Lady Antebellum
and
Stevie Nicks‘ episode of
CMT Crossroads is set to air on Sept. 13 on CMT. In addition to Nicks’ several solo hits, she wrote numerous songs as part of
Fleetwood Mac, including “Landslide,” “The Chain” and “The Edge of Seventeen.”
• • •
Gene Watson. Photo by: John Russell
was recently the first artist inducted to the newly created
Houston Music Hall of Fame during a ceremony which took place Aug. 6, 2013. Watson’s career includes six chart-topping songs and more than 75 charted songs, including “Farewell Party,” “Love In The Hot Afternoon,” “Paper Rosie,” “Fourteen Carat Mind” and many others.
• • •
Musician, songwriter and music journalist
Peter Cooper will release his third solo record
Opening Day on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The project follows his recent duo release with
Eric Brace,
The Comeback Album. Cooper is a senior music writer at Nashville’s
Tennessean, a professor of country music history at Vanderbilt University, and a regular commentator on numerous television programs. A CD release show for
Opening Day will be held at Nashville’s Station Inn on Friday, Sept. 13.
• • •
LeAnn Rimes
and husband
Eddie Cibrian have teamed with VH1 for the reality series
LeAnn & Eddie (working title). Six half-hour episodes are slated to premiere in Fall 2013/Winter 2014.
• • •
Jake Owen recently performed his latest single, “Days of Gold,” on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Owen’s album Days of Gold will be released Dec. 3.
Jake Owen
• • •
Arista Nashville’s The Henningsens sang the National anthem at the Birmingham Barons double-A baseball game.
Pictured (L-R): Aaron, Clara & Brian Henningsen
Songwriters Tribute Reba During CMHoF Weekend Session
/by Eric T. ParkerHengber kicked off the Reba-themed songwriter round with the title track from the entertainer’s best-selling album to date, For My Broken Heart. The track, co-written with Keith Palmer, was inspired by a breakup Henber was going through. The idea for the song was furthered sparked by a line in the 1969 movie A Boy Named Charlie Brown, where Linus explained that “the world didn’t stop” while Charlie Brown was bemoaning having lost a spelling bee contest. The songwriter also offered “And Still” and the Reba and Trisha Yearwood Duets song “She Can’t Save Him” from her treasure trove of Reba cuts which also include “Forever Love,” “It’s Your Call.”
Robinson offered “I Know How He Feels,” a co-write with Rick Bowles, which was originally demoed with the pronoun, she. After a quick re-write, the title was recorded with a simple guitar-vocal and shortly thereafter, Reba’s version reached the No. 1 position on Country radio. Additionally, Robinson performed “Will He Ever Go Away,” a song from Reba’s 1992 It’s Your Call album. “Will He Ever Go Away” was co-written with songwriter and former Nashville WSIX-FM radio personality Gerry House.
Between songs, questions from the audience were fielded by the songwriters and Starstruck’s Cliff Williamson. Questions ranged from “Where do you find inspiration?” to “How do song royalties work?”
Collins sat out the first pass, but offered her vocal on “Goodbye Looks Good On Me,” the theme song she co-wrote for Reba’s 2012-13 Malibu Country ABC-TV season. The young singer’s outstanding vocal wrapped the morning session by accompanying the Hengber, Robinson and McEntire title “Somebody’s Chelsea.”
Stay tuned at MusicRow.com for highlight’s from McEntire’s afternoon interview, with over an hour and a half of insight into the Hall of Famer’s Country Music Hall of Fame life trajectory.
Court Declines to Hear Lawsuit Against Tim McGraw/Big Machine
/by Lorie HollabaughTim McGraw
A court has declined to hear Curb Records’ lawsuit against Tim McGraw and Big Machine Label Group, according to the Associated Press. A district court judge in Nashville signed an order administratively closing the case until a decision over copyrights of McGraw’s music is made in a lawsuit filed in Tennessee state court.
The suit was initially filed by Curb in May 2011 against McGraw and Big Machine for breach of contract to try and bar him from signing with the label. McGraw countersued, and a judge allowed him to release new music with a new label for the first time in over 20 years.
The resulting album, Two Lanes Of Freedom, was released earlier this year and is nearing gold certification from the RIAA. It has produced three hit singles so far, including “Truck Yeah,” “One of Those Nights” and “Highway Don’t Care” featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. McGraw’s latest single release is “Southern Girl.”
Jody Payne, Guitarist For Willie Nelson, Dies
/by Jessica NicholsonJody Payne. Photo: willienelson.com
Jody Payne, a guitarist who toured with Willie Nelson from 1973 until 2008, has died at age 77. Payne, a Kentucky native, passed away at 5:13 a.m. on Saturday (Aug. 10) from cardiac problems, according to the Associated Press.
It is estimated that during his time performing with Nelson as part of The Family Band, Payne performed between 3,500 and 7,000 concerts with the entertainer. He then retired to Stapleton, Ala., with his wife Vicki, where Payne taught guitar at Picker’s Paradise, a local music store.
A post on Nelson’s Facebook page regarding Payne’s death stated, “Our friend will be missed.”
Nashville Gets Second Luke Bryan Show
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan
Luke Bryan‘s Dirt Road Diaries Tour will stay in Nashville for an extra evening. After selling out a Friday, Oct. 18 show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, a second show has been added for Saturday, Oct. 19. The sold-out Oct. 18 show will feature Florida Georgia Line and Thompson Square as openers. The Oct. 19 show will feature guests Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell.
Tickets for Bryan’s Saturday, Oct. 19 concert will be on sale to the general public on Friday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. at livenation.com, ticketmaster.com, the Bridgestone Arena Box Office or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.
George Strait To Be Honored By ASCAP
/by Jessica NicholsonGeorge Strait
ASCAP will honor George Strait with the ASCAP Founder’s Award during the 51st annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, to be held Nov. 4, 2013, at the Music City Center in Nashville. The invitation-only, black-tie gala will also honor several songwriters and publishers behind Country music’s most performed songs from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013.
The ASCAP Founders Award honors songwriters and composers who have made pioneering contributions to music. Past recipients of the award include Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Stevie Wonder, and others.
“George Strait is a living legend whose revitalization of classic country music defined a generation of country singers and continues to inspire songwriters today,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “He has topped the charts more often than any Country artist in history, captivating millions while remaining true to his style and love of tradition. ‘King’ George is a genuine musical pioneer whose influence on country music is immeasurable, and we are honored to recognize his extraordinary career with the ASCAP Founder’s Award.”
MusicRowPics: Angie Johnson
/by Jessica NicholsonJohnson, who began her military career as an intelligence analyst, is also a Tech Sergeant in the Air National Guard. She was part of the prestigious Tops In Blue group for a year-long duty, and was then recruited by the Air Force Band as a full-time lead vocalist. At one point during her military career, Johnson was tasked with learning and singing the national anthems for more than 11 countries during special ceremonies welcoming foreign dignitaries.
She first caught the world’s attention in 2011 after a video of Johnson’s performance of Adele‘s “Rolling In The Deep” as part of the Air National Guard band Sidewinder was posted on Youtube; the video has garnered more than 3 million views.
Originally from the St. Louis area, Johnson has pursued a musical career long before the video released; she released an independent project in 2007.
During the visit, the powerhouse vocalist performed “Outlaw Spirit,” “Grandpa’s Farm,” the military-inspired ballad and EP title track “Sing For You,” and her high-energy single “Swagger.” Johnson penned “Swagger” while driving to St. Louis from Nashville to take part in a two-week Guard training. “I really wanted to be going out dancing with my girlfriends that evening instead,” says Johnson, “so I wrote ‘Swagger’ as my way of just letting loose and having fun.”
The track was produced by Josh Leo; Johnson finished penning “Swagger” with co-writer Phoenix Mendoza.
Johnson will be a special guest at the Cheez-It 355 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at The Glen, in Watkins Glen, N.Y. this weekend, where she will start the festivities by singing the National Anthem, serving as the Grand Marshal for the festivities, riding in the pace car and giving the “Driver’s start your engines” command for the famed race.
For more on Johnson, visit officialangiejohnson.com.
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Artist Updates (8-9-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonLady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum and Stevie Nicks‘ episode of CMT Crossroads is set to air on Sept. 13 on CMT. In addition to Nicks’ several solo hits, she wrote numerous songs as part of Fleetwood Mac, including “Landslide,” “The Chain” and “The Edge of Seventeen.”
• • •
Gene Watson. Photo by: John Russell
Gene Watson was recently the first artist inducted to the newly created Houston Music Hall of Fame during a ceremony which took place Aug. 6, 2013. Watson’s career includes six chart-topping songs and more than 75 charted songs, including “Farewell Party,” “Love In The Hot Afternoon,” “Paper Rosie,” “Fourteen Carat Mind” and many others.
• • •
• • •
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes and husband Eddie Cibrian have teamed with VH1 for the reality series LeAnn & Eddie (working title). Six half-hour episodes are slated to premiere in Fall 2013/Winter 2014.
• • •
Jake Owen recently performed his latest single, “Days of Gold,” on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Owen’s album Days of Gold will be released Dec. 3.
Jake Owen
• • •
Arista Nashville’s The Henningsens sang the National anthem at the Birmingham Barons double-A baseball game.
Pictured (L-R): Aaron, Clara & Brian Henningsen
Hunters Hayes Gets Platinum Treatment–Twice
/by Jessica NicholsonHayes is set to headline the CMT On Tour: Hunter Hayes’ Let’s Be Crazy Tour this fall. Before then, he will make his first trip overseas, visiting Japan and Thailand for several promotional appearances and performances, including a show with Jason Mraz at the Sonic Bang Festival in Bangkok on Aug. 24. On Aug. 26, Hayes will visit Studio Coast Tokyo. He also has performances lined up at Tower Records Shibuya on Aug. 28 and at Tower Records Osaka on Aug. 29.
Garth, Kenny Duet With Larry Cordle On New Bluegrass CD
/by Lorie HollabaughLarry Cordle
“Murder On Music Row” songwriter Larry Cordle has teamed up with some of the artists who’ve recorded his songs over the past decade for a new duet project chock full of those same songs, reimagined and retooled with a bluegrass or acoustic twist. The Cord Files: All-Star Duets should live up to its name with artists like Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Chesney, and Dierks Bentley on the album. The project is due out Oct. 8 on Cordle’s label, MightyCord Records.
The project started nearly 10 years ago at Signal Path Studios as artists’ schedules would allow, with editing and mixing being done by Randy Kohrs, who also contributed resonator and backing vocals. Alison Krauss & Union Station members Jerry Douglas and Ron Block, along with renowned songwriter/musician Carl Jackson also played on the sessions. Krauss, Terri Clark, Del McCoury, Diamond Rio, Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Kathy Mattea, Daryle Singletary, and Kevin Denney all appear on the star-studded, bluegrass extravaganza.
Rather than trying to choose a single out of the talent-heavy collection, the entire album will be released to radio via Airplay Direct prior to the official drop date. “Lonesome Dove” (Yearwood), “Two Highways” (Krauss), “You Can’t Take It With You When You Go” (Bentley), and “Against the Grain” (Brooks), are just a few of the songs fans can look forward to hearing on the new collection. Cordle’s hit, “Murder on Music Row” also appears on the new CD with a new interpretation by Singletary and Denney.
“I feel like I must have done something right in life that I could call on these larger than life, great artists and wonderful people to help me out with a dream,” Cordle states. “It is simply unbelievable to me that it is this close to becoming reality. I will never be able to repay these folks for doing this for me.”
ASCAP Brings Nashville To Napa For Fifth Straight Year
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, NOTES for Education/Baldacci Family Vineyards’ Debi Cali, Jonathan Singleton, Travis Hill, David Lee Murphy, Striking Matches (Sarah Zimmerman and Justin Davis), Don Schlitz, Baldacci Family Vineyards’ Fran Leach and NOTES for Education’s Julie Meirick. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski
ASCAP and NOTES for Education held its fifth annual “Nashville in Napa” fundraiser on Aug. 3rd in Napa, Calif. The one-of-a-kind event brings Nashville songwriters together with top winemakers for an intimate evening of entertainment and wine tasting. Guests enjoyed live music and fine wine presented directly by those who hold the stories of their creation – the winemakers and songwriters – in an intimate writers round and chef-hosted dinner on the grounds and in the wine caves of the Baldacci Family Vineyards.
David Lee Murphy, Don Schlitz, Jonathan Singleton, Travis Hill, and Striking Matches’ Justin Davis and Sarah Zimmerman performed their tunes for the crowd among the gorgeous Napa backdrop as guests enjoyed vintages from the Baldacci and Trespass vineyards, as well as the Hope and Grace, Mi Sueno, Aonair, Chimney Rock, and Date Night wineries. An additional NOTES for Education fundraising event was held on Aug. 1 at Vintners Collective in downtown Napa featuring Striking Matches.
Hosted and sponsored by Baldacci Family Vineyards, SunTrust Bank, Palantir Technologies, Dunlop and more, “Nashville in Napa” benefits music education in Napa Valley and Nashville. NOTES for Education funds programs that bring music, art and literacy to school-age children. The organization was founded when Frank Rogers (producer/songwriter, co-owner of Sea Gayle Music Publishing) and Debi Cali (Baldacci Family Vineyards General Manager) began to see the similarities between their industries, since often the names of the songwriters or winemakers are unknown, and only the products of their passion receive public recognition. With the intention of highlighting the process of collaboration required within these industries, NOTES was formed to support arts education for today’s youth and to continue to develop the artists of tomorrow.
Pictured (L-R): Don Schlitz and Striking Matches perform in the wine caves at Baldacci Family Vineyards. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski
Pictured (L-R): Jonathan Singleton, Travis Hill and David Lee Murphy perform in the wine caves at at Baldacci Family Vineyards. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski