Pictured: The Maddox Brothers & Rose. (Don Maddox, far right). Photo: Courtesy Robert K. Oermann
Don Maddox, the last survivor of the legendary honky-tonk/rockabilly pioneering band The Maddox Brothers & Rose, has died at age 98.
From 1937 to 1956, The Maddox Brothers & Rose became known as “the most colorful hillbilly band in the land.” Their stage act was packed with wildly raucous, unpredictable antics and they were among the first country acts to embrace sequined, spangled “Nudie” outfits.
The Maddox sound was a bold, loud fusion of electric guitars and barroom rhythm that helped define the evolution of honky-tonk music in the 1940s. The brothers’ slap-back bass “country boogie” undertow and Rose’s exuberant vocals prefigured the rise of rockabilly music in the 1950s.
The band also popularized the songwriting of Woody Guthrie. The ensemble’s version of his “Philadelphia Lawyer” in 1949 became both his and the group’s biggest country hit. Other notable Maddox recordings featuring Don include “Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down,” “Mean and Wicked Boogie,” “Whoa Sailor,” “Water Baby Blues,” “Alimony” and “Hangover Blues.”
The Maddox saga is one of the most cinematic in country-music history. Sharecropper mama Lula Maddox and husband Charlie left dirt-farm Alabama poverty with their kids in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression. Don, then aged 10, and his siblings learned to ride the rails to California, where they made newspaper headlines as residents inside lengths of large drainage culvert pipes.
They became crop pickers in the San Fernando Valley and began entertaining in the labor camps. The Maddox band was comprised of Cliff (1912-1949), Cal (1915-1968), Fred (1919-1992), Don (1922-2021), Rose (1925-1998) and Henry (1928-1974), who replaced Cliff when the latter died. Lula became the manager and domineering stage mother.
She and her outgoing son Fred talked KTRB in Modesto, California into hosting a radio show for the family act in 1937, leading to performances for tips in honky-tonk dives and hillbilly nightclubs. In 1939, The Maddox Brothers & Rose won a talent contest that rewarded them with a regionally syndicated radio show in California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Their popularity soared.
After Don and his brothers served in the armed forces during WWII, the band retooled its act to become more entertaining. The siblings adopted eye-popping costumes, resplendent with satin sleeves, long fringe, embroidered designs, spangled trim, elaborately tooled boots and flowing kerchiefs. The Maddoxes gaudy, flower-encrusted cowboy/Mexican outfits defined the country-music look for generations to come.
Their onstage behavior was equally showy, as the brothers incorporated shrieking comedy routines, blaring honky-tonk vocal wailing, hepped-up hillbilly versions of R&B tunes, zany ad-libbing sound effects and cackling laughter into their flashy performances. “Don Juan,” as he was dubbed, was the band’s fiddler and chief comedian, as well as a vocalist. The five spangled crazies traveled in a fleet of matching, gleaming black Cadillacs.
After the band’s breakup, Rose Maddox went solo, scoring a dozen top-20 hits in the 1950s and 1960s and giving the little-known Buck Owens a boost as her duet partner.
Following a successful career as a cattle rancher in Ashland, Oregon, Don reemerged as a performer, too. He began appearing at music festivals in the 1990s as a representative founder of rock n roll.
Don Maddox opened for Big & Rich at the Britt Festival in Oregon in 2005. He performed at the Muddy Roots Festival in Cookeville, Tennessee in 2011 and 2012. He appeared on Marty Stuart’s Nashville TV show, earned a standing ovation at his guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded three solo fiddle albums.
Maddox was featured in the “Bakersfield” exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012-14. He headlined in Las Vegas at the first annual Rockabilly Rockout convention in 2014. In 2019, he was featured in the Ken Burns PBS documentary Country Music.
Don Maddox passed away on Sept. 12. He is survived by his wife Barbara, who he affectionately referred to as his “child bride.”
The family has donated Maddox’s fiddle along with other memorabilia to Stuart for a planned “Congress of Country Music” facility to be built in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Maddox will be remembered at a graveside service at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at Scenic Hills Memorial Park, 2585 E. Hills Dr. in Ashland, Oregan. Maddox’s wife said the service, which will include military honors, is open to all.
