Photos: Josh Thompson, Dakota Bradley and the Bella Bash

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Dakota Bradley recently appeared on Tennessee Mornings on Nashville’s Fox 17 channel to perform an acoustic version of “Any Part of Your Heart.” The 16-year-old artist made his television debut two weeks ago on Ellen.

Pictured (L-R): John Dunn, Bradley, and Kelly Sutton.

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The 3rd annual Bella Bash Concert to benefit the Angel Wings Foundation took place recently at the Loveless Barn. The sold-out night of music, comedy and entertainment featured over 500 supporters and celebrities such as Delilah, Melinda Doolittle, Danny Gokey, Russ Taff, Henry Cho, Bruce Carroll and Tim Akers & the Smoking Section.

In his introduction, Angel Wings Foundation founder Regie Hamm announced an exciting new joint initiative with Vanderbilt’s Kennedy Center to establish the Angel Center, a Middle Tennessee facility for comprehensive therapy, diagnosis, and support for children battling profoundly challenging mental and/or genetic disabilities.

Pictured (L-R): Doolittle, Hamm, Delilah, Gokey, Cho and Taff

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Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson met two of his musical heroes for the first time – George Jones and Charlie Daniels – after performing  at the Grand Ole Opry last week.

Pictured (L-R): Thompson, Jones

Pictured (L-R): Thompson, Daniels

Lorrie Morgan Co-Founds REDHot Jingle Co.

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Marty and Lorrie Morgan

Recording artist Lorrie Morgan has partnered with her brother Marty Morgan and producer Mark Oliverius to form The REDHot Jingle Company, a full service music production and commercial jingle service for TV, radio, film and new media.

“Some people might say the last thing Nashville needs is another jingle company,” explains Morgan. “But we think the fresh new style of compelling music we are creating for marketers will set us apart. Everything we do is centered on the ‘hook.’ Making messaging that is almost impossible to forget is our trademark. We’re applying the same formulas we use for hit songs to create hit jingles.”

Marty Morgan is a marketing executive with experience in Birmingham, Dallas, Kansas City and Nashville. He will serve as the company’s lead writer, while Lorrie and Oliverius will focus on production, melody and lyrics. The company’s offices will be located at the Horton Group building on Charlotte Pk. and 21st Ave. N. Reach Marty at 615-865-4090.

Gospel Music Hall of Fame Names New Class

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Top (l-r): Hoss Allen, Johnny Cash; Bottom (l-r): DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet

The GMA Foundation (GMAF) announced today that it will induct Johnny Cash, DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet, and Bill “Hoss” Allen into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on January 24, 2011.

“The impact this group of individuals has made on gospel music is immeasurable. It’s an honor to recognize these inductees for their contributions.” said Ed Harper, Chairman, GMA Foundation.

“I’m very excited about this year’s slate of inductees. All come from different cultures and backgrounds but have helped elevate gospel music to a much higher plateau throughout our universe which is in need of good news more than ever,” added Tom Long, Chairman, GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Committee.

Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key landed their first record deal at age 16 and over the next 17 years, recorded 15 albums of faith-filled, blues-influenced rock music. They earned seven GRAMMY and 17 Dove Award nominations. The duo created some of the first in-roads into the world of Christian music videos and was the first contemporary Christian artist to be aired on MTV.

The most popular of the Jubilee quartets, the Golden Gate Quartet was made up of Willie Johnson (baritone and narrator), Henry Owens (first tenor) William Langford (second tenor), and Orlandus Wilson (bass). They offered sophisticated harmonies, laced with a heavy dose of jazz.

In the mid 1950s, Hoss Allen established himself as a deejay for WLAC’s 50,000 watt radio station, a powerful entity that had broadcast capabilities stretching from Michigan to Mobile, Ala. Allen soon gained a reputation for playing the newest releases and is even credited for helping jumpstart the careers of James Brown and Jimi Hendrix through his airplay. Around 1975, Allen reformatted his program as “Early Morning Gospel Time With the Hossman,” providing a solid platform for this kind of music which had previously not existed.

Famed country music singer Johnny Cash was a lifelong Christian who recorded numerous Gospel albums and often incorporated Gospel music into his TV shows and concerts.

