Phran Galante. Photo: Courtesy Galante Family
Phran Rachel Galante, 64, of Nashville, TN, passed away today (Sept. 23) after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer over the last several years.
Born June 5, 1955 in New York City, Phran’s early years were filled with her love of animals—especially horses—theater, swimming, dance and tennis. The child of an Army physician, she moved around the country and even to Japan with her parents and siblings.
A dream of working on Broadway took Phran back to New York in 1981, where she landed a temp job at Chrysalis Records. In 1983, at the suggestion of her boss, she pursued and interviewed for a job at RCA Nashville, where she met her husband, Joe Galante. The two would marry in 1990.
In 1989, she left RCA to become part of the original team that built and launched Arista Records. With a talent for marketing, she designed, orchestrated and executed music marketing plans for a variety of artists and projects throughout her record label career. She also produced music videos for such artists as Alabama, K.T. Oslin, Ronnie Milsap and Alan Jackson.
Returning to Nashville in the early 1990s with her husband, Phran turned her time and efforts toward the community she loved and called home. She volunteered to rescue animals, was on the board of directors for TPAC, and worked at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She was a founding member of United Partnerships in Animal Welfare, a community-based group sanctioned by the city of Nashville, working to reduce the very high rate of euthanasia in Music City’s animal shelters.
In 2018, she was honored with the Pet Community Center’s Jourdan Parenteau Excellence in Service Award for her 20+ years of leadership in animal welfare. Accepting the award, she said, “Animals can’t speak for themselves, so we must do it for them.”
Phran was also passionate about the work being done by the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, using her record industry contacts to bring music into the facility to brighten children’s days. She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through her work on the annual Music City Tennis Invitational, helping the event become a cornerstone of the hospital’s funding efforts. In 2017, while serving as honorary co-chair, she was recognized by the event with the MCTI Outstanding Service Award and the MCTI Sportsmanship Award (receiving the latter for a second time) for her many years of service as co-chair, silent auction chair and tournament player.
Almost immediately upon receiving her own diagnosis, Phran began helping friends and even strangers who were beginning their own journey with cancer, lending an ear, offering support and spending time with them. She went on-camera, sharing her voice and personal experience with the public on behalf of the T.J. Martell Foundation and its work to fund cancer research. “As each day goes by, we get closer and closer to a cure,” she said with conviction, giving hope to others through her own determination and fight to keep the disease at bay.
Phran is survived by her husband Joe, sister Debbie Linn, brothers Pete and Myke Schwartz, parents Marvin and Claire Schwartz, and her beloved pets Lexie and Fergie. Phran’s family thanks doctors Bal, Karlekar, Lovly and Meluch along with the nurses at Tennessee Oncology, Sarah Cannon, and the staff at Alive Hospice for the care they provided to Phran.
A celebration of Phran’s life will be held on October 23 at Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tenn.; further details will be forthcoming. The family asks that anyone wishing to honor her memory consider a donation to the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Phran Galante Memorial Fund for Lung Cancer Research or the Pet Community Center in memory of Phran.
badflower Named Face Of John Varvatos’ Star USA Campaign
/by Jessica NicholsonRock band badflower has been named the face of menswear designer and record label owner John Varvatos‘ fall 2019 John Varvatos Star USA Campaign.
The band, which includes frontman Josh Katz, guitarist Joey Morrow, bassist Alex Espiritu, and drummer Anthony Sonetti, signed a deal with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records in 2017.
“badflower represent everything that’s missing in music and style today,” said John Varvatos. “They are rebels and amazing storytellers that carry themselves with ease and confidence. At the same time they are absolutely one of the best rock bands on the planet. I’m proud to have them representing the John Varvatos Star USA brand and chart topping artists on the Big Machine/John Varvatos label.”
The campaign was shot by photographer/director Mark Seliger, against a New York City backdrop. The fashions include layers and textures like faux fur, and all-black shearling, alongside vintage tees, plaids, and camouflage.
“We had such a blast working on this shoot with John and his crew,” badflower commented. “This was our first time getting involved with anything fashion related and John was with us the whole time making it super fun and low pressure. He’s such a visionary in both the music and fashion scene and we’re privileged to be able to work so closely with him.”
Previous musical collaborators for the John Varvatos brand include Machine Gun Kelly, Hozier, Gary Clark Jr., Jimmy Page and Nick Jonas.
badflower recently earned their second No. 1 with “Heroin,” which topped both Mediabase and Billboard‘s charts for Active Rock. The track followed their debut single, “Ghost,” which was their first No. 1 rock single and landed at No. 7 on Billboard‘s 2018 Year-End Mainstream Rock Songs chart. In addition to their own headlining dates, badflower recently toured with Nothing More as well as multi-Platinum rock band Shinedown and will hit the road this fall for their headlining OK, I’M SICK TOUR.
Nashville Vinyl Pop-Up Store To Open In New York
/by Lorie HollabaughIn addition to the selection of vinyl, the unique pop-up at Showfields will host intimate performances, signings and more, and host guest artists including John Hiatt, Ben Folds, Rayland Baxter, Andrew Combs, Jessy Wilson, and Sugar + The Hi-Lows .
“The Music City brand is at the heart of Nashville’s tourism success and the city’s overall success,” says Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “We think this is a creative way to showcase and reinforce the strength and diversity of the music that’s created, written and recorded in Nashville.”
Spin On will be open Oct. 1, 2019-Jan 15, 2020, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Mondays from noon to 8 p.m.
Grimey’s, Nashville’s independent record store since 1999, specializes in new and preowned vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, turntables, and more. The Nashville trademark regularly hosts live performances, record release parties, book signings and interviews. Showfields’ flagship store premiered in December 2018 at 11 Bond Street in New York and has since grown into a revolving array of art, food, drink and community programming bridging art and retail in the heart of NOHO.
Animal Activist And Humanitarian Phran Galante Dies At 64
/by LB CantrellPhran Galante. Photo: Courtesy Galante Family
Phran Rachel Galante, 64, of Nashville, TN, passed away today (Sept. 23) after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer over the last several years.
Born June 5, 1955 in New York City, Phran’s early years were filled with her love of animals—especially horses—theater, swimming, dance and tennis. The child of an Army physician, she moved around the country and even to Japan with her parents and siblings.
A dream of working on Broadway took Phran back to New York in 1981, where she landed a temp job at Chrysalis Records. In 1983, at the suggestion of her boss, she pursued and interviewed for a job at RCA Nashville, where she met her husband, Joe Galante. The two would marry in 1990.
In 1989, she left RCA to become part of the original team that built and launched Arista Records. With a talent for marketing, she designed, orchestrated and executed music marketing plans for a variety of artists and projects throughout her record label career. She also produced music videos for such artists as Alabama, K.T. Oslin, Ronnie Milsap and Alan Jackson.
Returning to Nashville in the early 1990s with her husband, Phran turned her time and efforts toward the community she loved and called home. She volunteered to rescue animals, was on the board of directors for TPAC, and worked at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She was a founding member of United Partnerships in Animal Welfare, a community-based group sanctioned by the city of Nashville, working to reduce the very high rate of euthanasia in Music City’s animal shelters.
In 2018, she was honored with the Pet Community Center’s Jourdan Parenteau Excellence in Service Award for her 20+ years of leadership in animal welfare. Accepting the award, she said, “Animals can’t speak for themselves, so we must do it for them.”
Phran was also passionate about the work being done by the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, using her record industry contacts to bring music into the facility to brighten children’s days. She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through her work on the annual Music City Tennis Invitational, helping the event become a cornerstone of the hospital’s funding efforts. In 2017, while serving as honorary co-chair, she was recognized by the event with the MCTI Outstanding Service Award and the MCTI Sportsmanship Award (receiving the latter for a second time) for her many years of service as co-chair, silent auction chair and tournament player.