Brett Eldredge Becomes ‘Mr. Christmas’ This Holiday Season
/by Lorie HollabaughBrett Eldredge. Photo: Andrew Eccles
Brett Eldredge is the latest artist to give fans a special holiday gift this year with his new Christmas album, Mr. Christmas. The project includes beloved classics alongside two never-before-heard originals, including the title track which is available everywhere now.
Written by Eldredge and frequent collaborator Ross Copperman, title track “Mr. Christmas” showcases the singer-songwriter’s vocals backed by strings, a warm big band sound, and pops of jingle bells, giving the listener an infusion of holiday spirit.
“Mr. Christmas is something that I’ve been planning out for quite a while,” explains Eldredge. “This album is so much fun and full of joy and magic. From the album cover, you can find the magic of Mr. Christmas standing in the windowfront, looking out just like the old stores on the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City and people passing by in the window. We captured that nostalgic, classic feel that Christmas brings and mixed it with the soulful side of my music influences. It’s got a lot of heart and magic–it’s a special one for people to hear.”
Mr. Christmas follows the 2020 release of his original duet with Kelly Clarkson, “Under the Mistletoe,” and his 2016 Christmas album, Glow, which peaked at No. 2 on the country charts upon release. The project also inspired a single live Christmas show in Nashville that has grown into the annual “Glow Live” holiday tour which is set to return this winter with stops in major cities across the country, including back-to-back nights in Nashville, Boston, Chicago and New York City.
“Getting to take ‘Glow Live’ on the road again after unfortunately having to miss it last year gives me so much joy, especially knowing that this tour and this music could bring a lot of joy to a lot of people that need it right now,” Eldredge adds. “My hope is that attending these shows with friends and family can be a tradition people look forward to every year for many years to come. I cannot wait to get back out there because performing these songs makes me so happy and I just hope to share that feeling with everyone in the audience as well.”
Fan club members will have early access to ticket pre-sales beginning Sept. 21. Fans can also catch Eldredge on tour this fall with his Good Day Tour which kicked off Thursday, Sept. 16.
Glow Live Tour Dates:
Nov. 13 – Las Vegas, NV – Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas*
Nov. 26 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium*
Nov. 27 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium*
Dec. 03 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre+
Dec. 04 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre+
Dec. 10 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre+
Dec. 11 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre+
Dec. 17 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre+
Dec. 18 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre+
*on sale Sept 24
+on sale Oct 1
Nashville-Based Solo Music Creating First Global Music Marketplace On Blockchain Platform Solana
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (top row, L-R): Founder and CEO of Solo Music Barron Solomon; Developer Kyle Reeves; Tech Entrepreneur Luke Porter; (bottom row, L-R): Marketing Executive Tim Gerst; Tech Entrepreneur Meghan Andrykowski; Music Talent Pioneer Nick Hartley
Solo Music, the first global music marketplace built on the Solana blockchain for artists, fans and the industry, is launching the Solo Music Marketplace, a music service aimed at revolutionizing the way artists, fans, and industry professionals do business with blockchain technology.
The platform’s debuting artist partners include Eric Paslay, songwriter-producer Tommy Cecil, and recording studio Capricorn Studios, each releasing several exclusive NFTs starting in October.
The marketplace aims to create new pathways for fans to connect with their favorite artists and provide artists with innovative ways to monetize their creations through experiential and digital art NFT sales. Additional products that simplify digital asset sales through smart-contract ticketing and tokenized royalties for artists and industry professionals will launch on the platform in the coming months.
Solo Music is led by a team of industry members of Nashville’s music scene and blockchain and tech entrepreneurs. Barron Solomon, blockchain trailblazer and music enthusiast, is the visionary behind Solo Music. Other team members include music industry entrepreneur and developer Kyle Reeves, music marketing executive Tim Gerst, music talent pioneer Nick Hartley and blockchain and tech entrepreneurs Luke Porter and Meghan Andrykowski.
