Country-music veterans mix attractively with newcomers this week.

On the established-stars side, we have Vince Gill, Toby Keith and Sammy Kershaw on hand. Among the baby acts, we find Waterloo Revival, Logan Mize and DisCovery Award winner Cherie Oakley.

The Disc of the Day honor gets divided like an awards show. The Female winner is Cam. The Male prize goes to Logan Mize. The Group du jour is Old Dominion.

Happy listening.

LOGAN MIZE/Thinking About You
Writers: Daniel Tashian/Troy Verges; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Yellow Dog
– This sounds like a summer hit to me. The infectious tempo is gripping, the melody is delightful, the production is layered complexity and the performance is loaded with warmth. Pop-country nirvana.

TOBY KEITH/That’s Country Bro
Writers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson/Reid Shippen; Publisher: none listed; Show Dog
– As always, he sings with macho authority. This time around, he’s giving you kiddies a lesson in what’s country. The rhythm is as relentless as the litany of classic stars’ names and song titles. If you ask me, this tragically diluted format could use a lecture like this. Pay attention, people.

CAM & DIPLO/So Long
Writers: Diplo/Cam/Sam Hunt; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA
– Charming. She provides the sweetly sexy vocal, and he provides the beats. Ebullient and joyful ear candy.

KEITH URBAN/We Were
Writers: Ryan Tindell/Jeff Hyde/Eric Church; Producers: Dann Huff/Keith Urban; Publishers: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– Lilting nostalgia, set in a swirly melody and produced with pop panache. Notch up another mega hit on the belt of the reigning Entertainer of the Year.

OLD DOMINION/Some People Do
Writers: noen listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA;
– The band executes an excellent change of pace with this ballad of regret, remorse and self recrimination. A plea for forgiveness and reconciliation that hits the heart hard.

CHERIE OAKLEY/Work It
Writers: Cherie Oakley/Mark Oakley/David Fanning; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Cherie Oakley/MV2 Entertainment, ASCAP/BMI; CO
– It’s a peppy, female-empowerment banger with crunchy beats and a slight soul-sister vocal vibe. Shake your groove thang.

VINCE GILL/A Letter To My Mama
Writer: Vince Gill; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; MCA
– He still gets me every time. This heart-in-throat ballad is a love letter from a son to his mother that’s packed with truth and emotion. A master at work.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/What If I Never Get Over You
Writers: Sam Ellis/Jon Green/Ryan Hurd/Laura Veltz; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Universal/Happy Rock/Dalmatian/Songs of Universal/hurdjamz/Big Music Machine/Never Veltz So Good, BMI; BMLG
– Very densely produced with vocal layer programmed upon vocal layer in a synth wash. The song can take it, because it’s solidly constructed with a memorable tune and spot-on lyrics. A promising re-invention of this hit-making trio.

SAMMY KERSHAW/Grillin’ and Chillin’
Writers: Casey Beathard/Scooter Carusoe; Producer: Sammy Kershaw; Publishers: none listed; Cleopatra
– It’s an Applebee’s commercial jingle that’s also a country, country, country ditty. Smiley, if disposable.

DEE JAY SILVER & WATERLOO REVIVAL/Getaway Driver
Writers: George Birge/Jason Massey/Corey Crowder; Publishers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Reven8te Nashville
– Country’s favorite mix master teams up with this up-and-coming group for a sunny outing. Lightweight but enjoyably harmless.

Back row: KK Johnson, Missi Gallimore, Breanna Sill; Front Row: Bryan Simpson, Chris Lindsay, Eric Gallimore

Chris Lindsay has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Amped Entertainment. Lindsay has written songs recorded by Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lonestar and more.

Amped Entertainment’s Missi Gallimore said, “I’ve been a fan of Chris’s as long as I’ve known him. We have had so much success together with Tim McGraw. Some of my favorite songs of all time are Chris Lindsay songs, so getting to not only be his friend but also his publisher is something I am so excited about.” 

Lindsay said, “There is nothing like working with positive, talented and fearless people. I have admired Missi and the crew at Amped for a long time and I am so excited to get to work with them now.”

Lindsay joins Amped Entertainment’s growing roster of KK Johnson, lead singer of the band Track45, and Bryan Simpson.

By Robert K. Oermann

Glenn Martin. Photo: Brentwood Roesch-Patton Funeral Home

Friends and family will gather on Thursday (5/16) and Friday (5/17) to honor the memory of Nashville songwriter Glenn Martin.

The Grammy-nominated tunesmith died on Sunday, May 12, at age 86.

Martin wrote top hits for such Country Music Hall of Fame members as Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, Bill Anderson and George Jones. Among his best-known songs are Pride’s “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” (1970), Haggard’s “It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad)” (1972) and Tammy Wynette’s “I Still Believe in Fairy Tales” (1975).

During his career, Martin had more than 200 cuts. He was also a song publisher. In addition, Glenn Martin is the father of hit country writers Tony Martin (“No Place That Far,” “Third Rock From the Sun,” “Just to See You Smile,” “You Look Good in My Shirt,” etc.) and Troy Martin (“Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye,” “She Can’t Say I Didn’t Cry,” “Not on Your Love,” etc.).

Glenn Martin was born in Cumming, GA on June 30, 1932 and was raised in Atlanta. He joined the U.S. Air Force after his high school graduation and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.

Following his military service, Martin worked for Bell South. Next, he opened his own furniture and music stores. Weekly jamborees at the music emporium put him in contact with Nashville musicians and songwriters. They urged him to move to Music City.

Glenn Martin’s first songwriting successes occurred in 1969 when Ray Price recorded “April’s Fool” and Bobby Bare released “Which One Will It Be.” Both songs became top-20 country hits.

He scored his first No. 1 hit with the Grammy-nominated “San Antone” in 1970, and Pride returned to Martin’s catalog for “I’m Just Me” which became a No. 1 hit in 1971.

Haggard brought the songwriter back to the top of the charts again in 1972 with “It’s Not Love.” In 1974, Red Sovine scored a hit with “It’ll Come Back.” This song was revived on the charts by Sovine in 1980.

The songwriter’s heyday was in the 1970s. Among the artists who recorded Martin’s tunes were such Hall of Fame members as Buck Owens, Jean Shepard, Charlie McCoy, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Emmylou Harris, Ernest Tubb and Mel Tillis.

In the latter part of his most successful decade, Martin had hits with “Memories of Us” (George Jones, 1975), “Fairy Tales” (Wynette, 1975), “Liars One Believers Zero” (Bill Anderson, 1976), “The Pay Phone” (Bob Luman, 1977) and “Where Are You Going, Billy Boy” (Bill Anderson & Mary Lou Turner, 1977).

Haggard’s big 1977 country hit with Martin’s co-written “If We’re Not Back in Love By Monday” also became an r&b smash for Millie Jackson that year as “If You’re Not Back in Love By Monday.”

Others who recorded his tunes include Wanda Jackson, Cal Smith, Norma Jean, Neal McCoy, Donna Fargo, Keith Whitley, Jack Greene, Freddy Fender, Ed Bruce and Moe Bandy.

Glenn Martin was one of the 1970 co-founders of the NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), which initially lobbied to get songwriters’ credits on recordings. The organization continues to lobby for songwriters’ interests today. He was also regarded as a mentor by many younger Music City songwriters.

Martin is survived by his wife, Teresa and his eight children. In addition to songwriters Tony and Troy, these are K. Trent Martin, J. Trace Martin, Todd C. Martin, Tiffany K. Earl, Tim C. Martin and Tiffany M, Tournaud. He is also survived by his sister Eleanor Marguerite Brown, by 34 grandchildren and by 16 great grandchildren.

The first Gathering of Friends and Family will take place on Thursday afternoon, May 16, 4-8 p.m. at Brentwood Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 9010 Church Street, Brentwood, TN 37027.

The second Gathering of Friends and Family is scheduled for Friday, May 17, 10-11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1646 Sunset Rd., Brentwood, TN 37027. The church will then host a Celebration of Life service from 11-noon.