Lifenotes: Gary Lamb

/by

Gary Lamb, son of music industry figure Charlie Lamb, died Nov. 21 at age 63. He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances A. Lamb, and is survived by his father, wife Peggy and many other family members.

Visitation will be tonight (11/22) from 4-8 p.m. at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home on Thompson Ln. There will also be visitation tomorrow (11/23) at 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11:30 a.m. in Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park, family and friends to serve as pallbearers.

Guitarist Paul Yandell Passes

/by

(L-R): Steve Wariner, Merle Atkins Russell, and Paul Yandell. Photo: Caryn Wariner

Master “fingerstyle” guitarist Paul Yandell, who was Chet Atkins’ bandleader for over 25 years, passed away Monday morning (Nov. 21) in Hendersonville following a battle with cancer. He was 76.

Yandell arrived in Nashville from Kentucky in 1955, already an accomplished guitarist. He began his career with the Louvin Brothers, working with them until 1959. In 1961, he joined the Kitty Wells show, where he performed until 1970. He joined Jerry Reed that year, and said he “went to college” by learning from Reed. In 1975, Yandell joined Chet Atkins and remained at his side for the next 25 years.

In August 2011, Atkins’ daughter Merle Atkins Russell bestowed Yandell with Atkins’ last and final “Certified Guitar Player” (c.g.p.) degree at the opening of the Chet Atkins exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As Atkins’ sideman, Yandell had helped confer the honor upon only four players before Atkins passed in 2001: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner.

Yandell also made significant contributions as a session musician, playing on records by Wariner, Dolly Parton, George Strait, the Everly Brothers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Perry Como and many more. In 2001, Yandell recorded a tribute to his late boss called Forever Chet.

He is survived by his wife Marie Jones Yandell, son Paul, sister Yvone Lambert, brother Forrest Yandell, and numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hendersonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 25 at 5 pm. Funeral services will take place Saturday, Nov. 26 at Clark’s River Baptist Church Cemetery in Symsonia, Ky. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alive Hospice or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Chet Atkins exhibit.

Gartner Study Predicts Strong Music Growth Online

/by

A recent Gartner Industry Research report (9/16/11) suggests that online music revenue will grow 31%, from $5.9 billion in 2010 to $7.7 billion in 2015. Physical CDs will move conversely, falling from about $15 billion in 2010 to $10 billion in 2015. Gartner’s findings place strong emphasis on connected devices such as media tablets and smart phones for driving the changes over the upcoming period in terms of revenues and actual business models. Subscription services such as Spotify, the report says, will lead the growth, but “a la carte sales will drive the bulk of overall revenue.”

“The primary stakeholders in the music industry — artists, music labels, publishers and retailers/service providers — are facing wrenching changes and a somewhat uncertain future,” states analysts Mike McGuire and Stephanie Baghdassarian. “But the next four to five years, as portrayed in our forecast portends solid growth — if you ignore the continued decline of CD sales…”

Although the substantial loss in CD revenue appears unavoidable, the report focuses on the online sector which is, “Where the strategic focus needs to be.” Part of the data projects that subscription services will take a 317% leap from 2011 to 2015 where it will account for $2,218 million. Download revenues in 2011 lead subscription revenues by about 600%. By 2015, however that lead is expected to be only about double the subscription revenues (see graph).

The growth in the online music sector is clearly being driven by the proliferation of connected devices which is causing industry stakeholders to realign and restructure business models and services. “The essential element — the thing that will affect the fortunes of any number of stakeholders in the music industry,” states the report, “is how each sector addresses consumer data (behavior patterns, and how consumers find and share data about music and information). For music labels, artists and publishers, challenges abound. However, there remain real opportunities to reinvent the business based on consumers who are adopting connected devices (that marry playback and purchase acquisition capabilities in a single device) and who are showing they will pay for content in multiple ways.”

Dierks Bentley Wraps Fall Tour, Plays The White House

/by

Dierks Bentley with Eli Young Band

Dierks Bentley wrapped the first leg of his 2011 Country & Cold Cans Tour this weekend with sold out shows in Boise, Bozeman, and Denver. The tour featured Eli Young Band and Jerrod Neimann and will resume in February 2012 with first dates scheduled internationally in Canada and Australia.

“It has been a great run…the fans came ready to party. The crowd in Boise set a record for beer sales!” laughs Bentley. “I’d say that’s a pretty good way to wrap up this leg of the tour.”

Dierks was recently at the White House with Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker, James Taylor and Mickey for a live-stream taping of PBS’ sixty-minute special, Country Music: In Performance at the White House, which will formally air on PBS Wednesday (11/23), at 7 PM/CT as previously posted by MusicRow.

“No matter who you vote for or what you believe, [The White House] is one of the greatest symbols of our country. It is our nation’s ‘Home,’” says Bentley. “I’m honored to have been asked to perform there, and when I sing this song, I will definitely be thinking about all of the men and women in the military.”

Bentley will also engage fans by releasing a customizable version of the official music video for “Home,” the title track from his upcoming album due February 7. Fans will have the ability to upload photos into the video and download or share virally from his official website. Customized videos can be created here.

Paisley’s “Diary” Hits NYT Best-Seller List

/by

Brad Paisley’s first major book, Diary Of A Player, was released on Nov. 1 and is celebrating its second consecutive week on the New York Times Best-Seller List.

Co-written with David Wild, contributing editor to Rolling Stone and Emmy-nominated television writer and producer, Diary of a Player reached No. 34 on the New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction chart for Nov. 22.

The book was memorably spoofed on the Nov. 9 CMA Awards by co-host Carrie Underwood, who tossed it over her shoulder when Paisley asked if she’d been reading anything interesting.

Published by Paisley with Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, Diary of a Player serves as Paisley’s salute to the guitar gods of country, blues, and rock & roll who have shaped his life. “No matter how I have changed, learned and evolved as a person, the guitar has been a major part of it, and really the only constant,” Paisley wrote as an explanation of the book in the liner notes for his album Play. “You can get through some real tough moments with that guitar on your knee. When life gets intense, there are people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, watch TV, pray, cry, sleep, and so on. I play.”

Nashville Artists Cover McCartney For Charity

/by

Backstage at the “Let Us In” benefit concert at The Ryman Auditorium. (L-R) Matthew Stevens from Stevens Management, Premiere Radio Network's Robin Rhodes, Chuck Wicks and David Ross CEO of Reviver Music and Producer of the "Let Us In" Campaign.

Numerous stars performed at the Nov. 7 Let Us In concert to benefit The Woman and Cancer Fund at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium. The concert was hosted by actor/musician Jeff Daniels, who performed along with SHeDAISY, Sarah Darling, Steel Magnolia, Phil Vassar, Cheyenne Kimball, Jordyn Shellhart, Chuck Wicks, Blue Sky Riders and others.

Many of the same artists contributed an original version of a Sir Paul McCartney song for a compilation album. “Let Us In” Nashville – A Tribute To Linda McCartney is available for purchase, and proceeds will benefit The Women and Cancer Fund.

Darling’s track “Blackbird” is streaming here and the full album is on MSN’s Listening Booth.

Track listing
1. SHeDAISY – “With A Little Luck”
2. Timothy B. Schmit, Mark Hudson, Laurence Juber, Denny Seiwell – “Every Night”
3. Sarah Darling – “Blackbird”
4. Steel Magnolia – “Maybe I’m Amazed”
5. Phil Vassar – “Lady Madonna”
6. Blue Sky Riders (Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr) – “Junk”
7. Cheyenne Kimball – “Mull Of Kintyre”
8. Juliana Cole – “Bluebird”
9. Ricky Skaggs – “Listen To What The Man Said”
10. Jeff Daniels – “Heart Of The Country”
11. Nikki Shannon Fernandez – “I Saw Her Standing There”
12. Jordyn Shellhart – “I Will”
13. Chuck Wicks – “No More Lonely Nights”
14. Nancy Siranni – “Calico Skies”
15. Samantha Landrum – “Pipes Of Peace”
16. Tommy Emmanuel – “She’s A Woman”

One Week Left For No Shave November

/by

Dang, does something itch around here? Oh, my bad, that’s my unshaven face and neck. There’s one week left in No Shave November benefiting St. Jude and some of us (including yours truly) have yet to pick up a razor.

The bearded masses of Music Row have been busily raising funds (instead of grooming) to help the cause, and the current total raised stands at $19,231.75. The goal for Nov. 30 has been set at $20,000, so make with the clickin’ and give already. Donations can be made here.

On Nov. 30, participants will gather at The Moose Music Row barber shop for the “Beard Bash,” where prizes will be awarded and a “No Shave November Champion” will be crowned by a panel of celebrity judges. Which, as you can see below, ain’t gonna be me. Maybe there’s a Mr. Congeniality?

(L-R): BBR Management's Shawn Pennington, R&J Records' Tim McFadden, Magic Mustang Music's Keithan Melton, and some dude in a purple shirt.

Cumulus Radiothon Today, And More Benefits

/by

 

• All local Cumulus radio stations are commercial-free today (11/21) from 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. for their annual radiothon to raise money for the Nashville Rescue Mission. $2.26 will provide a meal for a homeless person. To donate call (615) 312-1500 or click above. Cumulus stations include Supertalk 99.7 WTN; 92Q Nashville’s Big Station, WQQK; 95.5 FM WSM; Classic Hits 97.1, WRQQ; and i106 All the Hits, WNFN.

• There is also a benefit tonight (11/21) at Music City Bar & Grill for songwriter Earl Clark, to help with his medical costs. He is behind the hits “Renegades, Rebels and Rogues,” “Can’t Break it to My Heart,” “I Know it’s Not the End of the World,” and “I Found Jesus on the Jailhouse Floor.”

• The Springs Music Hall in Salado, TX is proud to present Kinky Friedman and B.J. Thomas on Sat., Nov. 26, benefiting The Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. Thomas’ credits include “Hooked on A Feeling,” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.” Tickets are on sale for $35 and can be purchased online here.

Willie Nelson Offers Classic Covers Today

/by

Willie Nelson will honor 14 country singers and songwriters from the past 70 years with his new collection, Remember Me, Vol. 1, hitting stores today (11/21).

Songs from Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Rosemary Clooney, Porter Wagoner and Ray Price are brought to light again by Nelson and longtime friend and producer James Stroud. Their recording sessions yielded more than 30 songs, half of which are slated to appear next year with the release of Remember Me, Vol. 2. The two-disc set is be released through Stroud’s R&J Records.

Remember Me, Vol. 1 track list below (original hit-making artist, year and peak Billboard position):

1.  Remember Me (Ernest Tubb, 1950, No. 5 Country)
2.  Sixteen Tons (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1955, No. 1 Country & Pop)
3.  Why Baby Why (George Jones, 1955, No. 4 Country)
4.  Today I Started Loving You Again (Merle Haggard, 1970)
5.  I’m Movin’ On (Hank Snow, 1950, No. 1 Country)
6.  That Just About Does It (Vern Gosdin, 1989, No. 4 Country)
7.  This Old House (Rosemary Clooney, 1954, No. 1 Pop)
8.  Sunday Morning Coming Down (Johnny Cash, 1970, No. 1 Country)
9.  Smoke That Cigarette (Tex Williams, 1947, No. 1 Country)
10.  Slowly (Webb Pierce, 1954, No. 1 Country)
11.  A Satisfied Mind (Porter Wagoner, 1955, No. 1 Country)
12.  Roly Poly (Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, 1946, No. 3 Country)
13.  Release Me (Ray Price, 1954, No. 6 Country)
14.  Ramblin’ Fever (Merle Haggard, 1977, No. 2 Country)
*15.  More And More (Webb Pierce, 1954, No. 1 Country) *iTunes exclusive

Awards Ratings Showdown: CMAs Trump AMAs

/by

Swift won top honors at the AMAs, and was also profiled on 60 Minutes.

The American Music Awards pushed ABC to a third-place finish in last night’s (11/20) TV ratings race, averaging about 12 million viewers, according to EW.com. By comparison, about 16.3 million fans tuned into the Nov. 9 CMA Awards, also on ABC. Taylor Swift was a big winner at both ceremonies.

Also last night, CBS won the 7 PM/ET hour and placed second in the 8 PM/ET hour thanks to an NFL game that ran over, and a profile of Swift on network mainstay 60 Minutes.

Overall, NBC’s Sunday Night Football won the night with 14.8 million pairs of eyes. This info according to Zap2It.

Embedded below:

• Members of Nashville’s Hot Chelle Rae talk to The Hollywood Reporter about their AMA win last night.

• See more of Swift’s interview on 60 Minutes Overtime.