Billy Strings Among Big Winners At 32nd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards

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The winners for the 32nd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards presented by Yamaha have been unveiled. The awards show, hosted by the Infamous Stringdusters was held Thursday, Sept. 30 at Raleigh’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Guitar virtuoso Billy Strings walked away with Guitar Player of the Year and the coveted 2021 Entertainer of the Year.

Along with Strings, the other big winners of the night were Sister Sadie who took home Vocal Group of the Year, Appalachian Road Map who won Instrumental Group of the Year and New Group of the Year, and Balsam Range won Song of the Year for “Richest Man.” Album of the Year was given to Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy which was produced by Joe Mullins

Along with the award ceremony, the previously announced inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame were honored which included one of the most acclaimed artists in the history of bluegrass Alison Krauss, trailblazing bandleader/banjoist Lynn Morris, and early bluegrass influencers the Stoneman Family.

2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards:

Entertainer of the Year: Billy Strings

Vocal Group of the Year: Sister Sadie

Instrumental Group of the Year: Appalachian Road Show

Song of the Year: “Richest Man” – Balsam Range (artist), Jim Beavers/Jimmy Yeary/Connie Harrington (songwriters), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Records (label)

Album of the Year: Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy – Various Artists, Joe Mullins (producers), Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (label)

Gospel Recording of the Year (Tie):
“After While” – Dale Ann Bradley (artist), Public Domain, Dale Ann Bradley (producer), Pinecastle Records (label)
“In the Resurrection Morning” – Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore (artists), Mark Wheeler (songwriter), Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve (producers), Dottie Leonard Miller (Executive Producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Instrumental Recording of the Year: “Ground Speed” – Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson (artists), Earl Scruggs (songwriter), Jon Weisberger (producer), Mountain Home Music (label)

New Artist of the Year: Appalachian Road Show

Collaborative Recording of the Year: “White Line Fever” – Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips, Alison Brown (artists), Merle Haggard/Jeff Tweedy (songwriters) Alison Brown, Garry West (producers), Compass Records (label)

Female Vocalist of the Year: Dale Ann Bradley

Male Vocalist of the Year (Tie):
Danny Paisley
Del McCoury

Banjo Player of the Year: Scott Vestal

Bass Player of the Year: Missy Raines

Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses

Fiddle Player of the Year: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Guitar Player of the Year: Billy Strings

Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull

Grand Ole Opry To Host Plaza Parties Every Weekend In October Ahead Of 5,000th Broadcast

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The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its upcoming 5,000th Saturday night broadcast with free parties on the Opry Plaza. The parties will take place very Friday and Saturday throughout the month of October, leading up to the 5,000th broadcast on Oct. 30.

The plaza parties will feature performances from artists like Payton Smith, Hannah Dasher, Callista Clark, Alex Smith, Southerland, Erin Enderlin and more.

The parties will take place every weekend in October from 5 to 7 p.m. On Oct. 2 and Oct. 30, the Opry will hold special parties that include food trucks, local vendors and family-friendly activities. These special nights will also feature multiple live music performances and run from 12 p.m.-9 p.m.

Participating vendors for the special weekend shows include Any Old Iron, Big Green Egg, Cousins Maine Lobster, GEICO, Gibson Guitars, Humana, Madam Tussauds, Yee-Haw Brewing, Moosehead Popcorn, Ole Smoky Moonshine, Opry BBQ Truck, Opry Belle, Tecovas and Truist Financial.

Opry Plaza Party Lineup:
Oct. 1 – Payton Smith
Oct. 2 – Erin Enderlin, Song Suffragettes, Hudson Valley, James McNair, Ryan Griffin, Callista Clark
Oct. 8 & 9 – Kenzie Wheeler
Oct. 15 – Matt Rogers
Oct. 16 – Taryn Papa
Oct. 22 – Radio Romance
Oct. 23 – Cooper Alan
Oct. 29 – Rachel Horter
Oct. 30 – Scotty Mac, Alex Smith, Southerland, Lauren Mascitti, Jake Hoot and Hannah Dasher

Chart Action: Pearce, McBryde Gain More Support, Janson Most Added

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Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde continue to gain support on their single, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” On the Billboard Country Airplay Chart, the duo adds another 32 stations and, on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, they add 17 new stations with a +171 spins this week. They are ranked at No. 39 and No. 41 on the Billboard and MusicRow charts, respectively.

On the Mediabase Chart, Chris Janson‘s “Bye Mom” tops the most added list, earning 37 adds. This is Janson’s strongest first-week streaming numbers for a single upon its release in August. Janson wrote “Bye Mom” with Brandon Kinney who appears in the music video with Kinney’s children playing younger versions of himself and his wife starring as the titular mom. Watch the video here.

For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.

Country-Rocker Commander Cody Passes

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George Frayne, “Commander Cody.” Photo: Garry Regester

George Frayne, known to music lovers as Commander Cody, died Sunday (Sept. 26) at age 77.

As the leader of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, he was noted for such 1970s hits as “Hot Rod Lincoln” and “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).” The country-rock mainstay released more than a dozen albums between 1972-1995.

Frayne was born in Boise, Idaho and raised in New York City. He pursued music and art as a youngster, becoming proficient on piano. His professional debut was in an all-lifeguard band at Jones Beach on Long Island. In college, he performed in the frat-house band The Fabulous Surfing Beavers.

After graduating from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he formed a band with Bruce Barlow, Bill Kirchen, Billy C. Farlowe and others in 1967. They dubbed themselves Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, borrowing the name from a 1950s science-fiction movie serial.

The group specialized in retro styles such as western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues and rockabilly. The Airmen relocated to San Francisco in 1969 and soon attracted a following among the city’s hippies.

Paramount Records signed the band and issued Lost in the Ozone as its debut LP in 1972. The collection mixed original tunes such as “Seeds and Stems (Again)” with revivals of country oldies such as Willie Nelson’s “Family Bible” (1960) and Charlie Ryan’s “Hot Rod Lincoln” (1955). The latter rose on the country charts and became a top-10 pop-music smash.

Cody followed it with a remake of the 1940-41 Glenn Miller / Andrews Sisters favorite “Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar.” Hot Steel, Cold Steel and Truckers Favorites appeared as the band’s second LP in 1973. Its country oldie remakes included “Truck Drivin’ Man,” “Diggy Diggy Lo” and “Looking at the World Through a Windshield.”

The group came to the 1973 CMA convention in Nashville. But the members’ long hair and flagrant marijuana smoking scandalized the mainstream country community, and they were booed off the stage.

The 1974 LP Country Casanova included versions of Bob Wills’ “My Window Faces the South” (1946), Buddy Holly’s “Rave On” (1958) and the Tex Williams/Merle Travis 1947 favorite “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).” The last-named again appeared on both pop and country charts.

Recorded at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, the 1975 LP Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas earned a four-star review in Rolling Stone. The band switched to Warner Bros. Records, which issued Tales From the Ozone. Produced by Hoyt Axton, it contained “Roll Your Own,” “Minnie the Moocher,” “I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train” and “Cajun Baby.” Two more Warner LPs ensued, as well as the 1975 single “Don’t Let Go.” This revival of Roy Hamilton’s 1958 hit became the band’s final charted pop recording.

Cody’s tenure at Warners was profiled in the 1977 book Star Making Machinery. In its pages, he resisted the label’s pressure to become a commercial country-rock band like The Eagles.

Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen appeared in the 1976 Roger Corman film Hollywood Boulevard and several times on the NBC TV series Police Woman. It also starred on The Midnight Special, Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert and other music series.

The Airmen became the opening act for everyone from Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard to Led Zeppelin and the Doors. As headliners, they were noted for their wildly entertaining, marathon concert performances. Following a 1976 European tour, the original band broke up.

By then, Asleep at the Wheel had emerged as country’s premier western-swing revivalists. That band’s leader, Ray Benson, eulogized Frayne/Cody on Facebook by saying, “He made Asleep at the Wheel possible in so many ways, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for all the love and inspiration he gave us.”

