Alison Krauss To Join 7th Annual T.J. Martell Honors Gala
Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss is the latest artist to be added to the lineup for the upcoming 7th annual T.J. Martell Honors Gala, slated for March 30 in Nashville. Krauss joins previously announced artists Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Emmylou Harris, Matthew West, and Chip Esten.
Steve and Judy Turner, Ken Levitan, Dr. Jeffrey Balser, Billy Ray & Bill Hearn, and Becca Stevens will all be honored during the event. The gala has netted more than $2 million since 2009. For more information, visit tjmartell.org.
Craig Morgan Announces 2nd Annual Billy’s Place 5K
Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan will welcome fans, friends and neighbors as he hosts the second annual Billy’s Place 5k on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. from Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson, Tenn.
Runners and walkers can sign up at eventbrite.com and all TriStar Bank locations in Dickson. Registration is $30 in advance and $35 for walk up registrations day of race, while tickets for children 7 and under are free and they are welcome to participate in the 60-yard dash. Spirit tickets will be available for supporters who prefer to participate from the sidelines.
Everyone registered by March 29 will receive an official race t-shirt and the top 5 female and male finishers will receive a commemorative trophy. The race will benefit the Dickson County Craig Morgan Foundation.
Jamey Johnson, Carlene Carter To Perform at Nikki Mitchell Foundation Fundraiser
Jamey Johnson
The Nikki Mitchell Foundation will host a fundraiser to honor Country Music Hall of Fame members Ray Price, Hank Cochran, The Carter Family, The Louvin Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Felice Bryant, and Webb Pierce.
The event will be held April 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Following a reception and auction in the CMHoF Rotunda honoring these celebrated artists, an acoustic concert will be held in the CMHoF’s Ford Theater, featuring Carlene Carter, Jamey Johnson, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings and other guests. Johnson, Colter, and Hank Cochran’s widow Suzi Cochran serve on the board of the Nikki Mitchell Foundation.
“As we were thinking about venues to host our event, there was really only one choice for us,” said Rachel Winston, Vice President of The Nikki Mitchell Foundation. “The events spaces at the museum are some of the most special in Nashville! It is only fitting that a benefit to honor these country music legends be held there.”
For more information, visit eventgrid.com.
Blackhawk Makes $20,000 Donation to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Country group Blackhawk recently raised funding for Nashville’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on behalf of the Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund. Blackhawk’s two surviving founding members, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, presented their annual donation to the hospital in honor of Stephenson, who died from melanoma cancer in 2001. The latest donation of $20,000 brings their total raised for Vanderbilt-Ingram’s research lab to $100,000 since 2006.
Pictured (L-R): BlackHawk’s Dave Robbins, Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund volunteer Lori Stefanski, BlackHawk’s Henry Paul and Dr. Hal Moses
Executive Shift at Viacom Touches ‘CMT Music Awards’
/by Eric T. ParkerVan Toffler. Photo: Viacom.
Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music & Logo Group–including CMT and VH1–will not renew his contract, according to multiple reports. Toffler will step down in April from his post, held since 2008.
According to Ad Age, Toffler plans to open a production company called Under The Radar. He is however expected to continue executive producing a number of MTV Network events, including the 2015 CMT Music Awards and MTV’s Video Music Awards.
Toffler has been with MTV for 28 years. His credits include Beavis & Butthead, The Real World, Jackass, Unplugged, Napoleon Dynamite and Jersey Shore.
Last month, Viacom president/CEO Philippe Dauman announced a company-wide shuffle to “focus on more and better original programming that monetizes on all screens.” Departure announcements have also been made from Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
Toffler’s successor has not yet been named, however Viacom COO Tom Dooley expounded on Dauman’s remarks, confirming further restructuring details are expected during the second quarter earnings call, April 29.
Artists Welcome Valentine’s Day Babies
/by Sarah SkatesLogan Mize and his children
Artists Logan Mize and Clara Henningsen Calaway each welcomed new babies on Valentine’s Day.
Mize’s daughter Violet Raye Mize joins big brother Lincoln.
Clara Henningsen Calaway gave birth to Louie Cannon Calaway.
Coincidentally, both artists are signed to Arista Nashville and are managed by Dennis Entertainment.
Louie Calaway
BeBe & CeCe Winans, Roland Lundy Among Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductees
/by Jessica NicholsonBebe and Cece Winans
Bebe & Cece Winans, Mark Lowry, Roland Lundy, and Twila Paris have been named as the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame’s latest inductees. They will be inducted during the GMA Honors, which is set for Tuesday, May 5 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena, beginning at 6 p.m. Performers and presenters will be announced soon.
Additionally, the Gospel Music Association will honor Bishop Paul S. Morton, founding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, as well as The Bridge (founded by Candy Christmas), Passion (founded by Louie and Shelley Giglio) and Porter’s Call (founded by Al Andrews).
John Huie, CAA and Co-Chair of GMA Honors states, “Last year’s inaugural event was an amazing evening of firsts for our industry. We have been encouraged by the many comments surrounding the ceremony and are thrilled to honor this year’s recipients.”
Mark Lowry
“The GMA Foundation is charged with observing our gospel music history and its trailblazers,” says Jackie Patillo, President of the GMA Foundation. “With the ongoing support from our music community, we can fulfill the mission to foster an appreciation for our heritage and its impact for generations to come. We, as always, thank all of those involved in helping make these special celebrations possible.”
About the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees:
BeBe & CeCe Winans have been recording music together for more than 25 years. The brother/sister duo, part of the gospel singing Winans family and one of the most successful gospel artists of all time, have had 12 charting R&B singles, and numerous No. 1 singles on Christian, AC and CHR radio. Their accolades include numerous gold and platinum releases, plus Dove, Grammy, Stellar, Soul Train and NAACP Image Awards.
Roland Lundy
Mark Lowry is a singer, storyteller, humorist, author and songwriter. He has spent 20-plus years as the baritone singer for the Grammy- and Dove award-winning Gaither Vocal Band and serves as the comedic sidekick on tour. He also tours as a solo act with many DVD projects to his credit and has had over 400 artists record his lyric to “Mary Did You Know?”
Roland Lundy served an 11-year run as President and CEO of Word Entertainment. He was responsible for the Thomas Nelson and Word consolidation that grew Word revenues to over $100 million in 1993. He later managed the sale of Word to Gaylord Entertainment. His leadership navigated the entertainment company’s very diverse roster and attracted top artistic and creative talent. He currently serves on the board of the Gospel Music Trust Fund and is Chairman of the Board for American Red Cross, Nashville Chapter.
Twila Paris
Twila Paris has released 22 albums, earned 33 No. 1 singles and has been named the GMA Dove Awards “Female Vocalist of the Year” three times, as well as earning several awards in the song and album of the year categories. The accomplished singer/songwriter has also written books and recorded children’s music.
CMHoF Promotes Four Following Record Breaking Year
/by Sarah SkatesSharon Brawner
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum announces that key members of the non-profit institution’s executive team have been promoted in recognition of their vital roles in shaping the museum’s recent growth and expansion. Sharon Brawner, vice president sales and marketing; Nina Burghard, vice president financial services and operations; and Carolyn Tate, vice president museum services, have each been promoted to senior vice president. Jo Ellen Drennon McDowell has been upped from senior director to vice president of events management.
Carolyn Tate
“Each of these leaders has been with us for over twelve years and each has watched her responsibilities and staff sizes grow beyond any of our wildest dreams. To have the stability of our core senior team and our new VP of development, Lisa Purcell, working in lock-step with each other, we’re realizing a new era of opportunity,” said Museum Director Kyle Young.
Buoyed by Nashville’s growth and popularity, the museum has a trajectory paralleling the city’s, including an expansion and milestones that saw the museum’s 2014 attendance approaching the 1,000,000 mark. “The museum’s 2001 relocation to downtown has proven prescient as we find ourselves firmly at the crossroads of one of America’s most thriving cities and a cultural crossroads for visitors from all over the world,” Young said.
Nina Burghard
A downtown pioneer in 2001, the museum is now a downtown linchpin, a mecca for tourists and a cultural Rosetta Stone for the people of Middle Tennessee. Attendance in 2014 rose 45 percent over 2013, to an all-time high of 970,991. There’s more room for those visitors now, as the museum completed a 210,000-square-foot expansion in April of 2014. That expansion allowed significant increases in educational engagement, public programs and a tripling of archival storage space.
Jo Ellen Drennon McDowell
“It’s a new golden era for the museum and for our efforts to tell the story of a truly American art form,” continued Young. “We reflect with pride on our recent accomplishments, while remaining focused on the important work we must continue doing to secure the museum’s position as the caretaker of country music’s legacy. Stay tuned.”
Charity Events: Krauss To Join T.J. Martell Honors Gala
/by Jessica NicholsonAlison Krauss To Join 7th Annual T.J. Martell Honors Gala
Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss is the latest artist to be added to the lineup for the upcoming 7th annual T.J. Martell Honors Gala, slated for March 30 in Nashville. Krauss joins previously announced artists Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Emmylou Harris, Matthew West, and Chip Esten.
Steve and Judy Turner, Ken Levitan, Dr. Jeffrey Balser, Billy Ray & Bill Hearn, and Becca Stevens will all be honored during the event. The gala has netted more than $2 million since 2009. For more information, visit tjmartell.org.
Craig Morgan Announces 2nd Annual Billy’s Place 5K
Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan will welcome fans, friends and neighbors as he hosts the second annual Billy’s Place 5k on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. from Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson, Tenn.
Runners and walkers can sign up at eventbrite.com and all TriStar Bank locations in Dickson. Registration is $30 in advance and $35 for walk up registrations day of race, while tickets for children 7 and under are free and they are welcome to participate in the 60-yard dash. Spirit tickets will be available for supporters who prefer to participate from the sidelines.
Everyone registered by March 29 will receive an official race t-shirt and the top 5 female and male finishers will receive a commemorative trophy. The race will benefit the Dickson County Craig Morgan Foundation.
Jamey Johnson, Carlene Carter To Perform at Nikki Mitchell Foundation Fundraiser
Jamey Johnson
The Nikki Mitchell Foundation will host a fundraiser to honor Country Music Hall of Fame members Ray Price, Hank Cochran, The Carter Family, The Louvin Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Felice Bryant, and Webb Pierce.
The event will be held April 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Following a reception and auction in the CMHoF Rotunda honoring these celebrated artists, an acoustic concert will be held in the CMHoF’s Ford Theater, featuring Carlene Carter, Jamey Johnson, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings and other guests. Johnson, Colter, and Hank Cochran’s widow Suzi Cochran serve on the board of the Nikki Mitchell Foundation.
“As we were thinking about venues to host our event, there was really only one choice for us,” said Rachel Winston, Vice President of The Nikki Mitchell Foundation. “The events spaces at the museum are some of the most special in Nashville! It is only fitting that a benefit to honor these country music legends be held there.”
For more information, visit eventgrid.com.
Blackhawk Makes $20,000 Donation to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Country group Blackhawk recently raised funding for Nashville’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on behalf of the Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund. Blackhawk’s two surviving founding members, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, presented their annual donation to the hospital in honor of Stephenson, who died from melanoma cancer in 2001. The latest donation of $20,000 brings their total raised for Vanderbilt-Ingram’s research lab to $100,000 since 2006.
Pictured (L-R): BlackHawk’s Dave Robbins, Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund volunteer Lori Stefanski, BlackHawk’s Henry Paul and Dr. Hal Moses
Eli Young Band Aims To ‘Turn It On’ With New EP
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto: Republic Nashville
Music lovers eager for new tunes from Republic Nashville’s Eli Young Band won’t have to wait long. The foursome will release their new Turn It On EP March 10. The band’s new single, “Turn it On,” will impact country radio beginning March 9.
The four-track EP features songs co-written by members of Eli Young Band, with producers Ross Copperman and Jeremy Stover. Label execs at Republic Nashville loved the new music Eli Young Band was creating to such an extent that they fast tracked the EP and single for release.
“We live in a time when fans are consuming music at a voracious pace as well as having a strong penchant for instant gratification,” said Jimmy Harnen, Republic Nashville President/Big Machine Label Group EVP. He continued, “when we heard the fantastic cutting edge new music from EYB our only instinct was to get it out there to the fans as soon as possible.”
Turn It On EP is the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed album 10,000 Towns. The album earned the band multiple Grammy, CMA, ACM, CMT, and ACA nominations.
Turn It On EP Track List:
“Turn It On” (Mike Eli, James Young, Rodney Clawson, Matt Dragstrem)
“Plastic” (Mike Eli, Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman, Jeremy Stover)
“Your Place Or Mine” (Mike Eli, Jon Jones, Ross Copperman, Jeremy Stover)
“Drink You Up” (Mike Eli, Jon Jones, Ross Copperman, Jeremy Stover)
Toby Keith To Bring Fans ‘Good Times & Pick Up Lines’
/by Eric T. ParkerToby Keith.
Country music’s highest-paid musician, Toby Keith, will soon embark on a recently announced The Toby Keith Good Times & Pick Up Lines Tour presented by Ford F-Series.
Close to 30 dates are set for the 2015 outing, launching in California at the Shoreline Amphitheatre and making its way back east, in addition to a set of Canada dates after May 29 (full schedule below). More concert stops are expected to be added.
Radio fans have already been treated to his No. 13 single, and rising, titled “Drunk Americans.” The pseudo lyric video available now.
The 2015 Toby Keith Good Times & Pick Up Lines Tour presented by Ford F-Series:
5/29 – Mt. View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
5/30 – San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amphitheater
5/31 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
6/14 – Hunter, NY – Taste of Country Music Festival
6/19 – Vineland, CO – Bands in the Backyard
6/20 – Sheridan, WY – Big Horn Country USA
6/28 – Cadott, WI – Country Fest
6/30 – Moose Jaw, SK (Canada) – Mosaic Place
7/01 – Calgary, AB (Canada) – Cowboy’s Stampede Tent
7/10 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
7/11 – Darien Lake, NY – Darien Lake PAC
7/17 – Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
7/19 – Chillecothe, IL – 2015 Country Life Music Festival
7/23 – Monticello, IA – Great Jones County Fair
7/24 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Frontier Days
7/25 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
7/30 – Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
7/31 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
8/01 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/02 – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre
8/07 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
8/08 – Washington, DC – Jiffy Lube Live
8/09 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
8/14 – Boston, MA – XFINITY Center
8/21 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
8/22 – Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
9/05 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
9/26 – Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
Trisha Yearwood Set To Introduce Home Collection
/by Jessica NicholsonTrisha Yearwood. Photo: Russ Harrington
Fans already know Trisha Yearwood as a first-class singer, entertainer, cook, author and Food Network television star. Now, Yearwood is gearing up to introduce her first home furnishings collection, via a partnership with Klaussner Home Furnishings. Klaussner and Yearwood will reveal the Trisha Yearwood Home Collection at High Point International Market on April 18-23 in High Point, N.C. The deal was licensed through Los Angeles-based company ACI Licensing.
“We are very excited about our new relationship with Trisha Yearwood” said Bill Wittenberg, President/CEO of Klaussner Home Furnishings. “It’s a perfect fit! Together the two brands will bring style and value to consumers around the world said Wittenberg. The debut of the Trisha Yearwood Home Collection at the April 2015 International Home Furnishings show has been a year in the making.”
“The partnership with Klaussner is a natural fit and we are all excited to reveal the collection in April,” Yearwood said. “Being back on the road reminds me how much we all need a warm and inviting space to return to. My collection with Klaussner is all about comfort and accessibility, giving everyone a place to relax and recharge with family and friends.”
Yearwood recently announced her third cookbook, Trisha’s Table: My Feel-Good Favorites For A Balanced Life, which will release March 31, 2015. She is currently visiting cities across the country as part of the Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood, and recently released her latest album, PrizeFighter: Hit after Hit.
Celebration of Life Planned For Joe Guercio
/by Sarah SkatesGuercio, best known as Elvis Presley’s musical director from 1970 to the King’s final concert in 1977, unexpectedly passed away in Nashville on Jan. 4. He also worked with numerous musical giants including Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight and Patti Page. In addition, he was the Musical Director for the International Hotel in Las Vegas for many years.
It was Guercio who created the iconic six-note theme for Elvis’ stage entrance and bows. He also suggested that Elvis’ shows open with the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Starting in 1997, Guercio served as the conductor for Elvis: The Concert, which paired a live band with archival Presley recordings. He was also Musical Director for the “Elvis 35th Anniversary Concert” in Memphis in 2012.
Guercio continued to conduct Elvis tribute shows and work with new artists until he died at age 87.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to MusiCares, 109 Wedgewood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212, or Johnson’s Chapel, 201 High Lea Rd., Brentwood, TN 37027.
Join Us For Rising Women On The Row 2015
/by Eric T. ParkerCMT’s Sr. VP Music Strategy Leslie Fram will serve as event speaker. Ten-year-old rising star Emi Sunshine (Red Light Management) will perform. City National Bank will again be the presenting sponsor for the premier event saluting women in Nashville’s music industry.
Tickets and Sponsorship Tables for 2015 are SOLD OUT (available through March 17).
Supporting Sponsorship includes:
1. Table (10 seats) with priority location
2. Logo included on a full page ad in April’s InCharge issue.
3. Logo included on website banner ad.
4. Company included in coverage of the event on website.
5. Company recognized during breakfast
6. Logo included in event program
*Single tickets purchased in the same transaction will be seated together. Current ticket holders can contact Eric Parker with any questions at eparker@musicrow.com.