Canadian Country Great Dallas Harms Passes

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Dallas Harms. Photo: CMA Ontario

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Dallas Harms died last weekend at age 84.

He was a singer, songwriter, producer and TV star in his home country, but is best known in the U.S. as the songwriter of the Gene Watson hits “Paper Rosie” (1977), “The Old Man and His Horn” (1977) and “Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All the Time” (1978). Harms also wrote Billy Walker’s “A Violin That Has Never Been Played” (1978) and dozens of songs for Canadian country artists.

He began his career in the 1950s in the clubs of Hamilton, Ontario and on country TV shows. He launched his recording career in the 1960s and landed his first chart record in 1972, “In the Loving Arms of My Marie.” Harms placed 20 singles on Canada’s RPM charts, including the No. 1 hit “Honky Tonkin’ (All Night Learn)” (1982).

He appeared on all of the major Canadian country TV shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Harms produced Canadian country acts Artie MacLaren, Cathy Chambers, Larry Mattson, Glen Logan, Wayne Rostad, Neville Wells, Brent Williams, Lynn Dee and more. He was also a photographer and a graphics artist who designed his own album jackets.

Dallas Harms was inducted into the CCM Hall of Fame in 1989.

His death occurred on Oct. 12.

Universal Music Group Executive, Digital Music Visionary Jay Frank Passes

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Jay Frank

Universal Music Group executive Jay Frank died Sunday (Oct. 13) following a long battle with cancer. He was 47.

In 2015, he joined Universal Music Group as Sr. VP, Global Streaming Marketing, where he and his team were responsible for utilizing data and analytics to maximize the performance of UMG artists across all streaming platforms and identifying new opportunities for UMG artists on those platforms. He also oversaw the curation and management of UMG’s global playlists, coordinating a worldwide playlist strategy across the company’s labels.

Frank authored two music books, including 2011’s Futurehit.DNA, which analyzed the hit-making elements of music in the digital age, as well 2012’s Hack Your Hit, which offered strategies for artists aiming to better utilize various social media and marketing platforms to expand the reach and impact of their music.

Frank also founded the singles-focused music subscription label DigSin, which signs new artists to deals that aim to leverage new platforms, social networks and analytics to expose their music to wider audiences. He also launched the music marketing company DigMark.

Prior to launching the two companies, Frank served as Sr. VP, Music Strategy at CMT from 2007-2011. Frank also previously served as VP, Music Programming and Label Relations for Yahoo! Music, and was responsible for all of the company’s music programming.

Early in his career, he served as Sr. Music Director at The Box Music Network, and worked in marketing/A&R for Ignition Records. His career also included time managing a live music venue, programming radio stations and creating two local music video shows.

A member of the 2007 class of Leadership Music, Frank also served on Leadership Music’s board, as well as on the boards of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and the Academy of Country Music. He was part of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission, and a consultant at FLO (Thinkery).

As a leader and visionary in the music and digital spaces, he spoke at conferences including MIDEM, SXSW, ASCAP Expo, Digital Music Forum, CMJ, and SF Music Tech Summit, among others.

Frank is survived by wife Linda and daughter Alex.

UMG leader Sir Lucian Grainge released the following memo:

Dear Colleagues,
I’m deeply saddened to tell you that our colleague and friend Jay Frank has passed after a recurrence of cancer. Professionally, Jay leaves an immense legacy. He was a creative and tireless leader who made significant contributions to the evolution of our global marketing efforts. Many of the ways we market our artists and their music in the streaming era stems from Jay’s innovative work. But more than anything else, Jay was a loving father and husband. We send our deepest condolences to all his family. Truly, there are no words sufficient to fully express our feelings. He is gone far too soon and we will miss him dearly.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has created the Jay Frank Memorial Musical Scholarship Fund in honor of his immense musical legacy. If you’d like to donate, click here.

Kenny Dixon, Drummer For Kane Brown, Passes

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Kenny Dixon. Photo: Alex Alvga

Kenny Dixon, drummer for Kane Brown, died Saturday (Oct. 12) in a car accident. The Dalton, Georgia native was 27, and was a longtime member of Brown’s band. Dixon is survived by his fiancé Sarah and son Levi James, 3. Kenny and Sarah were set to be married on Nov. 30.

Brown’s team shared the following statement:

“It is with profound sadness and disbelief that we confirm we lost our drummer Kenny this weekend in a tragic car accident. Kenny was a member of our family from the very beginning and our hearts are with his fiancé Sarah, his son, and everyone who knew and loved him. He was truly one of the greatest and kindest people on and off stage we’ve ever known.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Dennis J. Johnson, Beloved Spouse Of Artist Manager Fletcher Foster, Passes

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Dennis J Johnson

Dennis J. Johnson, beloved spouse of artist manager Fletcher Foster, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 7, 2019 after complications from a brave four-year battle with multiple myeloma. Through it all, he never lost his kind spirit, sweet smile and attention to detail. He was 62.

Dennis was born on November 24, 1956, to Garnes and Phyllis Johnson from Arcadia, California. He attended Arcadia High School, where he played the clarinet as a member of the Arcadia Apache Marching Band. This is where his love for marching band competitions began and as a teenager he marched in the Pasadena Rose Parade.

Dennis attended Pasadena City College, receiving an Associates of Arts degree in Design. He also attended Cal Poly in Pomona, California receiving a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising.

Dennis began his career in brand design only to move on to his dream job with the Walt Disney Company, working at Disneyland with many Fortune 500 companies. During that time, he met his life partner and future husband Fletcher Foster. He later worked at Miss Universe Pageant and in 1995 he moved to Nashville. His love of theme parks led him to work at Universal Studios Entertainment complex in Orlando, Florida as Vice President of Brand Development.

Dennis left the entertainment world to pursue his own home décor, design, manufacturing and distribution company. He created products found at Target, Belk, Coldwater Creek and boutique shops.

He also paralleled his love of homes by pursuing a career in residential real estate. Dennis was the recipient of the Silver Award of Excellence from the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors honoring significant achievement in real estate sales and salesmanship.

Dennis enjoyed music, art, film, skiing, tennis and football. His love of travel took him throughout the world to places such as Jerusalem, Palestine, China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada, Europe and Africa.

Being influenced by his travel with Fletcher, it inspired his creativity for home design—building two homes with Fletcher. He wanted their home to be as comfortable for guests as it was for them. He would focus on every detail. Entertaining and sharing their home with others for charitable events was also important. He loved to give back and share with others.

On August 1st, 2019 Dennis fulfilled his dream of marrying his best friend and love of thirty years, Fletcher.

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Garnes and Phyllis Johnson. He is survived by his husband Fletcher, his siblings Jerry Johnson (Linda) and Judy Hopkins (Dale), nieces Deanna, Kimi, Britney, Ashley, and Nicole…and his two furry companions Mason and Zach.

A celebration of his life is being planned in Nashville and California for friends and family.

Allen Henri Lesnick, Chief Operating Officer of Randi Events, Dies At 63

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Allen Henri Lesnick

Allen Henri Lesnick, Chief Operating Officer of Randi Events, died on October 3, 2019. He was 63 years old. Allen was born and raised in New York and was a proud graduate of Michigan State University.

Allen loved the town of Nashville, which he called home for the past 25 years, and resided in Franklin, TN. He was a beautiful friend to many and a fabulous husband and father. His greatest joys were wining, dining and smoking cigars with friends and family. He loved the cool breeze atop his paddle board on a Sunday morning.

Allen, along with his wife, Randi, of 30 years, made their mark on Nashville through the building of Randi Events. He also got so much pleasure through his work as a Financial Advisor.

In addition to being survived by his devoted wife, Randi, he is survived by their two sons, Jason and Jonathan and his two brothers Richard and Robert Gallucci.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 7 at 1:00 at Congregation Micah, located at 2001 Old Hickory Blvd in Brentwood. Shiva will be observed through Friday at 509 Green Harbor Circle in Franklin through October 10.

Visionary Songwriter And Producer busbee Dies At 43

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busbee

Visionary songwriter busbee has passed away according to news shared by country artist Maren Morris via Twitter.

The writer and producer known for his genre-bending talents has collaborated with a broad range of artists, including Morris, Shakira, Usher, Lady Antebellum, Jon Bellion, Blake Shelton, Timbaland, 5 Seconds of Summer, Keith Urban, and Jason Aldean, among others. He was previously signed to BMG.

Earlier this year, busbee, whose given name is Michael James Ryan, celebrated the launch of his new company, Altadena, which is a growing force in the launching and development of careers of artists, producers, and songwriters in a variety of genres, with offices in Los Angeles and Nashville.

In 2018, busbee signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music.

A year earlier, busbee received a BMI Song of the Year award for co-writing Florida Georgia Line’s No. 1 hit, “H.O.L.Y.” He also co-produced Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris’ breakthrough album, Hero, and co-wrote her first two hit singles, “My Church” and “80s Mercedes.” busbee also co-wrote Keith Urban’s “The Fighter” ft. Carrie Underwood which won an ACM Award for Vocal Event of the Year, and produced Lady Antebellum’s 2017 Grammy-nominated album, Heart Break, co-writing six songs, including the hit single, “You Look Good.”

Additionally, busbee produced and contributed to songs on the breakout albums from emerging country stars Lauren Alaina (Road Less Traveled) and Carly Pearce (Every Little Thing), having written Pearce’s breakout single of the same name, which made her the only female to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in 2017.

He co-wrote and co-produced Rachel Platten’s “Collide”; co-wrote and produced P!nk’s “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” and co-produced Gwen Stefani’s holiday album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, co-writing all six of the original songs.

Other notable busbee hits include “Try” by P!nk, “Dark Side” by Kelly Clarkson, and numerous other top ten singles. His recent collaborations include Jon Bellion, Justin Tranter, James Arthur, Lady Antebellum, Missio, and Maren Morris’ current album, Girl, released in January of this year.

Celebration Of Life Set For Donnie Fritts

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Donnie Fritts. Credit: Allister Ann

[Updated, Sept. 26]: A celebration of life for late musician/actor/songwriter Donnie Fritts has been set for Oct. 3, 2019 at Norton Auditorium in Florence, Alabama. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 7 p.m. No RSVP is required.

[Original post, Aug. 28, 2019]: Legendary Muscle Shoals musician, songwriter and actor Donnie Fritts passed away on Tuesday (Aug. 27). Born in Florence, Alabama on Nov. 8, 1942, Fritts died at the age of 76 after a lengthy battle with health issues.

The keyboard player for Kris Kristofferson for more than 20 years, Fritts had roles in a number of films, including Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid and Convoy, as well as the 1976 version of A Star Is Born. His most recent on-screen role was in the 2012 film Jayne Mansfield’s Car, written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton.

Fritts was also a well-known songwriter and had songs were recorded by artists including Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles and Dusty Springfield, among others. Among his iconic songs were “We Had it All,” “Breakfast In Bed” and “You’re Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning.”

Fritts released his first album, Prone To Lean, in 1974. His second project, 1998’s Everybody’s Got A Song, featured guest appearances by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, Waylon Jennings, Delbert McClinton, Tony Joe White, Leroy Parnell and John Prine. In 2008, Fritts released his third and final album, One Foot in the Groove.

The Alabama native was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Memorial services for Fritts have not yet been announced.

Animal Activist And Humanitarian Phran Galante Dies At 64

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Phran Galante. Photo: Courtesy Galante Family

Phran Rachel Galante, 64, of Nashville, TN, passed away today (Sept. 23) after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer over the last several years.

Born June 5, 1955 in New York City, Phran’s early years were filled with her love of animals—especially horses—theater, swimming, dance and tennis. The child of an Army physician, she moved around the country and even to Japan with her parents and siblings.

A dream of working on Broadway took Phran back to New York in 1981, where she landed a temp job at Chrysalis Records. In 1983, at the suggestion of her boss, she pursued and interviewed for a job at RCA Nashville, where she met her husband, Joe Galante. The two would marry in 1990.

In 1989, she left RCA to become part of the original team that built and launched Arista Records. With a talent for marketing, she designed, orchestrated and executed music marketing plans for a variety of artists and projects throughout her record label career. She also produced music videos for such artists as Alabama, K.T. Oslin, Ronnie Milsap and Alan Jackson.

Returning to Nashville in the early 1990s with her husband, Phran turned her time and efforts toward the community she loved and called home. She volunteered to rescue animals, was on the board of directors for TPAC, and worked at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She was a founding member of United Partnerships in Animal Welfare, a community-based group sanctioned by the city of Nashville, working to reduce the very high rate of euthanasia in Music City’s animal shelters.

In 2018, she was honored with the Pet Community Center’s Jourdan Parenteau Excellence in Service Award for her 20+ years of leadership in animal welfare. Accepting the award, she said, “Animals can’t speak for themselves, so we must do it for them.”

Phran was also passionate about the work being done by the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, using her record industry contacts to bring music into the facility to brighten children’s days. She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through her work on the annual Music City Tennis Invitational, helping the event become a cornerstone of the hospital’s funding efforts. In 2017, while serving as honorary co-chair, she was recognized by the event with the MCTI Outstanding Service Award and the MCTI Sportsmanship Award (receiving the latter for a second time) for her many years of service as co-chair, silent auction chair and tournament player.

Almost immediately upon receiving her own diagnosis, Phran began helping friends and even strangers who were beginning their own journey with cancer, lending an ear, offering support and spending time with them. She went on-camera, sharing her voice and personal experience with the public on behalf of the T.J. Martell Foundation and its work to fund cancer research. “As each day goes by, we get closer and closer to a cure,” she said with conviction, giving hope to others through her own determination and fight to keep the disease at bay.

Phran is survived by her husband Joe, sister Debbie Linn, brothers Pete and Myke Schwartz, parents Marvin and Claire Schwartz, and her beloved pets Lexie and Fergie. Phran’s family thanks doctors Bal, Karlekar, Lovly and Meluch along with the nurses at Tennessee Oncology, Sarah Cannon, and the staff at Alive Hospice for the care they provided to Phran.

A celebration of Phran’s life will be held on October 23 at Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tenn.; further details will be forthcoming. The family asks that anyone wishing to honor her memory consider a donation to the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Phran Galante Memorial Fund for Lung Cancer Research or the Pet Community Center in memory of Phran.

Beloved Country Music Journalist Chuck Dauphin Passes

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Chuck Dauphin. Photo credit: Jamie Schramm/CMA

Beloved Nashville country music industry journalist and Dickson resident Chuck Dauphin passed away Wednesday evening (Sept. 18) at 6:47 p.m., following a series of complications from diabetes. He was 45.

As a radio broadcaster, record promoter and journalist, he has spent the past 25 years sharing his passion for country music and carrying a torch for all of its artists, songwriters and industry members.

With over 1,000 articles published in various magazines and newspapers, including Roughstock, At Home Tennessee, Sounds Like Nashville and Billboard among many others, he will always be known for his integrity, preparation, creativity and passion for country music. His peers and close friends will also remember him for his quiet wit and unwavering support of others.

As one of the most well-respected journalists within the industry, the veteran radio and music journalist was presented with the 2014 CMA Media Achievement Award on the night of the “The 48th Annual CMA Awards.”

Dauphin launched his career as a professional radio host in 1991 during his junior year in high school, when he earned his first job in the music business at WDKN in Dickson, Tennessee. He worked there for 18 years, rose to program director and was known to everyone in Dickson County by his on-air personality, “Crazy Chucky.” He enjoyed a flourishing radio career with stops at WNKX in Centerville, Tenn., Nashville’s WSM-AM, and he often appeared as a guest on Sirius XM’s country channels.

He is survived by his father Charles F. Dauphin, Jr., his stepmother, Marcia Dauphin of Savanna, Ill., a stepson Zach Heath of Kentucky, stepdaughter Isabella Heath of Pennsylvania, stepbrother Lyle Klein (Dee Dee) of Carthage, Ill., a stepsister, Deanna Deal (Eric) of Freeport, Ill., an uncle Burt Dauphin of Savanna, Ill., two aunts, Diana Chaplin of Baileyville, Ill. and Gloria Roberts of Freeport, Ill. and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, his grandparents Ernest and Pauline Clymer, Charles and Edna Dauphin, two uncles Jim Chaplin and Del Roberts, an aunt Peg Dauphin and a cousin, Douglas Harbers, and many beloved pet dogs and cats, including Lassie, Brownie and Chloe.

Chuck Dauphin Public Funeral and Visitation  
Saturday, September 21, 2019

5:00 – 8:00 PM Visitation

Taylor Funeral Home
214 North Main St.
Dickson, TN 37055
Phone: 615-446-2808

Sunday, September 22, 2019

1:00 – 3:00 PM Visitation
3:00 PM Celebration of Life
A reception will follow Chuck’s Celebration of Life at Burns Church of Christ.Burns Church of Christ 
2718 Church St.
Burns, TN  37029
Phone: 615-441-3984

 

Nashville Artist Manager, Agent, Talent Promoter Alton “Al” Embry Dies

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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.