Alton “Al” Embry, long-time manager, agent and talent promoter known for working with artists including Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, The Statler Brothers, Alabama, and Merle Haggard, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, at his Old Hickory, Tennessee, home at 82 of natural causes.

Born in Butler County, Kentucky on Aug. 19, 1937, Embry began his career in the music business in the ’60s working as a liaison in securing entertainment industry photo coverage opportunities for the popular national publication, Look Magazine. Embry’s interaction with artists led him to meet music sensation of the day, Jerry Lee Lewis in the mid-60s. That meeting turned into what would become a decades-long working relationship. Traveling the world with Lewis, he would meet virtually all the top name performers of the era across the platforms of Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, R & B, and Country, many of whom would subsequently become his clients in the years to come.

Beginning his career as a talent booking agent in Nashville with the Hubert Long International Agency on Music Row, he ultimately rose to become Vice President, handling the careers of the agency’s roster of major country artists including George Jones, Tammy Wynette, The Statler Brothers, and Merle Haggard.

In 1975, Embry decided to chart his own independent course in Nashville with the launch of Al Embry International. He began booking a startup band Wild Country shortly after launching the agency and that group went on to become known as the multi-award-winning mega-group Alabama. Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Chubby Checker were among his top artist clients.

Embry dove into the television side of the business and executive produced the Fats Domino and Friends HBO special, which was a first Cinemax session, with guests Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones, and Paul Shaffer. This specific show won Embry his first Cable ACE award. Booking the “Fight Night for Children” concert series, Al Embry’s production abilities produced successful events for a long list of top mainstream and country names such as the Charlie Daniels Band, Joan Jett, Lenny Kravitz and Grand Funk Railroad.

Embry is survived by his wife of 34 years Tracy Embry, sister Brenda (Dale) Stanley, sister Veneda (Richard) Pickard, brother JR “Audley” (Natalie) Embry, sister Vickylynn Martinez, sister-in-law LaNora Gaylord, son Wayne (Kathryn) Embry, son Tony (Deborah) Embry, daughter Tammy (Ronnie) Fie, grandson JR Embry, grandson Michael Embry, grandson Scott Embry (Vantha), granddaughter Akeysha Embry, great grandson DJ Devilla, great granddaughter Caitlin Embry, great grandson Andy Embry, and great granddaughter Ellie Embry.

Jerry Goff and Jan Buckner Goff. Photo: BSA

Jerry Goff, the 84-year old founder and leader of the Southern-gospel act The Singing Goffs will be buried in Nashville tomorrow (Tuesday, July 23).

Known as “Mr. Gospel Trumpet,” Goff was a preacher, an author, a TV personality, a singer, an emcee and a songwriter, as well as an instrumentalist.

The Singing Goffs had several hits in their genre, including “I’ll See You in the Rapture,” “Please Search the Book Again,” “Tear Stains in the Sand,” “Who Do I Know In Heaven?” and “I Am Blessed.”

Jerry Goff was a co-founder and lifetime board member of the Gospel Music Association. In 2002, he was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Pigeon Forge, TN.

The Singing Goffs won a GMA Dove Award in 1970, and were chosen to represent the USA at the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1984.

With Jerry Goff at its helm, the group released more than 25 albums between 1970 and 1990. In its various lineups, the Goffs recorded for Majestic Music, Lighthouse, CAM, Songs of Faith and Skylite Records.

Goff was the son of a Church of God preacher who was born in South Carolina. After attending Lee College in Cleveland, TN, he sang several gospel groups, including The LeFevres.

He rose to prominence in 1967-71, when he was a member of The Thrasher Brothers troupe. He formed The Singing Goffs in 1971, and the act began recording immediately.

The group’s live albums of 1973 and 1984 are particularly well regarded. So is its late-career collection, Don’t Give Up of 1986.

By the 1980s, the group was one of the most sought after on the Southern-gospel circuit. Goff was named Male Vocalist of the Year in 1984 by Gospel Music News.

During his career, Goff earned a B.A. from the University of Tennessee, a masters degree from Vanderbilt University and a doctorate certificate from Emmanuel Baptist University.

He wrote most of the songs that the Goffs popularized. A number of notable vocalists passed through the group’s ranks, including Bill Dykes, Dave Rowland, Barry Hess, Wally Goff, Dave Thomas, Tank Tackett and Gary Valentine.

In addition to the tunes listed above, the group was associated with “God’s Gonna Getcha For That,” “Guilty,” “His Name Lives On,” “When My Name Is Called in Glory,” “Jesus Will Never Say No,” “Tears Will Stop,” “The Tree God Grew” and “Tucked in With Jesus.” His trumpet playing was always a highlight of the group’s performances.

Jerry Goff married “Little” Jan Buckner of the Southern-gospel group Wendy Bagwell & The Sunlighters, and in later years, Jerry and Jan performed together. She survives her husband.

Following the group’s dissolution, Goff became an in-demand evangelist, show emcee, revival leader and entertainer on the “Singing at Sea” cruises. He and Jan co-hosted the Creekside Gospel Music Conventions in East Tennessee for several years. He was also a familiar figure at the annual National Quartet Convention.

A songwriter since childhood, Goff also published several inspirational books and poems.

A resident of Hiram, GA, Jerry Goff died in Atlanta on July 12. His initial funeral service was held in Powder Springs, GA on July 20. The Goff family will hold a graveside service on Tuesday (7/23) at 2 P.M. at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashville.

In addition to Jan Buckner Goff, he is survived by brothers Wally and Don Goff, by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces.

Chuck Glaser. Photo: Bruce Glaser/ Courtesy Louie Glaser

Chuck Glaser, the last surviving member of country group The Glaser Brothers, died Monday (June 10). He was 83.

Glaser who began his career as a member of the award winning trio, Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, was known as an accomplished artist, producer, and businessman.

Born Charles Vernon Glaser in Spalding, Nebraska, in the winter of 1936 to Louis and Marie Glaser, Chuck spent his early years helping his father manage the family’s 1,200-acre farm northeast of Spalding. During his teenage years, Chuck joined his brothers, Tompall and Jim, as master of ceremonies announcing songs and telling jokes as the teens played talent shows and fairs around Nebraska. Later that year Chuck began singing with his brothers.

The brothers’ break into professional show business came in 1957 when they won the Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Show. Their father arranged an audition in Grand Island, and Marty Robbins signed The Glaser Brothers to his roadshow and to his label, Robbins Records.  The Glaser Brothers released their first single in 1958 singing, “Five Penny Nickel,” a song Chuck penned.

In 1959 Decca Records purchased the boys’ recording contract from Robbins and producer Owen Bradley began producing their records. Chuck was drafted into the United States Army in 1959, serving his country until 1961. Joe Babcock, a childhood friend from Nebraska, filled in for Chuck while he was away. After his discharge Chuck returned to the group and the brothers officially joined the Grand Ole Opry, having performed on the show since their arrival to Nashville in 1958.

During this time The Glaser Brothers were in demand as background singers for recording sessions around Nashville. They can be heard on several of Robbins’ records, including “She Was Only Seventeen.” They toured with Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline and can be heard on Cash’s 1962 The Sound Of Johnny Cash, as well as “Ring Of Fire.” Among their sessions are Roy Orbison’s “Leah” and Claude King’s “The Comancheros.” They also worked with other artists including George Jones and many of Hank Snow’s singles before going on their own in the 1960s.

Signing with MGM Records in 1967, and employing Jack Clement as their producer, brought chart success with songs like “Gone, on the Other Hand,” “California Girl (and the Tennessee Square)” and “The Moods of Mary.”  The Glaser Brothers’ cover of the Cymarron pop hit “Rings” reached No. 7 on the Billboard charts (No. 1 on Cashbox and Record World) in 1971. In 1982 their Elektra Records release of the Kris Kristofferson song “Loving Her was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” stayed for two weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard charts.

Chuck and his brothers earned numerous awards during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including CMA Vocal Group of the Year (1970), Country Group of the Decade by Record World Magazine (1975), Country Music Group of the Year by Billboard Magazine (1972), International Group of the Year by Record Mirror and Billboard Magazine (1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973), fan voted Music City News Country Music Awards Top Vocal Group (1967-1970), among others. The group ceased performing together in 1973 but reunited again for a short time in 1979.

Chuck was also a successful songwriter. Hank Snow recorded many of Chuck’s songs including “That’s You and Me,” ” I’m Not at All Sorry for You” and “Where Has All the Love Gone” (later recorded by Susanne Lane with new lyrics and title “Søde Sommerminder” in 1972, staying over 40 weeks at No. 1 in Denmark). Johnny Cash recorded “You Won’t Have Far to Go” for his 1962 The Sounds of Johnny Cash album. Anita Carter of the Carter Family recorded Chuck’s 1963 song “Fly, Pretty Swallow.”

Along with brothers Jim and Tompall, Chuck owned and operated Glaser Sound Studios in Nashville, where Kinky Friedman, John Hartford, Jimmy Payne and assorted other artists got their start. Friedman recorded his groundbreaking Sold American album at the studio—known during the Outlaw days as Hillbilly Central—and Jennings recorded his classic “Dreaming My Dreams” there with Cowboy Jack Clement. Another groundbreaking album recorded at the studio was Hartford’s bluegrass album Aero-Plane.

Chuck is credited with discovering many songwriters over the years, including John Hartford, Jimmy Payne, Kinky Friedman, Buddy Starcher, and Willis D. Hoover. Chuck booked many of these artists for his Outlaw Music Festival shows.

Chuck ran the Glaser Brothers’ publishing companies Glaser Publications, Glaco Publications and Glaser Brothers Music which had in its catalogue hits including “Gentle On My Mind,” “Woman, Woman,” “Sitting in an All Night Cafe,” “Streets of Baltimore,” “A Girl Like You,” “History Repeats Itself” and “Where Has All the Love Gone.”

The Glaser Brothers ceased performing from 1974 to 1979, citing creative differences. During this time Chuck opened Nova Agency, a talent and booking agency. Chuck’s booking roster included Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, George Jones, Tompall Glaser, Dr. Hook, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gamble Rogers, Jerry Reed, Amazing Rhythm Aces and David Allan Coe, among others.

Suffering a stroke in 1974, it took Chuck many years to reclaim his singing voice. He rejoined his brothers in 1979 releasing two albums in the 1980s produced by Jimmy Bowen on Elektra Records, Lovin’ Her Was Easier and After All of These Years being awarded Billboard’s Artist Resurgence Award in 1982.

In 1990 The Glaser Brothers performed one last time, appearing on the Grand Ole Opry for Hank Snow’s 40th Anniversary. After the group’s final break up, Chuck returned to producing records. He produced albums for Hank Snow, Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely. Chuck was also involved in the syndicated music variety show Rocky Mountain Inn.

Later in life, Chuck’s professional passion focused on bringing George Bowers’ song and story of Christopher the Christmas Tree to children everywhere. Chuck discovered Bowers, an owner of a Christmas tree farm and later founded a record label, Hidden Hollow Records, to release the song and the album of Christopher’s story. He worked endlessly to have the story reach as many children as possible culminating in an animated children’s Christmas television show which was nominated in 1995 for the Gemini Award (Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television), for the Best Animated Program or Series. The story and music of Christopher the Christmas Tree first aired on television on December 24th, 1994, on the FOX TV Network (USA) and has subsequently been shown in over 94 countries and has been translated into nine languages.

Another one of Chuck’s dreams was realized in 2016 when he independently released his solo album That’s When I Love You The Most.

The family has yet to announce funeral arrangements.

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.