Pictured (L-R, back row): BBRMG’s Jon Loba, Round Hill’s Mike Whelan, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Reservoir’s John Ozier, Tape Room’s Blain Rhodes and BMI’s Josh Tomlinson. (L-R, middle row): Parmalee’s Josh McSwain, Barry Knox, Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas. (L-R, front row): ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, and BMI songwriters Ben Johnson and producer David Fanning. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI.
Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 23), industry members came together at BMI to celebrate Parmalee‘s hit “Take My Name.”
The atmosphere inside felt as warm and sunny as it did outside in the summer heat as everyone gathered around the black high table-tops sprinkled throughout the room. BMI’s Josh Tomlinson stepped on stage to host and called the Stoney Creek recording group and the songwriters up to join him.
Tomlinson began by congratulating BMI writers Ben Johnson, David Fanning, and band member Matt Thomas. “I have a feeling this song is probably the soundtrack to a lot of couples’ memories around the world,” he said. The BMI Director of Creative then introduced ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, who welcomed ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews and praised songwriter and Tape Room Music owner Ashley Gorley for his success “at a level never seen before.” Sistad added, “Ashley, we’re proud you’re part of the ASCAP family. Thank you so much for being a part of us and congratulations on another No. 1.”
The wedding song written on a snow day marks Gorley’s 62nd No. 1 hit and his first No. 1 with Sony Music Publishing. The 8-time ASCAP songwriter of the year and 4-time Billboard country songwriter of year will be recognized as Songwriter of the Decade by NSAI in the weeks to come. Toward the end of the event, Fanning reiterated his co-writer’s talent by sharing the voice recording Gorley sent him while the snow was falling in which he shares the idea for the song and sings a portion of the chorus.
Next up was Blain Rhodes from Tape Room Music. Beer in hand, he marveled at how “this band and [BBR] are putting out smash after smash.” Rhodes brought to everyone’s attention that Johnson is not even 30 and has already accomplished so much in his career, noting his seven country No. 1s; awards for BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC’s Song of Year; and his Grammy nomination for Rock Song of the Year. The Track45 band member is also a producer and has worked with artists such as Kylie Morgan and Hunter Phelps.
Pictured (L-R, back row): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson; Parmalee’s Josh McSwain, Barry Knox, Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas; MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell; (L-R, front row): ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, and BMI songwriters Ben Johnson and producer David Fanning. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI.
Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston was on deck to speak next. “This is an exciting time for country music and a crazy exciting time for the band Parmalee,” Gaston said. “What I love most about the music business, and getting to work with songwriters in general, is the fact that we get to have a front row seat to watch dreamers go to work and then watch those dreams come to life. We are all getting to watch Matt Thomas’ dream come true right now.”
Gaston noted that, like many artists, Parmalee’s journey has not been an easy one, “but Matt and the guys in his band never lost heart.” He praised BBR’s Jon Loba and JoJamie Hahr for their success and also gave shout outs to Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, 33 Creative’s Tina Crawford, and Fanning for having the band’s back since the beginning.
“This is the first No. 1 party I’ve had to speak at, and I can’t believe I have to follow Rusty Gaston,” joked Lindsay Will of Round Hill Music. She sung her praises to the songwriters, noting that in lieu of a plaque, Round Hill Music would be making a donation to the My Life Speaks foundation of behalf of Gorley.
Reservoir’s John Ozier declared that “everything about the song was perfect.” Ozier congratulated Fanning on his first No. 1 as a songwriter and reminded everyone that he also co-wrote and produced Parmalee’s first single “Musta Had a Good Time” in 2012. He also acknowledged Crawford and the risk she took on the band, as well as Reservoir’s VP of Creative Greg Gallo and the significant role he played in bringing Fanning to Reservoir.
Jim Landers from Pinnacle Bank reminisced on celebrating the group’s hit “Carolina” in 2014 and congratulated them on their achievement. Landers announced that in place of plaque, Pinnacle Bank made a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Loba stepped up next to talk about the band’s future. “If these guys are not nominated for Group of Year at the CMAs and ACMs, it will be criminal,”stated the label president.
Gorley followed and thanked his co-writers, his publishers, and ASCAP. He also thanked God, his family, and the crowd for coming out. Gorley commented on the fact that “Take My Name” had remained in the top echelons of the chart nine weeks after hitting No. 1. “Thank you Stoney Creek. Everybody has echoed it but they have been up here a lot lately because they work like crazy. They believe in these songs and they push them,” he said.
