Alison Krauss & Union Station
and
Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas will take the stage together this summer. Joining them for separate portions of the tour will be folk trio
The Devil Makes Three,
Kacey Musgraves, and
Jason Isbell.
The 35-city US tour will kick off May 1 in Murray, Ky. at the CFSB Center at Murray State University and run through July 18 in Toledo, Ohio.
With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, Willie Nelson is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of “Crazy”, “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust.” In 2013, Willie’s albums included
Let’s Face The Music And Dance, and
To All The Girls… The album
To All The Girls… features 18 duets with music’s top female singers including
Dolly Parton, Mavis Staples, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Wynonna Judd, Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, and
Shelby Lynne.
Willie Nelson
Since signing with Rounder Records at the age of 14, Krauss has sold over 12 million albums and won 27 Grammy Awards.
Union Station includes
Jerry Douglas (dobro, lap steel, vocals),
Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin, lead vocal),
Ron Block (banjo, guitar) and
Barry Bales (bass, vocals), with Krauss on lead vocal and fiddle.
2014 TOUR DATES:
May 1 Murray, KY CFSB Center/Murray State University*
May 2 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre *
May 3 Knoxville, TN Thompson Boling Arena*
May 4 Cary, NC Koka Booth Amphitheatre*
May 6 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre*
May 8 Daniel Island, SC Family Circle Cup Stadium*
May 9 Simpsonville, SC Charter Amphitheatre*
May 10 Greensboro, NC White Oak Amphitheatre*
May 11 Huntington, WV Big Sandy Superstar Arena*
May 13 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Civic Center*
May 14 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center*
May 16 Nashville, TN The Woods at Fontanel*
May 17 Birmingham, AL BJCC*
May 18 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena*
June 5 Southaven, MS Snowden Grove Amphitheater #
June 6 Louisville, KY Waterfront Park+
June 7 Lewiston, NY Artpark #
June 8 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center For the Arts #
June 10 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall #
June 13 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center #
June 14 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 15 Simsbury, CT Simsbury Meadows #
June 17 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion #
June 19 Bangor, ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion #
June 20 Gilford, NH Bank of NH Pavillion at Meadowbrook #
June 21 Canandaigua, NY CMAC Performing Arts Center #
July 6 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre ~
July 7 Rogers, AR Arkansas Music Pavilion ~
July 9 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre ~
July 11 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Stir Cove~
July 12 Chicago, IL Ravinia Festival~
July 13 Detroit, MI Freedom Hill~
July 15 Rama, ON Casino Rama
July 17 Interlochen, MI Kresge Auditorium~
July 18 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo
*The Devil Makes Three
# Kacey Musgraves
~ Jason Isbell
+ The Wild Feathers
Songwriter Spotlight
/by Sarah Skates• Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle will perform at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 24 at 7:30 p.m.
• UMPG will present a writers round at The Listening Room Cafe tonight (Tues., Feb. 11) at 8:30 p.m. Set to perform are Jeremy Bussey, Ryan Hurd, Chase McGill and Cole Taylor. $5 at the door.
• BMI and YEP (Young Entertainment Professionals) will present a free event featuring Doug McCormick, Dillon Carmichael and Erik Dylan at Exit/In on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.
• Carnival Music will present Adam Wright with W.B. Givens on Feb. 18, 7 p.m. at The Basement. No cover.
• The Writers Round at the Rectory will feature Bobby Tomberlin, Heather Morgan and O’Shea, with host Colm Kirwan on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. The event is at the Cathedral of the Incarnation Rectory on West End Ave. Tickets are $60 each, or $100 for a pair, and include heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Contact Jackie Stammen at jackie@sangennaromusicfest.org or (615) 557-1390 for tickets or details.
Country Radio Seminar Adds Panel, Star Power
/by Jessica NicholsonIn addition to the already announced artists performing at the Grand Ole Opry show on Feb. 19, Charles Esten, Deacon from the ABC hit television series Nashville, and Sony recording artist, Chris Young have been added to the star-studded lineup. They join previously announced artists Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Old Crow Medicine Show and more.
CRS has also added a new panel set for Friday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m., titled “Seven Essentials for Top Shows in the Digital Age.” International broadcast consultant, Valerie Geller will be the featured speaker for the panel and will discuss the checklist for entertaining, informing and inspiring radio shows.
The lineup for the Thursday Programming Mentoring Breakfast on Feb. 20 includes: Gator Harrison (WUSY), Lisa McKay (WQDR), Shelly Easton (WXTU), Mike Moore (KWJJ), JR Schumann (WWKA), Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Mailey & Brenner Consulting), Mike Preston (KKWF/Entercomm), Christie Matthews (KDXY), Tim Roberts (WYCD), Clay Hunnicutt (Clear Channel Media & Entertainment), John Shomby (WGH/Max Media), Jeff Kapugi (WUSN), Lance Tidwell (WWYZ), Bob Glasco (Glasco Media) and Mike Kennedy (KBEQ/Wilks Broadcasting).
The Friday Manager’s Breakfast, set for Feb. 21 and facilitated by Erica Farber, will include: John Zimmer (NAB/RAB), Chris Duncombe (Corus Entertainment), Travis Ploeger (SoundExchange), JJ Jobe (Rusty Walker Programming), Scott Huskey (Rusty Walker Programming), Judy Lakin (Cox Media Group) and Bill Rose (Nielsen Audio).
Date Revealed for 2014 CMT Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville will already be in full celebrating mode that week, as the 2014 CMT Music Awards will be held one day before CMA Music Festival, which will run June 5-8.
Additional event and ticket information will be announced soon.
Dallas Smith To Release 'Tippin' Point' in March
/by Jessica NicholsonSmith will join Florida Georgia Line this April on their Here’s To The Good Times Tour in Western Canada.
Tippin’ Point EP Track Listing
'Music Row 101' Seminar To Be Held at Bridgestone Arena Feb. 27
/by Jessica NicholsonLeadership Music, currently in its 25th year, is programming the day-long educational seminar targeted at those wanting to learn to basics of the music business. The $98 fee includes a welcome by Nashville’s pro-music mayor, Karl Dean, himself a Leadership Music alum, historian/journalist Bob Oermann’s always-popular examination of How Nashville became Music City, four panel discussions, a songwriters-in-the-round closing session, a cocktail reception and tickets to the Nashville Predators/Tampa Bay Lightning that night. The seminar will be in the Bridgestone Arena rehearsal hall.
“Whether you are a songwriter, an aspiring artist, a music lover, or just want to know how the music biz works, this is your chance to spend an entire day learning from music industry professionals at Music Row 101,” organizers said.
Among those slated to appear are executives of Universal Music Group Nashville, Big Machine Label Group, Nine North Records, and Warner Music Nashville, artist managers, music publishers, the general manager of Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café, journalists, and air personalities and executives from WSIX. The majority of the participants are alumni of Leadership Music.
The event is sponsored by Gibson Brands and Regions Bank.
Included in the price of admission is an end-of-day networking and social hour followed by tickets to experience the hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning. “We are extremely excited to be a part this year’s Music Row 101 event,” added David Kells, vice president of booking for Bridgestone Arena. “The lineup of guest panelists is unmatched and for people looking to get their foot in the door, there is no better event to attend. Bridgestone Arena has hosted some of the world’s most successful musical artists and also the biggest sports figures. If you are looking to break into the entertainment industry, specifically the music industry, this is an event you will not want to miss.”
To register for the event, visit www.wsix.com Keyword: MusicRow
Schedule of Events (Subject to change)
8:00 to 9:00am – Registration
9:00 to 9:05am – Welcome
9:05 to 9:30am — Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
9:30 to 10:30am – Robert Oermann – How Nashville Became Music City
10:30 to 10:45am – Lisa Harless – Regions Bank
10:45 to 11:00am – Coffee break provided by Dunkin’ Donuts
11:00 am to 12:00 noon – “I Wrote a Song, Now What?
Speakers:
12:00 to 1:00pm – Deal or No Deal? Big League or Minors?
Speakers:
2:00 to 3:00pm – There’s no “I” in Team
Speakers:
3:00 to 4:00pm – Are You Ready for Primetime?
Speakers:
4:00 to 4:15pm – Afternoon coffee break provided by Dunkin’ Donuts
4:15 to 4:30pm – Top Ten Tech Trends
Speaker:
4:30 to 5:45 pm – Guitar Pull – Power Play
5:45 to 6:45 pm – “Backstage” Reception
7:00pm – Game starts – Nashville Predators vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss & Union Station To Co-Headline Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonAlison Krauss & Union Station
Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas will take the stage together this summer. Joining them for separate portions of the tour will be folk trio The Devil Makes Three, Kacey Musgraves, and Jason Isbell.
The 35-city US tour will kick off May 1 in Murray, Ky. at the CFSB Center at Murray State University and run through July 18 in Toledo, Ohio.
With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, Willie Nelson is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of “Crazy”, “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust.” In 2013, Willie’s albums included Let’s Face The Music And Dance, and To All The Girls… The album To All The Girls… features 18 duets with music’s top female singers including Dolly Parton, Mavis Staples, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Wynonna Judd, Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, and Shelby Lynne.
Willie Nelson
Since signing with Rounder Records at the age of 14, Krauss has sold over 12 million albums and won 27 Grammy Awards.
Union Station includes Jerry Douglas (dobro, lap steel, vocals), Dan Tyminski (guitar, mandolin, lead vocal), Ron Block (banjo, guitar) and Barry Bales (bass, vocals), with Krauss on lead vocal and fiddle.
2014 TOUR DATES:
May 1 Murray, KY CFSB Center/Murray State University*
May 2 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre *
May 3 Knoxville, TN Thompson Boling Arena*
May 4 Cary, NC Koka Booth Amphitheatre*
May 6 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre*
May 8 Daniel Island, SC Family Circle Cup Stadium*
May 9 Simpsonville, SC Charter Amphitheatre*
May 10 Greensboro, NC White Oak Amphitheatre*
May 11 Huntington, WV Big Sandy Superstar Arena*
May 13 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Civic Center*
May 14 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center*
May 16 Nashville, TN The Woods at Fontanel*
May 17 Birmingham, AL BJCC*
May 18 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena*
June 5 Southaven, MS Snowden Grove Amphitheater #
June 6 Louisville, KY Waterfront Park+
June 7 Lewiston, NY Artpark #
June 8 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center For the Arts #
June 10 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall #
June 13 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center #
June 14 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 15 Simsbury, CT Simsbury Meadows #
June 17 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion #
June 19 Bangor, ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion #
June 20 Gilford, NH Bank of NH Pavillion at Meadowbrook #
June 21 Canandaigua, NY CMAC Performing Arts Center #
July 6 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre ~
July 7 Rogers, AR Arkansas Music Pavilion ~
July 9 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre ~
July 11 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Stir Cove~
July 12 Chicago, IL Ravinia Festival~
July 13 Detroit, MI Freedom Hill~
July 15 Rama, ON Casino Rama
July 17 Interlochen, MI Kresge Auditorium~
July 18 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo
*The Devil Makes Three
# Kacey Musgraves
~ Jason Isbell
+ The Wild Feathers
Bush Joins 650 AM WSM As General Manager
/by Jessica Nicholson“I’m delighted to welcome Randy to 650 AM WSM,” said Steve Buchanan, Opry Entertainment president. “He brings with him the experience, creativity, and passion needed to succeed in one of the most unique positions anywhere in country radio. Randy sees a world of opportunity at WSM and he is excited about continuing the station’s great legacy.”
“I am humbled and thrilled to be given the opportunity to serve as General Manager of WSM-AM, The Legend,” Bush said. “I can’t wait to join such a tremendous group of people.”
Bush officially assumes his new role with the award-winning station Feb. 17.
Charlie Daniels' Scholarship For Heroes Concert Adds Pickler, Black
/by Jessica NicholsonCharlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels and Lipscomb University are partnering to raise funds for veterans education with an all-star line-up of artists at the fifth annual Copperweld Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes event.
This show, produced by David Corlew & Associates, will include performances by Daniels along with Kellie Pickler, Clint Black, The Grascals, the Navy Band Sea Chanters and the American Hitmen along with other special guests who will be part of the program set for Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. in Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena.
Tickets are available at all Middle Tennessee Daily’s and Twice Daily’s locations and the Lipscomb University box office, and by calling 615-966-7075.
“It’s an honor to be part of something special like the Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes event,” said Black. “As if it weren’t enough that Charlie Daniels asked me to sing—our troops occupy a very special place in our history. We have to do our utmost to make sure the part we play in their history is worthy of their sacrifice and commitment. This event is playing a fantastic role, making higher education a reality for returning veterans. I’m thrilled to be a part of this special evening.”
Daniels launched the event in March 2010 to create a greater awareness of the national Veterans Yellow Ribbon education program and to raise funds for veterans to attend Lipscomb University. Lipscomb’s Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program offers eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill veterans and their family members an undergraduate degree tuition-free or a graduate degree either tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate.
Members of the military and their families are invited as guests of the event’s corporate sponsors. Attendees will have an opportunity to make a donation at the event. Proceeds from the event benefit the Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes Fund benefitting veteran students at Lipscomb University.
“Our veterans know that freedom isn’t free, but we think their education should be. At Lipscomb we have a very unique opportunity to help open doors for our veterans through higher education,” said Jim Humphrey, associate dean of campus life and director of veterans services at Lipscomb. “We appreciate Charlie Daniels and his organization as well as those artists who have joined us for this event the past five years. The awareness and funds that they raise for our program are impacting the lives of our veterans and their families in significant ways.”
Industry Pics (2/10/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonASCAP hosted its monthly songwriters-in-the-round showcase at The Bluebird Cafe on Thursday, Feb. 6. The round featured top ASCAP songwriter members Jon Nite (“Whatever She’s Got”), Jimmy Robbins (“We Were Us,”) and Deric Ruttan (“Mine Would Be You”), as well as breaking Columbia Nashville songwriter-artist Leah Turner (“Take the Keys”).
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Jimmy Robbins, Deric Ruttan, Leah Turner and Jon Nite. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.
• • •
Dierks Bentley and OneRepublic took the stage together at Rocketown in Nashville for a taping of CMT Crossroads. CMT Crossroads: OneRepublic and Dierks Bentley will premiere Friday, March 21 at 10 p.m. ET.
Pictured (front, L-R): Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic); Leslie Fram, SVP Music Strategy, CMT; Dierks Bentley; (back, L-R): Margaret Comeaux, CMT executive producer; Zach Filkins (OneRepublic); Tom Forrest, executive producer; Drew Brown (OneRepublic); Eddie Fisher (OneRepublic); Brent Kutzle (OneRepublic); Kathryn Russ; Bill Flanagan, CMT executive producer; John Hamlin, CMT executive producer. Photo Credit: John Russell/MaximumExposure
• • •
New Country duo Dan+Shay recently celebrated their debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry, where they performed their single, “19 You+Me.” Dan+Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) will release their debut album April 1 on Warner Bros. Records.
Pictured (L-R): Lisa Ray, Vice President Brand Management Warner Music Nashville; Todd Ramey, Sandbox Management; Jason Owen, Sandbox Management; Peter Strickland, Executive Vice President and General Manager Warner Music Nashville; Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay; Scott Hendricks, Senior Vice President A+R Warner Music Nashville; John Esposito, President and CEO Warner Music Nashville; Pete Fisher, Vice President, General Manager Grand Ole Opry; Steve Buchanan, President Opry Entertainment Group
Lifenotes: Country Radio Disc Jockey Smokey Smith
/by Robert K OermannPictured (L-R): Smokey Smith and Johnny Cash. Photo: Snowflake Enterprises
Country Radio Disc Jockey Hall of Fame member Smokey Smith was buried Sunday (Feb. 9) in Des Moines, Iowa.
He died at age 91 on Feb. 3 due to complications from surgery following a brain injury. In addition to being a radio personality, Smith was also a recording artist, a television entertainer and one of the biggest country concert promoters of his era.
He was born Donald Charles Smith on Feb. 12, 1922 in Kansas City, Mo., and was raised in Lawrence, Kan. He was 16 when he began his radio career on WREN in Lawrence as a singer/guitarist for Ted West & His Range Riders in 1938.
Smith migrated to California in 1940 to work on airplane engines at Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego. He resumed his radio career a year later on the city’s KYOR station, working as both a musician and a disc jockey.
He thought that Don Smith was not a good show-business name. He smoked cigars constantly, so his band nicknamed him “Smokey,” which he much preferred.
Smokey Smith and The Gold Coast Boys recorded many country shows for the Mexican “border radio” stations that beamed megawatts of power into the U.S. during the 1940s. In 1946, the group began recording for Crystal Records.
The group scored its biggest hit with a version of Ted Daffan’s “I’m a Fool to Care” in 1946. Other songs recorded by Smith during the 1940s include “I Love You So Much It Hurts,” “Fading Away” and “Hobo Boogie.”
In 1950, he relocated to KRNT in Des Moines, and the station remained his home for years to come. When KRNT-TV came on the air in 1955, Smokey Smith became one of the Midwest’s country television pioneers as the host of his own show.
He was a key figure in the formation of the Country Music Disc Jockey Association in Nashville in 1953. He was the group’s Treasurer in 1958 when he urged it to disband in favor of forming a broader organization representing the industry, the Country Music Association. Smith held CMA membership card #4 and was a member of its founding board of directors.
Pictured (L-R): Smokey Smith with Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright. Photo: Snowflake Enterprises
Back in Des Moines, Smokey Smith became one of the biggest concert promoters in the Midwest. Beginning in Iowa, he expanded his show territory to include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois and South Dakota. Known as a “package-show” specialist, he put together multi-artist billings throughout his region.
As a concert promoter, Smith became known for his scrupulous honesty in his financial dealings with stars of the 1950s and 1960s. Among the artists he presented were Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, George Jones, Sonny James, Elvis Presley, Jean Shepard, Jimmy Dickens, Hank Thompson, Wanda Jackson and Tammy Wynette.
Smith left the concert business in 1974. He formed Smokey Smith Tours, taking busloads of tourists to destinations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
He remained a familiar face in Nashville throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s at music-industry functions, particularly during Country Radio Seminars and at functions presented by R.O.P.E. (the Reunion of Professional Entertainers). It is said that he was more recognized in Nashville than he was in Des Moines.
He was inducted into the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1982. R.O.P.E. presented him with its International Media Award in 2007. In 2010, he became the subject of an illustrated biography by author Terry Manley, Smokey Smith: The Legendary Life of Iowa’s Mr. Country Music.
Memorial contributions in Smokey’s honor may be directed to R.O.P.E. International, P.O. Box 2048, Madison, TN 37116-2048.