After wrapping her 110-city “Blown Away Tour” in Abbottsford, B.C. on Thursday night, Carrie Underwood joined rock legends The Rolling Stones during their concert in Toronto on Saturday (May 25) as a surprise guest. Underwood and The Rolling Stones performed “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It).”
Carrie Underwood performs with The Rolling Stones. Photo: Christopher Wahl/Getty
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Sweetwater Rain recently stopped by Curb Records to present ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy, with a $10,000 donation. ACM Lifting Lives board members, President Bill Mayne and Vice President Lori Badgett, were on hand to accept the generous contribution.
The music video for the group’s single “Starshine” can be seen on GAC, CMT, and TCN and has garnered over 100,000 views on YouTube. The trio is gearing up to release their sophomore single, “Pray For Me,” in the summer of 2013.
Pictured (L-R): Sweetwater Rain’s Fred Stallcup, ACM Lifting Lives President Bill Mayne, ACM Lifting Lives Vice President Lori Badgett, Sweetwater Rain’s Danny Rivera and Thomas Hewlett
• • •
Alabama‘s Back to the Bowery Tour two-night stop in Atlanta marks the highest-grossing run for a country artist in Fox Theatre history, with over $498,000 in ticket sales. The legendary group performed for sold-out houses on both nights with over 8,500 in attendance – a new house record. The two-night engagement was the first time Alabama had ever played the Fox Theatre.
“We had two amazing nights. More amazing than I ever dreamed they would be,” says Alabama frontman Randy Owen. “It was great to finally play the Fox, and thanks to the fans and all involved for turning it into a very special memory for us.”
“We could not be more pleased with the outcome of the ALABAMA performances,” said Allan Vella, President and CEO of the Fox Theatre. “They are an exceptional band and we hope that they will visit Atlanta and the Fox again soon.” Promoter Steve Litman of Steve Litman Presents added, “ALABAMA proved once again that they undeniably deserve their legendary status with two amazing SRO shows that thrilled Atlanta.”
• • •
The first-ever Best of Bluegrass festival has confirmed a solid lineup of artists for its inaugural event, to be held June 3-8 in Lexington, Ky. Dailey and Vincent, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Cleverlys and Lonesome River Band are a few of the performers that have been named as part of the lineup, along with Masters of Bluegrass, featuring Del McCoury, JD Crowe and Bobby Osborne.
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray reflected on both the short-term and long-term benefits of the event. “Both tourism and economic development will be byproducts of festivals like this and we remain convinced that Lexington should play a major role in the bluegrass industry’s big events, including their two-day convention and awards show,” says Gray.
Belmont Hosts International Country Music Conference
/by Sarah SkatesPictured at the International Country Music Conference (L-R): James Akenson, co-Chair of the Conference; presenter Caroline Gnagy; Nelle Poe of the Poe Sisters; Diane Diekman, winner of the Belmont Book Award for the Best Book on Country Music; and Don Cusic, Chair of the Belmont Book Award committee and co-Chair of the conference
The 30th Annual International Country Music Conference was held May 23-25 at Belmont University in Nashville. Co-Chairs Don Cusic and James Akenson oversaw a program that featured presenters from Japan, France, Germany and Canada as well as from a number of academic institutions throughout the United States.
The sessions covered a variety of topics, ranging from Hank Williams to country music on TV. The Williams panel explored the 60th anniversary of his death and 90th anniversary of his birth. Other segments focused on the 50th anniversary of Patsy Cline’s death, the 100th anniversary of the Georgia Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Roger Miller, Merle Haggard, Ralph Stanley, Johnny Cash and Ralph Peer. Nelle Poe of 1940s Grand Ole Opry act the Poe Sisters attended the Friday sessions about her singing group.
Highlights of the conference included the presentation of the annual Belmont Book Award for the Best Book on Country Music, awarded to Diane Diekman for Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins, and the publication of the first International Country Music Journal, edited by Don Cusic.
Joey+Rory Partners With Crosley Radio
/by Jessica NicholsonThe partnership will also include Crosley Radio being the presenting sponsor for the third season of the couple’s weekly television program The Joey+Rory Show (which airs on RFD-TV). The new television season will begin Friday, July 5. Additionally, Crosley is a sponsor of the duo’s “5th Annual Bib & Buckle Fest,” which takes place June 1 in Pottsville, Tenn.
“We are tickled to death to be part of Joey+Rory’s radio show and tv show,” said Bo LeMastus, CEO, Crosley Radio. “Everything they do is just so sincere and genuine, and their music is so inspiring. The partnership was so easy to put together because from the very initial meeting with them there was just a trust there. Their brand and what they represent is exactly what our brand is all about. The minute they brought up the idea of Crosley being a sponsor we said ‘YES!”
Johnny Cash Museum To Hold Grand Opening May 30
/by Jessica NicholsonJohnny Cash Museum
Nashville’s Johnny Cash Museum will celebrate its Grand Opening on Thursday, May 30, with a day filled with prizes and giveaways (including CDs, limited edition Hatch Show Print posters and more) to fans and patrons.
The museum, which includes historical documents, letters, awards, costumes and instruments, also includes interactive technology provided by Griffin Technologies. The collection features the earliest known Johnny Cash letters and documents as well as the handwritten manuscript to the last song ever written by Cash, just days before his passing. Visitors also will be given an extensive look into Cash’s childhood and early adulthood, and his service in the United States Air Force.
“It’s indescribable,” says Tommy Cash, the entertainer’s younger brother. “There’s so much to comprehend. I knew all of the memorabilia was somewhere, but to see it all in one building is an awesome experience. I could spend a week in here and probably not see every single thing. It’s something that people that come to Nashville from all over the world will want to see.”
Museum founder Bill Miller says the museum is the culmination of a lifelong dream. “I became a Johnny Cash fan of at the age of nine in 1969. I collected everything relating to him I could get my hands on. As time went on, I met Johnny many times and we became close friends. Over the years, he and many of his friends and associates contributed to the collection and I scoured the world for important pieces. This museum is our tribute to the greatest man I’ve ever known.”
The museum will be open to the public each day from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. General admission is $14 with discounts for students, members of the military, etc. On Grand Opening day (May 30), hours will be from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The Johnny Cash Museum is located at 119 Third Ave. South.
Songwriters Team For Moore, Okla. Benefit Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonOrganizers Zac Maloy (Warner/Chappell) and Travis Carter (Love Monkey Music/Tom Leis Music) are both from Tulsa, Okla. and the event will raise funds (via the Red Cross) to help tornado victims of Moore Okla.
United Way Seeks Entries for 2013 United Live Song Contest
/by Eric T. ParkerThe 2013 Live United Song Contest will accept entries through June 12, to be judged by an industry panel for lyrics, melody, production and relevancy to United Way’s mission to advance the common good.
Judges include Randy Brown (Artist Manager at Borman Entertainment), Bradley Collins (Sr. Director of Writer-Publisher Relations at BMI), Stevie Erickson (Song Plugger at Patrick Joseph Music Publishing), Randy Goodman (Co-chair of the Music City Music Council) and Marty Slayton Jordan (George Strait backup vocalist).
Top ten finalists will be selected to perform at The Listening Room Café during United Way’s Stuff the Bus Launch Concert on Thursday, June 20 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. A winner will be chosen at the event for inclusion in an upcoming United Way Day of Action video, which will be featured on unitedwaynashville.org and emailed to partners across the city.
Each song requires an entry fee of $10, which will benefit United Way’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive to benefit at-risk Nashville students. All finalists must be available to attend and perform at the June 20 event.
To submit an entry for the contest, click here.
For more information or to volunteer at one of the Stuff the Bus Days of Action, click here.
McGraw, Chesney, Gilbert Set For Craven Country Jamboree
/by Jessica Nicholson“This may be the lineup to end all lineups,” says Troy Vollhoffer, executive producer of the event. “We are always proud to bring the biggest and the best acts that are available, but this year I think we’ve outdone ourselves. The lineup is deep with a great mix of young, classic, and a trio of superstars. There is definitely something here for everyone. It’s going to be an explosive show in 2013.”
Tickets are available at $179, and prices will increase to $199 on June 1. For more information, visit cravencountryjamboree.com.
Craven Country Jamboree lineup:
Thursday, July 11 (Beer Garden kick-off party)
8:00 p.m. – Williams & Ree
9:00 p.m. – Phil Vassar
Friday, July 12
4:00 p.m. – Small Town Pistols
5:30 p.m. – Sawyer Brown
7:00 p.m. – Brantley Gilbert
9:00 p.m. – Tim McGraw
Saturday, July 13
2:30 p.m. – High Valley
4:00 p.m. – Williams and Ree
5:30 p.m. – Randy Travis
7:00 p.m. – Doc Walker
9:00 p.m. – The Dixie Chicks
Sunday, July 14
1:00 p.m. – CKRM Big Talent Contest Winner
2:30 p.m. – Bill Anderson
4:00 p.m. – Gloriana
5:30 p.m. – Chad Brownlee
7:00 p.m. – Scotty McCreery
8:30 p.m. – Kenny Chesney
Artist Updates (5-28-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonAfter wrapping her 110-city “Blown Away Tour” in Abbottsford, B.C. on Thursday night, Carrie Underwood joined rock legends The Rolling Stones during their concert in Toronto on Saturday (May 25) as a surprise guest. Underwood and The Rolling Stones performed “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It).”
Carrie Underwood performs with The Rolling Stones. Photo: Christopher Wahl/Getty
• • •
Sweetwater Rain recently stopped by Curb Records to present ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy, with a $10,000 donation. ACM Lifting Lives board members, President Bill Mayne and Vice President Lori Badgett, were on hand to accept the generous contribution.
The music video for the group’s single “Starshine” can be seen on GAC, CMT, and TCN and has garnered over 100,000 views on YouTube. The trio is gearing up to release their sophomore single, “Pray For Me,” in the summer of 2013.
Pictured (L-R): Sweetwater Rain’s Fred Stallcup, ACM Lifting Lives President Bill Mayne, ACM Lifting Lives Vice President Lori Badgett, Sweetwater Rain’s Danny Rivera and Thomas Hewlett
• • •
“We had two amazing nights. More amazing than I ever dreamed they would be,” says Alabama frontman Randy Owen. “It was great to finally play the Fox, and thanks to the fans and all involved for turning it into a very special memory for us.”
“We could not be more pleased with the outcome of the ALABAMA performances,” said Allan Vella, President and CEO of the Fox Theatre. “They are an exceptional band and we hope that they will visit Atlanta and the Fox again soon.” Promoter Steve Litman of Steve Litman Presents added, “ALABAMA proved once again that they undeniably deserve their legendary status with two amazing SRO shows that thrilled Atlanta.”
• • •
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray reflected on both the short-term and long-term benefits of the event. “Both tourism and economic development will be byproducts of festivals like this and we remain convinced that Lexington should play a major role in the bluegrass industry’s big events, including their two-day convention and awards show,” says Gray.
Hit Singer-Songwriter Lorene Mann Passes
/by Robert K OermannThe singer-songwriter was 76 years old. While serving as the organization’s secretary in the early 1970s, she came up with the slogan “It All Begins With a Song.” This remains the motto of the NSAI to this day.
Mann was a native of rural Tennessee, born in Huntland, near the Alabama border, on Jan. 4, 1937 as the youngest of 10 children. She began playing guitar at age 12 and moved to Nashville to pursue a songwriting career in 1956.
She wrote such notable successes as the 1960 Kitty Wells top-10 hit “Left to Right,” the 1962 Rex Allen smash “Don’t Go Near the Indians,” Skeeter Davis’s 1962 hit “Something Precious” and the 1974 Jerry Wallace top-10 charting “My Wife’s House.”
Other Lorene Mann songs recorded include “I Wanna Go to Heaven” (Jerry Wallace), “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me” (Norma Jean, Koko Taylor), “I Loved You Then” (The Wilburn Brothers) and “Beautiful Junk” (Vernon Oxford). She also wrote the “answer” song to Johnny Tillotson, “It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’ Since I Left.” Her Rex Allen hit “Don’t Go Near the Indians” was also recorded by Marvin Rainwater, Walter Brennan, The Indians Showband and Ben Colder, the comedic alter ego of Sheb Wooley.
Signed to RCA Records in 1964, Mann initially made her mark as the duet partner of Justin Tubb with 1965’s “Hurry Mr. Peters” and 1966’s “We’ve Gone Too Far Again.” Their 1966 LP, Together and Alone, included both duets and solo performances, such as her self-composed “Please Don’t Take the Children From Me.”
Her solo RCA singles included her self-written “Have You Ever Wanted To,” “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me,” “You Love Me Too Little” and “Hide My Sin.” The last-named is one of the only country-music abortion songs ever issued by a major label.
She also co-wrote her 1970 single “The Apron Tree.” Three years later, its exact plot was lifted by the massive pop hit “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree.”
Her 1969 RCA LP, A Mann Named Lorene, include such striking, self-penned songs as “Stranger at the Funeral,” “So I Could Be Your Friend,” “Stay Out of My Dreams,” “You Used to Call Me Baby” and “One of Them,” as well as several of her singles.
Lorene Mann scored her biggest hits singing with Archie Campbell on 1968’s “Dark End of the Street” and “Tell It like it Is.” Their duet LP, Archie and Lorene Tell it Like it Is, also appeared in 1968.
She appeared as herself in the 1966 movie Music City U.S.A. In the 1975 Burt Reynolds film W.W. and The Dixie Dance Kings, she portrayed one of “The Delores Sisters” singing group.
Her television credits in the 1960s included The Bobby Lord Show, Opry Almanac, American Swing-a-Round and The Stu Phillips Show.
In 2011, the NSAI gave Lorene Mann its Maggie Cavender Award, a lifetime-achievement honor to recognize her “extraordinary service to the songwriting community.”
Lorene Mann is survived by husband Freddie Clay, daughter Karen Clay, two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life will be conducted at noon today (Tuesday, May 28) in the chapel of Spring Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison.
Keith Urban's New Album, 'Fuse,' To Release in September
/by Jessica Nicholson“I really wanted to challenge myself musically,” says Urban. “…expand the boundaries of my sound, rhythm and melody, while still remaining true to who I am. Working with various co-producers while making Fuse, has been so inspiring and liberating – and we ain’t even done yet!”
The first single from Fuse, “Little Bit of Everything,” was released to country radio on May 13. “On the song I was able to take elements of sound that I’ve used before and blend them together into a fusion of spirit and energy,” says Urban.
Urban will launch his “Light The Fuse Tour 2013” on July 18 in Cincinnati. The trek features Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch.
MusicRow No. 1 Song
/by Eric T. ParkerJake Owen
Jake Owen makes his mark this week standing atop our MusicRow Chart with his single, “Anywhere With You. ”
The optimistic lyric, written by David Lee Murphy, Ben Hayslip and Jimmy Yeary, kicks off this summer season for country radio fans.
“You” is the fourth single from Owen’s RCA Nashville project, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, which has produced three consecutive No. 1 singles; “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Alone With You,” and “The One That Got Away.”
Catch all these tunes during Owen’s live show; the singer-songwriter is currently on tour with Jason Aldean’s Night Train Tour. Buckle up for new music from the star, according to publicity, Owen is currently working on a full-length studio album with producer Joey Moi in between live shows.