Ed Morris
Veteran Nashville entertainment journalist Ed Morris passed away on Thursday (Sept. 17) at age 90.
He is best known for his 14-year tenure at Billboard, but was published in dozens of other periodicals. He also authored eight books, published his poetry, and was the writer of a theatrical production.
Morris grew up in Elkview, West Virginia. His family was not well to do and did not own a car, so he hitchhiked daily from Elkview to Charleston to attend Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston). After his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1958, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University.
While at OU, he met musical-theater performer Norma Chapman. They married in 1960 and remained wed for 61 years. She was a talented pianist as well as an editor, photographer, and author. She also taught him to drive.
Following their marriage, Ed Morris taught English and journalism at Findlay (Ohio) College, Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky), and Edinboro (Pennsylvania) State College. He then served as assistant editor at Writer’s Digest, the monthly trade publication for writers.
He began writing freelance articles for Billboard in 1972, moved to Nashville in 1980, and joined the magazine’s staff in 1981. He rose to become its country-music editor and chief Nashville columnist. Norma became a Music Row publicist working with clients such as Ralph Stanley and Steve Wariner.
In addition to Billboard, Ed Morris’s byline appeared in such publications as Advertising Age, TV Guide, McCall’s, Hollywood Reporter, Amusement Business, Book Page, The Journal Of Country Music, Mother Earth News, Bluegrass Unlimited, Saturday Evening Post, and other national periodicals. He left Billboard in 1995 and became a monthly columnist in Music City News. He also had a weekly column as a humorist in The Nashvillian.
He wrote liner-note essays for albums and box sets by The Judds, Keith Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Guy Clark, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, and others. Morris was named Print Journalist of the Year in 1993 by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).
In 1999, Ed Morris began a 20-year tenure as a writer for CMT online. He continued in this role until the COVID pandemic of 2020, which led to staff layoffs. Since then, he had been writing a column for his local newspaper The Kingston Springs Gazette.
Ed Morris was honored at Belmont University’s annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) with its Charlie Lamb Journalist of the Year award in 2002. He has guest-lectured at Belmont, Vanderbilt University and Trevecca College in Nashville.
His books include Edward Morris’ Complete Guide To Country Music Videos (1997), Garth Brooks: Platinum Cowboy (1993), Alabama (1985), At Carter’s Stanley’s Grave: Musings on Country Music & Musicians (2011), and Scorched Mirth and Acid Reflux (2019), among others. In addition, he has contributed to such reference works as the prize-winning Country: The Music & The Musicians (Abbeville Press), Classic Country (Time-Life Books) and Country On Compact Disc: The Essential Guide To The Music (Grove Press).
In 2016, Morris wrote his first play, The Passion of Ethel Rosenberg, which had multiple productions and performances in Nashville and Santa Fe, plus a public reading at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage. The play reflected his lifelong support of leftist political causes.
Norma Morris was diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease in 2015. The couple had been living separately for several years, but Ed moved into her home to care for her. He chronicled their experience in a series of extraordinarily moving Facebook blogs, which became his 2020 book Stardust: An Alzheimer’s Love Story. Norma died in 2021.
Reflecting on his long and varied career, Ed Morris once said, “You hear musicians say that they would do it for free if they weren’t paid for it. And I feel the same way about writing. I love to write with the anticipation of amusing people or getting arguments started or whatever…..Anything that happens, if you treat it right, can be turned into a piece of prose. And that’s what I do.”
Ed Morris is survived by daughters Erin Morris Huttlinger and Rachel Serrato, and by son Jason Morris. He is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Kenny Chesney To Host ‘Silver Sands Marina’ Album Release Show In Nashville
/by Madison HahnenKenny Chesney. Photo: Allister Ann
Kenny Chesney will host a pop-up album release show for his upcoming project Silver Sands Marina on Sept. 25 at the Pinnacle.
“This new music – maybe because we’ve had so much time to get it to this place – has taken me back to when albums mattered, the songs kind of spoke to each other, and we found some really special, unusual things,” says Chesney. “Between loving this record and just getting to play a little bit at TODAY, I figured we should keep rocking – and maybe make it a little bit bigger than a Keg in the Keys or Keg in the Closet show.
