Pictured are (l-r): Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Editor and co-curator Michael Gray; co-curator and author Peter Guralnick; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Sr. VP of Museum Services Carolyn Tate; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young; Knox and Jerry Phillips, sons of Sam Phillips; and guitarist Sonny Burgess. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM Chapter 501
Music City hosted Memphis this week and gave our West Tennessee neighbors a royal welcome with a first-class par-tay.
The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum opened its doors to the family and friends of Sam Phillips on Thursday evening (Aug. 27). Every time a Memphian’s name was mentioned, many attendees erupted in wild cheers—the crowd seemed to include half the population of Memphis.
The occasion was the preview party of a new exhibit, “Flying Saucers Rock & Roll: The Cosmic Genius of Sam Phillips.”
“I thought that museum people were squares until I met with them, and they said they were thinking of that title,” said Sam’s colorful son Jerry Phillips. “These people are not squares.”
“American music would not be what it is today, if not for Sam Phillips,” said the museum’s Kyle Young. “Sam Phillips was a man with a mission. That mission got him elected on the first ballot to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.” Thanks to his ground-breaking work at Sun Records in Memphis, Phillips is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“Sun Records was a…beacon shining out to [musical] misfits. We all know their names,” Young added, referring to the brightest stars in the astounding Sun constellation—Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Howlin’ Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, Charlie Rich, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Roy Orbison and the like.
Jerry Phillips recalled an English rock band asking his father about the secret of his success. “Son,” Sam replied, “you gotta reach deep inside yourself and pull it out of your a—hole.”
Jerry and The Recording Academy’s Jon Hornyak led a parade of Memphis celebrants at the gig, not the least of whom was rockabilly legend Sonny Burgess.
The Sun veteran proved that he can still rock at age 84. Burgess drew a standing ovation with his Sun classics “We Wanna Boogie” and “Red Headed Woman,” backed by a band led by Nashville’s Colin Linden.
Appreciating the groove of it all were such esteemed music makers as Web Wilder, Paul Burch, Chuck Mead, David Olney, Kristi Rose & Fats Kaplan, Mark Collie, Bob Delevante, Erica Nicole, John Singleton and Memphis vets W.S. Holland, Dickey Lee (who was on Sun), Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill.
The Hall really put on the ritz for this soiree. The carved barbecue-turkey sliders were accompanied by peanut slaw, corn & quinoa salad, cucumber chow-chow, spiced deviled eggs sprinkled with bacon, marinated vegetables and jumbo stuffed olives. The wait staff circulated with poached pear plus goat cheese and walnuts on bagel crackers and braised oxtail on toast points.
On the balmy balcony off the event hall, you could savor your desserts of Elvis TCB peanut-butter mousse and banana chip on chocolate-cake crumbles in slipper spoons. Or sample the chess and fudge pie tartlets.
Downstairs in the actual exhibit, we oohed and ahhed over classic Sun vinyl, show posters, video clips, Cash and Jerry Lee sport coats, Elvis’s “My Happiness” first acetate, the Sun console and tape recorder that created the “slapback” echo, Wolf’s guitar, vintage photos and Sam’s Rock Hall of Fame garb and statuette. Plus more.
Lon Helton, Mark Moffatt, Trip Aldridge, Hank Adam Locklin, Colin Escott, Ernie & Jerry Williams, Ashley Ernst, Bob Goldstone, Eric T. Parker, Nicky Riggins, Lois Riggins & David Ezell, Susan Stewart, Jon Freeman, Karen Leipziger, Lyn Aurelius and Peter Guralnick moved and grooved and schmoozed.
Exhibit co-curator Guralnick is the author of the forthcoming book, Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll. So the fun continues on Saturday (Aug. 29) when he moderates an 11 a.m. “Go, Cat, Go” panel discussion with Burgess, Holland, Phillips and J.M. Van Eaton.
This will be followed by a “Get Rhythm” celebratory concert at 2 p.m. co-starring Burgess, Linden, Collie, Mead, Phillips, Van Eaton, Holland, Eric Heatherly, Luther Dickenson, The Valentines, Marvell Thomas, The Secret Sisters, Billy Swan, Charlie Rich Jr. and The Kitchen Sisters. Be there or be square.
Sonny Burgess performs. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum
[Updated]: Tim McGraw, Faith Hill Reported To Help Hillary Clinton Network in Nashville
/by Eric T. ParkerFaith Hill and Tim McGraw.
(MusicRow) – [Updated, August 31, 8:40 a.m. CT]
Josh Schwerin, Spokesperson for the campaign of Hillary Clinton, has reported to MusicRow “the event is not confirmed.”
[Previous Story]
The Associated Press is reporting that Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton will “tap into the network” of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill during a fundraiser in Nashville, set for Sept. 29.
The event is said to take place for the former U.S. Secretary of State after seven fundraisers in Los Angeles and San Francisco earlier in that month.
Artist Updates: Naomi Judd, Florida Georgia Line, Home Free, Charles Esten
/by Jessica NicholsonNaomi Judd Celebrates ‘Girls Night Out’
Pictured (L-R): Greg Hill and Jeri Cooper, Hill Entertainment Group; Neil Miller, Executive Director of Entertainment, The Venetian – The Palazzo; Jim Allison, Director of Touring, AEG Live Las Vegas; Bobby Reynolds, Vice President, Booking, AEG Live Las Vegas; Ed Huckfeldt, Director of Marketing, The Venetian – The Palazzo; Naomi Judd; John Nelson, Sr. Vice President, AEG Live Las Vegas
Naomi Judd recently celebrated the announcement of The Judds’ Girls Night Out nine-show residency at The Venetian Las Vegas with the executives involved in the deal. Produced by AEG Live, Girls Night Out will mark the country duo’s first concerts together in nearly five years. The show will run at the resort casino from Oct. 7-24, 2015. Currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of their fifth and final studio album Love Can Build a Bridge, The Judds have sold more than 20 million albums to date.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. PT and are available at any Venetian or Palazzo Box Office, online at www.venetian.com/thejudds or by calling 702-414-9000 or 866-641-7469.
Florida Georgia Line Slated For ‘Good Morning America’ Summer Series
Florida Georgia Line. Photo: James Wright
Country duo Florida Georgia Line is set to appear on Good Morning America for the finale of their Summer Concert Series next Friday, Sept. 4 live from Central Park. The show airs at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. FGL’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard join a list of other artists from the course of the summer including Dierks Bentley, Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj, The Band Perry, Jessie J and Luke Bryan, among others.
The country duo will also join late night host Jimmy Fallon for another performance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, airing on NBC at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT.
Country Group Home Free Debuts Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/Little Big Town Mashup
Home Free
Country group Home Free debuted their new track and music video, “Fishin’ In The Dark/Down in the Boondocks” on USAToday.com on Aug. 28. The mashup includes the classic Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tune “Fishin’ In The Dark” with Little Big Town’s breakthrough hit “Boondocks.”
The group’s third studio album, Country Evolution, will release Sept. 18 on Columbia Records.
Charles Esten To Join Sam Phillips Tribute
Charles Esten
Charles Esten, star of ABC’s Nashville, will perform in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Saturday, Aug. 29, at 2:00 p.m. Paying homage to Sam Phillips and the Sun Record label Phillips created, Esten will join Sonny Burgess, Mark Collie, Luther Dickinson, Eric Heatherly, W.S. “Fluke” Holland, Chuck Mead, Jerry Phillips, Charlie Rich Jr., the Secret Sisters, J. M. Van Eaton, and more for the concert. For a full lineup, click here.
The concert marks the opening of a new exhibit at the museum, Flyin’ Saucers Rock & Roll: The Cosmic Genius of Sam Phillips, which officially opens today, Aug. 28.
In addition, Phillips biographer and exhibit co-curator Peter Guralnick will moderate a panel, Go, Cat, Go: Sam Phillips in the Studio, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, with Burgess, Van Eaton, Holland, and Jerry Phillips in the museum’s Ford Theater.
All programs are free with museum admission or membership, and attendees must have a Program Pass to guarantee admission to the event. Program passes are distributed two hours prior to the event at the museum’s box office on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is general admission and limited.
For additional programming and exhibit details visit countrymusichhalloffame.org.
Carrie Underwood To Be Guest Judge on ‘Project Runway’ Season Finale
/by Jessica NicholsonCarrie Underwood/CALIA
Not only will seven-time GRAMMY winner Carrie Underwood be stepping to center stage in the fashion world during New York’s Fashion Week at the recently announced Calia by Carrie Underwood show to present her fall collection, she will also appear on Lifetime’s Project Runway.
Carrie will join Nina Garcia and Zac Posen as a guest judge on the season finale show that tapes Friday, Sept. 11 with Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. The finale episode will air Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Carrie recently announced her fifth studio album, Storyteller, will be in stores on Oct. 23.
MusicRowPics: Hailey Whitters
/by Jessica NicholsonHailey Whitters performs for MusicRow staff.
Carnival Music Publishing singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters previewed songs from her upcoming album, Black Sheep, during a recent visit to the MusicRow office. Whitters signed with Carnival Music Publishing in 2012, and has recently been working with producer Derek Wells on her debut project. “We sat down with Carnival and picked out the 10 songs that most represented me as an artist,” says Whitters.
Whitters’ first single release, “City Girl,” describes a small town girl dreaming of life in the big city. Being from Shueyville, Iowa (population: 600), Whitters immediately connected with the song. “My house was in the middle of a cornfield,” she recalls. “I always fantasized about moving to a big city. It’s a dramatic, sassy way of saying, ‘I’m from the country.’” She grew up influenced by the country songs of the Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood, and Shania Twain emanating from the radio. She later fell in love with the music of Loretta Lynn, Keith Whitley, and Johnny Cash through records her grandmother gave her.
This self-described country girl eventually packed up and moved to the “big city” (Nashville). At 17, Whitters enrolled in Belmont University, where discovered Nashville’s songwriting community.
“City Girl” isn’t the only song on the project to tout big dreams and the ambition to follow them. During her visit, Whitters offered an acoustic take on “Black Sheep,” the album’s title track co-penned by The Wrights’ Adam Wright. The song praises independent thinkers who have the courage to follow their own paths.
Whitters followed her acoustic showcase with “One More Hell,” a tribute to her young brother, who died four years ago in a car accident. “The family packed up for a trip to California. We didn’t know where we were going, we didn’t have a plan, we just drove,” recalls Whitter. Upon returning to Nashville after the trip, it was the first song she wrote. “It was really therapeutic for me.
“I still tear up a bit sometimes when I sing it,” she continued. “I love performing it because I feel like a lot of people have experienced loss. But even if they haven’t, I had someone come up to me at a show and say, ‘I’ve never lost anyone, but I’m here with my brother and I want say that song really touched me.’ So I feel like whether you have experienced loss or not, people have a soft spot for that song.”
The heartfelt singer/songwriter also obliged staff with a rendition of her “Low All Afternoon,” a solo-write on her Carnival debut and a title recorded by Martina McBride for consideration on her forthcoming Nash Icon debut.
Whitters is currently on the road performing shows with Leon Russell, having recently signed a booking deal with APA.
An album release will preview songs from her upcoming project at The Basement (1604 8th Ave. S.) in Nashville on Sept. 29.
Hailey Whitters with MusicRow staff.
Ian Rogers To Leave Apple Music
/by Eric T. ParkerIan Rogers
Ian Rogers–Apple executive and former CEO of Beats Music before its acquisition by Apple–is leaving the tech giant, according to confirmation from Billboard after a first report from the Financial Times.
Rogers was appointed as head of iTunes Radio in 2014. He was previously CEO of Topspin, which was acquired by Beats Music earlier that year. He was also general manager of Yahoo! Music.
“According to Financial Times sources, Rogers will be taking a job in Europe in an unrelated industry,” reports the national industry trade publication. “Rogers was key to the development of the popular Beats 1 radio, as well as drawing Beats 1’s leader Zane Lowe away from his position at the BBC (which caused a bit of a trickle-down effect).”
Bobby Karl Works The Sam Phillips Exhibit
/by Bobby KarlPictured are (l-r): Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Editor and co-curator Michael Gray; co-curator and author Peter Guralnick; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Sr. VP of Museum Services Carolyn Tate; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young; Knox and Jerry Phillips, sons of Sam Phillips; and guitarist Sonny Burgess. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM Chapter 501
Music City hosted Memphis this week and gave our West Tennessee neighbors a royal welcome with a first-class par-tay.
The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum opened its doors to the family and friends of Sam Phillips on Thursday evening (Aug. 27). Every time a Memphian’s name was mentioned, many attendees erupted in wild cheers—the crowd seemed to include half the population of Memphis.
The occasion was the preview party of a new exhibit, “Flying Saucers Rock & Roll: The Cosmic Genius of Sam Phillips.”
“I thought that museum people were squares until I met with them, and they said they were thinking of that title,” said Sam’s colorful son Jerry Phillips. “These people are not squares.”
“American music would not be what it is today, if not for Sam Phillips,” said the museum’s Kyle Young. “Sam Phillips was a man with a mission. That mission got him elected on the first ballot to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.” Thanks to his ground-breaking work at Sun Records in Memphis, Phillips is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“Sun Records was a…beacon shining out to [musical] misfits. We all know their names,” Young added, referring to the brightest stars in the astounding Sun constellation—Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Howlin’ Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, Charlie Rich, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Roy Orbison and the like.
Jerry Phillips recalled an English rock band asking his father about the secret of his success. “Son,” Sam replied, “you gotta reach deep inside yourself and pull it out of your a—hole.”
Jerry and The Recording Academy’s Jon Hornyak led a parade of Memphis celebrants at the gig, not the least of whom was rockabilly legend Sonny Burgess.
The Sun veteran proved that he can still rock at age 84. Burgess drew a standing ovation with his Sun classics “We Wanna Boogie” and “Red Headed Woman,” backed by a band led by Nashville’s Colin Linden.
Appreciating the groove of it all were such esteemed music makers as Web Wilder, Paul Burch, Chuck Mead, David Olney, Kristi Rose & Fats Kaplan, Mark Collie, Bob Delevante, Erica Nicole, John Singleton and Memphis vets W.S. Holland, Dickey Lee (who was on Sun), Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill.
The Hall really put on the ritz for this soiree. The carved barbecue-turkey sliders were accompanied by peanut slaw, corn & quinoa salad, cucumber chow-chow, spiced deviled eggs sprinkled with bacon, marinated vegetables and jumbo stuffed olives. The wait staff circulated with poached pear plus goat cheese and walnuts on bagel crackers and braised oxtail on toast points.
On the balmy balcony off the event hall, you could savor your desserts of Elvis TCB peanut-butter mousse and banana chip on chocolate-cake crumbles in slipper spoons. Or sample the chess and fudge pie tartlets.
Downstairs in the actual exhibit, we oohed and ahhed over classic Sun vinyl, show posters, video clips, Cash and Jerry Lee sport coats, Elvis’s “My Happiness” first acetate, the Sun console and tape recorder that created the “slapback” echo, Wolf’s guitar, vintage photos and Sam’s Rock Hall of Fame garb and statuette. Plus more.
Lon Helton, Mark Moffatt, Trip Aldridge, Hank Adam Locklin, Colin Escott, Ernie & Jerry Williams, Ashley Ernst, Bob Goldstone, Eric T. Parker, Nicky Riggins, Lois Riggins & David Ezell, Susan Stewart, Jon Freeman, Karen Leipziger, Lyn Aurelius and Peter Guralnick moved and grooved and schmoozed.
Exhibit co-curator Guralnick is the author of the forthcoming book, Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll. So the fun continues on Saturday (Aug. 29) when he moderates an 11 a.m. “Go, Cat, Go” panel discussion with Burgess, Holland, Phillips and J.M. Van Eaton.
This will be followed by a “Get Rhythm” celebratory concert at 2 p.m. co-starring Burgess, Linden, Collie, Mead, Phillips, Van Eaton, Holland, Eric Heatherly, Luther Dickenson, The Valentines, Marvell Thomas, The Secret Sisters, Billy Swan, Charlie Rich Jr. and The Kitchen Sisters. Be there or be square.
Sonny Burgess performs. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum
Weekly Chart Report (8/28/15)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Apple Sets Big Announcement For Sept. 9
/by Jessica NicholsonIt has been speculated that the announcement will include new product updates, including a new iPhone (Apple typically uses this event for iPhone announcements). Other speculations include a larger iPad, an update for the company’s Apple Watch operating system, and iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. The company has not confirmed specific unveilings.
The invitations reads: “Hey Siri, give me a hint.” Programmed responses included:
— “Look deep within yourself and you will find the answer. Especially on September 9.”
— “You’re cute when you’re desperate for information.”
— “The only hint I can give you right now is a hint of lime. And that there’s a big announcement on September 9.
— “I can neither confirm nor deny that I am not authorized either to confirm or deny that I cannot disclose anything that you would then have to confirm. In any case, I would deny it. Got it?”
Musician’s Corner Marks Fifth Anniversary With Tom Petty Tribute
/by Sarah SkatesThe fundraising concert will feature Nashville artists Drew Holcomb, The Secret Sisters, Leigh Nash, Emily West, Matthew Perryman Jones, Kris Allen, Jason Eskridge, Bobby Bare Jr., Jon McLaughlin, Elenowen, Paul McDonald, Gill Landry, Gabriel Kelley, Lauren Shera, The Railers, and American Hotel. All proceeds benefit Musicians Corner’s Fall 2015 Season.
Tickets for “Into The Great Wide Open: An Evening Of Tom Petty Music” are on sale here.
In Pictures: Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, Chris Janson, Cam, Aaron Watson, Bart Crow
/by Jessica NicholsonMaddie & Tae, Meet Taylor Swift
Country duo Maddie & Tae met BMLG labelmate Taylor Swift before her 1989 World Tour performance at The Staples Center on Aug. 24.
Maddie & Tae with Taylor Swift.
Scotty McCreery Talks Album Prep, New Radio Single
Scotty McCreery was recently interviewed by radio/television personality Charlie Chase for Premiere Radio Networks’ “The Crook and Chase Countdown” syndicated radio show. They discussed McCreery’s current single, “Southern Belle,” which impacts country radio on Aug. 31. The song, from McCreery’s upcoming album due in early 2016, was written by Sean McConnell and Jason Saenz.
Pictured (L-R): Scotty McCreery and Charlie Chase.
Chris Janson Celebrates Gold Status at WMN Pickin’ On The Patio
Warner Music Nashville hosted the fourth Pickin’ On The Patio party yesterday (Aug. 26) featuring Warner Bros. Records recording artist Chris Janson. He was surprised with a plaque in recognition of his Top 5 single “Buy Me A Boat” receiving Gold certification from the RIAA.
Photo ID: Wes Vause (SVP, Publicity), TK Kimbrell (Manager, TKO Artist Management), Kevin Herring (SVP, Promotion), John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Chris Janson, Kelly Janson (Management), Lisa Ray (VP, Brand Management), Peter Strickland (EVP & GM, WMN), Cris Lacy (VP, A&R), Chris Palmer (VP, Promotion), Tom Martens (Dir, National Promotion), Scott Hendricks (SVP, A&R)
Road Warriors
Country singer-songwriter Aaron Watson recently topped the country albums chart with his project The Underdog, setting the stage for his current headlining tour by the same name. He announced an additional 40+ shows on the tour last month. Watson brought newcomer Cam along for his West Coat run, including several sold out shows in Bakersfield, Sacramento, San Jose, Corona, and Mesa, Ariz.
“This guy, and his whole crew, just salt of the earth, hard working, crazy talented, so inspiring,” shared Cam on her Instagram page.
Cam and Aaron Watson
Bart Crow Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut
Bart Crow makes his Opry debut.
Bart Crow, alt-country singer/songwriter from tiny little Maypearl, Texas, realized a dream Friday when he stepped on to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry to make his debut. Introduced by Opry legend Jeannie Seely, Crow performed his current hit single “Life Comes At You Fast” and “Queen of the Heartache Parade” from his upcoming new album The Parade, scheduled for release Oct. 2. Many of Crow’s family and friends flew in from his hometown to celebrate and witness his realized dream.