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.
LANY Teams With Nashville Luminaries For Forthcoming Album ‘Mama’s Boy’
/by Lorie HollabaughLANY is releasing a new single and video for “good guys,” the first track from the trio’s upcoming third album Mama’s Boy, which is due out later this year on Interscope Records.
The new album has Music City ties, since it was recorded in Nashville after the group finished the last leg of their world tour behind their 2018 album Malibu Nights. LANY recorded the album over the course of two weeks, joined by a host of songwriting collaborators including Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, Shane McAnally, and songwriting power couple Sasha Sloan and King Henry. Others, including Adele co-writer Dan Wilson, also contributed to the album when the sessions returned to L.A, where Mama’s Boy was completed.
The album is a sweeping tribute to home and Americana packed with songs that highlight what’s symbolic of being an American kid today, and was in part inspired by member Paul Klein’s roots. “Someone asked me where I was from and somewhere, out of my spirit, I just said ‘Man, I’m from Oklahoma!’ It was a weird sense of pride, to be from the middle of nowhere,” he says of the realization that he needed to look to the country’s heartland for this album’s inspiration.
LANY, which includes Paul Klein, Jake Goss and Les Priest, formed in Nashville in 2014 and are now based in Los Angeles. They have a social media following of 5.8 million, and have played sold-out shows from L.A.’s Greek Theatre to London’s Brixton Academy, with arena shows in major cities planned for this album. Their songs have been streamed over 3 billion times and they’ve earned over 400 million video views to date.
Garth Releases Additional Tracks From Upcoming New Album
/by Lorie HollabaughSeven tracks in total from the upcoming album are now available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music here, including new songs “What Cowboys Do,” and “Party Gras,” as well as the previously released “Courage of Love,” “The Road I’m On,” “All Day Long,” “Stronger Than Me” and his recent Top Five hit “Dive Bar,” featuring Blake Shelton.
The album has been on the horizon for awhile now, but Brooks explained the time didn’t feel right to release it as the world is reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. “I don’t want to be the guy that tries to do something in the midst where everybody is hurting,” Brooks said. “The album’s ready to go. It’s just how do you get out and promote and be happy and jolly while everybody’s out there fighting for their lives not only physically, but fighting for their lives financially.”
Industry Ink: Big Machine Records, Copperline Music Group, Innovo Music Management
/by Jessica NicholsonTim McGraw, Big Machine, Em.Co Pile Up The Radio Adds
Pictured (L-R, top row): Big Machine Records’ Tracy Wilkinson, EM.Co’s Scott Siman, Big Machine Records’ Jeff Davis and Bill Lubitz; (L-R, second row) EM.Co’s Jack Purcell, Tim McGraw, Big Machine Records’ Erik Powell, JC Coffey, Scott Borchetta, Clay Hunnicutt and Kris Lamb and EM.Co’s Rachael Jordan; (L-R, third row) Big Machine Records’ Brooke Diaz, EM.Co’s Kelly Clague, Big Machine Label Group Canada’s Ron Harwood and EM.Co’s James Stewart; (L-R, bottom row) Big Machine Records’ Nicole Hunt, EM.Co’s Brian Kaplan and Big Machine Records’ Samantha Kane.
Tim McGraw, newly reunited with Big Machine Records, joined his label team and Em.Co management team (via Zoom) to celebrate his new single “I Called Mama” being the most-added song at country radio on Monday (May 11).
Black Sheep Label Group Adds Copperline For Distribution
Pictured (L-R, top row): Susan Hobbs-Ortiz (Black Sheep CEO & General Mngr.), Rusty Harmon (CMG Partner), Michael Heckler (Black Sheep V.P. Artist Development & Marketing); (L-R, middle row): Dewayne Brown (CMG Head of A&R and Label Acquisitions), Stephanie Onder (CMG Marketing Manager), Lori Harmon (CMG Managing Director); (L-R, bottom row): Steven Brown (Black Sheep CFO)
New music company, Black Sheep Label Group has signed a deal with Copperline Music Group for distribution services. The agreement will aid in the launching of Black Sheep’s artists Michael Austin and Matt Koerner. Austin is a former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, and recently released the single “The Good Life.” Koerner recently released “The Race,” which was partly inspired by his winning a battle with cancer a few years ago. Both artists are set to release new projects this year.
“We believe that music is a personal experience that should be inspiring, encouraging and heard. Therefore, it was very important for us to find the right distribution partner. We are thrilled to be partnering with Copperline Music Group and The Orchard. Their reputation for integrity within the industry precedes them,” comments Susan Hobbs-Ortiz, CEO & General Manager of Black Sheep Label Group.
Innovo Music Management Signs Sansol The Artist
Sansol The Artist
Nashville music management company Innovo has signed Jeremy Claudio, aka Sansol The Artist. Claudio has worked as a producer on several large Nashville independent music projects and has worked as a drummer on many Nashville projects.
Sam Saideman and Ian Rodriguez founded Innovo in 2014, shortly after both moved to Nashville. Innovo also works with Nashville artists danny G and Sam Johnston as well as New York hip-hop artist YONAS.
Jason Isbell To Celebrate New Album With Livestream Acoustic Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Isbell will celebrate the release of his new album Reunions—the followup to Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s 2017 album The Nashville Sound— with an acoustic livestream performance (sans live audience) from Nashville’s new Brooklyn Bowl venue on Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. CT.
Isbell will be joined by his wife and 400 Unit bandmate Amanda Shires. The acoustic concert will be hosted at fans.com and will be free to the public, with a suggested donation to help support Isbell’s crew members, as well as the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
The project was recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A and produced by Dave Cobb. Reunions was released a week early, on May 8, and available only to fans who ordered the project from independent record stores.
Reunions can be pre-ordered here.
Thomas Rhett Takes Chart-Topper Tally To 15 With "Beer Can’t Fix"
/by Lorie HollabaughThomas Rhett. Photo: John Shearer
Thomas Rhett has earned a whopping 15th career No. 1 this week with his current single “Beer Can’t Fix” featuring Jon Pardi. The smash hit rose to the top of both the Mediabase/Country Aircheck and Billboard Country Airplay charts this week, having previously earned a multi-week run atop the Canadian country charts. The song marks Thomas Rhett’s ninth consecutive No. 1, breaking the Billboard Country Airplay chart record for most consecutive chart toppers.
Penned by Rhett, Julian Bunetta, Zach Skelton and Ryan Tedder, “Beer Can’t Fix” is the third consecutive No. 1 from Thomas Rhett’s fourth studio album Center Point Road, which debuted atop the Billboard Top 200 Chart and has now earned Gold certification.
“I am blown away that this is my 15th No. 1 single,” Rhett said. “It’s a crazy time right now for everyone and it’s really fitting for me that a song I started writing with my buddies during a bad game of golf, and that features another good buddy, Jon Pardi, has maybe helped to bring a smile to people’s faces right now. I am beyond grateful to the fans and country radio and can’t wait to celebrate with everybody soon.”
Pictured (L-R): Row 1 – The Valory Music Co.’s Amy Staley, Ashley Sidoti, Don Gosselin and Chris Palmer, Big Machine Label Group’s Molly Fisher; Row 2 – The Valory Music Co.’s Brooke Nixon, Adam Burnes, Athena Puharic and George Briner, G Major Management’s Harry Lyons; Row 3 – Jon Pardi, Red Light Management’s Maggie Hunt, Big Machine Label Group Canada’s Ron Harwood, Red Light Management’s Maggie Wetherbee, G Major Management’s Virgina Bunetta; Row 4 – Big Machine Label Group’s Andrew Kautz, The Valory Music Co.’s Christy DiNapoli, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Thomas Rhett
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: