Aaron Lewis to Host Charity Golf Tournament

The inaugural Aaron Lewis Invitational Charity Golf Tournament is set for Saturday, August 11, at the award-winning Crumpin-Fox Golf Club in Bernardson, MA.

The event is hosted by It Takes A Community Foundation, the charitable 501c3 organization started by multi-Platinum recording artist Aaron Lewis and his wife Vanessa, along with Crumpin-Fox Golf Club and Zeke’s Smokehouse Grill. All the proceeds will benefit the R.H. Conwell Community Education Center in Worthington, MA.

The tournament entry fee includes a round of golf with cart, a tee gift package, contests, lunch, a cocktail and dinner reception plus an evening concert featuring a performance from Lewis. Sponsorship packages are available. Please visit www.itacf.org for more information.

Mark Your Calendar (August 2012)

Album Releases

August 7
Colt Ford/Declaration of Independence/Average Joe’s
The Trishas/High, Wide, & Handsome/Trishas Music

August 14
Blackberry Smoke/The Whippoorwill/Southern Ground
Susan Catteneo/Little Big Sky/Jersey Girl

August 21
JT Hodges/JT Hodges/Show Dog-Universal
Dierks Bentley/Country & Cold Cans EP/Capitol
Dustin Lynch/Dustin Lynch/Broken Bow
The World Famous Headliners (Big Al Anderson, Shawn Camp, Pat McLaughlin, Michael Rhodes, Greg Morrow)/The World Famous Headliners/Big Yellow Dog Music

August 28
Caroline Herring/Camilla/Signature Sounds
Jerry Salley/Showing My Age/Very Jerry
The Flatlanders/The Odessa Tapes/New West
The Roys/New Day Dawning/Rural Rhythm

Single Releases

August 6
Lucas Hoge/Do What Makes You Feel Good/Animal House
Florida Georgia Line/Cruise/Republic Nashville
Chelsea Bain/What If I/Rock Ridge-InstiGator
Her & Kings County/Family Tree/Elektra Nashville-WMN
Heidi Newfield/Why’d You Have To Be So Good/Sidewalk
Rich O’Toole/Red Wine On Your Lipstick

August 13
One Night Rodeo/Real Good/Fox Hill
Bucky Covington with Shooter Jennings/Drinking Side of Country/eOne

August 20
Flynnville Train/The One You Love/Whiskey Bent-Flying Island

August 27
Claudia Lee/Take My Hand/CLM Enterprises

Aretha Franklin

Industry Events

August 2
Full Moon Festival outdoor concert series

August 14
Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductions at Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, TN at 6:00 PM. Aretha Franklin, Ricky Skaggs, Dallas Holm, The Hoppers, Love Song and Rex Humbard. Admission is free to the public

August 23
WMN Pickin’ on the Patio

August 27
Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament at Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee

August 30
Full Moon Festival outdoor concert series

Gloriana Releases Sophomore Album

Gloriana released its second studio album, A Thousand Miles Left Behind, on Tuesday, July 31. The album includes the trio’s current single “(Kissed You) Good Night,” which this week lands at No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Singles Chart.

Following an appearance on Good Morning America yesterday (7/31), the band will be back in New York City to perform on the Fox & Friends All-American Summer Concert Series Fri., August 3. Fans in New York can see the concert outside the Fox studios or tune in at 7:30 am ET.

On Sat., August 4 at 10:30 pm ET Gloriana will celebrate the  album release with a special concert at Joe’s Bar in Chicago, IL. The show will be streamed live by UV2Live.

A Thousand Miles Left Behind tracks:
“Wanna Take You Home”
“Sunset Lovin’”
“Go On…Miss Me”
“Doin’ It Our Way”
“(Kissed You) Good Night”
“Can’t Shake You”
“Turn My World Around”
“Carolina Rose”
“Soldier Song”

Miller and Lauderdale to Co-Host New Radio Show

Singer/songwriters Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale have been tapped to co-host a new radio show on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country, channel 60. “The Buddy & Jim Show” will be broadcast from Miller’s home studio in Nashville, and feature interviews and performances from roots music stars.

The weekly program will premiere Saturday, August at 10 pm ET and be re-broadcast Sundays at 10:00 am ET, Mondays at 2:00 am and 2:00 pm ET and Wednesdays 12:00 am and 10:00 pm ET. Lucinda Williams guests on the debut episode and performs songs by Bruce Springsteen and Woody Guthrie. Check out a clip at americansongwriter.com. Future guests include Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, and the North Mississippi Allstars.

Miller and Lauderdale are friends and frequent musical collaborators. At the annual Americana Honors and Awards show, Lauderdale hosts the proceedings and Miller leads the all-star house band. Both are repeat winners at the event, which is also broadcast live on SiriusXM Outlaw Country.

Gaylord To Lay Off Almost 200 Employees

About 310 employees of Gaylord Entertainment will be affected as part of a pending deal for Marriott to manage Gaylord’s four resort hotel properties. Prior to Sept. 30, about 120 employees will transition to Marriott’s payroll and the remainder will exit the company.

The $210 million transaction was announced in May and is pending shareholder approval. The Nashville Post reports Gaylord is fending off opposition from its largest shareholder, TRT Holdings.

Gaylord, which will still own the hotels, hopes to save money by becoming a real estate investment trust and letting Marriott operate the properties.

When the deal is complete, it is expected that Gaylord will employ about 4,000 workers in the Nashville area, including its operations at Opry Mills, the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium, WSM-AM and the newly formed Real Estate Investment Trust.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/01/12)

There is zero major-label product in the country reviewing stack this week, but there’s still plenty of quality listening to be had.

Even if there were big-time stars on hand, I doubt that any could match the excellence of the new His and Hers CD by Joey + Rory and its lead track “Josephine.” This would be a Disc of the Day winner no matter what or who the competition was.

I am also happy to report that there are a number of promising newcomers with us today. They include Kris Gordon, J.D. Shelburne and our DisCovery Award winning band Cash Creek.

BRITT & BLAIRE/Young Summer
Writer: Blaire Hanks; Producer: Dean Scallan; Publisher: Coast of Del Mar, BMI; Mt. Juliet (615-288-4234 ext 101)
—They look like such nice young kids. I hate to be the one to tell them that they’re not yet ready to play ball in the Big Leagues.

FLYNNVILLE TRAIN/The One You Love
Writer: Doug Phelps/Fred Young/Richard Young; Producer: none listed; Publisher: I B Headed/Them Young Boys/Bug, BMI/ASCAP; Whiskey Bent (www.flynnvilletrain.com)
—Note that this is written by The Kentucky HeadHunters. The Flynnville boys’ performance of the dreamy ballad is appropriately languid and lovely. The slightly bluesy melody is another plus. Highly programmable.

CRIS CUDDY/The Boy From Beaumont
Writer: Cuddy; Producer: Cris Cuddy; Publisher: Cris Cuddy, SOCAN; Factor (Canada)(track) (www.criscuddy.com)
—Subtitled “The Kid from Bakersfield,” this title tune to Cuddy’s Canadian CD is a salute to George Jones and Merle Haggard. The musical setting has an oddly Tex-Mex vibe, which doesn’t have much to do with either of those legends. For that matter, neither does Cuddy’s singing style. But it all goes down smoothly.

JOEY + RORY/Josephine
Writer: Rory Feek; Producer: Gary Paczosa; Publisher: A Sling and a Prayer/Chrysalis One, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
—Joey + Rory’s new His and Hers CD kicks off with this stirring, driving saga of a frightened Civil War soldier yearning for the wife and family he left behind. It will quicken your pulse, tickle your ears and fire your brain. Gary’s production is sonic excellence. Rory’s lead vocal just about rips your heart out. A mini masterpiece. Do your ears a favor and listen to this entire awesome album with no distractions.

KRIS GORDON/The Upside of Down
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Frio (www.krisgordon.net)
—Jaunty, relaxed and breezy, this has an undeniable charm. He’s nursing a busted heart, but getting by with the help of the band and the booze. The session playing is absolutely top drawer, and he has an earnest, winning, easy-to-like vocal style.

