Pictured (L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, SMACKSongs’ Shane McAnally, Warner/Chappell’s Travis Carter, Songwriter/Producer Chris DeStefano, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, APRA’s Mark Moffatt, Morgan Evans, Warner Music Nashville’s Scott Hendricks, Songwriter Josh Osborne, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, BMI’s Maryann Keen Photo: Steve Lowry
Morgan Evans experienced quite a journey from his early years as an aspiring artist in Australia all the way to the stage at Soundcheck in Nashville last Thursday night (Jan. 17), where he was rehearsing for his upcoming tour with Old Dominion and took time out to celebrate his first No. 1 “Kiss Somebody,” with fellow co-writers and veteran hitmakers Josh Osborne and Chris DeStefano.
Dozens of industry friends were on hand for the special occasion at the rehearsal hall, which was decked out for a Piñata Party complete with plenty of margaritas and Mexican food. ASCAP and BMI hosted the event to honor Evans for his first trip to the top of the charts, a place Osborne and DeStefano travel to frequently, with 17 and 18 No. 1 hits between them, respectively.
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker welcomed the crowd and offered up introductions on the three writers being celebrated before BMI’s Mary Ann Keen congratulated Evans on his first chart-topper, reminding the crowd impressively that not only did Evans and Chris DeStefano co-write every song on Evan’s debut project, they also both played on every single track as well. Keen presented Evans with a Taylor guitar to commemorate the special occasion. David Smith from Pinnacle also congratulated Evans on his success with a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of the song, as they do with every chart-topping hit.
Evans’ Australian PRO APRA was also on hand for the celebration, and APRA’s Mark Moffatt recalled how amazing Evans’ journey truly has been, from making the leap of faith to move to Nashville after honing his craft for years, to meeting the love of his life, Kelsea Ballerini (who was in the audience) and reaching the top of the charts with his debut single. He also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Evan’s longtime manager Rob Potts, who was killed in a motorcycle crash in October 2017.
“While APRA was involved in getting Morgan here and introducing him, it’s teams here that really kicked it to the goal…Warner/Chappell, BMI, and having said that none of this would have happened without the late great Rob Potts,” said Moffatt. “I’d also like to say moving countries is an awesome thing to do it’s kind of an achievement. Moving countries and having a number one is unbelievable. Moving countries, having a number one, and finding the love of your life…there’s no words for that. How bout it? It’s been a pleasure and an honor to be part of your journey Morgan.”
Travis Carter from Warner/Chappell acknowledged what an honor it is to be Morgan’s publisher, thanking Chris for introducing Morgan to him, acknowledging Osborne’s unprecedented run, and praising Warner’s staff for their dedication to excellence.
Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg noted that while No. 1 parties are always special, this one was extra special because it was the first time he was representing Josh Osborne at one. “We’ve admired you from afar, your talents, what a great guy you are, so it’s very fun to be on your team so I want to say thank you. We’ve been kissing your butt for the last year, our lips are chapped, that’s one way to Kiss Somebody, but I want to say thank you so much for trusting us, and believing that we could be a place for your songs, so congrats. For Chris, we’ve gotten to know you and work with you over the years and I so admire your talent as songwriter, as a singer, as a producer…you’re like a rifleist, a sniper. So thank you for working so hard for us always. Morgan, we’re so impressed by your talents, by your artistry, you’re such a good dude, but I’ll never drink tequila with you again, but I love you very much and we’re so thankful to get to work with you.”
SMACK’s Shane McAnally praised all three writers for their prowess but noted he was especially happy to be celebrating business partner and longtime friend Osborne. “I am excited to talk about Josh, who is an incredible partner in the writing room and the last couple of years in SMACK as well, and honestly, let’s face it, if Josh were gay, we would be the Kelsea and Morgan of this party! But he’s not, so I get to enjoy his success in another house,” he adds, laughing. “But for real, I just happen to be lucky enough to be working with and to be best friends with the best writer across the board. He is the best there is, and he can do anything in any room, and he brings the heart, and be brings the fun, and every day with him is better and anybody who writes with him would say that and I just wanted to get up here and tell you how much we love Josh Osborne and are proud to work with him.”
Highlighting the monumental success of “Kiss Somebody,” CRB’s RJ Curtis noted the song has already accumulated 150,000 spins reaching 912 million people at radio, and Country Aircheck‘s Chuck Aly also honored Evans’ achievement from the stage as well. CMA head Sarah Trahern presented all three writers with medals, placing Evans’ around his neck as Osborne joked, “And now, the playing of the Australian National Anthem!”
Warner Music Nashville Chairman and CEO John Esposito began his remarks by thanking everyone at his label, especially the radio team, noting “they handle rejection on a daily basis better than I ever could.” He noted Evans’ current single, “Day Drunk,” is getting traction in the UK and other international territories already, and that he would soon be introduced as “worldwide star.”
“Before I give you some stats I’d particularly like to acknowledge Morgan’s touring band, they are kicking ass,” Espo joked, riffing on Evans’ loop pedal performances sans backing band. The label head went on to list some pretty impressive stats, including Evans’ 620,000 sales in the U.S., 75 million on-demand streams, and landing on Spotify’s Global Top 50.
He admitted that moving this song up the charts became more than just a typical goal after the loss of Potts in 2017 — it became a mission for the whole team. “I’ve been on the CMA Board the whole nine years I’ve been down here, and one of the characters on that Board was Rob Potts,” recalled Esposito. “He started pitching me on Morgan about six years ago, and every Board meeting, it was ‘you’ve gotta listen to this, I’m telling ya the kid’s a star!’ And I’ve been looking at the links and seeing what he was doing in Australia and I was very impressed. But I kept saying you know, first of all he’s got to move to Nashville and make a commitment and let’s get him in the room with writers in Nashville. And by god one day he walked in with the stuff that Morgan had written with these guys that Chris produced, and I said it’s about time. And I know Rob Potts said it’s about time.
“We signed Morgan a month later, and were blessed that he came to us,” Esposito continued. “And I think it was a month later after the celebration of his signing that Rob had his motorcycle accident and went up there. So this became very personal for everybody at our label. I know it became personal for a lot of people in this town. But I said there is no way we’re not gonna deliver Rob Potts a number one record for him to look down on us. So thank you everybody who helped make this happen.”
Esposito also announced the CMA will be announcing an internship program created in Potts’ honor as well, then presented Evans with his first RIAA Gold plaque for the single.
Finally it was time for the men of the hour to speak, with DeStefano thanking everyone in the crowd for celebrating with them on the special day. “It’s always a very humbling thing when you see the amount of people who support this and how many people who are involved really in the miracle that is a number one song — how many things need to go right and how many people are involved. My publisher Sony/ATV thanks for all you do, you work tirelessly for my songs. Josh Van Valkenburg, for believing in me since Day One — literally me stepping off the plane here in Nashville back in June 2010 and I feel like my life began in June 2010, like everything up ’til then was life experience but the best all happened after that moment, so thank you brother. Huge thanks to ASCAP for always supporting songwriters and fighting for our rights. The NSAI are absolutely at the forefront of that as well.
“Thank you Millie for inviting me down to the Song Hub 50 Songs in Five Days back in November 2016 and introducing me to this guy Mr. Morgan Evans. It was in incredible opportunity that was certainly life-changing for me, and I was humbled to be a part of Morgan’s career. I’m so grateful Morgan to be able to collaborate with you and work with you, I love your creativity, all your ideas, everything you bring makes the process so enjoyable, and also for your friendship as well. We’ve experienced a lot together it’s been a few years but we jumped out of a plane together in Australia, and I never thought I’d do that in my life! It was an amazing experience. I’m blessed to have you in my life – thank you buddy!”
Osborne recognized the work that goes into getting a song up the chart and how he never takes that for granted. “Honestly, these things are always amazing,” said Osborne. “When I first moved to Nashville I thought like a lot of people that if you wrote a song and it got on the radio, and the song became a number one hit it was basically magic, and the truth is, after being in the business I understand now it’s not magic, it’s people who work really hard to make that happen. So thank you to the Warner staff for taking this song with a new artist and working it up the chart, and for Morgan to go out and work as hard as he did to do everything he could to promote the song and give it a chance, if you’re a songwriter in this business that’s all you can ask for, is for people to have the same passion for your songs that you have. And this song was very fortunate to have that. So those are the kinds of things you learn not to take for granted.”
Evans capped off the festive evening by performing his current single and the chart-topper “Kiss Somebody” for the crowd, but not before saying a few words and reflecting back on the journey that brought him 10,000 miles from home to his place as one of country’s new rising stars. “Every time I see the city skyline I think about the first time I came to Nashville and imagined being a part of this community. Every time I have that thought I get this rush of memories. Especially on a day like today when we get to stop and look back and celebrate things,” said Evans. “This is the biggest occasion. This is it. More than anything, it means I get to keep doing this for a long time, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Pictured (L-R): Songwriter/Producer Chris DeStefano, Songwriter Josh Osborne, Morgan Evans, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito
Morgan Evans Celebrates Chart-Topping Success Of “Kiss Somebody”
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, SMACKSongs’ Shane McAnally, Warner/Chappell’s Travis Carter, Songwriter/Producer Chris DeStefano, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, APRA’s Mark Moffatt, Morgan Evans, Warner Music Nashville’s Scott Hendricks, Songwriter Josh Osborne, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, BMI’s Maryann Keen Photo: Steve Lowry
Morgan Evans experienced quite a journey from his early years as an aspiring artist in Australia all the way to the stage at Soundcheck in Nashville last Thursday night (Jan. 17), where he was rehearsing for his upcoming tour with Old Dominion and took time out to celebrate his first No. 1 “Kiss Somebody,” with fellow co-writers and veteran hitmakers Josh Osborne and Chris DeStefano.
Dozens of industry friends were on hand for the special occasion at the rehearsal hall, which was decked out for a Piñata Party complete with plenty of margaritas and Mexican food. ASCAP and BMI hosted the event to honor Evans for his first trip to the top of the charts, a place Osborne and DeStefano travel to frequently, with 17 and 18 No. 1 hits between them, respectively.
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker welcomed the crowd and offered up introductions on the three writers being celebrated before BMI’s Mary Ann Keen congratulated Evans on his first chart-topper, reminding the crowd impressively that not only did Evans and Chris DeStefano co-write every song on Evan’s debut project, they also both played on every single track as well. Keen presented Evans with a Taylor guitar to commemorate the special occasion. David Smith from Pinnacle also congratulated Evans on his success with a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of the song, as they do with every chart-topping hit.
Evans’ Australian PRO APRA was also on hand for the celebration, and APRA’s Mark Moffatt recalled how amazing Evans’ journey truly has been, from making the leap of faith to move to Nashville after honing his craft for years, to meeting the love of his life, Kelsea Ballerini (who was in the audience) and reaching the top of the charts with his debut single. He also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Evan’s longtime manager Rob Potts, who was killed in a motorcycle crash in October 2017.
“While APRA was involved in getting Morgan here and introducing him, it’s teams here that really kicked it to the goal…Warner/Chappell, BMI, and having said that none of this would have happened without the late great Rob Potts,” said Moffatt. “I’d also like to say moving countries is an awesome thing to do it’s kind of an achievement. Moving countries and having a number one is unbelievable. Moving countries, having a number one, and finding the love of your life…there’s no words for that. How bout it? It’s been a pleasure and an honor to be part of your journey Morgan.”
Travis Carter from Warner/Chappell acknowledged what an honor it is to be Morgan’s publisher, thanking Chris for introducing Morgan to him, acknowledging Osborne’s unprecedented run, and praising Warner’s staff for their dedication to excellence.
Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg noted that while No. 1 parties are always special, this one was extra special because it was the first time he was representing Josh Osborne at one. “We’ve admired you from afar, your talents, what a great guy you are, so it’s very fun to be on your team so I want to say thank you. We’ve been kissing your butt for the last year, our lips are chapped, that’s one way to Kiss Somebody, but I want to say thank you so much for trusting us, and believing that we could be a place for your songs, so congrats. For Chris, we’ve gotten to know you and work with you over the years and I so admire your talent as songwriter, as a singer, as a producer…you’re like a rifleist, a sniper. So thank you for working so hard for us always. Morgan, we’re so impressed by your talents, by your artistry, you’re such a good dude, but I’ll never drink tequila with you again, but I love you very much and we’re so thankful to get to work with you.”
SMACK’s Shane McAnally praised all three writers for their prowess but noted he was especially happy to be celebrating business partner and longtime friend Osborne. “I am excited to talk about Josh, who is an incredible partner in the writing room and the last couple of years in SMACK as well, and honestly, let’s face it, if Josh were gay, we would be the Kelsea and Morgan of this party! But he’s not, so I get to enjoy his success in another house,” he adds, laughing. “But for real, I just happen to be lucky enough to be working with and to be best friends with the best writer across the board. He is the best there is, and he can do anything in any room, and he brings the heart, and be brings the fun, and every day with him is better and anybody who writes with him would say that and I just wanted to get up here and tell you how much we love Josh Osborne and are proud to work with him.”
Highlighting the monumental success of “Kiss Somebody,” CRB’s RJ Curtis noted the song has already accumulated 150,000 spins reaching 912 million people at radio, and Country Aircheck‘s Chuck Aly also honored Evans’ achievement from the stage as well. CMA head Sarah Trahern presented all three writers with medals, placing Evans’ around his neck as Osborne joked, “And now, the playing of the Australian National Anthem!”
Warner Music Nashville Chairman and CEO John Esposito began his remarks by thanking everyone at his label, especially the radio team, noting “they handle rejection on a daily basis better than I ever could.” He noted Evans’ current single, “Day Drunk,” is getting traction in the UK and other international territories already, and that he would soon be introduced as “worldwide star.”
“Before I give you some stats I’d particularly like to acknowledge Morgan’s touring band, they are kicking ass,” Espo joked, riffing on Evans’ loop pedal performances sans backing band. The label head went on to list some pretty impressive stats, including Evans’ 620,000 sales in the U.S., 75 million on-demand streams, and landing on Spotify’s Global Top 50.
He admitted that moving this song up the charts became more than just a typical goal after the loss of Potts in 2017 — it became a mission for the whole team. “I’ve been on the CMA Board the whole nine years I’ve been down here, and one of the characters on that Board was Rob Potts,” recalled Esposito. “He started pitching me on Morgan about six years ago, and every Board meeting, it was ‘you’ve gotta listen to this, I’m telling ya the kid’s a star!’ And I’ve been looking at the links and seeing what he was doing in Australia and I was very impressed. But I kept saying you know, first of all he’s got to move to Nashville and make a commitment and let’s get him in the room with writers in Nashville. And by god one day he walked in with the stuff that Morgan had written with these guys that Chris produced, and I said it’s about time. And I know Rob Potts said it’s about time.
“We signed Morgan a month later, and were blessed that he came to us,” Esposito continued. “And I think it was a month later after the celebration of his signing that Rob had his motorcycle accident and went up there. So this became very personal for everybody at our label. I know it became personal for a lot of people in this town. But I said there is no way we’re not gonna deliver Rob Potts a number one record for him to look down on us. So thank you everybody who helped make this happen.”
Esposito also announced the CMA will be announcing an internship program created in Potts’ honor as well, then presented Evans with his first RIAA Gold plaque for the single.
Finally it was time for the men of the hour to speak, with DeStefano thanking everyone in the crowd for celebrating with them on the special day. “It’s always a very humbling thing when you see the amount of people who support this and how many people who are involved really in the miracle that is a number one song — how many things need to go right and how many people are involved. My publisher Sony/ATV thanks for all you do, you work tirelessly for my songs. Josh Van Valkenburg, for believing in me since Day One — literally me stepping off the plane here in Nashville back in June 2010 and I feel like my life began in June 2010, like everything up ’til then was life experience but the best all happened after that moment, so thank you brother. Huge thanks to ASCAP for always supporting songwriters and fighting for our rights. The NSAI are absolutely at the forefront of that as well.
“Thank you Millie for inviting me down to the Song Hub 50 Songs in Five Days back in November 2016 and introducing me to this guy Mr. Morgan Evans. It was in incredible opportunity that was certainly life-changing for me, and I was humbled to be a part of Morgan’s career. I’m so grateful Morgan to be able to collaborate with you and work with you, I love your creativity, all your ideas, everything you bring makes the process so enjoyable, and also for your friendship as well. We’ve experienced a lot together it’s been a few years but we jumped out of a plane together in Australia, and I never thought I’d do that in my life! It was an amazing experience. I’m blessed to have you in my life – thank you buddy!”
Osborne recognized the work that goes into getting a song up the chart and how he never takes that for granted. “Honestly, these things are always amazing,” said Osborne. “When I first moved to Nashville I thought like a lot of people that if you wrote a song and it got on the radio, and the song became a number one hit it was basically magic, and the truth is, after being in the business I understand now it’s not magic, it’s people who work really hard to make that happen. So thank you to the Warner staff for taking this song with a new artist and working it up the chart, and for Morgan to go out and work as hard as he did to do everything he could to promote the song and give it a chance, if you’re a songwriter in this business that’s all you can ask for, is for people to have the same passion for your songs that you have. And this song was very fortunate to have that. So those are the kinds of things you learn not to take for granted.”
Evans capped off the festive evening by performing his current single and the chart-topper “Kiss Somebody” for the crowd, but not before saying a few words and reflecting back on the journey that brought him 10,000 miles from home to his place as one of country’s new rising stars. “Every time I see the city skyline I think about the first time I came to Nashville and imagined being a part of this community. Every time I have that thought I get this rush of memories. Especially on a day like today when we get to stop and look back and celebrate things,” said Evans. “This is the biggest occasion. This is it. More than anything, it means I get to keep doing this for a long time, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Pictured (L-R): Songwriter/Producer Chris DeStefano, Songwriter Josh Osborne, Morgan Evans, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito
Randy Rogers Band To Release New Album And Tour, ‘Hellbent’
/by LB CantrellRandy Rogers Band has announced their eighth studio album, Hellbent, will be released on April 26. The 11-track album was produced by four-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb. The band also announced their tour of the same name, which will kick off in March.
The band’s first single “Crazy People” from Hellbent reflects a unique aspect of Rogers’ life growing up.
“I used to be scared of neon signs at restaurants because it had been drilled in my head that people were drinking and therefore, they were crazy,” Rogers said. “We took the irony and had some fun with it.”
