Willie Ackerman on the set of Hee Haw. He was on the show for 25 years.
Willie Ackerman, a longtime drummer on the Grand Ole Opry, on Hee Haw and on Music Row recording sessions has died at age 73.
Ackerman passed away at Skyline Medical Center last Thursday, Dec. 13. Born William Paul Ackerman, he was a Nashville native who became a professional musician at age 17.
He rose to prominence during the Nashville Sound era of the 1950s and 1960s and can be heard on records by Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Tom T. Hall, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Chet Atkins, Ray Price, Faron Young, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck, Bobby Bare, Jim Reeves and hundreds of others.
Among the hits he set the tempo for were “El Paso” by Marty Robbins, “The Grand Tour” by George Jones, “Amos Moses” by Jerry Reed, “Wings of a Dove” by Ferlin Husky, “Black Rose” by Waylon Jennings, “Walk on By” by Leroy Van Dyke, “Ahab the Arab” by Ray Stevens and “Girl on the Billboard” by Del Reeves. He was extremely active as a musician between 1957 and 1990.
Willie Ackerman was a member of the Nashville local of the American Federation of Musicians for 50 years and served on the union’s board of directors. He was also a Deputy Sheriff of Davidson County.
He is survived by his wife Jeannie, his musician son Trey, daughters Kelly Ackerman and Angela Pardaen, seven grandchildren, brother John Robert and sisters Helen Demonbreun, Sammie Guthrie and Frankie Corinne Boyle.
His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. this morning [Monday, Dec. 17] at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home, followed by burial at Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison. Memorials can be made in his honor to the Opry Trust Fund.
Willie Ackerman and Jim Glazer, circa 1958.
Recording Academy Launches GRAMMY Promotions Via Social Media
/by Jessica Nicholson“Get Me to the GRAMMYs,” will launch Monday (Dec. 17) and run through Jan. 29, 2013. Fans of the GRAMMYs on Facebook will have a chance to win seven weekly prizes from each of the GRAMMYs’ six participating partners — Delta Air Lines, Harman, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hitlab, MasterCard, and Proctor & Gamble. Prizes range from music gift cards to the Ultimate GRAMMYs Superfan prize featuring two tickets to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards®.
Additionally, The Recording Academy and Curalate, the marketing platform for visual sites such as Pinterest, have teamed for “Pin Your Way To The GRAMMYs,” — a social media promotion offering Pinterest members the opportunity to share exclusive GRAMMY images. The promotion launched Thursday (Dec. 13) and will run through Jan. 16, 2013. Images for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards ad campaign, “#TheWorldIsListening,” debuted online on Dec. 13. Exclusive photos will only be seen on the official GRAMMY Pinterest page (www.pinterest.com/thegrammys).
“The GRAMMYs remains focused on connecting fans, not only with their favorite artists, but with each other,” said Evan Greene, Chief Marketing Officer of The Recording Academy. “The exclusive images on Pinterest will allow fans to show their love of music in a creative way.”
The GRAMMYs will be held on Feb. 10, 2013 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will broadcast on CBS Television Network from 8-11:30 p.m. ET.
For more information on the GRAMMYs social media contests, visit www.facebook.com/thegrammys, www.twitter.com/thegrammys, or www.pinterest.com/thegrammys.
Brad Paisley Helps Provide Clean Water in Haiti
/by Jessica NicholsonKimberly Williams-Paisley with children in Haiti. Photo courtesy of Schmidt Relations.
Brad Paisley and wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley have signed on to support the non-profit organization Live Beyond…Thirst, both financially and as volunteers. Led by Dr. David and Laurie Vanderpool, the organization provides clean water for households throughout Thomazeau, Haiti, a poor suburb of Port au Prince. Live Beyond…Thirst hopes to establish 100 clean water collection sites as a foundation for improved health within the community and for disease prevention.
Star Percussionist Willie Ackerman Passes
/by Robert K OermannWillie Ackerman on the set of Hee Haw. He was on the show for 25 years.
Willie Ackerman, a longtime drummer on the Grand Ole Opry, on Hee Haw and on Music Row recording sessions has died at age 73.
Ackerman passed away at Skyline Medical Center last Thursday, Dec. 13. Born William Paul Ackerman, he was a Nashville native who became a professional musician at age 17.
He rose to prominence during the Nashville Sound era of the 1950s and 1960s and can be heard on records by Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Tom T. Hall, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Chet Atkins, Ray Price, Faron Young, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck, Bobby Bare, Jim Reeves and hundreds of others.
Among the hits he set the tempo for were “El Paso” by Marty Robbins, “The Grand Tour” by George Jones, “Amos Moses” by Jerry Reed, “Wings of a Dove” by Ferlin Husky, “Black Rose” by Waylon Jennings, “Walk on By” by Leroy Van Dyke, “Ahab the Arab” by Ray Stevens and “Girl on the Billboard” by Del Reeves. He was extremely active as a musician between 1957 and 1990.
Willie Ackerman was a member of the Nashville local of the American Federation of Musicians for 50 years and served on the union’s board of directors. He was also a Deputy Sheriff of Davidson County.
He is survived by his wife Jeannie, his musician son Trey, daughters Kelly Ackerman and Angela Pardaen, seven grandchildren, brother John Robert and sisters Helen Demonbreun, Sammie Guthrie and Frankie Corinne Boyle.
His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. this morning [Monday, Dec. 17] at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home, followed by burial at Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison. Memorials can be made in his honor to the Opry Trust Fund.
Willie Ackerman and Jim Glazer, circa 1958.
BBR Music Group Adds Findley
/by Jessica NicholsonMary Forest Findley
BBR Music Group has hired Mary Forest Findley as its new Director of National Syndication and Radio Strategy for the music group, beginning Jan. 3. In this role, Findley will oversee national radio syndication initiatives for all three labels (Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, RED BOW Records under the BBR Music Group umbrella. She will report to BBR Music Group Executive VP Jon Loba and GM Rick Shedd.
“I am so excited to be joining BBR Music Group. I have been such a fan of this company – and its amazing staff and artists – for many, many years. To have the opportunity to join this incredible group of professionals is thrilling, and I am truly thankful. I can’t wait to get started!” says Findley via a release.
Findley has spent the last six years as the VP of Sales & Marketing at Country Aircheck following her stint as the Country Record Label Sales Representative for R&R.
Beginning Jan. 3, she will be reachable at maryforest@brokenbowrecords.com . Until then, she can be reached at Maryforestc@hotmail.com.
iTunes Reveals Best Of 2012
/by Eric T. ParkerAdele’s 21 stands atop the top selling albums, right in front of Taylor Swift’s Red. Top selling singles were led by Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” (Top 100 Album and Single sales are listed below for Nashville notables.)
Editor’s Choice for Country music went to Little Big Town’s “Pontoon;” Swift earned a mention for her latest album Red, as did Lee Brice’s Hard 2 Love for Breakthrough Album.
Christian and Gospel categories noted tobyMac’s Eye On It for Best Album, for KING & COUNTRY’s Crave as Breakthrough Album. Jack White’s “Sixteen Saltines” earned Best Song for the Alternative Genre.
For the digital toolbox, Free iPhone App downloads saw Pandora at No. 6, Spotify at No. 18, and iHeartRadio at No. 20.
Albums in the top 100 from Nashville notables include:
2. Taylor Swift–Red
10. Jason Aldean– Night Train
12. Carrie Underwood– Blown Away
17. The Black Keys– El Camino
19. Luke Bryan– Tailgates & Tanlines
21. Zac Brown Band– Uncaged
23. Lionel Richie– Tuskegee
35. Eric Church– Chief
37. Jason Aldean– My Kinda Party
38. Kelly Clarkson– Stronger
41. Jack White–Blunderbuss
42. The Civil Wars–Barton Hollow
46. Hunter Hayes–Hunter Hayes
50. Kenny Chesney– Welcome To The Fishbowl
53. The Black Keys– Brothers
60. Lady Antebellum– Own The Night
67. Zac Brown Band– You Get What You Give
75. Taylor Swift– Speak Now
76. Miranda Lambert– Four The Record
84. The Band Perry– The Band Perry
87. Rascal Flatts– Changed
93. Lee Brice– Hard 2 Love
96. Brantley Gilbert– Halfway To Heaven
Singles in the top 100 from Nashville notables include:
7. Kelly Clarkson– “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
16. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
30. Luke Bryan – “Drunk On You”
34. Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
35. Eric Church – “Springsteen”
48. Little Big Town – “Pontoon”
58. Carrie Underwood – “Good Girl”
60. Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away”
67. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
68. Kip Moore– “Somethin’ ‘bout A Truck”
71. Taylor Swift– “Eyes Open”
75. Lee Brice – “Woman Like You”
77. Kenny Chesney– “Come Over”
81. Lee Brice– “Hard To Love”
82. Florida Georgia Line– “Cruise”
83. Miranda Lambert– “Over You”
87. Taylor Swift – “I Knew You Were Trouble”
89. Jason Aldean– “Fly Over States”
92. Eli Young Band– “Even If it Breaks Your Heart”
Connecticut Shooting Tragedy: Artists Respond
/by Jessica NicholsonMany Country music artists took to Twitter today (Dec. 14) to express their grief and disbelief surrounding the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. A gunman opened fire at the elementary school, killing nearly 30 people. Some of the victims were students, as reported by CNN.com. Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, The Band Perry and Pistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe are just a handful of the artists whose thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
Lady Antebellum Gets Gold For The Holidays
/by Jessica NicholsonWhile it marks the first full-length holiday album for the trio, it is the latest in a long line of album successes. Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut has achieved 2x platinum status in the US, their second offering Need You Now reached 3x platinum status in the US and their most recent non-holiday offering, Own The Night, went platinum.
In 2010, the trio released the six-song holiday EP A Merry Little Christmas.
MusicRow No. 1 Song
/by Eric T. ParkerZac Brown Band on set of "Goodbye In Her Eyes." Photo: Jolie Loren
Zac Brown Band’s “Goodbye In Her Eyes,” the second single from its October 2012 Uncaged release, takes this week’s No. 1 slot for our MusicRow chart.
Written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Hopkins, and Sonia Lee the Southern Ground/Atlantic single comes complete with musical styling that have given the band its signature, including a quick guitar strum, falsetto lacing and harmonious hooks.
Nothing seems to slow these guys down at radio, especially now with their own newly established Southern Ground promotion house on Music Row to work their own music. We’ll likely be seeing more and more success from these Georgia boys.
Watch the circus-themed music video below.
World Music Award Nominees Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonTaylor Swift
Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton are among the country artists nominated at the World Music Awards, which will take place on Thursday (Dec. 20) at Marlins Park Stadium in Miami, Fla. and will be broadcast to over 160 countries.
Nominees are selected by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), to recognize the top-selling artists in the world.
Select nominees in different categories are listed below. For a full list of nominees click here.
World’s Best Song
Carrie Underwood “Blown Away”
Justin Bieber “Boyfriend”
Jason Aldean “Take A Little Ride”
Kelly Clarkson “Stronger”
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Adele “Rumour Has It”
World’s Best Album
Carrie Underwood Blown Away
Lady Antebellum On This Winter’s Night
Jason Aldean Night Train
Taylor Swift Red
Christina Aguilera Lotus
Alicia Keys Girl On Fire
Adele 21
World’s Best Video
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
Carrie Underwood “Good Girl”
Jason Aldean “Take A Little Ride”
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Beyonce “Run The World (Girls)”
World’s Best Group
Kings of Leon
Lady Antebellum
Zac Brown Band
U2
Mumford & Sons
Maroon 5
No Doubt
Coldplay
World’s Best Female Artist
Carrie Underwood
Beyonce
Adele
Britney Spears
Kelly Clarkson
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
World’s Best Male Artist
Blake Shelton
Jason Aldean
Kid Rock
Keith Urban
Ne-Yo
Phillip Phillips
World’s Best Live Act
Brad Paisley
Jason Aldean
Aerosmith
Bruce Springsteen
Jimmy Buffett
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Tim McGraw
Van Halen
Usher
World’s Best Entertainer of the Year
Carrie Underwood
Jason Aldean
Keith Urban
Kelly Clarkson
Taylor Swift
Selena Gomez
Justin Bieber
Rhihanna
Carly Rae Jepsen
Beyonce
Adele
Jillian Kohr – What You’ve Done
/by ProgrammerPlaylistNashville, breakout artist Jillian Kohr releases her newest single to Music Row and Country Radio. Kohr is best known by many for her outstanding Digital and Internet success. Her very first release, an unplugged rendition of the classic “Love Hurts,” shot to the top and charted #1 across three genres on the MySpace Music Charts, landing her the #1 Female Artist in Nashville on the ReverbNation Country Charts in 2012.
“I recorded the song in studio to enter it into a vocal competition that a friend found for me on ReverbNation. I don’t think anyone expected it to be as big as it was!” Kohr said.
Her newest single “What You’ve Done” captures the same raw and vulnerable power. Her fresh, edgy vocal draws her listeners in.
“I grew up listening to Rock N Roll and Blues music, but I have always loved the storyline in Country music and what it stands for, so my music naturally reflects all of that,” she explained.
Kohr co-penned the single with Nashville songwriters Ollie Kohr and Gary Cirimelli, with special guest Harrision Whitford on electric guitar.
As “What You’ve Done” hits the airwaves, Kohr will be setting out on a Nationwide Radio Tour and is currently planning her upcoming Live Tour scheduled for spring of 2013. Jillian is a proud member of the CMA’s, the GRAMMY’s, ICMA’s, BMI and NSAI. Follow Jillian Kohr on Facebook and Twitter too!
Radio Contact:
Sarah Reed
615-248-8105 x239
sarah@hmgnashville.com
www.Jilliankohr.com
www.facebook.com/Jilliankohrmusic
twitter.com/Jilliankohr