THE MARKSMEN QUARTET/Don’t Take Your Life
Writer: Lance Carpenter/Ricky Atkinson; Producer: Mark Wheeler; Publisher: Ricky Atkinson, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.marksmenquartet.com)
—The quartet takes on a honky-tonk waltz. In classic Southern-gospel fashion, it starts off slowly with a solo vocalist telling the tale of a would-be suicide, followed by full-throated harmonizing on the choruses. Redemptive, for sure. The Marksmen have been at this for some 40 years, so they certainly know how to deliver the goods by now.

CASH CREEK/It’s All About the Money
Writer: Joseph Harris/Donald Kees; Producer: Kimo Forrest & Chris Latham; Publisher: Sixteen Stars/Sony-ATV Acuff Rose, BMI; Omaha/Tristar (track) (www.cashcreekband.com)
—The title tune to the debut Cash Creek CD is a bluesy, dobro-laced, rocking social statement about lawyers, politics and hypocrisy. It is also very, very cool. Check these boys out.

AMY AMES/Do Drop In
Writer: Amy Ames/Eddie Hedges; Producer: Eddie Hedges; Publisher: Amy Ames/Eddie Hedges, BMI; Grand Channel (CDX) (www.amyames.com)
—The drummer sounds like he’s pounding on an aluminum frying pan. The band is shouting the lines loudly back at her. Perhaps they’re trying to drown out her pitch-challenged vocal.

LUCAS HOGE/Do What Makes You Feel Good
Writer: Lucas Hoge/Keesy Timmer/Corey Barker; Producer: Lucas Hoge & Chris Latham; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; AHMG (CDX) (818-429-3655)
—The track is rollicking, with plenty of energetic guitar work. His voice isn’t particularly distinctive or memorable, but he gives the performance his all.

J.D. SHELBURNE/Farmboy
Writer: J.D. Shelburne/Bob Stewart; Producer: Greg Cole; Publisher: GiraffeKey, BMI; Star Base (CDX) (www.jdshelburne.com)
—He inherits his dad’s down-home values and is super happy about it. The track rocks, and he belts out his lyric like a pro. This has plenty of get-up-and-go, and the spelling of “F-A-R-M-B-O-Y” is ear catchingly clever.

Industry Ink (7/31/12)

Suzanne Spooner-Faulk

Suzanne Spooner-Faulk has joined the staff of CDX in the newly created role of Production Manager. Her previous experience in the music industry includes time with CMA, rpm Management, Tom-Leis Music, and the Bluebird Cafe. Contact her at 615-292-0123 or suzanne@cdxcd.com.

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Country Radio Seminar’s special $349 “Crazy Days of Summer” registration rate ends tonight (7/31) at midnight CT. Beginning August 1, registration will increase to the $399 Early Bird rate. CRS 2013 is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1 in downtown Nashville. Register here.

• • • • •

The 2012 Radio Show, produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau and the National Association of Broadcasters, will take place September 19-21 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, TX. Featured speakers include Erica Farber and Dave Ramsey. More info here.

• • • • •

Chris Keaton Presents and Keaton Music Ventures have relocated to Catch This Music recording studio at 1008 17th Ave. S. in Nashville. The company’s new telephone number is 615-341-0177 and Chris Keaton can be reached at chriskeaton@bellsouth.net.

• • • • •

Evolution PR has moved to its new offices at 38 Music Sq. E., Ste 116, Nashville, TN 37203. Phone number is still 615-852-6076, and Tiffany Bearden’s email is tiffany@evolutionprnashville.com.

• • • • •

Berkleemusic, the online education division of Berklee College of Music, has named Debbie Cavalier as its new CEO. She will oversee strategy and vision for the online school, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Cavalier was previously Dean of Continuing Education and oversaw development of the school’s online curriculum, which has enrolled 30,000 students from more than 150 countries. Its YouTube channel ranks fifth among 400 universities in the US and Canada. More info here.

Samsung Launches Music Hub Streaming Service

Samsung launched Music Hub, its new music download and streaming service, in the US today (7/31). The service previously became available to European users in late May. Samsung is offering users a free 30-day trial for the service, as well as a free album of the user’s choice.