“Solo Music was born out of necessity. Technology has not evolved at the same rapid pace of the music and entertainment industry, resulting in slow ambiguous royalty payouts, illiquid artist assets, overpriced secondary market tickets, forged merchandise and counterfeit concert tickets,” says Solomon, founder and CEO of Solo Music. “Solo Music solves this and bridges the technology gap. With a mission of driving blockchain adoption in the music industry, we are making digital asset sales simple and profitable while providing fans with unique experiences at affordable prices.”
Fans and collectors can access the Solo Music Marketplace featuring curated artist pages, upcoming artist NFT releases or drops and charitable giving opportunities. The Marketplace will soon allow fans to purchase unique experiences and digital art designed by their favorite artists and store them on Solo Music’s secure and decentralized network. It will also allow users to pay for NFTs in U.S. dollars via credit card, making it accessible for fans of all levels of crypto knowledge to support their favorite artists. To further encourage platform adoption, the platform supports fast and direct transactions with major wallets including Sollet and Phantom. As a Solana-built marketplace, the platform benefits from low transaction fees to offer a wide range of price points for users, making the Solo NFT releases more affordable than many NFTs in the market today, with prices as low as $20.
“As a music creator and as a craftsman, I have been excited about the potential of NFTs in offering fans rare and exciting items, while generating income—not just for myself but also for my favorite charities,” says Eric Paslay, who will be launching his own NFTs on the platform. “Solo Music stood out as it is fully committed to the music space and to making the NFT process uncomplicated for fans. I’m even more excited after sitting down with the Solo Music team to map out a long-term strategy of curated drops that touch on songwriting, performances, artwork, and hand-crafted items.”
In the coming months, Solo Music will expand to include concert ticketing and tokenized royalties in partnership with the industry. The ticketing platform will offer smart-contract technology for concert tickets, and tokenized royalties will enable artists to manage their royalty streams and sell portions of or all of the rights to the cash flow associated with their royalties, while also allowing fans to invest in their favorite artists.
The company is also committed to becoming a decentralized autonomous organization with community governance in the near future and giving back to its community through monetization and experiential opportunities.
Warner Chappell Music Nashville, Low Country Sound Extend Deal With Aaron Raitiere
/by Lydia FarthingAaron Raitiere. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
Singer-songwriter Aaron Raitiere has extended his worldwide deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville and Low Country Sound, the imprint founded by Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Dave Cobb.
Raitiere’s recent cuts include four songs on Anderson East’s latest album, Maybe We Never Die, including “Hood of My Car” and “Drugs;” as well as “Heroes” (Natalie Hemby); “Rock My Soul” (Oak Ridge Boys); and Midland’s upcoming radio single, “Sunrise Tells The Story.” He was also a co-writer on the Grammy Award-winning song “I’ll Never Love Again” from A Star is Born.
Raitiere’s debut single as an artist, “Everybody Else,” is available now on Dinner Time Records via Thirty Tigers.
The Kentucky native is slated to perform at the Manchester Music Hall in Lexington alongside The Steel Woods tonight (Sept. 17), and at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville on Sept. 24. He has previously toured with Paul Cauthen and Willie Nelson, and recently performed at the Barefoot Country Festival.
Raitiere is managed by Michelle Szeto (Paquin Entertainment Group) and distributed by Thirty Tigers. His publicist is Asha Goodman (Sacks & Co.), and his agents are Marc Dennis and Justin Cahill (CAA).
John Prine Livestream Tribute To Air From Galway
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Prine. Photo: Danny Clinch
“Souvenirs: Celebrating the Life and Songs of John Prine with Family and Friends,” a special livestream tribute, will broadcast from Galway’s The Mick Lally Theatre on Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m. CT via the theatre’s website. Tickets for the event, which will also be available for on-demand viewing Oct. 7-10, are on-sale now.
As the first public celebration of Prine’s legendary life and career, the event will feature performances from several of Prine’s close friends and supporters, including Mary Black, Paul Brady, Pat Crowley, Mette Jensen, Ruth McGill, Tanya McCole, Chris Meehan, Paul Mulligan, Little John Nee, Declan O’Rourke, Brian Palm, Bill Shanley, Sharon Shannon, Mary Staunton, Mary Stokes and Ciaran Tourish as well as Prine’s youngest son, Tommy Prine.