“So, we got everybody together… and we’re taking over the Pinnacle in Nashville,” he continues. “One night only, probably not more than a couple thousand tickets, and we’re trying to make it fun and fair to get in. If the band and I can get it together, we’re gonna play five, six, maybe even seven of these eleven songs, and I can’t wait.”
A limited number of tickets will be available for $10 through Fair AXS. Fans can register through Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. CT for a chance to purchase tickets. Those selected will receive a private ticket link connected to their AXS account.
Fans can celebrate Silver Sands Marina at an activation in the Pinnacle plaza on Sept. 24 from 5-10 p.m. CT and Sept. 25 from 12-10 p.m. CT. The experience will feature life-size displays, photo opportunities, food trucks, bars and more. Physical copies of the album, including signed vinyl and CDs, along with special variants, will also be available for purchase.
Riley Green Stays Close To Home On ‘That’s Just Me’ [Interview]
/by John Nix ArledgeRiley Green. Photo: David Higgs
For years, Riley Green has built his career one venue at a time. And while that hasn’t changed, what were once bars, restaurants and clubs are now national arenas, television appearances and awards shows.
While his rise to international fame might seem like an overnight success to newfound fans of tracks such as “Different ‘Round Here,” “Worst Way,” “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and his award-winning collaboration with Ella Langley, “You Look Like You Love Me,” Green had a very different experience.
“We played all over the place in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for years,” Green tells MusicRow. “And I have a lot of those fans that knew me early on to thank for even signing a record deal, but it’s definitely reached a place that I never thought it would.”
It’s at these new heights that Green is releasing his latest album, That’s Just Me. With more people discovering his music than ever before, Green isn’t looking to change what he does. He views his wider reach as an opportunity to introduce that same sound to an even larger group.
“I’m definitely reaching a much bigger audience now between acting [on Marshals] and being a coach on The Voice. To me, those are opportunities to get in front of people that might not be country music fans,” Green explains. “The new album speaks to fans that have known me from the beginning because, even though I’m doing a lot of other things now, I’m still writing from the same place and trying to continue to do what got me here.”
Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs
That mindset guides his songwriting as well. Across his five solo-penned tracks on the album, Green’s sincerity and straightforwardness remain at the core of his penmanship.
“There’s a simplicity to how I say things. I think that’s what’s helped me be successful because a lot of my songs are relatable,” says Green. “I write about where I grew up and a lot of people think, ‘I grew up the same way.’ So, where some songwriters can get a little bit too ‘songwriter-y’, for lack of a better term, I think there’s a simplicity to country music and how you can tell a story that appeals to a lot of people.”
Between filming The Voice and being out on the road, Green finds it harder than ever to set up scheduled writes with other songwriters, which leads to him writing during his time off in his home state of Alabama.
“Sometimes it’s just wherever [inspiration] strikes me—which is usually when I’m on my farm in Alabama. If it’s something I’m passionate about or I think I’ve got figured out that day, I just write it.”
Even as his platform grows, Green says broadening what he writes is about just to appeal to a larger audience would be a mistake. Instead, he looks for artistic growth elsewhere.
“I think that the only thing I could do to hurt myself in my career is change who I am,” Green shares. “Musically, I try to push myself and find melodies that are a bit unique, or maybe I look to co-writers that have helped me find a melody that I wouldn’t come up with.”
That philosophy carries into the album’s collaborations. Green uses the project to both highlight artists coming up behind him and nod to the people that shaped him, tapping Hannah McFarland and Jake Worthington alongside Brooks & Dunn and Alabama’s Randy Owen.
Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs
“I feel like my job with the spotlight that I’ve got now, and being blessed with the opportunities I’ve got, is to do a couple of things,” he says. “One of them is to help out people that are where I was and that I’m a fan of and bring them into some of these opportunities. And then also shed a little bit of light on the inspiration that I got from guys like Brooks & Dunn and Randy Owen and keep showing the younger generation the music that inspired me to write and record and perform.”
While some of the collaborations happened naturally, some surprised Green altogether. He originally sent “Lookout Mountain” to Owen simply because he wanted him to hear the track.
