CMA Touring Awards To Honor Tony Conway, Jon Pardi Named As Host

Pictured: Tony Conway, Jon Pardi

The Country Music Association will honor Conway Entertainment Group/Ontourage Management founder and owner Tony Conway with the 2019 CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award during the upcoming CMA Touring Awards, set for Jan. 21, 2020 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. The CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award goes to an individual who has accomplished the highest level in the country music field of touring.

Jon Pardi, who recently released his third album Heartache Medication, has been named as host for the event.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this award from the CMA,” Conway shared. “I have to give credit to all of the artists that have allowed me to represent them and to all the agents, managers, promoters and staff I have worked with the last 44 years. They are the reason for any success I may have achieved. It takes a team and I have worked with THE BEST.”

Conway, who currently manages Alabama, Lorrie Morgan and Randy Travis, is widely recognized as a leader in live event production. He coordinated the very first Farm Aid show in 1985, working closely with many installations of the event since. Conway was also Executive Producer for the annual CMA Music Festival (formerly Fan Fair and now CMA Fest) for 11 years and was instrumental in moving the festival from the old Nashville Fairgrounds to its current downtown Nashville location. Conway opened his first talent agency in Lexington, Kentucky after graduating college. In 1974, he moved to Nashville, soon after meeting talent agent Buddy Lee and joining Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc.

Conway was named President of Buddy Lee Attractions in 1987 and eventually became CEO and co-owner of the company in 1998. During his tenure, Conway represented artists including Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, The Highwaymen (comprised of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings), Bill Monroe, the Dixie Chicks, Roy Orbison, George Strait, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Ronnie Milsap and Emmylou Harris, among others. In 2010, Conway took his 35 years of experience and industry contacts and struck out on his own, forming Conway Entertainment Group/Ontourage Management. With this new venture, Conway draws upon his past as he embraces a future that fully utilizes his strengths in artist touring, personal management and live event production.