The Bluebird Cafe & NSAI Announce Partnership With Bob Kingsley Estate

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Pictured (L-R): Bart Herbison (Executive Director, NSAI), Victoria Shaw (Songwriter), Rhett Akins (Songwriter), Nan Kingsley, Craig Wiseman (Songwriter), Erika Wollam Nichols (General Manager, The Bluebird Cafe), John Zarling (President, 615 Leverage + Strategy) and Ken Halford.

The Bluebird Cafe and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) are partnering with the estate of the late radio icon Bob Kingsley to fund the preservation and distribution of historic songwriter performances.

Kingsley’s estate, under the stewardship of his wife Nan Kingsley, recently announced the partnership with songwriters Rhett Akins, Victoria Shaw and Craig Wiseman at “Live from the Bluebird: A Celebration of Bob Kingsley.”

A financial donation will help underwrite the digitization of some historic Bluebird Cafe shows that were recorded over the years in a variety of mediums. Additionally, video interviews with songwriters featured during The Bluebird Cafe’s 40th anniversary season in 2022 will also be part of the partnership.

Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas, (Kingsley’s home,) also announced earlier this week that they will partner with The Bluebird Cafe through a Kingsley Estate endowment to have their students involved in the digitization of the historic shows.

“The goal is to begin airing some of the iconic shows when The Bluebird Cafe’s celebrates its 40th birthday next June,” says General Manager Erika Wollam-Nichols.

NSAI also recently launched a Top 40 song page at nashvillesongwriters.com in honor of Kingsley.

“Each quarter NSAI is posting a playlist of the best 40 songs from our non-professional members, songs that come through our programs and services from songwriters around the world. We just launched our second such playlist and this has been very popular among our members.  It is a great way to honor Bob’s legacy and a method to recognize and inspire a new generation of professional songwriters,” says NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison.

“Bob loved and supported the Nashville songwriter community,” adds Nan Kingsley.  “From his early experiences with Hank Cochran and John Hartford to establishing Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley at the annual County Radio Seminar (CRS), Bob’s had a passionate appreciation for songwriters. He supported them on the air too, by using his platform to recognize and promote the individuals behind the songs. It is only fitting that I continue to honor his legacy with these partnerships.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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