Industry Veteran Rick Rockhill Passes

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Rick Rockhill

Glen Richard “Rick” Rockhill passed away peacefully at his home in Panama City, Florida on Aug. 29. He was 80.

A veteran of the music industry, “Rocket Man,” as he was known to his many friends and colleagues, was instrumental in developing the careers of many notable artists, including Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Steve Holy, Hal Ketchum, Wynonna Judd, Jo Dee Messina, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul Davis, Sawyer Brown, Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, Rodney Atkins and many more.

Rockhill was born in Birmingham and began his music career in Nashville as a promotions executive. Operating out of Nashville and Atlanta, he worked for several labels throughout his career, including Bang Records, Capricorn Records, Curb Records and DreamWorks Nashville. In the ’90’s he was a partner at Tandem Promotions with Tari Laes. In 2024, he moved to Panama City Beach to be closer to family.

Along with music he had an eclectic array of interests from hiking at Radnor Lake and fly fishing to documentary films, reading and following current events. Long after retirement he remained keenly interested in discovering new talent, but his heart and driving force would always be his family, especially daughter Cayce, granddaughters Bayleigh and Savannah, and great-grandson Brooks.

Rockhill was predeceased by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Loren V. Rockhill of Birmingham and is survived by daughter Cayce Lee Rockhill of Lovettsville, Virginia; brother Ron Rockhill and wife Gayle of Panama City Beach; grandchildren Loren Bayleigh Langston of Bluffton, South Carolina and Savannah McGarity of Lovettsville, Virginia; and great grandson Brooks Langston.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lowcountry Autism Foundation of Bluffton, S.C., (10 Pinckney Colony Road, Building 100, Suite 100, Bluffton, S.C., 29909). A celebration of life is being planned for October.

Brandon Blackstock, Longtime Talent Manager, Passes [Updated]

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Brandon Blackstock

Longtime talent manager Brandon Blackstock passed away peacefully on Aug. 7 following a three-year battle with cancer. He was 48.

Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, on Dec. 16, 1976, to Narvel and Elisa Blackstock, Brandon spent his early childhood in Burleson, Texas before moving to Big Piney, Wyoming for his high school years.

He moved to Nashville as a young adult to begin a career in the music business. He began working alongside his father Narvel at Starstruck Management Group in 2006. Together, the father-son team managed a roster of top country artists, including longtime client Blake Shelton. Narvel also notably managed and was married to Reba McEntire from 1989 to 2015.

Brandon’s reputation in the music business was that of a champion, who always had his hand out to pull others up the ladder, to open a door or to make a connection.

After more than 20 years in the music business, Brandon returned in recent years to the mountains of Butte, Montana, where he embraced the cowboy lifestyle. With his partner, Brittney Marie Jones, he built businesses and helped establish Headwaters Livestock Auction, along with what will stand as his legacy—the Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana.

Brandon was preceded in death by his loving grandparents Gloria and Narvel Leroy Blackstock, Mary Helen Davis and Walter Ritter and Jacqueline and Clark McEntire. He is survived by his children Savannah Blackstock Lee, Seth Blackstock, River Rose Blackstock and Remington Blackstock; his son-in-law, Quentin Lee; grandchildren Lake Easton Lee, Julianna Rae Lee and the soon-to-arrive LouCasey Lee; parents Narvel Wayne Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter Gilbert; stepparents Reba Nell McEntire, Laura Putty Blackstock and Daniel Eugene Gilbert; grandparents Karen and Terry Beattie; siblings Shawna Blackstock Meyers and Jason Meyers, Chassidy Blackstock Standefer and Scott Standefer, Shelby McEntire Blackstock and Marissa Blackstock; and his other lifelong brother, Brian Pittman.

All of Brandon’s friends and loved ones are invited to join the family for his celebration of life on Sunday, Aug. 17. Please reach out to a family member for service details.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brandon Blackstock Memorial Fund at the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation.

Grammy-Winning ‘Texas Tornado’ Flaco Jiménez Passes

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Flaco Jiménez. Photo: Andrew W. Long, courtesy of Robert K. Oermann archive

Roots-music superstar Flaco Jiménez has died at age 86 in San Antonio.

The Tex-Mex, conjunto musician immortalized his distinctive button-accordion style on the top country hits “The Streets of Bakersfield” by Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens in 1988 and “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” by The Mavericks in 1986. During his six-decade career, Jiménez earned five Grammy Awards and was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

Alongside Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm and Augie Meyers, Flaco Jiménez was a member of the “super group” The Texas Tornados in 1990-2010. He also collaborated on disc with Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, The Bellamy Brothers, Tanya Tucker, Junior Brown, John Hiatt, Emmylou Harris, Lee Roy Parnell, Chet Atkins & Suzy Bogguss, Los Lobos, Santana, Ray Benson, Radney Foster and The Rolling Stones, among many others. He recorded 27 solo albums between 1972 and 2014.

He was born Leonardo Jiménez in 1939, which is around the time his accordion-playing father was first recording and popularizing conjunto music in the San Antonio area. Forged in central Texas during the late 1800s, conjunto combined country waltzes, German polkas and Mexican-American folk music. The button accordion is the lively style’s central instrument. Flaco’s younger brother, Santiago Jiménez Jr., also became a conjunto accordion master.

Nicknamed “Flaco” Jiménez, the future star began playing in his father’s band at age 7 and began recording at age 15. He rose to prominence on the San Antonio music scene, starring on local television and regularly filling dancehalls. In the 1960s, he started working with Doug Sahm of The Sir Douglas Quintet.

He and Sahm temporarily relocated from San Antonio to Manhattan, where Jiménez worked with Dr. John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Ry Cooder and Dylan. He toured and recorded with Rowan for some time, which was when he first became familiar to Eastern Anglo audiences. The two formed a band called The Free Mexican Airforce.

Cooder then took him on the road internationally and featured him on the landmark 1976 LP Chicken Skin Music. Jiménez and Cooder also collaborated on the 1981 soundtrack of the Jack Nicholson film The Border. The following year, Carlos Santana enlisted Jimenez for his band’s Havana Moon album.

Following a string of solo albums on local labels, Jiménez recorded for the revered national folk labels Arhoolie Records (1977-88) and Rounder Records (1989-91). He won his first Grammy Award in 1986.

As a member of The Texas Tornados, he began recording for Warner Records in 1990. The group’s debut LP was issued in both Spanish and English-language versions. One of its tunes earned him his second Grammy. Country artists such as Raul Malo, Jesse Dayton and Dwight Yoakam began using him on recording sessions in the late 1980s.

Jiménez played the prestigious Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1990. Warner/Reprise signed him as a solo act in 1992 for the album Partners. Recorded in both Nashville and L.A., the collection included collaborations with Stephen Stills, Holly Dunn, Los Lobos, Ronstadt, Cooder, Hiatt, Yoakam and Emmylou Harris. Ronstadt had previously recorded with him on her 1990 album Mas Canciones.

Nashville’s Arista Records formed a Texas division and signed Jiménez. He delivered albums for the label in 1994 and 1996, the latter of which won him another Grammy. The Stones recruited him for their 1994 collection Voodoo Lounge. He and Lee Roy Parnell were nominated for a Country Instrumental Grammy in 1996.

Flaco Jiménez won two Grammy Awards in 1999. One was for his solo album for Virgin Records, Said and Done. The other was for his album with Los Super Seven, a multi-artist collaboration including Joe Ely, Rick Treviño, Tejano star Ruben Ramos, Sahm, Fender and members of Los Lobos. Later albums by this conglomeration included Malo, Hiatt, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Delbert McCllinton and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown as well.

Subsequent solo albums were issued by Compadre, Fiesta, Smithsonian Folkways, Joey, Back Porch and Sony. In 2012, Flaco Jiménez was given a National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts. Two years later, he was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts.

Flaco Jiménez died in San Antonio on Thursday, July 31. Survivors include his wife, Adela; sons Arturo and Gilbert; daughters Cynthia Jiménez and Raquel Fernandez; and his brother, Santiago Jr. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

BREAKING: Grand Ole Opry Icon Jeannie Seely Passes At 85

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Jeannie Seely. Photo: Cyndi Hornsby

Jeannie Seely, the beloved Grand Ole Opry member whose voice, wit and longevity made her one of country music’s most enduring figures, has died at age 85. She passed peacefully Friday (Aug. 1) at 5:00 p.m. CT at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee, following complications from an intestinal infection.

Known affectionately as “Miss Country Soul,” Seely was a force across seven decades of country music—an artist, songwriter, host, producer and fearless innovator who broke ground for generations to follow. She was the first woman to regularly host segments on the Grand Ole Opry, and the first artist to wear a miniskirt on its stage. At the time of her death, she had notched the most Opry performances in history, having stepped into that iconic circle 5,397 times.

