By Robert K. Oermann
Country, pop and rockabilly singer-songwriter Jack Scott has died at age 83.
Long a cult favorite among record collectors, Scott originated such country classics as “Burning Bridges” and “What In the World’s Come Over You.” He was among the first to record a tribute album of Hank Williams songs.
Born Giovanni Scafone Jr. in Windsor, Ontario, he moved to the Detroit area with his family when he was 10. As a teenager, he formed a country band called The Southern Drifters and began singing the hits of Webb Pierce, Carl Smith, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams in the honky-tonks of Michigan and Ontario.
When Elvis Presley exploded in popularity in 1956, Jack Scott became a rockabilly convert. In 1957, he recorded the bopping “Baby She’s Gone,” and it became a hit in the Detroit area. The song remains a favorite with rockabilly aficionados, and Scott opened his shows with it throughout his life.
Scott retitled his rockabilly scorcher “Greaseball” to become “Leroy.” That song, paired with the teen ballad “My True Love,” became his first national hit in 1958. During the next five years, Jack Scott would hit the pop charts with 20 titles, almost all of which he solo wrote.
Scott’s singles usually had a hit ballad on one side and a rockabilly tune on the flip. His rockabilly “B-sides” of 1958 also included “Geraldine” and “Save My Soul.” In early 1959, he scored a second big hit with the doo-wop tune “Goodbye Baby (Bye Bye).”
The backup vocals on this and all of his early hits were sung by The Chantones. They toured with Scott as his version of Presley’s backup singers The Jordanaires. Scott was unusual for the time in that he recorded his own material with his own band.
His next success was 1959’s tough, bluesy “The Way I Walk.” It was later recorded by The Cramps, Robert Gordon, Link Wray, Guitar Wolf, The Swamp Zombies and country’s The Starlight Drifters.
Jack Scott scored a major, top-10 smash with 1960’s “What In the World’s Come Over You.” Sonny James made this song a top-10 country hit in 1975. It has also been revived by Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Wanda Jackson and Tom Jones, among others.
In March 1960, Jack Scott issued his LP I Remember Hank Williams. Widow Audrey Williams hosted the youngster in Nashville.
Scott became one of the first pop stars to sign with SESAC. He utilized much of that organization’s gospel catalog on his 1960 religious album The Spirit Moves Me.
Scott’s second smash of 1960 was “Burning Bridges.” This became a country chestnut, thanks to Glen Campbell’s 1967 revival. “Burning Bridges” has also been recorded by The Mike Curb Congregation, George Jones, Bill Nash and several other country acts.
Also in 1960, Jack Scott issued his version of The Sons of the Pioneers standard “Cool Water.” Other country tunes in his repertoire at the time included “No One Will Ever Know,” “Blues Stay Away From Me” and “Good Deal Lucille.”
He had only moderate successes with “Is There Something on Your Mind” and “What Am I Living For” in 1961. But Scott’s rockabilly tunes were still eagerly sought after by fans.
By the early 1960s, the rockabilly style was fading away. Jack Scott remained with the style much longer than most of his peers, issuing such definitive performances as “Midgie,” “Strange Desire,” “One of These Days,” “Grizzly Bear,” “Baby Baby,” “Go Wild Little Sadie,” and “Cruel World.”
In 1963, Jack Scott was recruited by Berry Gordy to sign with Detroit’s Motown Records. Instead, he signed with Chet Atkins at RCA in Nashville. A string of country singles ensued in 1963-66.
Never enamored with the life of a touring musician, Scott preferred to stay home with his family. He retreated to playing country bars in Detroit.
Meanwhile back in Nashville, Jim Foglesong signed him to Dot Records. In 1974, Scott made the country charts with “You’re Just Gettin’ Better” on Dot.
In 1977, he headlined a rockabilly revival tour of England. He recorded a live rockabilly LP there in 1978, and he maintained his overseas popularity throughout the rest of his career.
He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2004. Scott joined the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 and issued a comeback CD titled Way to Survive in 2015. He continued to star in rockabilly-revival shows in recent years.
Jack Scott passed away due to congestive heart failure on Dec. 12 in Warren, Michigan.
Ashley Gorley Finishes 2019 On Top Of MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, Remains In Top 3 All Year
/by LB CantrellFor the last MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart of 2019, Ashley Gorley maintains his reign. Gorley has been at the pinnacle of the chart for 39 out of 49 charts, and has been in the top 3 all year. Songs that helped maintain Gorley’s positioning are Luke Bryan’s “What Makes You Country,” Chase Rice’s “Eyes On You,” Eli Young Band’s “Love Ain’t,” Dierks Bentley’s “Living,” Chris Janson’s “Good Vibes,” Lee Brice’s “Rumor,” Thomas Rhett’s “Remember You Young,” and more.
Following Gorley on this week’s chart are Laura Veltz (No. 2), Ross Copperman (No. 3), Luke Combs (No. 4) and Jesse Frasure (No. 5) in the Top 5.
The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity garnered from airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the first songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Big Machine Label Group CRS Luncheon Lineup Announced
/by Lorie HollabaughThe luncheon is set for Friday, Feb. 21 in the Broadway Ballroom (CRS Performance Hall powered by Live Nation) at Omni Nashville, beginning at Noon. Country Radio Seminar 2020 is set for Feb. 19-21.
Registrations for CRS 2020 can be obtained at CountryRadioSeminar.
Bobby Rymer Acquires Writer’s Den Music Group
/by Lorie HollabaughBobby Rymer has acquired the entire Writer’s Den Music Group catalog.
Rymer, who was previously the general manager for Writer’s Den, has formed a new venture, Company 318, but will still be doing business as Writer’s Den.
Some of the artists who have recorded songs out of the catalog include Alan Jackson, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Stapleton, Rodney Crowell, LANCO, Alabama, Patrick Droney, and Ricky Skaggs, as well as Lindsay Ell’s current single “I Don’t Love You.” Former catalog writers include Adam Wright, Bonnie Bishop, Drew Kennedy, Jerry Salley, Melissa Fuller, Tami Hinesh, Thom Schuyler and Trent Jeffcoat. Active writers currently on the roster include Gordon Kennedy, Brennen Leigh, and Noel McKay.
Rymer can be contacted at bobby@writersdenmusicgroup.com.
Yola Among 2020 MusiCares Person of the Year Performers
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry-soul singer and Grammy nominee Yola is slated to perform as part of the 2020 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute concert on Jan. 24, 2020, which will honor rock band Aerosmith.
Other performers will include Gary Clark Jr., H.E.R., John Legend, John Mayer, Alice Cooper, Jonas Brothers, and Emily King. Greg Phillinganes will be the musical director, with additional guest performers to be announced.
Yola has four nominations in the upcoming 62nd Grammy Awards, including the all-genre Best New Artist honor, and three nominations in the Roots categories, including Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance (each for “Faraway Look”), as well as Best Americana Album for her debut project, Walk Through Fire, which was produced by Nashville-based Dan Auerbach and recorded at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville. Auerbach also earned a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year.
Aerosmith is being recognized as the 2020 MusiCares Person of the Year in honor of their philanthropic efforts over five decades and their impact on American music history. Aerosmith has shown support for a number of charities, including Steven Tyler’s Janie’s Fund. Proceeds from the Person of the Year event support MusiCares, a charity founded by the Recording Academy that offers support for music creators.
Industry Pics: Jeannie Seely, Warner Chappell Music, Ernest
/by Jessica NicholsonJeannie Seely Receives Honorary Doctor of Arts
Pictured (L-R): Dr. Clayton Hess, LMU President and Jeannie Seely
Credit: Moments By Moser Photography
Lincoln Memorial University recently honored country artist and 52-year member of the Grand Ole Opry Jeannie Seely with an Honorary Doctor of Arts, during the university’s Fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14 at it campus in Harrogate, Tennessee. Previous artists who have been honored with the distinction include bluegrass pioneer Dr. Ralph Stanley and Dr. Steve Gulley. Seely accepted the honor as Jeannie Seely-Ward in respect and recognition of her husband, Gene Ward, class of 1956, who is a LMU alumnus and was inducted into the LMU Professional Hall of Fame in 2005. He retired as Vice President and Legal Counsel for Nashville Electric Service. Gene is also in the Professional Hall of Fame at LMU.
Warner Chappell Music, Norwegian Cruise Line Host Second Songwriters Cruise
Pictured: Kellie Pickler, Liz Rose, Audra Mae, Kallie North, Abram Dean, Johnny Simmen, Mark Trussell, Brandon Day
Norwegian Cruise Line partnered with Kellie Pickler and Warner Chappell Music recently, to host its second songwriters cruise as part of the brand’s “Free the Beat” music platform, which allows songwriters and artists to create content for Norwegian Cruise Line’s global music library. Pickler, along with seven other songwriters from Warner Chappell, sailed to the Hawaiian Islands via Norwegian Pride of America.
Big Loud Records’ Ernest Makes Nashville Performance
Pictured (L-R): Tori Johnson (Senior Director Of Creative & Digital, Big Loud); Ali Matkosky (Director Of National Promotion, Big Loud Records); Joey Moi (Partner, Big Loud); Patch Culbertson (Vp Of A&R, Big Loud Records); Kevin “Chief” Zaruk (Partner, Big Loud); Ernest; Seth England (Partner, Big Loud); Craig Wiseman (Partner, Big Loud); Candice Watkins (Vp Of Marketing, Big Loud Records); Lloyd Aur Norman (Vp Of Special Projects & Strategic Management, Big Loud). Photo Credit: Chris Hornbuckle
Big Loud Records artist Ernest performed for a packed house at ‘Ernest Saves Christmas’ Wednesday night (Dec. 11), held at Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar in Nashville.
Blake Shelton Supports Behind The Record Music Credit Campaign
/by Lorie HollabaughBlake Shelton is lending a hand in the effort to increase visibility in music credits. Digital streaming has not included comprehensive documentation for those who contribute to a track in the past, but Shelton has pushed forward in the movement to give credit where credit is due with a recent social media post in support of the Recording Academy’s groundbreaking Behind The Record campaign. The campaign launched in October to spotlight all professional music creators who contribute to the music recording process.
The accompanying image from the Recording Academy’s Behind The Record initiative that Blake posted on Instagram listed a dozen musicians, a dozen engineers, and all producers and writers who had participated in making the track. Technology from companies like Sound Credit makes attribution of those credits easier. The Memphis-based tech company is poised to revolutionize the collection of credits and information in the studio through breakthrough integrations that help improve royalty payments. Also, the platform is now available at no cost to all Avid® Pro Tools® and Pro Tools|Ultimate subscribers as part of Avid’s Loyalty Rewards program.
Because of its ease-of-use and reliability, Sound Credit has propelled a sea change in credit-delivery across multiple musical formats. Information gathered during the recording of an album is delivered to the label using Sound Credit in a standardized digital format called Recording Information Notification. From there, the credits are ultimately delivered to streaming platforms, like Pandora and others, who have also made a commitment to featuring credits.
Rockabilly Pioneer Jack Scott Passes
/by Robert K OermannCountry, pop and rockabilly singer-songwriter Jack Scott has died at age 83.
Long a cult favorite among record collectors, Scott originated such country classics as “Burning Bridges” and “What In the World’s Come Over You.” He was among the first to record a tribute album of Hank Williams songs.
Born Giovanni Scafone Jr. in Windsor, Ontario, he moved to the Detroit area with his family when he was 10. As a teenager, he formed a country band called The Southern Drifters and began singing the hits of Webb Pierce, Carl Smith, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams in the honky-tonks of Michigan and Ontario.
When Elvis Presley exploded in popularity in 1956, Jack Scott became a rockabilly convert. In 1957, he recorded the bopping “Baby She’s Gone,” and it became a hit in the Detroit area. The song remains a favorite with rockabilly aficionados, and Scott opened his shows with it throughout his life.
Scott retitled his rockabilly scorcher “Greaseball” to become “Leroy.” That song, paired with the teen ballad “My True Love,” became his first national hit in 1958. During the next five years, Jack Scott would hit the pop charts with 20 titles, almost all of which he solo wrote.
Scott’s singles usually had a hit ballad on one side and a rockabilly tune on the flip. His rockabilly “B-sides” of 1958 also included “Geraldine” and “Save My Soul.” In early 1959, he scored a second big hit with the doo-wop tune “Goodbye Baby (Bye Bye).”
The backup vocals on this and all of his early hits were sung by The Chantones. They toured with Scott as his version of Presley’s backup singers The Jordanaires. Scott was unusual for the time in that he recorded his own material with his own band.
His next success was 1959’s tough, bluesy “The Way I Walk.” It was later recorded by The Cramps, Robert Gordon, Link Wray, Guitar Wolf, The Swamp Zombies and country’s The Starlight Drifters.
Jack Scott scored a major, top-10 smash with 1960’s “What In the World’s Come Over You.” Sonny James made this song a top-10 country hit in 1975. It has also been revived by Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Wanda Jackson and Tom Jones, among others.
In March 1960, Jack Scott issued his LP I Remember Hank Williams. Widow Audrey Williams hosted the youngster in Nashville.
Scott became one of the first pop stars to sign with SESAC. He utilized much of that organization’s gospel catalog on his 1960 religious album The Spirit Moves Me.
Scott’s second smash of 1960 was “Burning Bridges.” This became a country chestnut, thanks to Glen Campbell’s 1967 revival. “Burning Bridges” has also been recorded by The Mike Curb Congregation, George Jones, Bill Nash and several other country acts.
Also in 1960, Jack Scott issued his version of The Sons of the Pioneers standard “Cool Water.” Other country tunes in his repertoire at the time included “No One Will Ever Know,” “Blues Stay Away From Me” and “Good Deal Lucille.”
He had only moderate successes with “Is There Something on Your Mind” and “What Am I Living For” in 1961. But Scott’s rockabilly tunes were still eagerly sought after by fans.
By the early 1960s, the rockabilly style was fading away. Jack Scott remained with the style much longer than most of his peers, issuing such definitive performances as “Midgie,” “Strange Desire,” “One of These Days,” “Grizzly Bear,” “Baby Baby,” “Go Wild Little Sadie,” and “Cruel World.”
In 1963, Jack Scott was recruited by Berry Gordy to sign with Detroit’s Motown Records. Instead, he signed with Chet Atkins at RCA in Nashville. A string of country singles ensued in 1963-66.
Never enamored with the life of a touring musician, Scott preferred to stay home with his family. He retreated to playing country bars in Detroit.
Meanwhile back in Nashville, Jim Foglesong signed him to Dot Records. In 1974, Scott made the country charts with “You’re Just Gettin’ Better” on Dot.
In 1977, he headlined a rockabilly revival tour of England. He recorded a live rockabilly LP there in 1978, and he maintained his overseas popularity throughout the rest of his career.
He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2004. Scott joined the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 and issued a comeback CD titled Way to Survive in 2015. He continued to star in rockabilly-revival shows in recent years.
Jack Scott passed away due to congestive heart failure on Dec. 12 in Warren, Michigan.
Pandora Reveals Its Country Artists To Watch List For 2020
/by Jessica NicholsonPandora has released its annual Country Artists To Watch list for 2020.
Among its highlighted artists poised to break through in the next year are Louisiana native Brandon Ratcliff, “Family Tree” singer Caylee Hammack, the genre-bending Ernest, American Idol album and vocal powerhouse Gabby Barrett, “Ten Year Town” singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters, country radio breakout artist Ingrid Andress, Georgia native John King, multi-talented group King Calaway, “Boy’s Girl” singer Kylie Morgan, “Dirty Looks” singer Lainey Wilson, country-soul singer Larry Fleet, Songs and Daughters-signed artist Madison Kozak, duo Seaforth, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” hitmaker Riley Green, and Canadian-born singer-songwriter Tenille Townes.
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2020 To Include Jason Isbell, Moon Taxi, Tanya Tucker And More
/by Jessica NicholsonBristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion has revealed the first 30 artists slated for its 2020 event, which will be held Sept. 11-13, 2020 on State Street in Bristol, Tennessee.
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Tanya Tucker, Moon Taxi, Rhonda Vincent, Lonesome River Band, Folk Soul Revival, Ian Noe, Katie Pruitt, Town Mountain, Red Molly, Great Peacock, I Draw Slow, Sol Driven Train, Annabelle’s Curse, The East Pointers, Seth Walker, Morgan Wade, Cicada Rhythm, Big Daddy Love, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Mo Lowda & The Humble, Sierra Ferrell, Songs from the Road Band, Hank, Pattie & The Current, Desert Noises, Carly Burruss, Roanoke, The Red Clay Strays, Fedor & The Denim Denim and The Mammoths are among the newly-revealed performers.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this coming year and our 20th anniversary,” said Birthplace of Country Music Executive Director Leah Ross. “This is a huge milestone in the history of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and for Bristol.”
The full lineup of music artists will be revealed Feb. 14.
NSAI To Launch Inaugural Member Awards In March
/by Jessica Nicholson“We have thousands of songwriter members who may not describe themselves as professional songwriters, but write amazing songs, are outstanding performers and deserve recognition for their work,” said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. “We will present awards in a number of categories on Wednesday, March 25th during Tin Pan South week 2020 and Tin Pan title sponsor Regions Bank will present the awards.”
“This is one of the most exciting additions to NSAI’s programming in years,” Herbison added. “We applaud Regions Bank for underwriting this event. Nothing could be more in line with the part of our mission statement that says: to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter.”
Honors given out on March 25 will include:
Online Pitch Award—Members vote on songs previously taken by Music Row publishers during NSAI’s 24 annual “Online Pitch” sessions. 12 Finalists in this category are determined by NSAI Member Representatives before members vote to determine the winner.
Song Evaluation Award – These selections begin with songs chosen by more than 14 professional songwriters who serve as NSAI Song Evaluators. These selections are narrowed by NSAI Member Representatives prior to final voting by NSAI Members. This is a very prestigious award considering the evaluators review more than eight thousand member songs each year.
NSAI Mentor Awards—Members vote on songs chosen by NSAI Mentors, a group of professional songwriters including R.C. Bannon, Mason Douglas, Jamie Floyd, Lacy Green and Benita Hill.
NSAI One to Watch Award—Determined by the member with the highest number of “Ones to Watch” designations from NSAI Song Evaluators.
NSAI New Member of The Year—Chosen by the NSAI Member Representatives based on the person who has taken the most advantage of their first year of membership to grow as a songwriter.
Volunteer of The Year –Chosen by NSAI staff.
Friends of NSAI – Chosen by NSAI from partner individuals or organizations who assist NSAI and its members to fulfill our mission to serve songwriters.
Graduate Award – Presented to NSAI members who have signed publishing deals and moved into the professional songwriter category.
Chapter of The Year – Given to the outstanding NSAI Chapter from among the 100 across the world as determined by NSAI staff.
Chapter Coordinator of The Year – Given to the outstanding NSAI Chapter Coordinator as determined by NSAI staff.
Other Recognitions will include the Todd Givens Scholarship Winner, NSAI Song Contest Winners, as well as the Anthem Chapter Challenge Winners. Each of NSAI’s 100 chapters choose a “best song” during the month of April. NSAI and Anthem Music Publishing narrow the field down to a select few who are offered single-song contracts with Anthem, or other opportunities. Five songwriters will be recognized in this category.
In 2021 the NSAI Member Awards presented by Regions Bank will add the prestigious member-voted awards of Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.