Love and Theft Planning RCA Records Release

ACM Vocal Duo of the Year nominee Love and Theft, will release its new album on June 5 on RCA Records.

The self-titled project, recorded with producer Josh Leo (Alabama, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), is currently available for pre-order. The album’s lead single, “Angel Eyes,” landed this week at No. 43 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Since releasing its Top 10 hit “Runaway” on Lyric Street’s Carolwood Records two years ago, the band has downsized to a duo with Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson and signed with RCA Records.

“Stephen and I have always been on the same page as far as the vision for Love and Theft and what we want it to be,” says Gunderson. “We feel like we have made the record we’ve always wanted to make.”

Love and Theft will kick off the ACM Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas this Fri., March 30.

Watch the new “Angel Eyes,” music video below.

Leadership Music Applications Due

The deadline to apply for the 2013 class of Leadership Music is quickly approaching, with Saturday, March 31 serving as the cutoff date. Application forms, dates, and FAQs are available at www.leadershipmusic.org. The application process is online only.

The nine-month, Nashville-based, education program starts in September and is designed to foster understanding and teamwork among professionals from different parts of the industry. Participants are required to attend an orientation, all-day sessions once a month, and opening and closing retreats.

Since its formation over 22 years ago, Leadership Music has graduated close to 900 executives from the program.

Longtime Opry Background Vocalist Carol Lee Retires

(L-R): Pete Fisher, Carol Lee Cooper and Marty Stuart. Photo: Chris Hollo

Longtime Grand Ole Opry background vocalist Carol Lee Cooper of the Carol Lee Singers marked the end of her career with the venerable show on Saturday night (3/24).

During an Opry segment hosted by Cooper’s friend Marty Stuart, Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher presented Cooper with a framed print commemorating her years of service to the Opry. Stuart and his band the Fabulous Superlatives then treated Cooper and the audience to a rousing rendition of “Carol Lee,” penned and sung by band member Kenny Vaughan. Afterwards, as Cooper sat center stage, Stuart held her hand and closed the segment with the gospel standard “The Unseen Hand.”

“For thousands of Grand Ole Opry fans over the years,” Fisher said, “the sound of the Carol Lee Singers has become wonderfully familiar over the Opry airwaves. For all of us at the Opry, Carol Lee has and always will be family. We are so pleased to celebrate her long Opry career with her tonight and look forward to hearing about her future successes.”

“This wonderful Opry family will always have a special place in my heart,” Cooper said. “I’m proud to have spent so much of my life here around the music and people I love. I am blessed to have so many good things and interesting projects in store for me, and I already look forward to sharing them with everyone here.”

Cooper first appeared on the Opry stage with her parents, longtime Grand Ole Opry members Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, in 1956. She formed and has led the Carol Lee Singers, named by Opry patriarch Roy Acuff, on Opry background vocals since 1972. The Carol Lee Singers’ other members, Norah Lee Allen, Rod Fletcher, and Dennis McCall, will continue at the Opry as “The Opry Singers.”

Clarkson Re-Records Hit Song For Country Radio

Kelly Clarkson’s voice has graced the airwaves of country radio before, thanks to her duets with Jason Aldean “Don’t You Wanna Stay” and Reba (“Because of You”), but never as a solo artist. Until now, that is.

Clarkson, who is managed by Nashville’s Starstruck Entertainment (along with Reba and Blake Shelton), recently posted on Facebook that she has re-recorded her hit “Mr. Know It All” as a single for country radio. The original American Idol champ worked with producer Dann Huff on the song’s update.

“Hey everybody, I got to work with Dann Huff and recut ‘Mr. Know It All’ for country radio!” she posted. “I hope y’all like it!! I had a lot of fun recutting the song and getting the opportunity to work with Dann!”

The song will be available for download on iTunes April 3.

Clarkson has recently crossed the reality singing show aisle to serve as a mentor on NBC’s The Voice, and will also appear on ABC’s Duets this summer.

Photo: Razor & Tie Publishing Signs Seth Jones

L–R: Razor & Tie’s Lisa Johnson; SESAC’s John Mullins and Shannan Hatch; Jones; Razor & Tie’s Craig Balsam, Ross Asher and Beka Tischker

SESAC affiliate Seth Jones has signed an exclusive agreement with Razor & Tie Publishing for representation. Jones, a songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist proficient in many genres, stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters with Razor & Tie Publishing executives to celebrate the signing.

New Edgehill Village Shops Specialize in Artifacts and Instruments

The Music Row area will gain two retail shops on April 9, when Music City Pickers and Toys In The Attic jointly open in Edgehill Village. The new businesses will host a grand opening gala on Sat., April 14.

Both shops were created by Little Texas band member and Hot Apple Pie frontman, Brady Seals, former Gibson Guitar web editor Gabe Hernandez, and appraiser Stephen Shutts.

The Toys In The Attic side of the store will offer musical artifacts from rock and roll, blues, R&B, bluegrass and country music. In addition, two collections of photographs taken by photographer Steve Gladstone, and record producer Eddie Kramer will be available for purchase.

The Music City Pickers side of the store will feature an changing selection of vintage and new, high-end musical instruments. Guitars, basses, amps and effects will be available to buy, sell and consign. The store will also feature custom local instrument builders.

“We wanted to create a very unique musical retail environment for Nashville, along with the possibility of having live music performances,” said Seals. “This is a great collaboration between two companies that totally complement and feed off each other.”

Shutts has an additional business location, The Rock-N-Roll Pit Stop, located on the grounds of The Loveless Cafe. Additionally, he and The Mavericks’ Robert Reynolds have signed for a reality show featuring their search for music memorabilia which will debut late 2012 on CMT.

Cracker Barrel Sponsors Josh Turner’s Tour

Cracker Barrel has signed on as a sponsor of Josh Turner’s tour through December 2012, and his equipment truck will now sport the company’s familiar logo. Full dates here.

“We sponsored Josh’s tour and released the CD Josh Turner Live at the Ryman in 2007, and we’re very pleased to be traveling down the road with him a second time,” said Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager. “He’s an indelible part of country music and we are proud to continue our association with such a talented, grounded, and genuine artist.”

Cracker Barrel also has another project in the works with Turner, and details are forthcoming. Turner’s fifth studio album Punching Bag arrives in stores this Summer.

Todd Snider Releasing Jerry Jeff Walker Tribute

Nashville singer/songwriter Todd Snider just released his latest album Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables on March 6, but he’s already got another full-length album on the way.

On Time As We Know It: The Songs of Jerry Jeff Walker, Snider is joined by producer Don Was and guests Kix Brooks, Elizabeth Cook, and Amy LaVere to pay tribute to his first music hero. The album is due for release April 24. Check out a few tracks here.

“I’ve always hoped I’d stay around long enough to get to make a record of Jerry Jeff Walker songs,” Snider says. “He’s the guy I saw at 19 and decided to try to be like. His are the first songs I learned.”

Snider is currently out on tour, and has a Ryman Auditorium date scheduled for June 2. Full dates here.

Track Listing:
1. Vince Triple-O Martin
2. Jaded Lover
3. Moon Child
4. Takin’ It As It Comes
5. Derby Day
6. Sangria Wine
7. Continuous Saga of the Bummer Or Is This My One Way Bus Ticket to Cleveland
8. Little Bird
9. Hill Country Rain
10. Railroad Lady
11. Laying My Life on the Line
12. Pissin’ in the Wind
13. Mr. Bojangles
14. Will There Be Any

Road To Bonnaroo Returns to Mercy Lounge

Nashville’s Road To Bonnaroo returns to the Mercy Lounge for a second round of spirited musical competition tonight (3/26). Performers competing for a spot at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival include Wild Cub, Five Knives, The Running, Tesla Rossa, Static Revival, Marquee Mayfield, Nikki Lane, and Evan P. Donahue.

RTB 2012, presented by BMI, the Nashville Scene, Mercy Lounge, and Bonnaroo, will send one band per each of the three rounds to the outdoor summer festival scheduled for June 7-10 in Manchester, TN. To select the winners, an industry panel of local journalists, bloggers, and 8 off 8th hosts provide half the verdict, while the votes of audience members will determine the other half. There is no cover charge to attend.

Round One of RTB 2012 already went to By Lightning. After tonight, only one performance spot will be up-for-grabs and the winner of that one will be determined April 16.

Artist Snapshots (3/26/12)

Rascal Flatts was in Orlando recently to headline Arnold Palmer’s “Music For Champions” event at Hard Rock Live to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation. At the end of the evening, Boyz II Men joined the members of Rascal Flatts on stage to perform “Life Is A Highway.”

Rascal Flatts with Boyz II Men backstage

• • •

BNA’s Casey James recently took a break from promoting his self-titled debut album (released March 20) to perform at the National Association of Broadcasters’ State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.

(L-R): BMI’s Dan Spears, Casey James, and NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith