• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Nashville Gears Up For CMA Music Festival

June 7, 2017/by Bobby Karl

Tamara Saviano with Belmont University’s Dr. Don Cusic

Chapter 562

The CMA Music Festival doesn’t officially start until Thursday, but it has been already sputtering to life for several days.

The CMA, itself, tossed a pre-fest cocktail party last Friday afternoon (6/2). On Saturday, the International Country Music Conference concluded with a picnic co-hosted by participants Jewly Hight and Barry Mazor. Working that back yard were Rolling Stone Country’s Jon Freeman, ICMC award winners Tamara Saviano and  David Cantwell and NPR music queen Ann Powers, among others.

On Monday (6/5), CAA hosted its annual, star-sprinkled barbecue at its downtown offices. Devin Dawson, Seth Ennis and Cale Dodds clowned for Getty Images. Simultaneously, Florida Georgia Line cut the ribbon on its FGL House on 3rd Avenue South. It’s a four-story restaurant and entertainment destination with a rooftop bar.

The pre-fest event on Tuesday (6/6) was the annual Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) picnic held at Fannie Mae Dees Park (Hillsboro Village’s “Dragon” park, as it is popularly known). This event had the distinction of being the first of the week to feature live music.

FGL House Rooftop. Photo: John Shearer / Getty Images

The Martin Family Circus was the entertainment. This band certainly has a pedigree. Papa Paul Martin is an alumnus of Exile. Mama Jamie Martin is the daughter of Oak Ridge Boy Duane Allen and of Nora Lee Allen, who leads the Opry’s vocal backup group. Daughters Tallent, 9, and Texas, 11, alternate singing lead. Sons Kell, 15, and March, 18, provide vocal and instrumental support, as do their parents. All of them seem to have flawless ears for harmony singing.

The group’s exuberant, feel-good set included The Swan Silvertones black-gospel arrangement of “Mary Don’t You Weep.” In honor of attendee Fred Vail, who used to manage The Beach Boys, the group did harmony-soaked renditions of “In My Room” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” They closed with a lively, endearing take on “I Want You Back” by The Jackson Five. The group also sings country. Its fitting billing is “music that makes you smile.”

Smiling away were Zach Farnum, Ed Salamon, Jim Bruce, Bonnie Sugarman, Blake McDaniel, Dick Beacham, Rod & Jennifer Harris, Charlene Carter, Randy Perkins, Ray Shelide, Chaz Corzine, Tammy Johnson and Robert Williams. Grilling the weenies and flipping the burgers were the quipping comedy duo The Professor & The Bull. Other artists in attendance included the band Savannah Jack, singer Allison Hendrick and Channel 2 newsperson Stephanie Langston.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Bobby Karl
Bobby Karl
Bobby Karl
Latest posts by Bobby Karl (see all)
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Eric Church Exhibit Opens At Hall Of Fame - July 13, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Cidny Bullens Celebrates ‘TransElectric’ Book - June 7, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Grammy Chapter Hosts ‘Party Of The Year’ - June 2, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tamara-Saviano-Book-Award.jpg 855 570 Bobby Karl https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Bobby Karl2017-06-07 11:10:532017-06-07 11:10:53Bobby Karl Works The Room: Nashville Gears Up For CMA Music Festival
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • CMA Makes Expansive Changes To The CMA Touring Awards Honors September 26, 2023
  • Chris Stapleton Confirms 2024 U.K. & Ireland Arena Tour September 26, 2023
  • Make Wake Artists & WME Sign The Castellows September 26, 2023
  • Weekly Register: Zach Bryan Continues To Top The Country Charts September 26, 2023
  • Dean Dillon Honored With Tennessee Music Pathways Marker September 26, 2023
  • Joey Harris Promoted To VP Of Publishing At 50 Egg Music September 26, 2023
  • Big Machine Music Promotes Michelle Attardi To Sr. Dir., Publishing September 26, 2023
  • Craig Morgan Enlists Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, More For New EP September 26, 2023
  • FlyteVu Appoints First General Manager & Expands Leadership Team September 26, 2023
  • ONErpm & Huff Co. Unite For New Joint Venture September 26, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Adds 10 Stadium Shows To Extended ‘One Night At A Time Tour’ September 26, 2023
  • My Music Row Story: NSAI’s Bart Herbison September 26, 2023
  • Cody Johnson To Kick Off The New Year With ‘The Leather Tour’ September 25, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Hank Williams, WMN: On Deck, Ian Munsick, More September 25, 2023
  • Chris Stapleton Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart September 25, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top