Hellbent represents the latest chapter in Rogers’ multi-faceted career. A college graduate with a degree in public relations, Rogers is also the co-owner of several Texas venues, including Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas. Additionally, he’s a founding partner in Big Blind Management, steering the careers of Red Shahan and Parker McCollum. A fan of collaboration both inside and out of his own band, Rogers has partnered with friend Wade Bowen on the infectious Hold My Beer projects and joined forces with Lone Star legend Robert Earl Keen as The Stryker Brothers. He recently joined Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker to sing on Michael Martin Murphey’s Austinology. Hellbent returns Rogers to his primary priority: the band’s own music.
“We’re in it for the long haul,” Rogers said. “We’re lifers. This is obviously our way of life. This isn’t some Johnny-come-lately group of guys. We’re like an oak tree. We’re not going anywhere. We’re not hinged on whether our next single will be a No.1. We’re not hinged on an album topping the charts. We have a great and loyal fan base and we do things right. When we play our shows, people expect to have a great night and to go home satisfied. As long as we keep doing that, no change in the industry, no record deal or anything like that can make or break this band.”
Hellbent Track Listing:
1. “Drinking Money”
2. “I’ll Never Get Over You”
3. “Anchors Away”
4. “Comal County”
5. “Hell Bent On A Heartache”
6. “You, Me, And A Bottle”
7. “We Never Made It To Mexico”
8. “Crazy People”
9. “Fire In The Hole”
10. “Wine In A Coffee Cup”
11. “Good One Coming On”
Pictured (L-R): Johnny “Chops” Richardson, Les Lawless, Randy Rogers, Geoffrey Hill, Brady Black, Todd Stewart
Hellbent Tour Dates:
Friday, March 29, 2019 — Helotes, TX – Floore’s Country Store
Saturday, March 30, 2019 — Helotes, TX – Floore’s Country Store
Saturday, April 6, 2019 — Snook, TX – Starlight Ballroom
Friday, April 12, 2019 — Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Saturday, April 13, 2019 — Lubbock, TX – The Blue Light
Friday, April 19, 2019 — Greenville, TX – Hunt County Fair
Thursday, April 25, 2019 — Stephenville, TX – Melody Mountain Ranch
Friday, May 3, 2019 — Texarkana, TX – Scottie’s Grill
Friday, May 10, 2019 — Lincoln, NE – The Railyard
Saturday, May 11, 2019 — Iowa City, IA – First Avenue Club
Friday, May 24, 2019 — Biloxi, MS — IP Casino Resort Spa – Studio A
Friday, May 31, 2019 — Ruidoso, NM – Wingfield Park
Saturday, June 1, 2019 — Graham, TX – Young County Arena
Saturday, June 29, 2019 — Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater
Saturday, August 3, 2019 — Joseph, OR – Back Country Bash
Additional dates to be added.
For tickets and an updated tour schedule, visit randyrogersband.com.
Singer-Songwriter Maxine Brown Of The Browns Dies
/by Robert K OermannPictured (L-R): Bonnie Brown Ring, Jim Ed Brown and Maxine Brown Russell. Photo: Courtesy The Browns
By Robert K. Oermann
Country Music Hall of Fame member Maxine Brown died at age 87 on Monday (Jan. 21).
As a member of The Browns, she sang “The Three Bells,” the first true “Nashville Sound” recording to reach No. 1 on the pop charts. The Browns’ many other hits included “Scarlet Ribbons,” “The Old Lamplighter” and “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On.”
The Browns were a sibling trio specializing in flawless, echoey harmony vocals. In addition to Maxine, the trio consisted of lead vocalist Jim Ed Brown (1934-2015), Bonnie Brown (1939-2016) and oldest sibling Maxine.
Maxine and her two younger siblings spent the formative years of their lives on an Arkansas farm without electricity or running water. On Saturday nights, the family would tune a battery-operated radio to WSM-AM (650) and listen to the Grand Ole Opry.
Proud of her younger brother’s singing ability, Maxine entered Jim Ed into a talent contest in 1952. It was sponsored by Little Rock’s KLRA radio. He was invited to appear on the station’s Barnyard Frolic show. Soon, he invited Maxine to sing with him on the Frolic.
Their distinctive duet harmonies impressed country star Wayne Raney (1921-1993), who championed Jim Ed and Maxine to record labels.
In 1954, they signed with Fabor Records and recorded their first Top 10 country hit, their cowritten “Looking Back to See.” The song has since been recorded by many, including Justin Tubb & Goldie Hill, Buck Owens & Susan Raye, The Canadian Sweethearts, George Jones & Margie Singleton, Bill Anderson & Jan Howard and The Collins Kids.
Bonnie graduated from high school and joined her singing siblings in 1955. From the start, the resulting trio’s dulcet harmony blend was exquisite, with Jim Ed’s fluid baritone, Maxine’s resonant alto and Bonnie’s lilting soprano creating unforgettable audio overtones. They scored immediately on the country charts with “Here Today and Gone Tomorrow” (1955). Signing with RCA, they hit again with “I Take the Chance” (1956) and “I Heard the Bluebirds Sing” (1957).
The Browns’ country successes continued with “Would You Care” (1958) and “Beyond the Shadow” (1959). All three Brown siblings were pitch-perfect harmony singers, but the pattern became Jim Ed singing lead with Bonnie and Maxine as his blending vocalists.
They became stars at both The Louisiana Hayride and The Ozark Jubilee. In the early 1950s, The Browns toured with the then-emerging star Elvis Presley, who took a shine to both Bonnie and Maxine.
But by 1959, the trio was pondering retirement. Jim Ed’s Army service and his job running their father’s sawmill, plus the sisters’ family lives, had distracted them from their emerging music career. “The Three Bells” changed that.
Maxine Brown Russell (right) of the Country Music trio The Browns passed away today, Jan. 21, 2019, at the age of 87. Pictured (L-R): Becky Brown, wife of Jim Ed Brown; Bonnie Brown Ring and Maxine Brown Russell. Photo: John Russell/CMA
The trio’s elegant harmony singing was nowhere better illustrated than on that 1959 smash. This charming, chiming story song was adapted by The Browns from a French pop hit. Produced by Chet Atkins, “The Three Bells” was No. 1 on the country charts for 10 weeks and No. 1 on the pop charts for four weeks. Then as now, this was a stunning feat for a Nashville country record.
Maxine and her siblings replicated that hit’s sound on the pop and country successes “Scarlet Ribbons” (1959) and “The Old Lamplighter” (1960). Then The Browns solidified their country stardom with “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On” (1961). The Browns joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1963.
The group toured widely, not only the US but abroad as well, making several concert runs in Europe and Japan.The Browns also appeared many hit TV shows of the day, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Arthur Murray Show, The Perry Como Show, American Bandstand and The Jerry Lewis Show. “Then I’ll Stop Loving You” (1964), “Everybody’s Darlin’ Plus Mine” (1964), “I’d Be Just Fool Enough” (1966), “Coming Back to You” (1966) and other hits maintained their prominence on the country charts in the mid-1960s.
Bonnie Brown Ring withdrew from the group in 1967 to settle back home in Arkansas with her husband and raise their daughters. Jim Ed Brown went on to have a hugely successful solo career.
Maxine Brown also made solo records. She signed with the RCA subsidiary label Chart Records, having her biggest success with her self-written “Sugar Cane County” in 1969.
Known for her brassy sense of humor and tell-it-like-it-is frankness, Maxine continued to be a popular personality in the country community. The University of Arkansas Press published Looking Back to See: A Country Music Memoir as her autobiography in 2005.
The trio reunited several times over the years, usually at the Opry. The Browns issued a gospel comeback CD titled Family Bible in 1996. Maxine and Bonnie also appeared on Jim Ed’s final album, 2015’s In Style Again.
Jim Ed Brown was diagnosed with lung cancer that year. He died in June 2015, but was presented with his Hall of Fame honor at his bedside before he passed away. Maxine and Bonnie attended the group’s official Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Nashville that fall. Bonnie died of lung cancer the following year.
Maxine Brown Russell died in Little Rock on Monday, Jan. 21 due to complications from heart and kidney disease.
She is survived by children Alicia and Jimmy, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A viewing was held on Sunday (Jan. 27) at North Little Rock Funeral Home. A service was held Monday (Jan. 28) at First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Arkansas, followed by a burial at Pine Bluff Memorial Park.
Industry Ink: Change The Conversation, Music Biz Conference, Songshine Media
/by Jessica NicholsonNext Installment Of Change The Conversation To Discuss Media Coverage Of Women In Music
The upcoming installment of speaker series Change The Conversation, titled “On The Front Line: Reporting on Women In Music,” will delve into the topic of reporting of women in music. The event, moderated by journalist Beverly Keel, will feature a conversation with music journalists Ann Powers, Jewly Hight and Marissa Moss.
The event will be held tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 22) at BMI Nashville, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by BMI and Pinnacle.
Terra Bella Renews Deal With Songshine Media
Country music duo Terra Bella has renewed their deal with Songshine Media for PR representation. They have released their newest single, “Middle Of Nowhere USA,” to country radio.
