Gene Kennedy, who was best known as the man behind the durable Door Knob Records, has died at age 87.
According to journalist John Lomax III, Kennedy was battling pneumonia when he contracted COVID-19. The producer, songwriter, recording artist, publisher and record-label executive passed away on Thursday, April 1.
Kennedy’s Door Knob Records is believed to be Nashville’s longest-lived independent label. During the company’s 1976-2015 existence, it recorded more than 100 country artists, including such charting acts as Wayne Kemp, Bobby G. Rice, Gary Goodnight, Big Al Downing, Tom Carlile, Jerry Wallace, Bonnie Nelson, Perry LaPointe, Jeris Ross and Sonny Wright. Door Knob reportedly placed more than 140 titles on various country popularity charts.
Among the more prominent Door Knob artists was Loretta Lynn’s sister and longtime backup vocalist Peggy Sue, who had 13 charted singles on the label in 1977-80. Gene Kennedy, himself, recorded for Door Knob, both as a solo and as the duet partner of Karen Jeglum. She became his wife and business partner in 1982.
Gene Kennedy was a native of Florence, South Carolina who began his career by playing in a band while serving in the Air Force in 1956. WLAC Nashville disc jockey Hoss Allen became his manager in 1960 and placed him with Chicago’s Old Town Records as a pop artist. Kennedy toured on package shows with Connie Francis, Ace Cannon, Roy Orbison and other teen favorites.
Back in Nashville, Allen and Kennedy formed Music City’s first independent promotion company. This brought Kennedy to the attention of Acuff-Rose Publishing. Wesley Rose hired him to promote discs issued on Hickory Records, the label affiliated with Acuff-Rose.
In 1965, the company’s big pop act The Newbeats recorded Kennedy’s co-written song “Mean Woolly Willie.” Gene Kennedy also recorded for Hickory in those days.
After becoming head of national promotion for Hickory, Kennedy was hired by Owen Bradley to assume the same position at Decca Records. There, he promoted the releases of such stars as Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Jeanne Pruett, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Crystal Gayle, Cal Smith and Ernest Tubb.
In 1974, country star Bobby Lewis charted with Kennedy’s song “Lady Lover.” Lewis also recorded the songwriter’s “Your Love,” as did Jerry Wallace.
Following brief stints at the 4-Star and Ace of Hearts labels, Gene Kennedy formed his own record-promotion company in 1975. His first client was Loretta Lynn, who was then introducing “The Pill,” “When the Tingle Becomes a Chill” and “Somebody Somewhere.”
Gene Kennedy created Door Knob Records in 1976, and he produced most of its artists. Based in Mount Juliet, his company also encompassed three song-publishing firms, record promotion and artist management.
In addition to its own products, Door Knob distributed such imprints as Gold Spin, Horse Shoe, Silver Star, Tug Boat, Swanee and Tapestry. Among the artists on Tapestry was ‘60s pop star Bobby Vinton. Future Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson was on Swanee.
After founding Door Knob, Kennedy continued to contribute as a songwriter. The label’s Big Al Downing, Peggy Sue and Mark Brine recorded his co-written songs. Other notables on the roster included Rusty “Koko the Clown” Adams, Kent Westberry, Bo Harrison, Buford Pusser, Don Sepulveda, Billy Wilcox and Tim Tesch.
Door Knob hosted its own autograph booth at the annual Fan Fair celebrations throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It began to wind down around 2010 and filed for a reorganization bankruptcy in 2011.
Gene Kennedy was a founder and lifetime member of R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers). The organization honored him with its Business award in 2006 and its Media award in 2014.
He was selected for the second annual Leadership Music group and graduated from the program in the class of 1991.
Gene Kennedy is survived by his wife, Karen. Also surviving are his children: Daryl Jean Chansuthus of Jackson, TN; Debra Gail Kennedy, Cathy Denise Velasquez, Victoria Kennedy, all of Nashville; and Kenneth Kennedy of LaVista, NE; plus a sister, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
The visitation for Gene Kennedy will be at noon today (April 5) at Hermitage United Methodist Church (205 Belinda Dr., Hermitage, TN 37076). The funeral service will begin at 2 PM.
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
Jason Aldean To Play Two Live Shows In May From Bonnaroo Farm
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Aldean will be back on the live music scene for this first time in over a year next month with Jason Aldean Live, two nights of full-production concerts at The Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee on May 14 -15.
A limited number of fans will be able to attend the shows in socially distanced four-person pods, starting at $99 a pod. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (April 9) at 10 a.m. CT on JasonAldean.com and BonnarooFarm.com, and a dollar from each ticket will go to benefit the Bonnaroo Works Fund. Fans are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to create their own comfortable space within their pod at the show, and concessions and merchandise will be available on-site through mobile ordering. Masks will be required for all attendees when moving around the venue, but may be removed while inside their own reserved seating area.
“You could’ve asked me to play a gas station at this point and I would say yes,” says Aldean. “So being able to set up the full show with all the band guys plugged in is going to make for a really good time. We’re going to turn it up—there’s nobody out there to bother—and make up for some lost time for sure.”
Tonight (April 5), fans can watch Aldean mentor and perform with two top 24 contestants on ABC’s American Idol for their All-Star Duets episode.
Music Health Alliance Ups Four, Adds Suzanne Berg And Suzanne Spooner-Faulk
/by Lydia FarthingClockwise: Suzanne Berg, Erin Lancaster, Nikki Black, Suzanne Spooner-Faulk, Bonita Allen, Jackie Proffit
Music Health Alliance (MHA) has announced the promotion of four team members who have worked to support the physical and mental health needs of America’s music community over the last year.
Bonita Allen has been promoted to senior director of Group Health & Advocacy.
Nikki Black has been promoted to senior director of Advocacy, Insurance, & Policy.
Erin Lancaster has been promoted to manager of Client & Advocate Support.
Jackie Proffit has been promoted to manager of Advocacy & Insurance.
The newly elevated staff, along with Founder and CEO Tatum Allsep, COO and Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy, Sr. Director of Advocacy & Insurance Taylor McLeod, and Project Manager Colleen Hoagland, will continue to assist over 15,000 music industry professionals with their healthcare needs, ranging from assistance with medical bills or physical and mental health guidance that includes finding doctors or prescription medicine, finding financial grants while recovering from a serious health issue, affordable health insurance, or answers to Medicare questions.
In addition to these promotions, MHA has also added Suzanne Berg and Suzanne Spooner-Faulk to their all female, 10-person team.
Having previously worked in marketing and promotions at Elektra Records, Verve Records, and iHeart Media, Berg joins as manager of Advocacy & Insurance. Meanwhile, with an extensive background in music and theater, including stops at Tom-Leis music publishing, rpm management, CDX, and the Tennessee Arts Commission, Spooner-Faulk has come on board as financial administrator and executive assistant to Shipley Biddy.
“I am proud to see how our team has responded during this pandemic that has shaken our musical foundation,” says Shipley Biddy. “As the health needs of our industry increase, so does the need for personnel who can address those issues. Suzanne Berg and Suzanne Spooner-Faulk both have unique skills and the attitude needed to support their particular responsibilities at MHA. Spooner-Faulk’s attention to detail and organizational skills strengthen our admin department. Berg’s caring heart and outgoing personality and music industry experience provide the perfect foundation for a new advocate. They are a perfect fit for our MHA family.”
Berg and Spooner-Faulk can be reached at SBerg@musichealthalliance.com and Suzanne@MusicHealthAlliance.com, respectively.
Country Indie Entrepreneur Gene Kennedy Passes
/by Robert K OermannGene Kennedy, who was best known as the man behind the durable Door Knob Records, has died at age 87.
According to journalist John Lomax III, Kennedy was battling pneumonia when he contracted COVID-19. The producer, songwriter, recording artist, publisher and record-label executive passed away on Thursday, April 1.
Kennedy’s Door Knob Records is believed to be Nashville’s longest-lived independent label. During the company’s 1976-2015 existence, it recorded more than 100 country artists, including such charting acts as Wayne Kemp, Bobby G. Rice, Gary Goodnight, Big Al Downing, Tom Carlile, Jerry Wallace, Bonnie Nelson, Perry LaPointe, Jeris Ross and Sonny Wright. Door Knob reportedly placed more than 140 titles on various country popularity charts.
Among the more prominent Door Knob artists was Loretta Lynn’s sister and longtime backup vocalist Peggy Sue, who had 13 charted singles on the label in 1977-80. Gene Kennedy, himself, recorded for Door Knob, both as a solo and as the duet partner of Karen Jeglum. She became his wife and business partner in 1982.
Gene Kennedy was a native of Florence, South Carolina who began his career by playing in a band while serving in the Air Force in 1956. WLAC Nashville disc jockey Hoss Allen became his manager in 1960 and placed him with Chicago’s Old Town Records as a pop artist. Kennedy toured on package shows with Connie Francis, Ace Cannon, Roy Orbison and other teen favorites.
Back in Nashville, Allen and Kennedy formed Music City’s first independent promotion company. This brought Kennedy to the attention of Acuff-Rose Publishing. Wesley Rose hired him to promote discs issued on Hickory Records, the label affiliated with Acuff-Rose.
In 1965, the company’s big pop act The Newbeats recorded Kennedy’s co-written song “Mean Woolly Willie.” Gene Kennedy also recorded for Hickory in those days.
After becoming head of national promotion for Hickory, Kennedy was hired by Owen Bradley to assume the same position at Decca Records. There, he promoted the releases of such stars as Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Jeanne Pruett, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Crystal Gayle, Cal Smith and Ernest Tubb.
In 1974, country star Bobby Lewis charted with Kennedy’s song “Lady Lover.” Lewis also recorded the songwriter’s “Your Love,” as did Jerry Wallace.
Following brief stints at the 4-Star and Ace of Hearts labels, Gene Kennedy formed his own record-promotion company in 1975. His first client was Loretta Lynn, who was then introducing “The Pill,” “When the Tingle Becomes a Chill” and “Somebody Somewhere.”
Gene Kennedy created Door Knob Records in 1976, and he produced most of its artists. Based in Mount Juliet, his company also encompassed three song-publishing firms, record promotion and artist management.
In addition to its own products, Door Knob distributed such imprints as Gold Spin, Horse Shoe, Silver Star, Tug Boat, Swanee and Tapestry. Among the artists on Tapestry was ‘60s pop star Bobby Vinton. Future Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson was on Swanee.
After founding Door Knob, Kennedy continued to contribute as a songwriter. The label’s Big Al Downing, Peggy Sue and Mark Brine recorded his co-written songs. Other notables on the roster included Rusty “Koko the Clown” Adams, Kent Westberry, Bo Harrison, Buford Pusser, Don Sepulveda, Billy Wilcox and Tim Tesch.
Door Knob hosted its own autograph booth at the annual Fan Fair celebrations throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It began to wind down around 2010 and filed for a reorganization bankruptcy in 2011.
Gene Kennedy was a founder and lifetime member of R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers). The organization honored him with its Business award in 2006 and its Media award in 2014.
He was selected for the second annual Leadership Music group and graduated from the program in the class of 1991.
Gene Kennedy is survived by his wife, Karen. Also surviving are his children: Daryl Jean Chansuthus of Jackson, TN; Debra Gail Kennedy, Cathy Denise Velasquez, Victoria Kennedy, all of Nashville; and Kenneth Kennedy of LaVista, NE; plus a sister, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
The visitation for Gene Kennedy will be at noon today (April 5) at Hermitage United Methodist Church (205 Belinda Dr., Hermitage, TN 37076). The funeral service will begin at 2 PM.
Performers Announced For 56th ‘ACM Awards’
/by LB CantrellThe full lineup for the 56th Academy Of Country Music Awards has been revealed.
The performers on the lineup include Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Ryan Hurd, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Carly Pearce, Jon Randall, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, The War and Treaty, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, and Chris Young.
Over 25 artists will perform more than 30 songs from the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe, airing live on Sunday, April 18 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and the show will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
As previously announced, 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban and New Female Artist of the Year nominee Mickey Guyton will host the show.