“I sent Randy ‘Lookout Mountain’ not thinking he would be a part of the song. I just wanted him to hear it, and he texted me and said, ‘Do you need a partner on that one?’,” recalls Green. “I texted Ronnie Dunn ‘Pave All Them Red Dirt Roads’ and he said, ‘I can sing it on Monday.’ So I was surprised at how easily all that stuff came together. It doesn’t always work out that way.”
Taken as a whole, the name That’s Just Me becomes the perfect title. The project captures Green’s influences, the steadfastness of his form, and the artists he wants to champion moving forward. Rather than change his tune for a new wave of fans, Green doubles down on the people and places that got him here.
Brandy Clark’s New Album ‘The Bird’ Set For January
/by Lorie HollabaughBrandy Clark. Photo: Pamela Springsteen
Brandy Clark will celebrate the New Year with the release of her new album, the bird, on Jan. 15 via Reprise Records. In advance of the release, Clark has shared a new song from the project, “American Roots,” today (Sept. 18).
the bird spotlights the search for connection in a world often defined by division. The project, produced by Shooter Jennings and recorded with members of Clark’s road band, Gabe Burdulia, Amanda McCoy and Erin Nelson, explores love, loss, isolation, and what it means to belong. The 11-track album also includes collaborations with Rosanne Cash and SistaStrings.
“My hope is that listeners will feel as inspired and entertained by this body of work as we did while making it,” shares Clark. “We had such a great time bringing these songs to life in the studio, and I hope that spirit comes through. More than anything, I hope everyone who listens can find a little piece of themselves somewhere in these songs.”
Clark will also embark on her extensive “Take Flight World Tour” next year, with shows in Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Charleston, Atlanta and more. Tickets go on sale today at brandyclarkmusic.com.
The Bird Track List:
1. “The Loner And The Lonely”
2. “Tower”
3. “Still Found You”
4. “Goodnight Los Angeles”
5. “And The Sun Said To The Moon”
6. “American Roots”
7. “The Bird”
8. “Astronaut” (feat. SistaStrings)
9. “Stranger On A Plane”
10. “Old Woman” (feat. Rosanne Cash)
11. “If There’s Someone You Love”
Chubby Checker & Gil Cunningham Named To IEBA Hall Of Fame
/by Lauryn SinkChubby Checker & Gil Cunningham. Photo: Courtesy of IEBA
The International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) will induct Chubby Checker and Gil Cunningham into the IEBA Hall of Fame. The inductions will take place during the 2026 Honors & Awards Ceremony on Oct. 6 at The Pinnacle.
Checker’s catalog includes seven top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Pony Time” and “Limbo Rock.” “The Twist” became the only recording to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in two separate chart runs. He was awarded the first Platinum Single, first Grammy for a rock and roll recording and is a recent inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“Chubby Checker represents something that every talent buyer understands, the extraordinary value of an artist who can connect with an audience generation after generation,” says Brian Wagner, Executive Director of IEBA. “His influence extends far beyond an iconic song or dance. He helped change the way audiences participate in live music, and more than six decades later, that connection remains at the heart of what makes live entertainment so powerful.”
Cunningham began his career as a talent buyer in 1988. In 2003, he joined his wife, Liz Cunningham, in expanding Neste Event Marketing into talent buying and event production. Live Nation acquired the company in 2019, creating Neste Live!, which today represents more than 125 clients, books more than 900 shows annually and works with major festivals including Country Thunder, Country Jam and WE Fest. He has been awarded IEBA Talent Buyer, Event Producer, Festival Buyer and Entertainment Buyer of the Year, the IEBA President’s Award and multiple ACM Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year honors, including his fifth ACM Buyer of the Year recognition in 2025. He has served as President and Vice President of IEBA, and worked with the Country Music Association and the T.J. Martell Foundation.
“Gil Cunningham represents the very best of the talent-buying profession and of IEBA,” shares IEBA Chairman Emeritus and WME Partner, Barry Jeffrey. “Great buyers combine knowledge and instinct with relationships, trust and a willingness to take a chance on an artist before everyone else sees what they see. Gil has done that throughout his career, while giving back to this organization and mentoring the people coming behind him. His impact can be seen in the artists he has championed, the events he has helped build and the professionals whose careers he has influenced.”
Dylan Marlowe Readies Self-Titled Sophomore Album
/by Lorie HollabaughDylan Marlowe will release his self-titled sophomore album on Nov. 6 via Sony Music Nashville.
Marlowe is giving fans an early peek into the project with the release of “In This Boat,” out today.
“I wrote this song with Michael Tyler, Zach Abend, and Thomas Archer. I think Michael came in with the idea,” says Marlowe. “It’s funny because it’s not rocking like the other stuff on the album but somehow, it fits cohesively. There’s a lot of songs about breaking up, there’s a lot of songs about hard times and calling it quits, but there’s not a lot of songs about times getting hard and figuring it out, which I think is cool.”
Writers contributing to the new project include Tucker Beathard, Jameson Rodgers, Brent Anderson, Chris Tompkins and more. Inspired by the sounds of Sum 41, Blink 182 and Eric Church, the 13-track project was co-produced by Marlowe and Joe Fox.
Marlowe is on the road this fall with upcoming appearances in Oklahoma, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Dylan Marlowe Track List:
1. “No Coincidence” (Dylan Marlowe, Tucker Beathard, Zach Abend)
2. “Shotgun Seat” (Dylan Marlowe, Michael Hardy, Smith Ahnquist, Jordan Schmidt)
3. “Wrench In My Plans” (Dylan Marlowe, Corey Crowder, Jameson Rodgers)
4. “Call You Mine” (Dylan Marlowe, Zach Abend, Dan Alley, Smith Ahnquist)
5. “She’s Havin’ A Fire” (Dylan Marlowe, Joe Fox, Jeb Gipson, Smith Ahnquist)
6. “In This Boat” (Dylan Marlowe, Zach Abend, Michael Tyler, Thomas Archer)
7. “Rock The Jukebox” (Dylan Marlowe, David Garcia, Hunter Phelps)
8. “Here Lately” (Joe Fox, Abram Dean, Trannie Anderson)
9. “Catchin’ Strays” (Dylan Marlowe, Tucker Beathard, Lindsay Rimes)
10. “Save A Buck” (Dylan Marlowe, Kyle Fishman, Chris Tompkins, Travis Wood)
11. “Death Do Us Part” (Dylan Marlowe, Zach Abed, Brent Anderson, Jameson Rodgers)
12. “Mother Of A Memory” (Dylan Marlowe, Hunter Phelps, Zach Abend)
13. “Dishes” (Jeffrey Jordan)
Ty Myers Unveils ‘Two Braids & The Truth – My Tribute To Willie’
/by Lauryn SinkTy Myers has unveiled his new album, Two Braids & The Truth – My Tribute To Willie.
The 10-song homage to Willie Nelson features tracks that inspired Myers from a young age. Produced by Brandon Hood, he previewed the project with “Always On My Mind” featuring Carter Faith. Nelson is featured on “Write Your Own Songs.”
Myers will join Willie Nelson & Family and Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts as a special guest for a pair of co-headlining shows in Connecticut and Pennsylvania later this month.
The project follows his sophomore LP Heavy On The Soul, released in March. He is currently amidst his “The Legal Tour” through November.
Two Braids & The Truth – My Tribute To Willie Track List:
1. “Bloody Mary Morning”
2. “Write Your Own Songs (feat. Willie Nelson)”
3. “Me and Paul”
4. “Shotgun Willie”
5. “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (feat. Ben Haggard)”
6. “Whiskey River”
7. “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”
8. “Always On My Mind (feat. Carter Faith)”
9. “Night Life”
10. “I’ll Fly Away”
Morgan Wallen Remains Atop The MusicRow Radio Chart
/by John Nix ArledgeMorgan Wallen; Photo: Spidey Smith
Morgan Wallen remains No. 1 on the MusicRow Radio Chart for the second consecutive week with “Been By Now.”
The track was written by Wallen, Rocky Block, Taylor Phillips, Charlie Handsome, Blake Pendergrass and John Byron.
Wallen recently released his new track “Last Thing You Need” from Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album.
“Been By Now” currently sits at No. 4 on the Billboard Country Airplay as well as the Mediabase chart.
Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Journalist, Author, Poet, Playwright Ed Morris Dies
/by Robert K OermannEd Morris
Veteran Nashville entertainment journalist Ed Morris passed away on Thursday (Sept. 17) at age 90.
He is best known for his 14-year tenure at Billboard, but was published in dozens of other periodicals. He also authored eight books, published his poetry, and was the writer of a theatrical production.
Morris grew up in Elkview, West Virginia. His family was not well to do and did not own a car, so he hitchhiked daily from Elkview to Charleston to attend Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston). After his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1958, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University.
While at OU, he met musical-theater performer Norma Chapman. They married in 1960 and remained wed for 61 years. She was a talented pianist as well as an editor, photographer, and author. She also taught him to drive.
Following their marriage, Ed Morris taught English and journalism at Findlay (Ohio) College, Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky), and Edinboro (Pennsylvania) State College. He then served as assistant editor at Writer’s Digest, the monthly trade publication for writers.
He began writing freelance articles for Billboard in 1972, moved to Nashville in 1980, and joined the magazine’s staff in 1981. He rose to become its country-music editor and chief Nashville columnist. Norma became a Music Row publicist working with clients such as Ralph Stanley and Steve Wariner.
In addition to Billboard, Ed Morris’s byline appeared in such publications as Advertising Age, TV Guide, McCall’s, Hollywood Reporter, Amusement Business, Book Page, The Journal Of Country Music, Mother Earth News, Bluegrass Unlimited, Saturday Evening Post, and other national periodicals. He left Billboard in 1995 and became a monthly columnist in Music City News. He also had a weekly column as a humorist in The Nashvillian.
He wrote liner-note essays for albums and box sets by The Judds, Keith Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Guy Clark, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, and others. Morris was named Print Journalist of the Year in 1993 by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).
In 1999, Ed Morris began a 20-year tenure as a writer for CMT online. He continued in this role until the COVID pandemic of 2020, which led to staff layoffs. Since then, he had been writing a column for his local newspaper The Kingston Springs Gazette.
Ed Morris was honored at Belmont University’s annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) with its Charlie Lamb Journalist of the Year award in 2002. He has guest-lectured at Belmont, Vanderbilt University and Trevecca College in Nashville.
His books include Edward Morris’ Complete Guide To Country Music Videos (1997), Garth Brooks: Platinum Cowboy (1993), Alabama (1985), At Carter’s Stanley’s Grave: Musings on Country Music & Musicians (2011), and Scorched Mirth and Acid Reflux (2019), among others. In addition, he has contributed to such reference works as the prize-winning Country: The Music & The Musicians (Abbeville Press), Classic Country (Time-Life Books) and Country On Compact Disc: The Essential Guide To The Music (Grove Press).
In 2016, Morris wrote his first play, The Passion of Ethel Rosenberg, which had multiple productions and performances in Nashville and Santa Fe, plus a public reading at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage. The play reflected his lifelong support of leftist political causes.
Norma Morris was diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease in 2015. The couple had been living separately for several years, but Ed moved into her home to care for her. He chronicled their experience in a series of extraordinarily moving Facebook blogs, which became his 2020 book Stardust: An Alzheimer’s Love Story. Norma died in 2021.
Reflecting on his long and varied career, Ed Morris once said, “You hear musicians say that they would do it for free if they weren’t paid for it. And I feel the same way about writing. I love to write with the anticipation of amusing people or getting arguments started or whatever…..Anything that happens, if you treat it right, can be turned into a piece of prose. And that’s what I do.”
Ed Morris is survived by daughters Erin Morris Huttlinger and Rachel Serrato, and by son Jason Morris. He is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Industry Ink: Riley Green, Chris Tomlin, Wade Bowen, W.O. Smith Music School
/by Lorie HollabaughRiley Green & Spotify Host Album Preview Fan Event In L.A.
Spotify & Riley Green Present: “That’s Just Me” Album Release Party in LA. Photo: Getty Images for Spotify
Riley Green and Spotify hosted a special fan event on Sept. 14 to celebrate the release of his upcoming album That’s Just Me at L.A.’s Desert 5 Spot. Green’s top fans on Spotify in L.A. were treated to an intimate performance of songs from the upcoming album, (due out tomorrow) including “My Way,” alongside fan favoarites like “Worst Way,” “Change My Mind,” and “Different ‘Round Here.” As an exclusive preview of the album, he also debuted his first-ever live performance of “Lookout Mountain” during the special event.