A long-awaited moment for the artist/producer/songwriter, Johnson hopped on stage to share his excitement for his first No. 1 party and to applaud his co-writers, the Tape Room Music team, and BMG.
“I’m pretty sure every single publisher in all of Nashville told me ‘no’ at one point, and then Ashley told me ‘yes’ and changed my life,” he shared. “It is so special that not only is this with Tape Room, but it’s with BMG, who believed in me, my music, and [Track45] two years ago. We are signed to Stoney Creek as well, so just another reason I’m glad this is my first No. 1 party.” He concluded by thanking his wife Lauren—who is “more important to [him] than any No. 1 [he has] ever had”—his sisters who were unable to attend, and everyone involved in the project.
Finally, an emotional Thomas took the mic. The band leader said, “So many people in here have been with us since day one, and it’s awesome to stand on this stage right here 10 years later.” Thomas acknowledged his family’s presence in the audience and went on to thank everyone that has accompanied Parmalee on their journey to success.
“We’ve been a band for a very long time and we’re all brothers,” added band member Barry Knox. He took time to recognize all of Thomas’s hard work and made known how much the band appreciates him and his efforts.
Co-writer, Parmalee manager, and producer Fanning recapped how the hit came to be, sharing that the group agreed that the song was “the coolest way to ask, ‘will you marry me?'” He told the crowd how proud he is to work with everyone at Stoney Creek, and brought it home by emphasizing Loba’s view on the CMA and ACM nomination. “Voting is come up!” he said with grin.
Circle Network Sets Premiere Date For Season Two Of ‘Landmarks: Stages of Country Music’
/by Liza AndersonBrantley Gilbert performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Photo Courtesy of Circle Media
Circle, the award-winning country music and lifestyle network and official television home of the Grand Ole Opry, has announced a premiere date for the second season of the hit show Landmarks: The Stages of Country Music.
Following the success of Season One, the show is returning for another season on Wednesday, Sep. 7. This season will take viewers through some of the most iconic music venues in the Austin, Nashville, and Denver areas, including Red Rocks, Austin City Limits, 3rd and Lindsley, Whiskey Jam and more.
Brantley Gilbert, Darius Rucker, Lindsay Ell, Jimmie Allen, Michael Ray, Cody Johnson, Charlie Worsham, Mitchell Tenpenny, Jon Pardi and many more country music stars will walk viewers through each venue, sharing their favorite memories including performing and watching other stars perform on each stage. In the series, Ell states, “Things happen in venues, on stages, that you cannot create on a recording. There’s just a magic that happens.”
Brantley Gilbert talking to crowd. Photo Courtesy of Circle Media
In Episode 10, viewers will travel to Clarksdale, Mississippi, where Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman will go behind the scenes of his very own blues club, Ground Zero.
“We’re thrilled to bring Landmarks back for a second season on Circle Network,” says Evan Haiman, Circle’s Senior Vice President of Content. “Bringing country music content to the genre’s biggest fans is our mission here at Circle, and this show does just that by telling the stories of country music’s most iconic venues from the perspective of those who have worked at, performed on, and built their stages.”
Landmarks: The Stages of Country Music will premiere on Circle Network on Sep. 7 at 11:30 a.m. ET. New episodes will air each Wednesday at the same time, concluding with the finale on Nov. 23.
In Pictures: 15th Annual ACM Honors Celebrate Country Music’s Biggest Stars
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R): Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Ronnie Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Kix Brooks, Kimberly Schlapman, and Phillip Sweet attend the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM
The 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors took over Nashville’s Ryman Auditorum on Wednesday night (Aug. 24) as industry members, artists, songwriters, and musicians gathered to celebrate some of the format’s biggest and most deserving names.
Pictured (L-R): Ernest, ACM Milestone Award Honoree Morgan Wallen, and ACM Songwriter of the Year Honoree Hardy. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM
The night’s honorees included ACM Triple Crown Award recipient Miranda Lambert, ACM Spirit Award recipient Chris Stapleton, ACM Icon Award recipient Connie Bradley, ACM Poet’s Award recipients Shania Twain and Sonny Throckmorton, ACM Milestone Award recipient Morgan Wallen, ACM Lifting Lives Award recipients Paul Barnabee and Dwight Wiles, and ACM Service Award recipient Duane Clark. Songwriter of the Year winner Hardy, as well as the Studio Recording Award and Industry Award winners, were also celebrated.
Kelsea Ballerini performs during the 15th Annual Academy Of Country Music Honors. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ACM
Reigning ACM Female Artist of the Year and 4x ACM Award winner Carly Pearce hosted for her second year. Among the night’s other festivities were performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Ernest, Jesse Frasure, Vince Gill, Ashley Gorley, Mickey Guyton, Hardy, Wynonna Judd, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Wallen, Lainey Wilson and more.
The ACM Honors will air on Fox on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. CT, marking the event’s return to television and the first time the special will air on the network.
Carly Pearce and Damon Whiteside. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM
Lainey Wilson performs during the 15th Annual Academy Of Country Music Honors. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM
Pictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Hardy, and Jesse Frasure. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Blake Shelton Proves His Country Superstar Pedigree On Newest Single
/by Robert K OermannSeasons change, but some things in country music are constant.
The days are getting shorter, the kiddies are going back to school and summer will soon be gone. But whether it is brilliant sunshine or falling leaves, you can always depend on Blake Shelton. This country titan nails down this week’s Disc of the Day prize with ease.
His closest challengers are all duos—Maddie & Tae, Sunny Sweeney with Vince Gill and the stunning outing by Hardy & Lainey Wilson. All three are essential listening.
The DISCovery Award goes to Pennsylvania’s Conrad Fisher.
TYLER RICH / “Trucks Don’t Lie”
Writers: Tyler Rich/Adam Craig/Jim McCormick; Producer: Jaren Johnston; Label: Valory
–Heartache on four wheels. Well sung and well produced, even if it does deal in country’s well-worn (worn-out?) truck fetish.
BLAKE SHELTON / “No Body”
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Chris Tompkins/Josh Kear; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Label: Warner
–Deliriously catchy. Thumpin’ rhythm, sassy lyric, snappy attitude and production perfection. Then there’s the voice of one of our finest country singers…..
HARDY & LAINEY WILSON / “Wait in the Truck”
Writers: Michael Hardy/Hunter Phelps/Jordan Schmidt/Renee Blair; Producers: Joey Moi/Hardy/Derek Wells/Jordan Schmidt; Label: Big Loud
–Very creative. A dark and arresting story song involving domestic violence and vengeance. You’ll hang on every line of this gripping yarn. Applause to everyone involved in this awesome outing.
BREI CARTER / “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’”
Writer: Ben Peters; Producer: none listed; Label: BC
–She sings well, but I’m not sure it was a good idea to slow down this Charley Pride country classic.
CONRAD FISHER / “Trouble With a Hammer”
Writer: Conrad Fisher; Producer: none listed; Label: Ashbrook
–It’s a lively toe tapper with a workaday, everyman lyric. His strong tenor voice is backed by some twang guitar and a snazzy rhythm track. Promising. Send more.
MADDIE & TAE / “Spring Cleaning”
Writers: Maddie Font/Taylor Kerr/Josh Kerr/Tayla Parx; Producers: Derek Wells/Josh Kerr; Label: Mercury
–Bluesy, saucy and cool. It ain’t spring, but she’s cleaning house and wants him to get his shit outta there. The snarky vocals are matched by electric guitars on a rampage.
SUNNY SWEENEY & VINCE GILL / “Married Alone”
Writers: Hannah Blaylock/Josh Morningstar/Autumn McEntire; Producers: Paul Cauthen/Beau Bedford; Label: Thirty Tigers
–I have long been a fan of this gal. She’s as country as grits. On this downcast ballad, she’s joined by the incomparable Mr. Gill on spectacular vocal harmony. Steel and twang abound. Catch Sunny’s “Sunny Side Up” Sirius/XM radio show weekday mornings, 6 a.m.-noon on the Willie’s Roadhouse channel.
SHANE PROFITT / “How It Oughta Be”
Writers: David Frasier/Mitch Oglesby/Shane Profitt; Producers: Julian Raymond/Chris Janson/Scott Borchetta; Label: BMLG
–Rousing and rambunctious, he lays out a vision of a life where prices aren’t so high, folks treat each other right and teachers should be paid like lawyers are. You’ll get no argument from me.