Almost immediately upon receiving her own diagnosis, Phran began helping friends and even strangers who were beginning their own journey with cancer, lending an ear, offering support and spending time with them. She went on-camera, sharing her voice and personal experience with the public on behalf of the T.J. Martell Foundation and its work to fund cancer research. “As each day goes by, we get closer and closer to a cure,” she said with conviction, giving hope to others through her own determination and fight to keep the disease at bay.
Phran is survived by her husband Joe, sister Debbie Linn, brothers Pete and Myke Schwartz, parents Marvin and Claire Schwartz, and her beloved pets Lexie and Fergie. Phran’s family thanks doctors Bal, Karlekar, Lovly and Meluch along with the nurses at Tennessee Oncology, Sarah Cannon, and the staff at Alive Hospice for the care they provided to Phran.
A celebration of Phran’s life will be held on October 23 at Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tenn.; further details will be forthcoming. The family asks that anyone wishing to honor her memory consider a donation to the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Phran Galante Memorial Fund for Lung Cancer Research or the Pet Community Center in memory of Phran.
TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour Returns For 2020 With Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, We Are Messengers
/by Jessica NicholsonTobyMac‘s “Hits Deep Tour” will return next year, with 32 stops in cities including Denver, Oklahoma City, San Diego, Milwaukee, and more.
Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, We Are Messengers, Ryan Stevenson, Aaron Cole, and Cochren & Co. will join the seven-time Grammy winner when the tour launches Jan. 30 at Beaumont, Texas’ Ford Park. The nationwide arena tour is a partnership with K-LOVE, Air1, Awakening Events, Altura Healthshare, and Food for the Hungry.
TobyMac will make a run of theatre shows in November, before the tour begins next year. His previous Hits Deep Tour, which included stops at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Atlanta’s Infinite Energy Arena, sold 250,000 tickets and hosted tourmates Jeremy Camp, Jordan Feliz, Ryan Stevenson, We Are Messengers and Aaron Cole.
Lauren Akins To Release Memoir In 2020
/by Lorie HollabaughLauren Akins is sharing her story in her first-ever book, titled Live In Love: Growing Together Through Life’s Changes (Ballantine), written with Mark Dagostino.
Available May 5, 2020 the book is available for pre-order now. Live in Love is a revealing and inspiring memoir by Akins, the wife of Thomas Rhett, regular contributor to Country Living Magazine, humanitarian, and mother of two (with a third on the way), offering inspiring guidance for anyone looking to keep romance alive, balance children and marriage, express true faith and live a life of purpose.
“I never would have guessed I’d be telling my story in a book about my life,” said Akins. “I hope by sharing parts of myself and my journey that I’m able to help someone feel less alone, inspired and find the love that we share as humans in these pages.”
Martina McBride Premiering New Podcast With Garth As First Guest
/by Lorie HollabaughMartina McBride is hosting a new podcast, “Vocal Point with Martina McBride” which is set to premiere on Friday, Sept. 27. The country star and lifestyle influencer is sitting down with A-List friends from across all genres including musicians, celebrity chefs, actors and anyone with a story to tell, and her first guest is none other than Garth Brooks. She and Garth chat about life in the limelight and how he has navigated fame and his impactful career. Other guests throughout the season include Lauren Alaina, Pam Tillis, Dustin Lynch, Rosanne Cash, Sara Evans, Don Was, Brenda Lee, Runaway June, Howie Mandel and Loretta Lynn.
“I wanted to do a podcast that’s not really an interview as much as it is a conversation,” says McBride. “I hope it’s entertaining for the listeners and also that it gives a little bit of insight into the person that I’m interviewing. We talked about their life philosophy, their struggles and how they’ve overcome them. A lot of it has been so inspiring as well as entertaining.”
