Shelton Sets Sail In October, Announces New Acts

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Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton is setting sail with some of his Country music friends on the Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise from Oct. 14-21, 2012. Joining previously announced acts Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin and Neal McCoy, are Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Justin Moore and Jerrod Niemann.

The Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise is a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean on board the Norwegian Cruise Lines “Pearl.” See  www.BlakeSheltonCruise.com.

Shelton is nominated for three Grammy Awards at the February ceremony, and will return to his coaching gig on The Voice in 2012.

Lee Brice

Curb artist Brice recently wrapped up Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour and toured alongside Josh Thompson and Luke Bryan for CMT’s Tailgates and Tanlines 2011. “A Woman Like You,” the first single from his sophomore album, is at radio now.

Randy Houser

With over 150 performances this year, Houser appeared on the renowned Country Throwdown Tour with Willie Nelson and others. He recently signed with Stoney Creek Records.

Justin Moore

Moore’s sophomore album Outlaws Like Me debuted at No. 1 and includes the fastest-rising single of his career, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” He just wrapped up a summer tour with BMLG labelmates Rascal Flatts, and a few dates this fall with Darius Rucker and Miranda Lambert, and will open for Shelton in 2012.

Jerrod Niemann

Niemann, a Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville recording artist, is enjoying the success of his third single, “One More Drinkin’ Song,” off his album Judge Jerrod And The Hung Jury. The third hit follows his two RIAA-certified Gold Digital Singles, “What Do You Want” and “Lover, Lover.” Jerrod will hit the road on Lambert’s 2012 On Fire tour beginning in January.

CRS 2012 Updates

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Country Radio Seminar has commissioned a comprehensive Country music research study for presentation at CRS 2012, with data focusing on a broader spectrum of Country music fans than previous CRS research studies.

The extensive research surveys more than 1,000 randomly selected male and female Country music listeners, ages 18-54, from a representative sample of Country music fans across the U.S. It will provide a comprehensive look at listening habits, music discovery trends and technology usage. The presentation will also include video interviews conducted with Country music fans from around the country.

New Jersey-based market research firm Edison Research is conducting the study and will present its results during the CRS research panel at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The CRS research study is sponsored by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“This unique approach will provide the macro look at the marketplace and the micro view from the individual perspective. The results will provide CRS attendees with actionable tools to improve their business performance,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne.

CRS 2012 will be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, at the Nashville Convention Center.

$99 Unemployment Rate: For the third straight year, the $99 Unemployment Rate is being offered at Country Radio Seminar. Available through Jan. 27, 2012, the $99 rate provides CRS attendees access to more than 30 on-site educational panels and roundtable discussions. However, tickets to the Lady Antebellum show, New Faces of Country Music Show and daily luncheons must be purchased separately at an additional cost.

An on-site $99 Unemployment Rate will be available for walk-up registrants, but advance Unemployment Rate registrations must be received at the CRS offices for processing no later than Jan. 27. Contact Kristen McRary at (615) 327-4487 or [email protected] for registration materials. Proof of unemployment may be subject to verification.

Radio Humanitarian Awards: Submissions are now being accepted through Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, for the Radio Humanitarian Awards. The awards are presented at CRS to full-time Country radio stations for their efforts to improve the quality of life for the communities they serve. Awards are presented to stations in Large (markets 1-50), Medium (markets 51-130) and Small (markets 131+) categories for public service performed between Nov. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2011. Applicants should submit a brief written presentation (two pages maximum, including photos) to [email protected], summarizing the details of the station’s community service efforts performed during that period.

Jason Aldean, The Band Perry Added To CMA Music Festival

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Jason Aldean. Photo: Donn Jones

CMA Award winners Jason Aldean and The Band Perry have joined the performance lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2012 CMA Music Festival. The event is scheduled to take over downtown Nashville for four days next summer from Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2012.

Aldean received his first two CMA Awards in November when he won Album of the Year for My Kinda Party and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson.

The Band Perry also won their first two CMA Awards last month, winning New Artist of the Year and Single of the Year (for “If I Die Young”). Lead singer Kimberly Perry won an additional CMA Award for Song of the Year for writing “If I Die Young.”

Five-time CMA Award winner Carrie Underwood has also been previously announced as a performer for next year. More artists will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Tickets for next year’s CMA Music Festival can be purchased through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also be purchased by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378).

The Band Perry. Photo: John Russell

 

“Brothers Of The Sun” Ticket Sales Tally Up

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By the end of the day Saturday (12/3), Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw’s 2012 Brothers of the Sun Tour sold nearly 275,000 tickets for its first eight dates, more than any of Chesney’s previous initial on-sales. Shows dates rapidly approaching sell-outs include Dallas, Foxboro, and Chicago, where Chesney had his strongest initial on-sale to date.

With tickets for 12 shows still set to go on-sale, Chesney, whose “You and Tequila” featuring Grace Potter was recently nominated for two Grammy Awards, is looking at another one-million ticket summer after reaching that milestone for his last eight consecutive tours.

The Brothers of the Sun Tour is the first time in 10 years that Chesney and McGraw have hit the road together. Featuring Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen, the blockbuster tour will hit stadiums across the country including East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Nashville’s LP Field, and two shows at Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium.

Brothers of the Sun Tour 2012:

Sat. June 2 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (On Sale Dec. 9)
Sun. June 3 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome (On Sale Dec. 10)
Sat. June 9 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium (On Sale Now)
Sun. June 10 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium (On Sale Dec. 9)
Sat. June 16 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field (On Sale Now)
Sat. June 23 – Nashville, TN – LP Field (On Sale Dec. 9)
Sun. June 24 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium (On Sale Dec. 9)
Sat. June 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field (On Sale Now)
Sun. July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – Paul Brown Stadium (On Sale Dec. 10)
Sat. July 7 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (On Sale Now)
Sun. July 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field (On Sale Dec. 10)
Sat. July 14 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium (On-Sale Date TBA)
Sat. July 21 – Denver, CO – Sports Authority Field at Mile High (On Sale Dec. 10)
Sat. July 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium (On-Sale Dec. 16)
Sun. July 29 – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium (On-Sale Dec. 16)
Sat. August 11 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium (On Sale Now)
Sun. August 12 – Washington, DC – FedExField (On-Sale Dec. 16)
Sat. August 18 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field (On Sale Now)
Fri. August 24 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium (On Sale Now)
Sat. August 25 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium (On Sale Now)

Singer-Songwriter Dobie Gray Has Died

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(L-R): Jackson Browne, Mentor Williams, Paul Williams and Dobie Gray at the 2003 ASCAP Awards

Dobie Gray

Singer and songwriter Dobie Gray, best known for recording the 1973 classic “Drift Away,” died yesterday (12/6). He was 71. Gray had called Nashville home since the 1970s.

Varying reports list his birth name as Lawrence Darrow Brown and Leonard Victor Ainsworth. The Houston native made his way to Los Angeles in the ‘60s to pursue an entertainment career, particularly theater. In LA, he met Sonny Bono, who helped guide his early path, and  eventually signed with Almo/Irving as a songwriter.

By the early ‘70s Gray was working in Nashville as an artist. Quadrafonic Studios, which was then owned by renowned session musicians Norbert Putnam and David Briggs, is where he recorded the Mentor Williams-penned “Drift Away.” He followed that with the hit “Loving Arms.”

Dobie Gray with Charlie Daniels at Daniels' 1979 Volunteer Jam. Photo: Alan Mayor

Throughout Gray’s career, his label homes included Decca, Decca, Capricorn, and Capitol. He charted a few other singles over the decades, such as the mid-80s Harold Shedd-produced country tracks “That’s One to Grow On” and “From Where I Stand.”

Gray also focused on songwriting, garnering cuts by Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, George Jones, Don Williams, Exile, John Conlee, Tammy Wynette, Etta James, Charley Pride, Conway Twitty, Three Dog Night, Julio Iglesias, and John Denver. Click here for a complete list. He was also a successful jingle writer, penning the famed ditty “Momma’s Got The Magic of Clorox 2.”

“Drift Away” became a hit again in 2003, when it was covered by Uncle Kracker, featuring Gray as a guest vocalist.

 

 

Barbara Orbison Passes

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Barbara Orbison, widow of rock legend Roy Orbison, passed away in Los Angeles yesterday (12/6) following a battle with pancreatic cancer. In May of 2011 she underwent treatment at USC Medical Center and was ultimately re-admitted in mid-November. She was 60.

Roy Orbison passed away on the same day 23 years ago in 1988. The two met at a nightclub in Leeds, England in 1968 when Barbara was 17 and Roy was 32. They were married in Nashville in 1969.

Barbara Orbison (born Barbara Anne Marie Wilhonnen Jacobs in Germany) managed her husband’s career and estate since the 1980s, including co-producing the 2008 box set titled Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock and Roll (Sony Legacy), the first all-inclusive anthology of Roy’s lengthy career. In 1998, she accepted the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Roy, and in 2010 accepted his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Boulevard.

A respected entrepreneur, Barbara ran operations for Nashville-based publishing company Still Working Music, which was awarded with BMI’s Song of the Year honor in 2010 for Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.” She also developed and launched a perfume line called Pretty Woman in 2009.

“Barbara loved the Nashville music community and was adored by many here and all over the world,” said Clay Myers, GM/VP for Orbison Music/Still Working Music. “She was a true champion for songwriters and loved the music publishing business! I have truly been blessed to have been able to work for her for the past 10 years. She was a great lady who will be deeply missed.”

She is survived by sons Roy Kelton Orbison, Jr., and Alexander Orbison.

Barbara will be buried next to her husband at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angelas, and a private graveside service will be held. The family will announce plans for a Celebration of Life reception at BMI’s offices in Nashville. Donations in her memory may be made to the Roy Orbison Foundation, c/o Leeann Hard, Forte Management, 725 Arizona Ave., Ste. 206, Los Angeles, CA 90401. The family requests that messages be sent to: [email protected].

DISClaimer Single Reviews (12/7/11)

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Nashville’s country scene seems eerily quiet these days, but the city’s pop/rock community is making plenty of noise.

I have made no secret of my affection for the music of Mat Kearney. Once again, he did not disappoint. He would have totally owned the Disc of the Day award had it not been for the Grammy nominated Keb Mo. Both men’s music belong in your life, so they’re sharing the prize this week.

Gabe Dixon has been making music in The Gabe Dixon Band for a solid decade and three albums worth. Now he’s a solo artist and a Nashvillian, so I don’t care how long he’s been around: He deserves a DisCovery Award for reinventing himself.

STEPHEN SIMMONS/Spark
Writer: Stephen Simmons; Producer: Stephen Simmons; Publisher: Shiny Geode, SESAC; Locke Creek (track) (www.stephensimmonsmusic.com)
—This CD, The Big Show, is the Woodbury, TN native’s sixth album. Its emphasis track is a rootsy country-rocker with a gentle rumble and a plaintive, love-struck vocal. Americana programmers take note.

KYLE ANDREWS/Lazer Tag With Imaginary Friends
Writer: Kyle Andrews/Greg Burgess; Producer: Kyle Andrews, Chris Grainger & Greg Burgess; Publisher: none listed; Elephant Lady (track) (www.kyleandews.com)
—Kyle Andrews makes electro pop with weird audio squiggles, jumpy beats, goofy noises and frequent tempo shifts. This quirky track comes from his new Robot Learn Love collection. It’s kind of arty and over my head, but there’s no mistaking his talent.

MAT KEARNEY/Hey Mama
Writer: Mat Kearney/Jason Lehning; Producer: Richard Marvin & Jason Lehning; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Facade Aside/Tastes Like Chicken, BMI; Aware/Universal Republic (track) (www.matkearney.com)
—If there’s any justice at all, Mat Kearney will be the next pop-rocker to break big out of Music City. This hand-clapping single from his Young Love album is so ridiculously catchy and irresistible it ought to have a warning label about possible addiction. It makes you want to skip around the room wearing a silly grin.

STEPHAN DUDASH/Paradise
Writer: Stephan Dudash; Producer: Stephan Dudash & Chris Rhyne ; Publisher: Gypsyquest Muzik, BMI; Gypsyquest (track) (www.stephandudash.com)
—Dudash’s current Gypsy Quest CD contains this utterly lovely violin instrumental that wafts like blossoms in a spring breeze. The rest of the collection draws on Latin, swing, folk, pop and jazz idioms. He has played or toured with a wide variety of talents—Shania Twain, Olivia Newton-John, BadaBing BadaBoom, Janie Fricke and Lee Greenwood among them. This virtuoso can also be heard playing thrilling gypsy jazz with guitarist John Jorgenson’s Quintet. For more audio samples, check out his website.

KEB MO/The Whole Enchilada
Writer: Kevin Moore/John Lewis Parker; Producer: Keb Mo; Publisher: Kebnote/Wixen/Parker’s Pen, BMI; Yolabelle/Ryko (track)
—This Nashvillian is nominated for a Blues Grammy Award for his current CD The Reflection. But although this single from it sounds appropriately laid back and funky, Keb Mo is more than just a “blues” artist. Elsewhere on the collection, you’ll find echoes of pop and folk as well. Whatever the genre, he’s an essential listening experience.

GLOSSARY/A Shoulder To Cry On
Writer: Joey Kneiser; Producer: Glossary & Mikey Allred; Publisher: Lytle Street Kitchen, BMI; Last Chance (track) (www.glossary.us)
—Long Live All of Us is the seventh album by this Murfreesboro rock quintet. With its bright horn bursts and neo-soul vibe, this track typifies its rump-shaking new sonic approach. Mighty fine, mighty fine.

GABE DIXON/My Favorite
Writer: Gabe Dixon/Dan Wilson; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publisher: Five R/G and L/Sugar Lake/Chrysalis, BMI/ASCAP; Fantasy/Concord (track) (www.gabedixon.com)
—This guy has it all—a cooly soulful tenor singing voice, outstanding piano chops, a talent for pop tune crafting and propulsive energy. This track from his new One Spark CD is a slab of audio joy from start to finish. This is  definitely the month to become a Gabe fave. He’s WRLT Lightning 100’s “Artist in Residence” throughout December and will be appearing and/or performing at various venues to boost donations to Second Harvest Food Bank and Toys for Tots. He’ll be singing at Whole Foods on Friday (12/9) and at Zumi Sushi next Wednesday (12/14), among several other gigs. If you see/hear him just once, I promise you’ll walk away a fan.

JAY PATTEN/Crystal Nights
Writer: Jay Patten; Producer: Cristos/Ric Lonow & Jay Patten; Publisher: Standard Blue, BMI; Flamingo (track) (www.jaypatten.com)
—Smooth saxophone stylist Jay Patten has been Crystal Gayle’s bandleader for many years, so he dedicates his latest CD to her. Its title tune is a toe-tapping, jazz-inflected instrumental bopper that perfectly captures the horn man’s style. The 13-track collection includes six vocals, one of which is a duet with Crystal on “Memories Are Made of This.”

BARRY WALSH/Marathon Motorworks
Writer: Barry Walsh; Producer: Barry Walsh; Publisher: Barry Walsh, ASCAP; Scarlet Letter (track) (www.barrywalshmusic.com)
—Walsh is the keyboard accompanist and husband to singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters. His mostly instrumental Paradiso CD is performed on concert grand piano. Here, he’s joined by Dobro master Rob Ickes and cellist David Henry. The piano collection never feels predictable, partly because of the variety of his compositions and partly because electric guitar, accordion and synthesizer sounds pop up at various times.

BILL MILLER/Birds Of Prey
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bill Miller & Michael Von Muchow; Publisher: none listed; Cool Springs (track) (www.billmillerarts.com)
—One of our most distinctive musical residents is Native American singer, songwriter and flautist Bill Miller. His Spirit Wind North CD won last year’s Grammy in the Native American category, which was his third such trophy. The category has been discontinued this year. Nevertheless, he’s still an outstanding artist, as illustrated by  the haunting tones of his flute on this gorgeous instrumental embellished with bird calls. The sound of purity.

Signings: J.J. Lawhorn, Ira Dean

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Average Joe’s has signed EMI Music Publishing songwriter J.J. Lawhorn to a recording agreement. Lawhorn is working with producer Jeremy Stover and his debut video for “Sitting On A Tailgate”—featured on Average Joe’s Muddigger 2 compilation—will soon premiere across multiple platforms.

(L-R) Standing: Attorney Jeff Colvin; LeAnn Phelan, ASCAP; Ben Vaughn, EMI Music Publishing; Ken Madsen, Average Joe’s; Tom Luteran, EMI Music Publishing; Laura Wright, EMI Music Publishing; Seated: J.J. Lawhorn; Jeremy Stover

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EMI Music Publishing and Average Joe’s have also combined forces to sign Ira Dean to a publishing agreement. Dean is currently working on his debut album for Average Joe’s and has had songs recorded by Chris Young, Jake Owen, Gary Allan and his labelmates Montgomery Gentry.

Stars Autograph For Charity At ACAs

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Stars came out to the Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat held in the MGM Grand following the American Country Awards last night (12/5), where they signed items for charity and checked out some of the hottest holiday gift items.

Pistol Annies, The Band Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, Blake Shelton, Lauren Alaina, and Scotty McCreery all autographed custom designed belt buckles which will be hand cast in bronze and given to Childhelp, a leading non-profit dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect, for auction. Visit www.childhelp.org/metalcast for more info. Gift items backstage included BiGR Audio headphones, Croton Timepieces, Gypsy Soule shoes, and Dooney & Bourke bags.

Left: Blake Shelton signs the Metalcast Kit belt buckle for Childhelp. Photo: Angela Weiss/WireImage. Right: Kristin Chenoweth checks out Gypsy Soule flip flops backstage. Photo: David Becker/Wire Image

Country Christmas With The Skaggs, Joey+Rory, Little Big Town & Charlie Monk

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Ricky Skaggs, wife Sharon White, and their children Luke and Molly appear in A Skaggs Family Christmas Live, airing on RFD-TV Dec. 8-9.

The TV special includes Buck and Cheryl White and Cheryl’s daughter Rachel Leftwich, Jim Gray and the Nashville Session Players with Ricky’s band, Kentucky Thunder. The program was taped at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. For broadcast details click here.

The 2011 Skaggs Family Christmas tour stops at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony on Thursday, Dec. 22.

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Little Big Town has released their version of the Christmas classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” for digital purchase.

“This is one of my favorite things we’ve ever done as a band,” says Karen Fairchild. “It’s a great challenge to interpret a classic and make it your own. I’m really proud of the way this turned out and am hoping we make a bunch of folks’ Christmas playlists for years to come.”

Little Big Town performed “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Santa Clause Is Back In Town” on the televised CMA Country Christmas earlier this month.

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Joey+Rory are promoting their A Farmhouse Christmas CD and tour with a new television special.

Country’s Family Reunion Presents Joey+Rory’s A Farmhouse Christmas will air on RFD-TV 12/23, and 12/24.

“We’re thrilled at how it turned out. Funny thing is, we don’t even have a tv, so we’ll have to go visit someone and catch it one these nights!” said Rory.

Joey+Rory mixed songs with their band from A Farmhouse Christmas with conversation as they performed on a set they built in their 1870’s farm house and barn in Pottsville, TN.

“It was decked out like a winter wonderland,” said Joey. “You won’t even be able to tell Rory usually has his old cars and boat parked where we were singing!”

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Nashville’s ‘Mayor of Music Row,’ Charlie Monk, releases spoken-word song, “Andy and Opie Christmas” to radio stations across the US. See the video below: