David L. McKee, the fundraising executive who started the Country Cares for St. Jude radio program, passed away on Fri., Aug. 17. He was 66 years old and died following a car accident in Germantown, Tenn. near Memphis.
McKee joined ALSAC, St. Jude’s fundraising division, in 1977 and was most recently Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President.
Country Cares launched in 1989 with help from Alabama’s Randy Owen and has since generated more than $400 million for St. Jude. In 2012, 800 people participated in the Country Cares Seminar including artists, label representatives, and radio execs.
“David McKee was so much more than one of the world’s great philanthropic leaders,” said Rick Shadyac, ALSAC CEO. “He was a dear friend and mentor to me and many others who worked with him during his 35-year career at ALSAC. He also was a passionate advocate for the patients of St. Jude and for children everywhere who have benefitted from our work. We have lost one of the icons of our organization, and his family is in our hearts and prayers.”
McKee was the recipient of the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award by Fundraising Success magazine. He helped lead the organization to record growth and its current status as the second largest health care charity. He also served as interim CEO in 2008-2009. According to family and friends, he was a stalwart at ALSAC, taking on challenges with a smile and gentle determination.
Former Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris told the Memphis Commercial Appeal he had known McKee since the day he came to town. “David was a brilliant strategist in terms of managing ALSAC,” Morris said. “He had his entire heart put in the centerpiece of everything he did. He pulled people together. People wanted to work for him. I just know ALSAC will never have anyone more committed, or dedicated or more successful.”
“It wasn’t the fundraising that motivated him,” agreed former Memphis mayor Dick Hackett. “What motivated him most was who he was raising money for. He was the glue that held ALSAC together through the good and bad.”
McKee is survived by loving wife Portia McKee; children, David McKee of Collierville, April Fowler of Arlington, and Amanda Madison of Memphis; grandchildren, Charlie Madison, Emily Madison and Caroline McKee; brother, Daun McKee of Fleetwood, PA; and sister, Ellen Long of Christianburg, VA.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 p.m., Tues., Aug. 21 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wed., Aug. 22 at Hope Presbyterian Church with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family requests memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Memorial Park Funeral Home can be reached at 901-767-8930. Condolences may be offered at www.MemorialParkOnline.com.
Nancy Cardwell Named IBMA Executive Director
/by FreemanNancy Cardwell. Photo: Katherine Coe.
The International Bluegrass Music Association Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Nancy Cardwell as the organization’s Executive Director.
“After an extensive selection process that began with more than 65 applications for the position, the Board concluded that Nancy brings the right mix of skills to the table and will be able to take the organization to the next level of success,” said Board chair Stan Zdonik.
Cardwell has been serving as the organization’s interim Executive Director since early March 2012, and previously served as IBMA’s Special Projects Director for 17 years. Prior to joining the IBMA, she served as a Spanish and English teacher, and also spent time as a freelance journalist in Branson, Mo., and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Her book The Words & Music of Dolly Parton, Country’s Iron Butterfly, was published in 2011.
“It’s an honor to continue to serve on the IBMA team in this new role as we work together for the future of bluegrass music,” Cardwell said. “I’m blessed with a creative and hard-working staff and board of directors, as well as a community of members from across the country and around the globe, who are passionate about the greatest music in the world. I look forward to seeing many of you at World of Bluegrass in Nashville, Tenn. Sept. 24-30, at our annual Business Conference/ Awards Show/ Bluegrass Fan Fest/ Music Family Reunion!”
Congratulate her at nancyc@ibma.org.
Country Cares For St. Jude Founder David McKee Passes
/by Sarah SkatesMcKee joined ALSAC, St. Jude’s fundraising division, in 1977 and was most recently Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President.
Country Cares launched in 1989 with help from Alabama’s Randy Owen and has since generated more than $400 million for St. Jude. In 2012, 800 people participated in the Country Cares Seminar including artists, label representatives, and radio execs.
“David McKee was so much more than one of the world’s great philanthropic leaders,” said Rick Shadyac, ALSAC CEO. “He was a dear friend and mentor to me and many others who worked with him during his 35-year career at ALSAC. He also was a passionate advocate for the patients of St. Jude and for children everywhere who have benefitted from our work. We have lost one of the icons of our organization, and his family is in our hearts and prayers.”
McKee was the recipient of the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award by Fundraising Success magazine. He helped lead the organization to record growth and its current status as the second largest health care charity. He also served as interim CEO in 2008-2009. According to family and friends, he was a stalwart at ALSAC, taking on challenges with a smile and gentle determination.
Former Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris told the Memphis Commercial Appeal he had known McKee since the day he came to town. “David was a brilliant strategist in terms of managing ALSAC,” Morris said. “He had his entire heart put in the centerpiece of everything he did. He pulled people together. People wanted to work for him. I just know ALSAC will never have anyone more committed, or dedicated or more successful.”
“It wasn’t the fundraising that motivated him,” agreed former Memphis mayor Dick Hackett. “What motivated him most was who he was raising money for. He was the glue that held ALSAC together through the good and bad.”
McKee is survived by loving wife Portia McKee; children, David McKee of Collierville, April Fowler of Arlington, and Amanda Madison of Memphis; grandchildren, Charlie Madison, Emily Madison and Caroline McKee; brother, Daun McKee of Fleetwood, PA; and sister, Ellen Long of Christianburg, VA.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 p.m., Tues., Aug. 21 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wed., Aug. 22 at Hope Presbyterian Church with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family requests memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Memorial Park Funeral Home can be reached at 901-767-8930. Condolences may be offered at www.MemorialParkOnline.com.
Willie Nelson Cancels Denver Appearance
/by FreemanKUSA-TV in Denver reported that the 79-year-old singer failed to show for Lulu’s Barkin’ BBQ, an event benefiting the Denver Dumb Friends League. The audience was informed that Nelson was “suffering from breathing problems due to the high altitude and emphysema.” The station also reports that he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
According to a statement this morning (8/20) from Nelson’s publicist, the artist is feeling fine this morning and not currently in any hospital. He is still planning to go forward with his show Tuesday (8/21) at the House of Blues in Dallas.
In other Nelson news, his latest album Heroes (Legacy Recordings) recently spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Radio Chart. He is also taking part in the upcoming Railroad Revival Tour, that kicks off October 20 in Duluth, Ga., and will cross the country with via train with stops in Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and more. See dates here.
Liberty Media Seeks Control of Sirius XM
/by Sherod RobertsonAccording to the Wall Street Journal, Liberty Media’s Chairman, John C. Malone has asked the Federal Communications Commission for approval to take over control.
Earlier this week, Liberty Media had increased its stake in Sirius XM to 48% and says it will “have purchased sufficient shares of Sirius’s common stock and will convert its preferred shares such that the transfer of control will be completed within 60 days of commission consent.”
Paisley Joins 2012 Port Paradise Music Festival Lineup
/by Eric T. ParkerThe event is part of a 4 day, 3 night cruise, which includes two full-size liners accommodating 5,000 promotional Bud Light contest winners.
Paisley will headline Sunday’s (11/18) concert with performers Young the Giant and The All-American Rejects at Coco Cay. The day prior (11/17), Pitbull will headline the concert with Far East Movement and Flo Rida at Atlantis in Nassau.
“This year’s eclectic lineup takes Port Paradise to the next level with a two-day music festival at the heart of the cruise,” said Mike Sundet, VP, Bud Light.
Adults, 21 and older, are still eligible to enter the contest by visiting www.Facebook.com/BudLight through the end of the month (8/31).
Snapshots (8/17/12)
/by MichelleTonight’s (8/17) GAC Top 20 Country Countdown episode was shot at The Imus Ranch in Ribera, NM, a 4,000 acre working cattle ranch owned by radio star Don Imus and his wife Deirdre that provides the experience of the great American cowboy to children facing cancer or serious blood disorders. The episode includes host Nan Kelley interviewing eight-time world champion cowboy Joe Beaver as well as 14-year-old Wyatt Imus, one of the Kid Wranglers on the ranch (and the Imus’ son). It airs tonight, 8/17 at 7 pm CT on GAC.
Pictured (L-R): GAC’s Nan Kelley, Deirdre Imus, Don Imus
• • • •
The August edition of the ASCAP “We Create Music” Series featured songwriters Jessi Alexander, Chris DeStefano, Clare Dunn and Bobby Hamrick, and included bands VITEK and The Wans, who performed at The Basement on 8/15.
Pictured (l-r): ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Chris DeStefano, Jessi Alexander, Bobby Hamrick, Clare Dunn, and ASCAP's Michael Martin and Evyn Mustoe
TuneCore Founders Exit, Questions Remain
/by FreemanPrice, Wells and Gary Burke launched the digital distribution company in 2006, providing independent (and major) artists with a means to get their music to digital retailers. Artists pay a one time fee of $50 plus a percentage of royalties recovered to secure distribution to iTunes, Spotify and more. The service claims over 700,000 artists, most of which are producing music independently. It has also garnered high profile support from clients like Jay-Z, Drake, and The Civil Wars.
“Under our tenure, TuneCore took significant market share away from the traditional major labels,” said Price in a blog post announcing his exit. “As of July, 2012, TuneCore artists represent over 4% of all US gross digital music sales revenue and have sold over 610,000,000 units of music generating over $310,000,000 in gross music sales. More than four songs a second are sold on iTunes somewhere in the world by a TuneCore artist. Through the execution of the vision and the trust of the artist, TuneCore achieved about 40% of the market share of EMI and 25% of the market share of Universal in regards to digital music sales in the United States.”
No reason has been given for the exits, from Price or otherwise. Billboard points to unnamed sources who say the TuneCore board voted Price out on July 20 because it was “unhappy with the company’s financials.”
On Thursday (8/16), digital music service Rdio announced a licensing agreement with TuneCore and its rival CD Baby, bringing the service’s catalog to 18 million songs. It remains unclear if this announcement has any connection to the exits of Price and Wells.
Price has also been named for the 2013 class of Leadership Music.
Glen Templeton’s Tour Bus in Accident
/by Caitlin RantalaThe accident occurred when the right front tire blew, sending the bus and its passengers about 250 yards into the ditch. There were no serious injuries from the accident and last night’s performance at the Iowa State Fair began as scheduled.
Templeton is currently in the studio with James Stroud finishing his debut album. For additional information and tour dates click here.
Inaugural Woofstock Benefit Tomorrow
/by Eric T. ParkerOpen to the public for a $20 donation, the afternoon runs from 11 AM-4 PM. Booths for Bonaparte’s Retreat, Woofstock, the Nashville Humane Association, rescue operations, pet services, veterinarians, and artists for several animal-centered activities will be available. Children twelve and under are free.
An invitation-only vegetarian dinner takes place tonight, (8/17) at The Studio, featuring a silent auction and a performance and autograph segment with Harris.
Click here more information.
Music Schedule:
The Whites: 11:00-11:30
Ella Mae Bowen: 11:40- 12:10
Shawn Camp: 12:20-12:50
18 South: 1:00-1:30
Mike Farris: 1:40-2:10
Buddy Miller: 2:30-2:55
Emmylou Harris: 2:55-4:00
Atkins to Play RNC Welcome Party
/by FreemanPhoto: John-Paul Photography
Rodney Atkins has been named as the headliner for the 2012 Republican National Convention’s welcome party, set for August 26 at Tampa’s Tropicana Field.
The invitation-only event officially kicks off the political convention, which will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. A total of 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates representing all 50 states, DC, and territories will be in attendance, as well as roughly 15,000 media personnel.
Organizers are planning supplement the musical entertainment with some memorable visuals as well.
“It’s going to be something that’s so unique, people are going to be talking about it until the next convention,” Tampa Bay Host Committee president Ken Jones told the Tampa Bay Times.
Other performers scheduled for the welcome party include The Voice’s Karla Davis and American Idol’s Shannon Magrane, a Tampa native.
In other Atkins news, his single “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)” (from 2006 album If You’re Going Through Hell) is featured in The Bourne Legacy, which hit No. 1 at the box office after its release on Aug. 10.