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.
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.
Nashville New Year's Bash Adds To Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughStriking Matches will kick off the festivities at 6:30 p.m., followed by the raising of the 15-ft. tall music note. GAC’s Storme Warren will emcee the massive block party between 1st and 5th Avenues, which will culminate with the dropping of the music note, fireworks, and confetti cannons when the midnight hour hits.
More information on the show will be released in the coming weeks. For more information on the event, go to www.visitmusiccity.com/
Garth Brooks To Release 4-CD Box Set
/by Jessica NicholsonTrisha Yearwood can also be heard on several songs as a background vocalist. She will also duet with Brooks on the 1971 Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn classic “After The Fire Is Gone.” Additional covers include “Great Balls of Fire” (Jerry Lee Lewis), “Mrs Robinson” (Simon & Garfunkel), and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Marvin Gaye).
Vince Gill To Be Honored With 2014 CRB Career Achievement Award
/by Jessica NicholsonVince Gill. Photo: Jim Wright
Vince Gill will be presented with the 2014 Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014 at 6 p.m.
Fellow musicians Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell will perform a tribute to Gill and will honor him with the prestigious award.
The award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership, has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of Country music and Country radio. Previous winners include Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Merle Haggard and George Strait.
“Vince Gill is unquestionably one of the greatest artists in the country genre,” said Bill Mayne, Executive Director of CRS. “His body of amazing work continues to evolve, and his performances inspire us all. He is a remarkable ambassador for Country music with his talents, grace, class, leadership, humility, humanity, style and wicked sense of humor. We are very proud to present Vince with this richly deserved honor.”
CRS 2014 will be held at the downtown Nashville Convention Center February 19-21, 2014.
'Crazy Hearts:Nashville' Reveals Cast Member Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughAmong the cast members in this new show are Anthony Billups, an aspiring singer/songwriter from Illinois who owns the Building, an East Nashville club that brings the artists together. Journalist Heather Byrd also appears as an entertainment reporter and communications professional covering the scene and helping uncover new talent. Songwriter Wayland Holyfield’s daughter Lee stars as a singer/songwriter hopeful eager to follow in the footsteps of her successful Hall of Fame father.
Aspiring manager April Nemeth hails from Ventura County, Calif. and juggles several jobs while trying to get her management company off the ground. Leroy Powell is a rocker and country guitarist from Redlands, Calif. who joined Shooter Jennings’ band before launching his own solo career. Jimmy Stanley, a Florida native, has been pursuing a career in Nashville for the past eight years. Working at the Bluebird Café, he’s made the place his second home and befriended many of the writers who come through the legendary venue’s doors. Singer Amy Wilcox grew up in Virginia and played soccer for Vanderbilt before turning her passion towards music and a career as a singer.
Named after the Academy Award-nominated Jeff Bridges film Crazy Heart, Crazy Hearts: Nashville is set to air in 2014.