Bobby Karl Works The Room: BMI Honors John Hiatt

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BMI’s Jody Williams, 2019 BMI Troubadour John Hiatt and BMI’s Mike O’Neill (Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI)

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 631

The next time somebody asks you to name five things you love about living in Nashville, start with this: “John Hiatt lives here.”

I’m serious. This droll, humble, gifted man is a singular presence – in a town famous for hosting sublimely gifted tunesmiths, he is a “songwriter’s songwriter.”

At an intimate banquet at BMI on Monday evening (Sept. 9), Hiatt was honored with the Troubadour Award. The honor celebrates “writers who craft for the sake of the song and set the standard for generations of writers who will follow.”

That’s our man John Hiatt. How well loved and respected is this Nashvillian? Here’s who showed up to sing his tunes – Elvis Costello, Delbert McClinton, The War & Treaty, Lily Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Marcus King and The World Famous Headliners (featuring individual recording stars Pat McLaughlin, Shawn Camp and Al Anderson),

Here’s who sat in the audience to applaud – Emmylou Harris, John Oates, Sam Bush, T Bone Burnett, Jeff Hanna of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and previous Troubadour winners John Prine and Robert Earl Keen. Actually, they frequently stood to applaud.

Here’s who appeared on video – Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Georgia Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Urban and Chuck Hull.

“You’re all about integrity,” said BMI’s Mason Hunter to the honoree, “and that’s what this award is all about.”

“It’s truly our privilege to honor you tonight,” added the organization’s CEO Michael O’Neill.

The event was hosted by BMI’s Jody Williams, who continued the plaudits with, “So many of the artists who have covered his songs are songwriters, themselves. And that is the ultimate compliment.”

Among the artists who have recorded Hiatt’s works are Emmylou, Delbert, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Linda Ronstadt, Iggy Pop, Rosanne Cash, Joe Cocker, Tom Petty, Suzy Bogguss, Bob Seger, Ry Cooder, Buddy Guy, Rick Nelson, Don Henley, Gregg Allman, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, Three Dog Night, The Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Cash, Bon Jovi, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Ronnie Milsap, The Temptations and Asleep at the Wheel.

“Have a Little Faith,” alone, has been recorded by 44 artists. And among Hiatt’s 24 albums are many other gems that shine as brightly.

The World Famous Headliners kicked off the music with “The Thing Called Love.” Delbert followed with “Have a Little Faith.” Lily Hiatt came next, followed by Lyle Lovett’s version of “On the Train to Birmingham.”

“What a joy it is to listen to all these people sing your songs,” said Elvis Costello. He added to the celebratory mood with “Take Off Your Uniform.” The War & Treaty rocked the house with “Feels Like Rain,” then turned up the heat even higher with Marcus King on “Riding with the King.”

BMI’s Jody Williams and Mike O’Neill, 2019 BMI Troubadour John Hiatt, 2018 BMI Troubadour John Prine, 2015 BMI Troubadour Robert Earl Keen and BMI’s Mason Hunter (Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI)

“I don’t know what that was, but that was awesome,” said Jody following a standing ovation. “Can I get an ‘amen’ from the room?”

Prine was last year’s winner, so he presented the vintage, silver Troubadour-award cup.

“I’m speechless,” said John Hiatt. “You can’t do anything without other people’s help: This has always been ‘home’ to me.”

We dined on chicken cordon bleu with roasted potatoes and carrots, followed by pecan mini pie with whipped cream and raspberries.

John Strohm, John Ingrassia, John Allen, Mark Brown, Mark Wright, Adam Wright, Fats Kaplan & Kristi Rose, Jed Hilly, Randy Talmadge, Phil Graham, Paul Kennerley, Ken Levitan, Peter Cooper, Clay Bradley, Dana Strong, Karen Clark, Maurice Miner, Del Bryant, Dusty Miller, Earle Simmons, Carla Wallace, Tracy Gershon, Logan Rogers, Bart Herbison, Katherine Richardson, Juli Thanki, Steve Buchanan, Mickey Rafael and Garth Fundis worked the room.

