LifeNotes: Steel Guitar Great Kayton Roberts Passes

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Steel Guitar Hall of Fame member Kayton Roberts has died at age 83.

He is perhaps best known as a key member of Hank Snow’s band, The Rainbow Ranch Boys, for more than 30 years, but Roberts also backed many others.

Among the many stars he worked with during his long career were John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Riders in the Sky, Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, Marty Stuart and Aaron Tippin. With Snow and others, he was often seen on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Roberts died on July 13 in White House, Tennessee.

Kayton Roberts is survived by his children Louis Roberts, Jan Roberts-Williams and Martin Roberts, as well as by five grandchildren.

Visitation will be on July 23 from 4-5 p.m. at The Church at Grace Park, 506 Hester Drive, in White House, TN. A celebration of the life of Kayton Roberts will follow.

 

Industry Pics: ASCAP, WSM 650 AM, Kasey Tyndall

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ASCAP Holds Bluebird Cafe Showcase

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP EVP of Membership John Titta, Tenille, Ben Glover, Adam Hambrick, Reed Pittman and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart.

The July installment of ASCAP’s long-running showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe was held on Wednesday, July 12 and featured reigning ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year and 30+ #1 hitmaker Ben Glover; Red Creative Group songwriter-artist Adam Hambrick, who recently celebrated his first #1 with “How Not To,” recorded by Dan + Shay; emerging songwriter Reed Pittman​, in his Bluebird debut; and Big Yellow Dog/Sony Music Nashville songwriter and recently-signed recording artist Tenille.

 

WSM 650AM Holds “Guitar Pull” With Bobby Bare and Friends

Pictured (L-R): Payton Taylor, David Starr, Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart, Bobby Bare, WSM’s Devon O’Day and 117 Group’s Zach Farnum

Payton Taylor, David Starr, Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart, Bobby Bare, WSM’s Devon O’Day and 117 Group’s Zach Farnum after an extra special “Guitar Pull” on Nashville Today on WSM 650 AM.

Kasey Tyndall Joins Wheeler Walker Jr.’s Tour

Kasey Tyndall and Wheeler Walker, Jr.

Kasey Tyndall joined Wheeler Walker Jr in Atlanta as part of his Ol Wheeler Tour. Tyndall, a Sony/ATV songwriter, is opening shows for Wheeler throughout July. Her current single “Everything Is Texas” has garnered over 250,000 streams on Spotify.

Ben Wells Signs With writerslist

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Pictured (L-R): Noah McPike (Dickinson Wright PLLC), Bradley Collins (BMI), Christy DiNapoli (writerslist), Ben Wells and Nick R. Cua (writerslist)

writerslist has signed Ben Wells to an exclusive publishing agreement. His new single, “Do Some Drinkin,” is also available.

writerslist was founded in 2016 with Nick R. Cua, co-Founder and COO and Christy DiNapoli, Sr. VP of its Music Publishing division.

“Ben is a great addition to our roster. His talent as a songwriter and artist paired with the innovative team at writerslist, will be a winning combination for us all,” stated DiNapoli.

“I am excited to join the roster of talent at writerslist to help further develop my career,” says Wells. “Songwriting is truly my passion and I’m thrilled to have a unique publishing partner.”

 

Jeremy Camp Preps New Album, Tour For Fall

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Jeremy Camp has set a release date for his new studio album, The Answer, this fall on Oct. 6 (Capitol CMG). Camp’s new single, “Word of Life,” from the forthcoming album, is out at radio and already charting in the Top 20 on the National Christian Audience chart. Fans can preorder the album beginning today at jeremycamp.com.

“I can’t wait for everyone to hear these songs,” shares Camp about the new album and tour. “After all these years, it’s amazing how the well to draw from never runs dry, when we rely on Him. The Lord continues to give deeper and deeper songs that speak to different seasons of life. With this new album, we’re doing some things we’ve never done before. I’m releasing five songs with five different music videos for each song, before the album even comes out. And I’m definitely ready to play these songs live. On ‘The Answer Tour’ we’ll be playing new songs of course but also bringing back some very early ones. It’s a very exciting season.”

Camp is also launching a headlining tour in support of the new album, The Answer Tour, with special guest Royce Lovett beginning on Oct. 1 in Albuquerque, NM.

 

Mercury Nashville Celebrates Signing Of Tyminski

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Back Row L to R: Blain Rhodes; Director A&R UMGN; David Crow, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC; Mike Harris, COO UMGN; Brian Wright, SVP A&R UMGN; Rob Femia, VP Business & Legal Affairs UMGN. Front Row (L-R): Mike Dungan, Chairman & CEO UMGN; Tyminski; Cindy Mabe, President UMGN

Members of the Nashville music industry gathered at venue Ruby earlier this week to hear music from one of Universal Music Group Nashville’s latest signings.

Music veteran Dan Tyminski has been part of Alison Krauss and Union Station since the mid-’90s and is well-known for the track “Man Of Constant Sorrow,” and providing the singing voice of George Clooney’s character Ulysses Everett McGill in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

He goes by Tyminski on his upcoming Mercury Nashville solo album, which draws on a myriad of pop, country, bluegrass, blues, and folk inspirations. He found a kindred collaborator in producer Jesse Frasure, who has produced and/or written tracks for Meghan Trainor and Florida Georgia Line.

Billboard writer Tom Roland and Tyminski discuss Tyminski’s new music.

Each attendee listened to selected outtakes from the album on headphones, as specially-created videos elevated each audio track, including “Southern Gothic,” “Perfect Poison,” and “Bloodline.”

A title and release date have not been set for the project.

The album isn’t the first time Tyminski has lent his talents to other musical genres. In 2013, Swedish producer Avicii tapped Tyminski for the electronic-country hybrid “Hey Brother,” which topped the charts in 15 countries.

Pictured (L-R): Triple 8’s Paul Steele, UMGN’s Mike Dungan, UMGN’s Cindy Mabe, Tyminski, Triple 8’s George Couri, Triple 8’s Kaitlin Harper, Triple 8’s Bruce Kalmick

MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Jessica Nicholson, and Eric Parker at a preview party for Tyminski’s new album.

Lindsay Ell To Release Full-Length Debut ‘The Project’ Aug. 11

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Stoney Creek records artist Lindsay Ell will release her debut album The Project on Aug. 11. The 12-song collection is available for pre-order today, July 14.

The Project, produced by Kristian Bush (of Sugarland), follows their acclaimed collaboration on Ell’s debut EP Worth The Wait. The album features current single “Waiting On You.”

“This new music is the best I’ve ever done,” the multi-instrumentalist shares. “I called the album The Project because that’s exactly what this whole process was. I’ve discovered who I am, what I want to say and how I want to say it. I’m so excited to finally have an album that is me, and I can’t wait for fans to hear it.”

The Stoney Creek Records artist is currently supporting superstar Brad Paisley on his Weekend Warrior World Tour throughout the U.S. and Canada.

THE PROJECT TRACK LIST:
1) “Waiting On You” (Lindsay Ell, Adam Hambrick, Andrew DeRoberts)
2) “Champagne” (Lindsay Ell, Walker Hayes, Fred Wilhelm)
3) “Castle” (Lindsay Ell, Abbey Cone, Josh Kerr)
4) “Good” (Lindsay Ell, Adam Hambrick, Andrew DeRoberts)
5) “Wildfire” (Lindsay Ell, Kristian Bush)
6) “Mint” (Lindsay Ell, Justin Ebach)
7) “White Noise” (Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Kear, Ross Copperman)
8) “Criminal” (Lindsay Ell, Chris Stevens, Fred Wilhelm)
9) “Just Another Girl” (Lindsay Ell, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
10) “Space” (Caitlyn Smith, Heather Morgan, Mags Duval)
11) “Always Kiss The Girl” (Bobby Hamrick, Jarrad Kritzstein, Carly Pearce)
12) “Worth The Wait” (Lindsay Ell, Travis Meadows)

Freeman Wizer Joins Spirit Music Nashville As Sr. Director/Creative

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Spirit Music Nashville has appointed Freeman Wizer Senior Director of Creative for the company.

An Arkansas native with over 16 years publishing experience in Nashville, Wizer was previously with the Sea Gayle creative staff where he helped secure cuts by Blake Shelton, Jerrod Niemann, Justin Moore and Toby Keith. Prior to his work at Sea Gayle, Freeman Wizer worked at Universal Music Publishing Group where he landed a No. 1 song with Tim McGraw’s “One of Those Nights” and secured cuts for artists including Kelly Clarkson, Darius Rucker, Jake Owen, Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton, and more. Wizer joined the company as an intern in 2001 while he earned his BBA and MBA from Belmont University’s Music Business program.

“Freeman is a respected and well-liked creative executive in Nashville,” said President, Spirit Music Nashville Daniel Hill. “He brings a great combination of creative expertise, passion, experience, and energy to the Spirit Music Nashville team.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the Spirit Music Nashville team and see great things for Spirit on the horizon. Our company is growing quickly and there’s a tremendous vision for the future. I’m looking forward to complimenting that vision as we move forward,” said Wizer.

 

‘MusicRow’ Weekly Chart Report (7/14/17)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Lewis Brice Releases New EP Today

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Following in the footsteps of his big brother Lee Brice, Lewis Brice is releasing his own self-titled EP on Pump House Music today. The new project, which features six songs co-written by Lewis and co-produced with Brian Bunn, Dan Frizell, and Ben Simonetti, is being released through a venture with Straight 8 Entertainment and Kobalt Music Recordings.

The EP’s first single, “Best Ex Ever,” is already approaching 400,000 streams on Spotify, while “Messin’ With My Mind” has surpassed 200,000 in less than two weeks and is currently featured on the New Boots and Wild Country playlists.

Brice appeared in CMT’s first season of “Can You Duet,” coming in eighth place out of the thousands who auditioned, and also took on the lead role in Lee Brice’s music video for “I Drive Your Truck.”

Lewis Brice Track Listing:
1. Best Ex Ever (Lewis Brice, Mike Walker, Benjy Davis)
2. Rob You Blind (Lewis Brice, Aaron Parker)
3. Messin’ With My Mind (Lewis Brice, Matthew Quinton)
4. Outta My Head (Lewis Brice, Randy Montana)
5. Still With You (Lewis Brice, Aaron Parker)
6. Alabama (Lewis Brice, Lee Brice)

Industry Pics: Parmalee Celebrates ‘27861,’ Midland Visits ACM, Demi Lovato’s House Party Tour

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Parmalee Celebrates Album Release

(L to R:) Lane Wilson, WME; Shawn Pennington, Pennington Entertainment; Barry Knox, Josh McSwain, Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas, Parmalee; Jon Loba, BBR Music Group; Greg Oswald, WME; Chris Loss, Stoney Creek Records; Heather Propper, Stoney Creek Records

Parmalee previewed material from the band’s new sophomore release, 27861, for a crowd of industry friends and family at the Steps at WME Wednesday night (7/12). The new project, which is named for the zip code of its hometown of Parmele, North Carolina, is set for release July 21 on Stoney Creek Records, and features their current single, “Sunday Morning.”

 

ACM Welcomes Midland

Pictured (L-R): Matt Graham, BRND MGMT; Midland; Pete Fisher, ACM CEO. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Big Machine Label Group recording trio Midland to the office while they were in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Midland performed their current single, “Drinkin’ Problem,” and other songs from their self-titled EP.

 

Demi Lovato Holds Nashville ‘House Party’

Demi Lovato’s House Party tour, in support of her new single “Sorry Not Sorry,” continued this week in Nashville with surprise guest Billy Ray Cyrus, who jumped on stage with Demi.