Janet Rickman with Reba McEntire in 2012.
Longtime music industry publicist
Janet Rickman passed away Tuesday, March 19 at Alive Hospice after a year long battle with cancer.
Her career began as a publicist for PolyGram -Mercury/Nashville in the mid 1970s working with
The Statler Brothers, Johnny Rodriguez and a young
Reba McEntire. This led to stints in the Los Angeles and New York publicity departments of Mercury Records where she worked closely with
Tears for Fears, Rush and
John Mellencamp among others. Rickman later returned to her Nashville home to head up the MCA Nashville publicity and video department, where she worked extensively with artists such as Reba McEntire,
Vince Gill, George Strait, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, Trisha Yearwood and more. She retired from MCA Nashville in the late 90s and began a second career with the Nashville Library.
No memorial service is planned but donations may be made to a library of your choice.
Reba has fond memories of Rickman, sharing a favorite memory. “I just found out today that my friend of many years, Janet Rickman, has gone on to the big library in the sky. We had many good times together but one in particular I remember was the time Janet picked me up at the Nashville airport and drove me to my hotel. She even walked me to my room, to make sure everything was in order, when we found the mattress off the bed, sheets thrown everywhere, lamps turned over and the whole room in a mess. Janet was NOT happy about that! 🙂 She indignantly closed the door and ushered me back to her car. She drove me straight to the Spence Manor, a more private and more up scale hotel off Music Row. Now, I had always wanted to stay at the Spence Manor and Janet was the one to get me in!
“I loved working with Janet,” she continues. “She was one of a kind. I didn’t see her much but knowing she’s passed on, makes me realize, once again, how quickly things can change. Because I didn’t get to say goodbye to Janet, her passing reminded me to let people know how much they mean to me. So while it may take some time of me letting you know in person, let me say now to my friends in the music business, thank you for all your love and support during my years in this wonderful business. Here’s to many more great times together.”
Mississippi Country Music Trail to Honor Johnny Russell
/by Caitlin RantalaJohn Bright “Johnny” Russell (1940-2001) was born and raised in Moorhead and went on to become a star of the Grand Ole Opry and a popular country recording artist, with such hits as “Catfish John” and “Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer.” He is best remembered as the author of “Act Naturally,” a hit for both Buck Owens and the Beatles that sold over 20 million copies.
Russell was widely seen on TV’s Hee Haw, and he joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1985, quickly becoming a mainstay as an affecting singer and charming comedian—with the jokes often turning on his own notable weight. In 2000, top country artists backed him as he recorded Actin’ Naturally, a collection of his own songs, including “Ain’t You Even Gonna Cry,” which became a standard—and all published by his own company, appropriately named Sunflower County Songs. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, the year of his untimely death.
Much like the Mississippi Blues Trail, which now garners more than 160 markers, the Mississippi Country Music Trail celebrates Mississippi’s rich heritage of country music legends and chart toppers. The trail will feature a variety of country music artists, including Jimmie Rodgers, Marty Stuart, Mac McAnally, Faith Hill, Charley Pride and others to comprise the first 30 markers across the state.
For more information about the Mississippi Country Music Trail, explore www.mscountrymusictrail.org.
Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame to Induct Second Class in May
/by Jessica NicholsonCareer Category:
Tommy Jett, “The Tommy Jett Good Time Oldies Rock and Roll Variety Show”
Charlie Chase, co-host of “Crook & Chase.”
Pat Sajak, former WSM-AM personality and host of Wheel of Fortune.
Rick Dees, disc jockey, television host who had a hit song with “Disco Duck.”
George Klein, disc jockey, television host and longtime friend to Elvis Presley. Current host of Elvis Radio on SiriusXM and on the George Klein Original Elvis Hour on WKQK-FM.
Bob McKay, station owner from Columbia, Tenn.
Les Acree, radio pioneer and mentor to many in the industry.
Legacy Category:
Rufus Thomas, R&B broadcaster and a recording star himself with hits like “Walkin’ the Dog” and “(Do the) Push and Pull.”
Drue Smith, a Chattanooga native who wrote for both the Chattanooga papers before spending several decades reporting the news on radio stations across the state.
Coyote McCloud, known as “Bill Scott” while working at WGOW in the early ’70s, went on to superstardom in Nashville, and was dubbed by CBS “America’s 1st shock jock.”
George Mooney, owned a number of stations in Tennessee and was also involved in the Tennessee Volunteer Network.
Allen Dennis, whose four-decade radio career started at WRIP in Chattanooga. He spent much of his career in Nashville.
Dewey Phillips, The longtime Memphis DJ was the very first to ever play anything by Elvis, “That’s All Right Mama.”
Luke Medley, Cookville, Tenn., WHUB.
Noel Ball, a Top 40 DJ in Nashville who also did a lot of TV work.
Tennessee Ernie Ford, best known for singing the hit “Sixteen Tons,” he began his career in radio in Bristol, Tenn.
Creative Nation Signs Maggie Chapman
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Creative Nation’s Co-Owner/Songwriter/Producer Luke Laird, BMI’s Jody Williams, Creative Nation’s Co-Owner/General Manager Beth Laird, Maggie Chapman, Creative Nation’s Creative Manager Julie Stuckey and Maggie’s attorney, David Crow. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Creative Nation.
Creative Nation celebrated the signing of songwriter/artist Maggie Chapman by hosting an intimate gathering Monday evening (March 18) at the company’s office in Nashville. Friends, family and members of the music industry community were on hand to join in the festivities.
Creative Nation is home to hit songwriters Luke Laird and Barry Dean and newly signed duo Native Run. The company touts over 27 cuts including major label artists’ cuts, production deals on major label artists, film soundtrack and TV placements, and the ConAgra “Child Hunger Ends Here” campaign theme song performed by Jewel, Jay Sean, Owl City and Little Big Town.
Stars To Perform at Jack Greene Memorial Service
/by Sarah SkatesJack Greene
A memorial service for Grand Ole Opry member Jack Greene will include numerous musical tributes. The service will be held Wed., March 27 at 11 a.m. at the Ryman Auditorium.
Greene passed away on March 14 at age 83. Read his obituary.
Scheduled to perform are Vince Gill, Lorrie Morgan, Gene Watson, Mandy Barnett, The Whites, Ricky Skaggs, Penn Pennington, Joe Rucker and members of the Opry band.
Expected to give eulogies are Dallas Frazier, Jeannie Seely, Keith Bilbrey, Charlie Ammerman and Roxanne Atwood.
The public is invited to attend.
Artist Updates (3-21-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonDarius Rucker released a teaser of his upcoming video for his single “Wagon Wheel.” The single features backing vocals from Lady Antebellum and was originally performed by Old Crow Medicine Show.
• • •
Among the special guests joining Paisley on Wheelhouse – Special Edition are Charlie Daniels, LL COOL J, Eric Idle, Mat Kearney, Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes and the late Roger Miller. Paisley produced his new album and wrote or co-wrote all 17 of the tracks.
• • •
Wynonna
Wynonna will continue her recent media blitz with an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday (March 22). The entertainer made her debut on Dancing With The Stars on Monday, the same evening her GAC documentary Wynonna and Cactus: The Road Back aired. Yesterday, she interviewed with Access Hollywood: Live.
• • •
Snapshots: Sixth Annual Jeffrey Steele and Friends Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonJeffrey Steele and a string of high-profile musical buddies took the stage for a sold-out show during the sixth annual Jeffrey Steele and Friends benefit concert. The event, held March 12 at Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., featured Billy Ray Cyrus, Gloriana, Colt Ford, Chris Janson, The Shuggah Pies, LoCash Cowboys and others. GAC’s Storme Warren hosted the event.
Funds from the concert benefited the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Jeffrey Steele and Gloriana
Pictured (L-R): Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris Janson, LoCash Cowboys
The Shuggah Pies and Jeffrey Steele
Pictured: Chris Janson, The Shuggah Pies, Shay Mooney, Storme Warren, Colt Ford, LoCash Cowboys, Tom Hambridge, Tommy MacDonald, Steve Cirkvencic, Jeffrey Steele
Jeffrey Steele and Colt Ford
SiriusXM To Host Town Hall With Blake Shelton
/by Sarah SkatesListeners who want to attend can tune in to The Highway or visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall for details. SiriusXM listeners are also invited to submit a question for Shelton by Tweeting @SiriusXM and using the hashtag #SXMTownHall or posting a question on SiriusXM’s Facebook page.
The special will debut on The Highway, channel 59, on Tues., March 26 at 12:00 pm ET. That is release day for his latest album Based On A True Story. Rebroadcast times can be found at www.siriusxm.com/townhall.
Previous “SiriusXM Town Hall” specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Tom Petty, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jason Aldean, Usher, Tony Bennett, Aerosmith, Ringo Starr, Roger Waters and Kris Kristofferson.
Dove Awards To Be Held Oct. 15 at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena
/by Jessica NicholsonA move to presenting in the fall marks a large shift for the awards show, one that should help build awareness of new releases going into the all-important holiday season. Jackie Patillo, executive director of the Gospel Music Association, told AccessAtlanta that an important factor in the decision to move the awards show back to Nashville is that the bulk of the Christian music industry is still based in Music City. “It was time to come home,” Patillo said.
Dove Award nominees will be announced on Aug. 22. For the first time, the awards will include a feature film category to recognize the impact of inspirational movies within the entertainment community.
GMC TV will air the awards show.
[Updated] Lifenotes: Janet Rickman
/by Sarah SkatesJanet Rickman with Reba McEntire in 2012.
Longtime music industry publicist Janet Rickman passed away Tuesday, March 19 at Alive Hospice after a year long battle with cancer.
Her career began as a publicist for PolyGram -Mercury/Nashville in the mid 1970s working with The Statler Brothers, Johnny Rodriguez and a young Reba McEntire. This led to stints in the Los Angeles and New York publicity departments of Mercury Records where she worked closely with Tears for Fears, Rush and John Mellencamp among others. Rickman later returned to her Nashville home to head up the MCA Nashville publicity and video department, where she worked extensively with artists such as Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, George Strait, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, Trisha Yearwood and more. She retired from MCA Nashville in the late 90s and began a second career with the Nashville Library.
No memorial service is planned but donations may be made to a library of your choice.
Reba has fond memories of Rickman, sharing a favorite memory. “I just found out today that my friend of many years, Janet Rickman, has gone on to the big library in the sky. We had many good times together but one in particular I remember was the time Janet picked me up at the Nashville airport and drove me to my hotel. She even walked me to my room, to make sure everything was in order, when we found the mattress off the bed, sheets thrown everywhere, lamps turned over and the whole room in a mess. Janet was NOT happy about that! 🙂 She indignantly closed the door and ushered me back to her car. She drove me straight to the Spence Manor, a more private and more up scale hotel off Music Row. Now, I had always wanted to stay at the Spence Manor and Janet was the one to get me in!
“I loved working with Janet,” she continues. “She was one of a kind. I didn’t see her much but knowing she’s passed on, makes me realize, once again, how quickly things can change. Because I didn’t get to say goodbye to Janet, her passing reminded me to let people know how much they mean to me. So while it may take some time of me letting you know in person, let me say now to my friends in the music business, thank you for all your love and support during my years in this wonderful business. Here’s to many more great times together.”
Sugar Hill Records Adds Director, Artist & Media Relations
/by Jessica NicholsonJess Draper
Sugar Hill Records has added Jess Draper as Director, Artist & Media Relations. She replaces Donica Christensen, who left in January.
Most recently, Draper was the Director of Publicity at The Media Collective. Prior to her post at The Media Collective, her career has included time as Manager of Creative Services at ASCAP and Music Editor at Performing Songwriter.
Draper can be reached at (615) 915-3049 or at jdraper@sugarhillrecords.com.