Jeannie Seely performs at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo / Grand Ole Opry

Her final Opry appearance came on Feb. 22, 2025. She remained active in her later years, continuing to host Sundays with Seely on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse and releasing new music well into her 80s, including her 2024 single “Suffertime” and an accompanying short documentary. The release made her the vocalist with the longest recording span at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio B with 60 years between her first session and last.

Born July 6, 1940, and raised on a dirt road in rural Pennsylvania, Seely began performing on local radio as a child. By 21, she’d packed up her car and driven to Los Angeles, where she worked at Liberty and Imperial Records, wrote songs and started recording her own. It was Dottie West’s encouragement that led her to Nashville, where she landed a recording contract with Monument Records. Seely’s chart-topping hit “Don’t Touch Me” earned her a Grammy Award—making her just the third female country artist to receive one.

She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Sept. 16, 1967, and in the decades that followed, Seely became a steady, bold and beloved presence on the Opry stage. Her multiple collaborations with Jack Greene, her groundbreaking sense of style and her sharp humor helped shift perceptions of what women could be in country music.

Beyond the stage, Seely’s songs were recorded by legends across country, soul and pop—from Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Connie Smith to Irma Thomas, Boyz II Men and Seal. Her composition “Yours” was named Song of the Year at the 2022 Arkansas Country Music Awards.

SOURCE honors Jeannie Seely with the Jo Walker-Meador Lifetime Achievement Award. She poses with 2024 SOURCE Hall of Fame inductees Judy Seale, Marty Craighead, Teena Scogin Camp, Kathy Harris, Leslie Fram and Sheree Spoltore. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography, Bev Moser

She was also a radio host, an author, a stage actress and a passionate advocate for artists and songwriters, especially women. She played a crucial role in building community backstage at the Opry, mentoring rising talent and championing equity in the industry. In her final years, she served as producer for the bluegrass group Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass and was planning their next recording session at the time of her death.

Over the past few years, honors poured in. The Opry celebrated her 5,000+ performances in 2022. The CMA recognized her with the Joe Talbot Award in 2023. In 2024, she received the Jo Walker-Meador Lifetime Achievement Award from SOURCE and was featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s permanent exhibit Sing Me Back Home. That same year, a Metro Nashville interchange was renamed the “Jeannie Seely Interchange,” and in 2025, Sony Music Publishing honored her during Women’s History Month with reimagined collaborations of her songs.

Gene Ward and Jeannie Seely. Photo: Courtesy of family

Seely’s final public appearance was on March 1, 2025, at the reopening of the Legends of Country Music Museum, where she is honored with a dedicated exhibit. She was scheduled to attend the naming of the SAG-AFTRA studio space in her honor the following month.

Seely had experienced ongoing health issues since the fall, which intensified after the passing of her husband, Gene Ward, in December. This year, she underwent multiple back and emergency abdominal surgeries.

She is survived by friends, family and her beloved cat Corrie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, her parents Leo and Irene Seely, and siblings Donald, Bernard and Mary Lou. A memorial service will be announced in the coming days. Saturday night’s Grand Ole Opry will be dedicated to her memory.

Nashville Songwriter-Artist Sandy Pinkard Passes

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Sandy Pinkard

Sandy Pinkard has died at age 78.

The singer-songwriter left his mark on the Nashville scene as half of the music/comedy team Pinkard & Bowden and as a songwriter for Brenda Lee, Jim Nabors, Cher, John Anderson, Mickey Gilley and more. He and Texas songwriter Richard Bowden formed Pinkard & Bowden in 1984 and were signed to Warner Records. Between 1985 and 1993, the duo issued five albums and 12 singles.

They were famous for their witty parodies of country-music songs. Five of them made the country popularity charts in 1984-89, including “Mama She’s Lazy” (a parody of “Mama He’s Crazy”), “She Thinks I Steal Cars” (“She Thinks I Still Care”) and “Somebody Done Somebody’s Song Wrong.” Other highlights included “Help Me Make It Through the Yard,” “Delta Dawg” and “Drivin’ My Wife Away.” John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” became “Libyan on a Jet Plane.” Claude King’s hit “Wolverton Mountain” became “Three Mile Island.” Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” became “Blue Hairs Driving in My Lane.”

Independent of the novelty duo, Sandy Pinkard was noted for co-writing such award-winning hits as “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma” for David Frizzell & Shelly West (1981), which won the ACM Award for Song of the Year. “Coca Cola Cowboy” was a 1979 No. 1 hit for Mel Tillis that appeared on the soundtrack of the Clint Eastwood movie Any Which Way You Can. Glen Campbell had a top-10 hit with the film’s title tune. Tanya Tucker’s top-10 hit with “Pecos Promenade” was on the soundtrack of the 1980 Burt Reynolds movie Smokey & The Bandit II.

Vern Gosdin scored his first chart-topping hit with 1984’s “I Can Tell By the Way You Dance.” Anne Murray hit No. 1 with “Blessed Are the Believers” in 1981. The superstar duo of Ray Charles & Clint Eastwood charted with “Beers to You” in 1980.

He was born James Sanford Pinkard Jr. in 1947 and was an Air Force veteran during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Masons and the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Sandy Pinkard resided in Kingwood, West Virginia, where he died at home on Saturday, July 26. He is survived by his wife Lisa Ann Bennett, son Tom Maxwell, daughters Pamela Way and Mary Athalia Irwin, grandson Henry Stuart Irwin and brother Chris Pinkard.

A graveside service will be held at the West Virginia National Cemetery, at 42 Veterans Memorial Lane in Grafton, WV 26354, on Thursday, July 31, at 2:00 PM, where full military honors will be accorded. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center.

Designate checks to Veterans with Guitar Programs 1901, C/O Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center, Attention Voluntary Services, 1 Med Center Drive, Clarksburg, WV 26301.

Online condolences to www.kingwoodfuneralhomewv.com.

CMA Award Winner Helen Cornelius Passes

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Helen Cornelius

Singer Helen Cornelius died on Friday at age 83.

With vocal partner Jim Ed Brown, she earned the 1977 CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. The team was also nominated for this honor in 1978 and 1979. Its string of top-10 hits included “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You” (1976), “Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye” (1977), the Grammy-nominated “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight” (1978), “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1979), “Lying in Love With You” (1979), “Fools” (1979) and “Morning Comes to Early” (1980).

Born Helen Johnson, she was a native of Missouri who began singing at an early age. As a high-school student, she formed a trio with sisters Judy and Sharon. The siblings competed successfully on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour TV show in 1960.

She married truck driver Lewis Cornelius and channeled her music ambitions into songwriting while working as a housewife and raising children. She was signed as a staff writer by Screen Gems in 1970, and her songs were eventually recorded by such stars as The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Charlie Louvin & Melba Montgomery, Jeannie C. Riley, Lynn Anderson, Barbara Fairchild and Connie Smith, among others.

With her husband and three children in tow, she moved to Music City. Established Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown was introduced to the newcomer by RCA Records producer Bob Ferguson. The duo clicked with such sexy tracks as “I’ll Never Be Free” (1978), “The Bedroom” (1980) and “Don’t Bother to Knock” (1981) and co-starred as hosts of his Nashville On the Road nationally syndicated TV series in 1976-80.

Brown and Cornelius had an affair, which became embarrassingly public when they broke up in 1980. She became a solo artist with charted singles released by the RCA, Elektra and Ameri-Can labels. She released her debut solo LP in 1985 on Dot Records.

Helen Cornelius became the opening act for The Statler Brothers and for Conway Twitty. In 1984, she starred in a road company production of Annie Get Your Gun that played 64 cities. Cornelius briefly reunited with Jim Ed Brown for a tour in 1988. In 1991, she opened a theater called Nashville South in Gatlinburg. She performed there nightly for the next five years.

Returning to her native Missouri, Cornelius settled in Branson to headline at the Jim Stafford Theater. In recent years, she has often been featured on Larry Black’s Country Family Reunion series on RFD-TV.

Helen Cornelius passed away in Nashville. No cause of death has been reported. She is survived by her children, Christy and Dennis Cornelius, by two grandchildren, by brother Elvin Johnson, and by her beloved dog, Bella.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 (MichaelJFox.org). Visitation will be held on Friday, July 25 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. with a service immediately following at the Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave, Franklin, TN 37064. A private burial will be held after for family and close friends.

BREAKING: FBMM Co-Founder Frank Bumstead Passes

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Frank Bumstead.

FBMM Co-Founder Frank Bumstead passed away on yesterday morning (July 20) in Nashville. He was 83.

Before his time at FBMM, Bumstead served as CEO at JMR Investments for 14 years and was a proprietor at Bumstead Company for a decade. Bumstead founded FBMM alongside Mary Ann McCready, the late Chuck Flood and John McCarthy in 1990. Under Bumstead’s leadership, FBMM was the first business management firm to provide services from a seasoned economist. In 1991, Bumstead negotiated and arranged the sale of CMT network to Opryland, and also led the merger of MusicRow Magazine with SouthComm in 2008.

Bumstead was heavily involved in the community. In 2018, Bumstead was honored with the Frances Preston Outstanding Music Industry Achievement Award by the T.J. Martell Foundation. He also was awarded Nashville Opera’s Francis Robinson Award in 2019 for significant contributions to the arts. CMA also recognized him in 2022 with the William Denny Award for a lifetime of dedication and distinguished service to the CMA Board of Directors.

He was also a board member of CMA, where he served as President in 2014 and Chairman in 2015, along with other leadership positions. He also served on the boards of the Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association, Blue Chair Bay® Rum, Brookdale Senior Living, Conway-Welch Family Foundation, Fishbowl Spirits, LLC, Junior Achievement of Nashville, Junior League Advisory Board, Nashville Wire Products, United Supermarkets of Texas and Watkins Institute.

Bumstead was a founding member of the Memorial Foundation’s Board of Trustees and chaired the Foundation’s Finance & Investments Committee for more than 20 years. He was also chairman for Overwatch Alliance and involved with the Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association.

“Frank was brilliant, passionate and a role model to all of us at FBMM,” says Jamie Cheek, Owner and CEO of FBMM. “His expertise in investments and finance was key to FBMM’s ‘edge’ over the years and why we called him our ‘secret weapon.’ Frank was one of a kind, and we will continue to honor the legacy he instilled of hard work and dedication.”

“Frank cared deeply about this industry and the people in it, whether you were a client or not,” adds Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO. “I first met Frank during my interview for the CMA role in 2013, and I’ll never forget his sharp, thoughtful questions–or the unmistakable twinkle in his eyes. He helped lead several important initiatives that positioned CMA for long-term growth and stability. Although he left the Board in 2021, we remained in close touch over the years. My heart is with his wife, Ann, their sons, and all who knew and loved him. Frank was truly one of a kind.”

“Frank Bumstead has been a father figure to me for over 30 years,” shares Frank Thomas, National Baseball Hall of Famer. “Through the ups and downs, he was my anchor. There was nothing I couldn’t call and ask him, but he always kept me in line to do what was right. Some people you can’t replace in your life and that person is Frank Bumstead. I will miss him dearly. God bless the Bumstead family.”

“Although Frank was the primary architect of the [Memorial] Foundation’s sound and successful fiscal strategy, what was most important to him was that the Foundation’s funding supported local nonprofit organizations that helped make life better for others,” Board Chair Dr. David McKee says. Varina Buntin, the Foundation’s Board Vice Chair, shares “Frank’s wise counsel and passion for the Foundation’s mission since its inception has been invaluable, and he will be sorely missed.”

“I have a sincere appreciation for his guidance and leadership throughout the years of working together,” adds Mark Woodforde, International Tennis and Sport Hall of Famer. “He inspired me to grow both personally and professionally. I will miss his friendship and words of encouragement, and he will be deeply missed, but the heavens above have gained a true gentleman.”

“Frank Bumstead was a true patriot having served in combat as a Navy officer in Vietnam,” says Judge George C. Paine II. “He gave generously to veterans’ causes in time and treasure, whether personally or through advocating for them within the Memorial Foundation. Personally, I loved swapping “war stories” with him, and will greatly miss him, his wit, financial acumen and wisdom.”

FBMM will continue to be led by owners Julie Boos, David Boyer, Jamie Cheek, Duane Clark, Jen Conger, Dan Killian, Carmen Romano and Erica Rosa.

An informal visitation/celebration of Bumstead’s life will take place at Mount Olivet Funeral Home on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 12–2p.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests the following organizations for memorials and tributes in honor of his life: Cumberland Heights, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Family and Children’s Service, and the Frank M. and Ann S. Bumstead Scholarship at Owen Graduate School of Management.

Acclaimed Composer Stacy Widelitz Passes

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Stacy Widelitz

Stacy Widelitz, a celebrated composer, songwriter, photographer and arts advocate, passed away Tuesday morning (June 17) following a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that had metastasized. He was 69.

Widelitz first rose to prominence with the song “She’s Like the Wind,” co-written with his friend Patrick Swayze and featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. The track reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, contributing to the massive commercial success of the film’s soundtrack.

Over the course of his career, Widelitz composed music for feature films and more than 20 made-for-TV movies, and was nominated for an Emmy for his work on ABC’s World of Discovery. He also penned the end-title song for Disney’s Pocahontas II.

A native of Plainview, New York, Widelitz spent nearly two decades in Los Angeles before relocating to Nashville in 2000. In Music City, he continued his work in music and became deeply engaged in the broader creative and civic community.

He served on the boards of numerous local organizations, including the Nashville Opera, Nashville Film Festival, Alias Chamber Ensemble, and Dismas House, holding the role of President at several. He was also a longtime member and Past President of the Leadership Music Board of Directors. From 2016 to 2020, he served as a City Commissioner in Oak Hill, Tennessee.

In recent years, Widelitz explored a new creative path through black-and-white street photography, earning multiple awards and exhibiting his work at Chauvet Arts in Nashville. His photography took him around the world, including to Italy, Cuba, Paris, London, Berlin, Barcelona and across the United States.

In a note Widelitz wrote a few days before his death, he said: “When I look at my life, I’ve been on an incredibly lucky streak. I pursued my dreams of a career in music from an early age, and made a success of them. I even found further satisfaction and success with new and unexpected pursuits, such as photography and civic leadership. It’s been gratifying, fascinating, at times challenging and infuriating, but mostly it’s been a whole lot of fun. I’m not torturing myself with ‘shoulda” or “coulda.’ As Edith Piaf sang, ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ – I regret nothing.”

A Celebration of Life has been set for Wednesday, Aug. 20 at the CMA Theater (222 Rep. John Lewis Way S., Nashville, TN 37203). Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. central, with the program beginning at 6:00 p.m. A cocktail reception will follow in the Grand Foyer at 7:00 p.m.

Music Industry Veteran Mike Borchetta Passes

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Mike Borchetta

Longtime music executive Mike Borchetta passed away this morning (June 14) at the age of 84, surrounded by family.

Borchetta’s influential career spanned decades and included key roles at some of Nashville’s most notable labels. As President of Lofton Creek Records, he earned a No. 1 hit with Heartland’s “I Loved Her First” in 2006. During his tenure as VP of Promotion at Curb Records in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, Borchetta was instrumental in signing Tim McGraw.

He also held positions at Broken Bow, Capitol, RCA, Mercury, Philips Records, Rebel Engine and operated his own promotion company, working with artists across genres including Hal Ketchum, The Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, Glen Campbell, Dusty Springfield and Wayne Newton.

Outside of the music business, Borchetta and his wife Martha bred and trained thoroughbred horses for many years. Several of his children—Scott, Adelle, Chris and Angela—have also built careers in the music industry.

Borchetta’s life will be celebrated on Aug. 6 at 14TENN (1410 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209), with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and a lunch following. Please RSVP here. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation to ALS.org in Borchetta’s name.

Jonathan Mayers, Bonnaroo & Superfly Entertainment Co-Founder, Dies

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Jonathan Mayers, co-founder of Superfly Entertainment and the co-creator of festivals including Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, has died. His age and cause of death are unknown at this time.

Mayers, a New York native and a graduate of Tulane University, began his work in music through New Orleans venue Tipitina’s and the long-running Jazz Fest celebration. He co-founded Superfly in 1996 with Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone and Kerry Black. In 2002, the group launched the first Bonnaroo. Mayers was later an integral part of launching Vegoose in Las Vegas, Clusterfest and Outside Lands in San Francisco, and creating immersive fan experiences for shows including Seinfeld, The Office, South Park, Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Daily Show, Friends and more.

 

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Mayers parted from Superfly in 2021 and created Core City Detroit, which sought to raise money to invest in a “culturally rich neighborhood anchored by a music campus providing world- class services, infrastructure, and housing for local/national artists & industry along with entertainment experiences for the public,” according to an investment deck on the project.

Company officials at Another Planet Entertainment issued a statement to Billboard following Mayers’ passing. “Jonathan was a bright light, always pushing new and creative ideas in the entertainment space,” they said. “He was a visionary who was integral in the founding and the spirit of Outside Lands. Everyone in the Another Planet family will miss him dearly.

“Jonathan was one of the true real visionaries of the modern concert world and one of the core minds behind Bonnaroo,” longtime friend Peter Shapiro, founder of Dayglo Presents and the Brooklyn Bowl tells Billboard. “Modern-day festivals are all in some way built off of his vision.”