[Update]: Celebration Of Life Service Set For Jimmy Capps

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Jimmy Capps. Photo courtesy Marushka Media

[Update]: A visitation and a Celebration of Life service have been set for late guitarist Jimmy Capps.

Visitation will be held Monday, June 8 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Spring Hill Funeral Home (5110 Gallatin Pike S, Nashville, TN 37216). A Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday, June 9 at 1 p.m. at the Grand Ole Opry House (2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214).

[Original post: Wednesday, June 3, 2020]

Jimmy Capps, the genial, white-haired and goateed guitarist who is one of Nashville’s most beloved pickers, died Tuesday, June 2, at age 81.

Best known as the long-time lead guitar player in the Grand Ole Opry staff band, Capps also performed on a breathtaking number of country music standards. He can be heard on “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “The Gambler,” “Stand By Your Man,” “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” “Elvira” and “Amarillo By Morning,” among many other familiar megahits.

He is a member of The Musicians Hall of Fame. Capps was saluted in 2012 by the Country Music Hall of Fame in its “Nashville Cats” series profiling recording-session greats.

Born in 1939 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Capps began playing guitar at age 12. By age 16, he was performing on local radio and TV shows. He was just 19 when he successfully auditioned to join The Louvin Brothers band in 1958. He debuted on the Opry by performing “The Knoxville Girl” with the duo later that year. He also recorded with the Louvin Brothers on such hits as “How’s the World Treating You” (1961).

Following military service and a stint in Ferlin Husky’s band, Capps launched his recording-studio career on Music Row. At his peak, Capps was playing on more than 500 recording sessions a year. Although usually cited for his tasteful acoustic-guitar work, Capps was also a skilled electric guitarist. He is considered to be one of Nashville’s finest and most prolific session guitarists in history, alongside Grady Martin, Ray Edenton, Chet Atkins, Hank Garland and Harold Bradley.

Jimmy Capps joined the Grand Ole Opry staff band in 1967. During the following five decades, he performed on more Opry shows than anyone in history.

The Opry occurs on weekends so during the week, Capps collaborated in the studio with the biggest stars of Nashville music. Even a year-by-year sampling of his work illustrates the breadth of his accomplishments – Mickey Newbury (1970), Freddie Hart (“Easy Lovin’” 1971), J.J. Cale (1972), Dolly Parton (“My Tennessee Mountain Home” 1973), Waylon Jennings (1974), the soundtrack of the movie Nashville (1975), Moe Bandy (1976), Ronnie Milsap (“It Was Almost Like a Song” 1977), Johnny Cash (1978), Ernest Tubb (1979), Amy Grant (1980).

That’s just one decade. His session work became even more intense during the 1980s. During that era, Capps could be heard on records by John Denver, George Strait, Tom Jones, Reba McEntire, K.D. Lang, The Whites, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Wayne Newton, B.J. Thomas, Barbara Mandrell, Vern Gosdin, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Keith Whitley, Lacy J. Dalton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers, David Allan Coe, Charlie Rich, Dottie West and a jaw-dropping number of others.

At the annual NARAS Super Picker Awards in the 1970s and 1980s, Jimmy Capps was repeatedly honored as “Most Valuable Acoustic Player.” He also rose to become the Opry’s bandleader. Capps performed in the “house band” for the CMA Awards telecasts for more than 20 years.

He was known as “the master of smoothness” for the way he made intricate picking appear effortless. As such, he was a Nashville guitar institution by the 1990s. That is when Capps recorded with The Statler Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, Gene Watson, Connie Smith, Conway Twitty, The Florida Boys, Loretta Lynn, John Conlee, Ed Bruce, Ray Charles, Hank Locklin, Riders in the Sky and T. Graham Brown, as well as dozens of newcomers of the day.

