Austin Guitarist Stephen Bruton Dies

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brutonGuitarist/singer/songwriter/producer Stephen Bruton, a highly respected and much-loved member of the Austin, Texas music community, died Saturday (5/9) in Los Angeles of complications of cancer. He was 60. Bruton served as guitarist for Kris Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and spent several years on the road as guitarist for Bonnie Raitt.

Turner Stephen Bruton was born Nov. 7, 1948, in Wilmington, Delaware, but moved with his family to Texas when he was 2.  As a teenager, he won banjo competitions, switching to guitar in his teens. Shortly after graduating from Texas Christian University, Bruton joined Kristofferson’s band just as the singer/songwriter’s career was getting started and toured with him on and off for decades.

He recorded five critically acclaimed solo albums, and his songs were recorded by artists including Raitt, The Highwaymen (Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kristofferson), Jimmy Buffett, Patty Loveless and numerous others. He died at the home of his childhood friend, producer T Bone Burnett, with whom he had been working on Crazy Heart, a film being produced by Burnett. Bruton produced the music for the film.

“We finished it about two weeks ago,” Burnett said. “I’m deeply grateful he got to complete his work on the film. It meant a tremendous amount for him to get it finished. In the last 72 hours things just started shutting down. I think everybody thought he would kick it quickly because he was Stephen Bruton. We all thought he was invincible.”

Prime Time Press Conferences Irk Broadcasters

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Executives at the largest broadcast networks claim that the new president has already cost them $30 million in ad revenue  as a result of his three prime-time news conferences. The Hollywood Reporter story notes that none of the broadcasters mentioned in the article were willing to go on the record, but says that the Fox network’s decision not to carry the last news conference, might serve as a precedent. The Hollywood Reporter quotes one unnamed broadcast exec who says, “We will continue to make our decisions on White House requests on a case-by-case basis, but the Fox decision gives us cover to reject a request if we feel that there is no urgent breaking news that is going to be discussed.”

[Hollywood Reporter]

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“The Session Players” Announces Online Chat

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sesionOn Tuesday, May 19 beginning at 8:00 PM CT, The Session Players (www.thesessionplayers.com) will host a special live online chat. The website offers an up-close, inside look at the recording process through the eyes of the musicians who make it happen. The online chat will allow anyone anywhere in the world to talk directly to the players featured in the premier webisode, Sand Bank Road. Callers can ask about the creative process, the instruments used and about the musicians’ experiences working on countless recording projects. As the date for the chat moves closer, members of the site’s email list will receive up-to-the-minute details about the chat, including a complete list of the musicians that will be online and details about participating in the chat. Those who have not yet signed up for the email list can get the updated information by logging onto the site and visiting the Forum’s Music Category. Today (5/8), the site also began featuring a special promo of webisode two, Second First Impression.

Rebel Hearts

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“Jesse Dunn”

RHR/Nine North

rh-playlist“Jesse Dunn” is the newest single by vocal group Rebel Hearts. Comprised of Darren Castle, Don McDowell and Kody Anderson, their music is a blend of country and rock that draws on influences like Elvis, Garth, and the Eagles.

Singer/songwriter Don McDowell created Rebel Hearts in 1997 and recruited Canadian producer/pianist/songwriter Steve Soucy. Don also added lifetime friend and lead singer Darren Castle to front the group and they began recording music. Kody Anderson was added to the fold in 2003.

After a string of independent radio releases, Rebel Hearts broke into the Billboard charts in 2000. In 2002-2003, Rebel Hearts videos for “Daddy’s Dream” and “Everything To Me” aired on Great American Country (GAC). In the summer of 2007, Rebel Hearts finalized their CD Runnin’ Wild with a Renegade Heart for international release. The album features the European radio hits “Good to Go,” “Wrangler Walk” and “Hard Rock Hotel.”

The videos for “Jesse Dunn” (link included below) and “Wrangler Walk” have been released to GAC and CMT. Current full-length project Rebel Hearts-Runnin’ Wild is a  CD/DVD featuring 6 videos.

“Jesse Dunn” video
http://www.RebelHearts.com

SOLID Readies Music Row Yard Sale

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solidNashville Music Industry Organization SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) has announced the 2009 edition of its Music Row Yard Sale. This year’s yard sale will take place during the CMA Music Festival on June 13 at 8 AM at Nashville’s Sommet Center. SOLID has provided collection bins to Music Row businesses for donations to the yard sale. Businesses willing to donate promotional items should add them to their collection bin or contact the SOLID Yard Sale Chair, Katie Pope, at kpope@sesac.com. Autographed items will be auctioned off throughout the day and any signed memorabilia from your company is greatly appreciated. A SOLID representative will be by later in the month to collect the donated items. SOLID has traditionally teamed with Leadership Music on the Music Row Yard Sale, but beginning this year they are taking full responsibility for the event. For more information click here.

CMA Int’l Awards To Bentley and Brooks & Dunn

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cmaKix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (aka Brooks & Dunn), and Dierks Bentley are this year’s recipients of the CMA International Artist Achievement Award for their contributions to country music overseas. They were presented the awards backstage at Sydney’s Acer Arena on May 6 during the final stop of their current Australian tour. The International Artist Achievement Awards were presented by CMA Board member Rob Potts, CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, and Australia’s No. 1 radio presenter, Ray Hadley from Radio 2GB.

“I can’t think of any more deserving U.S. artists to win this award,” Potts said. “Their tour here has had a huge impact on the profile of country music in this territory and it’s fantastic that we were able to present the awards to them in Australia.”

The CMA International Artist Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who contributes to the awareness and development of country music outside of the United States. Previous winners include Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, and Dwight Yoakam.
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(l-r) Sydney radio presenter Ray Hadley, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks,
Dierks Bentley and CMA International Director Rob Potts. (Photo: Dean Turnbull)

Music Row Past Award Winners

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mrawards20Producer Honor Role
A listing of producers scoring the most top-20 Singles and Top-10 Albums for each year.
1982-89: Jimmy Bowen
1990: Tony Brown
1991-92: Allen Reynolds
1993: Tony Brown
1994: James Stroud
1995: Allen Reynolds
1996: Tony Brown
1997: Wilbur C. Rimes
1998: No Award presented
Becomes Producer of the Year–To honor a producers work on albums active during the awards time period. Can include, but is not limited to, single chart performance and album sales.
1999: Byron Gallimore
2000: Byron Gallimore
2001: Mark Wright
2002: Keith Stegall
2003: James Stroud
2004: Buddy Cannon
2005: Frank Rogers
2006: Dann Huff
2007: Byron Gallimore
2008: Frank Rodgers

Top Songwriters
A listing of writers scoring the most Top-20 Singles for each year.
1985: Troy Seals
1986: Dave Loggins
1987-90: Don Schlitz
1991: Pat Alger
1992: Garth Brooks
1993: Clint Black
1994: Gary Burr
1995: Tom Shapiro
1996: Mark D. Sanders
1997: Craig Wiseman
Becomes Breakthrough Songwriter-Honors a Nashville writer who, for the first time in their career, wrote or co-wrote a top 10 song.
1996: Jim Lauderdale
1997: Cathy Majeski, Sunny Russ, Stephony Smith
1998: Harley Allen
1999: Phil Vassar
2000: Carolyn Dawn Johnson
2001: Troy Verges
2002: Anthony Smith
2003: Lee Thomas Miller
2004: Jim Brown/Don Rollins
2005: Vicky McGehee
2006: Jason Matthews
2007: Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear
2008: Luke Bryan

Song of the Year
1996: “What Mattered Most,: Vince Melamed and Gary Burr; Publishers MCA Music, Patrick Joseph Music
1997: “Friends,” Jerry Holland; Publishers: That’s A Smash Publishing, Mike Curb Music; Performed by John Michael Montgomery
1998: “Something That We Do,” Clint Black and Skip Ewing; Publishers: Blackened Music & Opryland Music Group
1999: “Don’t Laugh At Me,” Allen Shamblin & Steve Seskin; Publishers: Built On Rock Music; David Aaron Music/Love This Town Music (ASCAP)
2000: “He Didn’t Have To Be,” Brad Paisley & Kelley Lovelace; Publishers EMI April Music, Sea Gayle Music, Love Ranch Music
2001: “There Is No Arizona,” Jamie O’Neal, Shaye Smith and Lisa Drew; Publishers EMI Music, Zomba Music
2002: “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” Alan Jackson, Publisher EMI Music Publishing
2003: “Red Ragtop,” Jason White; Publisher Sony/ATV Music
2004: “Almost Home, “Craig Morgan, Kerry Kurt Phillips; Publishers Magic Mustang Music Inc. & Sufferin’ Succotash Songs
2005: “Whiskey Lullaby,” Bill Anderson, John Randall; Publishers by Sony-ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba/Reynsong/Who Ya Say/Wrensong, BMI
2006: “What Hurts The Most,” Jeffrey Steele, Steve Robson; Publishers Songs of Windswept Pacific & Almo Music Corp.
2007: “Stealing Kisses,” Lori McKenna; Publisher Melanie Howard Music, Inc.
2008: “Letter To Me,” Brad Paisley; Publishers EMI April Music/New Sea Gayle Music

Critic’s Pick/New Artist
2000: Eric Heatherly
2001: Mark McGuinn
2002: Blake Shelton
2003: Joe Nichols
2004: Buddy Jewell
2005: Miranda Lambert
2006: Carrie Underwood
2007: Taylor Swift
Becomes Breakthrough Artist–Voted by readers to honor an artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.
2008: Lady Antebellum

Marketing Achievement
1996: MCA Records for Joe Ely’s Hour At Tower Train Tour
1997: RCA Records for Clint Black’s Greatest Hits
1998: Curb Records for LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live”
1999: RCA Records for Alabama’s For The Record—41 Number One Hits and Monument Records for the Dixie Chick’s Wide Open Spaces
2000: Dreamcatcher Entertainment for Kenny Rogers “The Greatest” and “Buy Me A Rose”
2001: Sony Music Nashville for Billy Gillman, One Voice
2003: Lyric Street Records for Rascal Flatts, Melt
2004: DreamWorks/Sony music for Toby Keith Shock ‘n Yall and Buddy Jewel
2005: none
2006: Lyric Street Records for Rascal Flatts, My And My Gang and Equity Music Group for Little Big Town, The Road To Here (tie)

Get Ready To Cast Your Vote

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21st Annual Music Row Awards Underway

mrawards200Music Row’s 21st Annual Awards will be announced in the publication’s June/July issue and plaques presented at ASCAP on June 30.

Featured will be the Top Ten Album All-Star Musician accolades which are based upon the actual number of Top Ten CDs that each musician appeared on during the eligibility period (5/1/08-4/30/09).

Also included will be the subscriber-voted Breakthrough Artist, Producer of the Year, Song of the Year and Breakthrough Songwriter choices.

Nominees in the reader-voted categories will be announced on May 18, and numbered ballots will be emailed to readers on May 27.

For a complete list of past Award winners click here.

For a complete list of past Musician Award winners click here.

Past Musician Award Winners

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mrawards200Top Ten Album All-Stars

Guitar
1989: Steve Gibson
1990: Steve Gibson
1991: Steve Gibson
1992: Steve Gibson
1993: Mark Casstevens
1994: Brent Mason
1995: Brent Mason
1996: Dann Huff
1997: Brent Mason
1998: Brent Mason
1999: Brent Mason
2000: Brent Mason
2001: Brent Mason
2002: B. James Lowry
2003: Brent Mason
2004: Brent Mason
2005: Tom Bukovac
2006: Tom Bukovac
2007: Tom Bukovac
2008: Tom Bukovac

Bass
1989: David Hungate
1990: David Hungate
1991: Edgar Meyers, Roy Husky Jr., Michael Rhodes (3-way tie)
1992: Michael Rhodes, Glenn Worf (tie)
1993: Mike Chapman, Glenn Worf (tie)
1994: Glenn Worf
1995: Glenn Worf
1996: Glenn Worf
1997: Glenn Worf
1998: Glenn Worf
1999: Glenn Worf
2000: Glenn Worf
2001: Glenn Worf
2002: Glenn Worf
2003: Glenn Worf
2004: Glenn Worf
2005: Glenn Worf
2006: Glenn Worf, Michael Rhodes (tie)
2007: Glenn Worf
2008: Glenn Worf

Keyboards
1989: Mike Lawler, John Jarvis (tie)
1990: John Jarvis
1991: Barry Beckett, Matt Rollings (tie)
1992: Matt Rollings
1993: John Jarvis
1994: Matt Rollings
1995: John Jarvis
1996: Steve Nathan
1997: Steve Nathan
1998: Steve Nathan
1999: Steve Nathan
2000: Steve Nathan
2001: Steve Nathan
2002: Steve Nathan
2003: Steve Nathan
2004: Steve Nathan
2005: Steve Nathan
2006: Steve Nathan
2007: Steve Nathan
2008: Steve Nathan

Drums/Percussion
1989: Eddie Bayers
1990: Eddie Bayers
1991: Eddie Bayers
1992: Eddie Bayers
1993: Eddie Bayers
1994: Eddie Bayers
1995: Eddie Bayers
1996: Lonnie Wilson
1997: Eddie Bayers
1998: Lonnie Wilson
1999: Paul Leim, Eddie Bayers (tie)
2000: Eddie Bayers
2001: Eddie Bayers, Greg Morrow (tie)
2002: Lonnie Wilson
2003: Lonnie Wilson
2004: Shannon Forrest
2005: Shannon Forrest
2006: Shannon Forrest
2007: Shannon Forrest
2008: Shannon Forrest, Chris McHugh (tie)

Vocalists
1989: Dennis Wilson
1990: Curtis Young
1991: Curtis Young
1992: Curtis Young
1993: Curtis Young
1994: Curtis Young
1995: Dennis Wilson
1996: Curtis Young
1997: Dennis Wilson
1998: Curtis Young
1999: John Wesley Ryles
2000: Liana Manis, John Wesley Ryles (tie)
2001: John Wesley Ryles
2002: Wes Hightower
2003: Wes Hightower
2004: Wes Hightower
2005: Wes Hightower
2006: Wes Hightower
2007: Wes Hightower
2008: Wes Hightower

Miscellaneous Instruments
1989: Mark O’Connor
1990: Mark O’Connor
1991: Paul Franklin
1992: Rob Hajacos
1993: Nashville String Machine
1994: Jim Horn
1995: Terry McMillan
1996: Terry McMillan
1997: Nashville String Machine
The Miscellaneous Instruments category was retired after 1997

Steel Guitar
1993: Bruce Bouton, Sonny Garrish (tie)
1994: Paul Franklin
1995: Paul Franklin
1996: Paul Franklin
1997: Paul Franklin
1998: Paul Franklin
1999: Paul Franklin
2000: Paul Franklin
2001: Paul Franklin
2002: Paul Franklin
2003: Paul Franklin
2004: Paul Franklin
2005: Paul Franklin
2006: Paul Franklin
2007: Dan Dugmore
2008: Paul Franklin

Fiddle
1993: Rob Hajacos
1994: Stuart Duncan, Rob Hajacos (tie)
1995: Stuart Duncan
1996: Stuart Duncan
1997: Rob Hajacos
1998: Stuart Duncan
1999: Stuart Duncan
2000: Stuart Duncan
2001: Aubrey Haynie
2002: Aubrey Haynie
2003: Aubrey Haynie
2004: Stuart Duncan
2005: Jonathan Yudkin
2006: Jonathan Yudkin
2007: Larry Franklin, Aubrey Haynie, Jonathan Yudkin (tie)
2008: Jonathan Yudkin

Engineer
1995: Mike Bradley
1996: Mike Bradley
1997: Mike Bradley
1998: Julian King, Mike Bradley (tie)
1999: Chuck Ainlay
2000: Jeff Balding
2001: Jeff Balding, Julian King (tie)
2002: Julian King, Clarke Schleicher (tie)
2003: Julian King
2004: Greg Droman, Julian King (tie)
2005: Justin Niebank
2006: Justin Niebank, Derek Bason (tie)
2007: Justin Niebank
2008: Justin Niebank

Big Kenny Joins Guild To Donate Guitars

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littlekidsrocklogoKenny Alphin, the top-hatted half of hit country duo Big & Rich, has joined forces with Guild Guitars and Little Kids Rock to donate 140 Guild acoustic guitars to five Nashville schools. Little Kids Rock is a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in the nation’s public schools. Alphin will present twenty of the donated guitars to more than 40 students at Antioch’s Mt. View Elementary School on Tuesday, May 12. During the presentation, the children will perform songs for the country star. They will also engage in a question and answer session with Alphin and present him with an award for his generosity and support. Over three thousand students at thirty-six schools in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools receive free instruments and lessons from Little Kids Rock.