Loudilla Johnson
, who co-founded the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) died in Franklin, TN on Wednesday, May 7, at age 75.
Along with her sisters
Loretta Johnson (1941-2009) and
Kay Johnson, she started the first Loretta Lynn Fan Club in 1963 at their family ranch in Wild Horse, Colo. The club was such a success that other Country stars began asking Lynn how to start and run fan clubs. This led the Johnsons to form IFCO in 1965.
IFCO began as an association of 75 fan clubs. It grew to unite and advise more than 375 such organizations, publish the monthly
Tri-Son News periodical, create a website and stage fan-appreciation concerts and talent shows.
In 1968, IFCO put on its first concert at that year’s Country Music Disc Jockey Convention, four years before Fan Fair began. After years of staging its annual shows at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds during Fan Fair, in 1995 IFCO moved its Fun Fest show to The Ryman Auditorium. In recent years, IFCO Fun Fest has been held at venues ranging from The Belcourt Theater to the Cadillac Ranch nightclub.
The Johnson sisters relocated to Nashville in 1991. Fan Fair was re-branded as the CMA Music Festival in 2004.
Over the years, the IFCO Fun Fest has showcased a who’s-who of country entertainers, including
Keith Urban, Barbara Mandrell, Charley Pride, Gary Morris, The Bellamy Brothers, Jo Dee Messina, Hal Ketchum, Terri Clark, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Jason Aldean, Connie Smith, Little Big Town, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum, Joe Diffie, Aaron Tippin, Lynn Anderson and
Gene Watson.
IFCO also presented its annual Tex Ritter Award to industry individuals whom the Johnsons viewed as particularly beneficial to fans. Past recipients have included
Louise Scruggs, Jim Halsey, Bill Anderson, Maybelle Carter, Ernest Tubb, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Irving Waugh, Bud Wendell, Ralph Emery, Faron Young, Sam Lovullo, Crook & Chase, Roy Clark, David McCormick, Conway Twitty, Mae Boren Axton and
Mel Tillis.
Because their concert proceeds have always gone to charities, the Johnson Sisters were presented with the Ernest Tubb Humanitarian Award at the 2002 R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) banquet.
Loudilla Johnson is survived by sister Kay Johnson, brother
Everett Johnson, sister-in-law
Carlene Johnson and by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Private family services will be held.
Frist Center Highlights Photography By Marty Stuart
/by Sarah SkatesPortrait of Johnny Cash taken in September 2003 by Marty Stuart.
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts will present American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart from May 9-November 2, 2014 in the Conte Community Arts Gallery, which is free to the public.
American Ballads is composed of more than 60 photographs from three bodies of work: “The Masters” of country music; the “Blue Line Hotshots” he has met on his travels on America’s back roads; and the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and others in the South Dakota “Badlands.”
In his introduction to the publication that accompanies the exhibition, Stuart writes “…I often found myself in the company of Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Porter Wagoner, Merle Travis, Grandpa Jones, Ernest Tubb, and Stringbean. They always welcomed me, treated me like family, and gave me reasons to believe I was a part of the tribe. Whether at a concert, the Opry, a recording studio, a truck stop, or poker game, any time any one of these people were present I viewed it as history in motion. However, other than the fans, I seldom saw anyone present with a camera to capture the proceedings.”
Stuart and his mother Hilda Stuart will discuss photography at a free event at the Frist on Wednesday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m.
Artist Updates (5/8/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonZac Brown
Zac Brown and wife Shelly welcomed their fifth child and first son, Alexander Frost Brown, on Monday, May 5.
Alexander weighed 11 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 22.5 inches long.
• • •
Shania Twain
Shania Twain has become the Global Ambassador for cat conservation organization Panthera‘s newly launched leopard conservation initiative Project Pardus.
Project Pardus highlights the leopard’s (“pardus” in latin) perilous state and aims to halt leopard killings.
• • •
Hosted by Ed Helms, the SuperJam also features the Lonesome Trio, Sarah Jarosz, Lake Street Dive, The Black Lillies, Shovels & Rope,The Lone Bellow, Robert Ellis, Della Mae, Bryan Sutton, and Dave Johnston of Yonder Mountain String Band.
Bonnaroo will take place June 12-15 in Manchester, Tenn.
Black River Entertainment's Lubitz Exiting
/by Jessica NicholsonBill Lubitz
Black River Entertainment‘s West Coast regional Bill Lubitz is leaving to pursue another opportunity. Lubitz took on the role in 2011.
Lubitz also shared duties as Director of National Promotion with Mike Wilson. Wilson continues in that role.
Black River VP/Promotion Bill Macky is currently searching for a replacement. Resumes can be sent to macky@blackriverent.com.
LifeNotes: IFCO's Loudilla Johnson Passes
/by Robert K OermannLoudilla Johnson
Loudilla Johnson, who co-founded the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) died in Franklin, TN on Wednesday, May 7, at age 75.
Along with her sisters Loretta Johnson (1941-2009) and Kay Johnson, she started the first Loretta Lynn Fan Club in 1963 at their family ranch in Wild Horse, Colo. The club was such a success that other Country stars began asking Lynn how to start and run fan clubs. This led the Johnsons to form IFCO in 1965.
IFCO began as an association of 75 fan clubs. It grew to unite and advise more than 375 such organizations, publish the monthly Tri-Son News periodical, create a website and stage fan-appreciation concerts and talent shows.
In 1968, IFCO put on its first concert at that year’s Country Music Disc Jockey Convention, four years before Fan Fair began. After years of staging its annual shows at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds during Fan Fair, in 1995 IFCO moved its Fun Fest show to The Ryman Auditorium. In recent years, IFCO Fun Fest has been held at venues ranging from The Belcourt Theater to the Cadillac Ranch nightclub.
The Johnson sisters relocated to Nashville in 1991. Fan Fair was re-branded as the CMA Music Festival in 2004.
Over the years, the IFCO Fun Fest has showcased a who’s-who of country entertainers, including Keith Urban, Barbara Mandrell, Charley Pride, Gary Morris, The Bellamy Brothers, Jo Dee Messina, Hal Ketchum, Terri Clark, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Jason Aldean, Connie Smith, Little Big Town, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum, Joe Diffie, Aaron Tippin, Lynn Anderson and Gene Watson.
IFCO also presented its annual Tex Ritter Award to industry individuals whom the Johnsons viewed as particularly beneficial to fans. Past recipients have included Louise Scruggs, Jim Halsey, Bill Anderson, Maybelle Carter, Ernest Tubb, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Irving Waugh, Bud Wendell, Ralph Emery, Faron Young, Sam Lovullo, Crook & Chase, Roy Clark, David McCormick, Conway Twitty, Mae Boren Axton and Mel Tillis.
Because their concert proceeds have always gone to charities, the Johnson Sisters were presented with the Ernest Tubb Humanitarian Award at the 2002 R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) banquet.
Loudilla Johnson is survived by sister Kay Johnson, brother Everett Johnson, sister-in-law Carlene Johnson and by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Private family services will be held.
Brad Paisley To Release New Album in August
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley
Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley will release his as-of-yet untitled ninth regular studio project on Aug. 26.
To promote the project, Paisley will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America as part of their Summer Concert Series on Aug. 29.
Paisley’s current single, “River Bank,” was co-written by Kelley Lovelace.
Industry Ink (5/8/14)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
• • •
Dave Grohl Performs Surprise Acoustic Set in Nashville
/by Troy_StephensonDuring his performance at the Bluebird, Grohl’s set list included gems “Times Like These,” “Friend of a Friend,” “Learn to Fly,” and others.
Artist Pics (5/8/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonColumbia Nashville recording artist Leah Turner hosted a StageIt show earlier this week. The singer-songwriter performed songs from her newly released self-titled digital EP, including “Take the Keys” and her current single, “Pull Me Back.” Turner will take part in her first nationwide tour opening for Brad Paisley beginning May 16.
• • •
Crystal Gayle sat for a rare public interview and performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum on Saturday, May 3. In support of the spotlight exhibit Crystal Gayle: When I Dream, which opened May 2, Gayle discussed her career in the Country and pop fields, and performed songs from her catalog. Crystal Gayle: When I Dream features fashion, awards, letters, family photos and more from Gayle’s career. The exhibition will run through Nov. 3, 2014.
Pictured (L-R): Rob Price, Peggy Sue Wright, Blue Jay Patten, Crystal Gayle, Will Barrow, Bill Gatzimos, Duane Norman and John Kearns.
• • •
Travis Tritt recently attended the 2014 Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky. Tritt performed alongside Richie Sambora, Johnny Gill, Mary Wilson and many others at The Barnstable Brown Gala. Tritt and his wife have attended the Kentucky Derby every year for the last 16 years.
Pictured (L-R): Travis Tritt with wife, Theresa Tritt, and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.
Stars For Second Harvest Adds To Lineup
/by Jessica NicholsonDavid Lee Murphy
Luke Laird, Tyler Farr, and David Lee Murphy have been added to the 10th annual Stars for Second Harvest benefit, slated for Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. They will be joined by previously announced headliners Florida Georgia Line. NashTrash Tour’s The Jugg Sisters will also appear to entertain the audience in between performers’ acoustic performances.
Columbia Nashville artist Farr’s platinum-selling single, “Redneck Crazy,” earned a CMT Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year. He is currently on the road with Jason Aldean‘s 50-city Burn It Down Tour.
Tyler Farr
Laird is one of the Grammy-winning producers behind Kacey Musgraves‘ Same Trailer, Different Park project. As a songwriter, Laird has notched 15 chart-topping singles, including “Downtown” (Lady Antebellum), “Drink in My Hand” and “Give Me Back My Hometown” (both recorded by Eric Church), and “One of Those Nights” (Tim McGraw).
Luke Laird
In addition to his own hits as an artist (including “Party Crowd” and “Dust On The Bottle”), David Lee Murphy has co-written the hits “Living In Fast Forward” and “Live A Little” (both recorded by Kenny Chesney), “Big Green Tractor” (Jason Aldean), and “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” (Thompson Square), among others.
Proceeds from the event benefit Second Harvest Food Bank Middle Tennessee’s mission to provide food to hungry people of all ages in the Middle Tennessee area. Tickets for the 10th annual Stars for Second Harvest are currently available for $35.00 at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, Ryman box office, ryman.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
Willie Nelson Preps Album Release
/by Sarah SkatesA video for “The Wall,” one of the album’s key tracks, debuted exclusively on RollingStone.com. The single is already at digital retailers and will go for adds June 2.
Working with producer Cannon, who helmed Nelson’s first three Legacy releases, he recorded the bulk of Band of Brothers during sessions at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, with additional recording at Pedernales Studio in Austin, Texas and The Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, Florida. Recording sessions took place between October 2013 and March 2014, with a band made up of Jim “Moose” Brown (keyboards), Eddie Bayers (drums), Kevin “Swine” Grantt (bass), Bobby Terry (guitar), Tommy White (steel guitar) and Mickey Raphael (harmonica).
The project also includes Nelson’s interpretations of Vince Gill’s “Whenever You Come Around,” Billy Joe Shaver’s “The Git Go” (a duet with Jamey Johnson) and the appropriately-titled “Songwriter,” written by Gordie Sampson and Bill Anderson.
The album is the successor to To All The Girls… which was Nelson’s first Top 10 album in more than three decades when it was released in October 2013.
Band of Brothers – tracklisting
1. Bring It On (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
2. Guitar in the Corner (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
3. The Wall (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
4. Whenever You Come Around (Vince Gill/Pete Wasner)
5. Wives and Girlfriends (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
6. I Thought I Left You (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
7. Send Me a Picture (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
8. Used to Her (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
9. The Git Go (Billy Joe Shaver/Gary Nicholson)
10. Band of Brothers (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
11. Hard to Be an Outlaw (Billy Joe Shaver)
12. Crazy Like Me (Dennis Morgan/Shawn Camp/Billy Burnette)
13. The Songwriters (Gordie Sampson/Bill Anderson)
14. I’ve Got a Lot of Traveling to Do (Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon)