Pictured (L-R): Bob Beckham, Johnny “Dog” McRae, Larry Jon Wilson and Steve Singleton. Photo: Alan Mayor
Pictured (L-R): Rick Blackburn and Bob Beckham. Photo: Alan Mayor.
Sellars Funeral Home in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. will host a visitation on Wednesday (Nov. 13) 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a brief graveside service following. Family asks that donations be sent to Alive Hospice in lieu of flowers.
• • •
Legendary Nashville music publisher
Bob Beckham has passed away at age 86.
Beckham discovered singer-songwriter Tony Joe White, among others. He mentored generations of songwriters during his tenure as the head of Combine Music, 1964-1989. Among the composers whose lives he touched are Kris Kristofferson, Larry Gatlin, Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill, Dennis Linde (who became his son-in-law), Dolly Parton, Bob Morrison, Jerry Reed, Billy Swan, Chris Gantry and Johnny MacRae. He also launched the careers of such industry figures as Woody Bomar and Blake Chancey.
His influence was such that in 2008 he was given the very first Mentor Award by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Nashville Entertainment Association presented him with its Master Award in 1988.
Born Robert Joseph Beckham in Statford, OK, he began entertaining audiences at age 8. He also appeared in several films as a juvenile actor. Following a stint in the army as a paratrooper, he worked as a pop singer.
He signed with Decca Records in Nashville and made the pop charts in 1959-60 with “Just as Much as Ever,” “Crazy Arms” and “Mais Oui.” On the road, he was an opening act for pop superstar Brenda Lee.
When his singing career waned, producer Owen Bradley suggested that Beckham try song publishing. Beckham became the Nashville song plugger for the Atlanta-based Lowery Music in 1961. He next worked for Shelby Singleton Music.
Fred Foster hired Beckham to run Combine Music in 1964. Founded in 1958, it was initially the publishing division of Monument Records. Beckham became president of Combine in 1966.
By the 1970s, Combine was one of Music Row’s major publishing houses. It was notable in that it worked in genres ranging from Arthur Alexander’s r&b songs to Thomas Cain’s gospel works, in addition to pop and country copyrights. He was also shrewd in placing Combine’s copyrights as ad jingles.
After leaving Combine, Bob Beckham founded HoriPro Entertainment in Nashville in 1990. This is a division of Japan’s Taiyo Music, which is that nation’s largest publishing business. Beckham retired in 2006.
He was a master raconteur who kept listeners spellbound during happy-hour sojourns at Maude’s Courtyard, Valentino’s Restaurant and other local watering holes.
Bob Beckham died Monday morning, Nov. 11, at Summit Hospital in Hermitage, TN. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
RPME Signs Chasin' Crazy To Artist Roster
/by Lorie HollabaughChasin Crazy
RPM Entertainment has signed new boy band Chasin’ Crazy. Comprised of Travis Fincher, Jimmy James Hunter, Landon Parker, Creigh Riepe, and Forest Miller, the band will perform a Livestream show and chat with fans on Wednesday, Nov. 20th, at 8 p.m. CST. The event can be viewed at http://bit.ly/chasincrazylive.
RPM has been enjoying plenty of chart action recently. Since adding artist Chase Rice for radio promotion and marketing, they found themselves a part of the top three albums on the iTunes Country chart. Following Chase’s No. 1 Ready Set Roll EP, RPM also scored songs on Scotty McCreery and Luke Bryan‘s albums, both No. 1 debuts. The publishing division is also riding the charts with Craig Morgan‘s “Wake Up Loving You.”
“It’s just been a great start for our young company and we appreciate all the support from country radio,” said RPM President/CEO Scott Siman. “We are proud of our success with Maggie Rose as one of the most played female acts in our format, 17 cuts in our publishing division over the last year and now landing one of the next big stars in our format with Chase Rice. Add in Uncle Kracker and it’s a diverse and talented roster.”
Artist Action (11/12/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughSara Evans
• Sara Evans has launched a new lifestyle blog, “A Real Fine Place,” (arealfineplace.com) with longtime co-worker/sister-in-law Kaelin Evans (“KK”). The blog focuses on the duo’s passion for beauty, fashion, travel, and food. “We are traveling all over the world, all the while trying to balance being wives, mothers, friends and Fashionistas! KK is my right hand (wo)man, glam squad, sister-in-law, and friend and we always say we should be recording our adventures so here we are,” said Evans. Evans also appeared today on HGTV’s Celebrities at Home, where show host Nancy O’Dell got a tour of the Birmingham home Sara shares with husband Jay Barker and their seven kids.
Kix Brooks
• Kix Brooks has added actor to his lengthy resume, and he’ll star in his first leading role in the Western Ambush At Dark Canyon, which also features Randy Houser. The movie is available now on demand, will be at Walmart and Sam’s Club on Jan. 14, and at all retailers March 11. The Walmart release will also exclusively include a soundtrack produced by Brooks that features a collaboration with Houser.
He also serves as Executive Producer of the new film A Country Christmas, available at Walmart now and at all retails outlets starting today. The film is the first of his new family-friendly entertainment brand and also features special appearances by Jay DeMarcus and Trace Adkins. Both Brooks and DeMarcus produced the holiday movie’s soundtrack.
•
The new project features guests like Willie Nelson, John Anderson, Vince Gill, Joey+Rory, and Dailey & Vincent, along with the All American Choir.
Oak Ridge Boys
• The Oak Ridge Boys will be joined by Compassion International as official sponsor of their “Christmas Time’s a Comin’” Tour this year. Now in its 24th year, the tour will hit 26 cities through November and December, and the band is thrilled to have Compassion on board for this year’s tour. “Over the course of our career we have worked with many children’s relief organizations, but never have we seen a more positive response from our fans than we are seeing with Compassion International,” says Oak Ridge Boy Joe Bonsall. “I believe that folks are moved by Compassion International’s Christ-centered approach to feeding and educating needy kids around the world – and their amazing success rate, which is impressive! This is why we are excited and blessed to be working with this stellar organization.”
Hank Williams Jr. To Receive Operation Troop Aid Patriot Award
/by Jessica NicholsonHank Williams Jr.
Operation Troop Aid (OTA), a nonprofit organization which supports deployed U.S. troops, will honor Hank Williams Jr. with the 2013 Operation Troop Aid “Patriot Award.” The presentation will take place on December 31, when Williams headlines Nashville’s New Year’ Eve ‘Bash on Broadway’.
“I am extremely honored to award Hank Williams Jr the 2013 Patriot Award. His art, legacy of family and Spirit of Patriotism is exactly why this award exists. He never forgot his roots and why we have the Freedom we do in America,” says OTA founder and executive director Mark Woods.
Williams will join past Patriot Award recipients Toby Keith, Darryl Worley, Aaron Tippin, Gary Sinise, Charlie Daniels, Mark Wills, and KISS.
TN Chamber of Commerce To Present Boots 'n Business
/by Jessica NicholsonGovernor Bill Haslam will launch the event, followed by keynote speaker Jim Collins, Sr. VP of DuPont. Songwriters Bob DiPiero, Kyle Jacobs, Brett James and Dave Turnbull will provide a songwriter’s session following Collins. Hank Adam Locklin will emcee the event, which will be attended by state legislators, business leaders, local chambers and development professionals.
The evening will be a night of networking and entertainment. Individual tickets can be purchased for $100.00. For further information on the event, contact Bradley.jackson@tnchamber.org.
Orbison To Be Honored With Inaugural Iconic Riff Award
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Musicians Hall of Fame honors musicians from all genres and eras of recorded music, and inductees are nominated by current members of the American Federation of Musicians and by other industry professionals.
Roy Orbison began making his mark on the music world in 1956 while recording for Sun Records. On Monument Records in the early-to-mid 1960s, Orbison’s commercial success rose with the popularity of “Oh, Pretty Woman,” a song co-written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It went on to sell 7 million copies. It was unprecedented for any American to have this kind of chart-topping power simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic in the Beatles-dominated year of 1964.
Although Orbison passed away in 1988, his presence endures due to the the ongoing effort to preserve his legacy by sons Alex, Roy Kelton, and Wesley Orbison, whose Roy’s Boys LLC manages their father’s name, likeness, image, and musical output, offering a series of audio and DVD reissues, as well as newly curated releases.
Crab Apple Lane – Hit The Ground Runnin'
/by contributorMusicRowLife: Rodney Atkins, Rose Falcon Wed
/by Jessica NicholsonCharles Hutchins, founder of Holston United Methodist Home for Children, where Atkins spent his infancy before being adopted, officiated the ceremony.
Atkins and Falcon also took time during the wedding ceremony to recognize the 51st anniversary of Allen and Margaret Atkins, presenting Margaret with a three-carat aquamarine ring (Rodney’s birthstone).
LifeNotes: Bob Beckham Passes
/by Robert K OermannPictured (L-R): Bob Beckham, Johnny “Dog” McRae, Larry Jon Wilson and Steve Singleton. Photo: Alan Mayor
Pictured (L-R): Rick Blackburn and Bob Beckham. Photo: Alan Mayor.
[Update]: Sellars Funeral Home in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. will host a visitation on Wednesday (Nov. 13) 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a brief graveside service following. Family asks that donations be sent to Alive Hospice in lieu of flowers.
• • •
Legendary Nashville music publisher Bob Beckham has passed away at age 86.
Beckham discovered singer-songwriter Tony Joe White, among others. He mentored generations of songwriters during his tenure as the head of Combine Music, 1964-1989. Among the composers whose lives he touched are Kris Kristofferson, Larry Gatlin, Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill, Dennis Linde (who became his son-in-law), Dolly Parton, Bob Morrison, Jerry Reed, Billy Swan, Chris Gantry and Johnny MacRae. He also launched the careers of such industry figures as Woody Bomar and Blake Chancey.
His influence was such that in 2008 he was given the very first Mentor Award by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Nashville Entertainment Association presented him with its Master Award in 1988.
Born Robert Joseph Beckham in Statford, OK, he began entertaining audiences at age 8. He also appeared in several films as a juvenile actor. Following a stint in the army as a paratrooper, he worked as a pop singer.
He signed with Decca Records in Nashville and made the pop charts in 1959-60 with “Just as Much as Ever,” “Crazy Arms” and “Mais Oui.” On the road, he was an opening act for pop superstar Brenda Lee.
When his singing career waned, producer Owen Bradley suggested that Beckham try song publishing. Beckham became the Nashville song plugger for the Atlanta-based Lowery Music in 1961. He next worked for Shelby Singleton Music.
Fred Foster hired Beckham to run Combine Music in 1964. Founded in 1958, it was initially the publishing division of Monument Records. Beckham became president of Combine in 1966.
By the 1970s, Combine was one of Music Row’s major publishing houses. It was notable in that it worked in genres ranging from Arthur Alexander’s r&b songs to Thomas Cain’s gospel works, in addition to pop and country copyrights. He was also shrewd in placing Combine’s copyrights as ad jingles.
After leaving Combine, Bob Beckham founded HoriPro Entertainment in Nashville in 1990. This is a division of Japan’s Taiyo Music, which is that nation’s largest publishing business. Beckham retired in 2006.
He was a master raconteur who kept listeners spellbound during happy-hour sojourns at Maude’s Courtyard, Valentino’s Restaurant and other local watering holes.
Bob Beckham died Monday morning, Nov. 11, at Summit Hospital in Hermitage, TN. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Artist Action (11/11/13)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
Bluewater has focused on the country music scene before with Fame: Tim: McGraw and Fame: Taylor Swift. Upcoming FAME subjects include: Ian Somerhalder, Pink and Brad Paisley.
• • •
Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan has introduced a national awareness campaign in partnership with Kidde Fire Safety and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to remind families to ‘Be a Safety Hero.’ To help families get started, Kidde will donate 5,000 of its new Worry-Free 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments at 10 stops during Morgan’s 2014 tour – a $125,000 retail value.
Kidde will donate another 1,000 Worry-Free smoke alarms to the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office smoke alarm distribution program.
Watch the television advertisement featuring Morgan below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1FaVJgVyG4
Four Exit Sony Nashville
/by contributorPictured (L-R): Tammie Cleek, Judy Blair
Sony Music Nashville laid off four staffers last week, MusicRow has confirmed.
Among those exiting include Jill Moreland, Assoc. Creative Director Judy Blair, Manager of Web Business Development Jared Morrison, and Creative Manager Tammie Cleek.
Blair served 18 years with the label; she can be reached at 615-715-5655 or judy_blair@hotmail.com.
Cleek worked with the company for nearly 10 years, and can be reached at 615-330-4788 or cleek360@comcast.net.
Morrison can be reached at 615-268-5833 and jared.r.morrison@gmail.com.