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.
Vince Gill’s Longtime Guitar Tech Benny Garcia Passes Away At 64
/by Lorie HollabaughGuitar tech and musician Benny Garcia passed away on Saturday, May 9 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 64.
Garcia was born in Tulsa and spent the majority of his professional career working with Vince Gill for over three decades. In addition to his 30 years working with Gill, Garcia also lent his guitar tech talents to other artists including Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Reba McEntire.
“Benny and I had a 50-year friendship,” said Gill. “We met as kids and played in our first garage bands together, and for the last 30 years, he traveled with me everywhere. And for the last 50 years we’ve been inseparable.”
Garcia is survived by his wife Brenda, his mother Clara, sister Lisa Renee’ Garcia and her fiancé Jeff Wilder, brother Paul Garcia, Aunt Matilda Alviso, and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, legendary jazz and swing guitar player Benny Garcia, Jr.
Due to the present coronavirus pandemic, no funeral will be held. A gathering to celebrate Garcia’s life will be held at a later date.
Those wanting to leave messages for the family can do so at dignitymemorial.com.
Pictured (L-R): Benny Garcia, Vince Gill. Photo: Morris PR
John Dimick Promoted At Cumulus
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Dimick
John Dimick has been elevated to the newly-created position of Senior Vice President, Programming Operations, Cumulus Radio Station Group. He was previously Vice President, Programming Operations for the company, a position he’s held since joining Cumulus in 2016.
In his new role, Dimick will lead Cumulus’ team of Vice Presidents, Programming Operations, and 11 Format Specialists across the company. He will continue to report to Brian Philips, Executive Vice President, Content and Audience, Cumulus Media and is based in Atlanta.
Prior to joining Cumulus, Dimick was Senior Vice President, Programming for Lincoln Financial Media. He has over 30 years of radio programming and operations experience in markets across the U.S.
“In my first year, John has proven himself to be an indispensable partner in the leadership of this programming group,” said Philips. “He is gifted with the intuition, pragmatism and patience to see us to greatness. This move validates the hard-earned trust and confidence John enjoys within our entire company.”
Dimick commented, “Cumulus programming professionals are passionate about radio and understand the value of locally programmed and community involved stations. I am honored to assist Brian Philips in leading our team in this new position, while continuing to learn from the best minds in our industry. I’m pleased to work with Mary Berner, Dave Milner, Bob Walker and especially, Brian Philips, as Cumulus continues to reinvent the audio entertainment landscape.”
Diane Warren Signs With BMG
/by Jessica NicholsonDiane Warren. Photo: Emily Schur
Songwriter Diane Warren has signed global publishing and recording deals with BMG, where BMG will administer Warren’s entire songwriting catalog (excluding the United States and Canada) under her Realsongs umbrella. BMG will also release an upcoming album which will feature several artists performing Warren’s latest songs.
Warren, one of music’s most celebrated songwriters, had earned nine No. 1 hits and 32 Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. She is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an 11-time Academy Award nominee with songs featured in more than 100 motion pictures, and has earned Grammys, Emmys and Golden Globes. She is a five-time ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year honoree, and also earned ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year and has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Among the hits Warren has penned include “Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion), “Can’t Fight The Moonlight” (LeAnn Rimes), “How Do I Live” (by both LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood), “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” (Whitney Houston), “I Learned From The Best” (Whitney Houston), “Love Can Move Mountains” (Celine Dion), “Can’t Take That Away” (Mariah Carey), “Chasin’ The Wind” (Chicago), “Have You Ever” (Brandy), “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (Aerosmith) and numerous others hits.
Warren said, “I’m thrilled with my new deal at BMG. I love the BMG team. They have hit the ground running! There is so much already happening that I know this year is going to be amazing. To say I’ve never felt so much enthusiasm and excitement is an understatement. It’s great to have a team behind me like this. This is just the beginning of a fantastic journey filled with hits!!”
Thomas Scherer, BMG EVP, Repertoire & Marketing, Los Angeles, said, “Diane is one in a million. She is exactly what a global publisher like BMG wants and needs. Her catalog is full of evergreen titles written 100% by herself, a catalog of beautiful and unreleased treasures, to pitch to artists around the world for synch at film, TV, and commercials. Every day she is writing new smash hit songs. The entire publishing team at BMG is proud and honored to be at service for the one and only Diane Warren.”
John Loeffler, BMG EVP, Repertoire & Marketing, New York, said, “A world-renowned songwriter, with honors in every imaginable category, Diane has never actually placed her own name on the cover of an album before! Featuring a ‘Who’s Who’ of A-list artists collaborating and performing her new songs, this album is the break-through record she so richly deserves. Fans will remember these songs forever and we are thrilled to be part of this historic release.”
Georgia On My Mind Online Concert Benefit Set For May 26
/by Lorie HollabaughBrent Cobb
This year’s “Gretsch Presents Georgia On My Mind” concert benefiting the Georgia Music Foundation will happen as an online musical event on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. CT. The livestreamed fundraiser will be hosted for the first time by Brent Cobb and Amy Ray.
Among the artists set to participate this year are Caroline Aiken, Tony Arata, John Berry, Kristian Bush’s band Dark Water, Amy Grant, Rutha Harris, John Driskell Hopkins, Indigo Girls, Kalen & Aslyn, Chuck Leavell, Kim Michael Polote, Katie Pruitt, The War & Treaty, Channing Wilson, Jontavious Willis, Adam Wright, and more to be announced.
Cobb and Ray were curating the lineup together when in March, music tours halted and venues temporarily shut down due to COVID-19. “With concerns for public safety top of mind, we cancelled the as-yet-unannounced Ryman date, but Amy and Brent were totally up for reimagining it as an online affair,” said Lisa Love, Director of the Georgia Music Foundation.
“This is an unprecedented time, where we are united in our isolation and yearning to connect through music,” said Ray. “For Brent and I to come together and host a lineup of artists from across the state of Georgia is a huge honor for both of us.”
Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, and Ben Hayslip, who write hit songs together as the Peach Pickers, initiated and hosted the first “Georgia On My Mind” event seven years ago to support the Georgia Music Foundation, which Davidson chairs.
“We never dreamed it would keep going nor that it would eventually send more than $500,000 back home to support music education,” Davidson said. “We’ve had a great run, but Ben, Rhett, and I decided it was the right time to let other Georgia musicians host to keep things fresh and we couldn’t be happier that our friends Brent and Amy graciously agreed to step up to the plate.”
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.