Legendary country music entrepreneur Charles “Fuzzy” Owen passed away on Monday (May 11) at age 91.
Noted as a key figure in the Bakersfield, California scene of the 1950s-1970s, Owen co-founded the city’s first recording studio, performed in key bands as a steel guitarist, co-owned Tally Records, managed Merle Haggard for decades and helped to launch Buck Owens, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard and Bonnie Owens, as well as Haggard.
Owen was born in Conway, Arkansas in 1929. He migrated to Bakersfield at age 20. He picked cotton by day and played steel guitar in the house band at The Blackboard nightclub by night. The guitarist in the group was his cousin, Lewis Talley.
In 1952, Owen and Bonnie Owens recorded “A Dear John Letter.” Their small-label record failed, but Owen and Talley bought the rights to the song. This paid off when Ferlin Husky & Jean Shepard re-recorded it with backing by Owen, Talley, Bill Woods and Tommy Collins for Capitol Records. It became a No. 1 smash in 1953, the first Bakersfield hit.
Talley and Owen co-founded Tally Records in 1955 and built Bakersfield’s first recording studio shortly thereafter. Among the studio’s first customers was Buck Owens. He recorded the rockabilly tune “Hot Dog” and released it as “Corky Jones.” In 1956, the cousins recorded another rockabilly tune titled “Kathleen” by Wally Lewis, which became a minor hit.
As a steel guitarist, Owen was a regular on the influential Bakersfield country TV series Trading Post. As a songwriter, Owen scored a No. 1 hit with Ray Price’s version of “The Same Old Me” in 1959.
By 1961, Owen was performing at another notable Bakersfield nightclub, The Lucky Spot. Merle Haggard, then newly released from San Quentin Prison, joined the band as a guitarist. Owen signed Haggard to Tally Records.
Merle Haggard made a surprise appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s public interview program My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. He was joined on stage by Norm Hamlet and Don Markham, longtime members of Haggard’s band, the Strangers. The men began the discussion by paying tribute to Fuzzy Owen, the man who gave Haggard his first recording contract, produced and played steel on his early records, and has managed his career for decades. The program was presented in support of the major exhibition The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and California Country. Pictured (L-R): Museum Editor and Co-Curator Michael Gray, Norm Hamlet, Merle Haggard, Don Markham, Vice President of Museum Services Carolyn Tate and Fuzzy Owen. Photo: Donn Jones
“Sing a Sad Song” became Haggard’s first charted single in 1963. He followed it with the Tally Records follow-ups “Sam Hill” and “(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers.”
Also on Tally was “Just Between the Two of Us,” a duet by Haggard and Bonnie Owens. Formerly the wife of Buck Owens, she married Haggard and became the longtime background vocalist in his band The Strangers.
Owen also joined The Strangers. He then evolved into Haggard’s lifelong road manager. Talley became the superstar’s bus driver. Owen and Talley sold Haggard’s Tally recordings to Capitol in 1964.
Another Tally Records alumnus was Bobby Austin, who issued his song “Apartment No. 9” on the label in 1966. Owen was listed as Austin’s co-writer on the song, as was Johnny Paycheck. It became a career-launching hit for Tammy Wynette in early 1967.
Harlan Howard also recorded for Tally. So did such local favorites as Cliff Crofford, Cousin Herb Henson, George Rich, Abe Mulkey, Bill Carter and Bonnie Owens.
Fuzzy Owen was the last of the Bakersfield Sound pioneers. In addition to Haggard, Buck Owens, Bonnie Owens, Husky, Shepard and Talley, the scene was populated by the also now-departed Tommy Collins, Wynn Stewart, Billy Mize, Roy Nichols, The Farmer Boys, Red Simpson, Bobby Durham, Bill Woods, Cousin Herb Henson, Cliff Crofford and Oscar Whittington.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Bakersfield Sound Founder, Charles "Fuzzy" Owen Dies At 91
/by Robert K OermannLegendary country music entrepreneur Charles “Fuzzy” Owen passed away on Monday (May 11) at age 91.
Noted as a key figure in the Bakersfield, California scene of the 1950s-1970s, Owen co-founded the city’s first recording studio, performed in key bands as a steel guitarist, co-owned Tally Records, managed Merle Haggard for decades and helped to launch Buck Owens, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard and Bonnie Owens, as well as Haggard.
Owen was born in Conway, Arkansas in 1929. He migrated to Bakersfield at age 20. He picked cotton by day and played steel guitar in the house band at The Blackboard nightclub by night. The guitarist in the group was his cousin, Lewis Talley.
In 1952, Owen and Bonnie Owens recorded “A Dear John Letter.” Their small-label record failed, but Owen and Talley bought the rights to the song. This paid off when Ferlin Husky & Jean Shepard re-recorded it with backing by Owen, Talley, Bill Woods and Tommy Collins for Capitol Records. It became a No. 1 smash in 1953, the first Bakersfield hit.
Talley and Owen co-founded Tally Records in 1955 and built Bakersfield’s first recording studio shortly thereafter. Among the studio’s first customers was Buck Owens. He recorded the rockabilly tune “Hot Dog” and released it as “Corky Jones.” In 1956, the cousins recorded another rockabilly tune titled “Kathleen” by Wally Lewis, which became a minor hit.
As a steel guitarist, Owen was a regular on the influential Bakersfield country TV series Trading Post. As a songwriter, Owen scored a No. 1 hit with Ray Price’s version of “The Same Old Me” in 1959.
By 1961, Owen was performing at another notable Bakersfield nightclub, The Lucky Spot. Merle Haggard, then newly released from San Quentin Prison, joined the band as a guitarist. Owen signed Haggard to Tally Records.
Merle Haggard made a surprise appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s public interview program My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. He was joined on stage by Norm Hamlet and Don Markham, longtime members of Haggard’s band, the Strangers. The men began the discussion by paying tribute to Fuzzy Owen, the man who gave Haggard his first recording contract, produced and played steel on his early records, and has managed his career for decades. The program was presented in support of the major exhibition The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and California Country. Pictured (L-R): Museum Editor and Co-Curator Michael Gray, Norm Hamlet, Merle Haggard, Don Markham, Vice President of Museum Services Carolyn Tate and Fuzzy Owen. Photo: Donn Jones
“Sing a Sad Song” became Haggard’s first charted single in 1963. He followed it with the Tally Records follow-ups “Sam Hill” and “(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers.”
Also on Tally was “Just Between the Two of Us,” a duet by Haggard and Bonnie Owens. Formerly the wife of Buck Owens, she married Haggard and became the longtime background vocalist in his band The Strangers.
Owen also joined The Strangers. He then evolved into Haggard’s lifelong road manager. Talley became the superstar’s bus driver. Owen and Talley sold Haggard’s Tally recordings to Capitol in 1964.
Another Tally Records alumnus was Bobby Austin, who issued his song “Apartment No. 9” on the label in 1966. Owen was listed as Austin’s co-writer on the song, as was Johnny Paycheck. It became a career-launching hit for Tammy Wynette in early 1967.
Harlan Howard also recorded for Tally. So did such local favorites as Cliff Crofford, Cousin Herb Henson, George Rich, Abe Mulkey, Bill Carter and Bonnie Owens.
Fuzzy Owen was the last of the Bakersfield Sound pioneers. In addition to Haggard, Buck Owens, Bonnie Owens, Husky, Shepard and Talley, the scene was populated by the also now-departed Tommy Collins, Wynn Stewart, Billy Mize, Roy Nichols, The Farmer Boys, Red Simpson, Bobby Durham, Bill Woods, Cousin Herb Henson, Cliff Crofford and Oscar Whittington.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Google Transitioning Users From Google Play To YouTube Music
/by Jessica NicholsonGoogle will phase out Google Play this year and is currently transitioning users from Google Play to YouTube Music.
Google Play Music listeners can now begin to transfer their music libraries and playlists to YouTube Music. For now, users will continue to have access to both services, though access to Google Play Music will be cut off later this year. Google Play users will receive an email with a link to send the music to the new home, YouTube Music, and will need to download the YouTube Music app and click the transfer button.
Podcast users can transfer subscriptions and episode progress to Google Podcasts, the dedicated podcast player available for free via Android and iOS and accessible from Google Assistant, Google Search, Google Home and more.
Google has allowed MP3s to be directly uploaded from computer libraries to its services and as part of the transition, is increasing its maximum to 100,000 total songs, an increase from the previous max of 50,000. Google has also increased playlist length from 1,000 to 5,000 songs.
Watch an instructional video for how to transfer from Google Play to YouTube Music below:
Eli Young Band To Kick Off Texas Rangers’ New Concert In Your Car Series
/by Lorie HollabaughEli Young Band will open the Concert in Your Car series on Thursday, June 4, followed by Whiskey Myers on June 5, Pat Green on June 6, and Josh Abbott Band & Kevin Fowler on June 7. Each show will last one hour.
Attendees can view the concert from their cars.nThe artists will perform directly in front of fans on a parking lot stage, complete with jumbo screens to ensure all attendees have a great view of the bands. Concert audio will be available through a specially-designated FM radio channel. The front two rows will also include limited VIP tickets.
Tickets are $40 per vehicle, per night. Each show date requires a ticket specific to that event and tickets can only be purchased online. Once purchased, tickets can be accessed via the MLB Ballpark app. Attendees can present their ticket at the driveway entrance for contact-free scanning by holding the ticket against their rolled up vehicle window. Staff will scan the ticket through the glass.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to support their ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts. Tickets for the Concert in Your Car series will go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 15 at texasrangers.com/concertinyourcar. All ticket sales will be available online only.
“We are eager to once again start providing entertainment to our fans and to be able to offer the experience in a way that takes into account health and safety guidelines,” said Rangers Executive Vice President, Sports & Entertainment Sean Decker. “We have a full slate of bands, and each will present an exciting show every night.”
IBMA Bluegrass Ramble Showcase Artists Announced
/by Lorie HollabaughArtists chosen for the Bluegrass Ramble include: Ali Shumate, Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Amanda Cook, Becky Buller Band, Colebrook Road, Jussi Syren And The Groundbreakers, Kristy Cox, Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Serene Green, Special Consensus, Stillhouse Junkies, The Arcadian Wild, The Kody Norris Show, Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, and Williamson Branch.
“We believe this year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass will be more important for our industry than ever, and the IBMA team is working hard (from home, of course!) to produce an event that will be a key part of our industry’s recovery effort. The events remain as scheduled as we build plans for live and/or virtual formats, depending on what is allowed and prudent for the health of our community,” said IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger.
Additional showcase artists will be announced later in June.
In response to the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the bluegrass community, the IBMA Trust Fund Board of Trustees has established a COVID-19 relief effort to assist eligible bluegrass music professionals affected. To donate or apply for assistance, visit: ibma.org/
Mo Pitney Unveils Cover Art, Track List For Sophomore Project
/by Lorie HollabaughMo Pitney has revealed the cover art and track listing for his sophomore album, Ain’t Lookin’ Back, which is due out on Aug. 14. Fans can pre-order the new, 13-song project beginning this Friday, May 15, and in advance of the release, a fourth instant grat track, “Mattress On The Floor,” will also be released this Friday.
Produced by Jim “Moose” Brown, the album includes a song featuring Jamey Johnson, “A Music Man,” and also features tracks from more than two dozen writers, including Paul Overstreet, Tim Nichols, Matt Jenkins, Trevor Rosen, Matt Ramsey, Billy Montana, Jimmy Yeary, Mark Nesler and Tom Douglas, among others, with Pitney holding co-write credits on seven of the tracks.
The project includes Pitney’s new song, “Mattress On The Floor,” a slow-burning ballad about love being all you really need to get by, along with three previously released tracks, including the title track as well as “Ain’t Bad For A Good Ol’ Boy” and “Right Now With You.”
“I wanted to be completely open-minded while recording this album. It was important for me to meld all my influences of the past that represent who I am as an artist today, hopefully to make one complete thought and to make something new. The end goal was to shut out all other voices, close our eyes, and create something that came from the heart,” said Pitney of the making of the new album. “I’m looking forward to taking this body of work that is completely me and sharing it with the world. I’m excited to see people’s reactions.”
Pitney, a Cherry Valley, Illinois native, is also appearing in a new documentary called Illinois Country on PBS. Currently airing on stations across the Midwest, the documentary explores his home state’s role in the history of country music.
Ain’t Lookin’ Back Track Listing:
Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt Join ‘CMT Celebrates Our Heroes’ Special
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt, Brandi Carlile, Darius Rucker, Kane Brown, and Kristen Bell are the newest stars announced who will join CMT’s upcoming CMT Celebrates Our Heroes: An Artists of the Year Special, which airs June 3.
The two-hour virtual tribute brings together country’s biggest names to recognize the most vital and inspirational Americans on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. CMT is currently seeking stories of unsung heroes who are doing exceptional things during the pandemic, and personal stories of those who have positively impacted their community, state and nation can be submitted here for potential inclusion in the special.
Previously announced artists appearing on the show include Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett.
‘American Songwriter’ Announces Executive Hires
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Dallas Jackson, Zac Litwack, Colin Montemarano
American Songwriter magazine has announced several new hires. Dallas Jackson has joined the staff as Editor in Chief, while Zac Litwack has been named Chief Marketing Officer, and Colin Montemarano as the Director of Brand Partnerships. All positions are based out of the publication’s Nashville, Tennessee headquarters.
Jackson has over 15 years of experience in digital media, with previous roles including the Director of Editorial at CBS Interactive, where he launched PopCulture.com. The company grew from a startup to over 7 million unique users in one year. In 2016, as the Editor in Chief for ComicBook.com, Jackson was able to increase unique users from 4 million to over 20 million in just two years. A Pennsylvania native, he began his career as Big East Conference Editor for Rivals.com, where he created the Rivals High brand and network.
American Songwriter has also hired Litwack as Chief Marketing Officer, where he will oversee digital marketing strategies, online growth, engagement via the American Songwriter website and social channels, and membership development. An MTSU graduate with a bachelor’s in Recording Arts, Litwack started his own production and marketing company after graduation, which produced a gold record and generated hundreds of millions of streams. After selling the company in 2013 he found his love of “Growth Hacking,” an umbrella term coined by Silicon Valley startups to propel massive growth using a small budget in a short amount of time. Most recently, he grew GoCheck, a pediatric healthcare technology startup, to multi-million dollars in recurring revenue.
Montemarano joins American Songwriter as the Director of Brand Partnerships. In his new role, he will manage all aspects of the American Songwriter brand, innovate partnerships with key artists and members of the media, as well as implement strategic events and additional partner-focused efforts. Montemarano previously served as Manager of Strategic Partnerships for the Music City Bowl and Nashville Sports Council, where he helped grow partnership revenue by over 20%. During his three years, he worked on multiple major events including the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Davis Cup, and others in the Nashville market. In 2019, Montemarano led the sales, marketing, and creative efforts of the Fan Zone on Broadway, a multi-day event in downtown Nashville that engaged fans with local and national brands throughout the footprint.
“American Songwriter magazine is a timeless, beloved brand that we are eager to elevate to the next level,” owner Sam Savage states. “With these new additions to our team, we have been able to set strategies and attain goals that have resulted in unprecedented growth. We are excited about this next chapter.”
Anthem Entertainment Extends Co-Publishing Deal With Jeremy Stover And RED Creative Group
/by Jessica NicholsonAnthem Entertainment has extended its co-publishing deal with songwriter/producer Jeremy Stover and Stover’s RED Creative Group. The deal renews and expands the relationship between Anthem Music Publishing and Stover, including Stover’s publishing interest in songs written by RED Creative Group’s roster of writers. The catalog includes song such as “How Not To” (Dan+Shay), Justin Moore’s “Somebody Else Will,” “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” and “Why We Drink,” as well as “To a T” (Ryan Hurd) and “How I’ll Always Be” (Tim McGraw).
Anthem will continue to administer RED Creative Group’s roster of songwriters including Adam Hambrick, Kelly Archer, Travis Denning, Nathan Spicer, L.J, David Fanning and Baker Grissom. Anthem Music Publishing and Stover will also enter into an exclusive futures agreement to sign new songwriters.
Stover said, “Anthem shares the same creative spirit that we value so deeply at RED. Their drive and determination to elevate, while carving their own unique path in entertainment, makes them the perfect partner for RED’s future endeavors.”
Helen Murphy, CEO, Anthem Entertainment said, “Jeremy is an incredibly talented creative in his own right and he is passionate and fierce in his support of artists and songwriters. I am thrilled to expand our relationship with him and his skilled roster of songwriters.”
Tim Wipperman, President of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville, added, “When a music publisher has the rare opportunity to work with a writer and entrepreneur of Jeremy’s quality, it raises the bar for everyone. We’re excited to continue working with Jeremy and the RED Creative team.”
Keith Urban’s ‘The Speed of Now Part 1’ Coming In September
/by Jessica NicholsonKeith Urban recently surprised fans with the announcement of his upcoming studio album, The Speed of Now Part 1, which drops on Sept. 18.
A video announcement shows Urban sequestered at home and finding ways to pass the time—making coffee, watching television, scrolling through his phone, playing (Game of Thrones-themed) board games—as he also attempts to conjure up a name for the album.
“I liked it because I felt like life was flying by so fast. Faster and faster all the time. But music, for me, has always been the place where it slows down and doesn’t even exist. I would never have imagined that, in 2020, this album title would take on a whole new meaning and yet somehow still feel incredible relevant.”
The end of the video zips through the names of a few tracks from the project, including “Tumbleweed,” “Change Your Mind,” “Wait,” “Superman,” and “Polaroid,” which Urban released two weeks ago. “Polaroid” was written by Sam Fischer, Steph Jones, Geoff Warburton, Griffen Palmer and Mark Trussell. The track was produced by Urban and Joey Moi.
Watch the announcement video below:
Artist-Writers Shine On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellArtist-writers make up half of the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with Morgan Wallen at No. 4, Luke Combs at No. 5, Michael Hardy (or HARDY) at No. 6, Thomas Rhett at No. 8 and David Lee Murphy at No. 9.
Craig Wiseman remains at No. 1 for the third consecutive week, while Shane McAnally stays at No. 2 and Jonathan Singleton at No. 3.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded 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.