Bobby Karl Works The Room: Nashville Gears Up For CMA Music Festival

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Tamara Saviano with Belmont University’s Dr. Don Cusic

Chapter 562

The CMA Music Festival doesn’t officially start until Thursday, but it has been already sputtering to life for several days.

The CMA, itself, tossed a pre-fest cocktail party last Friday afternoon (6/2). On Saturday, the International Country Music Conference concluded with a picnic co-hosted by participants Jewly Hight and Barry Mazor. Working that back yard were Rolling Stone Country’s Jon Freeman, ICMC award winners Tamara Saviano and  David Cantwell and NPR music queen Ann Powers, among others.

On Monday (6/5), CAA hosted its annual, star-sprinkled barbecue at its downtown offices. Devin Dawson, Seth Ennis and Cale Dodds clowned for Getty Images. Simultaneously, Florida Georgia Line cut the ribbon on its FGL House on 3rd Avenue South. It’s a four-story restaurant and entertainment destination with a rooftop bar.

The pre-fest event on Tuesday (6/6) was the annual Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) picnic held at Fannie Mae Dees Park (Hillsboro Village’s “Dragon” park, as it is popularly known). This event had the distinction of being the first of the week to feature live music.

FGL House Rooftop. Photo: John Shearer / Getty Images

The Martin Family Circus was the entertainment. This band certainly has a pedigree. Papa Paul Martin is an alumnus of Exile. Mama Jamie Martin is the daughter of Oak Ridge Boy Duane Allen and of Nora Lee Allen, who leads the Opry’s vocal backup group. Daughters Tallent, 9, and Texas, 11, alternate singing lead. Sons Kell, 15, and March, 18, provide vocal and instrumental support, as do their parents. All of them seem to have flawless ears for harmony singing.

The group’s exuberant, feel-good set included The Swan Silvertones black-gospel arrangement of “Mary Don’t You Weep.” In honor of attendee Fred Vail, who used to manage The Beach Boys, the group did harmony-soaked renditions of “In My Room” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” They closed with a lively, endearing take on “I Want You Back” by The Jackson Five. The group also sings country. Its fitting billing is “music that makes you smile.”

Smiling away were Zach Farnum, Ed Salamon, Jim Bruce, Bonnie Sugarman, Blake McDaniel, Dick Beacham, Rod & Jennifer Harris, Charlene Carter, Randy Perkins, Ray Shelide, Chaz Corzine, Tammy Johnson and Robert Williams. Grilling the weenies and flipping the burgers were the quipping comedy duo The Professor & The Bull. Other artists in attendance included the band Savannah Jack, singer Allison Hendrick and Channel 2 newsperson Stephanie Langston.

Prescription Songs Launches Nashville Office, Signs Anna Mae And LO

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Prescription Songs, which has expanded from its Los Angeles office to include new offices in Nashville, has signed Anna Mae as its first artist-songwriter from its Music City office. Anna Mae has earned success in the film/tv synch world, earning 12 major network placements in the past 10 months. She also plans to release several singles throughout the summer leading to a debut EP.

Also newly signed to Prescription Songs is pop artist, writer, and producer LO. After moving to Nashville from Olympia, Washington, on a full academic scholarship to Vanderbilt University, LO served as captain of the Vanderbilt Dance Team, was named  ‘All SEC Dancer of The Year’, and graduated cum laude while interning & writing on Music Row. After graduating, she taught herself production and began her pursuit of a pop career, with her artistry heavily influenced by her background as a dancer.

Prescription Songs was founded by Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, and includes a catalog of songs including “Teenage Dream,” “E.T.,” “Wide Awake,” “Tik Tok,” “Blow” and more.

Lonnie Fowler Signs With Amylase and Warner/Chappell

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Lonnie Fowler has signed a publishing deal with Amylase and Warner/Chappell Music. The Pennsylvania native had a Top 10 hit with Bucky Covington’s “I’ll Walk,” and also has multiple cuts on the upcoming Jordan Davis project on Universal Records.

 

MusicRowPics: Walker McGuire Previews Tracks From Wheelhouse Records Debut

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Walker McGuire

BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records duo Walker McGuire recently stopped by the MusicRow offices to perform tracks from their debut album, including the single “‘Til Tomorrow.” The duo’s Jordan Walker and Johnny McGuire offered tight-knit harmonies and southern-tinged vocals enveloping songs with a classic rock sensibility.

Texas native Walker and Kansas native McGuire met in 2012 when they performed during the same open mic night at music venue The Commodore. They discovered they shared similar influences and a passion for writing songs. Soon after, they began collaborating as the duo Walker McGuire. They began working with producer/engineer Mickey Jack Cones early on in their career. Cones, who has produced and/or engineered for artists including Jason Aldean and Dustin Lynch, introduced the duo to BBR Music Group.

In the meantime, the group has been on the road, fine-tuning their sound by playing more than 200 dates last year.

Much like Walker McGuire’s swift formation, once BBR Music Group was ready to move on the signing, the deal happened almost instantly. “Last year, [Jon] Loba called us in to play for the staff,” recalls McGuire. “We had a meeting with BBR and UMG on the same day. After playing for them, we were told not to take the other meeting, and Benny [Brown] committed to drawing up the record deal right then.”

The duo co-wrote nine out of the 12 songs on their upcoming album. “Til Tomorrow,” a track written while in the earliest days as duo, gained early buzz from Spotify’s John Marks. “He has been super gracious, and he believed in what we had going on.” The track now has more than 19 million plays on Spotify.

One of the few they did not co-write, “I’m On It,” features writing from members of Old Dominion.

“When we find a good song, we run with it,” Walker says. “We did send them some whiskey, though.”

The members are also finding success as writers for other artists. Walker is also a co-writer on Luke Combs’ latest single, “When It Rains It Pours.”

Walker McGuire with MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson.

 

Walker McGuire with MusicRow staffers.

Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young Set For ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp

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The 8th annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, set for June 21-28 in Nashville, will welcome several country artists and entertainment personalities to spend time with attendees at the week-long residential camp.

Dierks Bentley and songwriter-producer Ross Copperman will host a songwriting workshop, while Jerrod Niemann will host a dinner/karaoke party. Kelsea Ballerini and Copperman will welcome campers into the studio for a day to see how music is recorded.

iHeartMedia radio personality Bobby Bones will spearhead a visit at Vanderbilt’s Seacrest Studios, while television personalities Todd and Savannah Chrisley will host a meet & greet at the Wildhorse Saloon.

The annual finale takes place on the Grand Ole Opry stage, as the campers will offer a live performance with Chris Young.

The event is open to individuals with Williams syndrome, with the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while also offering music enrichment to campers. The cost of the camp is funded by ACM Lifting Lives, which also provides scholarships to several campers.

Florida Georgia Line Transform Lower Broadway’s aVenue Into Four-Story FGL House

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Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley cut the ribbon to their FGL House. Photo: John Shearer / Getty Images

Superstar duo Florida Georgia Line opened their first restaurant and entertainment destination on Monday night (June 5) in downtown Nashville. The private event turned public when the line of hopeful fans, wrapped around the block, was let in.

The four-story building, once home to aVenue (120 3rd Avenue South), is now a world-class entertainment space, featuring edgy live music, the city’s largest “Cruise” rooftop bar.

Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard added countless personal touches to the space, next to the Big Machine store, including framed photos of influential ’90s entertainers and movies.

Guests sipped custom craft cocktails and sampled Southern-inspired food with a California twist including burgers, ahi tuna salad, surf and turf, soft pretzels, salmon and grits, among others. The duo also offered a sneak peek of their hilarious new BK-directed music video for “SMOOTH,” starring Craig Wiseman in a pink Cadillac in Vegas.

Electro-Pop hitmakers The Chainsmokers will perform “Last Day Alive” with the three-time nominees on the FGL House rooftop during the 2017 CMT Music Awards Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

FGL House Rooftop. Photo: John Shearer / Getty Images

The duo is busy, with the recent launch of an emoji app (FGLmoji) and headlining Saturday’s CMA Music Festival before heading out on their The Smooth Tour 2017 with Nelly and Chris Lane with the Backstreet Boys joining on select stadium concerts in Boston (July 7), Minneapolis (July 29), and Chicago (Aug. 12).

For more information about FGL House, please visit fglhouse.com.

Industry Ink: Blair Garner’s Disco Party, Banner Music, YNOT Songwriter’s Showcase, John Anderson

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Blair Garner And Friends Disco To End Alzheimer’s

Back row (L-R): Todd O’Neill, CJ Solar, Jamie O’Neal, Blair Garner, Chuck Wicks, Ryan Kinder, Jerrod Niemann, Brad Paisley, Brad & Curtis Rempel (High Valley); Front row (L-R): Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Hunter Hayes, Lindsay Ell, and Charles Esten.

Sunday night’s (June 4) “Disco Party to End Alzheimer’s” hosted by Blair Garner of “The Blair Garner Show” and actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon featured a star-studded line-up including Brad Paisley, Hunter Hayes, Charles Esten, Lindsay Ell, Chuck Wicks, Jerrod Niemann, Jamie O’Neal, High Valley, Ryan Kinder, Todd O’Neill, and CJ Solar. The glitz was all for a good cause: to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

Banner Music Hosts Parking Lot Jam

Banner Music is hosting a Banner Music Parking Lot Party sponsored by Jammber Music and The Slider House June 9. The free event is set to take place from 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. and will include performances by Shelby Lee Lowe, James Robert Webb, Dixie Jade and the Steel Blossoms. The party will include food from The Slider House and will take place in the parking lot of Banner Music at 800 18th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203.

 

YNOT Wednesday Spotlights Barton, Jenkins, and Reeves

YNOT Wednesday’s Monthly Songwriter Spotlight was held last Wednesday night at Whiskey Rhythm Saloon and featured hit songwriters Phil Barton, Paul Jenkins and “In Case You Didn’t Know” writer Tyler Reeves. The Songwriters Spotlight, sponsored by YNOT Lifestyle Brand, is held the last Wednesday of every month.

 

John Anderson’s Career Spotlighted At Country Music Hall Of Fame

John Anderson will be the subject of a new spotlight exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which will open June 16. Items featured in the exhibit on his life and career will include an early stage costume from Anderson’s wardrobe by western designer Manuel, the Manuel-designed wool and leather jacket with Native American motifs worn by Anderson on the cover of his Seminole Wind album and in the video for “Straight Tequila Night,” Anderson’s 1968 Fender Telecaster, a tooled leather guitar strap with Anderson’s initials, a stuffed alligator owned by Anderson, and Anderson’s two CMA Awards from 1983, the Horizon Award and Single of the Year (“Swingin”).

Tamara Saviano, Dave Cantwell Earn Honors During International Country Music Conference

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Tamara Saviano with Belmont University’s Dr. Don Cusic

Tamara Saviano and Dave Cantwell were honored during the International Country Music Conference, held at Nashville’s Belmont University, on Friday, June 2.

Saviano was honored with the Belmont Book Award for her work on Without Getting Killed Or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark.

Cantwell was honored with the Rolling Stone Chet Flippo Award for country music journalism. Cantwell is the author of Merle Haggard: The Running Kind and co-author of Heartaches By The Number: Country Music’s 500 Greatest Singles, and has written for publications including The New Yorker.

Pictured (L-R):Rolling Stone Chet Flippo Excellence in Country Music Journalism Award winners Pete Finney (2016), Dave Cantwell (2017), and Jewly Hight (2015).

‘CMA Fest’ TV Special To Air August 16

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Photo: Bob D’Amico / ABC

The CMA has rebranded its CMA Music Fest TV special as CMA Fest, The Music Event of Summer, and will air the special Wednesday, Aug. 16 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini will host the three-hour show that brings Country Music’s Ultimate Fan Experience to a national audience. The special is executive-produced by Robert Deaton.

Formerly known as “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” the special first aired in 2004. Filmed during CMA Music Festival June 8-11 in Nashville, this year’s special features a bevy of stars as they hit the stage during the four-day, mega-music celebration.

A limited number of tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST.

Date Set For 48th Annual GMA Dove Awards

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The 48th annual GMA Dove Awards will return again to the Allen Arena at Nashville’s Lipscomb University, and is slated for Oct. 17, 2017.

Each year the Dove Awards, produced by the Gospel Music Association, honors the best in all styles of faith-based music, including pop, rock, praise & worship, urban Gospel, R&B, hip-hop, Southern Gospel, bluegrass, country, Latin and more.

 

During last year’s awards, Lauren Daigle was named Artist of the Year, while Chris Tomlin‘s “Good Good Father” earned Song of the Year honors. Jordan Feliz earned the New Artist of the Year award.