Musicians Hall of Fame Announces 2016 Inductees

Musicians Hall of Fame logo

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum has announced the 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees.

In alphabetic order, the inductees include: Lou Bradley, Garth Brooks & The G-Men, Don Felder, Mark Miller, Jerry Reed, Allen Reynolds, Ron “Snake” Reynolds, Sigma Sound Studio Rhythm Section, Ricky Skaggs and Joe Tarsia.

The Induction Ceremony and Concert will be held on Wednesday Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium, home to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster on Sept. 12.

2016 INDUCTEES

Garth Brooks is certified by the RIAA as the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history with over 137 million albums. The G-Men are a group of musicians who have played with Brooks on all of his studio albums. This show will be a rare opportunity to see the G-Men play with Brooks live in concert. Members include Bruce Bouton (steel guitar), Mark Casstevens (rhythm guitar), Mike Chapman (posthumously, bass), Rob Hajacos (fiddle), Chris Leuzinger (lead guitar), Milton Sledge (drums), and Bobby Wood (keyboards).

Jerry Reed, known throughout country music as “the Guitar Man” after his 1967 hit single of the same name, gained recognition not only for a successful solo career, but also as an actor and ace session player. After leaving school, he auditioned for Bill Lowery, founder of Lowery Publishing Co. and Southern Track Studios in Atlanta, Ga., who encouraged him to write more songs and booked him for a tour opening for Ernest Tubb. He died in 2008.

Sigma Sound Studio Rhythm Section (The Sound of Philadelphia) is a group of session musicians created a genre of soul music with funk influences, often with sweeping strings and piercing horns, which sets the unique sound of Philadelphia apart. Members include Ronnie Baker (posthumously, guitar), Tommy Bell (keyboards), Charles Collins (drums), Bobby Eli (guitar), Dennis Harris (guitar), Norman Harris (posthumously, guitar), Vince Montana (posthumously, vibes), TJ Tindall (posthumously, guitar), Larry Washington (posthumously, congas), Jimmy Williams (bass), and Earl Young, the drummer who was credited as the inventor of the disco style of rock drumming.

Ricky Skaggs entered the world of professional music when he was invited to join the band of bluegrass patriarch Ralph Stanley. He moved into country music in the 1970s, first as a member of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and later as an individual recording artist on his own.

ENGINEERING AWARD

Lou Bradley began his engineering career working for WPFA radio in Pensacola, Florida, where he built his own recording studio. From there, he moved to Atlanta and worked for Bill Lowery Music Co., where he engineered hits such as “Cherry Hill Park” by Billy Joe Royal and “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” by The Tams.

Mark Miller, a highly successful Nashville engineer, has engineered “18 Wheels And A Dozen Roses” and “Walk The Way The Wind Blows” for Kathy Mattea, as well as “Small Town Saturday Night” and “Past The Point Of Rescue” for Hal Ketchum.

Ron “Snake” Reynolds has engineered more than 600 Billboard Top 40 hits. He started at Nugget Records owned by Fred Carter, Jr. in Goodlettesville, Tennessee, where he signed an artist development and songwriting contract. In 1972, he started working as a staff engineer with Columbia Records Studios in Nashville.

Joe Tarsia has engineered an amazing number of classic pop music songs, earning him over 150 gold and platinum record awards. His credits include albums such as A Brand New Me by Dusty Springfield, To Know You Is To Love You by B.B. King, and Life Is A Song Worth Singing by Teddy Pendergrass.

PRODUCER AWARD

Allen Reynolds has produced many hits such as “Talking In Your Sleep” and “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” by Crystal Gayle, “18 Wheels And A Dozen Roses” by Kathy Mattea, not to mention Garth Brooks’ iconic records “Friends in Low Places” and “The Dance.” Reynolds also wrote the hit single “Five O’Clock World” for the rock band The Vogues in 1965.

ICONIC RIFF AWARD

Don Felder is renowned as a lead guitarist formerly of the Eagles. He is the 2016 Iconic Riff Award recipient for creating the incredible guitar intro and solo in “Hotel California,” which has been referred to as one of the best guitar solos of all time. Before moving to Los Angeles, Felder taught guitar in Gainesville, Florida, where one of his students was Tom Petty.

Avenue Bank Takes Pinnacle Name

A sign at the Green Hills office reveals that Avenue Bank has taken the Pinnacle name.

A sign at the Green Hills office reveals that Avenue Bank has taken the Pinnacle name.

