Buck 22
Merle Haggard canceled his concert at the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Okla., on April 3 due to pneumonia. “My apologies and we will reschedule. Hopefully be able to sing tomorrow night in Wichita,” said a statement via Twitter.
Wishes for a swift recovery go out to Haggard, as he has a busy weekend planned. He is slated to take part in two George Strait concerts, one Friday night (April 4) at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan., and then on Saturday (April 5) at Pepsi Center in Denver (both dates also feature Lee Ann Womack).
On Sunday April 6, Haggard will be honored at the 49th annual ACM awards by Miranda Lambert and Strait, and will be presented the Crystal Milestone Award by Garth Brooks.
Arthur (“Guitar Boogie”) Smith died Thursday (April 3) at his home in Charlotte, N.C., at age 93.
Smith appeared on the Billboard Country charts in 1948 with “Banjo Boogie” (which reached No. 9) and “Guitar Boogie” (which reached No. 8). 1949’s “Boomerang” also peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Country chart. His compositions have been recorded by numerous artists, including Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Barbara Mandrell and others.
In 1955, Smith composed a banjo instrumental he titled “Feudin’ Banjos.” Smith took on Warner Bros. after the song appeared (uncredited) as the song “Dueling Banjos” in 1972’s Deliverance. The song went to No. 5 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart. Smith’s lawsuit won a substantial settlement, which gave him songwriting credit and back royalties.
He earned a BMI Song of the Year award in 1973; that same year he was honored with a Grammy as the original writer of “Dueling Banjos.” He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
He hosted the syndicated program The Arthur Smith Show, which became one of the first Country music television shows to be syndicated nationally.
Smith is survived by wife Dorothy, children Reggie, Clay, and Connie Brown. He also has seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Miranda Lambert will perform a duet with Blake Shelton, plus Eli Young Band and Rascal Flatts have been added to the lineup for ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute To The Troops, a concert event that will feature Country artists paying tribute to the armed forces.
Marcus Luttrell (retired Navy SEAL), Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Craig Morgan, Nancy O’Dell (Entertainment Tonight), and Sheryl Underwood (The Talk) will present during the show. The special will be hosted by LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell, and will be taped Monday, April 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute To The Troops, will be broadcast Tuesday, May 20 at 9 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network.
These artists join previously announced performers Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Hunter Hayes, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy.
The Swon Brothers
The inaugural GMA Honors Celebration and Hall of Fame induction has added special guests David Crowder, dc Talk (TobyMac, Michael Tait, Kevin Max), Earnest Pugh, Ellie Bannister Holcomb, Kirk Whalum, Lenny LeBlanc and Steven Curtis Chapman to its lineup.John Anderson and Tracy Lawrence wrapped a special concert series this week that included the hit duo performing in some of the most renowned music venues in the US. Concert goers experienced one of kind performances as the two shared some of their biggest hits together.
While in LA for a concert stop, Lawrence took time to visit with actor Michael Roark, the co-star of his new music video “LIE.” Roark, best known for his film and TV roles in Dolphin Tale, Magic Mike, Sleepy Hollow, Banshee, The Following and Revolution, plays the friend of Lawrence in this steamy tale of love, friendship, and betrayal.
Pictured (L-R): John Anderson, Michael Beyer, Michael Roark, Tracy Lawrence.
Photo By Alex Torrez
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Bigger Picture Group’s Chelsea Bain has partnered with Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America, a world leader in engine-off vehicle heating equipment, to promote the benefits of its Air Top 2000 ST bunk heaters and Thermo Top C coolant heaters among trucking owner-operators.
At the Mid-America truck show in Louisville, Ky., Bain met fans and performed in Webasto’s booth, while over 80,000 attendees gathered at the annual forum for the heavy duty trucking industry.
