Trisha Yearwood
The trend of this listening session is the return of fondly remembered voices.
Greeting us with comeback records are Grand Ole Opry members
Trisha Yearwood, Hal Ketchum and the duet team of
Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White. Welcome all three of them with your arms wide open, because they all sound simply sensational.
So much so, that I’m splitting the Disc of the Day award into three parts. Our Male Vocalist winner is
Hal Ketchum. Our Female Vocalist winner is
Trisha Yearwood (with some harmony help from
Kelly Clarkson). Our Vocal Duo winners are
Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White.
The DisCovery Award goes to lead singer
Taylor Cain and her younger harmonizing sister
Madison and baby brother
Logan, who are billed as
The Cains Trio.
THE HELLO STRANGERS/What It Takes To Break A Heart
Writers: Larissa Chace Smith/Brechyn Chace; Producer: Steve Ivey; Publishers: The Hello Strangers, SESAC; IMI (track)
-Bluesy, rhythmic and completely captivating. The rockabilly groove is spiced with acoustic passages and quasi-shouted vocal moments. Feisty females on the rampage.
SONIA LEIGH/Put It In Your Pocket
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Willing To Fly
-The good-time groove never lets up for a second. There’s not much of a melody, and like so much of today’s country, it repeats its title and chorus hook over and over the way pop songs do, rather than developing a sustained lyric.
RICKY SKAGGS & SHARON WHITE/Forever’s Not Long Enough
Writers: Bob DiPiero/Keith Sewell; Producers: Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Coburn/Keith Sewell, BMI; Skaggs Family
-Despite being named the CMA Duo of the Year in 1987, these two have never recorded a duet album until now. Their
Hearts Like Ours CD will drop on Sept. 30, but this track is available now as a download. It is a fantastically catchy bopper with a dandy electric-guitar twang. Both of them are singing splendidly, the production is as hooky as can be and the song has hit written on it. Play and believe.
The Cains Trio
-These three Alabama siblings have a sweet, sunny, soothing sound. There’s a gentle, folk-y quality to this clean, clear production, and the song has a lovely, lilting melody. Ear tickling.
TRISHA YEARWOOD & KELLY CLARKSON/PrizeFighter
Writers: Jessi Alexander/Sarah Buxton/Ross Copperman; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Party of Five/Kobalt/Big Red Toe/Bux Tone/Big Loud Bucks/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Sony-ATV, ASCAP/BMI; RCA/Gwendolyn
-Goosebumps and thrills. Yearwood has one of those voices that shakes me right down to my core, and she nails this soaring rocker to the wall. That Clarkson’s soprano harmony can shadow her note for spectacular note is a sure sign that you are in the presence of singing royalty.
SKYLAR ELISE/You’ll Never Understand
Writers: D. Scott Miller/Amanda Williams; Producer: D. Scott Miller; Publisher: none listed; SM (track)
-She sings well, the song is well constructed, and the steel-guitar work is exemplary. But the rhythm section drags like it is walking through molasses.
RAY JOHNSTON BAND/More Crown Than Coke
Writers: Ray Johnston/James Slater/Django Walker; Producer: Erik Herbst; Publisher: RJB Entertainment, BMI; RJB (track)
-This laid-back drinking song feels as mellow as a booze buzz at sundown. Recommended.
HAL KETCHUM/I’m The Troubadour
Writers: Hal Ketchum; Producer: Jimmy LaFave; Publisher: Boxadore, BMI; Music Road (track)
-The title tune of Hal’s comeback CD is a rollicking, r&b-flavored statement of purpose. Love the shave-and-a-haircut backbeat, the organ flourishes and his drawled, saucy, soulman delivery. This thing cooks with gas.
EILEEN ROSE/Queen of the Fake Smile
Writers: Eileen Rose; Producer: Eileen Rose & The Legendary Rich Gilbert; Publishers: none listed; Holy Wreckords
-This singer-songwriter has apparently been around for awhile, but I believe the new
Be Many Gone collection is my first hearing of her. It kicks off with this plain-spoken, mid-tempo ditty. It’s probably not “produced” enough for country radio, but Americana programmers might want to give her spare sound a spin.
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/Storm Breaking
Writers: none listed; Producer: Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; Symphony Ray
-The group is an Irish country outfit whose previous records have picked up airplay in Canada, Britain and the U.S., as well as its homeland. This pleading, heartfelt ballad has a lustrous, layered, dreamy instrumental arrangement that is extremely pleasing. I’ve liked these guys before. I wish they’d send me a whole album one of these days.
DISClaimer: Comeback Kids
/by Robert K OermannTrisha Yearwood
The trend of this listening session is the return of fondly remembered voices.
Greeting us with comeback records are Grand Ole Opry members Trisha Yearwood, Hal Ketchum and the duet team of Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White. Welcome all three of them with your arms wide open, because they all sound simply sensational.
So much so, that I’m splitting the Disc of the Day award into three parts. Our Male Vocalist winner is Hal Ketchum. Our Female Vocalist winner is Trisha Yearwood (with some harmony help from Kelly Clarkson). Our Vocal Duo winners are Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White.
The DisCovery Award goes to lead singer Taylor Cain and her younger harmonizing sister Madison and baby brother Logan, who are billed as The Cains Trio.
THE HELLO STRANGERS/What It Takes To Break A Heart
Writers: Larissa Chace Smith/Brechyn Chace; Producer: Steve Ivey; Publishers: The Hello Strangers, SESAC; IMI (track)
-Bluesy, rhythmic and completely captivating. The rockabilly groove is spiced with acoustic passages and quasi-shouted vocal moments. Feisty females on the rampage.
SONIA LEIGH/Put It In Your Pocket
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Willing To Fly
-The good-time groove never lets up for a second. There’s not much of a melody, and like so much of today’s country, it repeats its title and chorus hook over and over the way pop songs do, rather than developing a sustained lyric.
RICKY SKAGGS & SHARON WHITE/Forever’s Not Long Enough
Writers: Bob DiPiero/Keith Sewell; Producers: Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Coburn/Keith Sewell, BMI; Skaggs Family
-Despite being named the CMA Duo of the Year in 1987, these two have never recorded a duet album until now. Their Hearts Like Ours CD will drop on Sept. 30, but this track is available now as a download. It is a fantastically catchy bopper with a dandy electric-guitar twang. Both of them are singing splendidly, the production is as hooky as can be and the song has hit written on it. Play and believe.
The Cains Trio
THE CAINS TRIO/Be Yourself With Me
Writers: Billy Lawson/Taylor Cain/Ed Hill; Producer: Billy Lawson; Publishers: Catch the Boat/Red Vinyl/Monroe Hill, ASCAP/BMI; DayStreet
-These three Alabama siblings have a sweet, sunny, soothing sound. There’s a gentle, folk-y quality to this clean, clear production, and the song has a lovely, lilting melody. Ear tickling.
TRISHA YEARWOOD & KELLY CLARKSON/PrizeFighter
Writers: Jessi Alexander/Sarah Buxton/Ross Copperman; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Party of Five/Kobalt/Big Red Toe/Bux Tone/Big Loud Bucks/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Sony-ATV, ASCAP/BMI; RCA/Gwendolyn
-Goosebumps and thrills. Yearwood has one of those voices that shakes me right down to my core, and she nails this soaring rocker to the wall. That Clarkson’s soprano harmony can shadow her note for spectacular note is a sure sign that you are in the presence of singing royalty.
SKYLAR ELISE/You’ll Never Understand
Writers: D. Scott Miller/Amanda Williams; Producer: D. Scott Miller; Publisher: none listed; SM (track)
-She sings well, the song is well constructed, and the steel-guitar work is exemplary. But the rhythm section drags like it is walking through molasses.
RAY JOHNSTON BAND/More Crown Than Coke
Writers: Ray Johnston/James Slater/Django Walker; Producer: Erik Herbst; Publisher: RJB Entertainment, BMI; RJB (track)
-This laid-back drinking song feels as mellow as a booze buzz at sundown. Recommended.
HAL KETCHUM/I’m The Troubadour
Writers: Hal Ketchum; Producer: Jimmy LaFave; Publisher: Boxadore, BMI; Music Road (track)
-The title tune of Hal’s comeback CD is a rollicking, r&b-flavored statement of purpose. Love the shave-and-a-haircut backbeat, the organ flourishes and his drawled, saucy, soulman delivery. This thing cooks with gas.
EILEEN ROSE/Queen of the Fake Smile
Writers: Eileen Rose; Producer: Eileen Rose & The Legendary Rich Gilbert; Publishers: none listed; Holy Wreckords
-This singer-songwriter has apparently been around for awhile, but I believe the new Be Many Gone collection is my first hearing of her. It kicks off with this plain-spoken, mid-tempo ditty. It’s probably not “produced” enough for country radio, but Americana programmers might want to give her spare sound a spin.
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/Storm Breaking
Writers: none listed; Producer: Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; Symphony Ray
-The group is an Irish country outfit whose previous records have picked up airplay in Canada, Britain and the U.S., as well as its homeland. This pleading, heartfelt ballad has a lustrous, layered, dreamy instrumental arrangement that is extremely pleasing. I’ve liked these guys before. I wish they’d send me a whole album one of these days.
Weekly Register: Paisley Brings 'Moonshine…' To The Party
/by Sarah SkatesDue to the overall downslide of music purchases (largely due to streaming) comparing current debut week sales numbers to debut weeks in previous years isn’t exactly comparing apples to apples. Nonetheless, here is the info: In April 2013, Paisley released Wheelhouse, which sold 100K and entered at No. 1. In May 2011, This Is Country Music debuted at No. 1 with sales of 153K units.
Meanwhile on the Country tracks chart, Jason Aldean’s “Burnin’ It Down” sold 76K this week for a RTD total of 658K. Darius Rucker had the sweetest Country track debut with “Homegrown Honey” selling 25K. Taylor Swift sits pretty at No. 1 overall in her second week of release with “Shake It Off,” which sold 355K, for a total of 899K.
Top 5 Country Albums this week
Brad Paisley Moonshine In The Trunk 53K
Luke Bryan Crash My Party 15K
Chase Rice Ignite The Night 14K
Various Nashville Outlaws Tribute to Motley Crue 12K
Brantley Gilbert Just As I Am 9.8K
Top 5 Country Tracks this week
Jason Aldean “Burnin’ It Down” 76K
FGL “Dirt” 61K
Kenny Chesney “American Kids” 52K
Sam Hunt “Leave The Night On” 43K
Lady Antebellum “Bartender” 38K
Pat Higdon to be Presented Frances Preston Award
/by Eric T. ParkerPat Higdon
Pat Alger, Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NSHoF), announced today that music publisher Pat Higdon will be presented with the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award during the upcoming NSHoF Dinner and Induction Ceremony.
“Pat is one of a handful of executives in both the independent and the corporate publishing environments whose name has always been synonymous with the highest standards of professional integrity and many of our great songwriters got their start under his guidance,” said Alger.
The 44th honors, given on Oct. 5, 2014, are named for Preston who influenced and nurtured the careers of thousands of songwriters, performers and publishers in all genres of music during her five-decade career at BMI. Previous recipients of the award are music publisher Bob Beckham (2008), music publisher Bill Hall (2009), Preston (2010), music publisher David Conrad (2011), music publisher Donna Hilley (2012) and Bluebird Café founder Amy Kurland (2013).
The evening will additionally feature tributes and performances of 2014 inductees John Anderson, Tom Douglas, Gretchen Peters and Paul Craft. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) will also present its annual awards for the year’s Best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.
Held at the Music City Center, tickets are $250 each by contacting Mark Ford by email or 615-460-6556.
•••
Higdon broke into the music industry in the early ‘70’s as a recording engineer Woodland Sound then Cedarwood Publishing Company, recording many artists and beginning as a song plugger.
A seven year stint at MCA Music rose the executive to Vice President of Nashville operations. He quickly developed a bond with MCA writers Dave Loggins and Jan Crutchfield, and signed Don Schlitz, Russell Smith, Lisa Silver and J. D. Martin. He continued to score hits and cuts by a wide array of artists including Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Randy Travis, BJ Thomas, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, Lee Greenwood and Tina Turner. In the late ’80s, Higdon moved to Warner Bros. Music, forging a creative partnership with Matraca Berg that has endured for over 25 years.
In 1989 Higdon founded Patrick Joseph Music as a joint venture with Warner/Chappell Music. His first signings for the new company included Berg, Gary Harrison, Jim Photoglo, Shawn Camp and Tim Mensy. Later he added a young Troy Verges and Brett James to the roster. Patrick Joseph Music’s boutique catalog include more than 30 ASCAP and BMI award winning songs, the 1998 CMA Song of the Year, “Strawberry Wine.”
Universal Music Publishing Group tapped Higdon to run its Nashville operation in 1999. He served with the company for twelve years and eventually became President of the Nashville division, overseeing catalogs of Bob McDill, Mel Tillis, Webb Pierce, Berg, Burr, Verges, Luke Laird and Rivers Rutherford. His tenure included guiding the company through three significant mergers, the first with Polygram Music, then Rondor/Almo Irving Music and finally BMG Music.
In early 2012, Higdon left UMPG and re-activated Patrick Joseph Music as a partnership with New York-based Songs Music Publishing. The company has signed five writers since relaunching, Berg, George Teren, Jake Mitchell, Ben Caver, Kat Higgins, and Mellissa Peirce (co-pub with Disney Music).
Industry Ink: Streamsound Records, Debbie Z Entertainment, Red 11 Music
/by Jessica NicholsonJon Conlon
Streamsound Records has hired Jon Conlon as West Coast Manager of Promotion. He most recently worked at RPM Entertainment, and has held similar roles at Arista and Columbia Records. He also worked on Air/Programming in Chicago for WJKL and WCKG, as well as for WGKX (Memphis), and Los Angeles at Westwood One Radio Network. While in Memphis, he was named Disc Jockey of the Year three times by the Academy of Country Music.
“We have gone to great lengths to assemble an amazing team that can take our artists to the next level,” says CEO/President Steve Richardson. “Jon Conlon comes to Streamsound with a wealth of experience in radio and promotion and we are happy to welcome him aboard.”
Denise Roberts has exited the company and is seeking her next opportunity.
• • •
Pictured (L-R): Paul Sikes, Debbie Zavitson
Singer/songwriter/producer Paul Sikes has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Debbie Zavitson of Debbie Z Entertainment.
His songwriting credits include cuts for Emerson Drive, Billy Dean, Josh Gracin and others.
The Nashville native’s new CD Out of the Mud is available on iTunes.
• • •
Cody Canada and the Departed
Booking agency Red 11 Music has signed on to represent Cody Canada and The Departed out of its Nashville office.
“My team and I are excited to say the least,” says Jon Folk, founder of Red 11 Music. “I’ve known Cody and the guys for years, and when asked if I wanted to become part of their team, I jumped at the chance. Their live show is captivating, their music is original and their fans are dedicated to the band. If someone were to ask me, ‘What do you look for in a band to work with?,’ this would be it! With a new album coming out this fall, we are looking forward to a record year in 2015.”
The band is currently on tour with Reckless Kelly and Micky & the Motorcars.
Shenandoah Inks Deals With The Agency Group, Absolute Publicity
/by Jessica NicholsonShenandoah is set to reunite with frontman Marty Raybon this October, and has signed exclusive representation deals with The Agency Group for live bookings and with Absolute Publicity for public relations.
“From a booking and PR standpoint, we know it’s going to take two special companies that are willing to work toward the effort and the vision that we have,” said Raybon. “The Agency Group and Absolute Publicity were our top choices and we are excited to have them onboard.”
Pictured (L-R): Bobby Roberts (The Agency Group), Mike McGuire, Marty Raybon,
Travis James (The Agency Group), Don Murry Grubbs (Absolute Publicity)
'Country Weekly' Names Freeman Managing Editor
/by Sarah SkatesJon Freeman
Country Weekly Editor-in-Chief Lisa Konicki has announced several staff promotions and new hires at the magazine. Jon Freeman has been promoted to managing editor, having served as deputy editor since 2012. Elissa Newland has been promoted to photo editor; she served as assistant photo editor for the past year.
New staff members include Jim Casey who joins as deputy editor, after recently serving as director of editorial and communications at FIGHT! Magazine. Carissa Riccardi has been hired as assistant photo editor, bringing with her a background as a photographer, retoucher and other work in commercial photography.
“Jon and Elissa have been an integral part of the Country Weekly team during continued periods of growth,” said Konicki. “Their talent, creative vision, and passion for country music make them an invaluable part of our team. We also welcome Jim and Carissa to the magazine. They are the perfect additions to our staff.”
(L-R): Elissa Newland, Carissa Riccardi, Jim Casey
Florida Georgia Line To Play Free Nashville Show Tonight
/by Jessica NicholsonBeginning at noon today, the first 350 people who arrive at Exit/In will get wristbands for the concert. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 8:30 p.m. Fans must be 18 or older.
Mark Your Calendar – September 2014
/by Eric T. ParkerSeptember 4-6
Live On The Green Festival at the Public Square Park in downtown Nashville
September 8
Miller Harris golf tournament at Temple Hills Golf Club
September 9
ACM Honors at the Ryman
September 15
Girl Scouts Annual Luncheon, CMT’s Women in Music Theme
September 17
Americana Honors & Awards Show
September 17-21
Americana Music Association’s 15th Annual Festival & Conference at the Hutton Hotel
September 20-21
Music City Food + Wine Festival at Public Square Park
September 23
2014 SOURCE Awards at Nashville’s Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Historic Municipal Auditorium
September 26-28
Island Hopper Songwriter Festival at Sanibel Captiva Island
September 27-30
IEBA 2014 at the Omni Nashville
September 30
IEBA Class of 2014 induction ceremony at the CMA Theater at the CMHoF
September 30-October 4
IBMA World of Bluegrass 2014 and Film Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina
September 1
Brad Paisley/Perfect Storm/Arista Nashville
Joe Nichols/Hard To Be Cool/Red Bow
Tim Dugger/Gettin There/Sidewalk Records
Bruce Larson/Fishin’ Pole Dancin’
Kenny Davin Fine/Friendship/Higher Ground
Kaylee Rutland/Good Day To Get Gone/Kaylee Rutland Music
Shane Gamble/Beautiful Work/Rt 50 Music Inc.
Sundy Best/I Wanna Go Home/e-One Entertainment
Sammy Hakim/Fearless/EXT Records
September 8
Tim McGraw/Shotgun Rider/Big Machine
Lee Brice/Drinking Class/Curb
Easton Corbin/Baby Be My Love Song/MCA
Natalie Stovall and The Drive/Mason Jar/Hit Shop Records
North 40/Whole Lot of Livin’/Rhyme Town Entertainment
Adrian Duffy & The Mayo Bros/Storm Breaking/SR Records
September 15
Trisha Yearwood/PrizeFighter/RCA-Nashville
Jackie Lee/She Does/Broken Bow
Olivia Lane/Steal Me Away/Big Spark Music Group
Larry Fleet/Damn This Storm/Music Mill Entertainment
Ashliegh Lisset/Target On My Heart/ALS Entertainment
Tim Cadiere/Hop In My Truck/6 Tone Records
Tim Sweeney/Every Friday Night/Oil House Records
September 22
Kelsea Ballerini/Love Me Like You Mean It/Black River Entertainment
September 2
Terri Clark/Some Songs/BareTrack Records-Universal Music Canada
Karyn Rochelle/Karyn Rochelle
September 7
Various/The Buddy Holly Country Tribute: Remember Me/TBHEF
September 9
Lee Brice/I Don’t Dance/Curb Records
Dustin Lynch/Where It’s At/Broken Bow Records
Brothers Osborne/Brothers Osborne/EMI Nashville
September 16
Tim McGraw/Sundown Heaven Town/Big Machine Records
George Strait/The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium/MCA Nashville
Maggie Chapman/Vignette/Creative Nation
September 23
Lee Ann Womack/The Way I’m Livin’/Sugar Hill
Kenny Chesney/The Big Revival/Blue Chair Bay-Columbia Nashville
Big & Rich/Gravity/Big & Rich Records-Kobalt Label Services
Lori McKenna/Numbered Doors
September 30
Lady Antebellum/747/Capitol Records Nashville
Blake Shelton/Bringing Back the Sunshine/Warner Bros. Records
Marty Stuart/Saturday Night & Sunday Morning/Superlatone
Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White/Hearts Like Ours/Skaggs Family Records
Lucinda Williams/Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone/Highway Records-Thirty Tigers
Various/Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas/Capital Christian Music Group-Sparrow Records
Luke Bryan Sets Record at Chicago's Soldier Field
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Photo: Lyle Waisman/ Soldier Field
Luke Bryan set a new record this weekend, when he wrapped the last of four stadium concerts at Chicago’s Soldier Field Sunday night (Aug. 31). The entertainer performed for a combined total of 225,000 fans, setting the record for the best-selling Country concert held at the venue.
Live Nation is the tour promoter for Bryan’s current That’s My Kind of Night Tour. Sponsors for the tour include Miller Lite, Texaco, and Cabela’s.
Bryan will launch his sixth Farm Tour on Oct. 1, performing eight concerts in the Southeast through Oct. 11. A portion of the proceeds will be given for local college scholarships to students from a farming family within the communities the tour plays. Bryan will also perform in Riviera Maya, Mexico on Jan. 23-27, 2015.
LifeNotes: Marion R. Ross, Mother of ‘MusicRow’ Founder David Ross, Passes
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Marion R. Ross and Martin J. Ross.
Condolences to MusicRow founder David M. Ross and family whose mother Marion R. Ross passed away Aug. 20 in Palm Beach, Fla. at age 92. Marion and Martin J. Ross, who passed away on Jan. 31, were married for over 70 years.
A celebration of two lives memorial service will be held in Boston on Sept. 18. Marion was a courageous woman who worked tirelessly for her husband and family and was a mentor and friend to countless others throughout her lifetime.
The couple is survived by sons David and Lawrence; David’s wife Susana; and granddaughters Michelle Ross Stephens and Isabel Ross Martin.