Multi-talented Music Row great Kelso Herston died on Tuesday (Dec. 4) at age 87.
He was a label chief, record producer, song publisher, jingle creator and ace session musician during the 1960s and 1970s. As a guitarist, Herston was honored with 10 Super Picker awards from the Recording Academy between 1961 and 1975. As a producer, he worked with Sonny James, Wanda Jackson, Ferlin Husky, Bobbie Gentry and many others.
Born Kelton Dean Herston, he was an Alabama native who entered the music business in Florence/Muscle Shoals. He formed his Tune Records and publishing business there in 1956.
Florence native Sam Phillips hired Herston to establish a Nashville office in 1959 for the Sun Records publishing divisions Hi-Lo and Knox Music. Herston also worked closely with Sun Records star Carl Mann (“Mona Lisa,” “Pretend”).
Once in Nashville, he established himself as a top session musician. Kelso Herston can be heard on either bass or guitar on discs by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Bobby Bare, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, George Morgan, Lesley Gore, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie Rich, Vikki Carr, Freddie Hart, Jean Shepard, Mother Maybelle Carter, Lefty Frizzell and hundreds more.
In the early 1960s, he went to work for Mercury Records. He brought Jerry Lee Lewis to the label, renewing the rocker’s career as a chart-topping honky-tonk stylist.
United Artists Records hired him to establish its first Nashville office in 1963. He began his production career there with a string of hits for Del Reeves (“Girl on a Billboard,” “The Belles of Southern Bell,” etc.). He also worked with Bobby Goldsboro and The Oak Ridge Boys and recorded instrumentals for the label, himself.
Herston assumed the leadership of the Capitol Records Nashville office in 1967. While there, he produced 13 No. 1 hits for future Country Music Hall of Fame member Sonny James. He also worked with Capitol’s Billie Jo Spears, Gentry, Husky and Jackson, among others. Also while at Capitol, Kelso Herston was hired as the music director for TV’s hit series Hee Haw.
Her served on the board of the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy in 1969 and 1970.
He formed Kelso Herston Productions in 1971. This firm soon became one of the most successful ad jingle companies in the industry. Herston produced classic ads for such companies as Budweiser, Pepsi, Burger King, 7-Up, Oscar Meyer, RC Cola, Sears, Quaker Oats and McDonald’s. One of his Pepsi ads was honored with a Clio Award.
He was re-hired by United Artists in 1973. He signed Crystal Gayle to the label, launching her hit-making career. In 1976, he again began concentrating on his jingle company, as well as his music-publishing firm, Kelso Herston Music. Among the hits he published is Ronnie Milsap’s chart-topping “Don’t You Know How Much I Love You.”
He also continued to work as an independent record producer for such labels as Columbia, Musicor and King. Kelso Herston was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is survived by son Alexander Herston, two grandsons and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was held on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, followed by services. Burial followed at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton cemetery.
The Music Heats Up At Fourth Annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured Top Row (L-R): Lukas Nelson, Brett Warren, Jon Randall, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Miranda Lambert, BMI’s Jody Williams, Claudia Goodfellow and Danny Goodfellow. Bottom Row (L-R): Jessi Alexander, Brad Warren, Ray Benson, Randy Houser, Luke Combs and Lily Meola
It may be chilly in Nashville this week, but several of Nashville’s top BMI-affiliated singer-songwriters recently spent time in sunny Maui as part of the fourth annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival, held Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
Country hitmaker Miranda Lambert headlined the festival, and brought fellow ace singer-songwriters Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley for a special Pistol Annies performance.
Other performers included Luke Combs, who took home the CMA’s Best New Artist honor last month and has just been nominated for Best New Artist honor at the upcoming Grammy Awards, along with Randy Houser, The Warren Brothers, Jessi Alexander, Steven Tyler, Jon Randall, Monroe, Ray Benson, Maui native Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, and a surprise guest appearance from Willie Nelson.
Pictured: Willie Nelson (center) with son Lukas Nelson (right).
Shows were held at venues across the island including Fleetwood’s on Front Street, “How I Wrote That Song” at Grand Waliea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, and concluded with a packed house at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
In addition to being presented by BMI, the fourth annual Maui Songwriters Festival is supported by Goodfellow Family Foundation, HD Radio, SunTrust Bank, Texas Roadhouse and wine partner Daou Vineyards. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the festival, with additional support provided by Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Additional community sponsors include Pacific Home Loans and Wailea Resort Association.
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Pistol Annies
Songwriter-Producer Busbee Launches Development Company Altadena
/by Jessica Nicholsonbusbee
Songwriter-producer busbee, known for his work with artists including Maren Morris and Keith Urban, has launched music company Altadena, aimed at developing new artists and writers. The company launches as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records to provide a range of services to the label’s recording artists.
Additionally, Altadena has entered into a publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music to provide support to its roster of writers, and has inked a creative partnership with Red Light Management. Overseeing operations for Altadena will be GM and VP of Creative Daniel Lee, Nashville Creative Director Noreen Prunier, and L.A. Creative Director Kelly Benini.
busbee, Founder and CEO, Altadena said, “I have taken steps throughout my career to pursue meaningful music and strong relationships. With the launch of Altadena, I’m excited to continue this pursuit in partnership with the incredible teams at Warner Bros. Records, Warner/Chappell and Red Light.”
Aaron Bay-Schuck, Co-Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Records said, “At Warner Bros., we constantly seek to do business with the best and brightest creative minds and risk takers. busbee not only has an impressive track record of artist development but also of producing as well as writing top hits across multiple genres. He has the passion for spotting new talent and the vision to fuse the worlds of country, pop, and alternative in truly refreshing ways. We look forward to collaborating with him on this new venture.”
Carianne Marshall, COO, Warner/Chappell Music said, “busbee’s inventive and experimental approach to songwriting makes him an incredible talent, and we are happy to expand our relationship with him as he continues to grow, now as an entrepreneur, with the start of his new company Altadena.”
Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina Added To Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Show
/by Lorie HollabaughLauren Alaina and Kane Brown are among the artists who have been added to the lineup for the West Coast celebration of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2019. The show will air Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
They will join recently-added artists including Camila Cabello, Halsey, Shawn Mendes, and Weezer, along with previously announced West Coast host Ciara and performers Kelsea Ballerini, The Chainsmokers, Foster the People, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai and Charlie Puth, as well as a performance by Macklemore with Skylar Grey and a special collaboration from The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini.
The 47th anniversary of America’s biggest celebration of the year will include over five hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe. Ryan Seacrest will host the primetime festivities and lead the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City, as he has for the last 13 years, with live onsite reporting from actress and comedian Jenny McCarthy.
Justin Wilson Signs Co-Venture Deal With BMG and Play It Again Music
/by Lorie HollabaughFront Row (L-R): PIA’s COO/Owner Dallas Davidson, Wilson, BMG’s EVP Kos Weaver, BBR Music Group’s EVP Jon Loba; Back Row L-R: BMG’s Sr. Creative Director Noah Dewey, BMG’s Sr. Creative Director Jake Gear, Pia’s President Juli Griffith and Creative Manager Cade Price
Justin Wilson has signed a joint publishing deal with BMG and Play It Again Music.
Wilson has had chart-topping singles with Michael Ray (“Kiss You In The Morning”) and Randy Houser (“We Went”), and is currently celebrating his hit “Drunk Me” with Mitchell Tenpenny. He has also had cuts by Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and more.
“I look forward to this partnership with such creative people,” BMG’s EVP Kos Weaver said. “I’m proud of what Justin has already accomplished and I’m excited for the future.”
“Justin can write music, melody, lyrics and can crush a hook,” said PIA’s COO/Owner-Dallas Davidson. “I’ve known Kos and Loba for a long time and have a ton of respect for them both. This is gonna be a fun and productive partnership.”
Artists Bring Seasons Greetings With New Holiday Music
/by Jessica NicholsonAlbums/EPs
Aaron Watson: An Aaron Watson Family Christmas
Rodney Crowell: Christmas Everywhere
Martina McBride: It’s The Holiday Season
Brett Eldredge, Glow (Deluxe Edition)
Jessie James Decker, On This Holiday
Chely Wright, Santa Will Find You (EP)
Dailey & Vincent, The Sounds of Christmas
Tracy Lawrence, Frozen in Time
Spencer’s Own, One Christmas Eve (EP)
Michael McDonald, Season of Peace: The Christmas Collection
Clint Black, The Clint Black Christmas Collection
Erica Nicole, Merry Christmas To You (EP)
Songs
Mallary Hope: “Christmas Is All About You”
Abby Anderson: “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”
Chris Janson: “It Is Christmas”
Trace Adkins: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
Runaway June: “Sleigh Ride”
Essex County (formerly known as the Bass Brothers): “Last Christmas”
Mason Ramsey: “White Christmas”
Phil Vassar and Lonestar: “Not So Silent Night”
Pentatonix (with Maren Morris): “When You Believe”
Larry Stewart: “Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day”
Sandra Lynn: “My Christmas Wish for You”
John Schneider: “Who Da Baby Daddy”
Jessica Lynn: “Santa You Can Skip Our House”
Krystal Keith: “O’ Holy Night”
Mags: “I Never Believed in Santa Claus (Until You Came to Town)”
Bailey James: “But if It Snows”
Tracy Lawrence: “Frozen In Time”
T.J. Sparks: “What Would Christmas Be”
Ty Herndon feat. Crystal Lewis” “O’ Holy Night”
Rachel Wammack, “This Christmas,” “O’ Holy Night”
Top Nashville Female Executives Honored As Part Of ‘Billboard’ Women In Music Event
/by Jessica NicholsonBillboard recently honored more than 120 female music industry executives as part of their Women In Music 2018 initiative. Among the female executives honored as part of Women In Music were several in the Nashville music industry, including:
Allison Jones, Sr. VP A&R, Big Machine Label Group
Cris Lacy, Sr. VP A&R, Warner Music Nashville
Taylor Lindsey, VP A&R, Sony Music Nashville
Cindy Mabe, President, Universal Music Group Nashville
Carla Wallace, Co-owner/CEO, Big Yellow Dog Music
Virginia Bunetta, Managing Partner, G-Major Management
Martha Earls, Owner, EFG Management
Ann Edelblute, Owner, The HQ
Kerri Edwards, President, KP Entertainment
Jackie Nalpant, Co-Head, Paradigm Talent Agency’s Nashville Office
Kelli Turner, President/COO, SESAC
Marcie Allen, Founder/President, MAC Presents
Julie Boos, Co-owner/Chairman/Business Manager, FBMM
Lou Taylor, Owner, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group
Sarah Trahern, CEO, Country Music Association
Brittany Schaffer, Head of Artist and Label Marketing, Nashville; Spotify
On Thursday (Dec. 6) during the 2018 Women In Music event held in New York City, female performers including Kacey Musgraves, Janelle Monae, Cyndi Lauper and Ariana Grande were honored.
Rascal Flatts Share Tour Medley Of Most-Loved Songs On New EP
/by Lorie HollabaughRascal Flatts has put their spin on a few of their favorite cover songs and are sharing the tunes on a fun new EP, Jukebox, which is out today (Dec. 7).
Inspired by a standout moment during the group’s live set where they perform a medley of their most-loved songs, Jukebox features special spins on Foreigner’s iconic 1977 rock anthem “Feels Like The First Time,” the soulful 1980 hit “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates, and Kenny Loggins’ classic “Heart To Heart.” A fourth bonus track, “Do You Believe In Love” by Huey Lewis and the News, will be available exclusively to Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers.
“We always enjoy songs that resonate with each of us individually, ones that we can all connect to,” said the Flatts’ Gary LeVox. “These four tracks are just that, the handpicked, personal favorites and the ones we love collectively with our own fingerprint on them.”
JUKEBOX EP TRACK LIST:
1. Feels Like The First Time
2. Do You Believe In Love**
3. You Make My Dreams
4. Heart To Heart
**Amazon Music Exclusive Track
Kip Moore Extends Headlining Room To Spare: Acoustic Tour Into 2019
/by Lorie HollabaughKip Moore has expanded his headlining Room To Spare: Acoustic Tour. The new dates will kick off in Chicago on March 7 and run through May 30. Along the way, the tour will visit Minneapolis, Richmond, Sacramento, Atlanta, Boston, and several international shows in the U.K. and Canada. Charlie Worsham and Muscadine Bloodline are set to join Moore on select dates for the tour. He will play a show at Cumberland Caverns on April 27 in McMinnville, TN outside of Nashville.
The dates follow a limited fall run, which saw Moore playing all sold-out dates. Tickets for the new shows will go on sale beginning Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
ROOM TO SPARE: ACOUSTIC TOUR DATES:
3/7/19 Chicago, IL – Copernicus Center**
3/8/19 Carmel, IN – The Palladium**
3/9/19 Bowling Green, KY – SKYPAC**
3/14/19 Minneapolis, MN – The State Theatre*
3/15/19 Ottumwa, IA – Bridge View Events Center*
3/16/19 Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre*
3/21/19 Morgantown, WV – The Metropolitan Theatre**
3/22/19 Athens, OH – Memorial Auditorium**
3/23/19 Richmond, VA – The National**
3/28/19 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre**
3/29/19 Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts**
3/30/19 Hanford, CA – Fox Theatre**
4/18/19 Moncton, NB – Capitol Theater
4/19/19 Halifax, NS – Casino Nova Scotia
4/20/19 Charlottetown, PEI – Confederation Centre of the Arts
4/25/19 Atlanta, GA – The Buckhead Theatre**
4/26/19 Macon, GA – The Grand Opera House**
4/27/19 McMinnville, TN – Cumberland Caverns**
5/2/19 Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre**
5/3/19 New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre**
5/4/19 Burlington, VT – Flynn Center**
5/9/19 Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse**
5/10/19 Portland, ME – The State Theatre**
5/11/19 Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre**
5/26/19 Manchester, UK – Academy 2
5/27/19 Glasgow, UK – Fruitmarket
5/29/19 Birmingham, UK – Town Hall
5/30/19 London, UK – Cadogan Hall
*Dates with Charlie Worsham
**Dates with Muscadine Bloodline
Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Celebration To Be Featured On NBC
/by LB CantrellThe 10th annual Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville will be featured on NBC’s New Year’s Eve National Broadcast. Reigning CMA Entertainer of The Year Keith Urban will be headlining and hosting the Nashville celebration for the third consecutive year.
The NBC 90-minute live show, airing from Times Square in New York City, will include cut-ins from Nashville that will feature Urban performing hosting duties and singing live from Nashville.
“It’s an honor to join the national NBC broadcast of New Year’s Eve,” Nashville Mayor David Briley said. “The celebration here in Nashville gets bigger and better every year, and this year is no different. As always, our city’s festivities will feature top-notch entertainment, a great crowd and a wonderful host. The rest of the country will now see that Nashville is the place to be to ring in the New Year.”
Ronnie Smith, Head of Corporate Bank, Regions Bank, who serves as chair of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp board of directors, said: “It’s always been our goal for Nashville’s New Year’s Eve to be a part of primetime network TV to showcase the diversity of our music and the city. It’s fitting that the tenth anniversary of this spectacular event coincides with a new partnership with NBC.”
ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year Brett Young has also been slated to perform at the Music City Midnight along with Peter Frampton, Judah & the Lion, Caitlyn Smith, Devon Gilfillian and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Music City Midnight is located at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and the gates will open at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31. The event is free and open to the public.
Top Producer/Publisher Kelso Herston Dies
/by Robert K OermannMulti-talented Music Row great Kelso Herston died on Tuesday (Dec. 4) at age 87.
He was a label chief, record producer, song publisher, jingle creator and ace session musician during the 1960s and 1970s. As a guitarist, Herston was honored with 10 Super Picker awards from the Recording Academy between 1961 and 1975. As a producer, he worked with Sonny James, Wanda Jackson, Ferlin Husky, Bobbie Gentry and many others.
Born Kelton Dean Herston, he was an Alabama native who entered the music business in Florence/Muscle Shoals. He formed his Tune Records and publishing business there in 1956.
Florence native Sam Phillips hired Herston to establish a Nashville office in 1959 for the Sun Records publishing divisions Hi-Lo and Knox Music. Herston also worked closely with Sun Records star Carl Mann (“Mona Lisa,” “Pretend”).
Once in Nashville, he established himself as a top session musician. Kelso Herston can be heard on either bass or guitar on discs by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Bobby Bare, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, George Morgan, Lesley Gore, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie Rich, Vikki Carr, Freddie Hart, Jean Shepard, Mother Maybelle Carter, Lefty Frizzell and hundreds more.
In the early 1960s, he went to work for Mercury Records. He brought Jerry Lee Lewis to the label, renewing the rocker’s career as a chart-topping honky-tonk stylist.
United Artists Records hired him to establish its first Nashville office in 1963. He began his production career there with a string of hits for Del Reeves (“Girl on a Billboard,” “The Belles of Southern Bell,” etc.). He also worked with Bobby Goldsboro and The Oak Ridge Boys and recorded instrumentals for the label, himself.
Herston assumed the leadership of the Capitol Records Nashville office in 1967. While there, he produced 13 No. 1 hits for future Country Music Hall of Fame member Sonny James. He also worked with Capitol’s Billie Jo Spears, Gentry, Husky and Jackson, among others. Also while at Capitol, Kelso Herston was hired as the music director for TV’s hit series Hee Haw.
Her served on the board of the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy in 1969 and 1970.
He formed Kelso Herston Productions in 1971. This firm soon became one of the most successful ad jingle companies in the industry. Herston produced classic ads for such companies as Budweiser, Pepsi, Burger King, 7-Up, Oscar Meyer, RC Cola, Sears, Quaker Oats and McDonald’s. One of his Pepsi ads was honored with a Clio Award.
He was re-hired by United Artists in 1973. He signed Crystal Gayle to the label, launching her hit-making career. In 1976, he again began concentrating on his jingle company, as well as his music-publishing firm, Kelso Herston Music. Among the hits he published is Ronnie Milsap’s chart-topping “Don’t You Know How Much I Love You.”
He also continued to work as an independent record producer for such labels as Columbia, Musicor and King. Kelso Herston was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is survived by son Alexander Herston, two grandsons and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was held on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, followed by services. Burial followed at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton cemetery.