Music Biz To Honor The Orchard’s Richard Gottehrer
Richard Gottehrer
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has announced Richard Gottehrer, co-founder of independent distributor The Orchard, as the recipient of its 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award. Gottehrer will receive the Award at the Music Biz 2019 Conference’s Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner on Tuesday, May 7th at the JW Marriott Nashville. He will also present a keynote address during the Independent Artist & Songwriter Forum, powered by Songtrust.
His influence on the industry began in the 1960s, the decade in which he penned the iconic “My Boyfriend’s Back” and produced the hit “Hang on Sloopy.” As part of The Strangeloves, he brought the world the classic track “I Want Candy.” In the late ’60s, Gottehrer, with Seymour Stein co-founded Sire Records – the company that would rocket the Ramones, the Talking Heads and Madonna to stardom. After leaving Sire, he worked with Blondie, Richard Hell and other acts in the CBGB Punk scene. Gottehrer also produced The Go-Go’s, putting his polish on their chart-topper Beauty and the Beat. He continued writing during this time, penning songs for David Bowie, The J. Geils Band, and Jerry Lee Lewis. In the 1990s, Gottehrer, alongside partner Scott Cohen visualized a digital distribution platform that would harness the latest technology to empower up-and-coming artists in the independent music community. The Orchard was founded in 1997 out of this vision to give indie artists, in Gottehrer’s words, “A Place to Grow.”
From the beginning, artists who signed with The Orchard agreed to let the company store, deliver, and supply their music digitally. At the time – four years before the iTunes store would see the light of day – this business strategy was pioneering and highly unusual. As the digital revolution became embraced by the music industry, The Orchard expanded beyond music into digital distribution of film and video. Today, it is the world’s largest indie music distributor, which works with artists including Jason Isbell, G Herbo, Ozuna, John Prine, Kelsea Ballerini and Jorja Smith.
Garth Reveals New Album Title ‘Fun’ On Inside Studio G
/by Lorie HollabaughGarth Brooks shared the title of his upcoming new album with fans Monday night (Jan. 21), revealing the album will be called Fun. He divulged the information during his weekly Facebook Live series, “Inside Studio G,” which airs every Monday on Garth’s Facebook page.
“The title of the album was sparked because making it has been such a fun process to go through,” explained Garth. “Being able to go in and out of the studio while being on the tour, working with the same guys, it’s been amazing. The album will be available this spring and I want the fans to just have fun with this, because that’s what this has been.”
The new project, which is available for pre-order now, will contain his rowdy new single, “All Day Long,” as well as the ballad inspired by wife Trisha Yearwood, “Stronger Than Me,” that he debuted during the CMA Awards.
Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association To Honor Christopher Cross, Steve Earle, Billy F Gibbons, Bob McDill
/by LB CantrellTickets to the 2019 Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association Hall of Fame Awards Show at Paramount Theatre go on sale today (Jan. 18) at 12 p.m., honoring a new class of inductees including Christopher Cross, Steve Earle, Billy F Gibbons, and Bob McDill.
The 2019 Hall of Fame Awards Show will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, celebrating this new class of Texas songwriters, delivering an evening of presentations, tributes, and performances by honorees Cross, Earle, and Gibbons with Mike Flanigin and Chris Layton. Performances by Shawn Camp, Rodney Crowell and Lee Ann Womack will pay tribute to songwriting honoree McDill.
Past inductees include Guy Clark, Mac Davis, Ronnie Dunn, Joe Ely, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, K.T. Oslin, Liz Rose, Allen Shamblin, Townes Van Zandt, Cindy Walker, and more.
Tickets are available here.
Live Nation Announces The 2019 Country Megaticket
/by LB CantrellToday, Live Nation announced the return of their Country Megaticket, the season ticket to a variety of country concerts this summer including shows by Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett and Chris Young.
“The 2019 Country Megaticket is once again the ultimate way for country fans to enjoy their favorite artists in their local amphitheaters,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “Megaticket options ranging from reserving the same seat for all shows to the value of general admission lawn access, with options all along the way, will afford fans to enjoy one stop shopping for their favorite country music concerts this summer.”
The annual offer allows fans across the U.S. to see some of today’s biggest country acts at their local amphitheater with one pass. The first round of tickets for the offer will be available in select cities starting Friday (Jan. 25). Additional participating venues and their respective lineups will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.megaticket.com to purchase the pass and receive updates.
Citi, the official pre-sale credit card of the 2019 Country Megaticket, cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday (Jan. 22) at 10a.m. until 10p.m. a day before public on sale through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete pre-sale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.
Participating Artists/Tours in Select Cities:
Brad Paisley w/ Chris Lane and Riley Green
Chris Young w/ Chris Janson and more
Dierks Bentley w/ Jon Pardi and Tenille Townes
Florida Georgia Line w/Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, Hardy/Canaan Smith *support varies by date
Jason Aldean w/ Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and Dee Jay Silver
Luke Bryan w/ Cole Swindell and Jon Langston
Rascal Flatts w/ special guests
Thomas Rhett w/ Dustin Lynch, Russell Dickerson, and Rhett Atkins
*Full list of artists for each venue will be available at megaticket.com.
Triple Tigers Records Signs Gone West For Debut EP, ‘Tides’ Out Today
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Kevin Herring (SVP/Promotion), David Macias (Partner/Triple Tigers Records), Norbert Nix (GM/Partner), Chad Jensen (Gone West’s Manager), Bruce Kalmick (Partner/Triple Tigers Records), George Couri (Partner/Triple Tigers Records); (L-R, front row) Colbie Caillat, Justin Kawika Young, Nelly Joy, Jason Reeves. Photo: Patrick Tracy
Triple Tigers Records has signed country music quartet, Gone West, for their debut EP Tides. Gone West is comprised of Grammy-winner Colbie Caillat, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Jason Reeves, Justin Kawika Young and Nelly Joy.
All based in Nashville with ties to the West Coast, the group was inspired to form after years of musical collaboration, touring and friendship after working together on earlier projects individually. “The song and our band name, ‘Gone West,’ explains where the band came from,” said Young. “We’re all from west of Tennessee and when we’re not in Nashville, chances are we’ve gone west – back to Iowa, Texas, California or Hawaii. [The song, “Gone West,”] is about going to our significant other’s hometown and bringing them to Nashville. It’s autobiographical and our band’s theme song.”
Tides is available everywhere now.
Tides Track List:
1. “Gone West” (Colbie Caillat, Justin Kawika Young, Danelle Reeves, Jason Reeves)
2. “Home Is Where The Heartbreak Is” (Colbie Caillat, Justin Kawika Young, Danelle Reeves, Jason Reeves, Liz Rose)
3. “Confetti” (Colbie Caillat, Justin Kawika Young, Danelle Reeves, Jason Reeves, Eric Arjes)
4. “This Time” (Colbie Caillat, Justin Kawika Young, Danelle Reeves, Jason Reeves, Tom Douglas)
Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Willie Nelson Featured In John Lennon 75th Birthday Album And Film
/by Alex ParryBlackbird Presents Records announced today the release of Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert, the concert film and album featuring the collection of legendary singers and superstars who came together for concert event in New York City at The Theater At Madison Square Garden to celebrate the songs of music icon John Lennon.
Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert features performances, interviews and compelling behind-the-scenes action with Aloe Blacc, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Brandon Flowers, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton, Juanes, Kris Kristofferson, Pat Monahan, Tom Morello, Willie Nelson, The Roots, Spoon, Chris Stapleton and Steven Tyler.
“John’s art continues to give hope, light and happiness to generations of people everywhere,” said Yoko Ono. “His belief that each of us can change the world continues to inspire the human race to believe in themselves, and his influence is everlasting in everyone’s hearts as we all share in the possibilities and power of music.”
Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman is creator and executive producer of the show, Grammy and Emmy-winner Greg Phillinganes (Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life: An All-Star Grammy Salute) served as music director, and Gregg Gelfand (The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles) directed.
“It would be impossible to quantify the immense impact John Lennon continues to have on modern culture,” said Wortman. “His music and lyrics continue to shape the lives of musicians and millions of fans around the world. I can’t think of any better way to honor his legacy than with this extraordinary album.”
The full-length concert is available for purchase at: imaginejohnlennon75.com.
Luke Bryan Announces 2019 Sunset Repeat Tour
/by LB CantrellJon Langston, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell. Photo: John Shearer
Luke Bryan announced his 2019 Sunset Repeat Tour will launch on May 31 in Philadelphia, PA at the BB&T Pavilion. Bryan will be bringing Cole Swindell and Jon Langston along, as well as DJ Rock.
Fans can purchase tickets beginning Friday, Jan. 25, for select cities as part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com. Live Nation is the official promoter of the Sunset Repeat Tour.
Citi is the official presale credit card of the Sunset Repeat Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete pre-sale details visit citiprivatepass.com.
Sunset Repeat Tour Dates:
5/31 – Philadelphia, PA – BB&T Pavilion
6/1 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
6/2 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
6/6 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
6/7 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
6/8 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/13 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
6/14 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
7/11 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
7/13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
7/19 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
7/20 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
7/21 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
7/25 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
7/26 – Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
8/17 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/18 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
8/22 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
8/23 – Sacramento, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
8/24 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
9/5 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage *
9/7 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
9/8 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
9/12 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
9/14 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
10/12 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
*Cole Swindell does not appear