as part of the new tour.

The group released their self-titled debut EP, produced by Jerry Fuentes and written entirely by the foursome, in January and are currently working on a full-length album.

Last Bandoleros Crooked Little Halo Tour Dates:
June 15, 2017 – Atlanta, GA Vinyl
June 16, 2017 – Nashville, TN The Basement
June 17, 2017 – Chattanooga, TN Riverbend Festival
June 27, 2017 – Kansas City, MO Knuckleheads
June 28, 2017 – St. Louis, MO Off Broadway
June 29, 2017 – Chicago, IL SPACE
June 30, 2017 – Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
July 1, 2017 – Milwaukee, WI Summerfest
July 23, 2017 – Pittsburgh, PA Hartwood Acres Ampitheatre
July 28, 2017 – Denver, CO Denver Botanic Gardens
July 29, 2017 – Taos, NM Kit Carson Park
August 26, 2017 – Palmer, AK Alaska State Fair
August 31, 2017 – New York, NY Mercury Lounge
September 9, 2017 – Albuquerque, NM New Mexico state Fair

Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Adds New Tour Dates

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Willie Nelson and Blackbird Presents have added a second leg of concerts to the 2017 Outlaw Music Festival Tour, which includes a variety of performances from Willie Nelson & Family, Eric Church, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Blackberry Smoke, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, and Particle Kid, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. (Artists performing in various cities, please refer to the specific market lineups listed below for more information.)

The second leg of the outing includes an initial five dates, beginning in Holmdel, New Jersey, on Sept. 8, 2017 and ending on Sept. 17, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey, with additional dates and cites to be added. Additionally, each date will feature a range of festival attractions.

“We had such a blast launching and playing last year’s Outlaw Music Festival in Scranton, we had to take it out on the road,” says Nelson.

“After last year’s Outlaw Music Festival, we made it our mission to assemble an extraordinary lineup and bring this experience to music fans all over the country,” says Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents. “I’m looking forward to more unforgettable music moments and I’m honored to be working with these incredible musicians.”

New Outlaw Music Festival Tour dates and lineups:

Sept. 8: PNC BANK ARTS CENTER – HOLMDEL, NJ
Lineup: Willie Nelson & Family, Sheryl Crow, The Avett Brothers, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and Particle Kid

Sept. 9: NORTHWELL HEALTH AT JONES BEACH THEATER – JONES BEACH, NY
Lineup: Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Particle Kid

Sept. 10: HERSHEYPARK STADIUM – HERSHEY, PA
(artist lineup to be announced)

Sept. 15: BLOSSOM MUSIC CENTER – CLEVELAND, OH
Lineup: Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Blackberry Smoke, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Particle Kid

Sept. 17: BB&T PAVILION – CAMDEN, NJ
Lineup: Willie Nelson & Family, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Particle Kid, with additional artists to be announced

BMI Honors Tim James with Three Million-Air Awards

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Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts and Bradley Collins with BMI singer-songwriter Tim James and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen and Josh Tomlinson.

BMI singer-songwriter Tim James stopped by the company’s Nashville office to celebrate airplay milestones of three of his songs, including “Give It All We Got Tonight,” “Love Like Crazy” and “Holler Back,” which were all awarded BMI Million-Air certificates.

Fun fact: For the average song, a million spins is the equivalent of playing the song back-to-back for about six years.

BMI Writers, Artists Soak Up The Sun At Key West Songwriters Festival

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BMI’s Leslie Roberts gathers for a photo with songwriters Bob DiPiero, Jeffrey Steele and Al Anderson at Pier House Resort on Day 1 of the Key West Songwriters Festival on May 10, 2017. Photo: Erika Goldring

Key West experienced its Nashville migration as dozens of songwriters descended on the city last weekend to perform at the 22nd Annual Key West Songwriters Festival, held May 10-14. Among the writers/artists taking part in the sun-filled festivities were Michael Ray, Jeffrey Steele, Cam, Lee Thomas Miller, Maren Morris, and many more.

BMI’s Bradley Collins (R) presents Michael Ray a Million-Air Award at Cowboy Bills on Day 2 of the Key West Songwriters Festival on May 11, 2017, in Key West, FL. Photo: Erika Goldring

Maren Morris performs on the Duval Street stage on Day 4 of the Key West Songwriters Festival on May 13, 2017, in Key West, FL. Photo: Erika Goldring 

Old Dominion performs on the Duval Street stage on Day 4 of the Key West Songwriters Festival on May 13, 2017, in Key West, FL. Photo: Erika Goldring

BMI’s Leslie Roberts presents Lee Thomas Miller with a Million-Air award at the San Carlos Institute on Day 3 of the Key West Songwriters Festival on May 12, 2017, in Key West, FL. Photo: Erika Goldring

EmiSunshine Compiles Industry Team

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Seated (L-R): Charlie Ray (Music City Artists), EmiSunshine, Shelly Mullins (ProMO Image)
Standing: Stephanie Orr-Buttrey (Country Wired), Kat Atwood (Music City Media)

EmiSunshine, the 12-year-old from East Tennessee who became a viral phenomenon, has assembled her team to assist with the release of her upcoming album Ragged Dreams. She has signed with Steven Pritchard of Pro Tour Events for artist management. Pritchard will oversee and assist with day-to-day management including A&R, booking, PR and social media campaigns.

