Ken Stilts, a prominent country music artist manager and record label executive of the 1980s and 1990s, has died at age 81. Stilts is best known as the former manager of The Judds and as the owner of Dimension Records.
He was a Nashville native who made his fortune in industrial manufacturing. His S&S Industries built wrap-around insulation for water heaters during the energy crisis of the 1970s. His first music client was singer-songwriter Eddy Raven.
Stilts formed Dimension in 1979 to market Raven’s discs. The singles “Dealin’ With the Devil,” “You’ve Got Those Eyes,” “Another Texas Song” and “Peace of Mind” all made the country Top 40 in 1980-81. Stilts leveraged this into an Elektra contract for Raven.
Dimension scored its first top-10 hit with “It Don’t Hurt Me Half as Bad” by Ray Price in 1981. “Diamonds in the Stars” repeated its success the following year.
The company also had “Innocent Lies” as a top-20 comeback hit for Sonny James in 1982.
Stilts provided financial support for The Judds while his then-partner Woody Bowles secured the mother-daughter duo a recording contract with RCA/Curb in 1983. The Judds nicknamed Stilts “Big Daddy.”
He became their sole manager as The Judds became a multi-million selling, award-winning act in 1983-91. He gave the bride away when Naomi Judd married Larry Strickland in 1989.
Stilts took on other management clients, notably Carl Perkins and Terry McBride. But The Judds remained his main focus. He is listed as a producer on their 1991 farewell concert event and TV documentary.
When Wynonna Judd went solo, she initially retained him as her manager. But his relationship with both Wynonna and Naomi Judd disintegrated in a series of lawsuits in the mid-1990s.
Wynonna Judd fired Stilts in 1994. He sued. The Judds then sued him, alleging that he “stole” $20 million from them. He countersued for libel.
In recent years, Ken Stilts had been struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. He retired in 2012. He then went into assisted living.
Ken Stilts died of complications from his disease on Sept. 24. He is survived by his wife Jo, sons Ken Jr. and Steve, daughter Tina Pressley, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, at Bond Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation at the Chapel is 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday and one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Bond Memorial Chapel is at Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive in Mt. Juliet.
Honorary pallbearers will include Jimmy Bowen, Tony Brown, Jack Calhoun, Jerry Calhoun and Juan Carlos Nieto. Memorials may be made to The Pavilion Senior Living (Memory Care), attention Stilts Honor, 1409 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087.
Bill Miller Adds Southern Turf Building To Nashville Real Estate Holdings
/by Lorie HollabaughBill Miller closed on the historic Southern Turf building in Nashville yesterday (Sept. 26), marking his fourth acquisition in the downtown area in the last three years. The four-story building located at 222 Fourth Avenue North is on the National Register of Historic Places because of its location in Printers Alley Historic District. Built in 1895, this Queen Anne-style building was built by bookmaker Marcus Cartwright and over the years was home to saloons, gambling halls and the former home of The Tennessean newspaper.
“Today we take ownership of the legendary Southern Turf building; one of the most aesthetically-significant, architectural Crown Jewels in downtown Nashville,” says Miller. “It’s a pleasure and an honor to add this important property to our portfolio.”
The Southern Turf building currently houses Miller’s latest business acquisition, Skull’s Rainbow Room, in which he acquired a majority interest in June. This acquisition brings Miller’s holdings to 73,872 square feet of commercial property in downtown Nashville.
Miller’s Icon Entertainment Group also owns and operates the Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, Music City Threads, and Skull’s Rainbow Room.
CMT Greenlights Plans For ‘Music City’ Docu-Series
/by Jessica NicholsonCMT has announced plans for a new eight-episode docu-series, Music City, which follows a group of emerging artists chasing their dreams in the music industry, while balancing demands in their personal lives. The series is slated to premiere early next year as a companion series to CMT’s Nashville, which returns for new shows in January.
The docu-series is created and executive-produced by Adam DiVello, creator of shows including Laguna Beach and The Hills. Music City reunites CMT and Lionsgate, who partnered last year to bring the fan-favorite series Nashville to CMT.
“Music has always played a huge role in the storytelling process of my past series,” said creator/executive producer DiVello, “and with Music City, we’ll take that element to another level, as we document the real-life struggles, heartaches, and drama of those chasing their dreams of stardom. Nashville is such an exciting city and I can’t wait to share with the world the stories of this incredibly talented cast we’ve put together.”
“After a banner year of growth, we’ve enlisted one of the industry’s most influential and talented producers to help guide our ever-expanding fanbase deeper inside our beloved hometown,” said Frank Tanki, General Manager of CMT and TV Land. “Like its sister series, Nashville, Music City will spotlight a group of young artists as they grapple with love, life and the pursuit of their dreams through the incomparable lens of the creator of some of the most memorable series of the last 20 years. We welcome all the fans of Laguna Beach and The Hills that are now our target audience into the world of Music City, and CMT as a whole.”
Details on cast members for Music City will be released in the coming weeks.
Hayley Orrantia Signs With APA Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Steve Lassiter, APA Partner and Head of Concerts; Hayley Orrantia; Kerri Fox-Metoyer, APA VP/Music Strategy & Partnerships; Jeff Hill, APA Agent
Hayley Orrantia, the singer/songwriter and actor who portrays Erica on the ABC comedy series The Goldbergs, has signed for music and branding representation with APA Nashville.
Orrantia will be hitting the road in 2018 bringing her new music to cities across the U.S. She most recently released the single and video for “Give Me Back Sunday,” which was featured on Spotify.
“Hayley Orrantia is a tremendous talent, known for her comedic acting ability,” commented Steve Lassiter, Partner and Head of Concerts at APA. “We’re very excited for fans to see the other creative side of Hayley as she continues to write and record new music.”
Canaan Smith Launches New Fall Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughNewcomers Jackie Lee, Chris Bandi and Eric Van Houten will join Smith for select dates on the tour. Fans can purchase tickets beginning today at canaansmith.com.
The Virginia native has spent the past few years playing extensively throughout the US, Canada, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland and has previously toured with Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert and Kip Moore. He launched his first UK Headlining Tour earlier this year after opening shows for breakout UK country duo The Shires, and just released a new digital-only track, “This Night Back.”
October
19—Des Moines IA—Wooly’s *
20—Champagne IL—The City Center *
21—Geneva IL—Grunt Fest
26—Darlington SC—Carolina Nightlife
27—Myrtle Beach SC—The Boathouse
28—Raleigh NC—Lincoln Theater (w/ Gary Allan and LANco)
November
2—Knoxville TN—Cotton Eyed Joe *
3—Rootstown OH—The Dusty Armadillo
4—Mt Laurel NJ—Prospector’s
9—Bakersfield CA—Crystal Palace
10—San Jose CA—Rodeo Club
11–TBA
12—Dana Point CA—Driftwood Festival
17—Shelby Township NJ—Coyote Joe’s **
18—Indianapolis IN—8 Seconds Saloon **
30—Warrendale PA—Jergel’s ***
December
1—Buffalo NY—VENU Buffalo ***
2—Jordan NY—Keg’s Canalside ***
* with Chris Bandi
** with Jackie Lee
***with Jackie Lee and Eric Van Houten
Producer Brown Bannister Named Interim Director For Lipscomb University Music School
/by Jessica NicholsonBrown Bannister
Music industry veteran Charlie Peacock is passing the baton as director of Lipscomb University’s George Shinn College Of Entertainment & the Arts, which houses the School of Music, to producer Brown Bannister.
Peacock, founding director of the university’s contemporary music program, is stepping down to devote time to addressing health issues that have been developing over the past year but will remain a member of the school’s advisory board. Peacock, who joined the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts faculty as artist-in-residence in 2014, was named director of Lipscomb’s School of Music in 2015.
A graduate of Abilene Christian University, Bannister will head a transition team comprised of music industry veterans, including Amy Grant, Tim Lauer, Gordon Kerr, Randy Goodman, and Juanita Copeland. The transition team will oversee a national search for the next director of Lipscomb University’s School Of Music.
“Charlie has played a tremendous role in building a strong foundation for our multi-dimensional School of Music and in launching our contemporary music program,” said Mike Fernandez, Dean of the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts. “Through his deep relationships in the music industry, he has developed numerous key connections for Lipscomb that will help the School of Music continue to flourish for years to come. We are grateful for his significant contribution to this program and most importantly to the many students he impacted during his time here. We wish him well as he takes time to tend to his health, and look forward to his continued input as a member of our advisory board.”
Under Peacock’s leadership, the contemporary music program was founded; overall music enrollment increased significantly and is now one of Lipscomb’s fastest-growing academic areas; a house near campus was renovated and developed into a “Music Row house” complete with a recording studio, editing suites and rehearsal space; an advisory board for the School of Music was formed; and music industry leaders and arts professionals joined the school as faculty, adjunct instructors and artists-in-residents to expand its technical and cultural reach, preparing 21st century creators, performing artists and educators for a lifetime of musical work. In May, Lipscomb University became owner of the Sound Emporium, one of Nashville’s vibrant recording studios for nearly 50 years with the goal of preserving the professional production capacity of the studio while looking for subtle ways for it to serve as a real-world learning lab for contemporary music students in the university’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts.
Garth Brooks To Release 240-Page Book With 19 Unreleased Tracks As First Of Five-Part Anthology
/by Jessica NicholsonHe is also the first artist in history to receive 7 Diamond awards for the now seven albums certified by the RIAA at over 10 million album sales each and remains the No. 1-selling solo artist in U.S. history certified by the RIAA with over 148 million album sales.
The Anthology Part 1: The First Five Years, as told by Brooks as well as those involved in the creating, recording and promotion of his first five albums, offers details and true stories from the early days of his career, taking fans behind the scenes for moments such as when “The Thunder Rolls” was recorded and about to be released by another artist. Brooks recalls that “Friends In Low Places” and “The Dance” were almost never recorded, and discusses how “That Summer” was rewritten and rerecorded, and fans can hear the two different master versions. Readers can also learn about and listen to the first time Trisha Yearwood sang on a ‘Garth’ song, long before Brooks’ first album.
The 240-page book is accompanied by five CDs, containing 52 total songs including 19 new, unreleased or demo versions of tracks. The book also includes more than 150 never-before-seen photos, as well as sessions charts, tracking sheets and more.
The Anthology Part 1: The First Five Years will release Nov. 14.
Garth will air a very special Inside Studio G on his Facebook page this Monday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. ET. On the episode, he will share very personal details from the first five years of his career, along with special guests were involved and featured in the anthology.
Mitch Oglesby Signs With Warner/Chappell, KJM Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (front row, L-R): Ben Vaughn, Mitch Oglesby, Kelly Janson (KJM Music). (Back row, L-R): Jessi Vaughn, Katie Jelen, Will Overton, BJ Hill, Alison Junker, Matt Michiels, Travis Carter
Mitch Oglesby has signed a joint publishing deal with KJM Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music.
The Georgia native penned two songs, “Who’s Your Farmer” and “Redneck Life,” on Chris Janson’s sophomore album Everybody.
Former Judds Manager Ken Stilts Dies
/by Robert K OermannHe was a Nashville native who made his fortune in industrial manufacturing. His S&S Industries built wrap-around insulation for water heaters during the energy crisis of the 1970s. His first music client was singer-songwriter Eddy Raven.
Stilts formed Dimension in 1979 to market Raven’s discs. The singles “Dealin’ With the Devil,” “You’ve Got Those Eyes,” “Another Texas Song” and “Peace of Mind” all made the country Top 40 in 1980-81. Stilts leveraged this into an Elektra contract for Raven.
Dimension scored its first top-10 hit with “It Don’t Hurt Me Half as Bad” by Ray Price in 1981. “Diamonds in the Stars” repeated its success the following year.
The company also had “Innocent Lies” as a top-20 comeback hit for Sonny James in 1982.
Stilts provided financial support for The Judds while his then-partner Woody Bowles secured the mother-daughter duo a recording contract with RCA/Curb in 1983. The Judds nicknamed Stilts “Big Daddy.”
He became their sole manager as The Judds became a multi-million selling, award-winning act in 1983-91. He gave the bride away when Naomi Judd married Larry Strickland in 1989.
Stilts took on other management clients, notably Carl Perkins and Terry McBride. But The Judds remained his main focus. He is listed as a producer on their 1991 farewell concert event and TV documentary.
When Wynonna Judd went solo, she initially retained him as her manager. But his relationship with both Wynonna and Naomi Judd disintegrated in a series of lawsuits in the mid-1990s.
Wynonna Judd fired Stilts in 1994. He sued. The Judds then sued him, alleging that he “stole” $20 million from them. He countersued for libel.
In recent years, Ken Stilts had been struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. He retired in 2012. He then went into assisted living.
Ken Stilts died of complications from his disease on Sept. 24. He is survived by his wife Jo, sons Ken Jr. and Steve, daughter Tina Pressley, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, at Bond Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation at the Chapel is 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday and one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Bond Memorial Chapel is at Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive in Mt. Juliet.
Honorary pallbearers will include Jimmy Bowen, Tony Brown, Jack Calhoun, Jerry Calhoun and Juan Carlos Nieto. Memorials may be made to The Pavilion Senior Living (Memory Care), attention Stilts Honor, 1409 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087.
Eric Church, Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Randy Houser To Lead Third Annual BMI Maui Songwriters Fest
/by Jessica NicholsonIn November, songwriters and artists will escape the Nashville cold for the lush landscapes of Maui. The third annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival, slated for Nov. 29-Dec.2, will welcome headliners Eric Church, Maren Morris and Jon Pardi.
Other songwriters to be featured include Bob DiPiero, Casey Beathard, Lee Thomas Miller, Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland, Ashley McBryde, Randy Houser, and Lily Meola.
Church stated, “Last year’s event was one of the most unique performances I’ve ever had in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to go back!”
“The BMI Maui Songwriters Festival has become a time-honored tradition that we hope to continue for many years to come,” said Mason Hunter, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships. “The amazing songwriters performing to the backdrop of paradise, contributing to a good cause and the local hospitality of Maui, make this festival something we look forward to all year.”
Hosted by Storme Warren of Sirius XM’s The Highway, these concerts will fill Maui’s premiere venues including Fleetwood’s on Front Street, the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort, Tommy Bahamas at the Shops at Wailea and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Many of these acoustic sets will feature Nashville’s signature “songwriters-in-the-round” where in addition to performing, songwriters share the stories behind their hit songs.
Adding a philanthropic element to BMI Maui Songwriters Festival, a portion of the proceeds will once again benefit Dorvin and Betty Leis Charities, Inc., the Maui Arts & Cultural Center and the BMI Foundation, dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, grants, and commissions.
Compass Records Signs Molly Tuttle
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Garry West, Compass co-founder, Molly Tuttle, Alison Brown, Compass co-founder.
Molly Tuttle has signed with Nashville-based Compass Records.
Tuttle is currently nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year honors, as well as a history-making nod as the first woman in the 27-year history of the IBMA Awards to be nominated for Guitar Player of the Year.
“I’ve been a fan of Molly’s since I heard her at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass convention nearly a decade ago,” says Compass co-founder Alison Brown. “Molly was still in high school but it was clear that she was a singular player and singer. Since then it’s been wonderful to watch her mature into a great songwriter, guitarist and bandleader. The depth of her musicianship is extremely impressive and I’m really proud of her both for what she is bringing to contemporary bluegrass as well as the example she is setting for the next generation of female musicians. I couldn’t be more excited to have Molly on the Compass roster and I’m looking forward to seeing where her music takes her next.”
Tuttle released her debut solo EP Rise earlier this year. The seven-track project was produced by Kai Welch and features plenty of Tuttle’s signature guitar work. She is currently working on a full-length follow up to be released in 2018.