Artist Updates: Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley, Aaron Tippin

Zac Brown Band To Set Ballpark Record

Zac Brown Band Jekyll and HydeZac Brown Band has made history as the first artist ever to be slated to perform a three-night run at iconic ballpark Fenway Park. After selling out two nights at Fenway Park for the second year in a row, the band has added a third show to their run of concerts set for August, which will now run Aug. 7-9.

The band’s tour launches in May. The tour will also mark Zac Brown Band as the first ever band to play Denver’s Coors Field.

Brad Paisley Makes High Marks at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley recently made his ninth concert appearance at The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Saturday, March 31, and drew 75,167 people for the performance.

The attendance made Paisley the highest attended show for any country act this year, and second overall for the 2015 Rodeo, as well as the ninth-highest single concert in the rodeo’s history.

Aaron Tippin Shares Fitness Tips From The Road

On a recent edition of Fox & Friends, country music singer and fitness guru Aaron Tippin, 56, demonstrated several fitness tips and routines he does to stay fit while touring.

The segment can be viewed below.

YouTube video

 

Joanne Cash To Welcome Friends for Duets Album

Joanne CashGospel singer Joanne Cash, sister of the late Johnny Cash, will release her latest album, Breaking Down The Barriers, on April 1. The duets project will be released by Nashville-based indie label Proverbial Excellence.

The collection of 14 tracks includes duets with Rosanne Cash and Tommy Cash, in addition to contributions from country artists Larry Gatlin, T. Graham Brown, The Fox Brothers, Razzy Bailey, George Hamilton IV and Riders in the Sky’s Ranger Doug and Christian rockers Kevin Max (dcTalk, Audio Adrenaline), Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Rick Florian (Whiteheart) and John Schlitt (Petra).

New Tunes: Sugar & The Hi-Lows, The Boxmasters, Watkins-Jarosz-O’Donovan

sugar and the hi-lowsSugar & The Hi-Lows, the effervescent duo comprised of singer-songwriters Trent Dabbs and Amy Stroup, will release sophomore album, High Roller, on June 23.

Leading up to release day, Sugar & The Hi-Lows will join Kacey Musgraves in select cities on her tour.

It’s been three years since the band’s self-titled debut.

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sara watkins sarah jarosz

Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan are teaming for a tour and vinyl release, coming out May 8 via Sugar Hill Records and Yep Roc Records. The 7-inch features the John Hiatt tune “Crossing Muddy Waters,” and an a cappella version of Andy Stroud’s “Be My Husband.”

An in-studio video of the trio recording “Crossing Muddy Waters” can be seen here.

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the_boxmasters_group_photo_large

The Boxmasters, comprised of Billy Bob Thornton, Teddy Andreadis, J.D. Andrew and Brad Davis, will release its fourth studio album Somewhere Down The Road on April 7.

The band will celebrate the project with a two-night stand at the Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn. on April 7 and 8.

The Boxmasters recently signed with Nashville based 101 Ranch Records, which is also home to Mark Collie and bluegrass trio Band of Ruhks.

Stars Of ABC’s ‘Nashville’ To Launch Tour In New York City

nashvilleFollowing a highly successful tour in 2014, stars of ABC’s Nashville will once again hit the road in an eight-city spring concert tour, starting April 29 in New York City.

Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten, Aubrey Peeples and Lennon & Maisy will take the stage and perform various songs from the hit television series. Sam Palladio will join the tour for the New York and Los Angeles shows and Jonathan Jackson will appear in Chicago. All shows go on sale Friday, March 27.

“It is so exciting and rewarding to see our amazing cast blossom as live artists and be able to have that intimate relationship with our ‘Nashville’ fans,” said Dawn Soler, Senior Vice President, TV Music, ABC Entertainment Group. She added, “Taking Nashville on the road, along with our ‘On The Record’ series, offers our viewers a complete and authentic experience.”

April 29 New York, N.Y., Beacon Theater
May 2 Boston, Mass., Wang Theater
May 3 Washington, D.C., DAR Constitution Hall
May 5 Chicago, Ill., Rosemont Auditorium
May 6 Minneapolis, Minn., Northrop Auditorium
May 8 San Francisco, Calif., Warfield Theater
May 9 Los Angeles, Calif., Nokia Theater L.A. Live
May 10 Phoenix, Ariz., Comerica Theater

ole Acquires Jingle Punks’ Production Music Library

ole-jingle-punks-logoToronto-based independent publisher ole has acquired music publishing and licensing company Jingle Punks.

Under the agreement, ole’s PML repertoire will fold into Jingle Punks, doubling Jingle Punks’ available repertoire. Jingle Punks provides original and licensed music for television, film, video games, advertisements, and more. The move creates one of the world’s largest production music libraries.

As part of the deal, Jingle Punks founders, Jared Gutstadt and Dan Demole, will oversee ole’s production music operation.

The Jingle Punks operation in Nashville, which included songwriters who also produced music for television and advertising, will fold into ole’s Nashville operation.

With the acquisition, Jingle Punks gains the ability to offer clients access to ole’s global rights management platform, while Jingle Punks achieves economies of scale. The combination opens cross-platform business development and services opportunities for both companies.

“ole looks forward to working with Jingle Punks towards a future that combines our respective strengths to great advantage and for the benefit of our clients,” says Robert Ott, CEO and Chairman of ole. “Jared and Dan are great entrepreneurial talents who have built the most exciting brand in production music history, and we look forward to increased profitability together.”

Demole says, “This is the kind of deal we’ve dreamt of since our founding in 2008: working with an independent and entrepreneurial company such as ole that, like Jingle Punks, has asserted itself as a leader in their space by aggressively breaking conventions.”

“ole’s sensibilities are keenly matched with ours. We continue to focus on the core assets and core capabilities of our business and grow, grow, grow. This is a new day for Jingle Punks and is going to not only benefit our staff and network of artists, but the wonderful clients we have been servicing for the past 7 years,” adds Gutstadt.

Top Songwriters To Bring ‘Songs & Stories’ To Benefit St. Jude

songsandstoriesforstjudeChris DeStefano, Josh Osborne, Lee Miller, The Warren BrothersJessi Alexander, Jimmy Robbins, Jon Randall, and Natalie Hemby are slated as part of an all-star songwriters benefit concert to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The third annual Songs & Stories for St. Jude concert and auction will take place Wednesday, April 8 at 3rd & Lindsley. Bobby Bones-fronted band The Raging Idiots will open the show. Additionally, the evening will be hosted by WSIX midday personality Amy Paige.

The evening will also include a silent auction, featuring items donated by country artists. All proceeds form the silent auction and from ticket sales to directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For more information, visit thebig98.com.

LifeNotes: Al Bunetta Passes

al bunetta

Al Bunetta, who spent more than 40 years guiding the careers of John Prine and the late Steve Goodman, passed away last night (March 22). Bunetta was recently diagnosed with cancer and admitted to Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, where he later died.

Bunetta was a lifelong entrepreneur, taking on the roles of artist manager, booking agent, record label head and producer. He started and ran his namesake management company, home to Prine and Goodman, and founded record companies with each of those artists. In 1981, Prine, Bunetta and Dan Einstein teamed for Oh Boy Records, one of the initial independent record labels and mail order businesses. With Goodman, he founded Red Pajamas Records.

In 1986, Bunetta won a Grammy for co-producing the Best Contemporary Folk Recording, A Tribute To Steve Goodman.

In 2006, Prine’s Fair & Square, released by Oh Boy, won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

BMI Award-winners Paul Overstreet and John Prine are the newest additions to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Overstreet and Prine, along with Hal Blair and Rodney Crowell, were inducted November 2 during annual ceremonies hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel in Nashville.

Al Bunetta, John Prine and Dawn Bunetta celebrate Prine’s 2003 induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel in Nashville. Photo: BMI.com

The enduring label’s latest project is September 78, a recording of Prine’s 1978 Chicago concert, being offered on orange vinyl for Record Store Day (April 18, 2015).

Bunetta’s career began as a roadie in the late ‘60s. He joined Paul Anka’s management company, CMA, as an artist manager working with artists such as Bette Midler, Al Green and The Manhattan Transfer. When the company signed Prine and Goodman to management contracts in 1971, Bunetta became the manager for both.

As an active and respected member of the Music Row community, Bunetta served on the board of the W.O. Smith Music School, and was involved with NARAS, CMA and Leadership Music.

He enjoyed car collecting, farming and family time.