Powered by Samsung-owned cloud content provider mSpot, Music Hub claims a database of 19 million high quality MP3 tracks. The basic, free version allows users to purchase songs and albums directly from the Music Hub shop managed by 7digital, and keep them in the cloud. The Premium version is $9.99/month and offers unlimited streaming and customized radio stations.

Currently the service is only available on the flagship Galaxy S3 handset, but will expand to other devices soon. According to IDC, Samsung smartphone headsets sold twice as many units as Apple smartphones in the second quarter of 2012.

Familiar Faces Form New Band: Skyline Motel

Skyline Motel. Pictured (L-R): Tom Bukovac, Daniel Tashian, David LaBruyere Ian Fitchuk, Kate York and Sarah Buxton. Photo: Marcel Chagnon

For Sarah Buxton, Kate York, Daniel Tashian, and Ian Fitchuk, founding Skyline Motel allowed the freedom to create music on their own terms. “Most of the singers in the band have been through the ringer with the label world and the music business in general,” said York. “So the idea behind this whole project was just to make music for fun and on our terms. It has been nothing but fun since we started.”

In June, the band debuted with an industry showcase at BMI, then played its first public appearance at BMI’s Buzz at the Basement series July 2. A recent appearance at a Cystic Fibrosis benefit took place last week (7/23).

Lyric Street released Buxton’s debut record two months before the label closed. After she scored songwriting success with Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” and “Put You In A Song,” she parted ways with her longtime publisher. Big Yellow Dog writers Kate York and Daniel Tashian are not new to Music Row either. Both have released multiple albums and collaborated with various music publishers. York released a seven-track album titled, New, last week (7/24). Tashian released a record on Elektra in the ’90s, and is now in a band called The Silver Seas. Ian Fitchuk is currently self-published and has written for and produced artists including Amy Grant, Mindy Smith, Natalie Grant and Matt Wertz.

“Skyline Motel started out as an idea that Kate had and would not let go!” Buxton teased.

“Years ago Daniel and I talked about how much we wanted to be in a Fleetwood Mac type band,” said York. “The idea for Skyline Motel came after meeting Sarah and turning in a song to my publisher, Carla Wallace, who said, ‘Who is this? Stevie Nicks and Christy McVie?’”

“The first 10 songs were all written in one night, Friday, Jan. 13, 2012,” said Buxton. “It was the day I got out of my old publishing deal that Daniel, Kate and I made New Years resolutions. Ian Fichuck joined around dinnertime. We ate and didn’t stop the creative process until around 4:30 a.m.”

The founders invited Buxton’s husband, in demand session guitarist Tom Bukovac, and David LeBruyere, a previous bandmate for John Mayer, to join the band. Richard Bennett joined them in the studio to craft the music, which is halfway recorded. The band is still in the process of deciding how to release the album, but judging by the audience reaction at the Basement, these gifted artists should find themselves in big business after it is expected in the fall.

“There was no agenda that preceded the night that we wrote all the material,” said Fitchuk. “Everything since then has been a natural motion forward, an energy we’re just trying to enjoy.”

To catch a preview of these new tunes, including “From a High Window,” “Sleep With Me,” and “If You Feel Like Singing,” check out the band at 3rd and Lindsley on Oct. 4.

The band’s official Twitter handle is @Skylinemotel.

In other news, Buxton and Bukovac announced last week (7/23) via Twitter they are expecting their first child.

Underwood and Bentley to Perform on CBS Special

Carrie Underwood and Dierks Bentley are among the talented artists who will perform during the upcoming Teachers Rock concert special on CBS.

Joining the country stars for the education benefit will be artists Josh Groban, Fun., Usher and Adam Levine. Actors scheduled to appear include Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Garner, Jack Black, Morgan Freeman and Matthew Morrison.

The special tribute concert celebrating teachers and education will also include previews from the upcoming film Won’t Back Down, starring Davis and Gyllenhaal. The film follows the characters in their plan to transform a failing inner-city school.

Teachers Rock airs on CBS Aug. 18 at 8 pm ET. Live performances will be taped August 14 at a special benefit concert at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. Tickets for the event start at $40 at Ticketmaster.

Proceeds will benefit DonorsChoose.org, Feeding America and Teach for America.