In addition to the many listed above, his guitar can be heard on the records of such Country Music Hall of Fame members as Roy Clark, Jean Shepard, Eddy Arnold, Porter Wagoner, Ray Price, Charley Pride, Faron Young, Don Gibson, Bill Anderson, Charlie McCoy and Dottie West.

A new generation of country fans has been charmed by Jimmy Capps in recent years thanks to his regular appearances on RFD-TV’s Larry’s Country Diner. That’s where he was billed as “The Sheriff.”

Fellow topnotch musicians Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs and Steve Wariner have all praised Capps as an influence.

Capps was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2014. The State of Tennessee honored him as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2015. He published his autobiography, The Man in Back, in 2018. At that time, the rehearsal space backstage in the Opry House was named The Jimmy Capps Music Room.
Capps is survived by his wife Michele and three sons.

Industry Ink: Eric Kilby, Mike Jay, Fiona Prine, Nancy Tunick

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Music Veterans Eric Kilby, Mike Jay Launch Podcast

Music industry veterans Eric Kilby and Mike Jay have launched the podcast Everything But The Show, which shares in-depth stories about touring, life on the road and more.
Jay is an artist manager and co-owns Proper Management, while Kilby oversees tour operations for Compassion LIVE.

Fiona Prine Rebukes Lawmakers For Refusing To Further Discussions On Absentee Voting During Pandemic


Fiona Whelan Prine has launched a petition urging Tennessee Governor Lee and Tennessee legislature to give all voters the option to vote by absentee ballot during the pandemic.

“All we’re asking for is an opportunity to apply for an absentee ballot based on the fear of contracting COVID-19 at the polls this November—the same opportunity that 45 other states have already granted their citizens. Without a vaccine, this deadly virus is not contained, and Tennesseans should not have to fear for their lives simply to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” Prine said in a statement.

Nancy Tunick, GrassRoots Promotion Launch VIP Fan Platform


Nancy Tunick and GrassRoots Promotion have announced the launch of FanTheJam, a unique, interactive VIP fan platform that lets users subscribe to an artist’s “jam” to receive exclusive digital content and special offers each month. FanTheJam gives artists the flexibility to tailor the content to their audience and create a previously untapped revenue stream.

Tunick says, “We are excited about creating a way for artists to further monetize their careers while developing an even deeper relationship with their fans. It is a modern take on fan club experiences of the past. Fans want a connection beyond social media that makes them feel special and FanTheJam provides that opportunity.”

FanTheJam’s business model is simple. The artist provides the content and markets to their fan base. FanTheJam does the rest, with no up-front fees, by building the artist’s profile, loading the content, and notifying subscribers of new assets as they are available. FanTheJam also provides creative content and marketing best practices support, and handles credit card processing and fees, with 80% of the gross proceeds going to the artist.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton

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When times are hard, you can always count on Nashville’s music makers to get you through them.

Dolly Parton, Steven Curtis Chapman and Chase Rice are addressing the ongoing pandemic this week. No matter how much they try to “open” the economy, be aware that the number of diagnosed cases continues to rise.

Meanwhile, Kane Brown and Mickey Guyton are two of several artists who are addressing the Black Lives Matter issue that is in the forefront of our national discussion this week. No matter how you slice it, injustice is intolerable.

Lonestar and Vince Gill have taken on the issue of grief in our military families. The media doesn’t dwell on it, but we are still losing lives among our armed forces overseas.

In recognition of his worthy effort, Kane Brown earns the Disc of the Day award.

I am happy to report that we have a very promising new artist-writer in our midst today. She’s Brit Taylor, our DisCovery Award winner.

SEAFORTH/Everything Falls for You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– Very pretty. It’s a plaintive, pop-ish ballad with a lovelorn lyric and a boy-band vocal delivery. This Aussie duo seems to specialize in this kind of thing.

DOLLY PARTON/When Life Is Good Again
Writers: Dolly Parton/Kent Wells; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Dolly
– Dolly’s song for the pandemic leans on her spirituality and indomitably optimistic outlook. A gospel choir adds emotional weight. It’s a lump-in-throat performance from a legendary lady who always seems to shine the light of love.