The GMA Foundation (GMAF) will induct the honorees into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Monday, January 24, 2011, at Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, TN at 6:00 PM. Admission is free to the public.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, established in 1971, has inducted more than 150 members since its inception. Previous inductees include Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Statler Brothers, the Winans, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Sandi Patty, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Billy Graham, the Jordanaires, and many more.

CMA Announces New Hires, Promotions

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The Country Music Association has announced several new additions and promotions to its staff.

Greg Fuson

Greg Fuson has joined the organization as its Marketing Research Director, where he brings extensive tourism knowledge from working with many convention and visitors bureaus. Fuson has also managed research projects for companies including Nortel, Cisco Systems, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Lowes, Ruby Tuesday and O’Charleys.

Ken Sanderson

In Finance and Aministration, Ken Sanderson has been hired as CMA Senior Manager of IT. He brings years of experience to the table, including IT needs for events and the entertainment industry. Jody Pace has been hired as a Staff Accountant. She holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from David Lipscomb University and has experience in accounting, HR, and business administration. Veronica Costilla has been hired as the Finance and Administration Coordinator. Costilla graduated from MTSU in Recording Industry, Production & Technology and worked with FBMM and the Haber Corporation prior to CMA.

Jody Pace

CMA’s Strategic Marketing department has added Eric Jensen and Marty Filogamo. Jensen, a 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, has been hired as Marketing Coordinator. He most recently worked in a similar role with GAC, assisting with online marketing campaigns and digital content. Filogamo, a 2010 graduate of Ball State, will take on the role of Junior Web Designer/Production Coordinator. His previous experience includes internships with the Big Machine Label Group.

Brandi Simms

CMA staffers Brandi Simms and Betsy Walker also received promotions. Simms has been promoted to Senior Manager for Membership and Balloting, where her responsibilities include overseeing the Membership department, the CMA Awards Balloting process, CMA Broadcast Awards, and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She joined CMA in 2002 as Executive Assistant to Ed Benson, before being promoted to Sr. Manager of Executive Programs in 2009.

Walker has been promoted to Senior Coordinator of Member Relations and Services, where she works closely with CMA’s membership base. A 2005 graduate of Western Carolina University, she joined the staff in 2005 as Executive Assistant to Tammy Genovese before being promoted to Senior Coordinator of Membership and Industry Relations in 2009.

Paisley, Bon Jovi And Flatts Live On Letterman

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Rascal Flatts

Brad Paisley, Bon Jovi and Rascal Flatts will be featured on the CBS Interactive Music Group’s webcast series, Live On Letterman in November. The music program will stream live from the Ed Sullivan Theater online and on-demand through CBS properties, Vevo.com, Vevo on YouTube and Vevo’s mobile app.

The artists’ webcasts will follow the taping of their performances on the Late Show with David Letterman, which will be broadcast later the same evening on CBS.

Performance dates include Brad Paisley on Nov. 3, Bon Jovi on Nov. 9, and Rascal Flatts on Nov. 15. For more details click here.

In addition to Letterman, Paisley will appear on Good Morning America on ABC on Nov. 4, The 44th Annual CMA Awards as co-host and performer on Nov. 10 on ABC and CMA Country Christmas on Nov. 29 on ABC. His double-disc Hits Alive release will be in stores Nov. 2

Johnson and McConaughey “Playing The Part”

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Jamey Johnson’s music video for “Playing The Part” is directed by Matthew McConaughey. The video, shot in L.A., was the actor’s first directing attempt and the first video from Johnson’s new 2-disc set The Guitar Song.

“Jamey, and this song, both have a great sense of humor, so I wanted the video to have a ‘wink’ to it,” says McConaughey. “For any video, if you like the song, you should like it even more after you see the video. I wanted this video to support the lyrics, and elevate the song. This is a story with a beginning, middle and a surprise at the end. I started out with a 250-pound stripper leaving work in the morning, and ended up with a man in a gorilla suit getting fired from used tire store.”

McConaughey met Johnson during the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, where Johnson received the Song of the Year award for “In Color.” McConaughey presented the award for album of the year, for which Johnson was also nominated. “I met Jamey backstage,” McConaughey notes.”He hit on Camila, we shared a few laughs, and we stayed in touch.”

The video below offers some interview footage and fun “making of the video” stories from backstage on the set of “Playing The Part.”

Johnson, who is currently on tour, will perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, October 26.

Baker Joins New Revolution

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New Revolution Entertainment has hired music and radio veteran Doug Baker to cover radio promotion in the southeast region recently vacated by Tony Morreale. Baker will be based in Nashville.

“To have the caliber of experience and knowledge that Doug brings to our team transcends the traditional promotion role on many levels,” said New Revolution co-owner Rob Dalton. “Now, let’s write some future together!”

“I’m excited to join the New Revolution team and continue to provide great results for our artists and country radio,” said Baker. “The business of music and radio are changing fast. I’m looking forward to joining Rob, Jeff and Renee on this journey.”

Baker’s experience covers stints at KNIX in Phoenix and WFMS in Indianapolis, and WSIX won numerous awards under his leadership as program director of the station. On the label side, Baker held national director titles at RCA and Virgin and worked as director of radio marketing at Capitol Nashville. He served on the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors for nine years and is an alumnus of Leadership Music.

Bill Johnson Undergoing Treatment

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Bill Johnson (photo: Jim Shea)

Bill Johnson, long time head of the CBS/Sony Music’s Creative Department, (before its merger with BMG), has been diagnosed with lung cancer and is now undergoing treatment. Johnson was instrumental in most all graphical images, album covers and sales pieces that the label produced during that era. He also designed the MusicRow logo that is still used today.

Presently Bill is undergoing chemo and radiation treatments, but remains in good spirits. “It’s a roller coaster ride, but all in all I’m doing OK,” says Johnson. “Cynda has been by my side every minute, monitoring medical treatment, giving me total home care and loving me.”

Bill admits, “There are so many friends I would like to connect with but I’m either in treatment or sleeping. I wake up with a list of things to accomplish for the day, but then don’t have the energy for getting anything done.”

Friends who wish to leave a note or well wishes can do so at CaringBridge.org where Bill is keeping up a journal and there is a guestbook. Click HERE to contact Bill.

Get well soon, Bill!

Top Songwriter Linda Hargrove Passes

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Linda Hargrove

Hit songwriter and former session musician, producer and Nashville recording artist Linda Hargrove has died at age 61 in Florida.

One of the biggest country hit composers of the 1970s, she wrote or co-wrote for at least a dozen superstars. Among her most successful songs are “Tennessee Whiskey” (George Jones, 1983, David Allan Coe, 1981)), “Just Get Up and Close the Door” (Johnny Rodriguez, 1975), “Let It Shine” (Olivia Newton-John, 1976), “I’ve Never Loved Anyone More” (Lynn Anderson, 1975), “New York City Song” (Tanya Tucker, 1973, Jan Howard, 1973) and  “Half My Heart’s in Texas” (Ernest Tubb, 1978).

Others who recorded Hargrove tunes include Leon Russell, Michael Nesmith, Marty Robbins, Tracy Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Loretta Lynn, Al Green, Tammy Wynette, Sandy Posey, Jean Shepard, Anita Carter, Billie Jo Spears, B.J. Thomas, Dottie West, Jim Ed Brown, Moe Bandy, Tommy James, Merle Haggard, Asleep at the Wheel and Barbara Fairchild.

Linda Hargrove was also a recording artist, herself. Between 1974 and 1978, she released eight charting singles on Elektra, Capitol and RCA. Her biggest singing success was 1975’s “Love Was (Once Around the Dance Floor).”

Her five major-label country albums were Music Is Your Mistress (1973, Elektra), Blue Jean Country Queen (1974, Elektra), Love You’re the Teacher (Capitol, 1975), Just Like You (Capitol, 1976) and Impressions (Capitol, 1977).

At a time when female country performers were highly coiffed in glamorous evening gowns, Linda Hargrove defied convention by wearing her straight hair unstyled, not using makeup and dressing in denim. Hence her billing as “The Blue Jean Country Queen.”

Born in Florida in 1949, Linda Hargrove became intrigued by Music City after hearing Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album of 1969. In 1970, producer and steel guitarist Pete Drake discovered Hargrove, signed her to a song-publishing contract and began using her as a guitarist on recording sessions by Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis and other stars.