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Black River Entertainment held an event last week that mixed the worlds of country music and professional hockey. The night was a chance for country music industry tastemakers to mix and mingle with players from the Buffalo Sabres and Black River Entertainment recording artists Kellie Pickler, Craig Morgan and Kelsea Ballerini.
Black River and the studios at Sound Stage provided a Nashville VIP experience that included catering from Edley’s Bar-B-Que and Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant. Guests also stopped by Ronnie’s Place recording studio to sample Tennessee Whiskey in the Jack Daniel’s Room. The evening concluded with a pickin’ party, complete with bonfire, s’mores and music provided by Ballerini, Passport Records’ Brassfield Aly, and Black River Publishing’s Josh Kerr.
Pictured (L-R): Terry Pegula and Kim Pegula, Black River Entertainment recording artists Kellie Pickler and Craig Morgan, and CEO Gordon Kerr. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Black River Entertainment
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Natalie Stovall and The Drive spent a good portion of the last two weeks in Panama City Beach, Fla. At the favored Panama City destination Spinnaker Beach Club, the band wrapped eight nights of shows for 40,000 fans.
Natalie Stovall and The Drive
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Soul Circus Cowboys will perform at Nashville’s The Rutledge on Tuesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The Florida-based band is comprised of lead vocalist Billy McKnight, drummer Jason Alfano, bassist Michael Bach, guitarist/vocalist Terry Cole, and guitarist Stephen Haendiges.
ASCAP hosted its monthly songwriters showcase at The Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday, April 2 at 6 p.m. The in-the-round performance featured songwriter-artists Jonathan Kingham and Shane Hines (of Paperhouse), Big Machine Music songwriter-artist Courtney Cole and up-and-coming songwriter-artist Brad Blackburn.
The Bluebird Cafe’s late show included ASCAP Songwriter of the Year winner Dave Berg, Blue Sky Riders (Kenny Loggins, Gary Burr) member Georgia Middleman, and songwriters Philip Coleman and Annie Tate.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Brad Blackburn, Courtney Cole, Shane Hines and Jonathan Kingham. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.
Pictured (L-R): Dave Berg, Georgia Middleman, Philip Coleman and Annie Tate. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.
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Ken Paulson, Dean of the College of Mass Communication at MTSU, spoke at a recent SOURCE luncheon. Paulson, who was executive director of the First Amendment Center for many years, spotlighted five women whose songs changed the world with a song.
Pictured (L-R): SOURCE President Denise Nichols, Past-president Debbie Carroll, Paulson and former President Lainie Allbee.
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SESAC sponsored The Recording Academy’s 2014 Grammys On The Hill Awards in Washington, D.C. on April 2. Seven-time Grammy winners Lady Antebelllum were presented with the Recording Artists’ Coalition Award in recognition of their artistic accomplishments and advocacy.
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Pat Collins, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, the Recording Academy’s Neil Portnow and Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood.
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[Updated]: Visitation for Ryan Huie will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 at Brentwood Baptist Church, located at 7777 Concord Rd., Brentwood, TN, 37027. A celebration of life will follow from 1pm-3pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Jason Foundation. Ryan Huie, son of CAA’s John Huie, worked as a booking agent at The Agency Coalition in Nashville. MusicRow sends its condolences to family and friends.
[Original post, March 31, 3:40 p.m.]:
MusicRow sends its condolences to CAA’s John Huie and his family in the death of Huie’s son, Ryan Huie, on Sunday, March 30. Ryan Huie worked as a booking agent at The Agency Coalition in Nashville.
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Raymond Schmidt, father of Joey Schmidt (Alan Jackson’s keyboard player) and father-in-law of Jessie Schmidt (publicist and owner Schmidt Relations), passed away on Saturday, March 29. Visitation is Monday afternoon at St. Philip Neri Church in Napoleon, ND and the funeral is Tuesday, April 1 at 10:30am at St. Philip Neri Church in Napoleon, N.D.
MusicRow sends its condolences to Schmidt’s family. Condolences can be sent here.