BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 528

Jason Isbell, Kelsea Ballerini, Robert Randolph. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by Ed Rode/WireImage.com

The Nashville chapter of The Recording Academy stages many events throughout the year, but I think it’s worth becoming a member because of its annual Grammy Block Party alone.

This fabulous event always showcases music from widely diverse genres, all of it first rate. On Tuesday evening (May 10), the Block Party more than matched its reputation in that department.

Opening the festivities was Belmont University student and pop singer-songwriter Brad Blackburn. He is the winner of this year’s Grammy U Songwriter Showdown competition. Hosts The Warren Brothers next offered a bevy of their songs, including the party-hearty anthem “Red Solo Cup.”

Diarrhea Planet
Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by Ed Rode/WireImage.com

Then Nashville’s own Diarrhea Planet rocked hard. Chicago’s Jonathan McReynolds offered jazz-inflected urban and Christian tunes. The Grammy nominee records for the Nashville label Entertainment One.

Americana music great Jason Isbell turned in a gripping set. He suggested that the giant Grammy statues flanking the stage emitted a force field between them. Pure-voiced young country sensation Kelsea Ballerini now has three hits in her quiver, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs” and “Peter Pan.” Sacred steel guitar superstar Robert Randolph was booked as the virtuoso closer.

The setting was just as fabulous as the sounds. The outdoor amphitheater at Cumberland Park on the East Bank of the river is a lovely place, and way underused. The Grammy Block Party moved there last year and returned due to the attendees’ rave reviews about the venue. Breezes from the river wafted through the crowd.

Tracy Gershon took credit for the fact that the predicted rain never materialized. She said she focused on there being a 60 percent chance of sun while everybody else was worried about a 40 percent chance of showers.

Kelsea Ballerini (far right) was introduced to the stage by Pentatonix prior to the group’s headlining show at Bridgestone Arena. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by Frederick Breedon/WireImage.com

The drinks were free. So was the fabulous food by Peg Leg Porker. Plates were piled with barbecued pork or roasted chicken quarters, superb cornbread muffins and your choice of delicious mac & cheese, baked beans, coleslaw and/or green beans. Goo Goo Clusters were dessert.

Like I said, it’s worth joining the Recording Academy, just for this fab, fab, fabulous party. Several attendees were evidently hip to this, since the booth signing up new members and renewals did steady business, particularly early in the evening.

Here’s another reason this is a fabulous gig: You can’t beat the networking. Having the schmooze of their lives were Patrick Clifford, Cliff O’Sullivan, Dusty Miller, Daniel Miller, David Corlew, Dave Brainard, Scott Robinson, Sherod Robertson, LeAnn Phelan, Fletcher Foster, Ben Fowler, Leslie Fram, Garth Fundis, Chris Farren, Asheville’s Jessica Tomasin (the Nashville chapter takes in Louisville, Asheville, Knoxville and other nearby music communities), Brad Kennard, Chris Keaton, Mark Bright, Mike Sistad, Allison Jones, Lisa Harless and Beverly Keel.

Todd Cassetty was introducing his young artist Kalie Shorr to one and all. Other artists and writers in attendance included Brett James, Billy Falcon, Casey Donahew, Jenny Tolman, Zach Crowell and current chapter president Shannon Sanders.

Earle Simmons, Whitney Daane, Allen Brown, Erika Wollam Nichols, the Symphony’s Alan Valentine, Vanessa Davis, Justin Levenson, Doak Turner, Scott McDaniel, Jensen Sussman, John Styll, Tom Luteran and Dan Daley merrily worked the balmy outdoor “room.”

This was the 18^th annual Grammy Block Party. Has it really been going on that long? Time flies when you’re having fun.

Pictured (Back, L-R): Jason Nelon, Howard Rachinski, Hezekiah Walker. (Front, L-R): Kelly Nelon, Autumn Nelon, Amber Nelon. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA

Hezekiah Walker, Howard Rachinski, The Nelons and Russ Taff were inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame, on Tuesday, May 10.

The induction was part of GMA Foundation’s annual GMA Honors celebration, held at Lipscomb University in Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Jason Crabb, Russ Taff. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA

The event also honored individuals and organizations that are impacting our culture both past and present. This year’s honorees were Catherine Brewton for Hope for Harvest, Jars of Clay for Blood: Water Mission, Michael W. Smith for Rocketown, and the Gospel Music Trust Fund.

Pictured (L-R): Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Michael W. Smith. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA)

The event featured special tributes and performances by Amy Grant, Donald Lawrence, Donnie McClurkin, Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Jason Crabb, JJ Hairston, Jordan Smith, Michael English, Richard Smallwood, Selah, Travis Cottrell and Tye Tribbett.

Hillary Scott. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA

A special broadcast of the GMA Honors will air June 5 at 7 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. CT and June 8 at 6 p.m. PT/8 p.m. CT on JUCE TV.

NBC has announced a new TV movie titled Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. Set to air in 2016, the premiere date will be announced in the coming months.

The original cast will return for the sequel: Jennifer Nettles as Avie Lee Parton, Ricky Schroder as Robert Lee Parton, Gerald McRaney as Rev. Jake Owens and Alyvia Alyn Lind as young Dolly Parton.

“I was so overwhelmed and touched by how many people watched Coat of Many Colors and their reaction to it,” Parton said. “The song ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ of course, has always been my favorite and has touched so many people through the years, especially me. It is a true story from a very special time in my childhood. I am so happy to share this story with the viewers and to say there is so much more to tell because mine truly has been a life of many colors. I hope the viewers will fall in love all over again.”

Press materials summarized the project in this way:

The film delivers Christmas joy and peril as an unexpected blizzard threatens the Parton family, while at the same time Dolly’s father (and his kids) make sacrifices to raise enough money to finally buy his loving wife the wedding ring he could never afford to give her. Meanwhile, an important person in little Dolly’s life begins to see that her amazing voice and musical gift might just be made for something bigger than rural Tennessee.

“It’s no secret that everyone loves Dolly Parton and the response to our first movie was overwhelming, both in terms of the size of the audience and outpouring of love for a film with family values and faith,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “So it felt like a no-brainer to bring this talented cast back together and tell another compelling holiday story culled from Dolly’s own life growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Her spirit and belief in God — and her music — will infuse this movie with the true spirit of Dolly Parton.”

Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love is written by Pamela K. Long. She executive produces with Sam Haskell and Dolly Parton. The film is a production of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Dixie Pixie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Stephen Herek, who directed the original film, is also back to direct the sequel.