Artist Updates: Old Dominion, Tucker Beathard, Live In The Vineyard

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Old Dominion Announces 2020 Tour

Photo: Mason Allen

Old Dominion has announced dates for their We Are Old Dominion Tour in Canada kicking off in 2020. The Gold & Gold Productions, AEG and Concerts West powered outing will hit 12 cities with Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick set to open on select dates. Additionally, Old Dominion will perform two special nights on Dec. 12-13 in Niagara Falls, Ontario at the Fallsview Casino Resort.

A full list of tour dates is available at odmakeitsweet.com.

 

Tucker Beathard To Headline Monster Energy Outbreak Tour

Tucker Beathard will hit the road as part of the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour Presents: Tucker Beathard, to launch in Columbia, South Carolina on Oct. 31.

Beathards join the company of previous Monster Energy Outbreak Tour alumni including Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore, The Chainsmokers, Post Malone, Kane Brown, and more. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Sept. 13 at tuckerbeathard.com and outbreakpresents.com.

 

Live In The Vineyard Lets 2019 Performer Lineup

Live In the Vineyard, an annual music, food and wine event in Napa Valley, California, has announced this year’s performer lineup, for Oct. 31-Nov. 3. The show will feature performances from Maren Morris, Maddie & Tae, Meghan Patrick, Caitlyn Smith, Delta Rae, Walk Off The Earth, Adam Lambert, Natasha Beddingfield, Avril Lavigne, Madison Kozak, Nicolle Galyon and Kelsea Ballerini.

There will be several private VIP-only events during LITV at picturesque Napa Valley wineries that will feature up close and personal acoustic performances by King Calaway, for KING & COUNTRY, Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra), Ryan Griffin, A Thousand Horses, Brett Kissel, OBB, Sugar Ray, Wyn Starks, Stephanie Quayle and more.

Weekly Register: Sheryl Crow, Trisha Yearwood Make Top 5 Debuts

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Sheryl Crow and Trisha Yearwood both have albums debuting in Top 5 this week on the country albums chart, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Crow’s Threads moved 15K in total consumption to debut at No. 2, while Yearwood’s Every Girl moved 11K in total consumption to land at No. 5.

Luke Combs continues his reign at No. 1 with This One’s For You moving 19.5K. Dan+Shay‘s self-titled effort moved 15K to land at No. 3, followed by Morgan Wallen‘s If I Know Me at No. 4 (12K).

Blanco Brown continues to have the top country streaming song in the country, with “The Git Up” earning 19 million streams this week. Combs’ “Beer Never Broke My Heart” follows at No. 2 (8.4 million streams), while Blake Shelton‘s “God’s Country” lands at No. 3 (8 million). Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses” is at No. 4 (7.5 million) followed by Luke Bryan‘s “Knockin’ Boots” at No. 5 (7.3 million).

Tenille Townes Leads Canadian Country Music Awards Winners

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Tenille Townes led the evening with four trophy wins at Sunday evening’s (Sept. 8) Canadian Country Music Awards. Townes took home Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (“Somebody’s Daughter”), Songwriters of the Year (“Somebody’s Daughter,” alongside Creative Nation’s Barry Dean and Luke Laird), and Video of the Year (“Somebody’s Daughter”).

Dallas Smith took home the overall Entertainer of the Year honor, along with the MNP Male Artist of the Year award.

A full list of honorees from last night’s awards is below:

ARTIST AWARDS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Paul Brandt
Dean Brody
Tim Hicks
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith – WINNER

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Fall – Dallas Smith
Feels Like That – The Reklaws – WINNER
The Journey BNA Vol. 2 – Paul Brandt
Love A Girl – Tebey
New Tattoo – Tim Hicks
State Of Mind – Hunter Brothers

APPLE MUSIC FANS’ CHOICE
Gord Bamford
Paul Brandt
Dean Brody
Tim Hicks
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
Brett Kissel – WINNER
The Reklaws
Dallas Smith
Guylaine Tanguay

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Ell
Jess Moskaluke
Meghan Patrick
Guylaine Tanguay
Tenille Townes – WINNER

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
High Valley
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
The Reklaws
The Washboard Union – WINNER

INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Ell – WINNER
Aaron Goodvin
James Barker Band
Brett Kissel
Nice Horse

MNP MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Paul Brandt
Dean Brody
Tim Hicks
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith – WINNER

RISING STAR
Shawn Austin
Jade Eagleson – WINNER
Eric Ethridge
JoJo Mason
Sons of Daughters

ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion – Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion
Both Ways – Donovan Woods – WINNER
Heart Of Glass – Jessica Mitchell
Juliet – Dan Davidson
What We’re Made Of – The Washboard Union – WINNER

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Criminal” – Lindsay Ell
“Dive Bar” – Gord Bamford
“Good Together” – James Barker Band
“Somebody’s Daughter” – Tenille Townes – WINNER
“Walls Come Down” – Meghan Patrick

ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Brett Kissel, Seth Mosley, Brad Rempel
Song: “Cecilia” (Performed By: Brett Kissel)

Gord Bamford, Bart Butler, Brice Long
Song: “Down” (Performed By: Gord Bamford)

James Barker Band, Todd Clark, Gavin Slate, Travis Wood
Song: “Keep It Simple” (Performed By: James Barker Band)

Corey Crowder, Jess Moskaluke, Jared Mullins
Song: “Save Some Of That Whiskey” (Performed By: Jess Moskaluke)

Barry Dean, Luke Laird, Tenille Townes – WINNER
Song: “Somebody’s Daughter” (Performed By: Tenille Townes)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Camouflage” – Jess Moskaluke
“Criminal” – Lindsay Ell
“Feels Like That” – The Reklaws
“Somebody’s Daughter” – Tenille Townes – WINNER
“Walls Come Down” – Meghan Patrick

MUSICIAN AWARDS
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kirby Barber
Lisa Dodd – WINNER
Curtis Ebner
Doug Elash
Justin Kudding

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Ben Bradley
Flavio Cirillo
Rich DaSilva
Chad Melchert – WINNER
Rob Wells

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Linsey Beckett
Tyler Beckett
Denis Dufresne
Mike Sanyshyn
Tyler Vollrath – WINNER

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Paul Chapman
Ryan Davidson
Matt McKay – WINNER
Darren Savard
Geoff Torrn

KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Little
Bart McKay – WINNER
Brendan Waters

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
David Barber
Denis Dufresne
Shane Guse
Mitch Jay – WINNER
Connor Riddell

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Darrek Anderson
Mitch Jay – WINNER
Doug Johnson

RADIO AWARDS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
Steph Hansen – CISN-FM/CKRY-FM – Edmonton, AB/Calgary, AB
A.J. Keller – CFCW – Edmonton, AB
Amanda Kingsland – CKBY-FM – Ottawa, ON – WINNER
Rebecca Lafrance – CKKL-FM – Ottawa, ON
Peter Walker – CJKX-FM/CHKX-FM – Oshawa, ON/Hamilton, ON

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
Shilo Bellis – CJXL-FM – Moncton, NB
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ-FM – Belleville, ON – WINNER
Luca James – CKGY-FM – Red Deer, AB
Cory Noel – CKLJ/CKVG – Olds, AB/Vegreville, AB

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
CKBY-FM – RED DEER, ALBERTA – WINNER

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
CKGY-FM – Red Deer, Alberta – WINNER

ON-AIR PERSONALITY(IES) OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
CISN in the Mornings with Chris, Jack & Matt – CISN-FM – Edmonton, Alberta – WINNER

ON-AIR PERSONALITY(IES) OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
The Real Wake Up with Vinnie & Randi – CKGY-FM – Red Deer, Alberta – WINNER

INDUSTRY AWARDS
BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Feldman Agency – WINNER
Invictus Entertainment Group
Paquin Artists Agency
Sakamoto Agency
United Talent Agency

COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Cook County Saloon – Edmonton, AB
OK Corral & Cabaret – Kelowna, BC
Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall – Calgary, AB
Rock ‘N’ Horse Saloon – Toronto, ON – WINNER

COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Big Valley Jamboree – Camrose, AB
Boots And Hearts Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, ON
Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB
Cavendish Beach Music Festival – Cavendish, PE – WINNER
Havelock Country Jamboree – Havelock, ON

COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
CBC q Live At The Grand Ole Opry – CBCq
The Dungarees Christmas Special – Rogers Media and The Dungarees
Girl Power Hour – Rogers Media – WINNER
Jess Moskaluke’s A Small Town Christmas – MDM Recordings Inc.
Paul McGuire’s Country Countdown – ole TV

MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Big Loud Management
Cache Entertainment
Invictus Entertainment Group – WINNER
MDM Artist Management Services
Starseed Entertainment

MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
BMG Rights Management Canada
ole/Anthem Entertainment – WINNER
Royalty Records Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Warner Chappell Music Canada

RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR
MDM Recordings Inc.
Open Road Recordings
Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Universal Music Canada
Warner Music Canada – WINNER

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Steve Coady – Vice President, Radio Promotions – Warner Music Canada – WINNER
Mike Denney – President – MDM Recordings Inc.
Brianne Deslippe – Vice President of Promotion/General Manager – Canada – Big Loud Records
Ron Kitchener – President, CEO – RGK Entertainment Group Inc.
Shannon McNevan – Director of A&R – Universal Music Canada

CREATIVE DIRECTOR(S) OF THE YEAR
Design Team: Bronwin Parks
Album: All In, Artist Merchandise (Artist: Chris Buck Band)

Design Team: Alee, Photography: Uryelle Dimailig
Single: Don’t Make Me Miss You (Artist: Alee)

Design Team: Buckspring Inc., Photography: Andrik Langfield, Tanner Wendell Stewart, Jonathan Taylor Sweet, Paul Tellefsen – WINNER
Albums: The Journey YYC Vol. 1, The Journey BNA Vol. 2, The Journey YYC-BNA Deluxe Volume;
Single: Bittersweet feat. Lindsay Ell, Tour Graphics: The Journey Tour (Artist: Paul Brandt)

Design Team: Bronwin Parks
Album: Sides, EP: Side A + Side B (Digital Release), Single: Danger Danger, Artist Merchandise (Artist: KIRA)

Design Team: Scotty Kipfer, Photography: Brad Kelly
Taking My Time (Artist: Scotty Kipfer)

RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Barrytone Studios – St. Clements, ON
Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK
MCC Recording Studio – Calgary, AB
OCL Studios – Chestemere, AB
Revolution Recording – Toronto, ON – WINNER

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Jeff Dalziel – WINNER
Album: Juliet (Artist: Dan Davidson)

Danick Dupelle, Tebey
Single: Who’s Gonna Love You (Artist: Tebey)

Adam Gregory, Bart McKay
Album: Perfect World (Artist: Adam Gregory)

Mitch Merrett, F. Reid Shippen
Album: Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion (Artist: Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion)

Joey Moi, Dave Cohen
Album: The Fall (Artist: Dallas Smith)

RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Amazon Music
Apple Music – WINNER
Spotify Canada Inc.

RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Biro – Sakamoto Agency – WINNER
Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
Adam Oppenheim – Stampede Entertainment Inc.
Lisa Zechmeister – Republic Live

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Stephano Barberis
Video: 20 Dollars In My Pocket (Artist: The Lovelocks), Video: 24 Reasons (Artist: Kadooh), Video: Dive Bar (Artist: Gord Bamford), Video: Downtown Kids (Artist: David James), Video: Everything Girl (Artist: Dave Hartney), Video: Make ‘Em Like You (Artist: Dallas Smith), Video: Walls Come Down (Artist: Meghan Patrick);

Ben Knechtel – WINNER
Video: Ain’t My Fault (Live From Toronto / 2019) (Artist: Jade Eagleson), Video: Count The Ways (Artist: Jade Eagleson), Video: Dear Drunk Me (Artist: Chad Brownlee ), Video: Feels Like That (Artist: The Reklaws), Video: Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere (Artist: Chad Brownlee ), Video: Got Your Name On It (Artist: Jade Eagleson), Video: Keep It Simple (Artist: James Barker Band) Video: Long Live The Night (Artist: The Reklaws), Video: Lost (Artist: Hunter Brothers) Video: Never Be The Same (Artist: James Barker Band), Video: Save Some Of That Whiskey (Artist: Jess Moskaluke), Video: The Worst Kind feat. Lindsay Ell (Artist: Tim Hicks);

Wes Mack
Video: Camouflage (Artist: Jess Moskaluke), Video: Never Have I Ever feat. Sons of Daughters (Artist: Wes Mack), Video: PBR State of Mind (Artist: Wes Mack);

Travis Nesbitt
Video: Can’t Help Myself (Artist: Dan Davidson), Video: Don’t Hold Back (Artist: The Dungarees), Video: I’ll Get Along (Artist: Danny Hooper), Video: Little Log Cabin (Artist: Danny Hooper), Video: These Are My People (Artist: Dan Davidson);

Joel Stewart
Video: Feel Like That (Artist: The Washboard Union), Video: She Gets Me (Artist: The Washboard Union), Video: You Are (Artist: Aaron Goodvin), Video: Zamboni (Artist: The Road Hammers).

Tanya Tucker To Play First-Ever Headlining Show At Ryman

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Tanya Tucker will perform in Nashville Jan. 12 with some special guests at “Tanya Tucker & Friends at the Ryman.” The special show will be her first-ever full headlining concert at the Ryman Auditorium, and tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 13.

The country icon recently appeared on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and TODAY to promote her new album While I’m Livin,’ which is Tucker’s 10th Top 10 Billboard Top country album, her first-ever No. 1 album on Nielsen’s Americana/Folk chart, and also landed at No. 2 on the UK Country chart, No. 3 on the UK Americana chart and No. 3 on the Top Country Albums chart in Canada.

Zach Crowell Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Tape Room Music writer Zach Crowell moves into the Top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with co-writer credits on charting tunes “Good Vibes” (Chris Janson) and “Ridin’ Roads” (Dustin Lynch) moving him into the No. 8 spot. Another Tape Room writer—and Founder—Ashley Gorley maintains the No. 1 position for his sixth consecutive week.

HARDY keeps his positioning at No. 2, Hillary Lindsey at No. 3 and Jon Nite at No. 4. Blanco Brown rounds out 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.

Thirty Tigers Adds Mike DePippa To Oversee Alternative, Rock, Pop Promotion

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Mike DePippa. Photo: Meredith Truax

Mike DePippa has joined Thirty Tigers as SVP/Promotion and Artist Development. In his role, DePippa will oversee alternative, rock and pop radio promotion as well as contribute to marketing and artist development campaigns. He will work alongside current VP/Contemporary Radio Promotion, Lindsay Reid, and report to company president, David Macias.

DePippa was most recently SVP Promotion at Island Records, and previously ran Rock Formats Promotion for Republic and Columbia Records. He also spent time at Epic and Elektra Records.

Macias says, “Mike is an incredible industry executive with great relationships and a tremendous amount of respect across all facets of the music industry. We are thrilled that he made the decision to relocate to Nashville and to join the team.”