Chris Tomlin Celebrates Eight Billion Streams With Capitol Records Tower Visit
Pictured (L-R): Tom March, Chairman & CEO of Capitol Music Group; Chris Tomlin; Brad O’Donnell, President of Capitol Christian Music Group; Anthony Piedmonte, Tomlin’s Manager, Piedmonte & Co., in front of the Capitol Tower in Los Angeles. Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records
Chris Tomlin was surprised with a plaque recognizing more than eight billion career streams while visiting the iconic and storied Capitol Records Tower recently—the flagship to the only label he has called home for his entire career, Capitol Christian Music Group. The Southern California celebration capped a history-making weekend for Tomlin and his “Worship Under the Stars” concert series, which began with a sold-out concert at the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, where the evening featured the first drone show ever at the iconic venue. Tomlin wrapped his history-making weekend in San Diego with a sold-out concert at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, marking the first-ever Christian music concert at the venue.
Wade Bowen’s Invitational Golf Tourney Raises Nearly $1.7 Million
Wade Bowen Invitational participants
Wade Bowen and his nonprofit, Bowen Family Foundation, hosted the Bowen Invitational golf tournament at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Texas Sept 12-14, raising nearly $1.7 million for the foundation, a record since the tournament’s inception. The weekend kicked off with a welcome party on Saturday night followed by two full days of golf. Sunday night featured a special live performance from members of The Panhandlers, which included Josh Abbott, William Clark Green, and Flatland Calvary’s frontman Cleto Cordero. Monday night wrapped the weekend with a dinner, awards presentation, live auction, and annual jam event that included performances from Wade Bowen and son Brock, Ty Myers, Randy Houser, William Beckmann, Randy Rogers, Josh Abbott, Mike Ryan and his son, Jack Ingram, Cody Canada, Jon Wolfe, and more. To date, the Bowen Family Foundation has raised nearly $10 million for organizations in and around Texas that help heal children and families.
W.O. Smith Music School Seeking Volunteer Instructors For 2026-2027 School Year
W.O. Smith School
The W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville is recruiting volunteer instructors for the 2026-2027 school year as it welcomes 325 students and counting. Volunteers are an integral part of the organization’s mission to provide affordable, high-quality music education to children from lower-income families. Instructors typically donate one hour each week, teaching two students for 30 minutes each. Those interested in volunteering can complete the Private Instructor form here. All volunteer instructors are required to attend an orientation before beginning lessons and must pass a background check.
Volunteers provide music instruction to students in areas such as piano, guitar and bass, drums and percussion, brass instruments, woodwind instruments, string instruments or voice. Last year, 150 volunteers served 10,829 hours. W.O. Smith serves children ages 8-18 from underserved families throughout the Metro Nashville area. Based on the current student enrollment, the school is most in need of volunteers who can teach piano, guitar, violin, or cello.
BMI’s Rooftop On The Row Kicks Off AmericanaFest
/by Lauryn SinkHayes Carll. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
BMI’s Rooftop On The Row series concluded its eighth season Tuesday night (Sept. 15) with more than 900 industry members in attendance.
Emceed by BMI’s Mason Hunter, the event served as the official kickoff to the 27th annual AMERICANAFEST.
DJs Flying Mojito Bros warmed up the crowd as Abigail Rose and Weston Hunter took the stage with a special performance of their viral duet “Betty’s in the Band.” Lost Highway Records’ Meels followed with “Willow Song” from her latest EP Across The Raccoon Strait, “Lonely USA” and “Over Miles.” Clay Street Unit performed “Engine Trouble” “Where Have You Gone?,” “Stoned” and “1200 Miles.”
Headliner Hayes Carll took the stage with “Drunken Poet’s Dream” and “KMAG YOYO.” He ended the night with “Progress of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” and “Good People (Thank Me).”
During this year’s season, the series hosted Avery Anna, Drew Baldridge, Pynk Beard, Tyler Halverson, Zach John King, Bryan Martin, Chase Matthew, Aniston Pate, Julianna Rankin and Love On The Spectrum’s Tyler White.
Clay Street Unit. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Meels. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Abigail Rose. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI