Gene Kennedy, who was best known as the man behind the durable Door Knob Records, has died at age 87.
According to journalist John Lomax III, Kennedy was battling pneumonia when he contracted COVID-19. The producer, songwriter, recording artist, publisher and record-label executive passed away on Thursday, April 1.
Kennedy’s Door Knob Records is believed to be Nashville’s longest-lived independent label. During the company’s 1976-2015 existence, it recorded more than 100 country artists, including such charting acts as Wayne Kemp, Bobby G. Rice, Gary Goodnight, Big Al Downing, Tom Carlile, Jerry Wallace, Bonnie Nelson, Perry LaPointe, Jeris Ross and Sonny Wright. Door Knob reportedly placed more than 140 titles on various country popularity charts.
Among the more prominent Door Knob artists was Loretta Lynn’s sister and longtime backup vocalist Peggy Sue, who had 13 charted singles on the label in 1977-80. Gene Kennedy, himself, recorded for Door Knob, both as a solo and as the duet partner of Karen Jeglum. She became his wife and business partner in 1982.
Gene Kennedy was a native of Florence, South Carolina who began his career by playing in a band while serving in the Air Force in 1956. WLAC Nashville disc jockey Hoss Allen became his manager in 1960 and placed him with Chicago’s Old Town Records as a pop artist. Kennedy toured on package shows with Connie Francis, Ace Cannon, Roy Orbison and other teen favorites.
Back in Nashville, Allen and Kennedy formed Music City’s first independent promotion company. This brought Kennedy to the attention of Acuff-Rose Publishing. Wesley Rose hired him to promote discs issued on Hickory Records, the label affiliated with Acuff-Rose.
In 1965, the company’s big pop act The Newbeats recorded Kennedy’s co-written song “Mean Woolly Willie.” Gene Kennedy also recorded for Hickory in those days.
After becoming head of national promotion for Hickory, Kennedy was hired by Owen Bradley to assume the same position at Decca Records. There, he promoted the releases of such stars as Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Jeanne Pruett, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Crystal Gayle, Cal Smith and Ernest Tubb.
In 1974, country star Bobby Lewis charted with Kennedy’s song “Lady Lover.” Lewis also recorded the songwriter’s “Your Love,” as did Jerry Wallace.
Following brief stints at the 4-Star and Ace of Hearts labels, Gene Kennedy formed his own record-promotion company in 1975. His first client was Loretta Lynn, who was then introducing “The Pill,” “When the Tingle Becomes a Chill” and “Somebody Somewhere.”
Gene Kennedy created Door Knob Records in 1976, and he produced most of its artists. Based in Mount Juliet, his company also encompassed three song-publishing firms, record promotion and artist management.
In addition to its own products, Door Knob distributed such imprints as Gold Spin, Horse Shoe, Silver Star, Tug Boat, Swanee and Tapestry. Among the artists on Tapestry was ‘60s pop star Bobby Vinton. Future Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson was on Swanee.
After founding Door Knob, Kennedy continued to contribute as a songwriter. The label’s Big Al Downing, Peggy Sue and Mark Brine recorded his co-written songs. Other notables on the roster included Rusty “Koko the Clown” Adams, Kent Westberry, Bo Harrison, Buford Pusser, Don Sepulveda, Billy Wilcox and Tim Tesch.
Door Knob hosted its own autograph booth at the annual Fan Fair celebrations throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It began to wind down around 2010 and filed for a reorganization bankruptcy in 2011.
Gene Kennedy was a founder and lifetime member of R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers). The organization honored him with its Business award in 2006 and its Media award in 2014.
He was selected for the second annual Leadership Music group and graduated from the program in the class of 1991.
Gene Kennedy is survived by his wife, Karen. Also surviving are his children: Daryl Jean Chansuthus of Jackson, TN; Debra Gail Kennedy, Cathy Denise Velasquez, Victoria Kennedy, all of Nashville; and Kenneth Kennedy of LaVista, NE; plus a sister, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
The visitation for Gene Kennedy will be at noon today (April 5) at Hermitage United Methodist Church (205 Belinda Dr., Hermitage, TN 37076). The funeral service will begin at 2 PM.
Jason Aldean To Play Two Live Shows In May From Bonnaroo Farm
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Aldean will be back on the live music scene for this first time in over a year next month with Jason Aldean Live, two nights of full-production concerts at The Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee on May 14 -15.
A limited number of fans will be able to attend the shows in socially distanced four-person pods, starting at $99 a pod. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (April 9) at 10 a.m. CT on JasonAldean.com and BonnarooFarm.com, and a dollar from each ticket will go to benefit the Bonnaroo Works Fund. Fans are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to create their own comfortable space within their pod at the show, and concessions and merchandise will be available on-site through mobile ordering. Masks will be required for all attendees when moving around the venue, but may be removed while inside their own reserved seating area.
“You could’ve asked me to play a gas station at this point and I would say yes,” says Aldean. “So being able to set up the full show with all the band guys plugged in is going to make for a really good time. We’re going to turn it up—there’s nobody out there to bother—and make up for some lost time for sure.”
Tonight (April 5), fans can watch Aldean mentor and perform with two top 24 contestants on ABC’s American Idol for their All-Star Duets episode.
Music Health Alliance Ups Four, Adds Suzanne Berg And Suzanne Spooner-Faulk
/by Lydia FarthingClockwise: Suzanne Berg, Erin Lancaster, Nikki Black, Suzanne Spooner-Faulk, Bonita Allen, Jackie Proffit
Music Health Alliance (MHA) has announced the promotion of four team members who have worked to support the physical and mental health needs of America’s music community over the last year.
Bonita Allen has been promoted to senior director of Group Health & Advocacy.
Nikki Black has been promoted to senior director of Advocacy, Insurance, & Policy.
Erin Lancaster has been promoted to manager of Client & Advocate Support.
Jackie Proffit has been promoted to manager of Advocacy & Insurance.
The newly elevated staff, along with Founder and CEO Tatum Allsep, COO and Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy, Sr. Director of Advocacy & Insurance Taylor McLeod, and Project Manager Colleen Hoagland, will continue to assist over 15,000 music industry professionals with their healthcare needs, ranging from assistance with medical bills or physical and mental health guidance that includes finding doctors or prescription medicine, finding financial grants while recovering from a serious health issue, affordable health insurance, or answers to Medicare questions.
In addition to these promotions, MHA has also added Suzanne Berg and Suzanne Spooner-Faulk to their all female, 10-person team.
Having previously worked in marketing and promotions at Elektra Records, Verve Records, and iHeart Media, Berg joins as manager of Advocacy & Insurance. Meanwhile, with an extensive background in music and theater, including stops at Tom-Leis music publishing, rpm management, CDX, and the Tennessee Arts Commission, Spooner-Faulk has come on board as financial administrator and executive assistant to Shipley Biddy.
“I am proud to see how our team has responded during this pandemic that has shaken our musical foundation,” says Shipley Biddy. “As the health needs of our industry increase, so does the need for personnel who can address those issues. Suzanne Berg and Suzanne Spooner-Faulk both have unique skills and the attitude needed to support their particular responsibilities at MHA. Spooner-Faulk’s attention to detail and organizational skills strengthen our admin department. Berg’s caring heart and outgoing personality and music industry experience provide the perfect foundation for a new advocate. They are a perfect fit for our MHA family.”
Berg and Spooner-Faulk can be reached at SBerg@musichealthalliance.com and Suzanne@MusicHealthAlliance.com, respectively.
Country Indie Entrepreneur Gene Kennedy Passes
/by Robert K OermannGene Kennedy, who was best known as the man behind the durable Door Knob Records, has died at age 87.
According to journalist John Lomax III, Kennedy was battling pneumonia when he contracted COVID-19. The producer, songwriter, recording artist, publisher and record-label executive passed away on Thursday, April 1.
Kennedy’s Door Knob Records is believed to be Nashville’s longest-lived independent label. During the company’s 1976-2015 existence, it recorded more than 100 country artists, including such charting acts as Wayne Kemp, Bobby G. Rice, Gary Goodnight, Big Al Downing, Tom Carlile, Jerry Wallace, Bonnie Nelson, Perry LaPointe, Jeris Ross and Sonny Wright. Door Knob reportedly placed more than 140 titles on various country popularity charts.
Among the more prominent Door Knob artists was Loretta Lynn’s sister and longtime backup vocalist Peggy Sue, who had 13 charted singles on the label in 1977-80. Gene Kennedy, himself, recorded for Door Knob, both as a solo and as the duet partner of Karen Jeglum. She became his wife and business partner in 1982.
Gene Kennedy was a native of Florence, South Carolina who began his career by playing in a band while serving in the Air Force in 1956. WLAC Nashville disc jockey Hoss Allen became his manager in 1960 and placed him with Chicago’s Old Town Records as a pop artist. Kennedy toured on package shows with Connie Francis, Ace Cannon, Roy Orbison and other teen favorites.
Back in Nashville, Allen and Kennedy formed Music City’s first independent promotion company. This brought Kennedy to the attention of Acuff-Rose Publishing. Wesley Rose hired him to promote discs issued on Hickory Records, the label affiliated with Acuff-Rose.
In 1965, the company’s big pop act The Newbeats recorded Kennedy’s co-written song “Mean Woolly Willie.” Gene Kennedy also recorded for Hickory in those days.
After becoming head of national promotion for Hickory, Kennedy was hired by Owen Bradley to assume the same position at Decca Records. There, he promoted the releases of such stars as Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Jeanne Pruett, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Crystal Gayle, Cal Smith and Ernest Tubb.
In 1974, country star Bobby Lewis charted with Kennedy’s song “Lady Lover.” Lewis also recorded the songwriter’s “Your Love,” as did Jerry Wallace.
Following brief stints at the 4-Star and Ace of Hearts labels, Gene Kennedy formed his own record-promotion company in 1975. His first client was Loretta Lynn, who was then introducing “The Pill,” “When the Tingle Becomes a Chill” and “Somebody Somewhere.”
Gene Kennedy created Door Knob Records in 1976, and he produced most of its artists. Based in Mount Juliet, his company also encompassed three song-publishing firms, record promotion and artist management.
In addition to its own products, Door Knob distributed such imprints as Gold Spin, Horse Shoe, Silver Star, Tug Boat, Swanee and Tapestry. Among the artists on Tapestry was ‘60s pop star Bobby Vinton. Future Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson was on Swanee.
After founding Door Knob, Kennedy continued to contribute as a songwriter. The label’s Big Al Downing, Peggy Sue and Mark Brine recorded his co-written songs. Other notables on the roster included Rusty “Koko the Clown” Adams, Kent Westberry, Bo Harrison, Buford Pusser, Don Sepulveda, Billy Wilcox and Tim Tesch.
Door Knob hosted its own autograph booth at the annual Fan Fair celebrations throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It began to wind down around 2010 and filed for a reorganization bankruptcy in 2011.
Gene Kennedy was a founder and lifetime member of R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers). The organization honored him with its Business award in 2006 and its Media award in 2014.
He was selected for the second annual Leadership Music group and graduated from the program in the class of 1991.
Gene Kennedy is survived by his wife, Karen. Also surviving are his children: Daryl Jean Chansuthus of Jackson, TN; Debra Gail Kennedy, Cathy Denise Velasquez, Victoria Kennedy, all of Nashville; and Kenneth Kennedy of LaVista, NE; plus a sister, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
The visitation for Gene Kennedy will be at noon today (April 5) at Hermitage United Methodist Church (205 Belinda Dr., Hermitage, TN 37076). The funeral service will begin at 2 PM.
Performers Announced For 56th ‘ACM Awards’
/by LB CantrellThe full lineup for the 56th Academy Of Country Music Awards has been revealed.
The performers on the lineup include Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Ryan Hurd, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Carly Pearce, Jon Randall, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, The War and Treaty, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, and Chris Young.
Over 25 artists will perform more than 30 songs from the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe, airing live on Sunday, April 18 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and the show will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
As previously announced, 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban and New Female Artist of the Year nominee Mickey Guyton will host the show.
Key West Songwriters Festival Reveals Initial Artist Lineup
/by Sarah SkatesFestival goers have come to know that KWSWF traditionally boasts over 200 distinctive songwriters across 38 stages at an array of Key West, Florida’s most popular beaches, boats, bars, resorts and historic theatres. In an effort to prepare for social distancing and sanitation protocols, this year’s festival has been condensed with reduced capacities and transitioned to mostly outdoor performances. Festival organizers are focused on bringing back the music and putting the songwriters in intimate venues to create a special experience unique to previous years.
The full initial line-up includes Lee Brice, Brandy Clark, Lori McKenna, Robert Randolph, Chuck Cannon, Bob DiPiero, Dean Dillon, Steve Cropper, Liz Rose, Jeffrey Steele, Bobby Pinson, Scotty Emerick, Adam Craig, Clint Daniels, Luke Laird, Ben Burgess, Shane Minor, Erik Dylan, Ronnie Bowman, Trent Tomlinson, Shy Carter, Barry Dean, Tyler Reeve, Ashland Craft, Rob Snyder, Channing Wilson, Lewis Brice, Emily Shackelton, Anthony Smith, Katie Pruitt, and Rebecca Lynn Howard.
While most of the KWSWF shows will be free to enter, there will be a number of performances that will require advance ticket purchase (with an option for VIP packages).
Canaan Smith Returns With Sophomore Album ‘High Country Sound’
/by Lydia FarthingAfter nearly six years in the making, country singer-songwriter Canaan Smith released his highly anticipated album, High Country Sound on Friday (4/2).
This sophomore album is an evolution of Smith’s sound which was originally showcased on his 2015 debut album Bronco. Tapping into the rougher fringes of country music, High Country Sounds mixes earthy sounds with an adventurous, hardscrabble sweetness.
While being credited as a producer on all 12 tracks, the Round Here Records artist solely produced eight of these while co-producing the remaining four with help from Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line. Alongside well-known Nashville songwriters Jim Beavers, Corey Crowder, David Garcia, Jared Mullins, and Josh Miller, Smith also co-wrote every song on the project.
“It just feels really rewarding to not only make music I’m proud of, but also do it in the way I’ve always wanted,” Smith says. “I wrote every single one of these songs from the heart, and I couldn’t be more thankful that I get to put myself out there like this. When it’s all said and done, this album is special to me because it brings me home.”
Celebrating the new release Smith went live on the Visit Gatlinburg Facebook page last night from Gatlinburg, Tenn., where he played the entire album from the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. A playback of the performance is available here.
High Country Sound Track List:
1. Grounded
2. Mason Jars & Fireflies
3. Colder Than You
4. High Country
5. Catch Me If You Can (featuring Brent Cobb)
6. Cabin In The Woods
7. American Dream
8. Sweet Virginia
9. Still
10. Like I Ain’t Missing You
11. Highway Blues
12. Losin’ Sleep Over A Girl
Parmalee And Blanco Brown Add Bryce Vine To Pop Remix Of ‘Just The Way’
/by Lorie HollabaughParmalee is dropping a new pop version of their smash hit with Blanco Brown, “Just the Way” Friday (4/2) featuring pop/hip-hop maverick, Bryce Vine. Co-produced by Andrew Goldstein and David Fanning, the new mix will go to pop radio on April 12.
The original version of the upbeat, celebratory tune recently claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard and Mediabase country charts in the U.S. and Canada. Produced by David Fanning, it was released in 2019 and became an early streaming success before going to radio. It has since amassed more than 160 million on-demand streams in the U.S. alone (with millions more overseas), and the track has been used more than 200,000 times in videos on TikTok.
The feel-good hit celebrating the beauty of being one’s authentic self was written by Nolan Sipe, Kevin Bard, and Parmalee’s Matt Thomas. The band asked longtime friend, Blanco Brown to be a part of the song, not only for his positivity but to help highlight the song’s message about embracing differences. The addition of Bryce Vine, best known for his multi-platinum hit, “Drew Barrymore,” echoes that sentiment and adds an exciting new layer to the mix.
“‘Just the Way’ going No. 1 at Country radio and connecting on so many other platforms is amazing—and doing it with a friend like Blanco, even more so,” said Thomas. “Bryce adds another element to the song, giving it a whole new feel—we’re thrilled to have him on it.”
Vine said, “I was psyched to get the call to jump on this already amazing song with Parmalee and Blanco Brown. I’ve always loved dipping into different genres and styles, so this gave me a great excuse to put my cowboy hat on.”
Chart Action: Shenandoah Impacts Country Radio
/by Alex ParryShenandoah‘s latest single with Blake Shelton, “Then A Girl Walks In,” impacts the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart this week. Written by Adam Sanders, Lance Miller, Brad Warren and Brett Warren, the single debuts at No. 67 with 15 new adds and a spin gain of +186. “Then A Girl Walks In” appears on Shenandoah’s album Every Road, which also features collaborations with Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson and Brad Paisley.
Frontman Marty Raybon shares, “Blake Shelton is truly a big piece of this new record. His vocals are as solid as a slab of concrete.”
Co-founding member Mike McGuire adds, “We knew Blake must be a Shenandoah fan when he picked one of our songs for the past four seasons in a row on The Voice for his artists to sing, but we never dreamed we’d have the opportunity to actually do a duet with him personally. What a blessing!”
In support of the new single, Shenandoah is bringing The Every Road Tour to venues in select markets with strict, safe social distancing measures. The group will perform hits from their timeless catalog of No. 1 hits like “Church on Cumberland Road,” “Sunday in the South” and “Two Dozen Roses” as well as new material from Every Road. For tickets and more information, click here.
Chris Cobb Launches GoFundMe Campaign To Purchase Exit/In Property
/by Sarah SkatesHe has created a GoFundMe campaign to help with the cause and posted this message to fans:
Cobb told the Tennessee Lookout that he and wife Telisha partnered with the development firm Grubb Properties and submitted an asking-price bid for the land but were rejected in favor of a bid from AJ Capital Partners, the developer behind the Graduate Hotel chain and Thompson Hotel in the Gulch.
The historic venue turns 50 this year.
Ole Red Names Payton Smith Artist In Residence
/by Lydia FarthingPayton Smith. Photo: Heidi Smith
Opry Entertainment announced that over the next few months country singer-songwriter Payton Smith will be the artist in residence at Ole Red Nashville.
Taking the stage every Wednesday from April 7 through June 30 – except April 14 – Smith’s sets will begin at 8 p.m. CST. The first hour of these shows will be live streamed via RIFF while the second hour will feature special appearances.
“Playing live music is something I thrive on… the connection, the passion, the energy. And after a year where live music was essentially shut down, I am beyond excited to announce this residency with Ole Red. There’s going to be so many new songs, cool moments with fans and introductions to special guests that will happen on that stage. Stay tuned!” expresses Smith.
“Ole Red is always excited to support great up and coming talent such as Payton Smith, and we are looking forward to being a part of his story here at Ole Red Nashville,” says Senior Talent Buyer for the Opry Entertainment Group Dolly Chandler.
These sets will allow the self-taught guitarist to highlight his recent releases such as “Sounds Like A Good Time” and “I’m Fine.”
Tickets are not required for these performances.