Music Industry Entrepreneur Bob ‘Norton’ Thompson Passes

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Bob ‘Norton’ Thompson

Bob Thompson, or “Norton” as he was known to many, passed away March 24 following a brief illness. He had also suffered from dementia for the last several years of his life. He was 80.

Thompson, alongside his wife Toni, owned the renowned Nashville rehearsal studio Soundcheck. The space was often utilized by stars such as Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, the Eagles, 38 Special, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Peter Frampton, and many more, to work out their stage shows before touring. He was beloved by the many performers and crew members who walked through the doors, and was very likely to be the first one to greet them and offer to lend a hand carrying equipment.

Thompson also worked on tours in the early days of his career as a roadie, stage manager and personal assistant alongside bands and artists including the Eagles, Ozzy Osbourne, Glenn Frey, Dan Fogelberg, Chicago, Jimmy Buffet, Fool’s Gold, and The Bellamy Brothers. His life and times on the road are described in his recent book Last Encore: My Time with Glenn Frey, the Eagles and other Hit Artists.

After spending much of his career on the road, Thompson and his wife opened Third Encore rehearsal studios in the San Fernando Valley in California in 1989 and later moved to Nashville, opening Soundcheck in 1993.

Thompson was a devoted father, grandfather, husband, protector, dog lover and a friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, daughter Summer Naylor, and grandson Carter Naylor. A private service will be scheduled, and a Go Fund Me account has been arranged to help the family with medical bills.

Veteran Nashville Publicist Liz Thiels Passes

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Liz Thiels. Photo: Donn Jones for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Liz Thiels, one of the founders of Nashville music publicity, died yesterday (March 19) at age 78.

Thiels ended her distinguished career with a vice presidency at the Country Music Hall of Fame. She joined the museum in 2002 as Vice President for Public Relations, and retired as a key member of its executive team in 2015.

During her tenure, she helped raise the institution’s profile and deepen the public’s understanding of its educational mission. She also served as a guiding vision for dozens of key museum events, including its annual Medallion Ceremony, which formally inducts new members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Louisiana native rose to prominence in Music City as a co-founder of the historic Exit/In nightclub in 1971. This legendary nightspot hosted a who’s-who of national recording artists — Jimmy Buffett, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Martin, George Jones, Etta James, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, R.E.M., The B-52s, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Bily Crystal, John Hiatt, Buddy Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis and more. The club was featured in the 1975 Robert Altman film Nashville.

Beginning in 1974, she was a key member of the Sound Seventy management and concert-promotion team. The company staged the massively successful, annual, all-star Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam shows in Nashville.

In 1979, Liz Thiels launched Network Ink. This was the first publicity company in Nashville to focus solely on music. Clients included Ricky Skaggs, Wynonna, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, Steve Wariner, Dolly Parton, Lyle Lovett, Brooks & Dunn, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Clint Black, Nanci Griffith, WSM radio, Universal Music Group, Clay Walker and Guy Clark, among many others. During this time, she also served as a council member of the W.O. Smith Community Music School.

Thiels was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1944. She attended the University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, majoring in advertising design.

She began her career as a newspaper reporter in Louisiana. Thiels went to Washington, D.C. as the press secretary for U.S. Congressman Speedy O. Long. After moving to Nashville in the late 1960s, she worked at Holder, Kennedy Public Relations.

Following her Exit/In and Sound Seventy stints, she helmed Network Ink for more than 20 years. Her P.R. firm trained a generation of Nashville music publicists, including Lance Cowan, Kim Fowler, Mike Hyland, Dixie Owen, Jennifer Bohler, Ellen Pryor and Kevin Lane. Liz Thiels became sole owner of Network Ink in 1985.

One of her clients there was the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was instrumental in the capital campaign that raised $18 million to build its new downtown home. She also oversaw the publicity surrounding its move from Music Row.

The Hall of Fame hired her as a full-time executive in December 2001. She closed Network Ink and assumed her new duties in January 2002.

“Liz Thiels elevated and enhanced the profile of country music in countless ways,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “She was the consummate music business publicist — heading her own firm…and also expertly guiding public relations for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, first as a PR consultant and then as a staff member, for a total of more than three decades.

“A vital figure in the museum’s successful move in 2001 to downtown Nashville, she was instrumental in strategizing for our growth and crucial in positioning the museum as both a key fixture in Nashville’s music community and an institution of national stature. I can’t imagine where the museum would be without her many years of wise counsel.”

