12th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic Coming in May
Singer, songwriter and entertainer Toby Keith will host the 12th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic, to be held May 15-16, 2015 at Belmar Golf Club and Riverwind Casino in Norman, Okla.
“This event and our USO Tours are the best things we get to do all year,” says Toby Keith. “I’ve been blessed with healthy kids, and I’m more than blessed to bring a bunch of folks together who want to help folks who haven’t. The great time we have – and we do have one, now – is a far distant second to making a difference for kids and families right here where we live.”
Roughly 750 attendees are expected at Friday (May 15) night’s dinner, which will include live and silent auctions. Serving as the evening’s host and auctioneer, Toby also brings in some friends for a musical performance. Live auction items include four tickets to the British Open, a trip to Cabo and a Dallas Cowboys Founders Club experience with private jet.
More than 100 silent auction items include memorabilia from Miranda Lambert, Larry Bird, Jason Aldean, George Strait, Tony Romo, Luke Bryan, The Highwaymen (Cash, Willie, Waylon, Kristofferson), Phil Mickelson, Eli Manning, Roger Clemens, Roger Federer, Jack Nicklaus, Tim Tebow, Ted Nugent, Mia Hamm, Greg Jennings and Nolan Ryan.
Saturday’s twin shotgun golf starts will feature 120 golfers and celebrities in the morning and 144 more in the afternoon. Both will have first and second place winners, and the winner of the Built Ford Tough Shootout will drive off in a new Ford Truck.
Mindy McCready Musical Headed For Los Angeles Opening
Mindy McCready
The life and career of late country singer Mindy McCready will soon be the focus of a new musical production. Beginning May 8, actress Jennifer Blake will star in McCready the Musical, which will run for six weeks at Los Angeles’ Spirit Studio in Silverlake. The project was co-created by Blake and writer/director Jon Bernstein.
The show will feature new arrangements of McCready’s hits, such as “Ten Thousand Angels” and “Guys Do It All The Time.” McCready the Musical will also cover the singer-songwriter’s childhood, early career, and relationships with actor Dean Cain and baseball’s Roger Clemens, among others.
McCready the Musical, starring Blake and band members Brady Harris, Jim Bianco, Michael Ursu and Clinton Pickens, will run through June 12.
For tickets, visit mccreadythemusical.com.
Ty Herndon, Meghan McCain To Host Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville
Mindy McCready
Ty Herndon, along with political commentator and author Meghan McCain, will host the inaugural Concert for Love and Acceptance at City Winery in Nashville on June 12.
Additional artists will be announced over the coming weeks. Herndon created the Concert for Love and Acceptance in partnership with GLAAD.
The event will be commemorated by the presentation of the first RALY Awards (Rescue A Life Y’all), which will honor and celebrate individuals and businesses that have demonstrated their support of at-risk youth and saving lives.
Doors will open at 2 p.m., with the show beginning at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at citywinery.com.
Amy Grant Teams With Barefoot Republic Camp
Amy Grant
Amy Grant will host two day camp sessions during this year’s Barefoot Republic Camp, which will be held at Amy Grant’s 400-acre family property, located in Franklin, Tenn. Barefoot at the Farm is for rising K-6th graders, and will take place June 15-19, and June 22-26.
The unique location will allow Barefoot Republic to offer programming its typical day camp sites do not provide. Outdoor adventure, horseback riding and other traditional Barefoot programs like team and extreme sports, music production, STOMP, dance, photography and more will be available.
For more information, visit barefootrepublic.org.
March 2015 Tallies From RIAA
/by Eric T. ParkerAmong those with Nashville ties are Hunter Hayes (“I Want Crazy”) at 2x Platinum, Taylor Swift (“22,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”) at 3x and 6x Platinum, respectively. Jana Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna” hit Platinum as did Swift’s “Style.”
Nashville Notable Gold Singles
Lee Brice – “Drinking Class”
Brett Eldredge – “Mean To Me”
Hunter Hayes – “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me”
Hunter Hayes – “Invisible”
Sam Hunt – “Take Your Time”
Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe – “Lonely Tonight”
Cole Swindell – “You Ain’t Worth The Whiskey”
Nashville Notable Gold Albums
Chris Tomlin – How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection
Meghan Trainor – Title
VH1 Save The Music Foundation To Blend Music, Cuisine in Nashville
/by Jessica Nicholson“The VH1 Save the Music Foundation always seeks out new and creative opportunities to spread the word about the importance of music education,” said Paul Cothran, Foundation Vice President and Executive Director. “As advocates of all forms of artistic expression, and fans of great food, we saw a natural pairing in music and food. We are excited to see the magic that can happen when we set the masters of music and cuisine, to pursue their passion!”
The first dinner of the series, held on April 27, is hosted by Chef Trevor Moran of Nashville restaurant The Catbird Seat. The evening will also include an acoustic performance from ‘Ex’s & Oh’s’ singer Elle King. Sponsors for the event include Avnet and William Hill Estate Winery.
VH1 Save the Music has partnered with Metro Nashville Public Schools since 1999, raising $1.23 million for new musical instruments so that students in over 40 schools could gain the tools and confidence to excel in academics as well as pursue their passion.
Musically Mastered Menu tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Willie and Merle Say, ‘It’s All Going To Pot’
/by Sarah SkatesWillie Nelson and Merle Haggard have teamed for Django and Jimmie, a new studio album coming June 2 from Legacy Recordings. They’ve released the first video, “It’s All Going To Pot” (embedded below).
The title track is about their influences, jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and country music’s “singing brakeman” Jimmie Rodgers. Production was helmed by Nelson’s longtime collaborator and friend Buddy Cannon.
In 1983, Nelson and Haggard released Pancho & Lefty, a critically-acclaimed top-selling project which opened the doors for a number of successful follow-up projects together.
Also coming up, Nelson, 81, is releasing his memoir, It’s A Long Story: My Life. In the book, debuting May 5, he discusses growing up during the Great Depression, singing in dance halls at age 13, women in his life, tax troubles, founding Farm Aid, Nashville in the ’60s, his history with alcohol abuse, and marijuana advocacy.
Django and Jimmie track list
1. Django and Jimmie – written by Jimmy Melton and Jeff Prince
2. It’s All Going To Pot – written by Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson and Larry Shell
3. Unfair Weather Friend – written by Marla Cannon-Goodman and Ward Davis
4. Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash (guest vocals from Bobby Bare)- written by Merle Haggard
5. Live This Long – written by Shawn Camp and Marv Green
6. Alice In Hulaland – written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon
7. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – written by Bob Dylan
8. Family Bible – written by Walter M. Breeland, Paul F. Buskirk, and Claude Gray
9. It’s Only Money – written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon
10. Swinging Doors – written by Merle Haggard
11. Where Dreams Come To Die – written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon
12. Somewhere Between – written by Merle Haggard
13. Driving The Herd – written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon
14. The Only Man Wilder Than Me – written by Merle Haggard
Artist Updates: Toby Keith, Mindy McCready, Ty Herndon, Amy Grant
/by Jessica Nicholson12th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic Coming in May
“This event and our USO Tours are the best things we get to do all year,” says Toby Keith. “I’ve been blessed with healthy kids, and I’m more than blessed to bring a bunch of folks together who want to help folks who haven’t. The great time we have – and we do have one, now – is a far distant second to making a difference for kids and families right here where we live.”
Roughly 750 attendees are expected at Friday (May 15) night’s dinner, which will include live and silent auctions. Serving as the evening’s host and auctioneer, Toby also brings in some friends for a musical performance. Live auction items include four tickets to the British Open, a trip to Cabo and a Dallas Cowboys Founders Club experience with private jet.
More than 100 silent auction items include memorabilia from Miranda Lambert, Larry Bird, Jason Aldean, George Strait, Tony Romo, Luke Bryan, The Highwaymen (Cash, Willie, Waylon, Kristofferson), Phil Mickelson, Eli Manning, Roger Clemens, Roger Federer, Jack Nicklaus, Tim Tebow, Ted Nugent, Mia Hamm, Greg Jennings and Nolan Ryan.
Saturday’s twin shotgun golf starts will feature 120 golfers and celebrities in the morning and 144 more in the afternoon. Both will have first and second place winners, and the winner of the Built Ford Tough Shootout will drive off in a new Ford Truck.
Mindy McCready Musical Headed For Los Angeles Opening
Mindy McCready
The life and career of late country singer Mindy McCready will soon be the focus of a new musical production. Beginning May 8, actress Jennifer Blake will star in McCready the Musical, which will run for six weeks at Los Angeles’ Spirit Studio in Silverlake. The project was co-created by Blake and writer/director Jon Bernstein.
The show will feature new arrangements of McCready’s hits, such as “Ten Thousand Angels” and “Guys Do It All The Time.” McCready the Musical will also cover the singer-songwriter’s childhood, early career, and relationships with actor Dean Cain and baseball’s Roger Clemens, among others.
McCready the Musical, starring Blake and band members Brady Harris, Jim Bianco, Michael Ursu and Clinton Pickens, will run through June 12.
For tickets, visit mccreadythemusical.com.
Ty Herndon, Meghan McCain To Host Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville
Mindy McCready
Ty Herndon, along with political commentator and author Meghan McCain, will host the inaugural Concert for Love and Acceptance at City Winery in Nashville on June 12.
Additional artists will be announced over the coming weeks. Herndon created the Concert for Love and Acceptance in partnership with GLAAD.
The event will be commemorated by the presentation of the first RALY Awards (Rescue A Life Y’all), which will honor and celebrate individuals and businesses that have demonstrated their support of at-risk youth and saving lives.
Doors will open at 2 p.m., with the show beginning at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at citywinery.com.
Amy Grant Teams With Barefoot Republic Camp
Amy Grant
Amy Grant will host two day camp sessions during this year’s Barefoot Republic Camp, which will be held at Amy Grant’s 400-acre family property, located in Franklin, Tenn. Barefoot at the Farm is for rising K-6th graders, and will take place June 15-19, and June 22-26.
The unique location will allow Barefoot Republic to offer programming its typical day camp sites do not provide. Outdoor adventure, horseback riding and other traditional Barefoot programs like team and extreme sports, music production, STOMP, dance, photography and more will be available.
For more information, visit barefootrepublic.org.
Industry Ink: Nashville Film Festival, JRA Fine Arts, CMHoF
/by Jessica NicholsonCMHoF’s Peter Cooper To Moderate Q&A at NaFF
Produced and directed by Kochones for the Annenberg Space for Photography, Country: Portraits of an American Sound also includes interviews with artists such as Lyle Lovett, Keith Urban, Rosanne Cash, Roy Clark, Larry Gatlin, Marty Stuart, Brenda Lee, Lorrie Morgan, Terri Clark, Holly Williams and Kenny Rogers.
As previously reported, the film festival is offering numerous panels about music in movies.
For more information, visit: https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/buy-tickets/
JRA Fine Arts Signs The Willis Clan
Family band The Willis Clan has signed with JRA Fine Arts for exclusive booking representation. The Nashville-based musical family was featured on the 2014 season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, as well as the 2013 season of The Today Show, as winners of NBC’s Sound of Music Family contest.
Pictured (L-R): Brinson Strickland, President, The Collective Nashville, Brenda Willis, Dan Mann, General Manager, JRA Fine Arts
Producer/Songwriter Rick Hall Welcomed For Conversation at Country Music Hall of Fame
Pictured (L-R): The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia, writer Peter Guralnick, Rick Hall, and Heritage Builders Publishing’s Sherm Smith.
Photo: Jason Davis, Getty Images
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival Announces Inaugural Lineup
/by Troy_StephensonThe Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has announced a list of acts performing at the inaugural two-day event on Sept. 26-27 at The Park at Harlinsdale in Franklin, Tenn. Willie Nelson, The Lone Bellow, Sheryl Crow, Weezer, Will Hoge, John & Jacob, The Decemberists, Rainey Qualley and Jimmy Cliff are a few of the confirmed performers, with more to be announced soon.
Early Bird passes and VIP packages are available now at a limited price of $169 (two-day pass) and $399 (two-day VIP package), with Single Day Passes to be available soon. To see the full list of artists added so far, and to get ticket information, visit www.pilgrimagefestival.com.
A portion of each ticket sale will benefit the City of Franklin. In addition, a portion of ticket sales will also benefit MusiCares®, a nonprofit organization that was established by The Recording Academy® to provide a wide range of emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery resources to members of the music community.
In Pictures: Memorial Service For Photographer Alan Mayor
/by Sarah SkatesGarth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood with Alan Mayor’s sister, Theresa Smith.
Photos by Bev Moser, Moments By Moser
The life of music photographer Alan Mayor was celebrated last night (April 20) during a memorial service at BMI, co-hosted by BMI and Dickinson Wright. Misty Loggins and friends performed and loved ones spoke to the crowd, while a carousel of photos displayed in the background.
Mayor passed away February 23, 2015 and was laid to rest during a private ceremony.
Over the past 30 years, the renowned photographer accumulated an unrivaled archive of country music’s elite. Some of his career highlights include capturing Paul and Linda McCartney on stage with Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, and photographing the wedding of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. He was the principal photographer of Garth Brooks’ early career, and the two developed a strong friendship. Mayor was the longtime photographer for MusicRow magazine and released the 1999 book, The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook.
Heather Lawrence remembers Alan Mayor fondly.
(L-R): Marc-Alan Barnette and Jimbeau Hinson perform.
Misty Loggins performs.
Unique bookmarks were handed out at the service.
Spirit Music’s Daniel Hill Talks Acquisitions, Artist Development
/by Jessica NicholsonSpirit Music Nashville’s Daniel Hill.
Since being named president of Spirit Music Nashville, Daniel Hill and his team have focused on expanding the company’s artist management, production and publishing capabilities. Hill, former Cal IV Entertainment president, assumed his post following Spirit’s acquisition of Cal IV last year.
“We chose Spirit as much as they chose us,” says Hill, who worked at Cal IV since 2000. “I knew we wanted to keep the momentum we had going with Cal IV. We had great artists, development happenings and other ventures with the management and production as well as publishing. Instead of just letting a larger company absorb the roster, we saw that Spirit Music was a great fit because they didn’t have a presence in Nashville. They wanted a catalog, so we offered them essentially a turnkey operation. They also have a plan to expand the catalog and writers, so it’s nice to be in an expanding, building mode, so we can take advantage of opportunities.”
Since opening the Nashville office, Spirit Music has wasted no time growing its song catalog. Spirit Music Group acquired StyleSonic’s catalog, a collection that contained hits including “Drink To That All Night” “Feel That Fire,” “It Felt Good On My Lips,” and “Highway Don’t Care,” as well as “a treasure trove of uncut songs,” according to Hill. “There’s a lot of low-hanging fruit to get placed, and we should have some great success having new cuts as well as mining the hits that are already in there.”
Spirit Music Group also acquired West Main Music, brimming with potential hit songs for the CCM market. The acquisitions bolster the company’s stable of potential hits in what has increasingly become a singles-driven market over the past several years.
“Sales peaked back in 2000 and we’ve seen a steady decline for the past 15 years. With the decline of album sales, it’s more and more about single sales and performance royalties. The market has changed to a singles market, which changes the dynamics of making deals…writer deals…because traditionally we recoup out of mechanical sales. It’s really hard for a writer to recoup these days. Whereas before we could have a songwriter with a few album cuts on some multi-platinum records and they paid almost as well as a hit single, as far as what they would be recouping. Now, you really have to be creative and it’s more and more about getting the hit song. That has changed how we think about the roster.”
Still, the company continues to nurture new writers. “We pride ourselves in finding talent early and not just paying for big-name marquee writers. But acquiring catalogs helps us to do the nurturing because you have the cash flow, so it goes hand in hand.”
Among the artists and songwriters signed to the publishing company are Jim Collins, Rose Falcon, Chris Wallin, and Triple Run members Brittany Taylor, Eric Knutson, and Matt Singleton. Spirit Music is one of many publishers that has seen an increase in the number of singer-songwriter signees who also have aspirations to be artists. “More and more labels are not signing green artists,” Hill says. “They want most of the blood, sweat and tears to be done, so they can then put their own blood, sweat and tears into it.”
Many A&R duties traditionally handled by labels now fall to publishers. “We have to do demos, so oftentimes we will do limited pressings, which are easier and less costly to upgrade to a master,” Hill says. “We have a studio here, so that allows us to spend more time getting the vocals right, overdubbing and experimenting. You normally wouldn’t do that with the average songwriter deal. A key part of the development process is keeping the end-game in mind; we are trying to make a record, not just a demo.”
Taking it a step further, they oftentimes enlist aid in the areas of imaging, hair/makeup, wardrobe, and photography, and then bring all of those elements together to present the artist in a professional, developed light.
Offering multiple services is not only a boon for aspiring artist/writers, but it means increased potential future earnings for Spirit Music Nashville as well. “If we can develop an artist on a major label who is a great songwriter themselves, then we might get 11 songs on the album instead of one.”
Regardless of a new client’s star potential, Hill maintains that it is always about the song. “The first thing we ask is, ‘Is this person a great songwriter first?’ That’s because we are a publisher first. That’s at the core of our artist development.”
LifeNotes: Songwriter/Actor Nancy Montgomery Passes
/by Robert K OermannNancy Montgomery
[Updated]: The life of Nancy Montgomery will be celebrated on May 1 at Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 374 Hicks Road in Nashville. The service will take place at 1 p.m.
Donations can be made to Alive Hospice or to MusiCares.
[Original Post, April 21 @ 9:18 a.m.]
Hit country songwriter Nancy Montgomery has died following a battle with cancer.
Montgomery co-wrote three top-10 hits and many other charted songs during the 1980s and 1990s. Friends Juanita Copeland and Renee Shaw report that she died on Friday, April 17.
The songwriter was also a recording artist and an actor who performed in many commercials, movies and TV series. She was the recurring character “Juanita” on the CW network’s The Vampire Diaries in 2009-2010.
Born in Philadelphia, Nancy Montgomery came to Nashville in the 1970s. Signed to Ovation Records, she made the country charts in 1981 with her revival of The Everly Brothers classic “All I Have to Do Is Dream.”
Among the earliest artists to record her songwriting efforts was the Atlantic Records band McGuffey Lane, who released “Making a Living’s Been Killing Me” in 1982 and took it midway up the charts early the following year.
The Kendalls issued her co-written “I Never Looked Good in Blue” in 1983 and made the charts with her “Too Late” in 1986.
Montgomery’s first top-10 hit as a writer was “I Wanna Hear it From You” sung by Eddy Raven in 1985. The following year, Reba McEntire popularized her “Why Not Tonight.” Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White hit the top-10 with their duet of Montgomery’s co-written “Love Can’t Ever Get Better Than This” in 1987.
The sister trio The McCarters sang Montgomery’s biggest hit as a writer, 1988’s “The Gift.” Billy Montana charted with “Oh Jenny” in 1988, as did Irene Kelley with “Love Is a Hard Road” in 1989.
Highway 101 had a top-30 hit with her “Baby I’m Missing You” in 1992. Bluegrass artists Rhonda Vincent and Deanie Richardson both recorded “Moving Out” in 1991.
Others who recorded Nancy Montgomery songs include Waylon Jennings, Lacy J. Dalton, The Whites, Mark Collie and Lynn Morris.
She moved to Chicago in 2002 to seek more voiceover work in radio and television commercials. She also worked in a vintage-apparel store there. The Vampire Diaries series was filmed in Atlanta.
Montgomery returned to songwriting with “Finally Here,” which won numerous song-contest awards in 2013-14. Her co-writer Justin Froese, created a popular video of the song for the inspirational-music market. Publicist Renee Shaw described the song’s end-of-life lyric as a fitting eulogy for her friend.
The family is planning a memorial service to be held in May, but details have not been announced.
ACM Industry Pics: UMG, BMLG, WMN, Sony, Streamsound
/by Kelsey_GradyUMG Nashville celebrated the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Legends Club at AT&T Stadium.
Pictured (L-R): Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet (Vocal Group of the Year), Sam Hunt (New Artist of the Year nominee), LBT’s Jimi Westbrook (Vocal Group of the Year), UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe, UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, LBT’s Kimberly Schlapman (Vocal Group of the Year) and LBT’s Karen Fairchild (Vocal Group of the Year). Photo: Alan Poizner
Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe and Luke Bryan (ACM Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year “This Is How We Roll” with Florida Georgia Line). Photo: Alan Poizner
Pictured (L-R): Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman (Vocal Group of the Year), Dierks Bentley (Video of the Year “Drunk on a Plane”), UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, LBT’s Karen Fairchild (Vocal Group of the Year). Photo: Alan Poizner
Big Machine Label Group executives at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards in Arlington, Texas.
Big Machine Label Group executives sport the “Music Has Value” logo at the ACM Awards on Sunday night. Pictured (L-R): Big Machine’s Matthew Hargis, Scott Borchetta, Sandi Spika Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen and George Briner.
Just moments after being named New Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, Cole Swindell celebrated backstage with Warner Music Nashville’s President & CEO John Esposito and his manager Kerri Edwards of KP Entertainment/Red Light Management.
Pictured (L-R): John Esposito, Cole Swindell, Kerri Edwards. Photo: Rick Diamond/ACM2015/Getty Images for DCP
RCA Nashville’s Miranda Lambert was the most awarded artist at Sunday’s 50th Academy of Country Music Awards, taking home Album of the Year (Platinum), Song of the Year (“Automatic,” a double win as artist and songwriter), and Female Vocalist of the Year – her sixth in a row, extending her all-time ACM record for the most consecutive wins in that category. Lambert was also presented with the previously announced ACM 50th Anniversary Milestone Award as the ACM’s Most Awarded Solo Female Artist.
Miranda Lambert. Photo: Sara Kauss
Streamsound Records hosted a brunch Sunday morning (4/19) during The 50th ACM Awards at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, TX. Guest were treated to performances from Kristian Bush, Austin Webb and Dakota Bradley. Among the guest were WUBE’s Big Dave Morning show team with the station’s ACM winners.
Pictured (L-R): Streamsound’s CEO/President Steve Richardson, WUBE’s Jason Statt ‘Stattman’, Kaila Statt, Streamsound’s Kristian Bush, Teddi Bonadies, Dakota Bradley, Austin Webb, WUBE’s Charri Chanderl, Big Dave and winners Chelsie Shinkle and Brad Shinkle. Photo: Streamsound Records