Chris Stapleton Artist Visit
In anticipation of
Chris Stapleton’s debut Mercury Nashville album, produced by
Tony Brown, Luke Wooten and Stapleton,
MusicRow was treated to an acoustic performance of songs from the project on June 11, including the first single, “What Are You Listening To.”
Stapleton also performed “The Right Ones,” a cut he prefaced by noting that hit songs are usually either written about newborn babies or record executives. Additionally, he performed a heartfelt bluesy ballad titled “Sometimes I Cry,” and a rendition of his first No. 1 as a songwriter, “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” a
Josh Turner cut.
Over time, a handful of truly gifted artists have played a part in defining Country music’s sense of self. Such can be said about the music Chris Stapleton has been producing for the past decade. He has spent time playing in the rock and roll band
The Jompson Brothers and as has been the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated bluegrass group
The Steeldrivers, which piqued the attention of
Adele, who recorded
the band’s
“If It Hadn’t Been For Love.”
Additional songwriting credits include four No. 1 Country songs alongside roughly 170 album cuts from artists such as
Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and
Alan Jackson. Stapleton’s chart-topping hits include songs recorded by
George Strait (“Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”),
Kenny Chesney (“Never Wanted Nothing More”),
Darius Rucker (“Come Back Song”) and
Josh Turner (“Your Man”). With these credentials, Stapleton not only contributes to Music City’s magnetic energy, but continues to establish himself as part of the integral structure providing its soundness.
Stapleton recently made his solo debut during Nashville’s CMA Music Festival, including an invitation-only industry gathering at the GreenRoom PR’s swanky new office in the Cannery complex. Over this past weekend, he played Bonnaroo music and arts festival in Manchester, Tenn., as one of a select number of musicians to play both Tennessee festivals. He has also just been invited to join
Miranda Lambert and
Dierks Bentley during the fall leg of the
Locked and Reloaded Tour, starting Oct. 10 in Lincoln, Neb.
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"String City" Means Smiles
/by Robert K OermannOn June 11 the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, the Nashville Public Library and the Nashville Public Library Foundation presented a VIP premiere of String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry in the museum’s Ford Theater. Pictured at the premiere (L-R): Steve and Judy Turner; puppeteers Brian Hull (with Johnny Cash marionette) and Pete Carden (with Hank Williams marionette); Museum Director Kyle Young; Tari Hughes, president, Nashville Public Library Foundation, and Kent Oliver, director, Nashville Public Library.
Photos by Donn Jones
George Strait
The most entertaining country-music show in Nashville this week features stars who can’t sing.
They can’t even talk. But the more than 80 puppets who are featured in the revue titled “String City” are still wildly entertaining. The production, which premieres Thursday (June 20) at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, is a journey through country-music history via the puppets’ “miming” of some of the genre’s greatest songs.
The special effects are surprising. The craftsmanship is impressive. The sound is superb. The variety of the presentations is consistently amusing. All sorts of puppets are used in “String City.” There are hand puppets, marionettes, stick puppets, shadow puppets and other types of “mini-people” in the show.
More than 30 country legends appear in puppet form. They include Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, George Jones, Charley Pride and Loretta Lynn. The revue unfolds chronologically, beginning with the old-time sounds of DeFord Bailey, The Possum Hunters and The Carter Family. One by one, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams and Eddy Arnold appear to sing their hits. Along the way, “String City” presents dancing mice, a yodeling cow, cavorting insects, animated characters, toy trains and a water skier.
Highlights include the “transformation” scenes with the Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift puppets. The members of Alabama are portrayed as Mt. Rushmore figures singing “Mountain Music.” Reba McEntire turns blue while singing “How Blue.” The Dixie Chicks are, of course, hen chicks bopping along to the strains of “Wide Open Spaces.”
“String City” is a collaboration between the Hall of Fame’s staff and Wishing Chair Productions. The latter is the group at the Nashville Public Library that stages weekly children’s puppet shows. Nashville’s library includes one of the greatest puppet collections in the world.
Puppets are only part of the pleasure to be found in the “String City” production. The sound system in the museum’s Ford Theatre gives an audio experience that is just as dazzling as the show’s visuals. Classics showcased in the revue include “Wabash Cannonball,” “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” “Chattahoochie,” “Cattle Call,” “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Ring of Fire,” “Jackson” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
The fast-paced production is equally entertaining to both adults and children. Whichever you are, you will leave “String City” wearing a smile.
“String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry” premieres at 7:00 p.m on June 20 at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Tickets are $30. The performance kicks off the International Puppet Festival, which takes place at the downtown Nashville Public Library on Friday through Sunday, June 21-23. The festival is free.
Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff marionettes.
BMLG Adds Two Staffers
/by Jessica NicholsonMichael Sloane
Big Machine Label Group has added two members to its Sales, Marketing & Interactive (SMI) team – Director of Interactive Michael Sloane and Marketing Coordinator Braden Carney.
Sloane, an entertainment technology veteran, will facilitate the overall media strategy for BMLG’s web, mobile and ecommerce platforms. He will guide implementation and measurement of digital campaigns. Carney will also serve as support for the SMI team, splitting his duties between the department’s marketing efforts and assisting in the management and growth of digital properties.
Sloane comes from BubbleUp Interactive where he was Director of Sales and Marketing, managing the Nashville office. He has also worked at 13 Management, helping manage and develop digital initiatives for taylorswift.com. In addition, Sloane was founding partner at digital agency Strategic Blend and had stints as a Senior Client Manager at Ultrastar Entertainment and Echo Music. He will continue his adjunct duties teaching Branding and Digital Strategy at Belmont University, where he received an MBA in 2005.
Braden Carney
Carney is a recent Communications graduate of University of Dayton. In 2011 and 2012, he held summer internships with various BMLG departments including promotions, publicity and marketing.
Sloane can be reached at (615) 324-7922 or via michael.sloane@bmlg.net. Carney can be reached at (615) 324-4527 or via braden.carney@bmlg.net.
Bonnaroo 2013 in Photos
/by Eric T. ParkerBonnaroo, Manchester, Tenn.’s annual four-day music and arts festival, took place over the weekend, featuring artists from various genres performing on multiple stages throughout the property. Some 80,000 attendees enjoyed performances from the likes of Country performers Kacey Musgraves and Chris Stapleton; the bluegrass stylings of Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Barry Bales, Bryan Sutton and Dan Tyminski, and legendary musicians Paul McCartney, John Oates, ZZ Top, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Entrance. Photo: Morgan G. Harris
Photo: Morgan G. Harris
Kacey Musgraves. Photo: FilmMagic
Ed Helms’ Bluegrass Situation Superjam with Special Guests including Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Barry Bales, Bryan Sutton, Dan Tyminski, and more. Photo: FilmMagic.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Photo: Jeff Kravitz
Paul McCartney. Photo: C. Taylor Crothers
Paul McCartney. Photo: Jeff Kravitz
Dwight Yoakam. Photo: Nashville Scene.
Chris Stapleton playing an encore after his Saturday performance.
The Lumineers. Photo: Jeff Kravitz
John Oates. Photo: C. Taylor Crothers
ZZ Top. Photo: Jeff Kravitz
Photo: Morgan G. Harris
MusicRowPics: Chris Stapleton Artist Visit
/by Eric T. ParkerChris Stapleton Artist Visit
In anticipation of Chris Stapleton’s debut Mercury Nashville album, produced by Tony Brown, Luke Wooten and Stapleton, MusicRow was treated to an acoustic performance of songs from the project on June 11, including the first single, “What Are You Listening To.”
Stapleton also performed “The Right Ones,” a cut he prefaced by noting that hit songs are usually either written about newborn babies or record executives. Additionally, he performed a heartfelt bluesy ballad titled “Sometimes I Cry,” and a rendition of his first No. 1 as a songwriter, “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” a Josh Turner cut.
Over time, a handful of truly gifted artists have played a part in defining Country music’s sense of self. Such can be said about the music Chris Stapleton has been producing for the past decade. He has spent time playing in the rock and roll band The Jompson Brothers and as has been the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated bluegrass group The Steeldrivers, which piqued the attention of Adele, who recorded the band’s “If It Hadn’t Been For Love.”
Additional songwriting credits include four No. 1 Country songs alongside roughly 170 album cuts from artists such as Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson. Stapleton’s chart-topping hits include songs recorded by George Strait (“Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”), Kenny Chesney (“Never Wanted Nothing More”), Darius Rucker (“Come Back Song”) and Josh Turner (“Your Man”). With these credentials, Stapleton not only contributes to Music City’s magnetic energy, but continues to establish himself as part of the integral structure providing its soundness.
Stapleton recently made his solo debut during Nashville’s CMA Music Festival, including an invitation-only industry gathering at the GreenRoom PR’s swanky new office in the Cannery complex. Over this past weekend, he played Bonnaroo music and arts festival in Manchester, Tenn., as one of a select number of musicians to play both Tennessee festivals. He has also just been invited to join Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley during the fall leg of the Locked and Reloaded Tour, starting Oct. 10 in Lincoln, Neb.
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Song Plugging Group, Pitch, Please!, Presents Writers Night
/by Jessica NicholsonTwo shows will take place at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Writers for the shows include:
6 p.m. show
Ryan Beaver
Jason Matthews
Courtney Cole
Abe Stoklasa
7:30 p.m. show
Meghan Trainor
Erik Dylan
Caitlyn Smith
Phil Barton
SoulShine Pizza Factory is located at 1907 Division Street.
Cyruses File For Divorce
/by Sarah SkatesThe Cyruses are parents to sons Braison and Trace and daughters Miley, Noah and Brandi. He also has a son, Christopher, from a previous relationship.
Billy Ray and Tish released separate statements asking for privacy during this time.
The couple previously filed for divorce in 2010 before reconciling.
Billy Ray’s complaint for divorce was filed by notable attorney Rose Palermo.
In related news, Miley is engaged to Liam Hemsworth.
Nashville Artists Win Daytime Emmy Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonLittle Big Town
Country music artists are among those who were honored during the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which broadcast Sunday from Los Angeles on HLN. The awards were presented in a ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Daytime Emmys recognize network and syndicated programming.
Little Big Town won an Emmy for Outstanding Original Song for “Good Afternoon,” written by Little Big Town with The Warren Brothers. Little Big Town performed the tune as the theme song for Good Afternoon America. The song’s competition was “This Day,” the theme song for ABC’s Katie.
Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood‘s Trisha’s Southern Kitchen tied with Best Thing I Ever Made for the honor of Outstanding Culinary Program. Yearwood’s competition also included three other Food Network shows – “Best Thing I Ever Made,” “Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction,” and “Giada at Home” – and the syndicated series “Recipe Rehab.”
Disney Music Publishing Names Nashville Head
/by Jessica NicholsonPatrick Clifford
Patrick Clifford has been named Vice President of Music Publishing and A&R for Disney Music Publishing in Nashville, it was announced today (June 17) by Mio Vukovic, Disney Music Group’s Sr. VP of A&R and Creative. In his new post, Clifford is responsible for exploiting the company’s extensive catalog of existing songs, as well as providing creative direction, leadership and growth of the writer roster of Disney Music Publishing. He will also oversee A&R functions for Disney Music Group in Nashville.
Clifford was most recently vice president of A&R for Ten Ten Music Group in Nashville, a post he held since 2005. His career began with artists James Taylor and Cat Stevens at Nemperor Artists, and he discovered and recorded The Romantics at Nemperor Records. He later served in the A&R departments of major labels including Epic, A&M, Chrysalis and Capitol, working with the Miami Sound Machine, Blues Traveler and the Neville Brothers. Later, as a senior A&R executive with BMG he worked with scores of important artists, from Etta James to Ziggy Marley.
Said Vukovic, “Patrick’s stellar career speaks for itself. As an A&R man with companies like A&M Records, Capitol, BMG and Ten Ten Music Group, he led the charge, finding and developing great artists and songwriters. He’s going to be a tremendous asset for us, not only in Nashville but globally as well.”
Added Clifford, “I’d like to express my gratitude to all of my new colleagues at DMG for the warm embrace and encouragement. I look forward to working closely with them and with the local, national, and international creative community at large. I am fortunate to be part of this team in representing DMG in one of the most vibrant music locales on earth, Nashville, Tennessee.”
Reach Patrick Clifford at Patrick.Clifford@disney.com and Ciara Gardner at Ciara.Gardner@disney.com or by phone at 615-244-4900.
Parallel Music Acquires Catalog From Songs of Bigger Picture
/by Sarah SkatesIncluded in the transaction are songs penned by notable Nashville writers Brandy Clark, Brian D. Maher, Josh Osborne and Brice Long. Additionally, songwriters Michael White and Lance Carpenter have joined the Parallel Music Publishing team.
Songs of Bigger Picture is still active as the publishing division of Bigger Picture Group. Bigger Picture Artist Ventures remains home to Chris Cagle, Craig Campbell, Chris Janson, Rachel Bradshaw, and Ryan Kinder.
Tim Hunze is managing partner of Parallel Music Publishing, which is part of Los Angeles based talent management and production company Parallel Entertainment. Headed by CEO J.P. Williams, Parallel is known for work with the Blue Collar Comedy and Larry The Cable Guy brands including feature films, DVD premiere features, comedy and music albums, and television series and specials. It most recently worked on MTV’s Buck Wild. Upcoming projects include the CMT animated series Bounty Hunters and a drama for TNT starring Bill Engvall.
JD Souther Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame
/by Jessica NicholsonJD Souther with Alison Krauss
Nashville songwriter JD Souther was among the inductees at the 2013 Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner, along with Tony Hatch, Mick Jones and Lou Gramm, Holly Knight, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Honored with special awards were Elton John and Bernie Taupin who were presented with the Johnny Mercer Award; Benny Blanco, who received the Hal David Starlight Award; Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” was honored with the Towering Song Award; and the Pioneer Award was awarded to Berry Gordy.
Souther saluted the wide array of artists he has collaborated with and has been influenced during his career, proclaiming he has “the best job in the world.” Alison Krauss, who inducted Souther, gave a moving rendition of “Faithless Love.” The Souther-penned song was originally recorded by Linda Ronstadt. Among his biggest hits are the Eagles’ “Best of My Love,” “Victim of Love,” “Heartache Tonight,” and “New Kid in Town.” During the past year he has also acted on ABC’s Nashville.
Others who were on hand to induct the honorees and/or perform during the evening include Petula Clark, Patty Smyth, Billy Joel (who inducted Gramm and Jones), Rob Thomas, Wiz Khalifa, Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake (who performed Aerosmith‘s “Sweet Emotion”), Jordin Sparks, Smokey Robinson and the cast of Motown: The Musical.