In November 2008, Thiels was recognized at the museum’s annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, which honors music industry leaders who represent the legacy of music business manager Louise Scruggs.

In honor of her love of gardening, the museum now includes a fresh herb garden onsite, the Liz Thiels Hillbilly Garden, which provides ingredients for the museum’s restaurant.

Her death came following a long illness. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Musicians Hall Of Fame Member Michael Rhodes Passes

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Michael Rhodes. Photo: Bob Seamans

Renowned musician Michael Rhodes passed away at his home in Nashville on March 4. He was 69.

Best known for his mastery of the bass, Rhodes played on iconic recordings and toured with some of rock, blues, jazz and progressive country music’s biggest names. He was inducted into the Musician’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

Born in Monroe, Louisiana on Sept. 16, 1953, Rhodes taught himself to play guitar at age 11. Drawn to the funky rhythms of the bayou state, bass eventually became his instrument of choice.

He moved to Austin, Texas during the rise of the outlaw country movement in the early ’70s. He later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he found work with Charlie Rich’s son Allan. Rhodes soon moved to Nashville and joined a local rock band, the Nerve. He also quickly became a part of the house demo band at Tree Music Publishing, where Bobby Braddock, Harlan Howard and Curly Putnam wrote songs.

Rhodes soon became a first-call musician for the recordings of stars across a myriad of genres. His bass playing can be heard on Shawn Colvin’s Grammy-winning “Sunny Came Home,” Lee Ann Womack’s titanic “I Hope You Dance,” Ashley Cleveland You Are There, Joe Bonamassa’s Live at the Greek and Larry Carlton Take Your Pick.

He recorded frequently with Willie Nelson, Etta James, Mark Knopfler, Alan Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Brian Wilson, Joss Stone, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, J.J. Cale, Wynonna Judd, Merle Haggard, Randall Bramlett, Amy Grant, Hank Williams, Jr, The Highwaymen, John Oates, George Strait and Kenny Chesney, as well as on projects for Bob Seger, Dave Stewart, Keith Whitley, Joan Baez, Lionel Richie, Burt Bacharach, Aaron Neville, Johnny Cash, Lonny Mack, India.Arie, Buddy Guy, Grace Potter, Billy Joe Shaver, Ruthie Collins, Michael McDonald, Dan Penn, Jennifer Holiday, John Fogerty, Elton John and Joan Osborne.

Rhodes played on both LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood’s versions of Dianne Warren’s “How Will I Live,” which competed against each other in 1997 on the charts and at the Grammy Awards.

He was also an in-demand touring musician. He played with Vince Gill on the tour of his Grammy-nominated album These Days. He was part of Steve Winwood’s acclaimed live band, as well as a frequent member of Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell’s road bands during the ‘80s and ‘90s. Rhodes continued to play and perform up until his passing. He was scheduled to play his regular gig with Pat McLaughlin’s band days before his death.

Michael Rhodes is survived by his wife of more three decades, Lindsay Fairbanks Rhodes; a son Jason Rhodes and daughter Melody Wind Rhodes; Lindsay’s sons Van and Weston Hayes; and grandchildren Cayman Rhodes, Cora Rhodes, Wylder Rhodes, Kingsley Rhodes, Jenna Nicole Hillman and Ryley Bruce Hillman.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Music Health Alliance in Rhodes’ name. The family also encourages friends of Rhodes to really listen to a piece of music that matters to you, sharing that Rhodes listened to John Coltrane before he passed.

Memorial arrangements are pending.

Grayscale Marketing Mourns Passing Of Colleague Matt Alese

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Matt Alese

Grayscale Marketing Senior Project Management and Operations Coordinator Matt Alese has passed away. He was 29.

Originally from West Islip, New York, Alese started his career at Grayscale in 2016 as an intern. In his most recent role, he helped successfully manage large projects across the country.

“I saw a drive and hunger in him even early on,” recalls Grayscale Marketing CEO, Tim Gray. “There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t or couldn’t challenge himself to do and you had to love that about him.”

Armed with his work ethic and a genuine passion for music, he quickly established himself as a fixture in the industry, regularly attending functions and serving as a member of the SOLID Board.

“Matt was an incredible colleague and friend, honest, consistently improving in his work, a committed Jiu-jitsu practitioner and avid hockey player,” remarks Gray. “He was a responsible person, a go-getter, enthusiastic, dedicated and had a sense of humor. The passion that he brought to his job, our team and this industry each and every day is something myself and others will never forget.”

A funeral mass was held Saturday, Feb. 25 in New York. Memories and condolences for the family can be left here.

Songwriter & Producer Kyle Jacobs Dies At 49

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Kyle Jacobs

Award-winning songwriter and producer Kyle Jacobs died Friday (Feb. 17) at age 49. Metro Nashville police says Jacobs’ death is being investigated as an apparent suicide.

Jacobs was the husband of country singer Kellie Pickler and starred alongside her in the CMT reality series I Love Kellie Pickler. They married in 2011.

Born in Bloomington, Minnesota, Jacobs moved to Nashville in 2000. After years of hard work–including time painting houses and sleeping in his car–Jacobs notched his first No. 1 as a songwriter in 2003 with “8th World Wonder.” He was a co-writer on one of the fasting-rising singles in country music history at the time, Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory.” Jacobs also co-wrote top 10 singles “Still” by Tim McGraw, and “Dust” by Eli Young Band.

Jacobs, who was a staff writer at Curb|Word Publishing, celebrated multiple No. 1 hits alongside Lee Brice as as songwriter or producer, including “Hard To Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “Drinking Class,” “Rumor,” “One Of Them Girls,” “Memory I Don’t Mess With” and “Soul.” The day before his death, Jacobs made a social media post celebrating the Platinum certification of Brice’s Hey World album.

 

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A post shared by Kyle Jacobs (@kylecjacobs)

Jacobs is an ACM winner, having taken home the trophy in 2013 for Song of the Year with “I Drive Your Truck.”

After Jacobs’ passing, Lee Brice offered, “These past few days have truly been some of the hardest of my life. At times, I feel lost and buried under this deep sadness. Other times, I sit and remember all the times with Kyle that bring me comfort and make me smile. He was, without a doubt, one of the best people anyone could ever hope to have in their corner…I am eternally grateful for having him in mine. I’ll keep Kellie, his family and everyone who was touched by him close to my heart. I’ll miss you til we meet again..I love you, brother.”

Curb | Word Chairman, Mike Curb, shared, “Kyle Jacobs was one of those amazing creative talents who understood all genres of music. He came into Curb’s life when he wrote “8th World Wonder,” which was the first Pop single by Kimberly Locke after her amazing performance on American Idol. He proceeded to create the only Country record to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard chart, “More Than A Memory” by Garth Brooks, which he composed with Billy Montana and Lee Brice. Among his many other successes, he composed Tim McGraw’s hit “Still” and Lee Brice’s #1 Billboard single “Rumor,” and he co-produced with Ben Glover Lee Brice’s current and most successful album, which has just been certified Platinum. The album includes “Save The Roses” and “Do Not Disturb,” some of the most poignant songs ever written, which are a major tribute to Kyle’s legacy that we will always cherish. Most importantly, Kyle was part of our Curb | Word family and an inspiration to all of us.”

Curb | Word VP, Country Publishing & Creative, Colt Murski, shared, “Kyle was such an amazing person. He was my best friend, my best man, and my champion. I had the honor of working with him for over 18 years and cherished every moment. He was an amazing musician, songwriter, and producer. He was a part of so many amazing songs. He was a friend to so many people and he touched so many lives around the world. He was the kind of guy you could go to for advice, guidance, or a good laugh. I’m going to miss him forever.”

Entertainment Lawyer Craig Hayes Passes

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Craig Hayes

Entertainment attorney Craig Hayes, who represented artists such as Faith Hill and Aaron Neville as well as music business clients, passed away at his home on Feb. 5. He was 75.

In addition to being an attorney, Hayes was a road manager and a musician himself. The Arlington, Virginia native earned a B.A. in Economics and Business from Wofford College in South Carolina in 1968. After spending three semesters at the University of North Carolina School of Law, Hayes quit school to play music for seven years. He then returned to school, graduating in 1978 with a Juris Doctorate in Law. Hayes also studied copyright, motion picture television, and First Amendment law at Duke Law School from 1977-1978.

After graduation, Hayes was admitted to the State and Federal Bar in Tennessee while working as an associate at Thompson, Harris, and Leach. He left to form a new firm, Thompson & Hayes, with Robert Thompson in 1981.

In 1983, Hayes once again took a hiatus to play music, joining Neil Young’s band as a baritone sax player and creating the character “Vito Toledo” on Young’s “Shocking Pink Tour.” He also recorded with Young and Crazy Horse during this time.

Following his time on stage, Hayes formed the law partnership Zumwalt, Almon & Hayes. An involved member of the community, Hayes was part of Leadership Music’s Class of 1996.

Craig Hayes is survived by his wife Pamela Brown Hayes, a singer-songwriter who crafted such hits as “I Can Love You Better” by the The Chicks and “In Your Eyes”by Aaron Neville. Hayes is also survived by sons Luke Aaron Hayes and Samuel Clemens (Kristen) Hayes; and siblings Curtis (Jessica) Hampton, Robert (Bobby) Hayes, and Leslie Hampton-Lash.

A celebration of life for Hayes will be held at a later date.

Hit Songwriter Pat Bunch Passes

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Award-winning lyricist Pat Bunch died last week at age 83.

She is best known for co-writing such hits as “I’ll Still Be Loving You” by Restless Heart (1987), “Safe in the Arms of Love” by Martina McBride (1995) and “Wild One” by Faith Hill (1993). More than 100 other artists have recorded her songs.

Patricia Karen Bunch Price was a native of Zanesville, Ohio. She began her songwriting career in Nashville in the 1970s when she was approaching her 40th birthday.

Bunch’s first single as a writer was with Lynn Anderson, who released “Last Love of My Life” in 1978. Connie Smith and David Houston charted with Bunch co-written songs in 1979. Later that year, the songwriter scored her first top 10 hit via “Holding the Bag,” recorded by Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley.

Her top 10 hits of the 1980s included Crystal Gayle’s “Me Against the Night” in 1984 plus Janie Fricke’s “The First Word in Memory Is Me” and “Somebody Else’s Fire,” both in 1985. “I’ll Still Be Loving You” topped the country charts and crossed over to become an A/C and pop hit as well. The 1987 hit won awards from both BMI and ASCAP and was nominated for a Grammy.

Ty Herndon had huge successes with her “I Want My Goodbye Back” in 1995 and “Living in a Moment” in 1996. McBride’s 1995 hit “Safe in the Arms of Love” was recorded by eight other artists. Similarly, “Wild One”(sometimes listed as “She’s a Wild One”) had six cover versions.

Among those scoring top 40 country hits with Bunch’s lyrics were Baillie & The Boys (1987’s “He’s Letting Go”), Collin Raye (1995’s “What If Jesus Comes Back Like That”), Terri Clark (2005’s “She Didn’t Have Time”), and Steve Holy (2006’s “Come On Rain”). Others who did so included Herndon (1997’s “I Have to Surrender”), BlackHawk (2000’s “I Need You All the Time”) and Chris Janson (2013’s “Better I Don’t”).

Other notable cuts included Suzy Bogguss’ single of “You Wouldn’t Say That to a Stranger,” Carlene Carter’s version of “Love Like That,” the John Michael Montgomery treatment of “Even Then,” Keith Harling’s holiday release “Santa’s Got a Semi” and Kenny Rogers’ performance of “Slow Dance More.”

Early in her career, Bunch’s most frequent songwriting collaborators were Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy. These two recorded songs co-written with Bunch during their stints as members of the bands Calamity Jane and Kennedy Rose. Later, Bunch often collaborated with Doug Johnson. Other songwriting partners included Shane Teeters, Nicole Witt, Dan Mitchell and Buck Moore.

Her lyrics were particularly favored by female country artists. Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Tammy Wynette, Juice Newton, The Forester Sisters, Lacy J. Dalton, Judy Rodman, Barbara Mandrell, Michelle Wright, Dottie West, Pam Tillis, Shelby Lynne, Sylvia, Lauren Alaina and Mary Chapin Carpenter are among those who recorded her songs. Bunch’s male-country song clients included Don Williams, Billy Dean, Lee Greenwood, Charley Pride, Gene Watson, Mark Wills, The Gatlins, George Strait, Sammy
Kershaw, Clay Walker and The Oak Ridge Boys.

The songwriter was not limited to the country scene. Among the non-country artists who recorded her works were Glenn Frey, Jill Sobule, Art Garfunkel, Percy Sledge, Joan Baez, Soul Sistas and Petula Clark.

Pat Bunch died on Jan. 30 at her home in Cross Plains, Tennessee. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, James Price, as well as by sons Randy Archer, Robin Archer and Rusty Archer, plus nine grandchildren.

There are no services or visitation planned. Arrangements are entrusted to Austin & Bell, 533 Highway 76 White House, Tennessee, 37188, (615- 672-5000, austinandbell.com).

Hit Songwriter Peter McCann Dies At Age 74

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Music City hit tunesmith Peter McCann, a longtime activist in the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), passed away at home, in his sleep, on Jan. 26.

He is noted for such enduring songs as Jennifer Warnes’ “Right Time of the Night” (1977), Earl Thomas Conley’s “Nobody Falls Like a Fool” (1985) and Janie Fricke’s “She’s Single Again” (1985). As a vocalist, McCann had a 1977 pop hit with “Do You Wanna Make Love,” which he also wrote.

Born in Connecticut in 1948, McCann founded the folk-rock group The Repairs while he was a college student. In 1971, he traveled to California with the group to record for Motown Records. After three Repairs albums, McCann landed a staff songwriting gig at ABC’s publishing division.

The top-10 pop smash “Right Time of the Night” launched his career. It was his first hit as a songwriter, Jennifer Warnes’ first hit as a singer and Jim Ed Norman’s first hit as a producer.

The song’s success led to a recording contract of his own. McCann was signed to 20th Century Records, where “Do You Wanna Make Love” became a No. 5 pop hit and a Gold Record. The song was quickly recorded by the country artists Bobby Smith, Buck Owens and David Wills, all of whom charted with it in 1977-79.

Songwriting success continued after McCann moved to Nashville in 1985. The Janie Fricke and Earl Thomas Conley hits paved his way into Music City. His co-written “Wall of Tears” was K.T. Oslin’s debut single on RCA in 1987. Baillie & The Boys had a 1991 hit with his cowritten “Treat Me Like a Stranger.” McCann’s “The Star” was recorded by Kathy Mattea for her Grammy-winning album Good News in 1993.

Whitney Houston recorded McCann’s “Take Good Care of My Heart” for her 1985 debut album. It has sold more than 20 million units. Jermaine Jackson has also recorded this song. McCann’s songs have been recorded by such pop stars as Shaun Cassidy, Karen Carpenter, Isaac Hayes & Millie Jackson, Paul Anka, Julio Iglesias, John Travolta, Bobby Vinton, Donny Osmond, Ricky Nelson and Andy Williams.

But Peter McCann’s songwriting mostly found favor with country recording artists. Among those who have recorded his works are Con Hunley, Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Lee Greenwood, Michael Johnson, Reba McEntire, Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius, Anne Murray, Rodney Carrington, Nicolette Larson, Eddie Rabbitt, Kenny Rogers, Lisa Brokop and Shelly West. In 1987-88, Mickey Gllley, Louise Mandrell and Pake McEntire all had top-40 country hits with singles written by McCann. The songwriter spent years signed to the CBS/Sony and EMI publishing companies on Music Row.

In 1999, McCann was given the Volunteerism Award from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This was for composing its anthem “Among the Missing,” recorded by Michael McDonald and Kathy Mattea.

Peter McCann was always a strong advocate for songwriters and publishers. He joined the NSAI and rose to be vice president of its board and the chairman of its legislative committee for more than a decade. He spent upwards of 25 years lobbying for songwriters rights in Washington.

This brought him into contact with conservative senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. Hatch was a songwriter. He and McCann co-wrote several songs, including “Come to the Manger,” which was recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys. In 1995, McCann released a Christmas album of his own compositions on RCA.

Pater McCann lectured on copyright law at universities and music-industry events. In 1995 he won NSAI’s President’s Choice award for his work in copyright protection. In 2003, he won a special commendation from SESAC for his continuing efforts to strengthen the nation’s copyright laws.

McCann was a 1993 graduate of Leadership Music. He died at age 74 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jacalyn Sheridan, and their son, Colin McCann. No funeral arrangements have been announced. According to Leadership Music, a celebration of Peter McCann’s life will be announced at a later date.

Lisa Marie Presley, Singer & Daughter Of Elvis Presley, Dies At 54

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Lisa Marie Presley makes her Grand Ole Opry debut

Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of Elvis Presley, died on Thursday (Jan. 12) after a medical emergency and a brief hospitalization. She was 54.

The news was confirmed by Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, in a statement. Priscilla had tweeted earlier in the day that Lisa Marie had been rushed to the hospital.

As the daughter of one of the biggest stars in American history, Lisa Marie grew up around the music business. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on Feb. 1, 1968, nine months to the day after her parents’ wedding.

After Elvis and Priscilla divorced in 1973, Lisa Marie lived with her mother in Los Angeles, but frequently visited her father at Graceland in Memphis. She was nine years old when her father died in August of 1977.

On her 25th birthday, Lisa Marie inherited the Graceland estate, which had grown to an estimated $100 million. She sold 85% of her father’s estate in 2004.

Lisa Marie married actor Danny Keough in 1988. They had two children together, Benjamin and Riley Keough before divorcing in 1994. She then famously married iconic performer Michael Jackson, to whom she was married to until 1996.

She then married actor Nicolas Cage in 2002, around the time that she began her own musical career. Lisa Marie released her debut album, To Whom It May Concern, on April 8, 2003. The album hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and was certified Gold.

After divorcing from Cage in 2004, Lisa Marie returned with her second album, Now What, in 2005. Presley co-wrote the project’s 10 songs and recorded covers of Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry” and the Ramones’ “Here Today and Gone Tomorrow.”

Lisa Marie married guitarist and producer Michael Lockwood in 2006. The two stayed together until 2021 and had twin girls, Finley Aaron Love Lockwood and Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood.

Pictured (L-R): Clay Bradley, Lisa Marie Presley, Leslie Roberts, Mark Mason

She released her third album, Storm & Grace, in 2012. The bluesy-country project was produced by T Bone Burnett. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Aug. 21, 2012 and visited various offices on Music Row to promote the album. Lisa Marie remained a friend to Nashville.

Lisa Marie was struck by tragedy in 2020 when her son Benjamin Keough, died by suicide. Earlier this month, People magazine published an essay from Lisa Marie for National Grief Awareness Day.

Elvis Presley and his family’s story was recently celebrated by the Baz Luhrmann 2022 film Elvis. The project was heralded by the Presley family, with different members of the family often praising how accurate Luhrmann and actor Austin Butler’s depiction of the icon was.

Lisa Marie attended the 80th Golden Globe Awards two days prior to her death with her mother to celebrate nominations for the Elvis film.

Country-TV Singing Star Stan Hitchcock Passes

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Stan Hitchcock

Country entertainer Stan Hitchcock died on Jan. 4 at age 86.

The Music Row recording artist became a mainstay of country television. He co-founded CMT, starred on his own syndicated series, launched the Americana channel and hosted the long-running cable interview program Heart to Heart among other shows.

Hitchcock was a Missouri native who grew up on a farm near Branson in the Ozark Mountains. By his teenage years, he was working as a disc jockey on the local radio stations KWTO and KTTS. After serving in the Navy, he moved to Nashville in 1962.

He signed with Columbia Records in Music City. Between 1967 and 1981, Stan Hitchcock placed 14 tunes on the country charts. He had his most prominent discs on Epic Records. “Honey I’m Home” became a top-20 success on the label in 1969. This was his biggest hit as a singer. Epic issued four LPs by him in 1965-69.

With his easy-going manner, musical talent and good looks, Hitchcock was a natural for television. Shortly after he moved to Nashville, he hosted a local Nashville morning show on WLAC-TV. His Stan Hitchcock Show aired in national syndication from Nashville between 1964 and 1970.

While excelling as a country TV personality, he floundered as an artist on a series of independent labels, including GRT, Cinnamon, MMI, Caprice and Rambin’ Records. GRT issued his Dixie Belle album in 1970.

The advent of music-video channels such as MTV in 1981 led Hitchcock to become a member of the team that founded CMT (initially called CMTV). He headed the Nashville operation of the channel.

Back in Missouri, the singer hosted Stan Hitchcock from the Ozarks on TV between 1979 and 1983. It was also during this time that he commenced his Heart To Heart show, taping most of its shows in Nashville.

CMT was sold to Gaylord Entertainment in 1991. Hitchcock again relocated to Branson, Missouri, where he became founder, president and chairman of Americana Television Network. The cable channel presented roots-music programs featuring folk, country, gospel, bluegrass and blues. It later became known as BlueHighways TV.

Perhaps his most important series was Heart to Heart. This long-running BlueHighways showcase featured him interviewing country stars and sharing informal music sessions with them as a singer and guitarist. He had intimate, back-porch-style conversations with some of the genre’s top personalities — Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and the like. Hitchcock could get artists to open up because he could speak their language as a performer, himself. Episodes of Heart to Heart still air on Country Road TV.

In 1997, he moved Hitchcock Productions to Hendersonville and continued producing programming for cable, broadcast and home-video distributors. Stan Hitchcock authored a book in 2009 called At The Corner of Music Row and Memory Lane about his life in country music.

He is survived by his wife Denise; children Marilyn Holland, Lori Hitchcock, Stan Hitchcock, Jr., Joli Hitchcock and Scott Hitchcock; 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Gallatin First Baptist Church (205 E Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066). A memorial service will be held afterward at noon at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Boys Ranch P.O. Box 617, Brighton, MO 65617.