BRIT TAYLOR/Wakin’ Up Ain’t Easy
Writers: Brit Taylor/Dave Brainard; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publisher: none listed; BT
– She has a liquid alto singing voice, with bright, “teardrop” accents. The heartache ballad has a languid, echoey atmosphere that is enchanting. I’m smitten. Send more.

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, BRAD PAISLEY, LAUREN ALAINA, TASHA COBBS LEONARD/Together (We’ll Get Through This)
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; SCC
-Gospel great Chapman expresses strength, solidarity, perseverance and optimism in his all-star coronavirus song. Proceeds benefit the thousands of unemployed musicians that this disease has created. Chin up, folks, this too shall pass away.

TUCKER BEATHARD/Can’t Stay Here
Writers: Tucker Beathard/Ryan Tyndell/Will Lamb/Joe Whelan; Producer: Tucker Beathard/Ryan Tyndell/Jordan Rager; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
– It’s a painful breakup, but he’s owning it by kicking her out because of all the anguish she has caused. The rolling tempo is cool and his vocal manages to combine power and vulnerability really well. I’ve been in this guy’s corner all along, and he never disappoints.

CHASE RICE/Belong
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BBR
– “We don’t know where we’re going/But we’re going there together.” It’s a Big Statement Anthem with homemade pandemic footage in its video. Hooky and uplifting.

CAM/Redwood Tree
Writers: Cam/Tyler Johnson/Anders Mouridsen; Producer: Tyler Johnson; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– Thumpy and catchy. The rhythm track is a toe-tapping joy, and as usual her vocal performance is a pristine paradise. The lyric about aging and time is terrific, too. A superb single.

LONESTAR, VINCE GILL & FRIENDS/Love Lives On
Writers: Bonnie Carroll/Richie McDonald/Frank J. Myers/Jimmy Nichols; Producer: Frank Myers/Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: none listed; Roots & American Music Society (track)
– Co-writer Carroll is the widow of a fallen soldier, and this stirring song is therapy for survivors everywhere. In addition to the signature voices of Richie and Vince, the background singers include a bluezillion Nashville names. Among them are Lee Roy Parnell, Deborah Allen, Rob Crosby, T.G. Sheppard, Kelly Lang, Ashley Cleveland and Wood Newton.

KANE BROWN/Worldwide Beautiful
Writers: Kane Brown/Shy Carter/Ryan Hurd/Jordan Schmidt; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Kane Brown/BMG Platinum/Worldwide EMG/You Want How Much of What/hurdjamz/Sony-ATV Accent, BMI; RCA
– It has a lot of audio textures, from hip-hop to chorale. The anti-racist message is a simple one, we are all One. Well spoken, son. We need this song right now.

MICKEY GUYTON/Black Like Me
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Nathan Chapman/Emma Davidson-Dillon/Fraser Churchill; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Forest Whitehead; Publisher: none listed; Universal
– This heartbreaking piano ballad is a powerfully sung anthem about racial inequality. “If you think we live in the Land of the Free/You should try to be black like me.” Mickey issued this at midnight on BlackOutTuesday (June 2). She concludes the impactful lyric with a stanza of black pride. My hat is off to her. Imagine being terrified of taking a walk outside because you might get shot, simply because of the color of your skin. Then accept the fact that this happens in our country, over and over and over again.

Kane Brown Encourages Unity And Love On New Track "Worldwide Beautiful"

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Kane Brown. Photo: Matthew Berinato

In the midst of all of the chaos, anger, pain, and loss currently happening in the country and the world, Kane Brown has released a new song, “Worldwide Beautiful,” that touches on current events and offers up a message of hope and unity.

“I’m releasing this song early that I’ve been holding onto for a year,” Brown said on Instagram. “I’m hoping it will bring us together during this time and proceeds are being funded to the boys and girls club ❤️ I love you guys”

Penned by Brown with Shy Carter, Ryan Hurd and Jordan Schmidt, the song is out now and will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America to help support millions of young kids growing up and advocate for justice and equality for their futures.

“Worldwide Beautiful”
White churches, black churches
Different people, same hearses
It’s kinda hard to fight with each other
Laying down in the ground, six under
At every show I see my people
They ain’t the same but they’re all equal
One love, one God, one familyYou’re missing every color
If you’re only seeing black and white
Tell me how you’re gonna change your mind
If your heart’s unmovable
We ain’t that different from each other
From one to another, I look around
And see worldwide beautifulThank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God
Oh, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God
Coast to coast, city to city
Reach out your hands if you’re with me
Still got some work but we still got a dream
Every shade, every heart come together and sing
Oh, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank God, thank GodYou’re missing every color
If you’re only seeing black and white
Tell me how you’re gonna change your mind
If your heart’s unmovable
We ain’t that different from each other
From one to another, I look around
And see worldwide beautifulOne love, one God, one family (One family, y’all, c’mon)
One love, one God, one family (Worldwide beautiful)
One love, one God, one family (Worldwide beautiful)
One Love, one God, one family (Sing it with me)You’re missing every color
If you’re only seeing black and white
Tell me how you’re gonna change your mind
If your heart’s unmovable
We ain’t that different from each other
From one to another, I look around
And see worldwide beautiful
Look around and see worldwide beautiful, so beautiful
Look around and see worldwide beautiful
Worldwide beautiful
Worldwide beautiful
Look around and see worldwide beautiful

Sturgill Simpson To Livestream Concert From Ryman Auditorium

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Sturgill Simpson. Photo: Courtesy: Full Coverage Communications

Sturgill Simpson will hold an hour-long livestream concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Friday (June 5), beginning at  7 p.m. CT, to be broadcast via nugs.tv., as well as on Simpson’s YouTube channel and on Twitch.

Joining Simpson for the Ryman show are fiddle player Stuart Duncan, bassist Mike Bub, Sierra Hull on mandolin, Scott Vestal on banjo, Mark Howard on guitar and Miles Miller on percussion.

The show will serve as a thank you to his fans who helped raise more than $250,000 for MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief, Equity Alliance Nashville Tornado Relief and the Special Forces Foundation.
An exclusive show poster and “Thirsty Sturg” T-shirt will also be sold at sturgillsimpson.com to help raise more funds for the charities.

Kid Politics Inks With Verge Records

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Kid Politics signs with Verge Records. Photo (L-R): Jeff Tobias (A&R, ONErpm), Mickey Jack Cones (President/COO, Verge Records), Kelby Dover (KP), Nick Arbuckle (KP), Emmanuel Zunz (Founder/CEO, ONErpm), Ken Madson (General Manager, ONErpm) | Photo Credit: Samantha Dover

Nashville pop duo Kid Politics has signed to Verge Records. Frontman Kelby Dover, from Screven, Georgia, and Conroe, Texas native Nick Arbuckle are set to drop their first single “Free” June 12 on all platforms.

“My head is in the clouds for these guys!” said Mickey Jack Cones, president and COO of Verge, an imprint of distribution giant ONErpm. “Their music is extremely positive, and the message of ‘Free’ needs to be heard now more than ever.”

“We feel at home with Verge,” said Arbuckle. “The global reach Founder/CEO Emmanuel Zunz has built with OneRPM, combined with the focused attention and direction from Mickey Jack and their entire staff has given us the opportunity to bring the message and music of Kid Politics to a worldwide platform.”

Mickey Guyton Takes Aim At Racial Inequality In New Anthem "Black Like Me"

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As the music industry embraced the Black Out Tuesday movement on June 2, UMG Nashville artist Mickey Guyton released the intensely personal song “Black Like Me,” which chronicles her experiences growing up as an African-American in a society that does not treat everyone equally.

