LifeNotes: Multi-Talented Guitarist Billy Joe Walker Jr. Passes

Billy Walker Jr.

The Nashville music community lost one of its most gifted and diverse contributors with the death of Billy Joe Walker Jr. this week.

Walker was one of the most prolific session musicians in Music City. He was a hit songwriter. He was an acclaimed recording artist. He produced records for more than a dozen stars.

Among the artists whose recordings he guided are Travis Tritt, Collin Raye, Mark Chesnutt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tracy Byrd and Pam Tillis.

He discovered, as well as produced, Bryan White.

More than 100 of Walker’s songs have been recorded, including such major hits as “I Wanna Dance With You” (1984) and “B-B- B Burning Up With Love” (1986), both sung and co-written by Eddie Rabbitt. Others who have recorded Billy Joe Walker Jr.’s songs include Trisha Yearwood, Jerrod Niemann, Van Zandt, Tanya Tucker, Billy Currington, Chet Atkins and John Anderson.

It would be easier to cite Nashville artists he has not backed in the studio, rather than the voluminous list of those he has.

Just a sampling of the stars he has accompanied on records includes Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, The Dixie Chicks, Tom Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Bryan Adams, George Jones and Randy Travis.

Billy Joe Walker Jr. also achieved notoriety via a series of major-label, star-guitar records in a smooth-jazz style that was sometimes described as “new age.”

He was a native of Midland, Texas, who became a self-taught guitarist at age 6. A local radio station gave him his own 30-minute program, “The Little Billy Walker Show,” when he was 9. As a teenager, he worked regularly in Texas nightclubs.
When he was 17, he moved to Los Angeles to seek his fortune.

Within two years, he was playing sessions. In addition to backing stars such as Glen Campbell and The Beach Boys, he played for TV soundtracks, commercial jingles and film scores, including movies starring Clint Eastwood, Anthony Quinn and Burt Reynolds.

Producer Jimmy Bowen first brought him to Nashville in 1980. Walker was soon backing Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Gilley, Steve Wariner, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and dozens more. After several years of commuting, he moved to Music City in 1985.

Billy Joe Walker Jr.’s solo recording career began in 1987. Signed to MCA Records, he issued Treehouse, so named because he recorded it in his home studio of that name. Painting Music and Universal Language followed as solo LPs in 1989 and 1990, respectively.

Walker next signed as a pop instrumentalist with Geffen Records in L.A. His solo CDs The Walk (1992) and Untitled (1993) ensued. Several of his albums during this period became jazz-chart successes and earned rave reviews.

His next two albums were recorded for Bowen’s Liberty Records imprint in Nashville. These were 1993’s Warm Front and 1994’s Life Is Good.

Walker brought Bryan White to fame beginning in 1994. He produced White’s breakthrough hits “Someone Else’s Star,” “Rebecca Lynn,” “I’m Not Supposed to Love You Anymore,” “So Much for Pretending” and “Sittin’ on Go.”

His solo instrumental CDs continued with Children Play in 1996 and Defeated Creek in 1997. As a session musician, he now backed Martina McBride, Rodney Crowell, George Strait and others.

He also continued producing records. “All the Good Ones Are Gone,” which he produced for Pam Tillis, earned a CMA Single of the Year nomination in 1997. Travis Tritt’s Down the Road I Go, produced by Walker in 2000, became a Platinum Record.

The Walker productions “Just Let Me Be in Love” and “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo” revived Tracy Byrd’s career in 2001-02. The CD The Other Side, which Walker produced for Billy Ray Cyrus, was nominated for a 2003 Dove Award by the gospel industry.

Byrd’s CD The Truth About Men, which Walker produced, earned an ACM nomination in 2003. Walker also worked with new artists such as Brad Martin, Drew Smith and Shelley Skidmore.

In 2009, Billy Joe Walker Jr. launched a new website. He signed a new personal management contract with The Consortium in 2011.

But he had been in declining health in recent years. Billy Joe Walker Jr. passed away at age 64 in Kerrville, Texas on Tuesday (July 25).

Walker is survived by son, Dr. Shane Walker, of Naples, Florida, and by daughter Katelyn Walker, of Nashville. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. A memorial service will be held in Nashville.