She has also signed with Music City Media and ProMO Image as national PR representatives, Charlie Ray with Music City Artists as her exclusive booking agent, Stephanie Orr of Country Wired to help elevate Emi’s digital footprint, and Ed Gertler of Digital Delivery Services to spearhead the global digital retail campaign.

“EmiSunshine is more than a young girl with a big voice and a unique style. She is an extremely gifted songwriter whose music reflects deep, meaningful messages well beyond her own life experiences,” said Pritchard. “She is a blossoming talent who is confident in who she is and I am confident in the talents of this group of industry professionals to see Emi achieve her dream to become a career recording artist.”

In Pictures: SESAC Celebrates in Key West

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Pictured (L-R): SESAC songwriters Steve Bogard and Justin Wilson, VP of Creative Services Shannan Hatch, and Rob Hatch. Photo: Courtesy SESAC

SESAC held its annual Brunch & In-the-Round at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar & Grill in the historic seaport of Key West at this year’s 22nd annual Key West Songwriters Festival.

SESAC affiliates Matt Alderman, Steve Bogard, Nora Collins, Jim Femino, Tiffany Goss, Rob Hatch, Adam Searan, Brian White, Karyn Williams and Justin Wilson were among the talented artists who performed at the brunch and throughout the five-day festival.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, Storme Warren, and Shannan Hatch. Photo: Courtesy SESAC

 

Pictured (L-R): SESAC songwriter Brian White, Shannan Hatch, songwriter Karyn Williams, and SESAC Creative Services Manager Cristina Wheeler. Photo: Courtesy SESAC

Warner Music Nashville Signs Morgan Evans

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Morgan Evans with Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO, John Esposito

Warner Music Nashville has signed singer, songwriter and musician Morgan Evans.

Hailing from Newcastle, Australia, Evans recalls an early interest in music when he started playing guitar at the age of 13. He spent his teenage years seeing the country through the windshield of an old van as he toured in a band with his brother.

Signed to Warner Music Australia since 2012, he now continues his relationship with the Warner Music family in Nashville. Managed by Fitzgerald Hartley out of Nashville and Rob Potts Entertainment Edge out of Australia, he is currently in the studio working on new music with songwriter/producer Chris DeStefano.

Evans is set to play the Grand Ole Opry stage this Friday, May 19, followed by a performance the following evening at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café. Evans is also engaged to Black River Entertainment singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini.

Alexandra Petkovski Inks With Unsecret Music

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Nashville-based Unsecret Music has signed artist/songwriter Alexandra Petkovski to their roster. Working under the artist name FJØRA, Petkovski’s debut pop single “Wild Animals” will release early this summer. 

Hailing from Toronto, Petkovski is a classically-trained pianist, an Istvan Electroacoustic Scholar and the former lead singer of the band the GiGi Sisters. As a recent Belmont University graduate with a Masters in Music Composition, Petkovski is now creating some of the industry’s most distinct forays into dance-infused pop music.

“Alexandra exemplifies everything Unsecret Music is about – artistry, imagination, and a desire to work at the highest level,” says Matt Bronleewe, Owner/Founder of Unsecret Music. “When I first met her, I was amazed at the array of talents she possesses. It’s going to take years before the depths of those abilities fully come to light.”

“I’m excited to join forces with Matt Bronleewe and become part of the Unsecret Music family,” Petkovski shares. “Music has been my whole life and I’m excited to continue my musical journey here in America. I’ve already met and worked with so many unbelievably talented and humble people who have helped shape the person I’ve become and the music I create.”

Unsecret Music also represents artists Wave & Rome, Meaning Machine and The Uncaged Sea. Bronleewe is a producer, songwriter, author and former member of CCM band Jars of Clay.

LifeNotes: Nashville Songwriter Joy Byers Passes

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Her official obituary in Gallatin listed her as Joyce Elene Johnston, but as Joy Byers or J. Byers, she was a prolific pop and country songwriter.

Byers died at age 82 on May 10.

Her copyrights include “What’s A Matter Baby,” a 1962 pop hit for Timi Yuro, as well as Brenda Lee’s 1964 pop single “When You Loved Me,” “Wishing It Was You” by Connie Francis in 1965 and the novelty “Ring Dang Doo’ by Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs in 1966.

Byers is perhaps best remembered as the writer of the Elvis Presley 1964 hit “It Hurts Me.” She went on to write or co-write 16 songs for Presley’s movies, including the charted “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me’ (1966) and “Let Yourself Go” (1968). Her country top-10 hits included “Gardenias in Her Hair” by Marty Robbins in 1967, “Here Comes Heaven” by Eddy Arnold in 1968 and “I Can’t Say Goodbye” by Marty Robbins in 1969.

Joy Byers is also credited on songs recorded by The Orlons, Arthur Alexander, Gene Vincent, Bill Haley & The Comets, Rick Nelson, Solomon Burke, Steve Alaimo, Hank Locklin, Nancy Sinatra, The 5 Royales, Del Shannon, Betty Everett, Joe Henderson, Anita Bryant, Jimmy Church, Joe Hinton, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Lee Lewis and Big Al Downing, among others.

She was the widow of Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash/Leonard Cohen record producer Bob Johnston (1932-2015).

Joy Byers is survived by son Kevin, three grandchildren and two nieces. According to The Tennessean, a private memorial for her will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be submitted at alexanderfh.info. (real name: Joyce Alene Byers Johnston).