Photo: Moments By Moser
There are three new musical reasons to visit The Tennessee State Museum.
They are Grand Ole Opry star
Steve Wariner, photographer
Russ Harrington, and the late dulcimer virtuoso
David Schnaufer (1952-2006). An exhibit titled “Three-Part Harmony” showcases the trio in dedicated spaces to each on the museum’s lower level.
As you enter, Harrington’s exhibit comes first. Titled “Shooting Stars,” it features more than 60 oversize prints of some of the celebrities he has shot. The portraits include
Brad Paisley,
Brooks & Dunn,
Martina McBride,
Trace Adkins,
Jamey Johnson,
Taylor Swift,
Keith Urban,
Grace Potter,
Tim McGraw,
Johnny Paycheck and
Alison Krauss with
Robert Plant.
Photo: Moments By Moser
Some of them hang next to the costumes the stars are wearing in the photos. These include Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose ball gown, Alan Jackson’s western duds and Reba McEntire’s black jersey outfit. Rhonda Vincent’s portrait is next to both her lime-green cocktail dress and her mandolin. One of Brian Setzer’s electric guitars is hung alongside his images.
Harrington, who is a Nashville native and an MTSU grad, seems especially good with female subjects. Faith Hill, Kellie Pickler, Sara Evans, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Lorrie Morgan and Dolly Parton have seldom looked lovelier than they do through his lens. His breakthrough music subject was Trisha Yearwood.
The photographer has more than 500 album jackets to his credit. This exhibit shows you why.
“Wariner’s Watercolors” is the first major exhibit devoted to guitar-great Steve Wariner’s skills as a visual artist. He has a gentle touch as a draftsman. Watercolor is a difficult medium to work in, but the musician has made it his own.
My favorites were the tiny landscapes. How does he do that? How does he do that so well?
Also striking are his pen-and-ink studies of musicians. Again, many of these are on a small scale.
“It’s something that takes me away from music,” Steve commented about his artwork. “I’ll be working hard in the studio for two or three days at a time, and then I’ll take a day off to go and paint. It’s a wonderful distraction for me in a lot of ways.”
Added a grateful Steve about the Tennessee State Museum show, “This is truly a first for me.” It is, indeed, his first major exhibition.
“David’s Dulcimers” is the subject of the third installation.
Shortly before his death in 2006, David Schnaufer donated his collection of the instruments to the State Museum. They range from the rectangular instruments called Tennessee music boxes to hourglass-shaped Appalachian dulcimers, from a hammered dulcimer from 1840 to modern, custom-carved examples.
Steve Wariner. Photo: Moments By Moser
In addition to the instruments, the exhibit includes photos of Schnaufer with some of the stars with whom he recorded or collaborated. These include
Emmylou Harris,
Cyndi Lauper,
Johnny Cash &
June Carter,
Mark Knopfler,
The Cactus Brothers and
Jean Ritchie.
The exhibit preview party took place on Thursday evening (Oct. 10). Getting an early glimpse were
Manuel,
Martha Moore,
Denise Stiff & Steve Sheehan,
Don Light,
Hank Adam Locklin,
Jo Walker Meador,
Justin Levenson,
Debi Tate,
David Ezell,
Renee White,
Butch Tatum,
Kay West,
Steve Williams,
Scott Stem,
Neil Pond,
Leigh Hendry and
Guy Gilchrist.
We sampled cocktails and hors d’oeuvres including turkey sliders, ham loaf on biscuits, roasted squash and sweet-potato salad. Yum, yum.
“Three-Part Harmony” opens today (Friday, Oct. 11), at The Tennessee State Museum. If you’ve never been there, the museum is situated beneath the TPAC theaters.
Three things. First, this Nashville treasure is always free to the public, all the time. Second, you should visit it even when there isn’t musical stuff to experience. Third, become a member and support this outstanding institution with donations.
That’s how you get invited to cool parties like this. Plus, you get to hang with groovy executive director and hostess with the most-est
Lois Riggins-Ezell.
MusicRowPics: Tim Ash
/by Jessica NicholsonTim Ash Artist Visit
Tim Ash visited the MusicRow offices recently and performed songs from his album, Up On Blocks, which will release on Oct. 15.
The singer-songwriter comes from a family of musicians. He learned to play guitar, piano bass and drums by ear and counts the Eagles and Bad Company among his influences. Though he grew up with a passion for music, it was an accident that was the catalyst for Ash to pursue music as a full-time career. While previously working as a pipefitter, Ash was pinned under a half-ton of steel that fell from his work truck. Sixteen months of therapy and rehabilitation followed before his life returned to normal, but Ash used the experience to further concentrate on his music.
During his MusicRow visit, Ash performed a selection of songs, including “Slow Burn” (penned by Bryan Simpson), his current single “Broke” (penned by Ashley Gorley and Bryan Simpson) and “Jesus and Johnny Cash,” a song Ash says is inspired by his father.
Ash first made the trek to Nashville 10 years ago and now lives in Evansville, Ind. with his wife and five children. He is currently on a radio tour.
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Bryan Switzer to Leave Cumulus Media Networks
/by Jessica NicholsonBryan Switzer
VP of Affiliate Sales at Cumulus Media Networks, Bryan Switzer, has announced his plans to leave the company.
Switzer started his career in network radio with ABC Radio Networks in April 2006. He has served as VP GM of Atlantic Records and Sr. VP of National Promotion at Universal South.
“Since moving from records to broadcast eight years ago, this is without a doubt the most exciting company I’ve been associated with,” said Switzer. “I have a great deal of respect for what Lew and John Dickey have built and are building.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time for me to move on and turn a page,” he continued. “I can’t thank Dennis Green enough for the opportunity to continue my role through the Cumulus acquisition of Citadel two years ago. It’s been a privilege to work under his leadership. As for me, it’s time I get back to serving my creative genes, and though I’ve made no commitments as of yet, I’m extremely excited by the prospects!”
Following his departure, he can be contacted at bryanbenjamin1@gmail.com or (615) 838-0809.
Larry Hughes Exits Sidewalk Records
/by Jessica NicholsonOriginally launched in 1963 by Curb Records Chairman Mike Curb, Sidewalk Records relaunched in April 2012 with Hughes as part of the promotion team. Hughes relocated to Nashville in December 2012. Sidewalk Records is home to artists Dylan Scott, Morgan Frazier, Tyler Dean, Tim Dugger and Martin Ramey.
Hughes is currently considering other opportunities and can be reached at larrmo@comcast.net.
Lifenotes: Cal Smith
/by Jessica NicholsonCal Smith
Cal Smith, the singer behind hits including “Country Bumpkin,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” “It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler,” and other songs, passed away Thursday (Oct. 10) at age 81. The Oklahoma native was born Calvin Grant Shofner on April 7, 1932. He began playing guitar and performing in his teens. After entering the military, he settled in California, where he worked as a disc jockey.
In 1962, Smith become a member of Ernest Tubb’s band, the Texas Troubadours. He worked with the band as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist until mid-1968. In 1967, Smith’s single, “The Only Thing I Want,” was his first to chart, released by Kapp Records. He moved to Decca Records in 1970, where he later earned his first Top 5 single for that label, “I’ve Found Someone Of My Own.” His breakthrough came in 1972 with a recording of the Bill Anderson song, “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” which went to No. 1 and crossed over onto the pop charts.
In 1974, Smith’s single “Country Bumpkin” (written by Don Wayne) topped the charts and was voted the Country Music Association’s single of the year. Smith’s last chart-topper came in 1975 with “It’s Time To Pay The Fiddler” (written by Walter Haynes and Don Wayne).
He is survived by his wife, along with five children and 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Artist Updates (10/11/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughDierks Bentley
• Dierks Bentley‘s new little bundle of joy, Knox, made his way into the world on Wed. (Oct. 9). Following the birth, Bentley tweeted a shout-out to the hospital staff who helped usher Jr. in: “mad respect for doctors, nurses and everyone at hospitals. can’t believe y’all do that day in and day out. hard work making miracles happen.”
Apparently he had a little trouble though explaining some of the more complicated aspects of little brother’s arrival like circumcision to Knox’s sisters Evelyn and Jordan, as evidenced in a twitter pic here.
Photo: Joey+Rory
• In other baby news, Joey + Rory will have a new little farmhand to help out with chores soon. The duo are expecting their first little one together, the couple announced on the final episode of their RFD-TV show earlier this year.
The new addition to their family is due in February.
Pictured (L-R): Steve Ford, John Mays, Centricity Music; Jonny Diaz; Ryan Rettler, Just Management
• Christian artist Jonny Diaz has signed with Centricity Music and will release his first song for the label, “Asleep In The Hay,” on Centricity’s upcoming Christmas project.
Diaz has been busy in the studio with producer, Matt Bronlewee, readying his upcoming project that will release in spring 2014.
CMA Songwriters Series Plays Nashville in November
/by Jessica NicholsonThe event will be held at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 222 5th Ave. South.
Clark is nominated in the Song of the Year category for “Mama’s Broken Heart,” recorded by Miranda Lambert. She has also written songs recorded by The Band Perry (“Better Dig Two”), Reba (“The Day She Got Divorced”), and Kacey Musgraves (“Follow Your Arrow”).
McAnally boasts four CMA Awards nominations. He is nominated twice in the Song of the Year category for “Mama’s Broken Heart” (recorded by Lambert), and “Merry Go ‘Round” (recorded by Musgraves). He is also nominated for Single of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round” and for Album of the Year for co-producing Musgraves’ Same Trailer Different Park. He has also written songs recorded by Lee Ann Womack (“Last Call”), Luke Bryan (“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”), and Kenny Chesney (“Come Over”).
Nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year, Love and Theft (Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson) are best known for their hits “Runaway,” “Runnin’ Out of Air,” and the chart- topping “Angel Eyes.”
James has 11 No. 1 hits including “Jesus Take the Wheel” (recorded by Carrie Underwood), “The Truth” (recorded by Jason Aldean), and “Mr. Know It All” (recorded by Kelly Clarkson). Over the past decade, more than 300 of his songs have been recorded.
Tickets for the Nov. 5 CMA Songwriters Series at the CMA Theater are on sale today and are $30 for floor and mezzanine seating and $25 for first and second tier seating. All seats are reserved. To order tickets, visit CMASongwritersSeries.com.
'MusicRow' No. 1 Song
/by Eric T. ParkerMiranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert can tell you it takes “All Kinds of Kinds” to compete for the No. 1 spot on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart. This week, Lambert lands her second single of the year at our chart’s peak position after an 18-week climb.
Written by Don Henry and Phillip Coleman, Lambert’s single encourages the acceptance of the wide array of personalities found in the world today. MusicRow’s Robert K. Oermann reviewed the RCA track in June, saying: “Her vocal is a crystalline wonder, and the song is a pure, off-kilter delight. In a word, brilliant.”
If you can’t get enough of her voice, you can also hear Lambert at No. 9 this week on Keith Urban‘s UMG Nashville single, “We Were Us.”
Lambert is currently on the road with Dierks Bentley for their Locked & Reloaded Tour; she will also perform as part of the Nov. 6 CMA Awards broadcast, for which she is nominated for five trophies. She will also appear as part of George Jones‘ tribute concert in Nashville on Nov. 22, and will be featured with George Strait on his Cowboy Rides Away Tour on Feb. 1 in Las Vegas.
Jake Owen, Will Hoge, Krystal Keith Gear Up For Album Releases
/by Jessica NicholsonDays Of Gold Track & Writer Listing:
1. Days of Gold (Jaren Johnston/Neil Mason)
2. Beachin’ (Jaren Johnston/Jon Nite/Jimmy Robbins)
3. 1972 (Jaren Johnston/Jim Beavers)
4. Ghost Town (Chris DeStefano/Ashley Gorley/Shane McAnally)
5. Life of the Party (Dallas Davidson/Chris DeStefano/Ashley Gorley)
6. Good Timing (Dallas Davidson/Ashley Gorley/Zach Crowell)
7. Tall Glass of Something (Jaren Johnston/Luke Laird/Barry Dean)
8. One Little Kiss (Never Killed Nobody) (Ashley Gorley/Jimmy Robbins/Shane McAnally)
9. What We Ain’t Got (Travis Jerome Goff/Travis Meadows)
10. Tipsy (Matt Jenkins/Shane McAnally/Trevor Rosen)
11. Drivin’ All Night (Casey Beathard/Monty Criswell)
12. Sure Feels Right (Jaren Johnston/Zac Maloy/Jeremy Stover)
• • •
Will Hoge. Photo: Kristin Barlowe
Will Hoge will release Never Give In on Oct. 15 on his own label, Cumberland Recordings. Hoge wrote or co-wrote every track on the project; co-writers include Rose Falcon, Dylan Altman, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, Patrick Davis, and Adam Ollendorff.
The project also features “Strong,” the tune that is heard in General Motor’s 2014 Chevy Silverado nationwide ad campaign.
Never Give In Track & Writer Listing:
1. A Different Man (Will Hoge, Patrick Davis)
2. Goodbye Ain’t Always Gone (Will Hoge, Dylan Altman, Rose Falcon)
3. Never Give In (Will Hoge, Dylan Altman)
4. This Time Around (Will Hoge, Dylan Altman)
5. Still Got You On My Mind (Will Hoge, Dylan Altman)
6. Home Is Where The Heart Breaks (Will Hoge)
7. Daddy Was A Gambling Man (Will Hoge, Adam Ollendorff)
8. Pale September (Will Hoge)
9. Bad Old Days (Will Hoge, Dylan Altman)
10. Damn Spotlight (Julia’s Song) (Will Hoge)
11. Strong (Bonus Track) (Will Hoge, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
• • •
Whiskey & Lace Track & Writer Listing:
1. Doin’ It (Toby Keith, Bobby Pinson)
2. Can’t Buy You Money (Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick)
3. What Did You Think I’d Do (Toby Keith)
4. Daddy Dance With Me (Krystal Keith/Mica Roberts/Sonya Rutledge)
5. Cabo San Lucas (Toby Keith/Eddy Raven)
6. Him And This Tattoo (Tim James/Casey Beathard)
7. Beautiful Weakness (Mica Roberts/Sonya Rutledge)
8. Down Into Muddy Water (Dennis Linde)
9. Get Your Redneck On (Krystal Keith/Nathan Chapman)
10. Whiskey & Lace (Krystal Keith/Rodney Clawson/Lynn Hutton)
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Three-Part Harmony
/by Bobby KarlPhoto: Moments By Moser
There are three new musical reasons to visit The Tennessee State Museum.
They are Grand Ole Opry star Steve Wariner, photographer Russ Harrington, and the late dulcimer virtuoso David Schnaufer (1952-2006). An exhibit titled “Three-Part Harmony” showcases the trio in dedicated spaces to each on the museum’s lower level.
As you enter, Harrington’s exhibit comes first. Titled “Shooting Stars,” it features more than 60 oversize prints of some of the celebrities he has shot. The portraits include Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Grace Potter, Tim McGraw, Johnny Paycheck and Alison Krauss with Robert Plant.
Photo: Moments By Moser
Some of them hang next to the costumes the stars are wearing in the photos. These include Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose ball gown, Alan Jackson’s western duds and Reba McEntire’s black jersey outfit. Rhonda Vincent’s portrait is next to both her lime-green cocktail dress and her mandolin. One of Brian Setzer’s electric guitars is hung alongside his images.
Harrington, who is a Nashville native and an MTSU grad, seems especially good with female subjects. Faith Hill, Kellie Pickler, Sara Evans, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Lorrie Morgan and Dolly Parton have seldom looked lovelier than they do through his lens. His breakthrough music subject was Trisha Yearwood.
The photographer has more than 500 album jackets to his credit. This exhibit shows you why.
“Wariner’s Watercolors” is the first major exhibit devoted to guitar-great Steve Wariner’s skills as a visual artist. He has a gentle touch as a draftsman. Watercolor is a difficult medium to work in, but the musician has made it his own.
My favorites were the tiny landscapes. How does he do that? How does he do that so well?
Also striking are his pen-and-ink studies of musicians. Again, many of these are on a small scale.
“It’s something that takes me away from music,” Steve commented about his artwork. “I’ll be working hard in the studio for two or three days at a time, and then I’ll take a day off to go and paint. It’s a wonderful distraction for me in a lot of ways.”
Added a grateful Steve about the Tennessee State Museum show, “This is truly a first for me.” It is, indeed, his first major exhibition.
“David’s Dulcimers” is the subject of the third installation.
Shortly before his death in 2006, David Schnaufer donated his collection of the instruments to the State Museum. They range from the rectangular instruments called Tennessee music boxes to hourglass-shaped Appalachian dulcimers, from a hammered dulcimer from 1840 to modern, custom-carved examples.
Steve Wariner. Photo: Moments By Moser
In addition to the instruments, the exhibit includes photos of Schnaufer with some of the stars with whom he recorded or collaborated. These include Emmylou Harris, Cyndi Lauper, Johnny Cash & June Carter, Mark Knopfler, The Cactus Brothers and Jean Ritchie.
The exhibit preview party took place on Thursday evening (Oct. 10). Getting an early glimpse were Manuel, Martha Moore, Denise Stiff & Steve Sheehan, Don Light, Hank Adam Locklin, Jo Walker Meador, Justin Levenson, Debi Tate, David Ezell, Renee White, Butch Tatum, Kay West, Steve Williams, Scott Stem, Neil Pond, Leigh Hendry and Guy Gilchrist.
We sampled cocktails and hors d’oeuvres including turkey sliders, ham loaf on biscuits, roasted squash and sweet-potato salad. Yum, yum.
“Three-Part Harmony” opens today (Friday, Oct. 11), at The Tennessee State Museum. If you’ve never been there, the museum is situated beneath the TPAC theaters.
Three things. First, this Nashville treasure is always free to the public, all the time. Second, you should visit it even when there isn’t musical stuff to experience. Third, become a member and support this outstanding institution with donations.
That’s how you get invited to cool parties like this. Plus, you get to hang with groovy executive director and hostess with the most-est Lois Riggins-Ezell.
Charlie Cook On Air: The Holiday Sales Push
/by contributorCharlie Cook
You know I am a big fan of the CMA research department. If you and your station are wondering whether you should be a CMA member, just having access to the research studies throughout the year (8-12 studies) can be reason enough. Karen Stump and her staff do a great job making sure the studies are actionable. The information is useful for personalities, programmers and of course sales staffs.
The new study deals with Holiday retail shopping habits of Country Music Consumers. The study was conducted via an online survey in August 2013 against 778 (members of the CMA Insider Consumer panel) respondents 18+.
This has not been the best year, economically, for America but 89% of the respondents say they plan to do additional shopping for Christmas. And of these shoppers, 52% will begin before Black Friday with another 17% panning to start the day after Thanksgiving. If you’re like me you stay far away from malls as you digest your turkey dinner but 50% of the shoppers will be in the stores that day. Cyber Monday has become another excuse to goof off at work and 67% of these folks will be online shopping (and checking Facebook) on December 2nd.
When you are in the store be sure you’re looking at the $75 and (slightly) under category. The average amount spent per Christmas gift is $72. In a perfect world for Music Row that would be six CDs but in real life 63% of shoppers are spending the gift money on Clothing and Shoes, 52% say DVDs and video games; 50% say toys and 49% say music/CDs.
Because this is a country music listener study, alcohol is the second most popular holiday spending category. Almost the entire panel (95%) will purchase holiday-specific food for Thanksgiving. Seventy-two percent will spend money on alcohol for New Year’s Eve. Halloween has become a huge spending holiday with over three quarters of these folks spending money on decorations. Those paper turkeys and funny New Year’s hats are also great targets for spending with about half of the revelers taping them to their walls.
In this group of almost 800 consumers the 18-34 males should be your target for music messages. Almost a third of this demo is planning to spend on music for New Year’s. So this is not gift giving music but personal music to account for what they did not receive in their stocking. This could be gift card purchases.
On average, Country Music Consumers will spend nearly $1000 this Christmas. The number only creeps up over $1000 in households with children. But if you think you’re going to be able to keep your card balance in check, think again. Add in Thanksgiving, New Years and Halloween and average amounts slams into $1700.00.
Four out of 10 of these consumers will buy music so some of that $1000 makes its way to Nashville. But now is not the time to start spending that bonus money, because three of the four top retailers that these shoppers are most likely to shop on Black Friday do not carry music.
1. Walmart (90% shop Walmart for holidays)
2. Walgreens (74%)
3. CVS (70%)
4. Kohl’s (68%)
5. Best Buy (62%)
6. Target (60%)
7. Dollar Tree (60%)
8. JCP (58%)
9. Staples/Office Depot (58%)
10. Bed Bath and Beyond (57%)
I hope some of this material will help you communicate with your audience and help you get ahead of the sales push.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)