John “Alexander” Arezzi
Former country music executive John Alexander has lived a fascinating life working in various different industries from baseball, radio, professional wrestling and country music. Readers can get a glimpse of his life in his new memoir Mat Memories: My Wild Life in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and With The Mets which is available today (April 6).
“The process [of writing the book] really started for me over the past several years because I’ve done so many different things in my professional career,” says Alexander. “But it really wasn’t until a couple of years ago when I thought seriously about the opportunity to write my story.”
The book, published through Canadian publisher ECW Press, and co-written alongside Greg Oliver, offers a look into his past careers that some in Nashville may not have known. Oliver has written over 17 books, mostly about wrestling. “I felt that I had a book in me and now it’s here, so I’m very excited about it,” says Alexander.
Alexander, born John Arezzi, has worked at GAC, Black River Entertainment and most recently Bandtwango, and has managed and discovered artists like Patty Loveless and Kelsea Ballerini throughout his 20 years in the music industry. But this book goes deeper and takes a look at his years working with his two other loves, baseball and professional wrestling.
Alexander worked for the Single A minor league affiliate of the New York Mets, his favorite baseball team. Alexander loves baseball and could’ve seen himself working in baseball for the long run. The original name of his memoir was, I Shoulda Stayed in Baseball: My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music, and with the Mets.
John “Alexander” Arezzi with New York Met Cleon Jones in Shelby, NC, 1981
“I’ve always loved baseball and it was a lifelong dream of mine to work for the Mets,” says Alexander. But he would only spend one season with the Mets minor league team after discovering a country singer by the name of Patty Lovelace, later changed to Loveless, in a small, seedy bar in North Carolina.
“She just blew me away and I wondered why she was in this club,” says Alexander. “I introduced myself and I thought she was incredible. She told me her backstory about being a teenager in Nashville, being mentored by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, and working with the Wilburn Brothers.”
Alexander says he felt that Loveless was too talented to be playing in small bars throughout North Carolina so he dropped his baseball job and decided to become her manager. “It was a labor of love but I knew she was a star and I tried to help her get there,” says Alexander. “If she didn’t need me and if I didn’t need her, both of our lives would’ve been much different.”
Loveless later would go on to sign with MCA Nashville and become a country star winning two Grammy Awards and becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Alexander then moved back to New York and felt confident he could help discover other artists so he, along with a few partners, started Straight Up Management in the late 1980s.
Patty Loveless with John “Alexander” Arezzi at Madison Square Garden, 1994
The management company only lasted a few years and after it went under, Alexander decided to dabble in the world of professional wrestling, his first love since he was a kid growing up on Long Island.
“I was a wrestling fan since I was a young kid, I started watching it at 7-years-old and then later on as a teenager, I started my own little fan club location and got a press pass to be one of the ringside photographers at Madison Square Garden,” says Alexander. He even threw himself in the ring when he was a young adult under the name “John Anthony.”
Alexander started his own wrestling radio talk show in 1989 called Pro Wrestling Spotlight, and even started promoting wrestling fan conventions.
“There had never been anything like that in pro wrestling before and I felt that there was a market for it. I started it and it became the first of the wrestling fan conventions. I did that for several years,” says Alexander.
The wrestling world began to become too toxic and exhausting, says Alexander. Having to cover tons of steroid abuse stories as well as sexual assault allegations by wrestlers, Alexander felt he needed to switch gears yet again.
“I fell in love with country music because of [Loveless], listening to her on the radio and seeing her on outlets like TNN,” says Alexander. “When the wrestling part of my journey was getting old and weary to me and I had no stability, I tried to venture into the country [market] and got a job at a little startup station on Long Island called WMJC.”
After years at multiple country radio stations in the New York Metropolitan area, Alexander made his way to Nashville to work for GAC. He had already been visiting Nashville while working for the various radio stations in New York and was in love with Music City.
“When given the opportunity to go to country music and open up this office [at GAC] and work with all the labels on their marketing of artists whether they were A-listers or emerging, it was a dream come true for me. And I wound up to this day being in Nashville, it’s my home now.”
He would go on to spend 10 years with GAC and then move to Black River Entertainment, where he worked with artists like Sarah Darling, who he is still close friends with today, and then later discovering Ballerini who approached him one afternoon at a Mellow Mushroom.
“Even though I discovered her it’s not talked about a lot and not many people know the true story of how Kelsea got into Black River and all the help that was given to her before she exploded,” says Alexander. “All I can say is that I’m proud of her because I knew how driven she was when I was involved with her, I knew that she was going to find a way to make it.”
Pictured (L-R): John “Alexander” Arezzi under the name “John Anthony” with WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes in 1978. Photo: George Napolitano.
Alexander has lived his life by going with the flow, taking the opportunities as they come and not being afraid of change or new challenges. “You don’t know what’s going to happen day to day and you don’t know what opportunities will happen. One thing I know about myself is that I’ve never been afraid to blow the house up and start again, I’ve always been open to any opportunity that I would have a passion for.”
After resigning from Bandtwango as its CEO in May of 2020, Alexander is now back working in wrestling with a new podcast called Pro Wrestling Spotlight: Then and Now where he goes through and revisits every episode of his original wrestling radio show. “Each and every week we highlight what the show was 30 years prior in chronological order,” says Alexander.
Now with his memoir out, Alexander is excited for fans to get a glimpse into his crazy life and how he was able to find success in all the career paths he took. “I’m excited for people to read the whole journey especially the little twists of fate like sitting in a restaurant and you meet a Kelsea Ballerini or randomly going into a night club and you meet a Patty Loveless,” says Alexander.
“The thing I want most people to know about the book and my story is that it’s inspirational if you have a dream, if you have a goal, you don’t give up and even if you fail, if you can reinvent yourself and try it again, you do it.”
National Museum Of African American Music And CMA Foundation Announce Partnership
/by LB CantrellPictured (clockwise): Breland, Willie Jones, Tiera, Reyna Roberts
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) and the CMA Foundation have announced a partnership that will bring the museum’s collaborative project, Music Legends & Heroes, to select high schools within Metro Nashville Public Schools. As part of the program, country artists Breland, Willie Jones, Reyna Roberts and Tiera will mentor students, sharing their stories and answering questions about the music industry.
The Music Legends & Heroes program will focus on engaging the students in learning the impact of African Americans on music and songwriting; encourage leadership, teamwork and mentorship; and will allow students to take a leadership role in organizing and implementing a live virtual performance element at their school. The CMA Foundation and NMAAM will share a commitment to providing resources and experiences for students through music.
Music Legends & Heroes will conclude in June with a songwriting contest for participants to write a song with their class based on Black history and Black musicians, artists or activists. The program is expected to reach more than 200 students across Nashville.
“NMAAM and the CMA Foundation have long shared the same mission of supporting Nashville schools through extensive music education and programs, so this partnership was a natural fit,” says NMAAM Director of Education and Public Programs, Tamar Smithers. “Through our Museum Without Walls program, NMAAM has already reached more than 132,000 individuals through our programming, and we hope this is just the beginning of our work with the CMA Foundation to share our message across the city.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the National Museum of African American Music, which has already become an important fixture in the downtown Nashville landscape,” says CMA Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Trahern. “NMAAM’s mission to educate the world, preserve the legacy and celebrate the role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack goes beyond any single genre. We are delighted to work alongside Henry Hicks and his team on the Music Legends & Heroes program, which will provide students the opportunity to learn about all genres of music.”
“We are honored to have this opportunity to partner with the National Museum of African American Music in bringing a special program like this to our schools, with the goal being to expand accessibility to music,” says CMA Foundation Executive Director, Tiffany Kerns. “We have seen time and time again that music unlocks the creative capacity of our students. Having African American artists shaping country music share insights about the business and the art of songwriting allows students to imagine what is possible. We appreciate programs like Music Legends & Heroes for valuing the importance of representation. All too often, youth do not see themselves in country music, and removing barriers of entry has always been and will remain a core focus of the CMA Foundation.”
Florida Georgia Line Toasts To 18th Chart-Topper ‘Long Live’
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto Credit: John Shearer
Florida Georgia Line are taking their whopping 18th trip to the top of the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country Airplay charts this week with their latest No. 1, “Long Live.” The tune topped the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in November of 2020.
Featured on their fifth album, Life Rolls On, FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley co-wrote “Long Live” alongside Corey Crowder, David Garcia, and Josh Miller. The weekend-whenever jam was co-produced by Hubbard, Kelley, and Crowder.
“Having our fans and country radio support us all of these years has been nothing short of a blessing,” said FGL’s Hubbard and Kelley. “We couldn’t imagine a better song to mark our 18th! Here’s to all of the good times and to many more ‘Long Live’ nights!”
The in-demand collaborators continue to expand boundaries and innovate, having recently released “Lil Bit” (Nelly), “It’s About Time” (Russell Dickerson), and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” (Chase Rice). Along with their 18 chart-toppers, FGL has tallied more than 13.2 billion global streams, sold more than 40 million tracks and 4.7 million albums worldwide, logged 1.7 billion video views, and played to over four million fans spanning arena and stadium headline tours.
John Alexander Reflects On Careers In Country Music, Wrestling And Baseball In New Memoir [Interview]
/by Steven BoeroJohn “Alexander” Arezzi
Former country music executive John Alexander has lived a fascinating life working in various different industries from baseball, radio, professional wrestling and country music. Readers can get a glimpse of his life in his new memoir Mat Memories: My Wild Life in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and With The Mets which is available today (April 6).
“The process [of writing the book] really started for me over the past several years because I’ve done so many different things in my professional career,” says Alexander. “But it really wasn’t until a couple of years ago when I thought seriously about the opportunity to write my story.”
The book, published through Canadian publisher ECW Press, and co-written alongside Greg Oliver, offers a look into his past careers that some in Nashville may not have known. Oliver has written over 17 books, mostly about wrestling. “I felt that I had a book in me and now it’s here, so I’m very excited about it,” says Alexander.
Alexander, born John Arezzi, has worked at GAC, Black River Entertainment and most recently Bandtwango, and has managed and discovered artists like Patty Loveless and Kelsea Ballerini throughout his 20 years in the music industry. But this book goes deeper and takes a look at his years working with his two other loves, baseball and professional wrestling.
Alexander worked for the Single A minor league affiliate of the New York Mets, his favorite baseball team. Alexander loves baseball and could’ve seen himself working in baseball for the long run. The original name of his memoir was, I Shoulda Stayed in Baseball: My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music, and with the Mets.
John “Alexander” Arezzi with New York Met Cleon Jones in Shelby, NC, 1981
“I’ve always loved baseball and it was a lifelong dream of mine to work for the Mets,” says Alexander. But he would only spend one season with the Mets minor league team after discovering a country singer by the name of Patty Lovelace, later changed to Loveless, in a small, seedy bar in North Carolina.
“She just blew me away and I wondered why she was in this club,” says Alexander. “I introduced myself and I thought she was incredible. She told me her backstory about being a teenager in Nashville, being mentored by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, and working with the Wilburn Brothers.”
Alexander says he felt that Loveless was too talented to be playing in small bars throughout North Carolina so he dropped his baseball job and decided to become her manager. “It was a labor of love but I knew she was a star and I tried to help her get there,” says Alexander. “If she didn’t need me and if I didn’t need her, both of our lives would’ve been much different.”
Loveless later would go on to sign with MCA Nashville and become a country star winning two Grammy Awards and becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Alexander then moved back to New York and felt confident he could help discover other artists so he, along with a few partners, started Straight Up Management in the late 1980s.
Patty Loveless with John “Alexander” Arezzi at Madison Square Garden, 1994
The management company only lasted a few years and after it went under, Alexander decided to dabble in the world of professional wrestling, his first love since he was a kid growing up on Long Island.
“I was a wrestling fan since I was a young kid, I started watching it at 7-years-old and then later on as a teenager, I started my own little fan club location and got a press pass to be one of the ringside photographers at Madison Square Garden,” says Alexander. He even threw himself in the ring when he was a young adult under the name “John Anthony.”
Alexander started his own wrestling radio talk show in 1989 called Pro Wrestling Spotlight, and even started promoting wrestling fan conventions.
“There had never been anything like that in pro wrestling before and I felt that there was a market for it. I started it and it became the first of the wrestling fan conventions. I did that for several years,” says Alexander.
The wrestling world began to become too toxic and exhausting, says Alexander. Having to cover tons of steroid abuse stories as well as sexual assault allegations by wrestlers, Alexander felt he needed to switch gears yet again.
“I fell in love with country music because of [Loveless], listening to her on the radio and seeing her on outlets like TNN,” says Alexander. “When the wrestling part of my journey was getting old and weary to me and I had no stability, I tried to venture into the country [market] and got a job at a little startup station on Long Island called WMJC.”
After years at multiple country radio stations in the New York Metropolitan area, Alexander made his way to Nashville to work for GAC. He had already been visiting Nashville while working for the various radio stations in New York and was in love with Music City.
“When given the opportunity to go to country music and open up this office [at GAC] and work with all the labels on their marketing of artists whether they were A-listers or emerging, it was a dream come true for me. And I wound up to this day being in Nashville, it’s my home now.”
He would go on to spend 10 years with GAC and then move to Black River Entertainment, where he worked with artists like Sarah Darling, who he is still close friends with today, and then later discovering Ballerini who approached him one afternoon at a Mellow Mushroom.
“Even though I discovered her it’s not talked about a lot and not many people know the true story of how Kelsea got into Black River and all the help that was given to her before she exploded,” says Alexander. “All I can say is that I’m proud of her because I knew how driven she was when I was involved with her, I knew that she was going to find a way to make it.”
Pictured (L-R): John “Alexander” Arezzi under the name “John Anthony” with WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes in 1978. Photo: George Napolitano.
Alexander has lived his life by going with the flow, taking the opportunities as they come and not being afraid of change or new challenges. “You don’t know what’s going to happen day to day and you don’t know what opportunities will happen. One thing I know about myself is that I’ve never been afraid to blow the house up and start again, I’ve always been open to any opportunity that I would have a passion for.”
After resigning from Bandtwango as its CEO in May of 2020, Alexander is now back working in wrestling with a new podcast called Pro Wrestling Spotlight: Then and Now where he goes through and revisits every episode of his original wrestling radio show. “Each and every week we highlight what the show was 30 years prior in chronological order,” says Alexander.
Now with his memoir out, Alexander is excited for fans to get a glimpse into his crazy life and how he was able to find success in all the career paths he took. “I’m excited for people to read the whole journey especially the little twists of fate like sitting in a restaurant and you meet a Kelsea Ballerini or randomly going into a night club and you meet a Patty Loveless,” says Alexander.
“The thing I want most people to know about the book and my story is that it’s inspirational if you have a dream, if you have a goal, you don’t give up and even if you fail, if you can reinvent yourself and try it again, you do it.”
Nicolle Galyon Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellNicolle Galyon has made her way into the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, as a co-writer on Dierks Bentley’s “Gone” and Blake Shelton’s “Minimum Wage.” She is one of 10 female songwriters on the chart.
Jesse Frasure spends his third week at No. 1, with co-writer credit on Shelton’s “Minimum Wage,” Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song,” Jordan Davis’ “Almost Maybes,” and Michael Ray’s “Whiskey And Rain.”
Corey Crowder remains at No. 2 this week on the Top Songwriter Chart, and Josh Osborne stays at No. 3.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Gibson Announces Promotions, Additions, And Organization Shifts
/by Lorie HollabaughCesar Gueikian
Gibson Brands has announced a series of promotions, additions, and organization shifts designed to strengthen the Nashville-based team going forward. Cesar Gueikian has been promoted to the newly-created position of Brand President at Gibson Brands. Gueikian joined Gibson in 2018 as part of the new leadership team and has been instrumental in Gibson’s resurgence with his relentless focus on guitar relevance, premium quality, brand building, and artist connections. In his new role he will take on additional responsibilities centered around future Gibson innovation, omni-experience, and strategic brand management.
“From day one, Cesar’s balance of passion and professionalism started to make a difference,” says James ‘JC’ Curleigh, president and CEO Gibson Brands. “He has built a great team, he has made great progress, and he is now positioned to make an even bigger impact going forward in his new leadership role.”
“I am proud of the progress we have made across all of our Brands and the response from artists, dealers, and fans has been amazing,” says Gueikian. “The challenge is to keep this momentum going, so in my new role I will continue to focus on balancing our iconic past and building our innovative future. I am excited about this opportunity and the team is ready to rock.”
Gibson also announced that Eric Purcell has been promoted to Vice President of Quality; John French has been promoted to Vice President of Supply Chain; Elizabeth Heidt has been named Vice President of Cultural Influence; Mat Koehler has been promoted to Senior Director of Product Development; Krista Gilley has been promoted to Brand Director; Josh Ehren joins Gibson Brands as the new Director of Omni-Experience; Jill Skordinski joins as the new Finance Controller; Roger Hutchinson joins as the new Director of Dealer Services; and Dave Jones joins as the new EHS Manager.
“Our future success is directly related to the strength of our team and we have built an amazing team all aligned around our vision, mission, and priorities for Gibson Brands,” says Curleigh.
The company also announced the addition of the MESA/Boogie brand to its portfolio, the launch of the Gibson App, and the opening of the Custom Shop Murphy Lab. The current Brand portfolio at Gibson Brands includes Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, KRK, MESA/Boogie, and Steinberger.
Weekly Register: Carrie Underwood’s ‘My Savior’ Tops Country Albums Chart
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood enjoyed a big Easter week this past week with the release of her new gospel album, My Savior. The brand new project takes the top spot on the country albums chart this week with 73K according to Nielsen, and also debuted at No. 4 overall.
Morgan Wallen didn’t fall much from his 11-week perch at No. 1 on the country albums chart—his Dangerous: The Double Album is still chugging away with sales this week of 63K, securing him the second spot on the chart. Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get comes in third with 27K, and his This One’s For You logs 18K. Wallen’s If I Know Me rounds out the Top 5 with 15K.
Taylor Swift finds a spot at the top of the streaming chart with a tune from her upcoming Fearless re-release, with “You All Over Me” featuring Maren Morris. The track debuted at No. 1 on the country streaming songs chart this week with 8.5 million streams, according to Nielsen. Coming in behind Swift is Chris Stapleton‘s “Starting Over” with 7 million, Gabby Barrett‘s “The Good Ones” with 6.8 million, Wallen’s “Wasted On You” with 6.5 million, and Combs’ “Forever After All” at 6.4 million streams.
CMA Announces New Hire And Promotions
/by LB CantrellPictured (clockwise): Todd Hartley, Catherine Frizzell, Pamela Hothorn, Amanda Eckard
The Country Music Association has announced the hiring of Todd Hartley as Senior Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs, effective Wednesday (April 7).
In his new role with CMA, Hartley will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s legal and business affairs operations. His responsibilities will include oversight of all contractual, legal and business practices for CMA’s events and television properties. In addition, he will serve as a staff liaison to the Board’s Governance Committee. Hartley will report to CEO Sarah Trahern, and serve as a member of the cross-functional senior management team. He comes to CMA from Bridgestone Americas, Inc. where he was Senior Counsel for Marketing, Advertising and Communications. Hartley can be reached at thartley@cmaworld.com.
The CMA also announced the recent promotions of three staff members within CMA’s marketing department. Catherine Frizzell has been elevated to Vice President, Marketing, while Amanda Eckard has been promoted to Head, Creative & Content Development, and Pamela Hothorn to Senior Manager, Creative Operations.
In her new role, Frizzell oversees the Creative & Content Development team as well as the development of consumer marketing strategies across all media platforms, including television, radio, digital and print in addition to implementing advertising and marketing plans for all CMA events and initiatives including CMA Awards, CMA Fest, CMA Country Christmas and CMA Foundation. Reach Frizzell at cfrizzell@cmaworld.com.
Eckard is responsible for brand and content strategy and development across all CMA properties. This includes oversight of content creation, digital asset management and brand identity to ensure alignment of creative vision with CMA’s strategic objectives. Reach her at aeckard@cmaworld.com.
In her new role, Hothorn will manage CMA’s extensive assets archive, video production operations and still photography for all CMA initiatives. Reach her at phothorn@cmaworld.com.
“We are thrilled to welcome Todd to our senior management team at CMA,” says Trahern. “With his extensive marketing, creative, digital and partnership experience, Todd will be a vital asset to our Business Affairs department and crucial in continuing CMA’s strategic growth across the new media landscape. I am also delighted to see Catherine, Amanda and Pamela step into their new roles at CMA. Across Catherine and Amanda’s extensive tenure, 16 and 19 years respectively, they have offered continued leadership and innovative perspectives that have been invaluable in creatively adapting strategies and content to move country music forward, while Pamela has been instrumental in maintaining and furthering the CMA brand across all of our creative operations.”
Jake Worthington Signs Management, Publishing Deal With Big Loud
/by Lorie HollabaughJake Worthington. Photo: Christopher Hornbuckle
Jake Worthington has signed with Big Loud for management and publishing.
Hailing from La Porte, Texas, Worthington was a finalist on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice in 2014, and is ready to introduce his own brand of authentic country, drawing from inspirations like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, and Randy Travis. The emerging tunesmith has been writing with Nashville songwriters Craig Wiseman, Lee Miller, Tony Lane, Ernest Keith Smith, Matt Jenkins and more, and new music is expected from him in the coming months.
“As a Texan myself, adding Jake to the Big Loud roster is truly a full-circle moment for me,” says Big Loud Management’s Troy “Tracker” Johnson. “There’s just something about him, and I’m excited for everyone to hear it. He’s real, he’s country—plain and simple.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Jake into the Big Loud Publishing family as well,” says Big Loud Publishing’s Travis Carter. “We can’t wait to continue building upon the already incredible catalog of country music he is bringing to the table.”
“I am so proud to make country music happen with this group of trailblazers,” says Worthington.
Joe Nichols Signs With Quartz Hill Records
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, top row): BSB Management’s Shawn Pennington; Quartz Hill Records’ April Rider and Paul Brown; (L-R, bottom row:) Quartz Hill Records’ Jason Sellers, Joe Nichols, Benny Brown
Joe Nichols has signed a label deal with Quartz Hill Records. Nichols will release his brand new single, “Home Run,” on April 23. The anthem about reconnection and rebirth was written by award-winning songwriters Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ross Copperman.
The move reunites Nichols with veteran label head Benny Brown, with whom he enjoyed two multi-week No. 1 songs, “Yeah” and “Sunny and 75,” from his album Crickets, that was released in 2013 on Red Bow Records.
A staunch country traditionalist, Nichols has six No. 1 hits and eight Top 10 singles to his credit including the chart-toppers “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Gimme That Girl,” and Top 10 hits “The Impossible,” “If Nobody Believed In You,” “What’s A Guy Gotta Do,” and more. Nichols has been honored with the ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist award, the CMT Breakthrough Video of the Year award, and CMA’s Horizon Award. He’s earned multiple RIAA Platinum and Gold certifications and appeared on national shows ranging from the ACM Presents: Superstar Duets on CBS to The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View, Entertainment Tonight and Austin City Limits.
Nichols is currently in the studio recording his full-length debut project for Quartz Hill, reuniting with producers Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, who helmed his album Crickets. Cones also produced Nichols’ follow-up album, Never Gets Old.
“Joe has one of the purest and most timeless voices in country music. He’s an incredible artist whose songs come from the heart. I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Joe and welcome him to the Quartz Hill Records family,” says Brown.
“I’m so excited to be a part of the Quartz Hill Records family. Benny Brown has always been an amazing person to me and my family and I can’t wait to make many memories and hits with the whole Quartz Hill team!” says Nichols.
Nichols is booked by WME and managed by Brown Sellers Brown (BSB) Management.
Elvie Shane To Release Debut EP ‘County Roads’ On April 23
/by Lydia FarthingElvie Shane. Photo: Jason Myers
BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records artist Elvie Shane will release his debut EP, County Roads, on April 23. Shane also surprised fans with the release of the title track for this six-song project.
So far, with only one other release, the world has gotten to know Shane’s tender side through his debut single, “My Boy”. However, in County Roads Shane hopes to reveal the full spectrum of his music and personality.
“The response to ‘My Boy’ has been incredible and I’m glad y’all got to see my sweet side but I want y’all to get to know all of me— from the roughest edges to the smoothest surfaces and this EP tells folks where I came from, what made me who I am and why I am the way I am,” says Shane “I’m a product of small town America and County Roads is the raw, honest truth about my life.”
“My Boy” is a heartfelt ballad that describes Shane’s unconditional love for his stepson and was the catalyst for his career as an artist. After a video of the song went viral in 2018, Shane landed a publishing deal and eventually a record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. He was named to MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Artists Class of 2021. Now, after its official release last year, “My Boy” has garnered over 26 million streams in the U.S. alone and has become an anthem of love to blended and unconventional families everywhere.
With the release of “County Roads,” Shane has begun to unleash his wild spirit. The rollicking ode to his upbringing was selected as the title track due to its embodiment of Shane’s energy and sound through country storytelling and elements from some of his biggest influences—Steve Earle, John Fogerty, and Roger Miller. To honor his roots in the song and in real life, Shane enlisted the choir from his high school to contribute backing vocals on the song and also filmed the visualizer in his home state of Kentucky.
Shane co-wrote every song on the new EP, which was produced by Oscar Charles.
County Roads Track List:
1. County Roads – Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles,
2. Keep On Strummin’ – Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles, Clinton Payton
3. Sundays In The South – Elvie Shane, Derrick Southerland, Albert E. Brumley
4. My Boy – Elvie Shane, Russell Sutton, Nick Columbia, Lee Starr
5. Sundress – Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood
6. My Mississippi – Elvie Shane, Jakob Miller