“Little kid in a small town / I did my best just to fit in / Broke my heart on the playground / When they said I was different,” she sings on the first verse, before adding, “Now I’m all grown up and nothin’ has changed / Yeah, it’s still the same.”

“I wrote this song over a year ago because I was so tired of seeing so much hate and oppression,” Guyton said via a post on Instagram. “And yet here we are in the exact same place! We must change that,” she added. “I hope this song can give you a small glimpse into what my brothers and sisters have endured for 400+ years.”

On Tuesday, June 2, Guyton also took part on a virtual interview panel titled “A Conversation on Being African-American In The Nashville Music Industry,” moderated by Beverly Keel, Dean of MTSU College of Media and Entertainment, along with Sekou Franklin, Ph.D., MTSU Department of Political Science.

During this year’s Country Radio Seminar in February, Guyton issued another strong track, “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?,” which took aim at gender inequality, an issue that has long plagued country radio.

Summerfest 2020 In Milwaukee Canceled

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Milwaukee’s Summerfest 2020 has been canceled due to ongoing concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. Board of Directors made the decision to cancel Summerfest 2020 at a regularly scheduled meeting, and the announcement comes after the festival was previously rescheduled to September, from its original June dates in 2020.

“After careful, diligent, and thoughtful consideration and out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our community – including artists, fans, vendors, participants and staff – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance will not take place in September 2020, as previously announced,” said Don Smiley, President & CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “It is our honor to be responsible for such a storied tradition.  With five decades of festivals, countless legendary performances and millions of memories, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. explored numerous options to ensure the Summerfest tradition could continue in 2020, in a safe and healthy manner. Yet, given the information available today, and the uncertainty surrounding very large gatherings, we cannot in good conscience proceed with the festival this year. The immediate future presents multiple levels of risk for our fans, and we choose the side of safety.”

Refunds on Summerfest admission tickets purchased via summerfest.com or Ticketmaster are available, and information on how to get a refund on festival admission ticketscan be found at summerfest.com.

Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mac Powell Team For Drive-In Theater Tour (Exclusive)

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Three of Contemporary Christian Music’s legendary artists—Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Mac Powell—are joining forces for an upcoming 10-city drive-in theater tour set to launch Thursday, July 16 at Stardust Drive-In Theatre in Watertown, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville.

“We are three friends who are excited to play music together again,” Chapman tells MusicRow.

The tour is the latest installment of a series of Awakening Events-produced drive-in theater tours, following previously-announced tours from Newsboys, United and TobyMac. The tour comes as drive-in theaters across the country have become concert hotspots, a way for artists to continue to perform for fans while helping to make sure social distancing guidelines are observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keith Urban recently performed a private concert at Watertown’s Stardust Drive-In Theatre to honor Vanderbilt medical professionals. Eli Young Band will be among the performers at a four-night, drive-in “Concert in Your Car” series, which launches today in Arlington, Texas. Smith recently performed a drive-in show at Franklin, Tennessee’s Williamson County Ag Expo Center, welcoming an estimated 5,000 fans. Awakening Event’s Drive-In Theater tours are among the first full-fledged multi-city tours to have happened during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“These kinds of tours have never been done before and I love a great adventure, no pun intended,” Smith told MusicRow.

Chapman and Third Day most recently toured together in 2016 as part of the SCC3D tour, while Chapman and Smith co-headlined the United Tour in 2009. Collectively, Chapman, Powell and Smith have earned 113 No. 1 hits, sold 35 million albums, garnered 12 Grammy Awards and 128 Dove Awards.

Instead of performing separate individual sets, the three artists will perform together as one unit, welcoming a handful of musicians to help round out the band. Among those musicians is bass player Brent Milligan, who has played with both Chapman and Smith, and has produced some of Chapman’s albums.

Chapman says he jumped at the chance to play music for live audiences again, and was inspired by a recent experience at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

“I went to the Ryman to do a live recording of a song I’ve written in the middle of all this called, ‘Together We’ll Get Through This.’ It was just me and two people from the crew there and a piano. I walked into the dressing room that has the picture of Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff. I walked in and I literally broke down, because it was one of those first moments where the reality set it that these places are made for relationships and for music to bring us together and help remind us that we are not alone. I felt like the whole auditorium was weeping, like ‘Where are the people?’ So when I got the call to do this, I loved the idea that I get to bring people together, and to hang with two of my best buddies and best people in business.”

They also don’t rule out the possibility that the tour could result in new music.

“You never know,” Smith says.

“Anytime you get artists on the road and on stage, you never know what can happen. This year has been unprecedented, so we have a lot to write about. I wouldn’t be surprised if we jumpstart something and played it before the end of the tour,” Chapman added.

Ultimately, the tour—like many of the drive-in theater shows popping up around the country—is a testament to artists who want to find any way possible to bring music, hope and inspiration to fans.
“We just want people to be encouraged to hang in there,” Powell tells MusicRow. “All of us have a new reality, at least for right now. For us to be able to come together and make music, I know every time I’m around these guys and the band, I’m encouraged, so we want to do that for each other and in turn cast that out to the audience, and encourage people to stay strong.”

“To have these influential solo artists come together for this concept, to see them performing in collaboration together on one stage, it’s truly a monumental occasion,” said Dan Fife, President and Founder of Awakening Events.

Tickets will be available beginning Friday, June 5 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Tickets will be sold by the car load, with up to six people per car.

As with previous Awakening Events-produced drive-in theater shows, the events will comply with all local COVID-19 guidelines. As each carload will be appropriately spaced apart in accordance with social distancing guidelines, attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

“We’re excited that we’ve developed a way for our fans to safely come together and enjoy live music again. In the climate of today we need more positivity in the world, and we take great pride in being able to offer some of that positivity safely,” said Curtis Pinkerton, director of Marketing for Awakening Events.

The Drive-In Theater Tour, supported by K-LOVE, Air1 Radio, Food for the Hungry, and Altrua HealthShare is exclusively produced by Awakening Events. For information, visit awakeningevents.com.

Tour Dates: 
Thu, Jul 16 – Stardust Drive-in Theatre – Watertown, TN
Fri, Jul 17 – Swingin’ Midway Drive-in – Athens, TN
Sun, Jul 19 – Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre – Henderson, NC
Mon, Jul 20 – Goochland Drive-In Theater – Hadensville, VA
Tue, Jul 21 – The Family Drive in Theatre – Stephens City, VA
Fri, Jul 24 – Birdsong Drive-in – Camden, TN
Sat, Jul 25 – Iuka Drive-in – Iuka, MS
Sun, Jul 26 – Pink Cadillac Drive-in – Centerville, TN
Tue, Jul 28 – Parkway Drive-in – Maryville, TN
Wed, Jul 29 – Montana Drive-in Theater – Estill Springs, TN

Christian Hale Signs With Centricity Publishing

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(L-R:) Chad Segura (VP of Publishing), Justin Nicolet (Creative Director of Publishing), Leah Hale, Christian Hale, Alex Diaz (Publishing Coordinator)

Writer/Producer Christian Hale has signed a publishing deal with Centricity Publishing.

A multi-genre songwriter, Hale co-wrote “Yours,” the latest single from Centricity artist Caitie Hurst, and has upcoming singles from Fair Trade artist Jack Cassidy, as well as new Centricity artist Coby James. Hale also has sync placements with Nike, Google, Facebook, Subaru, Fox, NFL, HGTV, TLC, iHeart radio, and more.

The publishing arm of Centricity Music, Centricity Publishing’s writer and artist roster includes Lauren Daigle, Seth Mosley, Jordan Feliz, Paul Duncan, and more.