Ramblin’ Tommy Scott
, billed as America’s last medicine-show performer, was buried on Friday, Oct. 4, in his hometown of Toccoa, Ga.
The 96-year-old Scott died on Sept. 30 as a result of injuries he sustained in an automobile accident on Aug. 10. He was a singer, songwriter, ventriloquist, comic, actor and show business entrepreneur.
He began his career on local radio in Georgia in 1933. When a medicine-show wagon stopped in Toccoa in 1936, Scott jumped aboard. It was a show that had been launched in 1890 by
“Doc” M.F. Chamberlain. When Chamberlain retired, he turned the enterprise and its medicinal formulas over to Scott.
Using music and comedy, Scott sold the liniment Snake Oil, the tonic Vim Herb and the laxatives Herb-O-Lac and Man-O-Ree for decades.
Tommy Scott moved to North Carolina in 1938 to perform on WPTF radio in Raleigh. On WWVA in Wheeling, WV he was billed as“Rambling Scotty” when he fronted
Charlie Monroe’s band The Kentucky Pardners. He moved to WSM and its Grand Ole Opry in 1940.
Back in Georgia, Scott became a country TV pioneer with the production of
The Ramblin’ Tommy Scott Show in 1948. He later had the syndicated television series
Smokey Mountain Jamboree.
In 1949, Scott starred in the movie
Trail of the Hawk. Other films he appeared in include
Mountain Capers,
Hillbilly Harmony and
Southern Hayride.
Tommy Scott recorded for such labels as King, Rich-R-Tone, Macy and Four Star. In the 1940s, he founded his own Katona Records company.
During his career, he wrote more than 500 songs, including the bluegrass favorite “You Are the Rainbow of My Dreams.” His most successful song was “Rosebuds and You.” It became a regional success for him in 1950, and was also recorded by
George Morgan,
The Willis Brothers and
Red Sovine. Fiddler/singer
Benny Martin had a country hit with the song when he revived it in 1963.
In the 1970s, Scott began billing himself as “Doc” and reemphasizing his medicine-show roots. He marketed a TV album and was featured by such national broadcasters as
Walter Cronkite,
Charles Kuralt,
Ralph Emery,
Oprah Winfrey and
David Letterman. Scott made multiple appearances on
The Today Show and
Entertainment Tonight. He brought his show to Nashville’s Fan Fair celebration in 1977.
Over the years, “Doc Scott’s Last Real Old Time Medicine Show” featured such stars as
Stringbean,
Curley Seckler,
Carolina Cotton,
Johnny Mack Brown,
Ray Whitley and
Randall Franks. Franks directed a 2001 PBS special about Scott’s life titled
Still Ramblin.’ He also co-wrote Scott’s 2007 autobiography
Snake Oil, Superstars and Me.
Ramblin’ Tommy Scott is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He was pre-deceased by his wife and co-star
Mary Frank “Frankie” Thomas Scott. He is survived by daughter Sandra Scott Whitworth, sister Cleo Scott Cheek, nephew Benny Cheek, granddaughter Pam Lawson and great-grandchildren Craig and Corey Lawson.
Streamsound Records Relocates
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Steve Richardson (COO), Steve Pleshe (Regional), Mike Culotta (President), Eric Beggs (Regional), Mary McAllister (Office Coordinator), Tyler Waugh (Regional), Theresa Ford (Regional), Stan Marczewski (Regional), Cheri Cranford (Office Manager) and Byron Gallimore (CEO).
Streamsound Records has relocated to a new address in Brentwood, Tenn. The new building is located at 320 Southgate Court, Brentwood, TN 37027. In addition, Streamsound’s phone and fax numbers have changed and effective immediately, the office can be reached at 615-377-0495 (phone) and 615-377-0497 (fax). All staff email addresses stay the same.
Streamsound Records was launched in 2012 by Grammy award-winning producer, Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Faith Hill) and Jim Wilkes. Artists on the roster include Dakota Bradley, Jaida Dreyer and Austin Webb. Streamsound principals are Tim McHugh and Wilkes (label co-chairs), Gallimore (CEO), and Steve Richardson (COO).
Independent music publishing company Red Vinyl Music will also operate out of the new building. Red Vinyl Music represents songwriters Dave and Julia Carlson, Ben Daniel, Ed Hill, Mark Irwin, Chris Janson, and Streamsound artists Bradley, Dreyer and Webb. Red Vinyl Music was established in 2010 under a partnership with Gallimore, Wilkes and McHugh.
ACM Reveals Ballot Timeline For 2014 ACM Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughNomination Round Ballot Opens – Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013
Nomination Round Ballot Closes – Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013
Second Round Ballot Opens – Monday, Jan. 13, 2014
Second Round Ballot Closes – Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014
Final Round Ballot Opens – Monday, Mar. 10, 2014
Final Round Ballot Closes – Monday, Mar. 17, 2014
New membership applications must be completed by 5:00 PM CT on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 for members to be eligible to vote during the 2014 Awards cycle, and existing membership renewals must be completed by 5:00 PM CT on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 for members to be eligible to vote during the 2014 Awards cycle.
The 49th Annual ACM Awards will air live on Sunday, April 6 at 8 p.m. ET. on CBS.
Lifenotes: Musician, Author Barry McCloud Passes
/by Robert K OermannBarry McCloud
Barry McCloud, best known as the author of Definitive Country, has died at age 70.
McCloud died on Sept. 26. His book Definitive Country: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music and its Performers was first published in 1995 and remains one of the genre’s essential reference works. He was also a journalist, a photographer, a songwriter, a record producer and an educator. He taught at Belmont University.
McCloud was born and raised in England. He became a performer at age four. As a teenager, he took up the guitar and played in jazz, rock, folk and country bands.
In the 1960s, he operated the largest folk talent agency in the U.K. In the 1970s, he became a booking agent for such bands as Mungo Jerry, Humble Pie and Fleetwood Mac. During this same period, he became a popular disco DJ.
He also fronted the rockabilly band Barry McCloud and His Blue Tears. His British country band was called The Bounty Hunters. His singles have included “Lady Rodeo Rider” and “No Problem.”
McCloud began concentrating on songwriting in the 1980s. His collaborators have included Buddy Cannon, Fred Koller, Don Goodman, Jeff Tweel and Karen Taylor-Good.
He moved to Nashville in 1992. He has operated Barry McCloud Management & Productions for the past 17 years. His Blue Mountain Photography Studio has been in business for the past eight years. He formerly managed Nashville guitar great Muriel Anderson. As a journalist, he has written for Country Song Roundup, Tour Guide Journal and MusicRow. He has also written liner notes for Rhino Records, Varese Sarabande, Scotti Brothers and Readers Digest. He has produced records for the rock band Mr. Blister, bluegrass performer Jimmy Bowen, singer Kacie Edwards and folk artist Terry Duggins.
McCloud worked on his book for more than a decade before publishing it. His widow plans to publish his photographs of country-music celebrities in a coffee-table book.
At the 2008 International Country Music Conference at Belmont, Barry McCloud was presented with the Charlie Lamb Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was a member of the Nashville Association of Talent Directors, the Recording Academy, the International Entertainment Buyers Association and Meeting Professionals International.
Barry McCloud is survived by his wife Tricia Miller McCloud, sons Elliott Saville and Alex Saville, two grandchildren and two step grandchildren. Plans for a jam session in his memory are still being finalized.
First Performers Unveiled For 47th Annual CMA Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonAldean and Bryan have three nominations each, while Lambert is the reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. Little Big Town is the reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year and Blake Shelton is the reigning Male Vocalist of the Year. Swift has taken home the Entertainer of the Year trophy twice, while McGraw and Urban have both previously taken home CMA Entertainer of the Year honors.
Aldean is nominated this year for Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Musical Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Bryan and Eric Church. Aldean is a two-time CMA Award winner with 13 career CMA Awards nominations.
Nominated this year for Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Aldean and Church, Bryan has seven career CMA Awards nominations. He was first nominated in 2010 for New Artist of the Year and has been a presence at the CMA Awards every year since. This marks his first nomination for the night’s highest honor, CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Lambert has three individual nominations (Female Vocalist of the Year, and Single and Music Video of the Year for “Mama’s Broken Heart”) and two with Pistol Annies (Music Video and Musical Event of the Year for “Boys ‘Round Here” with Shelton). Lambert is a six-time CMA winner with 25 career CMA Awards nominations.
Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town is nominated in that category again, as well as for Album of the Year for Tornado, and Music Video of the Year for the album’s title track. In addition to their win last year for Vocal Group of the Year, their song “Pontoon” was named Single of the Year.
McGraw has won 12 CMA trophies throughout his career, including two for Male Vocalist of the Year and one for Entertainer of the Year. He is a three-time nominee this year, with nods for Single, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year for “Highway Don’t Care” with Swift and Urban. He has 33 career CMA Awards nominations.
Shelton finds himself tied with Lambert this year with five nominations, including Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for Based On A True Story, and Musical Event and Music Video of the Year for “Boys ‘Round Here” with Pistol Annies. Shelton has taken home the Male Vocalist of the Year trophy for the past three years (2010-2012), and is a six-time CMA Award winner.
Swift, a seven-time CMA Award winner, is a top nominee this year with six nominations, including Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for RED, and Single, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year for “Highway Don’t Care” with McGraw and Urban, bringing her total career CMA Awards nominations to 21.
Male Vocalist of the Year nominee Urban is also nominated for Single, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year for “Highway Don’t Care” with McGraw and Swift. Urban has been named Male Vocalist of the Year three times (2004-2006) and is a six-time CMA Award winner with 29 career CMA Awards nominations.
Hosted for the sixth consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Name Change, Restructure For NARM and Digitalmusic.org
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“The music industry has changed dramatically over the past decade, and NARM has been evolving along with those changes, bringing in more voices from the online and mobile industries with the creation of digitalmusic.org, as well as from other areas that were not traditionally associated with music retail,” said Donio. “More segments of the business than ever before now play an active role in the commerce side of the business, so the name ‘National Association of Recording Merchandisers’ no longer reflected everyone who can participate in the organization. ‘The Music Business Association’ makes it crystal clear – and for the first time in the organization’s history, the ‘M’ stands for music.”
The Music Business Association will be structured into several sectors designed to allow members to focus their activities and interests into areas relevant to their business functions and needs. The Digital Sector work group will be co-chaired by Christina Calio of Microsoft and Kevin Arnold of OpenAura, and will focus on seamless transition of the digitalmusic.org work groups business development, subscription, and digital marketing.
The Business Development work group will be helmed by Bill Wilson and Cindy Charles of Music Biz and will help spur on innovation in the field of digital music by reducing barriers to entry for startups, entrepreneurs and others interested in creating digital products and services around music.
The Digital Marketing work group will be co-chaired by Chuck Fishman of Acquia, and Lee Hammond of Universal, and will focus on coordinating the best practices for direct marketing and CRM for websites, such as tools, platforms, and strategic integrations that utilize the artists site as a hub for activity.
The Subscription Services work group will be chaired by Jack Isquith of Slacker and will focus on advocating the business of on-demand streaming and subscription services.
The Digital Supply Chain and Operations Work Group will be co-chaired by Chris Read of Sony DADC, and Shachar Oren of Neurotic Media, and will help streamline operations in the content supply chain and reporting process.
The Digital Asset Management Work Group, co-chaired by Maureen Droney of the Recording Academy and Paul Jessop of County Analytics, will help coordinate and standardize all non-recorded music assets relevant to the digital music chain, including artist images, credits, liner notes, and more.
The Knowledge Sector work group will be co-chaired by Jim Donio and Nicole Hennessey of Music Biz and will encompass areas such as events, published material and research, funding, etc.
The current members of the Board of Directors will remain in place, and six new seats have been added. Four of those new directors come from the former NARM Music Industry Advisory Council members. They are:
Brad Navin, The Orchard
Darren Stupak, Sony Music Entertainment
Matt Signore, Warner Music Group
Jim Urie, Universal Music Group
Aristo Int'l Report: British Country Music Awards, Q&A with Heather Cochran Cunningham
/by Jessica NicholsonView the report above.
The AristoMedia Group has released the October 2013 issue of its Aristo International Report. Highlights include:
AristoMedia has been issuing this quarterly review of global activities since 2008. Please click to view the newsletter online at aristomedia.com.
NaSHOF Names Executive Director
/by Jessica NicholsonMark Ford
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) has appointed industry veteran Mark Ford to the newly created position of Executive Director. In his new role, Ford will oversee strategic planning, fund raising, education, operations and brand development for the non-profit.
“It’s been a remarkable year for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation,” said Hall of Fame songwriter and NaSHOF Board Chair Pat Alger. “Following the celebration of the new Hall of Fame in the Music City Center, we are excited to welcome Mark as our organization’s first Executive Director. His long-standing personal relationship with our music community – and songwriters especially – coupled with his knowledge, experience and commitment to the Hall of Fame, make him the ideal person to lead us into the future.”
Prior to joining the Foundation, the South Carolina native spent 23 years at the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), most recently in the position of Associate Executive Director. During his time with NSAI, Ford worked closely with NaSHOF, directing the Foundation’s annual hall of fame induction dinner since 2001 and serving as that organization’s manager of affairs since 2004.
“I’m honored to represent this hall of fame and such an amazing group of songwriters,” said Ford. “The creative genius of these talented men and women has influenced American culture, added to the nation’s economy and launched countless careers – all while marking the most memorable moments of our lives. I look forward to working with Pat and the board to preserve and promote such a unique songwriting legacy.”
Songwriting Competition Deadline Extended
/by Jessica NicholsonJudges for this year’s ISC include Martina McBride, Josh Turner, Florida Georgia Line, Craig Morgan, Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show), Jeremy Camp, Michael W. Smith, Selena Gomez, Jimmy Needham, Matt Thiessen (Relient K), Imagine Dragons, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Dido, Garbage, James Cotton, Keane, Robert Smith (The Cure), Bruce Hornsby, Tom Waits, Nas, Joshua Redman, Gerald Casale (Devo), John Mayall, Black Francis (The Pixies), Chayanne, Jason Isbell, Jon Secada, Anoushka Shankar and others.
ISC gives away a total of more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (including $25,000 cash for the Grand Prize winner alone), and gives songwriters opportunities in 22 different categories, including Adult Album Alternative (AAA), Adult Contemporary (AC), Americana, Blues, Children’s Music, Comedy/Novelty, Country, Dance/Electronica, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Gospel/Christian, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin Music, Lyrics Only, Music Video, Pop/Top 40, Performance, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, Unsigned Only, and World Music.
Entry information can be found at songwritingcompetition.com.
America's Last Medicine-Show Performer Tommy Scott Dies At 96
/by Robert K OermannRamblin’ Tommy Scott
Ramblin’ Tommy Scott, billed as America’s last medicine-show performer, was buried on Friday, Oct. 4, in his hometown of Toccoa, Ga.
The 96-year-old Scott died on Sept. 30 as a result of injuries he sustained in an automobile accident on Aug. 10. He was a singer, songwriter, ventriloquist, comic, actor and show business entrepreneur.
He began his career on local radio in Georgia in 1933. When a medicine-show wagon stopped in Toccoa in 1936, Scott jumped aboard. It was a show that had been launched in 1890 by “Doc” M.F. Chamberlain. When Chamberlain retired, he turned the enterprise and its medicinal formulas over to Scott.
Using music and comedy, Scott sold the liniment Snake Oil, the tonic Vim Herb and the laxatives Herb-O-Lac and Man-O-Ree for decades.
Tommy Scott moved to North Carolina in 1938 to perform on WPTF radio in Raleigh. On WWVA in Wheeling, WV he was billed as“Rambling Scotty” when he fronted Charlie Monroe’s band The Kentucky Pardners. He moved to WSM and its Grand Ole Opry in 1940.
Back in Georgia, Scott became a country TV pioneer with the production of The Ramblin’ Tommy Scott Show in 1948. He later had the syndicated television series Smokey Mountain Jamboree.
In 1949, Scott starred in the movie Trail of the Hawk. Other films he appeared in include Mountain Capers, Hillbilly Harmony and Southern Hayride.
Tommy Scott recorded for such labels as King, Rich-R-Tone, Macy and Four Star. In the 1940s, he founded his own Katona Records company.
During his career, he wrote more than 500 songs, including the bluegrass favorite “You Are the Rainbow of My Dreams.” His most successful song was “Rosebuds and You.” It became a regional success for him in 1950, and was also recorded by George Morgan,The Willis Brothers and Red Sovine. Fiddler/singer Benny Martin had a country hit with the song when he revived it in 1963.
In the 1970s, Scott began billing himself as “Doc” and reemphasizing his medicine-show roots. He marketed a TV album and was featured by such national broadcasters as Walter Cronkite, Charles Kuralt, Ralph Emery, Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman. Scott made multiple appearances on The Today Show and Entertainment Tonight. He brought his show to Nashville’s Fan Fair celebration in 1977.
Over the years, “Doc Scott’s Last Real Old Time Medicine Show” featured such stars as Stringbean, Curley Seckler, Carolina Cotton, Johnny Mack Brown, Ray Whitley and Randall Franks. Franks directed a 2001 PBS special about Scott’s life titled Still Ramblin.’ He also co-wrote Scott’s 2007 autobiography Snake Oil, Superstars and Me.
Ramblin’ Tommy Scott is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He was pre-deceased by his wife and co-star Mary Frank “Frankie” Thomas Scott. He is survived by daughter Sandra Scott Whitworth, sister Cleo Scott Cheek, nephew Benny Cheek, granddaughter Pam Lawson and great-grandchildren Craig and Corey Lawson.
Industry Ink (10-4-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry performer Carrie Zaruba visited the Country Music Association offices to officially become the organization’s newest member. Zaruba’s latest single is “Woman On A Mission.” “I absolutely love everything about country music,” said Zaruba. “I’m thrilled to become a CMA member. I had a blast!”
Pictured (L-R): Brandi Simms, Director of Membership & Balloting; Carrie Zaruba; Brenden Oliver, Coordinator of Membership & Balloting. (Photo: Christian Botorff, CMA)
• • •
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Arista Nashville recording artists The Henningsens to the office while they were in Los Angeles last month. While at the Academy, the trio performed their Top 15 debut hit “American Beautiful” as well as their current single, “I Miss You.”
Pictured (L-R): Aaron Henningsen; Tiffany Moon, ACM Executive Vice President/Managing Director; Clara Henningsen; Brian Henningsen; Bob Romeo, ACM CEO. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music.
• • •
Inside the Johnny Cash Museum.
The Johnny Cash Museum has landed at the top of both the Forbes and National Geographic must-see travel destinations lists. Forbes recently released a list of the Top 5 “Must-See” Nashville destinations, with The Johnny Cash Museum in the top slot. National Geographic published a list of the worldwide top four “Pitch Perfect Museums,” museums dedicated to a single musician. The Johnny Cash Museum earned the top placing, beating out the ABBA museum in Stockholm and the Kalakuta museum in Nigeria.
“It’s a great honor to receive the ongoing positive comments and rankings from top publications and organizations,” said founder Bill Miller. “It’s a tribute to and validation of Johnny Cash’s continuing popularity and our ability to honor him with a top notch venue in an amazing city.”