He was preceded in death by son Juri Bunetta, who passed away in 2011. Al Bunetta and wife Dawn Bunetta started the Juri Bunetta Friendship Foundation and Building Bridges Golf Tournament in his loving memory, to benefit organizations including Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Al Bunetta is survived by Dawn and many other loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juri Bunetta Friendship Foundation.

Songwriters Event At Hall of Fame To Fight Pancreatic Cancer

NIkki Mitchell FoundationNikki Mitchell Foundation will host “An Intimate Celebration” with friends and family of Country Music Hall of Fame members affected by pancreatic cancer. The performance will happen on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Ford Theater inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

Hall of Fame inductees to be honored at the event include Ray Price, Hank Cochran, The Carter Family, The Louvin Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Felice Bryant, and Webb Pierce, as well as late member of the industry Merlin Littlefield.

The acoustic concert will feature Carlene Carter, Jamey Johnson, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Angaleena Presley, Secret Sisters, and others.

Proceeds from the event will benefit The Nikki Mitchell Foundation for pancreatic cancer research. All eight of the evening’s honorees were impacted by pancreatic cancer.

General admission tickets available by clicking here.

YouTube Previews Cards, Music For Artists at SXSW

youtubeWith scores of musicians, fans and industry types congregating in Texas for the annual SXSW, YouTube took advantage of the proximity to artists, managers, and other industry execs to showcase its latest wares.

In its artist lounge at SXSW, YouTube provided a demo for one of its latest tools, YouTube Music For Artists. The tool tracks an artist’s YouTube stats, such as the Top 100 cities viewing an artist’s music via YouTube, and total song plays (beyond just official artist videos), and date maps which track YouTube views each week. A separate world map features information on the artist’s popularity in various geographic locations, based on YouTube views.

According to digitalmusicnews.com, YouTube Music for Artists’ product manager also hinted at a future release of customized, targeted in-video content cards to inform viewers when an artist will perform in their area. It is a feature that social media giant Facebook already offers–for a price.

Additionally, YouTube has begun offering the feature Cards, graphic annotations that link to artist merchandise sites, official artist sites, concert ticket sites, and more. The rollout of Cards will soon replace the text-only annotations that have been a YouTube mainstay for years.

Cards can also link to approved vendors such as BandCamp, BandPage, iTunes, Google Play, BandsInTown, SongKick, CafePress, Band Merch, Etsy, Topspin, and others.

MusicRowLife: Jason Aldean Weds Brittany Kerr

Jason aldean 2014Jason Aldean wed fiancee and former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr on Saturday, March 21 during a ceremony in Mexico, according to US Weekly.

Aldean and Kerr, 27, were celebrated by family and friends, including Aldean’s daughters, Keeley, 12, and Kendyl, 7, from his previous marriage.

The couple became engaged in September 2014.

LifeNotes: Classic Songwriter Don Robertson Passes

Don Robertson

Don Robertson. Photo: donrobertson.com

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Don Robertson has passed away at age 92.

Robertson created classic songs for Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Charley Pride and dozens of other stars. He died in California on March 16.

Among his standards are “I Really Don’t Want to Know,” “Born to Be with You,” “Please Help Me I’m Falling” and “I Don’t Hurt Anymore.” Robertson was also a successful recording artist.

He was born Donald Irwin Robertson in Peking, China on December 5, 1922. His physician father, who developed the first blood bank, was then the head of the Department of Medicine at Peking Union College.

His mother was a pianist and poet. She began giving Robertson piano lessons when he was 4 years old, and he was composing his first songs just three years later.

The family returned to the United States, and Don Robertson was raised in Chicago. By age 14, he was earning money as a piano player in local dance bands. During his college years at the University of Chicago, he landed a job as the musical arranger at radio station WGN for its singing trio The Brandt Sisters.

Even bigger stars were The Dinning Sisters at the rival radio powerhouse WLS and its “National Barn Dance.” In 1945, he travelled to Los Angeles as the accompanist and arranger for the Dinnings, who had signed with Capitol Records. (The sisters soon scored major hits for the company with 1947’s “My Adobe Hacienda” and 1948’s “Buttons and Bows.”)

He married the trio’s Lou Dinning. Robertson took a job as a rehearsal pianist at Capitol, worked as a nightclub artist and occasionally played on recording sessions. Both he and Lou Dinning soon had solo recording contracts at Capitol. They also recorded for the label as a duo.

Don Robertson’s first big songwriting success was with his co-written “I Really Don’t Want to Know.” It became a No. 1 country hit for Eddy Arnold in 1954, as well as a simultaneous pop success for Les Paul & Mary Ford. Elvis Presley revived the song in 1971, and it has been recorded by nearly 200 others.

Hank Snow hit the top of the country charts with Robertson’s co-written “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” in 1954, with Dinah Washington scoring a No. 3 r&b smash with the same song that year. This song has also been recorded by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Martina McBride, Dottie West, Hank Thompson and many other artists.

In 1955, both Frankie Laine and Les Paul & Mary Ford had pop hits with Robertson’s “Hummingbird.” In country music, Carl Smith had a top-10 hit in 1955 with the songwriter’s “You’re Free to Go.”

As an artist, Robertson had a top-10 pop hit with his Capitol Records disc of “The Happy Whistler” in 1956.

The Chordettes also scored a 1956 top-10 pop success with Robertson’s “Born to Be with You.” As one half of The Echoes (with Bonnie Guitar), Robertson re-recorded his tune in 1960. Then Sonny James revived it as a No. 1 country hit in 1968. Dion, Dave Edmunds, Bing Crosby, Anne Murray, Duane Eddy and The Browns are among the dozens who have subsequently recorded “Born to Be with You.”

Don Robertson with Waylon Jennings and Jack Clement

Don Robertson with Waylon Jennings and Jack Clement. Photo: Don Robertson Music Corporation

Other notable Don Robertson songs of the 1950s included “Go Back You Fool” (Faron Young, 1955), “Condemned Without Trial” (Eddy Arnold, 1953) and “I’m Counting on You” (Kitty Wells, 1957). In 1960, Della Reese brought Robertson’s “Not One Minute More” to pop fame. In the country field, Hank Locklin’s 1960 No. 1 hit “Please Help Me I’m Falling” crossed over to become a top-10 pop success as well. Skeeter Davis recorded its “answer” song, “I Can’t Help You (I’m Falling Too).” Janie Fricke revived the song as a country hit in 1978.

“Please Help Me I’m Falling” also brought Don Robertson’s distinctive piano style to prominence. He pioneered the “slip-note” style of playing that was later nationally popularized by Floyd Cramer.

In 1964, Bonanza TV star Lorne Greene recorded Robertson’s western-saga song “Ringo,” which became a No. 1 pop smash. Pop crooner Al Martino had a big hit with Robertson’s “I Love You More and More Every Day” in 1964, and this was revived on the country charts in 1973 by Sonny James.

In 1965, Don Robertson returned to solo recording with the RCA Nashville LP Heart on My Sleeve. It contained his own versions of some of the hits he’d written.

Elvis Presley scored with the songwriter’s “I’m Yours” that same year. During his career, Presley recorded 15 Don Robertson songs, many as soundtrack numbers for the superstar’s films.

During the 1960s, Hank Snow landed three more hits with Robertson songs — “I Stepped Over the Line” (1964), “The Queen of Draw Poker Town” (1965) and “Ninety Miles an Hour (Down a Dead End Street)” (1963). (The star’s popular 1956 recording of “With This Ring I Thee Wed” is also a Robertson song.)

Don and Irene Robertson with Priscilla Presley  at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1996. Photo: donrobertson.com

Don and Irene Robertson with Priscilla Presley
at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1996. Photo: donrobertson.com

Robertson co-wrote and played piano on Charley Pride’s 1967 hit “Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger.” He has also been the piano accompanist for Chet Atkins, Jessi Colter, Nat King Cole, Ann-Margret, John Prine, Jerry Wallace, Nancy Wilson and Presley, among others.

Don Robertson was placed in the Nashville Walkway of Stars in 1967 and inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Next, he wrote the 1979 Ray Price hit “There’s Always Me,” and resurfaced in 1982-83 as the co-writer of Billy Swan’s “With Their Kind of Money and Our Kind of Love,” “Your Picture Still Loves Me” and “Yes.”

Over the years, millions have heard Don Robertson playing his song “Pianjo” as “Gomer,” the animatronic bear opening the “Country Bear Jamboree” attraction at Disneyland and Disney World.

The songwriting legend has lived in Lake Sherwood, Calif., since 1960. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Irene, by their sons Bobby and Jim, by five grandchildren and by a great-granddaughter.