Industry Ink: Texas Songwriter U, Carolina Blue, Koryn Hawthorne

Mignon Is Texas Songwriter U’s Winning Writer

Pictured (L-R): Texas Songwriter U mentor Jessie Jo Dillon; winner Mignon; host Jack Ingram; mentor Jon Randall. Photo: Ted Parker, Jr.

Nashville songwriter Mignon has been named the Texas Songwriter U’s 2019 songwriting program winner. TxSU hosted its annual songwriter discovery and development program Dec. 11-13 at Hotel Ella in Austin. Eight selected songwriters showcased performances at both Yeti Flagship and The Saxon Pub and received extensive song feedback, access to industry professionals, a one-year membership to Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and professional performance and workshop photography.

Mignon was awarded a co-write with host Jack Ingram, an opening for Ingram at a landmark Texas venue, a performance at the 2020 Mack, Jack & McConaughey After-Party, a recording studio demo session at Austin’s famed Arlyn Studios, an Epiphone Masterbilt Century Olympic acoustic-electric guitar, a three-night stay and two performances at the 2020 Key West Songwriters Festival, and a one-week Key West residency at The Smokin’ Tuna Saloon.

Carolina Blue Joins Billy Blue Records Roster

Pictured (L-R, seated): Ed Leonard (Billy Blue Records), Bobby Powell, Timmy Jones; (L-R, standing) Reese Combs, Jerry Salley (Billy Blue Records), Aynsley Porchak, James McDowell

North Carolina-based band Carolina Blue has signed with Nashville’s Billy Blue Records. Carolina Blue, comprised of Bobby Powell (guitar and vocals), Timmy Jones (mandolin and vocals), James McDowell (banjo and vocals), Reese Combs (upright bass and vocals) and Aynsley Porchak (fiddle, recipient of the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist Award), is recording new music for 2020.

“We are very excited and honored to be given the chance to work with them,” said Jerry Salley, Creative and A&R Director of Billy Blue. “They are a wonderful fit for Billy Blue Records and we look forward to partnering with them to help them grow their unique brand of bluegrass music.”

Koryn Hawthorne Celebrates Her Golden Moment

Koryn Hawthorne received a Gold plaque commemorating her No. 1 smash “Won’t He Do It” by her label, RCA Inspiration. The chart-dominating single placed No. 2 on Billboard’s Decade-End Hot Gospel Songs chart, and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart for 41 weeks, the Gospel Airplay chart for 19 weeks, and the Gospel Digital Songs Sales chart for 22 weeks. Hawthorne set a new record with “Won’t He Do It” earlier in 2019, becoming the female Gospel artist with the longest reign at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart upon the song’s 26th week in the top spot. RCAI presented Hawthorne with the Gold plaque at their office in Franklin, Tenn..