All Star Concert Hopes To Save The GMA

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Amy Grant

Christian and Gospel music’s premier artists will gather in Nashville on Monday night, Oct. 12, for the Save The GMA concert at the Loveless Cafe Barn. Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Kirk Franklin, Point of Grace, Fisk Jubilee Singers and The Booth Brothers are all on board for the show to be produced by five-time Dove Award Producer of the Year Brown Bannister.

Under increasing financial pressure, the Gospel Music Association is hoping this all star event will raise enough money to keep the organization running. The GMA laid off more than half of its staff in early 2009, and earlier this month Pres. and CEO John Styll also exited.

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Michael W. Smith

Daywind Music Pres. Ed Leonard, who serves as chairman of the GMA Board, explains the organization’s importance. “In a time of restricted sponsorship dollar availability and financial hardships faced by many in our community, the GMA has continued to be there for all of us, offering first class events, tackling important legislative issues and promoting the genre to the world through the Dove Awards.” Among the GMA’s other initiatives are GMA Music Week, the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and Immerse.

Save The GMA is open to the public and industry, with tickets priced at $1,000. The cost covers event production and a significant tax-deductible donation. Tickets are available by calling the GMA office at 615-242-0303, ext. 238.

GAC Nights Radio Show Shuts Down

gacThe syndicated radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville is coming to an end tomorrow (9/30). It was on-air almost two years but couldn’t find another home when its contract with Citadel radio ran out. Exiting are Executive Producer Donna Hughes, co-host Buzz Brainard, and Associate Producer Renee McNeill.

Hughes, with 21 years of experience in the country music industry, will be focusing on freelance work. Her career includes time as a journalist, talent booker/coordinator, writer, interviewer, producer, executive radio producer, and on-air talent. She can be reached at donnah7575@yahoo.com. Brainard is at me@cambuzzbrainard.com and McNeill can be contacted at Reneelmc5@aol.com.

Around Town: Paramore, Pop Songwriter, And Fire Prevention

Paramore's Hayley Williams and Jeremy Davis  Photo: Akshay Bhansali/ MTV News

Paramore's Hayley Williams and Jeremy Davis Photo: Akshay Bhansali/ MTV News

Members of Franklin, TN based rock band Paramore gave MTV News a tour of their hometown recently. The band stopped at Puckett’s Restaurant and Grocery in Historic Downtown for lunch. Paramore’s third studio album, Brand New Eyes is releasing nationwide today (9/29) through Fueled by Ramen. The feature can be seen on the MTV News Web site.

Also in Franklin, young actress Amanda Waters is getting a lot of attention. She has appeared in several family friendly films and was also chosen to be the modern face of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the cover of the newly updated Little House on the Prairie books. Waters also plays in the new movie, Mandie & the Secret Tunnel, which will have its Tennessee premier at The Factory in Franklin on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7pm.  Tickets are available to the public.

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A fire across the street from the Big Machine/Valory/Republic Nashville headquarters last week was quickly put under control thanks to the Nashville Fire Department. Valory and Big Machine staffers came out to support the Fire Department and are pictured below: (L-R) Justin McIntosh, Jack Purcell, Whitney Sutton, Kelly Rich, Lindsey Jackson, David Beller, Scott Borchetta, Erik Powell, Jon Loba, Jayme Austin, George Briner, Allison Jones, JoJamie Hahr, Andrew Kautz, Nikki Burns, Harry Lyons, Wayne Milligan, Natalie Kilgore and Bobby Young.
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Andy Dodd, writer of hits for Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Camp Rock and Jesse McCartney, dropped by the ASCAP office in his “new” hometown last week. Pictured (L-R) are ASCAP VP/GM Marc Driskill, Dodd, and ASCAP VP Dan Keen.

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LeAnn Rimes/ACM Building Playground For Charity

leannLeAnn Rimes is teaming up with volunteers from The Home Depot, Academy of Country Music, KaBOOM!, the United Way and community members to build a playground in just one day at Spring Valley Apartments in Murfreesboro.

Rimes was honored as the 2009 recipient of The Home Depot Humanitarian Award at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards this past April in Las Vegas. The Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. In addition to recognition at the Awards show, the Humanitarian Award recipient receives a KaBOOM! playground donated by The Home Depot built in the city of their choice. Rimes selected Murfreesboro as the site for her playground build.

Rimes is particularly devoted to causes that help children and military veterans. She supports organizations like Children’s Miracle Network, Camp C.O.P.E., Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., and Nashville Humane Association.

Past recipients of the Award include Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, Lonestar and Reba McEntire.

Photos From The Road: Aldean, Covington, Lambert

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Miranda Lambert’s new album, Revolution, comes out today (9/29) and she started this morning with a performance of her current single, “White Liar,” on Good Morning America. While there she ran into the Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald (R) who was also guesting on the ABC show.

She continues the Revolution tonight with a live performances on the Late Show with David Letterman (9/29), and later this week on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (10/1),  Ellen (10/5) and The Bonnie Hunt Show (10/7).

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A capacity crowd of 10,000 braved torrential rain to catch Jason Aldean when his Wide Open tour stopped at Applebee’s Park in Lexington, KY on Friday night. Aldean’s show set new attendance records at the park, barely beating Hank Williams Jr.’s previous record by four tickets. Among the Nashvillians in attendance backstage were (L-R) GAC’s Suzanne Gordon, Billboard’s Ken Tucker and CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton.

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buckyDedicated fans from as far away as New York and Massachusetts packed Bucky Covington’s hometown Rockingham, NC over the weekend, where he held his first hometown concert since competing on American Idol in 2006. Over 6,000 friends, fans, family and neighbors watched the show where he previewed songs from his upcoming sophomore album, I’m Alright. Near the end of the concert Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin took the stage to declare September 26 “Bucky Covington Day” and present the singer with a key to the city. While at home, Covington also lent a hand to the area’s BackPack Pals program, which provides nutritious weekend meals to underpriviledged students. He stopped by the organization’s facilities to help stuff backpacks and collected food and monetary donations at the concert.

Writer Cup and Coat Drive This Week

The Writer Cup golf tournament, which benefits the homeless outreach of Nashville Mission and Room In The Inn, takes place Wednesday (9/30) and Thursday (10/1) at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, TN. The normal entry fee has been waived, but participants will have to pay the green fees and any incidentals. Hole sponsorships are still available for $500.

Following the tournament is the Writer Cup’s companion event, the 8th Annual Music Row Coat Drive, which also benefits Nashville Mission and Room In The Inn. Donors are asked to bring old coats to their offices for pickup on Friday (10/2).

Please contact Norman De Vasure at 615-320-7300 or norman@normanproductions.com to schedule a pickup. To make a general donation, checks can be made to:

The Room In The Inn, Fed Tax ID # 62-125320
PO Box 121086
Nashville, TN 37212

Music Row Rally Raises $1340 & 150 lbs of Food

(L-R) Jeremy McComb, Joey + Rory and Craig Wiseman

(L-R) Jeremy McComb, Joey + Rory and Craig Wiseman

The first ever Music Row Rally (9/25) had Craig Wiseman and friends stationed at both ends of Music Row collecting money and canned food from cars passing by. On hand to help the emergency food supply in Middle Tennessee were the Second Harvest Food Bank volunteers, Wiseman’s Big Loud Shirt gang, and artists Joey + Rory, and Jeremy McComb. Overall, $1,340 in cash donations and 150 lbs. of food donations were raised in support of their efforts.

The 5th Annual Stars For Second Harvest Benefit concert, also raising money for the hungry, is set for tonight (9/29) at the Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by Wiseman, the concert will also feature Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, Heidi Newfield, Luke Bryan, Joey + Rory, Jeffrey Steele, Tony Mullins and comedian Gary Mule Deer in an unplugged acoustic style show. www.secondharvestmidtn.org.

Craig Wiseman, Joey + Rory and Jeremy McComb along with the Big Loud Shirt, Big Loud Bucks, Second Harvest volunteers. Photos courtesy of Big Loud Shirt

Craig Wiseman, Joey + Rory and Jeremy McComb along with the Big Loud Shirt, Big Loud Bucks, and Second Harvest volunteers.

Bryan Plots Promotional Push For New Album

lukeb-cdLuke Bryan will promote his new album Doin’ My Thing with an industrious tour visiting nine cities in nine days. The launch for his second album will kick-off Oct. 5 in Statesboro, Georgia, with Bryan’s previously announced Farm Tour benefit show.

On release day, Oct. 6, the Capitol artist will head to Leesburg, Georgia for a concert on his hometown high school football field that the town won through an online contest with www.eventful.com.

During the intense promotional run, Bryan will visit radio stations, host meet and greets for fans, and perform concerts. The outing will wrap in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Oct. 14.

Following the album launch, Bryan’s first headlining tour, the Doin’ My Thing Tour, opens Oct. 30 in Jacksonville, Florida. The rising star has previously joined superstars like Kenny Chesney on the road.

Bryan recently celebrated a No. 1 video for “Do I,” the lead single off Doin’ My Thing. The song is climbing MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, and lands at No. 5 this week.

Music Garden Will Be In Full Bloom Tomorrow

nashville-music-gardenBrenda Lee, Ray Walker (the Jordanaires), Manuel and the families of Loretta Lynn and Merle Kilgore are the latest additions to the growing list of celebrities participating in tomorrow’s (9/29) dedication of the Nashville Music Garden. The event will be emceed by Ralph Emery, with Barbara Mandrell and Lynn Anderson serving as celebrity hosts. The star-studded open-to-the-public ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Hall of Fame Park, located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Demonbreun (across from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum).

The Nashville Music Garden is a one-of-a-kind “Garden of the Stars” that pays tribute to those who have made a positive impact on Nashville’s entertainment community, ranging from singers to industry execs. The tribute garden is home to the Nashville Music Garden Collection, an assortment of over six dozen flowering plants whose names include Barbara Mandrell, Country Rock Pioneer Rick Nelson, Grand Ole Opry, Minnie Pearl, Pretty Woman, Purple Haze, Elvis, Ring of Fire, Tennessee Waltz, Alabama, Chantilly Lace, Dolly Parton, Kiss an Angel Good Morning, Hank Williams, Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis and Amy Grant, just to name a few.

Among the celebrities already confirmed to attend the ceremony tomorrow are Patti Page, Donna Fargo, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeff Cook of Alabama, Irlene Mandrell, Marty Raybon, Janice Wendell, Mandy Barnett, Gunnar Nelson, songwriters Jeffrey Steele, Shane Minor, Bart Allmand, Randy Thomas, Mac Gayden, and Buzz Cason, and the families of songwriter Ben Peters, The Big Bopper, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, DeFord Bailey, Minnie Pearl and Jimi Hendrix. Officials from the State of Tennessee and Mayor Karl Dean will also be in attendance.

The first 500 attendees will receive a long-stemmed rose courtesy of Rio Roses and a hot biscuit from the Loveless Cafe. The event is free and open to the public. For details visit www.nashvillemusicgarden.com.

BBR Adds To Roster

Pictured above L-R: Hallmark Direction Company Artist Manager John Dorris, Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown, Blake Wise, and Hallmark Direction Company Artist Manager Sheila Shipley Biddy.

Pictured L-R: Hallmark Direction Company artist manager John Dorris, Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown, Blake Wise, and Hallmark Direction Company Artist Manager Sheila Shipley Biddy.

Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown has signed Blake Wise to a recording deal with BBR and a publishing deal with Magic Mustang Music. The rising artist is working on songs for his upcoming debut album for the label.

Wise is managed by Hallmark Direction Company, which is helmed by managers John Dorris and Shelia Shipley Biddy.

“We absolutely love the energy and soul of Blake,” says Brown. “He just has the ‘it’ factor, he’s larger than life on stage, he’s got raw talent and a personality to match.”

BBR is also home to Jason Aldean, Randy Owen, Crossin Dixon, Dean Brody, and Krista Marie. Its sister label Stoney Creek has artists Megan Mullins and Ash Bowers.