Following a merger, Avenue Bank officially changed its name and identity to Pinnacle Bank on Tuesday (Sept. 6), in a sign unveiling event at the combined firm’s Green Hills office.

“Together, Pinnacle and Avenue are truly Nashville’s bank,” said M. Terry Turner, president and CEO of Pinnacle Financial Partners. “I’m excited about the growth opportunities we have moving forward as one team, such as building out a national franchise focused on the music industry.”

“Pinnacle and Avenue have both been recognized as great places to work, and joining forces will make us even better,” said Ronald L. Samuels, Avenue’s former chairman and CEO who now serves as Pinnacle’s vice chairman. “We have found that high levels of associate engagement lead to excellent client service and high stock performance.”

Clients from both firms will enjoy more benefits as a result of the integration, including the convenience of accessing an additional Nashville office at Cummins Station, as well as Pinnacle’s other locations in 14 counties across the state.

Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Avenue”) was merged with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) on July 1, 2016, giving the firm combined assets of more than $10.5 billion. In connection with the merger, Avenue Bank, Avenue’s wholly owned bank subsidiary, merged with and into Pinnacle Bank, Pinnacle’s wholly owned bank subsidiary. Avenue had continued to operate under its brand until the systems and operations of the companies were totally integrated with Pinnacle.

Pinnacle and Avenue announced the intent to merge on Jan. 28, 2016.

Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The American Banker recognized Pinnacle as the sixth best bank to work for in the country in 2016.

The firm began operations in a single downtown Nashville location in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $9.7 billion in assets at June 30, 2016. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in the state’s four largest markets, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, as well as several surrounding counties.

Tucker Beathard Plans EP, Earns MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin

Tucker Beathard. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Tucker Beathard. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Tucker Beathard offered an acoustic preview of his upcoming EP on Tuesday (Sept. 6) at a luncheon at Saint Añejo. That project, titled Fight Like Hell, will be released on Oct. 7 on Dot Records, an imprint of Big Machine Label Group.

Beathard accompanied himself on guitar for performances of “Momma and Jesus,” “20-10 Tennessee,” “I’ll Take on the World With You,” “Fight Like Hell,” and his debut single, “Rock On.” All five songs, plus “Home Sweet USA,” will be featured on the EP. Beathard co-wrote every track on the project.

Following the performance, Beathard accepted his first MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for “Rock On,” which is this week’s No. 1 song on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. Since 2014, every artist and songwriter to earn a No. 1 single on that chart receives a coin.

Tucker Beathard. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser Photography

Tucker Beathard. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Steven Curtis Chapman Will Release Memoir In March 2017

unspecifiedSteven Curtis Chapman will share stories from his life and career in the memoir Between Heaven & the Real World, penned with author Ken Abraham (Chuck Norris’ Against All Odds, Lisa Beamer’s Let’s Roll). The book will be released on March 7, 2017, via Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Between Heaven & the Real World chronicles Chapman’s childhood in Kentucky, his rise as an artist and songwriter, and his family life and 32-year marriage to Mary Beth Chapman.

This August he will kick off the second leg of the SCC3D: Third Day Together with Steven Curtis Chapman Tour, then September through October will bring Chapman’s Songs & Stories Tour with Mac Powell from Third Day and Brandon Heath.

A vocal supporter of adoption, Chapman and his wife founded Show Hope in 2003, a nonprofit organization that helps restore the hope of a family to orphans.

Chapman announced the news via a fun social media photo with his family.

Pictured (L-R) Caleb Chapman (Chapman's son); Della Richards (Chapman's granddaughter); Steven Curtis Chapman; Mary Beth Chapman; Emily Richards (Chapman's daughter); Eiley (Chapman's granddaughter); Will Chapman (Chapman's son).

Pictured (L-R): Caleb Chapman (Chapman’s son); Della Richards (Chapman’s granddaughter); Steven Curtis Chapman; Mary Beth Chapman; Emily Richards (Chapman’s daughter); Eiley (Chapman’s granddaughter); Will Chapman (Chapman’s son).

CMA Foundation Donates To Music Programs Affected By Louisiana Floods

Kix Brooks (center) gathers with event organizers Chris Foreman (left) and Wayne Toups at #AcadianaStrong, a concert to benefit flood victims in South Louisiana. Photo: Scott Clause

Kix Brooks (center) gathers with event organizers Chris Foreman (left) and Wayne Toups at #AcadianaStrong, a concert to benefit flood victims in South Louisiana. Photo: Scott Clause

On behalf of the CMA Foundation, Kix Brooks has announced a donation of $30,000 to music education initiatives that have been affected by recent flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Brooks, a Shreveport native who also serves on the CMA Foundation Board of Directors, made the announcement Sunday (Sept. 3) during his set at the “Acadiana Strong” benefit concert for flood victims held in Opelousas, Louisiana.

“I’m very proud of the CMA Foundation and what they’ve done for music education around the country,” said Brooks. “We sometimes don’t realize until a disaster of this magnitude happens how important it is to be able to rebuild music programs that otherwise may take years to rebuild. Being from Louisiana, this is heartfelt appreciation just knowing what the folks in my home state are going through.”

Funds will be donated to Music Rising, an organization that responds specifically to the emergency needs of schools in communities that are devastated by a natural or economic disaster taking away their ability to teach music.

“The Edge (U2) and I are truly thankful to the CMA Foundation and all its members for supporting Music Rising, especially at this time when there is so much need being created by natural and economic disasters all across the country,” said music producer Bob Ezrin, co-founder of Music Rising. “I am particularly proud that this comes from the great city where I reside–Nashville!”

This donation brings the CMA Foundation’s total contributions in Louisiana to $325,000. Current grant recipients include Notes for Notes, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, and VH1 Save The Music, which is rebuilding music education programs in Saint John the Baptist Parish Public Schools.

Arista Nashville Signs Seth Ennis, Releases “Woke Up In Nashville”

Pictured (L-R): Noah McPike, Almon & McPike PLLC; Lou Taylor, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group; Taylor Lindsey, SMN; Paul Barnabee, SMN; Randy Goodman, SMN; Jim Catino. SMN; Seth Ennis; Steve Hodges, SMN); Jason Owen, Sandbox Entertainment); Ken Robold, SMN; Katie Admire, Sandbox Entertainment; Josh Easler, SMN.

Pictured (L-R): Noah McPike, Almon & McPike PLLC; Lou Taylor, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group; Taylor Lindsey, Sony Music Nashville; Paul Barnabee, Sony Music Nashville; Randy Goodman, Sony Music Nashville; Jim Catino. Sony Music Nashville; Seth Ennis; Steve Hodges, Sony Music Nashville; Jason Owen, Sandbox Entertainment; Ken Robold, Sony Music Nashville; Katie Admire, Sandbox Entertainment; Josh Easler, Sony Music Nashville.

Sony Music Nashville has signed Seth Ennis to the Arista Nashville roster, and has immediately released Ennis’ debut track, “Woke Up In Nashville.”

“I’m so excited about Seth and his music,” says Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. “He represents everything good about our format and its future; young, energetic, incredible songwriter and performer. He’s the whole package and the real deal!”

Co-written by Ennis, David Hodges and Blair Daly and produced by Corey Crowder, “Woke Up In Nashville” showcases the 23-year-old’s versatile musicianship, as Ennis plays all instruments and sings all vocals on the track.

As the middle son of a military colonel, he honed his talents growing up around the world – spending time in Georgia, Alabama, Washington D.C. and Japan before age 16. Ennis moved to Nashville in 2013. By 2015, he had signed with Scott Ponce and Crowder at Liz Rose Music/Warner Chappell Music, teamed up with Marc Dennis and Sabrina Butera at Creative Artist Agency and is managed by Jason Owen at Sandbox Entertainment.

Seth Ennis

Seth Ennis

‘MusicRow’ Job Opening: Graphic Design/Production Manager

GraphicDesigner_570
MusicRow
, Nashville’s music industry publication, is seeking a Graphic Design & Production Manager. This position is responsible for all aspects of layout and design for print issues and websites, as well as management of advertisements and other duties listed below. The ideal candidate will have an impressive skill set, strong creative ability and enjoy working in a fun environment.

Job Requirements

• Degree/Education in graphic design
• Demonstrated proficiency in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop is required
• Experience utilizing WordPress is preferred
• Strong organizational skills
• Dependability is a must
• 1-3 years job experience is preferred
• Creative and technical ability to do editorial layout and design
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience with Final Cut Pro, GarageBand, and Illustrator is preferred but not required
• Must have strong project management skills, be deadline-driven and enjoy working with a team
• Microsoft Office suite skills are required

Job Duties

• All aspects of layout and design for print issues and websites
• Management of all advertisements for print issues and websites
• Sending twice-daily news emails
• Photography/video of events and artist visits (including video editing)
• Other duties (i.e., archiving files, creating plaques, radio chart, and more)

Send resume (with salary requirement/range) and online portfolio to jobs@musicrow.com

Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. for any employer.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Nashville Film Festival Announces Inaugural Song Competition

Nashville Film Festival Song Competition LogoThe Nashville Film Festival has revealed its first Song Competition, a search for songs ready to be synced in film and television.

Music producer Timbaland, Worldwide Executive and President of Music for Electronic Arts Steve Schnur, and ABC Studios’ Sr. VP, TV Music Dawn Solér have all signed on as competition jurors.

Timbaland has worked with artists including Justin Timberlake, Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and more. Schnur spearheads Electronic Arts, the largest video game producer in the world, and home to titles including Madden NFL, FIFA, Battlefield and The Sims. A longtime veteran of the music industry, Schnur held executive positions with labels Arista, Elektra, Chrysalis and Capitol. Solér oversees the music content for shows such as Nashville, Blackish, Once Upon a Time, Scandal and Quantico. She is founder of the ABC Music Lounge and has produced three Nashville: On The Record network specials.

Three winners will receive consulting from the 2017 NashFilm music supervisors. Additionally, NashFilm will pitch the winning entries to label and publishing representatives in Nashville and other music industry hubs. Additional prizes include a consultation with 1Band1Brand, full access to the Nashville Film Festival, a Gibson guitar and more prizes to be announced soon.

The first place winner will receive one roundtrip flight to Nashville and a two-night complimentary hotel stay.

WMOT-FM Flips Switch To Americana At CMHoF Event

Pictured (Back Row, L-R):

Pictured (Back Row, L-R): Craig Havighurst, Will Hoge, Stephen Mougin, Jim VanCleve, Randy Kohrs, Mike Bub; (Second Row, L-R): Laurie Gregory, Jenni Lyn, Richard Bailey, Alison Brown, Tammy Rogers, Mike Farris, Suzy Bogguss, John Walker. (Front Row, L-R): Keith Bilbrey, Jim Lauderdale. Photo: Shelley Swanger

A number of roots artists were on hand to help switch WMOT-FM to the Americana format on Friday morning (Sept. 2) during a celebratory event at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. WMOT-FM/Roots Radio 89.5, is a 100,000 watt station operated by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro. It’s the first station in the region dedicated to Americana and roots music.

John Walker and Todd Mayo, executive producers of radio program Music City Roots, have partnered with WMOT to assist with programming the music, in addition to educating MTSU students about running a radio station.

Welcoming remarks at the event were given by Ken Paulson, Dean, College of Media and Entertainment, as well as Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, President of MTSU. Radio personality Keith Bilbrey provided an introduction to the program.

That was followed by a performance of Aaron Copland’s “Hoedown” by the Roots Radio All-Star Band, composed of bassist Mike Bub, Dobro player Randy Kohrs, banjo player Alison Brown, fiddler Tammy Rogers and banjo player Richard Bailey (both of The SteelDrivers), fiddler Jim Van Cleve, acoustic guitarist Stephen Mougin, and mandolin player Jenni Lyn.

Jim Lauderdale gave artist introductions, including one for Will Hoge, who performed “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

MTSU’s Val Hoeppner, who is executive director of WMOT and director, Center of Innovation in Media, spoke about the university’s partnerships, while senior producer/journalist Craig Havighurst explained the station’s concept. The closing jam offered music from Lauderdale, the Roots Radio All-Star Band, and special guests Suzy Bogguss, Mike Farris and Will Hoge.

The event concluded with WMOT program director Jessie Scott officially launching the station and broadcasting live with an interview with Americana Music Association’s Jed Hilly. The first song played on the air was “Hurry Up Sunrise” by Luther Dickinson.

Pictured (clockwise from far left): Mike Farris,

Pictured (clockwise from far left): Mike Farris, Mike Bub, Stephen Mougin, Jim Lauderdale, Jenni Lyn, Randy Kohrs, Alison Brown, Richard Bailey, Jim Van Cleve, Tammy Rogers. Photo: Shelley Swanger

BMLG’s Jake Basden Honored By University Of Oklahoma

Jake Basden. Photo: BMLG

Jake Basden. Photo: BMLG

Big Machine Label Group’s Jake Basden is being honored by the University of Oklahoma with the 2016 Regent’s Young Alumni Award. In 2015, Basden was named BMLG’s vice president of publicity and corporate communications. He joined the label group in 2011.

The award is the second-highest honor bestowed upon alumni at OU and honors the important roles of OU alumni and supporters to the life of the university.

A 2006 graduate of OU, Basden has also been named to the University’s Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communications Board of Visitors. He will deliver a commencement speech for journalism school’s December convocation.