[Updated: Jan. 14, 2016 at 10 a.m.]
A memorial service for songwriter Don Pfrimmer has been announced for Sunday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. at Richland Country Club in Nashville.
[Previous story: Dec. 8, 2015]
Award-winning songwriter Don Pfrimmer died last night, Dec. 7, after a battle with leukemia. He was 78 years old.
Pfrimmer was notable for the sustained length of his career. He began placing songs on the country charts in the mid-1970s and continued to do so for the next four decades. Among his successful copyrights are Tim McGraw’s “All I Want Is a Life,” Diamond Rio’s “Meet in the Middle,” Lonestar’s “My Front Porch Looking In” and Ronnie Milsap’s “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning.”
He has earned 14 ASCAP awards and was a 2015 nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Pfrimmer worked with an impressively diverse group of collaborators over the years and was also noted for mentoring many young and beginning songwriters.
Donald Ross Pfrimmer was born Sept. 9, 1937, and grew up in the western Montana mountain town of Whitefish. He attended the University of Montana in 1962-1966, graduating with a B.A. majoring in English. He worked as a commercial fisherman and as a school teacher in Alaska before deciding to try his luck at songwriting in Nashville.
After moving to Music City in the summer of 1973, he had one of his first significant recordings when the Grand Ole Opry duo Lonzo & Oscar released his “Any Old Wind That Blows” as a 1974 single. Other early Pfrimmer songs were recorded by the Republic Records artists David Rogers, Leslie Barnhill, Ray Sanders and Kathy Barnes in 1976-78.
His cowritten “The Power of Positive Drinking” became Pfrimmer’s first Top 10 hit when it was sung by Mickey Gilley in 1978. Signing with Collins Court Music gave him access to artists produced by Tom Collins. This led to a string of hits in the early 1980s by Ronnie Milsap (1980’s “My Heart,” 1985’s “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning”), Sylvia (1981’s “Drifter,” 1981’s “The Matador,” 1982’s “I Never Quite Got Back,” 1984’s “Victims of Goodbye”), Barbara Mandrell (1984’s “Christmas at Our House”) and Steve Wariner (1981’s “By Now”).
Other big successes for the songwriter during the 1980s included 1983’s “You Put the Beat in My Heart” for Eddie Rabbitt, 1985’s “You Should Have Been Gone By Now” for Eddy Raven, 1986’s “You’re the Last Thing I Needed Tonight” for John Schneider and 1989’s “Love Will” for The Forester Sisters. During this decade, his songs were also recorded by Tanya Tucker, Jim & Jesse, Louise Mandrell, Don Williams, Lee Greenwood, Charlie Louvin, Keith Whitley, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lorrie Morgan and Porter Wagoner, among others.
Don Pfrimmer returned to the Top 10 on the country charts with Diamond Rio’s career-launching “Meet in the Middle” in 1991. “Come in Out of the Pain” (Doug Stone, 1992), “Love Without Mercy” (Lee Roy Parnell, 1993), “All I Want Is a Life” (Tim McGraw, 1996) and “She’s Sure Taking it Well” (Kevin Sharp, 1997) were other major Pfrimmer hits of the 1990s. Tammy Wynette, Michelle Wright, Billy Dean, George Jones, Rita Coolidge, Bryan White and Stephanie Bentley also recorded his tunes in that decade.
The veteran songwriter entered the new millennium by co-writing some of the biggest hits of his career. He began the decade promisingly with 2000’s “My Love Goes On and On” for Chris Cagle, then scored massive hits with the No. 1 Lonestar smashes “My Front Porch Looking In” (2003) and “Mr. Mom” (2004). He also co-wrote Lonestar’s 2005 hit “Class Reunion (That Used to Be Us).”
In 2010, he co-wrote songs for a unique album called Merry Ex-mas: Holiday Songs for the Divorced and Soon to Be. The tongue-in-cheek collection received a good deal of press attention. Encouraged by his wife Gail, Don Pfrimmer collaborated on its songs with longtime friends Mike Reid and Will Robinson.
