A producer, arranger and conductor from the “golden age” of rock ’n’ roll passed away in Nashville this week.
Chuck Sagle, whose career touched such talents as Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Tony Orlando and Bobby Darin, died at age 87 on Monday, April 13 from complications following a stroke. He worked in four of the nation’s key music centers — Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Nashville — and for such top record labels as Mercury, Epic, Reprise, Motown and ABC-Dot.
He excelled at trumpet and keyboards as a high-school student and entered the University of Illinois at age 16. He served in the Navy during World War II, entertaining the troops in the Pacific as a musician and bandleader.
Sagle graduated from college in 1950 and took a job in the A&R Department of Mercury Records, first in Chicago, then in New York. While with the company, he produced such “doo-wop” groups as The Dell-Vikings, The Danleers and The Diamonds (the 1957 No. 1 hit “Little Darlin’”). He also worked as a conductor for pop balladeer Joni James and r&b star Clyde McPhatter.
In 1958-59, he was the musical director for Don Kirshner’s Aldon Music. While there, he worked with Bobby Darin, Jack Keller and Barry Mann, among others. He arranged and conducted for Neil Sedaka (1959’s “Oh Carol” etc.) and discovered 17-year-old Carole King.
He next worked in A&R at Epic Records in New York. He signed King to the label and arranged and/or produced records for her, Roy Hamilton, Jack Jones, Link Wray, Sal Mineo, Ersel Hickey, Lenny Welch and Tony Orlando.
He also arranged and conducted on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. Sagle recorded his first solo LP, Ping Pong Percussion, in 1961.
Moving to Los Angeles in 1962, he joined Reprise Records as musical director. There, he arranged and/or produced records for the label’s Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Soupy Sales, The Hi-Lo’s and Les Baxter. He also recorded two more solo LPs, 1962’s Splendor in the Brass and Contrasts.
He produced jazz great Chico Hamilton in 1963 and later did arrangements for pop legend Gene Pitney and r&b queen LaVern Baker.
In 1968, he arranged and conducted “Valley of the Dolls” for the close-harmony quartet The Arbors.
He was an arranger in 1971-72 for the stellar r&b vocal group The Manhattans, notably on their LPs With These Hands and A Million to One and the top-10 r&b hit “One Life to Live.” During the same period, he served a brief stint as an arranger for Motown Records.
Sagle moved to Nashville in 1972. He arranged music for ABC-Dot (Brian Collins, etc.) and for Starday-King Records and other labels. His first love was big-band music, and he returned to that in Music City by doing arrangements for The Establishment orchestra and Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band. He returned to college around 1984 to study computer programming. Sagle worked in this field for the next decade, but also taught a class on Jewish music at the West End Synagogue and composed a musical for its choir. He retired in 1994.
Charles H.”Chuck” Sagle is survived by his wife Sarah Stein, by sons Jacob and Christopher and by two grandchildren.
Services were held on Thursday, April 16, and he is buried in Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sherith Israel Congregation, 3600 West End Ave., Nashville 37205 or to Disabled Veterans of America.
Stars Align in Dallas For ACM Lifting Lives Benefit Gala
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Keith Urban, Nancy O’Dell, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Getty Images
Garth Brooks, Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, The Band Perry, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood were all on hand in Dallas to kick off the weekend’s Academy of Country Music Awards festivities by bringing music to help raise funds for a good cause.
The ACM Lifting Lives Benefit Gala, the first fundraising gala for the Academy of Country Music’s philanthropic arm ACM Lifting Lives, was held at the Omni Dallas Hotel. The event was co-hosted by Nancy O’Dell and Montell Williams.
The Band Perry helped spotlight the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp during their performance of “Bright Eyes,” a song the trio penned with the camp’s attendees. Several of the campers from the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp joined them onstage for the performance. The camp is a partnership between Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and ACM Lifting Lives, with the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome, while providing campers with music enrichment. The Band Perry also offered renditions of “Better Dig Two” and “If I Die Young.”
Lady Antebellum performs. Photo: Getty Images
Lady Antebellum offered performances of their hits including “Need You Now,” “Downtown,” and “Run To You,” while Hunter Hayes offered hits such as “Storm Warning” and “Tattoo.” The ladies and gents of Little Big Town brought their tight-knit harmonies to songs such as “Day Drinking,” “Girl Crush,” and “Pontoon.”
Keith Urban brought his rock-influenced brand of country with a high-energy set that included “Put You In A Song,” “You Gonna Fly,” “Raise ‘Em Up,” and more. Urban then ushered Brooks to the stage for a rendition of his classic “Friends In Low Places,” before welcoming Yearwood, who performed “She’s In Love With The Boy,” accompanied by Urban on guitar.
Hunter Hayes performs. Photo: Getty Images
The evening closed with Brooks performing a rendition of “The Dance,” featuring Urban and Hayes.
The evening went on to raise approximately $1.5 million to benefit ACM Lifting Lives, as well as Garth Brooks’ charity Teammates For Kids. Since its inception 50 years ago, Lifting Lives has given more than $8 million in grants to more than 150 charitable causes, including Musicians On Call, Sophia’s Heart Foundation, W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School, Wounded Warriors, and more.
The ACM Lifting Lives Benefit Gala was presented by Mattress Firm.
Pictured (L-R): Little Big Town and The Band Perry. Photo: Getty Images
Kenny Chesney Launches No Shoes TV
/by Jessica NicholsonKenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney is bringing the fun of his The Big Revival Tour to fans across the nation, via the newly-launched No Shoes TV. The series is a quick-hit roundup of the best moments from this year’s The Big Revival Tour’s major stadium shows. Correspondent Deanna Kay, who launched the series from Chesney’s recent Nashville show at Bridgestone Arena, will catch up with Chesney’s No Shoes Nation in the parking lot, on the road, and anywhere during the shows.
Kay has been capturing pre-game action as part of ESPN Music’s “College Game Day” for several years, as well as interviewing celebrities for ESPN Music’s “Game Time with Deanna Kay.” Her previous work includes VH1’s “Big Morning Buzz,” MTV’s “House of Style,” “TRL,” and the annual “Video Music Awards,” among other shows.
“I’ve always said there is so much more to these shows and this tour than what happens onstage,” says Chesney. “The No Shoes Nation are the most passionate music lovers I’ve ever seen. When you get out amongst them, you can’t help but get swept up. And I wanted to give the people who can’t be there a chance to get the feel for the whole day… because some of what happens, you’ll never get a regular TV network to make part of a concert special.”
“My dream job is to be an on-camera host mixing sports, music and social media. I want to make people smile, be informative and fun,” Kay says.
Kay will also be a ticket source. During tour stops, she will hide tickets, leaving clues via social media (@NoShoesNation on Twitter/Instagram, as well as No Shoes Nation’s Facebook page) to give fans the opportunity to have scavenger hunt fun and get upgraded, as well as rewarding people with the best stories some of the coveted wristbands for the GA area down front.
Watch the first installment of No Shoes TV below.
Tony Brown Launches Digital ‘Journey Through Four Decades’
/by Eric T. ParkerTony Brown. Photo: Dead Horse Branding
Producer/businessman/instrumentalist Tony Brown has launched a new website, featuring rare videos, photos and information. TonyBrownEnterprises.com covers Brown’s extensive book of musical work, and allows visitors to take a digital journey through four decades of his produced hits.
The ACM board member has been responsible for over 100 No. 1 singles and record sales exceeding the $100 million mark. He spent 19 years at MCA Records, leading the company to become Label of the Decade for the ’90s. He has produced tracks and/or albums for Lionel Richie, George Strait, Sara Evans, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna, Pat Green, Brooks and Dunn, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett and Trace Adkins. Brown is winner of four Grammys, four ACM Awards, and 10 CMA Awards. His career began as a musician playing with the Oak Ridge Boys, Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell.
Recently Brown collaborated on Dave Grohl’s Sonic Highways, produced eight of the 12 tracks on Reba McEntire‘s latest album Love Somebody, and is currently in pre-production on the Curb Records debut project for Mo Pitney.
Fans can also stay connected with Brown’s latest projects via Facebook.
Bob Kingsley To Host “American Country Countdown Rewind”
/by Troy_StephensonBob Kingsley
Country radio icon Bob Kingsley is set to host the “American Country Countdown Rewind With Bob Kingsley,” starting Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 across all Cumulus-owned Nash Icon branded stations.
The three-hour program will feature country music from the ’90s and ’00s.
“I am first and foremost a fan of country music, and I’m delighted that we’re opening the vaults of ACC during one of country’s great eras,” stated Kingsley. “These shows spotlight both Hall Of Famers and exciting young acts and, as always, my role is part tour guide, part storyteller.”
The show is being made available to radio stations and markets via Westwood One.
For more information, contact Shawn Struder at shawn@ct40.com.
Industry Ink: AIMP, Webster PR, Shelly Brown Jewelry Collection
/by Jessica NicholsonAIMP Welcomes Copyright Office’s Charlesworth
The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville recently hosted Jacqueline Charlesworth, General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights for the United States Copyright Office.
Charlesworth spoke of the Copyright Office’s recently released report “Copyright and the Music Marketplace,” which gives recommendations of changes to copyright law, fixing the system of licensing recorded music. The full report can be found here.
Pictured (L-R): Randy Wachtler (Warner/Chappell Production), John Ozier (ole), Craig Currier (peermusic), Ree Buchanan (AIMP Treasurer/Wrensong), John Allen (New West Records), Kim McCollum-Mele (Words & Music), Charlesworth, Denise Nichols (AIMP Secretary/Primacy Firm), Brad Peterson (5/3 Bank), Marc Driskill (AIMP Exec. Director/Sea Gayle)
Shelly Brown Launches Jewelry Line
Shelly Brown wearing designs from her jewelry collection.
Shelly Brown, wife of three-time Grammy Award winner Zac Brown, has launched The Shelly Brown Jewelry Collection, the first in her series of fashion designs. The collection is described as versatile glam meets Boho-chic, and will debut exclusively at the New York Accessories and Jewelry Market on May 3-5.
The collection, comprised of rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, is made in the USA, and pieces retail on average from $200-$400. Shelly creates each original piece by hand, with leather locally sourced at Southern Ground Artists in Brown’s native Atlanta. All final pieces are produced in Rhode Island.
Brown graduated with a Fashion Design Degree from Bauder College in Atlanta.
The line will be sold at retail stores fall 2015.
Webster PR Adds Kevin Lane To Staff
Kevin Lane
Webster Public Relations has added publicist Kevin Lane to its staff. Lane previously worked at Mercury Nashville as Sr. Director/Media and at Warner Bros. Records. A graduate of MTSU, Lane joined Network Ink after college, overseeing campaigns for Sammy Kershaw, Naomi and Wynonna Judd, and Kathy Mattea, among others.
Lane recently received his Masters from Full Sail University in Entertainment Business Management.
Lane can be reached at kevin@websterpr.com, or at 832-499-8035.
Artist Updates: Miranda Lambert, David Nail, Vince Gill, Robby Johnson
/by Jessica NicholsonMiranda Lambert Contributes To Hot Pursuit Soundtrack
Lambert’s recording of “Two of a Crime” will be available at iTunes on April 28. Hot Pursuit will be in theaters May 8.
David Nail Partners with Uber
David Nail
MCA Nashville artist David Nail is the first country artist to partner with Uber as part of the company’s #UberCOUNTRY Powered by Ram Trucks promotion. Uber is offering riders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area the chance to win an invite to an exclusive post-ACM Awards show concert on Sunday, April 19 with David Nail. Location and details will be revealed only to Uber fans who win tickets.
Beginning Friday, April 17 through Saturday at Noon CT, fans who enter promocode “UBERCOUNTRY” into the promotions section of the Uber app will be eligible to win free tickets to Nail’s show. Winners will be notified by Saturday at 5 p.m., and will then be given details including the location of the show. Must be at least 21 to enter. Uber riders who do not win tickets with the promo code will have a second chance to win tickets beginning Sunday at 10:30 p.m.
Vince Gill To Be Highlighted on Dan Rather’s The Big Interview
Vince Gill will spend an hour in conversation with newsman Dan Rather on Tuesday, April 21, on The Big Interview. Broadcast on AXS TV, The Big Interview provides an in-depth look into the lives and careers of influential entertainers.
Rather converses with the singer-songwriter in his home studio amidst his extensive guitar collection, accompanies him to The Judge’s Court at Golf House Tennessee to view a statue of his father and learn about The Vinny golfing charity Gill founded, and stands with him on the hallowed stage of the Ryman Auditorium, long-time home of the Grand Ole Opry, of which Gill has been a member since 1991.
Vince Gill (L) with Dan Rather. Photo: Zito Zito
Robby Johnson Preps James Stroud-Produced Release
Country entertainer Robby Johnson has finished his full-length debut album, Don’t Look Back. The independently released album is due this summer via Sony/RED Distribution. The project features guitar work from Vince Gill on “I Ain’t The Guy,” which Johnson co-wrote with Kellys Collins and Juliana Cole. Along with “I Ain’t The Guy,” Johnson co-wrote many of the album’s 13 tracks with songwriters and artists including Rhett Akins, Sam Hunt, Frank Myers, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally. The project was helmed by James Stroud.
James Stroud (L) and Robby Johnson in the studio.
Chris Young Holds Intimate “ACM Sessions” Performance at Bluebird Cafe
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Young
Chris Young recently offered a performance to a lucky crowd that packed into Nashville’s Bluebird Café, as part of the “ACM Sessions.” The “ACM Sessions” is an online concert series featuring artist performances and interviews.
Young’s “ACM Sessions” performance is now live and available for streaming on CBS.com. Among the songs that Young treated fans to were three of his six chart-topping singles; “You,” “Tomorrow” and “Gettin’ You Home,” as well as his fan-favorite hit “Aw Naw” and his current Top 5, “Lonely Eyes.”
Past “ACM Sessions” performers include Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Justin Moore and Jerrod Niemann.
The upcoming 50th Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, April 19 (8:00-11:30 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton will host.
CMHoF To Reveal Updated ACM Gallery
/by Jessica NicholsonA few of the items to be showcased include:
Blake Shelton’s 2014 CMA award for Male Vocalist of the Year
Craig Wayne Boyd’s trophy for The Voice competition
David Nail’s chord chart, used when Nail recorded Glen Campbell’s 1969 hit “Galveston”
Hunter Hayes’s Guinness World Record plaque for most concerts in different cities within 24 hours
Jack White’s western outfit with fringe, worn when he performed with Loretta Lynn for the first time
Jason Isbell’s custom electric guitar
Maddie & Tae’s outfits from the music video for “Girl in a Country Song”
“History is being made each and every day in music, and the music changes constantly. At the museum we share the history of this art form with our visitors. The journey starts where country music began and it progresses as the music evolves,” said Museum CEO Kyle Young. “The ACM Gallery allows us to fulfill our mission of educating audiences by reporting on the state of country music today.”
Will Hoge Hits Road, Chasing ‘Small Town Dreams’
/by Sarah SkatesOn April 8, Will Hoge celebrated his latest album release with a performance in front of a packed house at Grimey’s Too in Nashville. Photo: John Hitch
Nashville mainstay Will Hoge recently released his 10th studio album, Small Town Dreams, (Cumberland Recordings/Thirty Tigers) and is touring in support of the project. The singer-songwriter is scheduled for dates next week in Birmingham, Ala. (4/21), Charlotte, N.C. (4/22), Asheville, N.C. (4/23) and Columbia, S.C (4/24). In September he will head overseas for his first-ever full band trek to the United Kingdom for seven headlining dates across Scotland and England.
After producing several albums on his own, Hoge handed the reins to producer Marshall Altman (Frankie Ballard, Eric Paslay, Matt Nathanson). They recorded driving lead single “Middle Of America” in Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A.
Small Town Dreams follows Hoge’s other notable projects. “Strong,” a single from his previous album, has sold nearly 200,000 copies and was featured in the 2014 Chevy Silverado ad campaign. Hoge penned Lady Antebellum’s “Better Off Now (That You’re Gone),” and co-wrote the Platinum-selling No. 1 smash “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” recorded by the Eli Young Band. The latter song earned nominations for the 2013 Grammy Country Song of the Year, 2013 ACM Song of the Year and 2012 CMA Song of the Year.
LifeNotes: “Golden Age” Arranger Chuck Sagle Passes
/by Robert K OermannChuck Sagle, whose career touched such talents as Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Tony Orlando and Bobby Darin, died at age 87 on Monday, April 13 from complications following a stroke. He worked in four of the nation’s key music centers — Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Nashville — and for such top record labels as Mercury, Epic, Reprise, Motown and ABC-Dot.
He excelled at trumpet and keyboards as a high-school student and entered the University of Illinois at age 16. He served in the Navy during World War II, entertaining the troops in the Pacific as a musician and bandleader.
Sagle graduated from college in 1950 and took a job in the A&R Department of Mercury Records, first in Chicago, then in New York. While with the company, he produced such “doo-wop” groups as The Dell-Vikings, The Danleers and The Diamonds (the 1957 No. 1 hit “Little Darlin’”). He also worked as a conductor for pop balladeer Joni James and r&b star Clyde McPhatter.
In 1958-59, he was the musical director for Don Kirshner’s Aldon Music. While there, he worked with Bobby Darin, Jack Keller and Barry Mann, among others. He arranged and conducted for Neil Sedaka (1959’s “Oh Carol” etc.) and discovered 17-year-old Carole King.
He next worked in A&R at Epic Records in New York. He signed King to the label and arranged and/or produced records for her, Roy Hamilton, Jack Jones, Link Wray, Sal Mineo, Ersel Hickey, Lenny Welch and Tony Orlando.
He also arranged and conducted on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. Sagle recorded his first solo LP, Ping Pong Percussion, in 1961.
Moving to Los Angeles in 1962, he joined Reprise Records as musical director. There, he arranged and/or produced records for the label’s Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Soupy Sales, The Hi-Lo’s and Les Baxter. He also recorded two more solo LPs, 1962’s Splendor in the Brass and Contrasts.
He produced jazz great Chico Hamilton in 1963 and later did arrangements for pop legend Gene Pitney and r&b queen LaVern Baker.
In 1968, he arranged and conducted “Valley of the Dolls” for the close-harmony quartet The Arbors.
He was an arranger in 1971-72 for the stellar r&b vocal group The Manhattans, notably on their LPs With These Hands and A Million to One and the top-10 r&b hit “One Life to Live.” During the same period, he served a brief stint as an arranger for Motown Records.
Sagle moved to Nashville in 1972. He arranged music for ABC-Dot (Brian Collins, etc.) and for Starday-King Records and other labels. His first love was big-band music, and he returned to that in Music City by doing arrangements for The Establishment orchestra and Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band. He returned to college around 1984 to study computer programming. Sagle worked in this field for the next decade, but also taught a class on Jewish music at the West End Synagogue and composed a musical for its choir. He retired in 1994.
Charles H.”Chuck” Sagle is survived by his wife Sarah Stein, by sons Jacob and Christopher and by two grandchildren.
Services were held on Thursday, April 16, and he is buried in Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sherith Israel Congregation, 3600 West End Ave., Nashville 37205 or to Disabled Veterans of America.