Artist Updates: Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, Kellie Pickler, Alisa Turner

Montgomery Gentry To Headline T.J. Martell Foundation’s Country On The Beach

Montgomery Gentry will headline the T.J. Martell Foundation’s 9th Annual Country on the Beach at the Reach Resort in Key West, Florida. The event runs from Oct. 1-4, 2017. Hosted by Storme Warren, the event will include concerts by some of country music’s most popular artists, daily events and parties, all for the benefit of raising funds for cancer research. For tickets, visit countryonthebeach.com.

 

Phil Vassar, Kellie Pickler Team For Christmas Tour

Phil Vassar and Kellie Pickler are teaming up this season for a special Christmas tour around the country launching Nov. 24. In honor of the tour, Pickler and Vassar are releasing a new Christmas single this holiday season called “The Naughty List,” written by Vassar and Juliana Songs and co-produced by Vassar and long-time friend Dane Bryan, who also co-produced Vassar’s first Christmas album, Noel. Tickets for A Christmas Tour go on sale Friday, July 28.

 

Integrity Music To Release Debut Album From Alisa Turner


Nashville-based artist Alisa Turner’s self-titled debut is set for release from Integrity Music on Aug. 25 with the pre-sale beginning Aug. 4. Produced by Grammy-nominated Michael Farren, Alisa Turner weaves her very personal story of grief and suffering with hope and redemption. The project includes “My Prayer For You,” the project’s first radio single, which was penned by Farren.

 

Darius Rucker To Release Fifth Studio Country Album ‘When Was The Last Time’

Darius Rucker will release his fifth studio country project, When Was The Last Time, on Friday, Oct. 20, via Capitol Records Nashville.

Rucker released the album’s second single, “For The First Time,” to country radio yesterday (July 24). It follows Rucker’s recent chart-topper “If I Told You,” which marks his eighth No. 1 country song since he debuted in 2008. “For The First Time” was penned with Derek George and Travis Hill.

The singer-songwriter, who worked with producer Frank Rogers on previous albums, made a shift for the new project by bringing in producer Ross Copperman for the new album.

“On top of being a genius with the equipment, Ross is so high-energy and funny; that kid is never not laughing,” Rucker said via a release. “Every time we were in the studio we had a great band who had great ideas of their own, so it was the farthest thing from tedious, but just, let’s get in and do it. I think for the whole record we spent just three days tracking music.”

Chris Tomlin Welcomes All-Star Lineup For Second Red Rocks Show

Chris Tomlin has added a second concert at the popular Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, as a special “Chris Tomlin & Friends” event on Sept. 5. The event will feature opening act Ellie Holcomb, as well as sit-in guests including Steven Curtis Chapman, Mac Powell (Third Day), Brandon Heath, and Pat Barrett.

The show will precede the already scheduled “Chris Tomlin: Worship at Red Rocks” event that will take place on Sept. 6.

“Two nights at Red Rocks. Can you believe this? This is the best!” exclaimed Tomlin. “Being able to play back to back nights at one of the most beautiful venues in the world will be unforgettable. So wherever you’re from, join us. Get your tickets and come to Denver because it’s going to be a special night.”

Tickets for “Chris Tomlin & Friends” will go on sale July 28 at 10 a.m. MT.

 

LeAnn Rimes Plots Fifth Annual Today Is Christmas Tour

LeAnn Rimes will be back on the road this holiday season, launching her fifth annual Today Is Christmas Tour in December. The tour will include a stop at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 10, before wrapping in Aspen, Colorado on Dec. 20.

Each set will include a mix of songs from her three holiday albums, plus performances of hits such as “How Do I Live,” and songs from her latest album, Remnants (Sony Music/Thirty Tigers/RED).

“Hard to believe we are talking about Christmas in July, but I am excited to start preparing for the holiday season,” shares Rimes. “It is one of my favorite times of the year; there is something magical about it, and being able to share it with my fans makes it all the more special.”

Rimes has teamed with CID Entertainment to offer three levels of enhanced experiences as part of the Today Is Christmas 2017 Tour, including a premium ticket, access to a pre-show performance and Q&A with Rimes, as well as exclusive merchandise and the opportunity for a meet & greet. Enhanced experiences will be available for purchase starting July 26 at 10 a.m. local time at CID Entertainment’s official site.

Today Is Christmas 2017 Tour Dates

Dec. 2: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Parker Playhouse
Dec. 3: Sarasota, Fla.; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Dec. 4: Naples, Fla.; Artis-Naples
Dec. 8: The Villages, Fla.; Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center
Dec. 9: Oxford, Ala.; Oxford Performing Arts Center
Dec. 10: Nashville, Tenn.; Ryman Auditorium
Dec. 12: Fayetteville, Ark.; Walton Arts Center
Dec. 14: Lake Jackson, Texas; The Clarion at Brazosport College
Dec. 15: Tulsa, Okla.; Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort
Dec. 16: Emporia, Kan.; Emporia Granada Theatre
Dec. 18: Denver; Paramount Theatre – Denver
Dec. 19: Salt Lake City, Utah; Abravanel Hall
Dec. 20: Aspen, Colo; Belly Up Aspen

EmiSunshine To Release ‘Ragged Dreams’ In August

Teenage vocalist and songwriter EmiSunshine will release her fourth studio recording, Ragged Dreams, on Aug. 25. On the album, 13-year-old EmiSunshine tackles a range of topics from autism (“Ninety Miles”), to incarceration, deceit, and murder.

“I’m pretty sure that most folks expect me to write and sing about rainbows, butterflies and unicorns, but that’s just not me,” says EmiSunshine. “I like to write about things that are real and life just isn’t pretty sometimes…that’s just the way it is. I also get my song ideas from scary movies (I love scary movies!); I love the ‘shock factor;’ it’s just plain fun to see the ‘surprise’ on people’s faces!”

Produced by Sunshine and backed by her family-band, The Rain (father, Randall Hamilton-bass; brother, John Hamilton-mandolin; uncle, Bobby Hill-drums), the album spotlights cameo performances by notables Randy Kohrs (resonator guitar), Tim Crouch (mandolin/fiddle/guitar), Justin Moses (fiddle/guitar/dobro/banjo), Hitoshi Yamaguchi (cello), Ben Probus (fiddle) and others.

Digital Delivery Services will spearhead the global digital retail campaign.

EmiSunshine got her first taste of fame four years ago, when a homemade video of her performance went viral. She was the featured performer during MusicRow‘s 2015 Rising Women on the Row event in Nashville.

Ragged Dreams Track Listing

1. Ragged Dreams
2. Sinner’s Serenade
3. Strong Armed Robbery
4. Porter Wagoner Blues
5. Resting Place
6. Johnny, June & Jesus
7. Carry Me Home
8. Ninety Miles
9. Tennessee Killin’ Song
10. Little Blackbird
11. As the Waters Rise
12. Katie Belle
13. Shame, Shame, Shame
14. Stepping Stone
15. Danny Ray

Ashley McBryde, Jillian Jacqueline, Bailey Bryan Release New Videos

Ashley McBryde Debuts “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega” Video

Newcomer Ashley McBryde, who will join Eric Church and Brothers Osborne on tour dates this fall, has released the video for her single “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega.” The clip was produced by director and filmmaker Reid Long.

McBryde co-wrote “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega” with Nicolette Hayford and Jesse Rice. “We had all had a really bad day. Not ‘one of the worst days of my life,’ but I had one of those days where nothing was going right,” McBryde said via a release. “I got a crack in my windshield on my way to work, I got sick, and had broken a guitar string all within an hour and a half. On top of that my co-writer, Jesse, was late, but bless his heart, when he walked in we could tell he had had a night and a morning that was just as rough as ours. That’s how we got on the subject of having the worst day ever, and that’s when Jesse started talking about his car breaking down in Dahlonega, GA.”

McBryde recently made her Grand Ole Opry debut, performing “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” which she released last month due to demand. She has previously opened shows for Church, Chris Stapleton, and Willie Nelson.

 

Jillian Jacqueline Debuts”God Bless This Mess”

Big Loud Records newcomer Jillian Jacqueline has released a lyric video for her soul-baring new single, “God Bless This Mess.” The tune was co-written by Jacqueline with producer Tofer Brown and Lori McKenna, on the same piano Jacqueline took lessons on as a child. 

“‘God Bless This Mess’ is a really special song to me, and in terms of my perspective as an artist and my record, it played a huge role in me realizing that sometimes the song trumps ego,” shares Jacqueline. “It touches on that universal truth of ‘this too shall pass’ that I’ve never found a way to say quite so profoundly as I feel we have in this song.”

 

Bailey Bryan Teams With Entertainment Tonight For New Video

Photo Credit: Blythe Thomas

Bailey Bryan debuted the new video for “Scars” with Entertainment Tonight followed by the release of an exclusive interview today launching their new YouTube series Certified Country. The new autobiographical tune is one of five tracks on her debut EP SO FAR.

“I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 12, and then when I was 16, I had a corrective surgery,” Bailey told Entertainment Tonight. “I have a huge scar on my back, from my neck to mid back, but to me a scar represents more than just something physical. It’s something that’s impacted us, and I think that can be a positive thing.”

Florida Georgia Line To Flaunt Their New Backstreet Moves In ‘CMT Crossroads’ Special

Florida Georgia Line and the Backstreet Boys are the latest pairing to trade songs in an upcoming new CMT Crossroads special. The iconic pop group is currently joining the duo for select stadium dates on their The Smooth Tour 2017, and their single together, “God, Your Mama, And Me,” instantly became a smash hit, already reaching platinum status.

“Being such fans of each other, this is a really fun way for us to put our mark on our songs,” said BSB’s Brian Littrell. “It’s going to be a fun night with seven guys who really admire one another. I’m looking forward to what comes of it!”

“It’s been really cool to collaborate with BSB in so many different ways this year,” shares FGL’s Brian Kelley. “And to be able to take our friendship – and smooth new dance moves – up a notch with this full-blown concert together is going to be epic!”

“Getting us all under one roof in Nashville will be fire,” adds FGL’s Tyler Hubbard adds. “We can’t wait to jump in on each other’s songs and add our flavor to ones we grew up listening to!”

The special is set to premiere Aug. 30 on CMT.

Kelsea Ballerini Sets November Release Date For Sophomore Project

Kelsea Ballerini performs “Legends” live on GMA. Photo: ABC/Paula Lobo

Kelsea Ballerini has announced the release date of her sophomore project, Unapologetically, which will drop right before CMA week on Nov. 3. The leadoff track from the project, “Legends” is already skyrocketing up the charts, reaching the Top 15 on the iTunes all-genre charts within the first 12 hours of its release. The tune was co-written by Ballerini along with Hillary Lindsey and Forest Glen Whitehead, who also serves as producer alongside Jason Massey.

The album is the followup to the singer-songwriter’s debut CD The First Time, which yielded three consecutive platinum and gold No. 1 singles “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs” and “Peter Pan.” The project’s fourth single, “Yeah Boy,” rose to No. 3 on the charts and was certified gold.

She’ll perform on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon tonight at 10:35 p.m. CT on NBC.

Pictured (L-R): GMA Co-hosts Michael Strahan and Lara Spencer; Kelsea Ballerini; GMA Guests: Josh Avsec and Michelle Arendas; GMA Co-hosts Amy Robach and George Stephanopoulos. Photo: Paula Lobo/ABC

In Pictures: Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Brice Long

Miranda’s NASH Nights Chat

(L-R) NASH Director of Programming, John Shomby; NASH Nights Live’s Elaina Smith; Miranda Lambert; and NASH Nights Live’s Shawn Parr

Miranda Lambert stopped by NASH Nights Live recently and chatted about everything from her song “Tin Man” to her favorite summer activity with her friends and family, “boobs and tubes.”

 

Dierks Rides Back Into Faster Horses For Its Fifth

Photo by Marc Nader

Faster Horses Festival headliner Dierks Bentley returned to the festival last Friday night (July 21) with an unforgettable set to celebrate its fifth year anniversary, having played its inaugural year. The Brooklyn, Michigan, festival also featured performances by Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, and more.

 

Brice Long Hosts 12th Annual Back 2 Back Benefit

Brice Long and Friends’ 12th Annual Benefit Concert, held Saturday (July 22) at the James E. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, KY, raised $80,000 for Long’s Back 2 Back Foundation.  The crowd of over 1,000 attendees was treated to music from Long and his friends and hit Nashville songwriters Kent Blazy and Don Sampson. East Kentucky native Josh Martin joined Long on the stage as a special guest. Long formed The Back 2 Back Foundation in 2005 with the intent to give back to the community that has supported him so much throughout his career.