He most recently wrote for Cosmic Mule Music in Nashville. In recent years, his songs have been recorded by Jo Dee Messina, Sarah Darling, Rascal Flatts, bluegrass favorites Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Kenny Rogers, Steve Holy, Neal McCoy, and more. During his long Nashville career, Don Pfrimmer wrote more than 450 songs.
New Year, New Look! Weekly Chart Report (1/15/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Industry Ink: BMI & Todd Chrisley, Gilda’s Club, LOCASH & CAA, Messina Touring Group
/by Jessica NicholsonUSA Network Star Todd Chrisley Signs With BMI
Pictured (L-R): Jody Williams, BMI; Todd Chrisley; Leslie Roberts, BMI
BMI has signed television personality and entrepreneur Todd Chrisley. Based in Atlanta, Chrisley “has deep country roots and plans to bring more eyes to Music City with his business acumen,” according to the announcement. On his USA Network reality series, Chrisley Knows Best, Chrisley showcases untapped talent and plans on introducing his large fanbase to even more of his personal picks.
BMI and Zanies To Present “Off The Record: Songs For Gilda’s Club”
BMI has partnered with Nashville comedy club Zanies to present “Off The Record: Songs For Gilda’s Club” on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Zanies. Bob DiPiero and Bobby Pinson will share some of their irreverent, humorous tracks. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Gilda’s Club Nashville.
“We’re excited to bring together our licensees and songwriters for a fun night,” says BMI’s Mark Mason, Executive Director, Writer-Publisher Relations. “Zanies is a longtime BMI licensee and we’re happy to host this entertaining evening for a worthy cause.”
Additional singer-songwriters slated to appear include Bruce Wallace, Kim Paige, Wynn Varble, Amanda Flynn, Phil Barton, the duo Joe Denim, and Brandon Kinney. The show will be hosted by comedian and musician Andrew Dorfman.
“I am proud to be part of the ‘Off The Record’ show at Zanies for Gilda’s club. I think she would have loved the idea,” said BMI songwriter DiPiero. “This has inspired me to dig deep into the vault of my ‘THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T SING ABOUT’ collection. It’s gonna be big fun!”
“It’s an idea we’ve had for a long time. Zanies is all comedy and Nashville’s all music, so you put them together and it’s going to be really cool,” says Zanies owner Brian Dorfman. “Every musician wants to be a comedian and every comedian wants to be a musician. It’s going to be a fun night for a good cause.”
Tickets for the show are $15 and available on zanies.com or by phone at 615-269-0221. Doors open at 6 p.m.
LOCASH Celebrates Success, New Management and Agency Signings
LOCASH‘s Chris Lucas and Preston Brust celebrated their single “I Love This Life” during a meeting at the CAA office in Nashville last night. The duo recently joined CAA and are represented by Brian Hill, who joined CAA in late 2015. The duo has also signed with Vector Management.
The team toasted the single’s success with a limited-edition cabernet from the Shipwrecked wine brand created by the duo.
Pictured (L-R): Rod Essig, CAA; David Ross, Reviver Records; Marc Dennis, CAA; Skip Bishop, Vector Management; Preston Brust, LOCASH; Brian Hill, CAA; Chris Lucas, LOCASH; Gator Michaels, Reviver Records.
Photo: Jacki Artis/CAA
Messina Touring Group Gets New Permanent Nashville Address
The organization moved following the demolition of their previous location on 19th Ave S. last year.
Promotions of five key executives at Messina Touring Group were announced earlier this week. Mike Dugan has been upped to President, Rome McMahon and Kate McMahon have been promoted to Executive Vice President positions, and Bridget Bauer and Sara Winter have been upped to Senior Vice President positions.
Round Hill Music Enters Asset Purchase Agreement With Bob DiPiero
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Mike Milom, attorney; Bob DiPiero; Mark Brown, VP/GM, Round Hill Music Nashville; Matthew Beckett, attorney
Round Hill Music has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Bob DiPiero to acquire DiPiero’s Love Monkey Music catalog.
DiPiero has had over 1,000 songs recorded by other artists, as well as 15 No. 1 hits. In 2011 his song “Coming Home” from the Country Strong movie soundtrack was nominated for both an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for “Best Original Song in a Motion Picture.”
“I am so excited that Round Hill has acquired Bob DiPiero’s Love Monkey Music Catalog,” said Mark Brown, VP/GM of Round Hill Music, Nashville. “It contains many of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member’s greatest hits in addition to the brand new single ‘Boys Like You’ by Fancy, feat. Ariana Grande and Megan Trainor. It will be a blast to work with Bob and Leslie [DiPiero] to exploit the many undiscovered gems that lie in this important catalog.”
Among DiPiero’s accolades are 50 BMI Million-Air honors, multiple Songwriter of the Year awards and two consecutive Triple Play awards for three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period. Bob is the originator of the CMA Songwriters Series and has served as its host for 10 years. In 2007, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville’s Walk of Fame.
Live Nation Agrees To Sound Mitigation Measures At Ascend Amphitheatre
/by Craig_ShelburneRiverfront Park and Ascend Amphitheater. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.
Metro Nashville Parks and Live Nation have instituted new sound mitigation measures for Ascend Amphitheatre in downtown Nashville. The new terms affect soundchecks, decibel levels, and the starting and ending times of events.
The policy will be enforced for the 2016 season and thereafter. The changes come after complaints of noise levels from downtown residents.
Opened in 2015, the venue is part of downtown’s Riverfront Park and owned by the City of Nashville. Live Nation was awarded a long-term contract to manage, market, operate and program the venue.
Metro Nashville Parks will be responsible for the monitoring equipment at Ascend. Although Live Nation already does their own in-house monitoring, the Parks department plans to add a system to help monitor the agreement.
Tommy Lynch, Parks Director, has stated, “Both Metro Parks and Live Nation are sensitive to the concerns that have been expressed. Live Nation is voluntarily working with us on noise levels and sound check times. They had a fairly intense schedule this fall, which probably added to the complaints. Overall, it appears that Live Nation really knocked it out the first season at Ascend. It was well received by the people attending the concerts, those performing at the concerts, and we are thoroughly pleased with how it went.”
Metro Nashville Parks submitted the proposal document to MusicRow. It reads as follows:
Grammy Awards Ad Campaign Features Carrie Underwood
/by Jessica NicholsonCarrie Underwood
The Recording Academy is promoting the 58th Annual Grammy Awards with the advertising campaign “Witness Greatness.” The campaign will include an array of billboards, street advertising, TV spots, and online advertisements featuring Carrie Underwood, alongside Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Sam Smith, and The Weeknd.
The TV commercial titled “Spotlight,” promoting both Super Bowl 50 and the Grammys, features memorable Grammy performances by some of the greatest performers of their generation. A second TV spot, titled “Confetti,” features Mars’ 55th Grammy Awards performance in 2013. Aligned with the overall campaign, the spots (view below) promote the idea that while viewers can’t predict exactly what’s going to happen on the Grammy stage, they will “Witness Greatness.”
The Grammy Awards will take place on Sun., Feb. 15, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS.
Curb Signs Newcomer Jackson Michelson
/by Eric T. ParkerCurb staff with new signee Jackson Michelson.
Curb Records has signed country singer-songwriter Jackson Michelson to its roster. Michelson perviously released his single “The Good Life.”
The Corvallis, Oregon native released his debut EP Dreams in 2010, which topped the iTunes top 100 charts. He has toured in over 25 states, sharing the stage with artists such as Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Clay Walker, James Otto, Ronnie Dunn, and many more. He will begin preparing for a high energy show and new music with Curb in 2016.
For more, visit jacksonmichelson.com.
DISClaimer: Chris Young, Cassadee Pope Shine On New Collaboration
/by Robert K OermannIt’s a day for vocal collaborations.
Our two top discs today are both harmony-vocal workouts. Big & Rich sound splendid with Tim McGraw on board. And Chris Young has never sounded more forceful than he does in tandem with Cassadee Pope. In a tight race, the youngsters win the Disc of the Day.
The DisCovery Award goes to The Jason Lee McKinney Band.
The Jason Lee McKinney Band
THE JASON LEE McKINNEY BAND/Lisha’s Leaving
Writers: Jason Lee McKinney/Scott Faircloff; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BMI/ASCAP; JLM
-The vocals sound somewhat muddy. The instruments sound like they are tuning up. But there is ability and promise here, particularly in the lead-vocal department.
STEVEN TYLER/Red White & You
Writers: Steven Tyler/Nathan Barlowe/Levi Hummon/Jon Vella; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: BMG Gold/20 Summers/Hot Rod 98/HitsSoGood/Big Machine/Levi Hummon/Deston Song Slayer/Kobalt/Sons of Deston/Universal, ASCAP/SESAC/BMI; Dot
– It’s tightly written, catchy and well produced. He still sounds like a rock singer to me.
MARK McKINNEY/Sunshine
Writer: Mark McKinney; Producers: Eric McKinney/Mark McKinney; Publisher: none listed; Texas Evolution
– It’s about making your own sunshine when times are darkest. The verses are at a ballad tempo. The choruses pick up the pace. It kinda meanders and takes its time getting to its hooks, but the wait is worth it.
LORI YATES/Sweetheart of the Valley
Writer: Lori Yates; Producers: Lori Yates/David Gavan Baxter; Publishers: none listed, SOCAN; LY (Canada)
– This Canadian singer-songwriter saw some chart action on Columbia back in the late ‘80s. The title tune of her current CD is a languid, picturesque, romantic stroll through the countryside, with some dandy steel and twang accompaniment. Very, very listenable.
RAY SCOTT/Live Forever
Writers: Billy Joe Shaver/Eddy Shaver; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publisher: none listed; deciBel (track)
– Ray’s new project is Roots Sessions Vol. 1, a six-song sampler of some of the songs that shaped him as an artist. His mighty baritone is center stage throughout, starting with this solid remake of a Billy Joe Shaver classic. Others saluted include Willie, Waylon, Cash, Tompall Glaser and Don Williams. I remain a big fan of this artist.
BIG & RICH FT. TIM McGRAW/Lovin’ Lately
Writers: Big Kenny/John Rich/Tim McGraw; Producer: Big & Rich; Publishers: Big Love/Songs of Kobalt/J Money/Stylesonic, BMI/ASCAP; New Revolution (track)
– Beautifully produced, with a deep-well atmosphere, swirling instrumental work and crystal-clear vocals. The song is dreamy melodic, and the harmonies are flawless. Play the heck outta this.
BRENNEN LEIGH/I Love You A Thousand Ways
Writers: Lefty Frizzell/Jimmy Beck; Producers: Brennen Leigh, Noel McKay, Cris Burns; Publishers: APRS/Sure Fire, BMI; Line in the Sand
– I am completely smitten with this artist. She plays guitar like the devil and sings like an angel. Her new CD is a salute to Country Music Hall of Famer Lefty Frizzell and has a brilliant neo-retro style, complete with bounced fiddle bows, barrelhouse piano and sighing steel. I was in heaven.
CHRIS YOUNG & CASSADEE POPE/Think of You
Writers: Chris Young/Corey Crowder/Josh Hoge; Producers: Chris Young/Corey Crowder; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Goodbye Pants/Sony-ATV/WB/Songs From the Rose Hotel/EMI Foray/Write 2 Be Free, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; RCA (track)
– This second single from his new CD is penned by the same team that gave us the chart-topping “I’m Comin’ Over.” But this one rocks splendidly and quickens your pulse. He sings his face off and Pope keeps up on harmonies. Excitement pours out of the speakers. Excellent work all around.
WARD DAVIS/15 Years in a 10 Year Town
Writer: Pat Alger; Producer: Jim “Moose” Brown; Publisher: none listed; WDM (track)
– Ward rounded up quite a crew for his new CD–Jamey Johnson, Melonie Cannon, Willie Nelson, Mickey Raphael and Buddy Cannon all put in appearances. The title tune is a solo meditation on broken dreams and cold loneliness. A terrific song.
BILLY DEE/For Sale Sign
Writer: B. Donahue; Producers: Billy Dee/George Schinier; Publishers: Cris Dee, BMI; BD (track)
-He’s hardcore country. His well-weathered singing voice is answered on every phrase by a whipped-dog pedal steel guitar.
Memorial Service Scheduled For Songwriter Don Pfrimmer
/by Robert K Oermann[Updated: Jan. 14, 2016 at 10 a.m.]
A memorial service for songwriter Don Pfrimmer has been announced for Sunday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. at Richland Country Club in Nashville.
[Previous story: Dec. 8, 2015]
Award-winning songwriter Don Pfrimmer died last night, Dec. 7, after a battle with leukemia. He was 78 years old.
Pfrimmer was notable for the sustained length of his career. He began placing songs on the country charts in the mid-1970s and continued to do so for the next four decades. Among his successful copyrights are Tim McGraw’s “All I Want Is a Life,” Diamond Rio’s “Meet in the Middle,” Lonestar’s “My Front Porch Looking In” and Ronnie Milsap’s “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning.”
He has earned 14 ASCAP awards and was a 2015 nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Pfrimmer worked with an impressively diverse group of collaborators over the years and was also noted for mentoring many young and beginning songwriters.
Donald Ross Pfrimmer was born Sept. 9, 1937, and grew up in the western Montana mountain town of Whitefish. He attended the University of Montana in 1962-1966, graduating with a B.A. majoring in English. He worked as a commercial fisherman and as a school teacher in Alaska before deciding to try his luck at songwriting in Nashville.
After moving to Music City in the summer of 1973, he had one of his first significant recordings when the Grand Ole Opry duo Lonzo & Oscar released his “Any Old Wind That Blows” as a 1974 single. Other early Pfrimmer songs were recorded by the Republic Records artists David Rogers, Leslie Barnhill, Ray Sanders and Kathy Barnes in 1976-78.
His cowritten “The Power of Positive Drinking” became Pfrimmer’s first Top 10 hit when it was sung by Mickey Gilley in 1978. Signing with Collins Court Music gave him access to artists produced by Tom Collins. This led to a string of hits in the early 1980s by Ronnie Milsap (1980’s “My Heart,” 1985’s “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning”), Sylvia (1981’s “Drifter,” 1981’s “The Matador,” 1982’s “I Never Quite Got Back,” 1984’s “Victims of Goodbye”), Barbara Mandrell (1984’s “Christmas at Our House”) and Steve Wariner (1981’s “By Now”).
Other big successes for the songwriter during the 1980s included 1983’s “You Put the Beat in My Heart” for Eddie Rabbitt, 1985’s “You Should Have Been Gone By Now” for Eddy Raven, 1986’s “You’re the Last Thing I Needed Tonight” for John Schneider and 1989’s “Love Will” for The Forester Sisters. During this decade, his songs were also recorded by Tanya Tucker, Jim & Jesse, Louise Mandrell, Don Williams, Lee Greenwood, Charlie Louvin, Keith Whitley, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lorrie Morgan and Porter Wagoner, among others.
Don Pfrimmer returned to the Top 10 on the country charts with Diamond Rio’s career-launching “Meet in the Middle” in 1991. “Come in Out of the Pain” (Doug Stone, 1992), “Love Without Mercy” (Lee Roy Parnell, 1993), “All I Want Is a Life” (Tim McGraw, 1996) and “She’s Sure Taking it Well” (Kevin Sharp, 1997) were other major Pfrimmer hits of the 1990s. Tammy Wynette, Michelle Wright, Billy Dean, George Jones, Rita Coolidge, Bryan White and Stephanie Bentley also recorded his tunes in that decade.
The veteran songwriter entered the new millennium by co-writing some of the biggest hits of his career. He began the decade promisingly with 2000’s “My Love Goes On and On” for Chris Cagle, then scored massive hits with the No. 1 Lonestar smashes “My Front Porch Looking In” (2003) and “Mr. Mom” (2004). He also co-wrote Lonestar’s 2005 hit “Class Reunion (That Used to Be Us).”
In 2010, he co-wrote songs for a unique album called Merry Ex-mas: Holiday Songs for the Divorced and Soon to Be. The tongue-in-cheek collection received a good deal of press attention. Encouraged by his wife Gail, Don Pfrimmer collaborated on its songs with longtime friends Mike Reid and Will Robinson.
He most recently wrote for Cosmic Mule Music in Nashville. In recent years, his songs have been recorded by Jo Dee Messina, Sarah Darling, Rascal Flatts, bluegrass favorites Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Kenny Rogers, Steve Holy, Neal McCoy, and more. During his long Nashville career, Don Pfrimmer wrote more than 450 songs.
MusicRow Podcast Episode 7: John Marks
/by Sherod RobertsonWith decades of experience in radio, John Marks has established himself as one of the most prominent tastemakers in the music industry. When he shifted from SiriusXM to Spotify in 2015, everybody wondered what was behind the big move.
In this conversation with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Marks explains why the career transition made sense. Now serving as Spotify’s Global Senior Editor/Music Programmer of Country, Marks also offers his insight about playlist curation, advice for new artists, and why streaming is here to stay.
Sponsored by SunTrust Bank’s Sports & Entertainment Group, this episode of the MusicRow podcast is the seventh in a series. All of the MusicRow podcasts are available on iTunes.
Click here to listen to episodes online.
Click here to listen on iTunes.
About the MusicRow podcast:
From Nashville’s leading music industry trade publication, The MusicRow Podcast features in-depth conversations with artists and the key industry members behind their music. Hosted by MusicRow Magazine Publisher Sherod Robertson, the series offers unique perspectives from iconic legends and rising talent to key decision makers and gatekeepers in the Nashville music industry.
Music Biz To Honor Second Breakthrough Artist Alongside Sam Hunt
/by Eric T. ParkerHalsey
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has announced up-and-coming alternative singer/songwriter Halsey will receive its Breakthrough Artist Awards at the annual Music Biz 2016 convention in Nashville (May 16-18). She will be honored alongside Sam Hunt for this year’s breakthrough honorees, with both presentations set to take place during the Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 18, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
“Halsey was one of the past year’s most-buzzed-about acts, releasing one of the best-received debut albums, Badlands, which started at #2 on the Billboard 200,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “From selling out Madison Square Garden to duetting on Justin Bieber’s Top 40 track ‘The Feeling’ to appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Halsey has had a breakout year that makes her a perfect recipient for this Award.”
Born in New Jersey, Halsey kick-started her music career via social media. In 2014, her original track “Ghost” earned her a significant following after she posted it to SoundCloud, leading to a record deal with Astralwerks and the release that year of her debut EP, Room 93. She opened for Imagine Dragons on their North American tour. Her debut full-length record, Badlands, followed on Aug. 28, 2015, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning the hit single “New Americana,” which was named 2015’s No. 3 most viral song globally on Spotify. She has since toured with The Weeknd; been nominated for Favorite Breakout Artist at the 2016 People’s Choice Awards; and been named MTV’s Artist to Watch and Spotify’s Emerge Artist. Her headlining Badlands Tour has sold out.
Previous Breakthrough Artist alumni for Music Biz include Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, Emeli Sandé, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, The Killers, and Carrie Underwood.
Early bird discounts to Music Biz 2016 are available until March 11.