KANE BROWN / “Go Around”
Writers: Kane Brown/Jordan Mark Schmidt/Ernest Keith Smith/Garrett Scott Nichols/Zachary Ryan Beeken; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Arista
–This track marks time between his chart-topping “Like I Love Country Music” and his next single. The fiddle-embellished tune meanders aimlessly and so does the come-on lyric. Pass.
LEANN RIMES / “Awakening”
Writer: LeAnn Rimes; Producers: LeAnn Rimes/Darrell Brown; Label: LR
–LeAnn is turning 40: How can this be? As a mark of her new maturity, she’s issuing this confessional ode about mental health and psychological survival. It’s an extremely well produced pop track with lush strings, rumbling rhythms and layered vocal echoes.
ADAM DOLEAC / “Close That Tab”
Writers: Adam Doleac/Derrick Southerland/Zach Abend; Producer: Andy Skib; Label: Arista
–She keeps making the same mistakes, so he advises her quit that no-good guy. “Why you wanna spend another Happy Hour sad?” “He’s another watered-down vodka/soda.” Repetitive, but listenable.
MAREN MORRIS / “Make You Say”
Writers: Zedd/Maren Morris/Charlie Puth/Jacob Kasher Hindlin/Johan Yang/Bernie Yang; Producers: Zedd/BEAUZ; Label: Sony
–Zedd & Morris collaborated on her monster million selling “The Middle.” This reunion isn’t as insanely catchy, but it shares one fact with its predecessor: There is nothing country about it. There are a lot more electronic loops this time around, presumably by the two Yangs, who work under the billing BEAUZ.
Opry To Launch First-Ever Community Day Celebrating Tennessee Residents
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Grand Ole Opry is celebrating local Tennessee residents on Sept. 18 with its first-ever Opry Community Day and discounted Opry show tickets.
Opry Community Day will give Tennessee residents the opportunity to experience the Opry’s popular backstage tour free of charge, offering a behind-the-scenes look at where country’s new stars, superstars, and legends make history every week. Guests will also have access to the limited-time “Opry Loves the ‘90s” experience that showcases one of the most influential decades in country music.
Complimentary tours will be available from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with a valid Tennessee state ID. The Opry Plaza will be transformed into an outdoor party offering free live music all day and family-friendly activities during the special day. Free tickets can be redeemed in person at the Opry box office or in advance online at opry.com.
The Opry will also launch a discounted ticket program that will allow Tennessee residents to purchase tickets at a special price. Upcoming shows include performances by Blake Shelton (Sept. 10), Ashley McBryde (Sept. 13), Brad Paisley (Sept. 16), Lauren Alaina (Sept. 30 & Oct. 22), Ricky Skaggs (Sept. 30), Carly Pearce (Oct. 4), Breland (Oct. 5), Jon Pardi (Oct. 7 & 21) and Oak Ridge Boys (Oct. 14).
30th Anniversary Reissue Of Roy Orbison’s ‘King of Hearts’ Set For October
/by Lorie HollabaughKing of Hearts, the posthumous Roy Orbison album assembled by his friends and family, will be reissued Oct. 14 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its initial release.
Available on CD, digitally and as a limited-edition LP pressed on red vinyl, the new edition of King of Hearts has been completely remastered and is from Roy’s Boys LLC, the Nashville-based company founded by the late icon’s sons to administer their father’s catalog, in partnership with Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings.
King of Hearts was the brainchild of Barbara Orbison, Orbison’s widow, who sifted through completed material that had not previously been included on her late husband’s albums, as well as demos. The album was produced by various producers, including Jeff Lynne and T-Bone Burnett, as well as Robbie Robertson, David Briggs, Chips Moman, Albert Hammond and Diane Warren.
Don Was had a hand in producing three of the album’s tracks, including “Crying,” a reprise of Orbison’s 1961 hit performed as a duet with k.d. lang and recorded for the soundtrack of the film Hiding Out. The tune won a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration and had a profound impact on Lang’s life and career.
“It was really important to us that the posthumous sessions for King of Hearts avoided grief and sadness because Roy was such a positive and upbeat gentleman,” Was shares. “We set up a live band and put a microphone in the vocal booth and, as Roy’s previously recorded performances boomed through our headphones, it was easy to imagine that he was in the booth singing along with the band. His spirit permeated every corner of the studio, and the tape captured the wistful transcendent warmth of the sessions.”
Barbara Orbison, who passed away in 2011 on the very same day her husband died 23 years earlier, wrote the album’s original liner notes that are also part of the King of Hearts reissue package.
King of Hearts Track List:
You’re the One
Heartbreak Radio
We’ll Take the Night
Crying (Duet with K.d. Lang)
After the Love Has Gone
Love in Time
I Drove All Night
Wild Hearts Run Out of Time
Coming Home
Careless Heart (Original Demo)
Kaitlin Madewell Partners With Red Light Management
/by Lydia FarthingKaitlin Madewell
Artist manager Kaitlin Madewell has partnered with Red Light Management, bringing clients Kameron Marlowe and Grey Zeigler to its roster. Meagan Bennington also joins the company as day-to-day manager for Zeigler, and will assist in daily operations.
Madewell discovered Marlowe through a mutual friend in December 2018 and the two began working together months later. After being introduced to Zeigler in March of 2020, Madewell listened to one demo and was sold immediately.
“The opportunities at Red Light are endless,” Madewell explains. “Building a successful artist takes an army and I am extremely grateful they see the same thing I do for both Kameron and Grey. There are no limitations, and I can’t be more thrilled to be joining such an incredible team.”
With two successful tracks under his belt, “Giving You Up” and “Steady Heart,” Marlowe is signed to Columbia Nashville and is set to release his debut album this Friday (Aug. 26). The rising country artist kicks off his first headlining trek, “We Were Cowboys Tour,” at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on Sept. 8.
A fresh pop face, Zeigler recently released her viral hit “Sensitive Subject” and will hit the road with pop/EDM duo NOTD this fall starting in Minneapolis on Sept. 14.
“We are so excited that Kaitlin has joined the Red Light family and has entrusted her roster of artists, Kameron Marlowe and Grey Zeigler,” says Red Light Management’s Tom Becci. “The sky is the limit for these two artists.”
Reach Madewell at kaitlin.madewell@redlightmanagement.com and Bennington at meagan.bennington@redlightmanagement.com.
Rita Wilson Teams With Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, More On New ’70s-Inspired Project
/by Lorie HollabaughRita Wilson. Photo: Harper Smith
Rita Wilson has joined forces with a myriad of guests, including Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Jackson Browne, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, and more on her new album, Rita Wilson Now & Forever: Duets.
Due out Sept. 27, Duets was co-produced by Wilson and Matt Rollings and features a collection of songs from the ’70s. Each track has been newly arranged as a duet to showcase Wilson’s vocals alongside a variety of noted male singers spanning genres including pop, country and rock. Other guests on the project include Smokey Robinson, Elvis Costello, Leslie Odom Jr, Josh Groban, and Jimmie Allen.
“I wanted to honor where I came from with songs from the 70s,” Wilson says. “It was really about showing enormous appreciation for the songwriting of that period—how these songs are still relevant even though they’re fifty years old. This album is really a continuation of sharing who I am musically, and what it is that I want to say.”
The first single to be unveiled from the album was Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Songbird” with Josh Groban. Other selections include Willie Nelson on a version of Paul Simon’s “Slip Slidin’ Away,” Smokey Robinson on a rendition of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “Where is the Love,” a blistering vocal from Elvis Costello on Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire,” and “Massachusetts” by Leslie Odom, Jr.
The album also includes interpretations of the Van Morrison track “Crazy Love” with Keith Urban, the moving ballad “If” with Tim McGraw, the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” with Jimmie Allen, and Badfinger’s “Without You” with Vince Gill. Wilson and Jackson Browne team on The Everly Brothers classic, “Let It Be Me.”
“Crazy Love” with Keith Urban
“Where Is The Love?” with Smokey Robinson
“Slip Slidin’ Away” with Willie Nelson
“Let It Be Me” with Jackson Browne
“Massachusetts” with Leslie Odom Jr.
“Fire” with Elvis Costello
“If” with Tim McGraw
“I’ll Be There” with Jimmie Allen
“Without You” with Vince Gill
“Songbird” with Josh Groban
Music Row Commends Parmalee And Songwriters At ‘Take My Name’ No. 1 Party
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R, back row): BBRMG’s Jon Loba, Round Hill’s Mike Whelan, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Reservoir’s John Ozier, Tape Room’s Blain Rhodes and BMI’s Josh Tomlinson. (L-R, middle row): Parmalee’s Josh McSwain, Barry Knox, Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas. (L-R, front row): ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, and BMI songwriters Ben Johnson and producer David Fanning. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI.
Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 23), industry members came together at BMI to celebrate Parmalee‘s hit “Take My Name.”
The atmosphere inside felt as warm and sunny as it did outside in the summer heat as everyone gathered around the black high table-tops sprinkled throughout the room. BMI’s Josh Tomlinson stepped on stage to host and called the Stoney Creek recording group and the songwriters up to join him.
Tomlinson began by congratulating BMI writers Ben Johnson, David Fanning, and band member Matt Thomas. “I have a feeling this song is probably the soundtrack to a lot of couples’ memories around the world,” he said. The BMI Director of Creative then introduced ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, who welcomed ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews and praised songwriter and Tape Room Music owner Ashley Gorley for his success “at a level never seen before.” Sistad added, “Ashley, we’re proud you’re part of the ASCAP family. Thank you so much for being a part of us and congratulations on another No. 1.”
The wedding song written on a snow day marks Gorley’s 62nd No. 1 hit and his first No. 1 with Sony Music Publishing. The 8-time ASCAP songwriter of the year and 4-time Billboard country songwriter of year will be recognized as Songwriter of the Decade by NSAI in the weeks to come. Toward the end of the event, Fanning reiterated his co-writer’s talent by sharing the voice recording Gorley sent him while the snow was falling in which he shares the idea for the song and sings a portion of the chorus.
Next up was Blain Rhodes from Tape Room Music. Beer in hand, he marveled at how “this band and [BBR] are putting out smash after smash.” Rhodes brought to everyone’s attention that Johnson is not even 30 and has already accomplished so much in his career, noting his seven country No. 1s; awards for BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC’s Song of Year; and his Grammy nomination for Rock Song of the Year. The Track45 band member is also a producer and has worked with artists such as Kylie Morgan and Hunter Phelps.
Pictured (L-R, back row): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson; Parmalee’s Josh McSwain, Barry Knox, Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas; MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell; (L-R, front row): ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, and BMI songwriters Ben Johnson and producer David Fanning. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI.
Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston was on deck to speak next. “This is an exciting time for country music and a crazy exciting time for the band Parmalee,” Gaston said. “What I love most about the music business, and getting to work with songwriters in general, is the fact that we get to have a front row seat to watch dreamers go to work and then watch those dreams come to life. We are all getting to watch Matt Thomas’ dream come true right now.”
Gaston noted that, like many artists, Parmalee’s journey has not been an easy one, “but Matt and the guys in his band never lost heart.” He praised BBR’s Jon Loba and JoJamie Hahr for their success and also gave shout outs to Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, 33 Creative’s Tina Crawford, and Fanning for having the band’s back since the beginning.
“This is the first No. 1 party I’ve had to speak at, and I can’t believe I have to follow Rusty Gaston,” joked Lindsay Will of Round Hill Music. She sung her praises to the songwriters, noting that in lieu of a plaque, Round Hill Music would be making a donation to the My Life Speaks foundation of behalf of Gorley.
Reservoir’s John Ozier declared that “everything about the song was perfect.” Ozier congratulated Fanning on his first No. 1 as a songwriter and reminded everyone that he also co-wrote and produced Parmalee’s first single “Musta Had a Good Time” in 2012. He also acknowledged Crawford and the risk she took on the band, as well as Reservoir’s VP of Creative Greg Gallo and the significant role he played in bringing Fanning to Reservoir.
Jim Landers from Pinnacle Bank reminisced on celebrating the group’s hit “Carolina” in 2014 and congratulated them on their achievement. Landers announced that in place of plaque, Pinnacle Bank made a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Loba stepped up next to talk about the band’s future. “If these guys are not nominated for Group of Year at the CMAs and ACMs, it will be criminal,”stated the label president.
Gorley followed and thanked his co-writers, his publishers, and ASCAP. He also thanked God, his family, and the crowd for coming out. Gorley commented on the fact that “Take My Name” had remained in the top echelons of the chart nine weeks after hitting No. 1. “Thank you Stoney Creek. Everybody has echoed it but they have been up here a lot lately because they work like crazy. They believe in these songs and they push them,” he said.
A long-awaited moment for the artist/producer/songwriter, Johnson hopped on stage to share his excitement for his first No. 1 party and to applaud his co-writers, the Tape Room Music team, and BMG.
“I’m pretty sure every single publisher in all of Nashville told me ‘no’ at one point, and then Ashley told me ‘yes’ and changed my life,” he shared. “It is so special that not only is this with Tape Room, but it’s with BMG, who believed in me, my music, and [Track45] two years ago. We are signed to Stoney Creek as well, so just another reason I’m glad this is my first No. 1 party.” He concluded by thanking his wife Lauren—who is “more important to [him] than any No. 1 [he has] ever had”—his sisters who were unable to attend, and everyone involved in the project.
Finally, an emotional Thomas took the mic. The band leader said, “So many people in here have been with us since day one, and it’s awesome to stand on this stage right here 10 years later.” Thomas acknowledged his family’s presence in the audience and went on to thank everyone that has accompanied Parmalee on their journey to success.
“We’ve been a band for a very long time and we’re all brothers,” added band member Barry Knox. He took time to recognize all of Thomas’s hard work and made known how much the band appreciates him and his efforts.
Co-writer, Parmalee manager, and producer Fanning recapped how the hit came to be, sharing that the group agreed that the song was “the coolest way to ask, ‘will you marry me?'” He told the crowd how proud he is to work with everyone at Stoney Creek, and brought it home by emphasizing Loba’s view on the CMA and ACM nomination. “Voting is come up!” he said with grin.
Craig Morgan Announces Book Tour For Upcoming ‘God, Family, Country’ Memoir
/by Lorie HollabaughCraig Morgan. Photo: Nate Griffin
Craig Morgan is heading out on a six-city national book tour next month in celebration of his new memoir, God, Family, Country. Morgan will visit bookstores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Dallas, LA and Ft. Campbell, with a Nashville appearance at Barnes & Noble in Brentwood on Sept. 29.
Releasing Sept. 27, God, Family, Country, which Morgan co-wrote with Jim DeFelice, details Morgan’s journey from his childhood in Tennessee to his years as a military operative and his country stardom with 25 Billboard charting hits. Fans will learn never-before-heard stories from the singer-songwriter from his time as an undercover agent fighting sex traffickers in Thailand, his paratrooper training in the Army, his adventures competing in the survival TV series Beyond the Edge, and more.
In honor of his album of the same name, Morgan will also launch his headlining “God, Family, Country Tour 2022” this fall, playing 11 dates in October and November. An expanded God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition) album, featuring four new tunes including his newest single “How You Make A Man,” will release Nov. 11 on Broken Bow Records.
Services Set For Noted Promoter Bob Burwell
/by Robert K OermannBob Burwell
A memorial service has been scheduled on Saturday (Aug. 27) for longtime country-music entrepreneur Bob Burwell.
Burwell died in Albany, New York on Aug. 13 at age 71. He managed, promoted or booked such artists as Kenny Rogers, Lee Roy Parnell, Steve Vai, The Oak Ridge Boys and Michael Martin Murphey. He co-created the Warner Western label and developed such major cowboy-music events as West/Fest.
Following college in New York State, Bob Burwell went to work at the Jim Halsey Company in Tulsa. He worked with Don Williams, Roy Clark, the Oaks and others there, which led him to relocate to Nashville.
On Music Row, he worked at DreamCatcher Management and Vector Management. He promoted million-selling tours by Rogers and shepherded Murphey and a generation of western-music artists, encompassing cowboy (Don Edwards, Sons of the San Joaquin), Native American (Bill Miller) and African-American (Herb Jeffries) western-music stylists.
Burwell’s annual West/Fest concerts took place in New Mexico, Texas, California and Colorado. They were succeeded by festivals that showcased this music, as well as arts, crafts, poetry and more. These took place at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
In addition to the above mentioned, the Warner Western 1992-98 label roster included Red Steagall, Waddie Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Ranger Doug, Bill & Bonnie Hearne, Rex Allen Jr., Robert Mirabal, Michael Martin Murphey, Tim Ryan and Joni Harms.
Bob Burwell is survived by wife Dana, daughter Carly, brother Mike and sister Sue Lundquist, plus many nephews, nieces and cousins. Services will be held at 10 AM at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Kemnore, 576 Delaware Rd. in Buffalo. Internment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Silver Creek, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MusiCares.