Hugh X. Lewis
Singer-songwriter Hugh X. Lewis, who created country hits in the 1960s and starred on national TV, has passed away at age 90.
Lewis charted 15 titles on the country charts in 1964-79. He wrote successes for himself as well as for a dozen other Nashville stars. He was prominent as the host of a syndicated television series, had his own Nashville nightclub and was featured in several country music movies.
Born Hubert Bradley Lewis, he worked in Kentucky coal mines while beginning his country music career. During the late 1950s, he won a new-talent competition at WLW in Cincinnati, appeared on a local weekly TV show in Johnson City, Teneessee, and worked at the Saturday Night Jamboree radio show in Huntington, West Virginia on WSAZ.
By the early 1960s, he was appearing on the Tennessee Barn Dance in Knoxville and on Kentucky’s Renfro Valley Barn Dance. Hugh X. Lewis moved to Nashville in 1963 and was signed as a staff songwriter by Cedarwood Music.
In 1964, he hit pay dirt as the writer of the No. 1 Stonewall Jackson hit “B.J. the D.J.” Jackson subsequently recorded a half dozen more Lewis tunes, including “Angry Words” (No. 16, 1968) and “Ship in the Bottle” (No. 19, 1969).
Carl Smith took the songwriter’s “Take My Ring Off Your Finger” into the top-20 in 1964. Carl Butler & Pearl succeeded with the Lewis tune “Just Thought I’d Let You Know” the following year.
Kitty Wells, Ray Pillow, Mac Wiseman, Jimmy C. Newman, George Morgan, Charley Pride, Jimmy Dickens, Lynn Anderson and Jim Ed Brown also recorded songs written or co-written by Hugh X. Lewis. Del Reeves & Bobby Goldsboro sang a duet on his song “I Just Wasted the Rest.”
Success as a songwriter led to a recording contract with Kapp Records. Lewis never scored a top-20 hit as a singer, but his smooth baritone was notable on a string of country singles. He wrote or co-wrote nine of his 15 charted songs.
“What I Need Most” (1965), “Out Where the Ocean Meets the Sky” (Mel Tillis/Fred Burch, 1965), “I’d Better Call the Law on Me” (1966), “You’re So Cold (I’m Turning Blue)” (Harlan Howard/Tony Senn, 1967) and “Evolution and the Bible” (1968) were top-40 entries. “All Heaven Broke Loose” was a top-20 hit in Canada in 1969.
His major-label LPs were The Hugh X. Lewis Album (1965), Just Before Dawn (1965), My Kind of Country (1966), Just a Prayer Away (1967) and Country Fever (1968).
Beginning in 1968, he hosted Hugh X. Lewis Country Club, a syndicated weekly TV show. By 1971, it was being aired in 31 markets. He opened his own nightclub in Printer’s Alley in 1972 and produced the remaining episodes of the show from there.
Lewis was also featured in the country B-movies Forty Acre Feud (1966), Gold Guitar (1967) and Cotton Pickin’ Chicken Pickers (1967).
Hugh X. Lewis retired in 1984, but returned to the music business in 1998. He began emphasizing gospel music with the albums God, Home & Country and Stand Up and Be Counted. In 2005, he appeared in the Christian children’s film Summer of Courage. He also became a performing poet, reciting inspirational verse on various radio programs and in churches.
Since 2017 he has been hosting a weekly gospel radio show called The Christian Country Store on WSGS and WKIC in Hazard, Kentucky. He has also had daily features on the Gospel Radio Network.
Lewis is Kentucky Colonel, became a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame and was honored in the Walkway of Stars at the original Country Music Hall of Fame. He passed away on Dec. 29, and his death was announced Sunday (Jan. 17).
Hugh X. Lewis is survived by Anna Mae Lewis, his wife of 69 years, by daughter Saundra Taylor (Harry), two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration of his life will take place at a later time.
Curb | Word Music Publishing Extends Publishing Deal with Billy Montana
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, top row): Curb | Word’s Colt Murski; BMI’s Mason Hunter; Curb | Word’s Christy Robinson; (L-R, middle row): Billy Montana; Curb | Word’s Ciara Shortridge; BMI’s Jeff Syracuse; (L-R, bottom row): Curb | Word’s Mike Curb; BMI’s David Preston
Curb | Word Music Publishing has extended its worldwide co-publishing deal with Billy Montana. The singer-songwriter was originally signed to the publishing company in 2000, and the extension continues his relationship with the Curb | Word Music Publishing team, which includes Colt Murski, Ciara Shortridge, and Christy Robinson, into its 21st year.
“Billy Montana has been a very important part of our creative team at Curb for this entire century. He has had major No. 1’s with Garth Brooks, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, and Lee Brice. He currently has a major single with Lee Brice, and we are proud to have him as part of our team,” says Curb | Word Music Publishing Chairman, Mike Curb.
Following the recent extension, Montana and Mike Curb were honored with BMI Million-Air certificates, presented by BMI’s David Preston, for Sara Evans’ No. 1 single, “Suds In The Bucket,” (4 million airplays) and Lee Brice’s No. 1 single, “Hard To Love,” (2 million airplays) over a Zoom gathering last week. Based on an average length of three minutes, six million collective plays are the equivalent of 300,000 hours or 34.2 years of continuous airplay.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of Billy Montana and his long standing relationship with BMI and Curb | Word Music Publishing. Billy continues to write hit songs that stand the test of time, as evident by the Million-Air awards we presented him today. We are excited for his re-signing with Curb and look forward to many more hits,” says BMI’s Mason Hunter. “Mike Curb has been a BMI writer for 58 years and he continues to support our industry with his business acumen, vision, and philanthropy. BMI is honored to be associated with Billy and Mike and wish both many more years of success.”
“I’m really thankful to continue to be a part of the Curb | Word and BMI families. For many, and I DO mean many, years, I’ve always been provided with great creative opportunities and environments, and the support from everyone has never wavered. I’m looking forward to making the best music I can, and having fun doing it!” says Montana.
BBR Music Group Signs Madeline Merlo
/by LB CantrellMadeline Merlo
BBR Music Group has announced the signing of Madeline Merlo to its roster of artists.
The singer-songwriter and Vancouver native appeared on NBC’s songwriter series Songland, where she won with Lady A selecting Merlo’s co-penned “Champagne Night.” The trio recorded and released the tune digitally and, due to its initial success, became the first Songland winner to become a single—which then went on to become a three-week No. 1 single. Merlo also appears in the music video.
Merlo’s music bridges the pop-country gap, with quirky melodies and confident lyrics. The multi-talent who kickstarted her career at 16 doing demo work, went on to win CCMA’s Rising Star Award in 2015, before releasing her debut album in 2016. Since moving to Nashville in 2017, Merlo has garnered three Top 10 singles on Canadian Country radio, performed with her childhood idol, Shania Twain at the CCMA Awards, and hit the road with greats like Keith Urban and Willie Nelson, in addition to focusing on her songwriting.
“Madeline immediately drew us in with her stellar melodies and powerhouse vocals but it was the witty, confident vulnerability in her writing that made her an artist we had to have on our roster,” said Sara Knabe, VP A&R BBR Music Group. “We’re so excited for 2021 and beyond!”
“Getting the chance to be on BBR Music Group’s impressive roster is a dream come true,” said Merlo. “They are incredibly kind and hard-working individuals, and I am thrilled to be working with them. They see my vision and respect the artistry we have built. I know this next step will be the most exciting yet in my career.”
She is managed by Ron Kitchener at RGK Entertainment and is signed with Deluge Music for publishing.
Josh Osborne Starts 2021 On Top Of MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJosh Osborne
Josh Osborne starts the new year off at the pinnacle of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, with many charting songs propelling him, including: “7 Summers” (Morgan Wallen), “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani), “How They Remember You” (Rascal Flatts), “Never Be Sorry” (Old Dominion), and “Next Girl” (Carly Pearce).
In December, Osborne was named Songwriter of the Year for the second time in the history of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Ross Copperman is at No. 2 this week, and Randy Montana rounds up the top three.
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.
The Steel Woods Founder Jason ‘Rowdy’ Cope Passes Away
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured: Rowdy (far right) with The Steel Woods. Photo: Courtesy All Eyes Media
Jason Cope, affectionately known as ‘Rowdy‘ and founder of Southern rock band The Steel Woods, has passed away at 42.
Cope became familiar to fans performing onstage with Jamey Johnson for nearly a decade, and was an in-demand session guitarist, playing on albums by Lindi Ortega and the Secret Sisters, among others. The North Carolina native played on Johnson’s albums That Lonesome Song and The Guitar Song, co-wrote The Guitar Song track “Can’t Cash My Checks,” and worked with artists like Brent Cobb as well. Cope co-founded the Steel Woods with Wes Bayliss in 2016 and the group released their debut project, Straw in the Wind, in 2017, followed by 2019’s Old News.
The band announced Cope’s death on social media with the statement: “We are writing this still in a state of shock and kindly ask for your prayers for the family, friends and band at this time. We take comfort in knowing he is in a better place now and his passion for music and art will live forever in the work he has left behind. RIP Rowdy, you will be forever and greatly missed.”
Eric Church To Sing National Anthem At Super Bowl LV
/by LB CantrellEric Church performs during the Double Down Tour. Photo: Anthony D’Angio
Country music superstar Eric Church and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan will sing the National Anthem together at the Super Bowl LV, the NFL announced today (Jan. 19). Super Bowl LV is set to air live from Tampa, Florida’s Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 7 on CBS. The kick-off show will begin at 6:00 p.m. EST, with the game itself kicking off at 6:30 p.m. EST.
It will be the first time a country artist has taken part since Luke Bryan’s 2017 performance. Church and Sullivan will join a prestigious line up of Super Bowl National Anthem performers, including: Bryan, Demi Lovato, Gladys Knight, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Billy Joel, P!NK, Jordin Sparks, Idina Menzel, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Neil Diamond.
The pregame will also include Grammy-award winning artist, H.E.R., who will sing her rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
The NFL previously announced that The Weeknd will headline the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show.
Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Commands Charts With Newest Release
/by LB CantrellMorgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer
The Top 5 country streaming songs this week are all from Morgan Wallen, according to Nielsen.
Wallen’s “Wasted on You” tops the songs chart with 17 million streams, “Somebody’s Problem” sits at No. 2 with 14 million, “7 Summers” is at No. 3 (12.5 million), “Sand In My Boots” is at No. 4 (12 million), and “Warning” rounds out the top five with 11 million streams.
His sophomore album, Dangerous: The Double Album, is the No. 1 album all-genre and country with 265K in total consumption (74K album only/232 million song streams). Wallen’s breakout album, If I Know Me, is at No. 5.
Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get takes the No. 2 position on the albums chart, with 31K in total consumption.
Barry Gibb earns a global career-high chart debut, with his Greenfileds: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook, Vol.1 project at No. 3, earning 25K. Chris Stapleton‘s Starting Over is at No. 4 (17K).
Lathan Warlick Signs With RECORDS Nashville/Columbia Records
/by Alex ParryPictured (L-R, top row): Brendan Rich, Wide Open Music; Ash Bowers, Wide Open Music/RECORDS Nashville; Lauren Hamrick, Wide Open Music; (L-R, bottom row): Lathan Warlick; Barry Weiss, Partner/Co-founder, RECORDS. Photo: Courtesy RECORDS Nashville
RECORDS Nashville, the Music City division of Barry Weiss‘ RECORDS, a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, has announced the signing of breakthrough artist Lathan Warlick in partnership with Columbia Records.
“When I ran across Lathan Warlick on social media I was instantly drawn to his talent and positive message,” says Ash Bowers, President, RECORDS Nashville. “Not only have I become a fan of his artistry, I am also inspired by who he is as a person. I am so excited to share both with the rest of the world.”
Lathan first gained attention through social media by creating videos of himself on his iPhone in his truck, adding his own rap verses to popular songs like “Holy” by Justin Bieber, “The Box” by Roddy Ricch, “Memories” by Maroon 5, “Hello” by Adele, and “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. His videos caught the attention of country singer Granger Smith, who asked Warlick to add a rap verse to his song, creating a powerful remix of “That’s What I Love About Dirt Roads.”
“I know that stepping out on faith and taking the leap with RECORDS/Colombia will be an amazing journey for sure,” says Lathan. “I’m still amazed at how God allowed me to find my purpose. Now it’s time for me to just walk in it. I’m super pumped about being part of this team!”
Lathan’s latest song, “Over Yonder” featuring Matt Stell, powerfully blends hip-hop patriotism with a call for unity. As teased on social media, Lathan is gearing up for a big year, having recently collaborated with Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, Dustin Lynch, RaeLynn, and more.
Carrie Underwood Sets Release Date for Gospel Project, ‘My Savior’
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood has revealed the cover art for My Savior, the upcoming companion gospel album to her recent Christmas album, My Gift. The album of gospel hymns will be released on CD and digitally March 26 just prior to the Easter holiday, and on vinyl April 30.
She co-produced the new project with longtime collaborator David Garcia, with whom she also co-produced her 2018 album Cry Pretty. With his early roots in Christian music, over the past decade Garcia has achieved chart-topping success across multiple genres with over 20 No. 1’s to his credit. He has twice been named ASCAP’s Christian Music Songwriter of the Year (2015 and 2019), has written three ASCAP Award winners for Christian Music Song of The Year, as well as won nine Dove Awards. Garcia and Underwood’s collaborations include co-writing tracks such as her No. 1 hit “Southbound” (with Josh Miller), “Drinking Alone” and “Love Wins (both with Brett James), all of which have been certified Gold by the RIAA, as well as the original tracks “Let There Be Peace” and “Sweet Baby Jesus” (both with Brett James) on My Gift, among others.
“It’s been such a blessing to make music like this, inspirational music that is near and dear to my heart,” says Underwood. “These two albums have been on my musical bucket list since the beginning of my career and were planned long before the events of the past year, but somehow it feels like the perfect time to share these beloved songs with the world.”
Country Entertainer Hugh X. Lewis Dies At Age 90
/by Robert K OermannHugh X. Lewis
Singer-songwriter Hugh X. Lewis, who created country hits in the 1960s and starred on national TV, has passed away at age 90.
Lewis charted 15 titles on the country charts in 1964-79. He wrote successes for himself as well as for a dozen other Nashville stars. He was prominent as the host of a syndicated television series, had his own Nashville nightclub and was featured in several country music movies.
Born Hubert Bradley Lewis, he worked in Kentucky coal mines while beginning his country music career. During the late 1950s, he won a new-talent competition at WLW in Cincinnati, appeared on a local weekly TV show in Johnson City, Teneessee, and worked at the Saturday Night Jamboree radio show in Huntington, West Virginia on WSAZ.
By the early 1960s, he was appearing on the Tennessee Barn Dance in Knoxville and on Kentucky’s Renfro Valley Barn Dance. Hugh X. Lewis moved to Nashville in 1963 and was signed as a staff songwriter by Cedarwood Music.
In 1964, he hit pay dirt as the writer of the No. 1 Stonewall Jackson hit “B.J. the D.J.” Jackson subsequently recorded a half dozen more Lewis tunes, including “Angry Words” (No. 16, 1968) and “Ship in the Bottle” (No. 19, 1969).
Carl Smith took the songwriter’s “Take My Ring Off Your Finger” into the top-20 in 1964. Carl Butler & Pearl succeeded with the Lewis tune “Just Thought I’d Let You Know” the following year.
Kitty Wells, Ray Pillow, Mac Wiseman, Jimmy C. Newman, George Morgan, Charley Pride, Jimmy Dickens, Lynn Anderson and Jim Ed Brown also recorded songs written or co-written by Hugh X. Lewis. Del Reeves & Bobby Goldsboro sang a duet on his song “I Just Wasted the Rest.”
Success as a songwriter led to a recording contract with Kapp Records. Lewis never scored a top-20 hit as a singer, but his smooth baritone was notable on a string of country singles. He wrote or co-wrote nine of his 15 charted songs.
“What I Need Most” (1965), “Out Where the Ocean Meets the Sky” (Mel Tillis/Fred Burch, 1965), “I’d Better Call the Law on Me” (1966), “You’re So Cold (I’m Turning Blue)” (Harlan Howard/Tony Senn, 1967) and “Evolution and the Bible” (1968) were top-40 entries. “All Heaven Broke Loose” was a top-20 hit in Canada in 1969.
His major-label LPs were The Hugh X. Lewis Album (1965), Just Before Dawn (1965), My Kind of Country (1966), Just a Prayer Away (1967) and Country Fever (1968).
Beginning in 1968, he hosted Hugh X. Lewis Country Club, a syndicated weekly TV show. By 1971, it was being aired in 31 markets. He opened his own nightclub in Printer’s Alley in 1972 and produced the remaining episodes of the show from there.
Lewis was also featured in the country B-movies Forty Acre Feud (1966), Gold Guitar (1967) and Cotton Pickin’ Chicken Pickers (1967).
Hugh X. Lewis retired in 1984, but returned to the music business in 1998. He began emphasizing gospel music with the albums God, Home & Country and Stand Up and Be Counted. In 2005, he appeared in the Christian children’s film Summer of Courage. He also became a performing poet, reciting inspirational verse on various radio programs and in churches.
Since 2017 he has been hosting a weekly gospel radio show called The Christian Country Store on WSGS and WKIC in Hazard, Kentucky. He has also had daily features on the Gospel Radio Network.
Lewis is Kentucky Colonel, became a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame and was honored in the Walkway of Stars at the original Country Music Hall of Fame. He passed away on Dec. 29, and his death was announced Sunday (Jan. 17).
Hugh X. Lewis is survived by Anna Mae Lewis, his wife of 69 years, by daughter Saundra Taylor (Harry), two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration of his life will take place at a later time.
Lydia Vaughan Signs With Cornman Music, Warner Chappell Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, top row): Ben Vaughn (WCM), Jessi Vaughn (WCM), Brett James (CM); (L-R, bottom row): Abigail Wate (CM), Nate Lowery (CM), Lydia Vaughan, Molly Shehan (Milom Law)
Lydia Vaughan has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Cornman Music and Warner Chappell Nashville.
Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Vaughan spent six years touring in an alternative rock band before moving to Nashville in 2015 to pursue her songwriting. She has already landed sync placements on MTV’s Teen Mom, CW’s Batwoman, and Netflix’s Dash & Lily.
“We are beyond thrilled to officially welcome Lydia into the Cornman family,” said Cornman Music’s Brett James. “Her talent is beyond description and she is as amazing a person as she is a songwriter.”
“Words cannot describe how excited we are that Lydia is joining the Cornman family,” adds Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery. “Her talent, work ethic and passion for music and songwriting is truly inspiring.”