Singer-songwriter-producer Barry Gibb, laughs at an audience member’s comment Monday night at MTSU during his recognition as the inaugural fellow of The Center for Popular Music in the university’s College of Mass Communication. Presenting Gibb with documentation of his honor inside Tucker Theatre are mass comm Dean Ken Paulson, and Dr. Dale Cockrell, director of the center. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)
Singer-songwriter
Barry Gibb was honored Monday night (Oct. 28) as the inaugural fellow of The Center for Popular Music at MTSU’s College of Mass Communication. Gibb, a founding member of the pop-sensation Bee Gees, received the honor before speaking at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre for an event billed as his first lecture and performance combination.
The artist came to campus at the invitation of
John Merchant, an assistant professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry who toured with Gibb for years as part of his sound production team.
“Barry Gibb’s career has been characterized by its breadth, depth and consistently high quality, embracing shifts in popular music with intuitive ease — and emerging at the top of the charts in five different decades,” said
Ken Paulson, dean of the college, who helped present the honor to Gibb.
The fellowship recognizes Gibb’s extraordinary accomplishments as a performer, songwriter and producer. He is cited in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most successful songwriter after Paul McCartney.
Gibb and his brothers have been topping the charts since the 1960s, becoming the only group in pop history to write, produce and record six straight No. 1 hits. The Bee Gees had 16 Grammy nominations and nine Grammy wins. Gibb also has had No. 1 songs in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s 1990s and 2000s and is the only songwriter in history to write four successive U.S. No. 1 hits: The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” in 1978, replaced by youngest Gibb brother Andy’s single, “Love Is Thicker Than Water,” followed by the Bee Gees’ seven-week run for “Night Fever” and Yvonne Elliman’s “If I Can’t Have You.” The Bee Gees’ and Elliman’s singles all originated with one of the top-selling albums of all time, the film soundtrack from “Saturday Night Fever.”
Recording Industry Chair
Beverly Keel said she was pleased that Gibb’s appearance at MTSU provided an opportunity for the center — and the entire university community — to connect with the legendary performer. “We take pride in providing top-notch opportunities for our students to learn from the best,” Keel said. “Professor Merchant’s ties to Mr. Gibb allowed the university to benefit from one of the greatest musical talents in popular music.”
Wheeler Confirmed As New FCC Chairman
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“I am humbled by the Senate’s confirmation and I look forward to taking the oath of office in the coming days,” said Wheeler in response to the confirmation. “I am deeply grateful to President Obama for his confidence in nominating me for this position. What excites me about this new responsibility is how we are at a hinge moment of history; the Internet is the greatest communications revolution in the last 150 years. We must all dedicate ourselves to encouraging its growth, expanding what it enables, and assuring its users’ rights are respected.”
Senate aide Mike O’Reilly was also confirmed to the vacant Republican seat on the commission.
George Jones Nashville Tribute Concert Final Talent List Released
/by Jessica NicholsonGeorge Jones
Nashville will honor the musical legacy of the late George Jones with an all-star tribute on Nov. 22, the date that Jones was to perform the final show of his illustrious career.
The final talent list for Playin’ Possum! The Final NO SHOW has been released (in alphabetical order):
Alabama
Alan Jackson
Baillie & the Boys
Big & Rich
Bill Anderson
Blake Shelton
Bobby Bare
Brad Paisley
Brenda Lee
Chad Warrix (Halfway to Hazzard)
Charlie Daniels
Collin Raye
Craig Morgan
Dailey & Vincent
Daryle Singletary
Dierks Bentley
Eddy Raven
Emmylou Harris
Eric Church
Eric Lee Beddingfield
Gary Morris
George Strait
Greg Bates
Gretchen Wilson
Jamey Johnson
Janie Fricke
Jeanne Pruett
Jeannie Seely
Jessi Colter
Jett Williams
Jim Ed Brown
Jim Lauderdale
Jimmy C. Newman
Jimmy Wayne
John Conlee
John Michael Montgomery
Josh Turner
Kathy Mattea
Kentucky Headhunters
Kid Rock
Larry Gatlin
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Greenwood
Leona Williams
Lisa Matassa
Little Jimmy Dickens
Lorrie Morgan
Lynn Anderson
Mandy Barnett
Mark Collie
Martina McBride
Megadeth
Miranda Lambert
Montgomery Gentry
The Oak Ridge Boys
Pam Tillis
Patty Loveless
Ray Stevens
Reba McEntire
Rodney Atkins
Ronnie McDowell
The Roys
Sam Moore
Shooter Jennings
Stonewall Jackson
Suzy Bogguss
T. Graham Brown
Tanya Tucker
Teea Goans
TG Sheppard
Thompson Square
Tracy Lawrence
Travis Tritt
Vince Gill
… plus some surprise guests.
“I am so excited how this show has evolved and I will be forever grateful to the artists that are coming to honor George,” says Nancy Jones. “The evening might be long, but I don’t think people will be upset as they will witness the best musical tribute Nashville has ever seen with so many artists performing George Jones songs.”
Although the show is sold out, a special VIP package which includes a show ticket, a VIP pre-show reception with Nancy Jones, and other special items are available on a limited basis. These packages are only available at georgejones.com.
Lynn Postpones Upcoming Iowa Shows
/by Jessica NicholsonLynn’s representative stated, “Lynn started feeling poorly midway through her three-week tour. Loretta is a pro and wants to give her fans the best show possible. She felt she physically was unable to do that.” She will be rescheduling her missed shows.
Lynn is one of 16 recipients named for the upcoming 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom. She, along with the other recipients, will be honored during a ceremony on Nov. 20. Other recipients include Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Gloria Steinem, and Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks.
Gayden To Be Honored in CMHOF 'Nashville Cats' Series
/by Jessica NicholsonHosted by Bill Lloyd, the program will include an in-depth, one-on-one interview, along with vintage recordings, photos and film clips from the museum’s Frist Library and Archive. Program passes are required for admittance. Immediately following, Gayden will sign limited edition, commemorative Hatch Show Print® posters and copies of his new autobiography, The Missing String Theory: A Musician’s Uncommon Spiritual Journey, in the Museum Store.
Mac Gayden, a Nashville native, is a musician and a hit songwriter whose work is featured on country, pop and R&B recordings by J.J. Cale, Clifford Curry, Bob Dylan, Robert Knight, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Charley Pride, Linda Ronstadt and Porter Wagoner, among others.
Gayden has released a string of solo albums, including McGavock Gayden, Skyboat, Hymn to the Seeker, and Nirvana Blues.
In 2004, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the exhibit Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970. Gayden was featured in the exhibit; three of his compositions—“Everlasting Love,” “She Shot a Hole in My Soul” and the Valentines’ “Gotta Get Yourself Together”—appeared on the exhibition’s companion album.
Gayden is president of Wild Child Records; he is currently working with artists Oceana Gayden and the duo Sweetwater Rose.
Bryan Performs for 1.3 Million in 2013
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan. Photo: Joseph Llanes
ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan wrapped touring for 2013 after closing his headline tour over the weekend. The “Dirt Road Diaries Tour,” which sold-out all dates in advance, along with the fifth annual eight-city “Farm Tour 2013” shows, saw Luke perform for a total of 1.3 million fans this year.
The “Dirt Road Diaries Tour” was nationally promoted by Live Nation. Cabela’s was a tour sponsor while Citi was the official credit card of tour.
Luke will launch a new tour in January, “That’s My Kind of Night Tour,” with the first leg kicking off on Jan. 16 in Columbus, Ohio at the Schottenstein Center; Bryan will perform 18 shows through March 8. The tour will feature Lee Brice and Cole Swindell.
Bentley Reveals New Video Clip on CBS Digital Outlets
/by Lorie HollabaughDierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley will premiere the video for his latest single, “I Hold On,” across CBS‘ radio station websites and all of its digital properties, including Radio.com, Metrolyrics.com, and ACMCountry.com.
Bentley will host his 8th annual “Miles & Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert this Sunday (Nov. 3) in Nashville with guests Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, Easton Corbin and Chase Rice.
'Private Lives of Nashville Wives' To Air in February 2014
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Erika, Sarah, Ana, Cassie, Betty and Jenny
The TNT reality show Private Lives of Nashville Wives (originally titled Nashville Confidential) is set to premiere Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. According to a trailer for the show, Cassie Piersol-Chapman (wife of Christian singer-songwriter Gary Chapman), Erika Page White (wife of country singer Bryan White), Betty Malo (wife of Mavericks singer Raul Malo), Jenny Terrell (wife of JT Terrell, a top Nashville party and event producer) and Sarah Davidson (wife of songwriter Dallas Davidson) are among the cast members.
The show will be produced by Evolution Media.
“We and the folks at TNT have been thinking about Nashville for quite some time and have looked at it as the city really on the cutting edge of cool and hip and hot and still grounded in good old American values,” said Douglas Ross, founder of Evolution Media.
Watch the trailer below.
Barry Gibb Named Inaugural Fellow of MTSU’s Center for Popular Music
/by Jessica NicholsonSinger-songwriter-producer Barry Gibb, laughs at an audience member’s comment Monday night at MTSU during his recognition as the inaugural fellow of The Center for Popular Music in the university’s College of Mass Communication. Presenting Gibb with documentation of his honor inside Tucker Theatre are mass comm Dean Ken Paulson, and Dr. Dale Cockrell, director of the center. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)
Singer-songwriter Barry Gibb was honored Monday night (Oct. 28) as the inaugural fellow of The Center for Popular Music at MTSU’s College of Mass Communication. Gibb, a founding member of the pop-sensation Bee Gees, received the honor before speaking at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre for an event billed as his first lecture and performance combination.
The artist came to campus at the invitation of John Merchant, an assistant professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry who toured with Gibb for years as part of his sound production team.
“Barry Gibb’s career has been characterized by its breadth, depth and consistently high quality, embracing shifts in popular music with intuitive ease — and emerging at the top of the charts in five different decades,” said Ken Paulson, dean of the college, who helped present the honor to Gibb.
The fellowship recognizes Gibb’s extraordinary accomplishments as a performer, songwriter and producer. He is cited in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most successful songwriter after Paul McCartney.
Gibb and his brothers have been topping the charts since the 1960s, becoming the only group in pop history to write, produce and record six straight No. 1 hits. The Bee Gees had 16 Grammy nominations and nine Grammy wins. Gibb also has had No. 1 songs in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s 1990s and 2000s and is the only songwriter in history to write four successive U.S. No. 1 hits: The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” in 1978, replaced by youngest Gibb brother Andy’s single, “Love Is Thicker Than Water,” followed by the Bee Gees’ seven-week run for “Night Fever” and Yvonne Elliman’s “If I Can’t Have You.” The Bee Gees’ and Elliman’s singles all originated with one of the top-selling albums of all time, the film soundtrack from “Saturday Night Fever.”
Recording Industry Chair Beverly Keel said she was pleased that Gibb’s appearance at MTSU provided an opportunity for the center — and the entire university community — to connect with the legendary performer. “We take pride in providing top-notch opportunities for our students to learn from the best,” Keel said. “Professor Merchant’s ties to Mr. Gibb allowed the university to benefit from one of the greatest musical talents in popular music.”
Twitter Does Mock NYSE Run In Advance Of IPO
/by Lorie HollabaughThe company is expected to go public in the next few weeks trading under the ticker TWTR, and plans to offer up 70 million shares in the range of $17-20 apiece, which will possibly yield the company $1.6 billion.
“This morning’s systems test was successful, and we’re grateful to all the firms that chose to participate,” NYSE spokeswoman Marissa Arnold said via a statement. “We are being very methodical in our planning for Twitter’s IPO, and are working together with the industry to ensure a world class experience for Twitter, retail investors and all market participants.”
The company is the biggest tech offering since Facebook. Gains in the stock market have increased the demand for IPOs, as over 150 companies have gone public this year, up more than 50 percent from 2012, according to tracking firm Renaissance Capital.
Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert To Perform At Gregg Allman Tribute
/by Lorie HollabaughThe show will feature special collaborations as friends and admirers gather to pay tribute to the career of the Southern rock legend. Don Was will serve as musical director for the all-star band on the special, which will be recorded and filmed for distribution through traditional and online channels. Other artists appearing on the special include Jackson Browne, Natalie Cole, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Jaimoe, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Pat Monahan, Sam Moore, Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Widespread Panic, with other special surprise guests and additional performers to be added soon.
Tickets for the show will go on sale to the general public Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. More information on the special tribute can be found at celebrategreggallman.com.