DePippa added, “I couldn’t be more thrilled and grateful to join David, Nancy and the team at Thirty Tigers. The company’s commitment to artist development and their independent, entrepreneurial spirit make it a perfect fit for this next step in my career.” DePippa can be reached at md@thirtytigers.com.

This year, Thirty Tigers’ releases have included a new album from Bruce Hornsby along with new music from Joy Williams, Josh Ritter, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jamestown Revival, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors as well as the debut album from Ian Noe.

Still to come this year from Thirty Tigers are new albums from The Milk Carton Kids, Allison Moorer, Chris Knight and southern-rock stalwarts, Whiskey Myers.

Based in Nashville with offices in Atlanta, North Carolina, New York, LA and London, Thirty Tigers is distributed by The Orchard.

Hootie & The Blowfish Cap Out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena

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Hootie & the Blowfish perform to a sold-out Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 7, 2019. Photo: Jason Kempin, Getty Images

Fans new and old filled Bridgestone Arena to the gills on Saturday night (Sept. 7) to experience Hootie & The Blowfish, twenty-eight years after performing their first Nashville show at the beloved club Exit/In. As part of the Group Therapy Tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 21-times Platinum breakthrough album, Cracked Rearview, the band sold out the Nashville Arena. Hootie & The Blowfish brought along the Barenaked Ladies with them.

From the minute vocalist Darius Rucker, guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber and drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld stepped on stage, the crowd sang along to every word, with drinks and fists in the air. The band kicked everything off with a recording of actor Samuel L. Jackson reading Bible passage Ezekiel 25:17, then the band went straight into back-to-back hits “Hannah Jane,” “State Your Peace” and their “I Go Blind” cover, thrilling the crowd each time. Showing no mercy, Hootie & The Blowfish then played the dreamy “Not Even The Trees” and “Hold My Hand.”

Pictured: Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker performs to a sold-out Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jason Kempin, Getty Images

“It’s really cool to be back and do this again, get the whole band back together,” Rucker said. “We play this song for one reason; for every band that has ever been a band, there’s that one band that they just look up to. When we started this in ’86, this is the band that made us want to play music.” The band then went into R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion.”

During their 1998 hit “I Will Wait,” old photos, tour posters and footage from the early Hootie days played on the screen behind the band. If that wasn’t enough nostalgia, the band followed “I Will Wait” with their monster hit “Let Her Cry.” Cell phone lighters waved in the dark crowd, and fans put their arms around each other and screamed the lyrics to the top of their lungs. The LED wall behind the band displayed a Waffle House diner.

Hootie & The Blowish live at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Photo: LB Rogers for MusicRow

Hootie & The Blowfish then went into the only Led Zeppelin cover that Rucker says he can sing, “Hey Hey What Can I Do.” That wasn’t the only cover of the night, as the band also covered Radney Foster’s “Fine Line” and Tom Waits’ “I Hope I Don’t Fall in Love With You.” They also played lead singer Darius Rucker’s solo country hits “Alright” and “Wagon Wheel.”

Towards the end of the night, Hootie relentlessly thrilled the crowd with fan-favorites “Running From an Angel” and “Time.” They also played a new track, “Rollin’,” from their upcoming studio album, Imperfect Circle, which is due out Nov. 1.

The Barenaked Ladies returned to the stage at the end of the night to help Hootie & The Blowfish cover “I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends.” Members of the two epic ’90s bands locked arms and swayed to the lyrics.

Barenaked Ladies’ proved to be a perfect opener for Hootie, as they played their tongue-tying hits and provided a lot of comedy. “We’re called the Barenaked Ladies.,” lead singer Ed Robertson. “Thank you for arriving early to see our rock and roll performance!” They made sure to play the hits including “If I Had $1000000,” “One Week,” and “Pinch Me,” as well as The Big Bang Theory‘s “The History of Everything.”

During an encore, much to the crowd’s amusement, the band finally played their monster hit “Only Wanna Be With You,” mashed up with Kool & the Gang’s “Get Down on It.” Fans left Bridgestone Arena and walked into the balmy, September air with arms around one another and ear-to-ear smiles.

Hootie & The Blowfish’s Group Therapy Tour continues with a three-night stand in the band’s hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, on Sept. 11, 12 and 13 before the band takes their show to the U.K. & Ireland next month.

Pictured: Hootie & the Blowfish guitarist Mark Bryan performs to a sold-out Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jason Kempin, Getty Images

Nashville Artist Manager, Agent, Talent Promoter Alton “Al” Embry Dies

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Alton “Al” Embry, long-time manager, agent and talent promoter known for working with artists including Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, The Statler Brothers, Alabama, and Merle Haggard, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, at his Old Hickory, Tennessee, home at 82 of natural causes.

Born in Butler County, Kentucky on Aug. 19, 1937, Embry began his career in the music business in the ’60s working as a liaison in securing entertainment industry photo coverage opportunities for the popular national publication, Look Magazine. Embry’s interaction with artists led him to meet music sensation of the day, Jerry Lee Lewis in the mid-60s. That meeting turned into what would become a decades-long working relationship. Traveling the world with Lewis, he would meet virtually all the top name performers of the era across the platforms of Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, R & B, and Country, many of whom would subsequently become his clients in the years to come.

Beginning his career as a talent booking agent in Nashville with the Hubert Long International Agency on Music Row, he ultimately rose to become Vice President, handling the careers of the agency’s roster of major country artists including George Jones, Tammy Wynette, The Statler Brothers, and Merle Haggard.

In 1975, Embry decided to chart his own independent course in Nashville with the launch of Al Embry International. He began booking a startup band Wild Country shortly after launching the agency and that group went on to become known as the multi-award-winning mega-group Alabama. Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Chubby Checker were among his top artist clients.

Embry dove into the television side of the business and executive produced the Fats Domino and Friends HBO special, which was a first Cinemax session, with guests Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones, and Paul Shaffer. This specific show won Embry his first Cable ACE award. Booking the “Fight Night for Children” concert series, Al Embry’s production abilities produced successful events for a long list of top mainstream and country names such as the Charlie Daniels Band, Joan Jett, Lenny Kravitz and Grand Funk Railroad.

Embry is survived by his wife of 34 years Tracy Embry, sister Brenda (Dale) Stanley, sister Veneda (Richard) Pickard, brother JR “Audley” (Natalie) Embry, sister Vickylynn Martinez, sister-in-law LaNora Gaylord, son Wayne (Kathryn) Embry, son Tony (Deborah) Embry, daughter Tammy (Ronnie) Fie, grandson JR Embry, grandson Michael Embry, grandson Scott Embry (Vantha), granddaughter Akeysha Embry, great grandson DJ Devilla, great granddaughter Caitlin Embry, great grandson Andy Embry, and great granddaughter Ellie Embry.

 

Paradigm Signs LeAnn Rimes

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LeAnn Rimes. Photo: Sara Hertel

Paradigm Talent Agency has signed LeAnn Rimes to its roster, and will represent Rimes globally across the board in all fields.

“I am honored and excited to collaborate with such a forward-thinking, unique company in this next chapter of my career,” shares Rimes. “Marty, Jonathan, the worldwide team of Paradigm and I are going to create magic.”

“LeAnn is one of the most prolific voices of our time,” says Paradigm Worldwide Head of Music, Marty Diamond. “As a pioneer of making music that transcends across all platforms for the better part of two decades, she continues to be a genre-bending, trailblazing talent with a voice ahead of her time.”

Paradigm Nashville Co-Head, Jonathan Levine, added, “We’re honored to have LeAnn join our family of mavericks and are excited to support her as she continues to push the music industry forward.”

Rimes is also represented by manager Darrell Brown (Prodigy Management) and publicists Yvette Noel-Schure, Christina Garvin and Edwin Banacia (Schure Media Group).