Within a few years, Hargrove was producing sessions, herself. Among her productions were ad jingles for Plymouth, Frito-Lay, Golden Flake potato chips and Dodge trucks.

She married and underwent a religious conversion. As Linda Bartholomew, her married name, she recorded gospel albums in 1981 and 1989. She also left Nashville and returned to her native Florida.

Signed to a second song-publishing contract on Music Row in 1993, she returned to Music City to perform showcases in 1993, 1994 and 1996. She issued her final album, One Woman’s Life, in 2005.

Throughout those years, her health became precarious. She had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1986.

“She underwent a bone marrow transplant 20 years ago,” reported her sister Susan Walker. “Complications from that caught up with her.”

Linda Hargrove died Sunday night, October 24, at Big Ben Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida. In addition to sister Susan Walker, she is survived by sister Virginia Tompkins, brothers Lee Hargrove and Mark Hargrove and by many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being planned. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.

Media Surge For Swift’s “Speak Now”

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It’s release day for Taylor Swift’s highly-anticipated, Speak Now, and while she makes the media rounds, reviewers have been weighing in. The critical response has been positive, and it is expected that first-week sales will fall somewhere between the 700,000 and one-million mark.

At almost 21, Swift’s all grown up, but hasn’t tried to prove it by writing songs about sexual escapades or all-night partying. What she’s not afraid to write about is other celebrities. Swift won’t name names, but media speculation is in overdrive about her songs possibly aimed at John Mayer, Kanye West, Joe Jonas and the girl he dumped her for, actress Camilla Belle. She also offers a searing response to the critics who have questioned her vocal abilities.

Contest winners from will gather tonight for Swift’s first performance of release week. Speak Now: Taylor Swift Live From New York City will stream live on CMT.com, MTV.com and VH1.com beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.

On Thanksgiving night, NBC will air the one-hour primetime special Taylor Swift – Speak Now. Tomorrow (10/26) she visits The Today Show (NBC) and The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), followed by stops at Live! With Regis & Kelly (10/27) Dancing With the Stars (11/2) and an album release party on Ellen (11/1).

Here’s some of the press about Speak Now:

New York Times:

For pure star-on-star revenge, “Dear John,” from the new Taylor Swift album, “Speak Now,” will be tough to beat. Six and a half minutes long and flagrantly provocative, it’s a deeply uncomfortable song, its protagonist anguished and violated…It’s warfare on the level of Jay-Z versus Nas, Oasis versus Blur, Carly Simon versus whomever.

It’s the most savage [album] of her career, and also the most musically diverse. And it’s excellent too, possibly her best.

“Speak Now” also heralds the full arrival of her longtime collaborator Nathan Chapman as a first-rate producer, and not just of the pop-country that’s made Ms. Swift one of the most important new musicians of the decade. He sounds equally comfortable with the blues of “Dear John,” the rootsy sound of “Mean,” the pop-punk of “The Story of Us” and “Better Than Revenge,” and the bruised, anthemic arena-rock of “Haunted.”

NBC Today Show

The success of Taylor Swift flies in the face of seemingly every element it takes to be a female mega-star in today’s pop world. The singer-songwriter doesn’t have a sexualized image, she doesn’t make transparent bids for media attention, and her songs are introspective and confessional, not gimmicky and exhibitionist.

Yet by offering fans a more down-to-Earth image than most any major female pop star in the past decade, the 20-year-old Swift has become an unlikely rebel in her own way.

LA Times Pop & Hiss Music Blog

“Mean” isn’t just a song title on “Speak Now,” it’s the key operative term. This is a concept album through which Swift sends specific messages, one per song, to significant players in her young life — an interesting twist on the confessional songwriting model in which she filters memory through the lens of moral judgment.

Swift embodies the impeccable dignity of moral certitude. Her feistiness reminds me of Sandra Bullock playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side — another can-do blond using her vast reserves of sass to solve intractable problems.

The LA Times feature story is here.

Also check out USA Today correspondent Brian Mansfield’s look at Swift and the new album.

Swift stopped by the Tony & Kris show to promote Speak Now. Pictured (l-r): Tony, Taylor and Kris