Frayne continued his billing as Commander Cody, recording and touring with an ever-changing band lineup. Guitarist Kirchen often reunited with him. Cody signed with Arista Records for two albums in 1977-78. Later Commander Cody albums appeared on such labels as Blind Pig, Atlantic, Line, Relix and Woodstock.

As a sideman, he played piano on albums by Poco, Link Wray and New Riders of the Purple Sage. In 1980, his music video for “Two Triple Cheese (Side Order of Fries)” won an Emmy Award. Cody’s droll personality, easy-going quips, zany worldview and witty, talking-blues vocals made him a crowd-pleasing favorite on David Letterman’s TV talk show.

He also achieved notoriety as a painter. His works were exhibited in galleries worldwide and included in the 1979 book Star Art. He held a master’s degree in art and taught art at The University of Wisconsin.

George Frayne’s death was announced on Facebook by his wife, Sue Casanova. He died in Saratoga Springs, New York. No cause of death was revealed, and funeral arrangements are unknown.

Pistol Annies Plan ‘Hell Of A Holiday’ With New Christmas Album

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Pistol Annies. Photo: Gina Binkley

The Pistol Annies are coming out guns blazing this holiday season with their first Christmas album, Hell of a Holiday, arriving Oct. 22. Fans can check out the project’s first release, “Snow Globe,” here.

Hell of a Holiday includes 10 original tracks written by the Annies with their signature humor. The title track describes the holiday whirlwind that arrives every year, while “Snow Globe” showcases a romantic winter wonderland. The project also features the Pistols’ take on standards, including “Sleigh Ride,” and Merle Haggard’s “If We Make it Through December,” plus a reimagined “Auld Lang Syne.”

“We couldn’t be happier we got to make a Christmas album. Once we finally surrendered and let the Christmas songwriting spirit take over, we were so inspired and felt that magic on every single one of these songs,” the trio of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley shared. “We hope to be a part of so many people’s Christmas memories for years to come.”

The project marks the fourth studio album for the trio, following their Grammy-nominated 2018 project Interstate Gospel. They recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Platinum-certified debut single “Hell on Heels,” the title track of their first album.

Hell Of A Holiday Track List:
1. Hell of a Holiday (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
2. Snow Globe (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
3. Harlan County Coal (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
4. Come On Christmas Time (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
5. If We Make it Through December (Merle Haggard)
6. Make You Blue (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
7. Leanin’ on Jesus (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
8. The Only Thing I Wanted (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
9. Believing (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
10. Happy Birthday (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
11. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson/Mitchell Parish)
12. Joy (Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
13. Auld Lang Syne (Public Domain/Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)

Kameron Marlowe Earns First RIAA Certification, Makes Opry Debut

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Pictured (L-R): The AMG’s Amanda Good; Sony Music Nashville’s Steve Hodges and Shane Allen; The AMG’s Rob Beckham; SMN’s Randy Goodman; Kameron Marlowe; The AMG’s Kaitlin Madewell; SMN’s Houston Gaither; SMN’s Rusty Gaston; Opry Entertainment Group’s Dan Rogers. Photo: Chris Hollo

Breakthrough artist Kameron Marlowe made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Wednesday, Sept. 29, where he learned that his single, “Giving You Up,” had been certified Gold. This is Marlowe’s first RIAA certification.

Kameron Marlowe. Photo: Chris Hollo

Friends, family, staff, and executives from Sony Music Nashville, The AMG, Sony Music Publishing, and WME congratulated the singer-songwriter backstage with a commemorative plaque for the career milestone.

Marlowe’s first release, “Giving You Up” is an entirely self-penned track that has earned more than 108 million on-demand streams. The single recently received 25 station adds in its first week at country radio.

He is set to join Riley Green for the “We Out Here Tour,” beginning Nov. 3 in Athens, Georgia. Marlowe’s newest release, “Raise One Up,” was co-written with Kenton Bryant and is available everywhere now.

Elvie Shane’s Full-Length Debut ‘Backslider’ On Tap For October

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Elvie Shane. Photo: Jeremy Cowart

Elvie Shane‘s debut full length album Backslider is slated for release on Oct. 29. He shared a new track from the record, “My Kind Of Trouble,” today as a preview for the upcoming project.

Shane co-wrote the entire 15-song collection, showcasing life in small-town America and his own life story. His current Top 5 and climbing single, “My Boy” sets the tone for the album, which offers classic rock hooks and the soul of Gospel and R&B. 

“It’s about more than just me,” Shane says of Backslider. “Whether you’re from the United States or the other side of the world, we’ve probably experienced the same things: heartbreak, family trouble, love… the yearning for a better life. These songs are my personal stories written so they rhyme… but I think they are stories that happen to each and every one of us.”

Shane is currently out on the road with Brooks & Dunn on their “2021 Reboot Tour,” with stops in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Bristow this weekend.

Backslider Track Listing:
1. I Will Run (Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood)
2. Love, Cold Beer, Cheap Smoke (Elvie Shane, Russell Sutton, Drew Green)
3. Sundays In The South (Elvie Shane, Derrick Southerland, Albert E. Brumley)
4. Sundress (Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood)
5. County Roads (Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles)
6. Rocket Science (Elvie Shane, Joybeth Taylor, Jakob Miller, Oscar Charles)
7. My Kinda Trouble (Elvie Shane, Erik Dylan, Ray Fulcher)
8. Kickin’ Stones (with The Fletch) (Fred Eltringham, Steve Mackey, Rob McNelley, Tom Bukovac, Kris Donegan, Matt Nolen)
9. Saturday Night Me (Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood)
10. My Boy (Elvie Shane, Russell Sutton, Nick Columbia, Lee Starr)
11. Heartbreaks & Headaches (Elvie Shane, Dakota Payton)
12. Nothin’ Lasts Forever (with Tenille Townes) (Elvie Shane, Luke Preston, Oscar Charles, Matt Willis)
13. Keep On Strummin’ (Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles, Clinton Payton)
14. My Mississippi (Elvie Shane, Jakob Miller)
15. Miles (with My Mama) (Elvie Shane, Jonathan Sherwood, Luke Preston)

Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris Hit No. 1

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“Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris climbs to the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week. While this is Hurd’s first No. 1 as an artist, he earned 6 previous challenge coins as a writer with his first in 2014 for the Swon Brothers’ single “Later On.”

“Chasing After You” was written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers and is nominated for Musical Event Of The Year and Music Video Of The Year at the 55th Annual CMA Awards. Morris also earned a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Hurd’s latest album, Pelago, drops on Oct. 15 which features “Chasing After You” and previous single “To A T.”

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Radio News: BMLG Records, Monument Records, Show Dog

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BMLG Records Elevates Three In Radio Promotion Department

Pictured (L-R): Liz Santana, Stella Prado, Kylie Dembek

BMLG Records has promoted Liz Santana to Sr. Director East Promotion, Stella Prado to Sr. Director West Promotion, and Kylie Dembek to Manager of Strategic Planning.

“We are so incredibly excited to promote Liz, Stella and Kylie,” says BMLG Records SVP, Promotion and Marketing, Matthew Hargis. “Since joining the Ape Den, Liz and Stella have been a key part of the label’s success in their respective regions. With their newly expanded roles it’s very exciting to see them continue to grow as executives. Additionally, it gives us great pleasure to create a new role inside the department and promote Kylie.”

Santana has been with BMLG Records for over six years, formerly serving as Director of Southeast Promotion. Santana will continue to promote all BMLG Records singles including Lady A’s “Like A Lady” and Laci Kaye Booth’s “Shuffle.”

Prado joined the imprint in February 2016 after 21 years at KOST 103.5 FM in Los Angeles, rising from intern to Program Director. After working at WKLB/Boston in college, Dembek moved to Nashville and gained experience with internships at the Grand Ole Opry and CMA. She formerly served as Promotions Coordinator for the imprint.

BMLG Records also announced the upcoming departure of Michelle Tigard Kammerer on Oct. 1. A 7-year veteran of the label group, Kammerer has accepted a yet to be announced opportunity. “While we will miss Michelle, we are very excited for her new opportunity and wish her the absolute best,” says Hargis.

BMLG Records is now looking to hire a Promotions Coordinator. If interested, please send a resume to hr@bmlg.net.

 

 

Katelyn Lester Upped To Director, Regional Promotion At Monument Records

Katelyn Lester

Monument Records promoted Katelyn Lester to Director, Regional Promotion. She will continue to manage Monument’s Southeast region, where she’s been since the label added their own radio promotion team last year.

Lester joined Monument last year from Universal Music Group’s marketing team where she had worked since graduating from Belmont University. She has been integral in introducing Caitlyn Smith to country radio with her first single, “I Can’t (feat. Old Dominion),” as well as getting Walker Hayes’ smash hit “Fancy Like” up the charts.

“From my first days at Monument I knew Katelyn was a top notch promotion person,” says Monument’s VP, Radio Promotion, Luke Jensen. “Seeing her in action firsthand, and hearing from our radio partners left no doubts that she was ready for the next step.”

“It’s been a huge privilege to learn and grow alongside this team at Monument,” says Lester. “I’m so proud of what we have been able to accomplish and am lucky to be smilin’ and dialin’ all over the Southeast on behalf of these incredible artists.”

Lester can be reached at katelyn.lester@sonymusic.com.

 

 

Show Dog Adds JC Coffey As Northeast/Midwest Promotion Manager

JC Coffey

Show Dog Nashville has added JC Coffey as Northeast/Midwest Promotion Manager.

Coffey previously served as Director/Midwest Promotion at Big Machine Records, and has had stops as the program director at WOKQ/Portsmouth, New Hampshire, WTHT/Portland, Maine, WPGI/Elmira, New York and WMLL/Manchester, New Hampshire. Coffey also served three years as a part-time on-air talent at WAAF/Boston.

“JC has been an all-star performer at every level of our industry. He’s radio savvy, promo savvy, and his enthusiasm is second to none,” comments Show Dog Nashville’s Senior VP/Promotion Rick Moxley.

“I could not be more thrilled to join a staff filled with such wonderful promo pros,” Coffey states. “A huge thanks to TK Kimbrell, Rick Moxley, and Teddi Bonadies for offering me such an outstanding opportunity. I’m truly humbled to join this team.”

Bonadies, Show Dog Nashville’s VP/Promotion, adds: “JC brings a contagious passion and knowledge that is so valuable. He truly will be an asset to our Show Dog Nashville Promo team.”

Coffey can be reached at JC.Coffey@showdogmail.com.

Dolly Receives New Tennessee Music Pathways Marker In Sevierville

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Dolly Parton’s Tennessee Music Pathways in Sevierville, Tennessee. Photo: Dave Jones

Dolly Parton was honored with an unveiling of a new Tennessee Music Pathways marker in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee.

Representatives for Parton, along with city and state officials, gathered at the Sevier County Courthouse to celebrate the achievement. Located directly by Parton’s bronze statue on the Sevier County Courthouse lawn, the new marker commemorates Parton’s musical heritage in Sevier County and across Tennessee.

Representatives for Parton, state officials, and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell gather to commemorate Parton’s new marker. Photo: Dave Jones

“When you think of Tennessee and music, there are key figures and places that often to come mind, and Dolly is one of them,” said Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell, “I couldn’t think of a better way to honor her great musical legacy and all that she has done not only for music across the state but tourism as well. Dollywood is a key attraction for visitors to come and experience from across the world, and it is a great privilege to recognize the work and success of a true Tennessee icon.”

As a singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman and philanthropist, Parton is the most honored female country performer of all time and among the best-selling country artists. Among Parton’s accolades are nine Grammys, 10 CMA Awards, seven ACM Awards, and three AMA Awards. She was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

“I want to thank Commissioner Ezell and his team at the State of Tennessee,” Parton shared. “I am proud to be from Sevier County and Sevierville and this Music Pathways sign honors me, my family and my history there.”