Industry Ink: Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, Niko Moon, The Press House
/by Lorie HollabaughCountry Cares For St. Jude Celebrates 30th Anniversary On The Opry
Backstage before his performance, Chris Janson met with St. Jude patient Kaelyn and her family and presented them with autographed harmonicas on Tuesday night’s special Opry celebrating 30th Anniversary of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids
The Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 3oth anniversary of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids during a special show on Sept. 19 as part of the Opry’s series of Fall Wednesday shows that will run through Oct. 30. Artists performing during the special evening included Bobby Bones, Chris Janson, Dailey & Vincent, High Valley, Jeannie Seely, Michael Ray and Mickey Guyton. Throughout the show, photos and videos of inspirational moments from Country Cares for St. Jude Kids were shared and a St. Jude patient, Kaelyn, served as a special guest announcer. Backstage before his performance, Chris Janson met with Kaelyn and her family and presented her and her sister Emily and brother Phillip with autographed harmonicas. During Janson’s performance, he surprised Kaelyn by bringing her onstage with him to play “Folsom Prison Blues” on her new harmonica while Janson sang. The evening also included a poignant performance by Michael Ray of Alabama’s hit “Angels Among Us” in honor of the group’s frontman Randy Owen, who, 30 years ago, founded Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which has raised over $800 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.
Niko Moon Showcases New Music
RCA Nashville’s Niko Moon celebrated an industry showcase with his label team in Nashville this week.
Moon’s co-manager Lynn Oliver-Cline, Sony Music Nashville’s SVP Sales/Streaming Caryl Atwood and COO/EVP Ken Robold, Niko Moon, CAA Nashville’s Jon Huie, Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman and VP Digital Strategy Ed Rivadavia, CAA’s Aaron Tannenbaum, Moon’s co-manager Chris Kappy, SMN’s SVP A&R Taylor Lindsey, EVP Promotion/Artist Development Steve Hodges, VP Creative Services Tracy Fleaner and Sr. Director Marketing Liz Cost, SVP RCA Nashville Promotion Dennis Reese and Moon’s co-manager Randi McFadden.
The Press House Adds Donny Evans
Donny Evans
The Press House has added Donny Evans as a publicist. Evans’ career has included time as a touring musician, photographer and graphic designer. He was worked as Beverage Director for the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville and Public Relations Specialist for music festival BottleRock Napa Valley.
The Press House clients include Music Business Association, A2IM, Gifft Wines, Monster Energy, Nashville Film Festival, Gloria Gaynor, The Cerny Brothers, Alisan Porter, Gaither Music, Rory Feek, Morrison Hotel Gallery, Fireplay, and more.
Anthem Entertainment, RED Creative Group Extend Deal With Adam Hambrick
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lauren Lieu, Brooke Antonakos, Adam Hambrick, Tye Worobess, Alex Tamashunas. Bottom (L-R): Jeremy Stover, Helen Murphy, Tim Wipperman, Gilles Godard, Tim Hunze
Anthem Entertainment and RED Creative Group, the publishing venture of Anthem songwriter/producer Jeremy Stover, have extended their publisher deal with Adam Hambrick. Under the deal, Anthem will handle global co-publishing for Hambrick’s future copyrights.
“I am very excited to be continuing to work with Anthem,” said Hambrick. “They have been fantastic partners in helping me establish my career, and I am thrilled to see what we will accomplish together in the years to come.”
“I’ve been a fan of Adam Hambrick since Jeremy Stover gave me a copy of his independent LP in 2011,” said Anthem Nashville’s Senior Director of Creative, Tim Hunze. “It’s taken me eight years and moving to Anthem to be able to work with him professionally…and I could not be more excited!”
“Adam not only has one of the most gifted voices in music, but his fresh melodic approach mixed with vivid lyrics truly make him one of the best,” added Jeremy Stover, President of RED Creative Group. “Working with Adam has been an amazing experience and I look forward to what the future holds.”
Hambrick has written songs for artists including Miranda Lambert and Eli Young Band as well as No. 1 hits for Dan + Shay (“How Not To”) and Justin Moore (“Somebody Else Will”). He released his own debut single “Rockin’ All Night Long” last fall and is currently in the studio working on his debut album with producers Andrew DeRoberts (James Blunt, Miley Cyrus) and Paul DiGiovanni (Blake Shelton, Jordan Davis).
Brad Paisley To Lead ABC Special Featuring Carrie Underwood, Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley will host and executive produce a one-hour primetime special Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special on ABC later this season, from Sony Pictures Television.
The special will be taped at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium, and will feature several of Paisley’s friends including Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Hootie & The Blowfish, Kelsea Ballerini, ABC’s The Bachelor host Chris Harrison, NFL legend Peyton Manning and more.
Paisley, Jane Mun, RAC Clark, Bill Simmons and Kendal Marcy will serve as executive producers.
“Wait, I thought it was called the ‘Brad Paisley Special.’ Who added the ‘Thinks He’s’? Oh well, I’m still psyched,” said host and executive producer Paisley.
“I am so excited for Brad to be able to turn this fun, down-home country idea into a reality on ABC,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials & Late Night, ABC Entertainment. “We all know him as an award-winning country superstar, and now we get the chance to see his comedic talents as he brings this variety special to life with the help of an incredible roster of A-list talent.”
“We’re so excited to be working with one of our great Sony music artists on such a distinctive new format. Brad has brought so much creativity, heart, comedy and celebrity wattage to this hour, we can’t wait for everyone to see it,” said Holly Jacobs, EVP, Alternative & Syndication Programming, Sony Pictures Television.
Lady A Dives Back In With ‘Ocean’ Set For November
/by Lorie HollabaughLady A penned many of the tracks on the album along with writers including Corey Crowder, Sarah Buxton, Ryan Hurd, Hillary Lindsey, Tenille Townes, Laura Veltz, and more. Ocean is available now for pre-order at all digital retailers, and fans pre-ordering will immediately receive a download of the title track along with previously released songs “Pictures” and their Top 15 single “What If I Never Get Over You.”
“There’s this theme of returning to the core of who we are—as writers, vocalists and people—that came out in each of these songs,” Dave Haywood explains. “Our time in the studio with Dann had an excitement that felt like we were making our first album all over again.”
Among the tracks on the new album are “You Can Do You,” a swaying live-and-let-live anthem inspired by the hustle of Nashville’s crowded streets, “Boots,” a heartland rocker with Celtic fiddles, the swirling “The Thing That Wrecks You,” featuring Little Big Town on backing vocals, “Be Patient with My Love,” which Kelley co-wrote as a beautiful ode to commitment, and the title track featuring Hillary Scott‘s bare vocal.
“It’s such a cinematic and theatrical melody with a message that became the cornerstone of this record for us,” said Scott about the title track. “Ocean is all of the things that we think and feel when we hear the word. This album is immersed in life stories about barely keeping your head above water all the way to those times that make you feel like everything is smooth sailing.”
OCEAN Track Listing:
1. “What If I Never Get Over You”
(Sam Ellis, Jon Green, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz)
2. “Pictures”
(Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Sarah Buxton, Corey Crowder)
3. “Crazy Love”
(Charles Kelley, Nathan Chapman)
4. “You Can Do You”
(Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Corey Crowder, Jordan Schmidt)
5. “What I’m Leaving For”
(Sam Ellis, Micah Premnath, Laura Veltz)
6. “Be Patient With My Love”
(Charles Kelley, Dave Barnes, Ben West)
7. “Alright”
(Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Busbee, Justin Ebach)
8. “Let It Be Love”
(Hillary Scott, Jordan Reynolds, Amy Wadge)
9. “On A Night Like This”
(Dave Barnes)
10. “Boots”
(Charles Kelley, Ross Copperman)
11. “The Thing That Wrecks You” feat. Little Big Town
(Daniel Tashian, Tenille Townes, Kate York)
12. “Mansion”
(Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Miller)
13. “Ocean”
(Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Abe Stoklasa)