Gospel Great Mosie Lister Passes

Mosie Lister

Mosie Lister

Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Mosie Lister has died at age 93.

Renowned for creating such enduring classics as “Where No One Stands Alone,” “His Hand in Mine” and “He Knows Just What I Need,” the songwriter, arranger and publisher passed away on Thursday, Feb. 12. He lived in Spring Hill, TN.

Born Thomas Mosie Lister in Cochran, GA, he sang in his family’s gospel group and learned to play fiddle, piano and guitar as a youngster. He later said that he knew he wanted to become a songwriter even when he was a child performer. In 1939, he began studying at the Vaughan School of Music in Lawrenceburg, TN.

He joined The Sunny South Quartet in Tampa, FL in 1941. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he rejoined the group. In 1946, he joined The Melody Masters.

Mosie Lister became one of the founding members of The Statesmen Quartet in Atlanta in 1948. But he soon realized he wanted to get off the touring circuit to concentrate on his songwriting. So Jake Hess, Hovie Lister (no relation) and Jim Wetherington went forward as the nucleus of what became one of the most popular Southern-gospel quartets in history.

The songwriter/arranger maintained his ties to the group. He was soon providing The Statesmen with some of their most popular songs. He formed Mosie Lister Publications in 1953, and began placing his songs with many other gospel acts of the day.

Mosie Lister’s catchy compositions helped to define the entire Southern-gospel movement. In his history of the style, author James R. Goff Jr. wrote that Lister was, “by far the most influential gospel songwriter of the 1950s…. Perhaps more than any other songwriter of the era, Lister enjoyed the overwhelming respect of his peers.”

The Statesmen recorded his “Then I Met the Master,” “I’ll Leave it all Behind,” “Sunday Meetin’ Time,” “I’ve Found a New Friend,” “If to Gain the World,” “Oh What a Friend He Is to Me,” “The Gentle Stranger” and many others.

“He Knows Just What I Need,” Lister’s favorite of the songs he wrote, was recorded by The Statesmen, as well as by James Abbington, The Old Friends Quartet, The Blackwood Brothers, Faron Young and Bill Gaither. The Statesmen also recorded “I’m Bound for the Kingdom,” which was later released by Webb Pierce, Red Foley and Jimmie Davis.

The LeFevre Trio popularized his “I’m Feeling Fine.” The Blackwoods, The Cathedral Quartet, The Jordanaires, Paul Williams & The Victory Trio, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, The Singing Gospelaires, The Blue Ridge Quartet, The Gaithers, The Talleys, The Hoppers and more spread Lister’s songs throughout Southern-gospel culture.

Gospel Singing World proclaimed in 1955, “it would be hard to find a known quartet not singing one of Mosie’s compositions among their best loved numbers.”

In 1960, Elvis Presley chose the songwriter’s 1953 composition “His Hand in Mine” as the title tune of his first gospel album. The disc earned a Platinum Record award and is regarded as one of the singer’s finest. Presley included Lister’s “Where No One Stands Alone” on his three million-selling 1967 collection How Great Thou Art, which won a Grammy Award.

mosie lister2“Where No One Stands Alone,” written in 1955, has also been recorded by Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Bill Anderson, Alison Krauss & The Cox Family, The Browns, Porter Wagoner, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, George Hamilton IV, The Osborne Brothers, Jack Greene, The Louvin Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel, B.J. Thomas, Dottie West, Don Gibson, Jan Howard, Hank Snow and dozens of others.

“’Til the Storm Passes By,” written by Lister in 1958, was recorded by The Statler Brothers, The Gaither Vocal Band, The Inspirations, Vestal Goodman and Greater Vision, among others.

Lister’s 1956 song “How Long Has it Been” has been popularized by George Beverly Shea, Jim Reeves, Faron Young, Skeeter Davis, Jimmy Dean, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Del Reeves, The Homeland Quartet and more.

Other key titles in Mosie Lister’s 700-song catalog include “Happy Rhythm” (1953), “Goodbye, World, Goodbye” (1956), “I’ve Been Changed” (1959), “The King and I” (1954) and “While Ages Roll” (1970).

In 1975, he was ordained as a Baptist minister. He published his autobiography/memoir, The Song Goes On, in 2012.

Mosie Lister was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1976. He was one of the Hall’s first living inductees. In 1997, he became a member of the Southern Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame, whose museum is at Dollywood.

He is survived by his wife Martha Jean, twin daughters Brenda and Barbara, stepdaughter Vicki Booth, sister Margery Dillashaw and seven grandchildren.

The visitation will be held 4-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. He will be buried at Williamson Memorial Gardens.

A “Homegoing Celebration” Concert will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the People’s Church, 828 Murfreesboro Rd., Franklin, TN.

Spirit Music Group Acquires Contemporary Christian Catalog, West Main Music

spirit music group1111Spirit Music Group has acquired the music publishing assets of West Main Music, an independent Contemporary Christian publishing catalog.

The West Main song catalog features Christian music songwriters, including Jason Ingram (SESAC’s 2007 Christian Songwriter of the Year award recipient, co-writer of Bebo Norman’s “I Will Lift My Eyes,” Salvador’s “Shine,” Chris Tomlin’s “White Flag,” and member of One Sonic Society); Stuart Garrad (Stu G, Delirious?, and One Sonic Society); and Paul Mabury (One Sonic Society, noted Hillsong United drummer), among others.

“We are pleased to add these leading Christian music songs to the Spirit Music family as we continue to accelerate Spirit’s growth,” said David Renzer, Chairman, Spirit Music Group.

The acquisition is part of Spirit’s expansion plan which included acquisition of Cal IV Entertainment in 2014, giving Spirit Music Group its first official presence in Nashville.

Reba To Release ‘Love Somebody’ April 14

Reba_LoveSomebody_CoverReba McEntire will release her new 12-track project, Love Somebody, on April 14. The project will feature songs from writers including Brandy Clark, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Shane McAnally, Sam Hunt, Liz Hengber, Tom Douglas, and more. Love Somebody also includes “Pray For Peace,” a song penned by Reba which gained popularity last year after the singer released a video for the song, and urged fans to record their own videos.

Artist and songwriter Sam Hunt co-wrote the album’s title track, along with McAnally and Josh Osborne.

A Target exclusive version will also feature two additional tracks, “Whatever Way It Hurts The Least” (Brandy Clark, Tommy Lee James, Josh Osborne), and “More Than Just Her Last Name” (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne).

The legendary singer recently announced she has signed on to the Nash Icon Music label, a joint venture between Big Machine Label Group and Cumulus Media.

LOVE SOMEBODY TRACK LISTING
1. “Going Out Like That” (Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jason Sellers) *
2. “Enough” featuring Jennifer Nettles (Kelly Archer, Aaron Scherz, Emily Shackelton) **
3. “She Got Drunk Last Night” (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally) *
4. “Livin’ Ain’t Killed Me Yet” (Tommy Lee James, Laura Veltz) *
5. “That’s When I Knew” (Jim Collins, Ashley Gorley) **
6. “I’ll Go On” (Ella Mae Bowen, Tommy Lee James) **
7. “Until They Don’t Love You” (Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Josh Osborne) *
8. “Promise Me Love” (Nicole Fernandez, Jason Miller, Susan Ruth) *
9. “Just Like Them Horses” (Liz Hengber, Tommy Lee James) *
10. “Love Somebody” (Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne) *
11. “Love Land” (Tom Douglas, Rachel Thibodeau)*
12. “Pray For Peace” (Reba McEntire)***

TARGET EXCLUSIVE TRACKS
13. “Whatever Way It Hurts The Least” (Brandy Clark, Tommy Lee James, Josh Osborne)**
14. “More Than Just Her Last Name” (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)*

*Produced by Tony Brown and Reba McEntire
**Produced by James Stroud and Reba McEntire
***Produced by Reba McEntire and Doug Sisemore

The Mavericks Host Margarita Party Ahead of Album/Tour Launch

Pictured (L-R): Paul Deakin (The Mavericks), Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music), Eddie Perez (The Mavericks), George Briner (The Valory Music Co.), Jerry Dale McFadden (The Mavericks), Allison Jones (BMLG) and Raul Malo (The Mavericks).

Pictured (L-R): Paul Deakin (The Mavericks), Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music), Eddie Perez (The Mavericks), George Briner (The Valory Music Co.), Jerry Dale McFadden (The Mavericks), Allison Jones (BMLG) and Raul Malo (The Mavericks).

Last night (Feb. 12), The Valory Music Co.’s legendary band, The Mavericks, hosted a private gathering for music industry fans and friends in advance of their latest CD and international tour. Mono, the 12-track album will be released Tuesday, Feb. 17 in time for the Mondo Mundo Tour, which kicks off Thurs., Feb. 19 at The Wilbur Theater in Boston.

The Grammy-winning band’s invitation was complete with an intimate live preview of select songs and a Patron margarita bar. NPR is now streaming the album in-full.

The Mavericks return to the Grand Ole Opry stage tonight (Feb. 13), where they first announced the new album last November. They will perform the lead track, “All Night Long,” on Late Night With Seth Meyers, airing next Wednesday (Feb. 18) on NBC at 11:35p.m. CT.

For more information, visit themavericksband.com.

The Mavericks jam as they preview tunes from MONO, due out Feb. 17 on The Valory Music Co.

The Mavericks jam as they preview tunes from MONO, due out Feb. 17 on The Valory Music Co.

Willie Nelson To Release Memoir ‘It’s A Long Story: My Life’

willie nelsonWillie Nelson’s memoir It’s A Long Story: My Life will be available on May 5, 2015.  It was written by Nelson with four-time Gleason Music Book winner, David Ritz.

Nelson has more than six decades in the music industry, released over 100 albums, has been awarded 10 Grammys, was esteemed by the Kennedy Center Honors, and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He has written some of the most popular songs of all time, including “On the Road Again,” “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” “Crazy,” “Night Life,” and “Funny How Time Slips Away,” and recorded classics like “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” “Bring Me Sunshine,” and “Always on My Mind.”

In the book, Nelson shares stories about Nashville in the 60’s, where he failed to fit the mold of the Nashville sound. He also tells stories of close friends and collaborators Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price and Waylon Jennings.

At nearly 82 years old, he still tours the country and headlines music festivals.

Chris Young Presented With ‘MusicRow’ Challenge Coin For No. 1 Song

(L-R): MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Chris Young, MusicRow Chart Director Troy Stephenson. Photo: Kelsey Grady

small-webcoinsMusicRow presented RCA Nashville’s Chris Young with his MusicRow Challenge Coin (Coin No. 0192) for “Lonely Eyes,” at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium yesterday, Feb. 12. Penned by Johnny Bulford, Jason Matthews, Laura Veltz, this is the third single from Young’s fourth studio album, A. M. “Lonely Eyes” topped the MusicRow radio chart on Jan. 29.

Upon release of the single last year, acclaimed music critic Robert K. Oermann said, “Chris turns the charm meter up to 10 on this throbbing roadhouse romance. He also sings his fanny off.”

This is Young’s second MusicRow Challenge Coin, with the first honoring his No. 1 hit, “Who I Am With You.”

 

Youtube video

Industry Ink: CMA, Johnny Cash Museum, WXNA

Doerschuk, Gellott Leave CMA cma logo

CMA Close Up editor Bob Doerschuk has left his position with the Country Music Association. He is currently looking for full-time or freelance opportunities. Doerschuk can be reached at 615-545-6461, or at musiccityscribe@gmail.com. CMA Vice President of Corporate Communications Wendy Pearl will be taking over Doerschuk’s duties.

Media Manager Mary Gellott has also exited the company. Gellott’s career includes several years working as a concert promoter in Nashville, prior to her three years with CMA. She can be reached at mmggellott@aol.com.

 

Nashville’s Johnny Cash Museum Adds Some Java

Bongo Java Founder Bob Bernstein & Johnny Cash Museum Founder Bill Miller

Bongo Java Founder Bob Bernstein & Johnny Cash Museum Founder Bill Miller

Nashville’s Johnny Cash Museum has teamed with coffee company Bongo Java to add a coffee shop to the museum. Bongo Java will open in late February at The Johnny Cash Museum’s 119 3rd Ave. S. location.

“My family is thrilled to operate our own Bongo Java at The Johnny Cash Museum,” says The Johnny Cash Museum Founder Bill Miller.  “We are all coffee aficionados and we are picky about what we drink. After an exhaustive search, we knew that Bongo would be the perfect choice for us. Bongo Java Founder Bob Bernstein has built a top notch, first class operation which produces an amazing product. We are also very pleased to offer coffee and coffee drinks which are both organic and fair trade.  I am confident that the hundreds of thousands of Cash fans from around the world who visit us annually will be as excited about this great coffee as we are.”

New Freeform Radio Station Coming To Nashville

WXNAA new radio station is coming to Nashville. WXNA, a “low power, high voltage” radio station, will broadcast at 101.5 MHz FM, with an effective power of 100 watts.

A completion date has been slated for no later than June 4, 2016. Plans will place the station’s transmitter in the Germantown neighborhood, with signal to reach most of central Nashville, east Nashville, West End/Belmont, and south to the Berry Hill area. WXNA will also stream formats at wxnafm.org.

The station will feature a freeform radio format similar to the former WRVU-FM Nashville. Freeform radio allows disc jockeys total freedom in the music they play (within FCC regulations), regardless of music genre or commercial interests.

WXNA is wholly owned and operated by WRVU Friends and Family, a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by former WRVU-FM DJs to oppose the sale of WRVU-FM’s broadcast license. Once the sale was completed, the mission shifted to establishing a new broadcast station. WRVU Friends and Family have no connection to Vanderbilt University. Former WRVU DJs working to bring WXNA to life include Roger Blanton (Delicious Elixir), Ashley Crownover (Set Records to Stun), Randy Fox (Hipbilly Jamboree), Jonathan Grigsby (Set Records to Stun), Heather Lose (Honky Tonk Jukebox), Laura Powers (Needles + Pins), Ron “DJ Ron” Slomowicz (Out of the Closet / Dance) and Pete Wilson (Nashville Jumps).

Coke and Lady A Partner for ‘Freestyle’ Meet-and-Greet

Lady-A-Coke-FreestyleCoca-Cola drinkers will have the opportunity to meet Capitol Nashville trio Lady Antebellum backstage on their Wheels Up 2015 Tour.

Since the band’s latest single is titled “Freestyle,” the promotion provides fans who use Coca-Cola Freestyle–a fountain dispenser that blends specific recipes–a code to enter for the grand prize trip for two to a 2015 Lady A concert of the winner’s choice. Other prizes include Lady A 747 Deluxe CDs, autographed pictures and single downloads.

“Coca Cola Freestyle encourages individuality and customization by offering unprecedented choices,” said Joel Bishop, VP/GM, Coca Cola Freestyle, Coca Cola North America. “In that spirit, we invited Hillary, Charles and Dave of Lady Antebellum to express their personal style and taste by creating their own beverage mixes for their fans to enjoy.”

The trio’s Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood each created a personal mix available only with the Freestyle beverage dispenser. Fans can look for the Lady A promo button on over 600 participating machines to choose from the three mixes, including Charles’ Smooth Rollin’ Mix, a sweet blend of Vanilla Coke and Barq’s. Dave’s Rock ‘n’ Bold Mix blends Sprite Vanilla and Seagram’s Ginger Ale. Hillary’s Southern Cherry Mix combines Coke Zero Cherry and Coke Zero Raspberry.

After fans pour their beverage, they will text the code that appears on the screen. From March 23-April 30 fans can also download the Coca-Cola Freestyle app to receive an offer to add all three Lady A mixes to their favorites. When they visit any Coca-Cola Freestyle, they can use the QR code within the app to pour any of the exclusive mixes. Push notifications within the app will allow fans to enter the sweepstakes.

For full details as well as the list of participating retailers, visit coca-colafreestyle.com and cocacola.promo.eprize.com.

Weekly Chart Report (2/13/15)

Screen Shot 2015-02-13 at 8.59.20 AM

Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

unnamed

Screen Shot 2015-02-06 at 8.38.58 AM

Metro Planning Halts All Music Row Development

1208 16th Ave S, Nashville, TN. Map data @2015 Google, Nashville Davidson County.

1208 16th Ave S, Nashville, TN. Map data @2015 Google, Nashville Davidson County.

Plans for a 135-unit apartment building in Nashville’s Music Row area were halted this evening (Thursday, February 12), after the Metro Planning Commission indefinitely deferred a zoning change request.

The vote resulted in the commission recommending halting all rezoning requests in the Music Row area for the next 12 to 18 months.

The commission recommended that the Metro Planning Department complete a study of all of the Music Row area, so redevelopment proposals in the Music Row area can be treated in a uniform fashion.

The zoning change had been requested by Brad Daniel and Gary Belz, in a pitch to redevelop in the 1200 block of 16th Ave. near Edgehill Village.

Historic Nashville, Inc., as well as the Edgehill Village Neighborhood Association, opposed the rezoning request.