In addition to the performances, the broadcast will include conversations between each performer and the evening’s MC, John Creedon.
“John recognized that in Ireland people loved and accepted him outside of his life as a celebrated artist. His Irish passport was one of his most prized possessions,” shares John’s wife Fiona Whelan Prine. “We are delighted to be able to remember him with his family and musician friends from Ireland, with this very special tribute event from Galway.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit two local Irish organizations: Doras, an independent non-profit working to promote and protect the rights of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Ireland, and The Druid Theatre Company, Ireland’s leading touring theatre company.
The Last Maddox Brother, Don Maddox, Dies
/by Robert K OermannPictured: The Maddox Brothers & Rose. (Don Maddox, far right). Photo: Courtesy Robert K. Oermann
Don Maddox, the last survivor of the legendary honky-tonk/rockabilly pioneering band The Maddox Brothers & Rose, has died at age 98.
From 1937 to 1956, The Maddox Brothers & Rose became known as “the most colorful hillbilly band in the land.” Their stage act was packed with wildly raucous, unpredictable antics and they were among the first country acts to embrace sequined, spangled “Nudie” outfits.
The Maddox sound was a bold, loud fusion of electric guitars and barroom rhythm that helped define the evolution of honky-tonk music in the 1940s. The brothers’ slap-back bass “country boogie” undertow and Rose’s exuberant vocals prefigured the rise of rockabilly music in the 1950s.
The band also popularized the songwriting of Woody Guthrie. The ensemble’s version of his “Philadelphia Lawyer” in 1949 became both his and the group’s biggest country hit. Other notable Maddox recordings featuring Don include “Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down,” “Mean and Wicked Boogie,” “Whoa Sailor,” “Water Baby Blues,” “Alimony” and “Hangover Blues.”
The Maddox saga is one of the most cinematic in country-music history. Sharecropper mama Lula Maddox and husband Charlie left dirt-farm Alabama poverty with their kids in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression. Don, then aged 10, and his siblings learned to ride the rails to California, where they made newspaper headlines as residents inside lengths of large drainage culvert pipes.
They became crop pickers in the San Fernando Valley and began entertaining in the labor camps. The Maddox band was comprised of Cliff (1912-1949), Cal (1915-1968), Fred (1919-1992), Don (1922-2021), Rose (1925-1998) and Henry (1928-1974), who replaced Cliff when the latter died. Lula became the manager and domineering stage mother.
She and her outgoing son Fred talked KTRB in Modesto, California into hosting a radio show for the family act in 1937, leading to performances for tips in honky-tonk dives and hillbilly nightclubs. In 1939, The Maddox Brothers & Rose won a talent contest that rewarded them with a regionally syndicated radio show in California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Their popularity soared.
After Don and his brothers served in the armed forces during WWII, the band retooled its act to become more entertaining. The siblings adopted eye-popping costumes, resplendent with satin sleeves, long fringe, embroidered designs, spangled trim, elaborately tooled boots and flowing kerchiefs. The Maddoxes gaudy, flower-encrusted cowboy/Mexican outfits defined the country-music look for generations to come.
Their onstage behavior was equally showy, as the brothers incorporated shrieking comedy routines, blaring honky-tonk vocal wailing, hepped-up hillbilly versions of R&B tunes, zany ad-libbing sound effects and cackling laughter into their flashy performances. “Don Juan,” as he was dubbed, was the band’s fiddler and chief comedian, as well as a vocalist. The five spangled crazies traveled in a fleet of matching, gleaming black Cadillacs.
After the band’s breakup, Rose Maddox went solo, scoring a dozen top-20 hits in the 1950s and 1960s and giving the little-known Buck Owens a boost as her duet partner.
Following a successful career as a cattle rancher in Ashland, Oregon, Don reemerged as a performer, too. He began appearing at music festivals in the 1990s as a representative founder of rock n roll.
Don Maddox opened for Big & Rich at the Britt Festival in Oregon in 2005. He performed at the Muddy Roots Festival in Cookeville, Tennessee in 2011 and 2012. He appeared on Marty Stuart’s Nashville TV show, earned a standing ovation at his guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded three solo fiddle albums.
Maddox was featured in the “Bakersfield” exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012-14. He headlined in Las Vegas at the first annual Rockabilly Rockout convention in 2014. In 2019, he was featured in the Ken Burns PBS documentary Country Music.
Don Maddox passed away on Sept. 12. He is survived by his wife Barbara, who he affectionately referred to as his “child bride.”
The family has donated Maddox’s fiddle along with other memorabilia to Stuart for a planned “Congress of Country Music” facility to be built in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Maddox will be remembered at a graveside service at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at Scenic Hills Memorial Park, 2585 E. Hills Dr. in Ashland, Oregan. Maddox’s wife said the service, which will include military honors, is open to all.
Loretta Lynn And Friends Benefit Raises Nearly $1 Million And Counting
/by Lorie HollabaughLoretta Lynn holds a Plaque honoring the Humphreys County flood victims at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Photo: Ryan Slattery
“Loretta Lynn’s Friends: Hometown Rising” benefit Monday night (Sept. 13) at the Opry House was a major success, showing once again just how big the hearts of country artists and their fans are.
Lynn’s rallying call resulted in nearly $1 million raised for Humphreys County following the Aug. 21 disaster that killed 20 people during severe storms and extreme flash floods, leaving more than 500 homes affected by floodwaters, including 272 that were totally destroyed.
Luke Bryan. Photo: Chris Hollo
The $933,000 and counting in donations and concert proceeds will directly benefit the residents of Waverly and surrounding areas, as well as local small businesses.
“I’ve heard from so many friends that the show Monday night that my friends put together for our community not only raised money, but it also raised spirits after a long few weeks of loss and heartbreak,” Lynn shares. “I loved the performances and the stories. While we shared some heartbreaking images and footage from our hometown, what I saw in those moments was the resilience people have shown amid so much loss. We’ll all be okay as long as we continue to help one another.”
Chris Janson. Photo: Chris Hollo
Breland, Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Brittney Spencer and Keith Urban held the two-hour benefit with hosts Storme Warren and Nada leading the in-house sold-out crowd and broadcast/livestream audience through a heartfelt evening of powerful messages, performances and the Opry stage.
The program also featured recorded appearances from Tracy Lawrence, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Kid Rock, Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood who called on fans to support the important recovery work being done by United Way of Humphreys County. Several major donations were also announced during the evening, with City National Bank and Lawrence’s Mission: Possible charity both contributing, and the Academy of Country Music matching $25,000 of fan donations in honor of Lynn being named one of this year’s ACM Poet’s Award recipients at the recent ACM Honors.
“We’re so thankful for our good friends of more than 40 years, MX Sports, who’ve held motocross events at the Ranch and came to our aid through their Racers 4 Waverly Fund,” Lynn adds. “I’m simply overwhelmed by how everyone rallied behind this small town by showing so much love.”
Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Chris Hollo
In an effort to continue fundraising throughout the coming weeks, Lynn has also partnered with Kendra Scott to garner additional support for the cause, with the jewelry company donating 50% of proceeds from the sale of their Tennessee Guitar charm throughout the month of September to United Way of Humphreys County. The charm is available for purchase at KendraScott.com or at retail locations. A few commemorative show posters also remain from the evening, available for purchase with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the cause.
To donate to the ongoing recovery efforts, please click here or text TNFLOODRELIEF to 44321.
Reba McEntire. Photo: Chris Hollo
Little Big Town. Photo: Chris Hollo
Brittney Spencer. Photo: Chris Hollo
Carly Pearce To Take ’29’ On First Headlining Tour This Winter
/by Lydia FarthingCarly Pearce. Photo: Allister Ann
In tandem with the release of her expanded 29: Written In Stone LP today (Sept. 17), songstress Carly Pearce has also announced that she will embark on her first headline run this fall on “The 29 Tour.”
Joined by Andrew Jannakos, the string of theater dates will showcase the music from 29, plus fan-favorites and the 2X Platinum CMA and ACM Awards Musical/Music Event and ACM Single of the Year “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
Along the way she will make stops at New York’s Gramercy Theatre, The Hamilton in Washington, D.C., and at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, among others. Pre-sale begins Sept. 21 with public on-sale opening on Sept. 24, both at 10 a.m. local time.
Since her breakout debut with “Every Little Thing,” the recently inducted Grand Ole Opry member has sky-rocketed to the upper tiers of country music. The Taylor Mill, Kentucky native also received impressive hometown honors earlier this month, as well as earned two CMA Awards nominations this year for Female Vocalist and Album of the Year with 29, where she is the only woman in the category.
Marc Beeson Signs With SMACKSongs
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Sam Sarno, Marc Beeson, Robin Palmer. Photo: Molly Bouchon
SMACKSongs has signed songwriter Marc Beeson to a worldwide publishing deal.
Beeson was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois and moved to Nashville from Los Angeles in 1990. He signed record deals with Warner Brothers, BNA, and Curb Records, and charted multiple singles as an artist throughout the ’90s.
As a songwriter Beeson has had publishing deals with EMI, Sony, Crossfire 3, Warner Chappell, and most recently Downtown Music Publishing. Some of his cuts include Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight,” Blake Shelton’s “She’s Got A Way With Words,” and Restless Heart’s “When She Cries,” which won both the ASCAP Country Song of the Year in 1993 and Pop Song of the Year awards in 1994.
Beeson’s songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt, Lady A, Rascal Flatts, and more.
“Marc brings something really special to our roster with his dedication to the craft of songwriting and always reaching for the very best,” offers SMACKSongs Chief Creative Officer, Robin Palmer. “Our team is really excited to welcome him and continue this journey with him.”
“Robin has always been one of the best song people I’ve ever known. She and the whole SMACK crew have made me feel so welcome and I’m grateful to be part of their team,” says Beeson.
Chris Stapleton Earns MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart No. 1
/by Alex ParryChris Stapleton. Photo: Becky Fluke
Chris Stapleton paves his way to No. 1 this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “You Should Probably Leave.” This single follows his two week No. 1. “Starting Over.”
“You Should Probably Leave” was written by Stapleton, Ashley Gorley, and Chris DuBois. It appears on his album Starting Over which was completed in February of 2020 just days before the shutdown.
Stapleton is currently touring the country with his All-American Road Show. The tour began in July and has dates lined up through June of 2022.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Porchlight Music Promotes Three, Anthony Smith Named VP, Creative/A&R
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R): Anthony Smith, Sarah Morey, and Freeman Wizer
Porchlight Music, a Nashville-based music publishing and artist development company, has recently made three staffing changes.
Multi-award-winning songwriter and producer Anthony Smith has been elevated to Vice President, Creative/A&R after joining the company in 2019. Smith has achieved success across multiple genres with cuts by Reba, Donna Summer, Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill, Chris Young, Lauren Alaina, Lonestar, Clay Walker, Rodney Atkins, and Jo Dee Messina. His songs have also appeared in a National Toyota campaign as well as Almost An Angel, Earth Force, and Graveyard Shift.
Additionally, recent Belmont graduate Sarah Morey has been promoted to Catalog Manager/Creative Coordinator, and Freeman Wizer has joined the team as Senior Creative Director.
Prior to Porchlight Music, Wizer spent time at Universal Music Publishing Group, Sea Gayle Music, and Spirit Music Group where he worked with and guided the careers of many songwriters.
“Freeman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his position that our staff and writers can benefit from tremendously. He will be a great asset to the PLM family. Sarah’s work ethic and enthusiasm is contagious. I’m very excited about the future of PLM with them both on board,” Smith comments.
Porchlight’s roster includes Clint Daniels (“Some Of It” by Eric Church, “Brokenheartsville” by Joe Nichols), Anthony L. Smith (“Tomorrow” by Chris Young, “What About Now” by Lonestar), and Tim James (“My List” by Toby Keith, “Give It All We Got Tonight” by George Strait) as well as Taylor Davis, Terry Lee Palmer, William Michael Morgan, Ryan Garrett, and Dan Hutson.