(L-R) Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, Leslie Roberts (BMI), Matraca Berg, Ashley Monroe, Jessica Frost (BMI)
Lyrical sirens Lori McKenna, Matraca Berg, Natalie Hemby and Ashley Monroe showcased their songwriting, the bedrock of the industry, at the WCRS! Live show presented by BMI and Country Aircheck yesterday afternoon (Feb. 24) during CRS 2012.
Natalie Hemby was fresh off the new Ryman stage from opening The Band Perry’s first headlining show on Feb. 20 and kicked the girls’ traditional Nashville songwriter round to life in an RV, “Little House on the Highway.” The recently-signed EMI Publishing writer additionally introduced “Little Black Dress,” which brought to mind a modern version of “Looking For Something In Red.” Before finishing the round, Hemby expressed her devotion to songwriting when, just six years prior to watching Gwyneth Paltrow singing “Timing is Everything” in the Country Strong trailer, she had been working at Comcast for health insurance. “I would have continued to write music regardless of whether or not it was my full-time job,” she said.
Lori McKenna drew laughs with a quip about her chart history. “I was worried I would have been introduced by how many kids I have because I don’t have any No. 1s. Just five kids.” Her gut-wrenching, sober lyrics and voice exhibited a single from her most recent album, Lorraine, “Buy This Town.” She mentioned her utility worker husband before singing a song about a woman who “keeps you in your place,” and also introduced “Make Every Word Hurt,” as the song that has been cut three times but yet to make it on an album.
Ashley Monroe previewed “Like a Rose” and “Morning After” from her upcoming solo album recorded with Vince Gill and Justin Niebank. The vocal acrobat thanked the audience of radio broadcasters for sending her future child to college from her Jason Aldean hit, “The Truth.”
Back-to-back Miranda Lambert cuts were presented by Hemby and another from Monroe, who is also in Pistol Annies, including “Only Prettier” and “Heart Like Mine,” respectively.
NSAI Hall of Fame songwriter, Matraca Berg, hosted the round and played “You and Tequila,” which she explained came after the passing of her songwriting idol, Harlan Howard. “Harlan bought me my first shot of tequila,” she said. More hits kept rolling in including the song Trisha Yearwood made famous, “Wrong Side of Memphis,” and her iconic hit for Deana Carter, “Strawberry Wine.” Berg also treated the audience to “Your Husband’s Cheatin’ on Us,” a new and entrancingly eerie song about a wife, mistress and a new mistress.
Each writer seemed burdened with admiration at the prospect of following the others’ lyrical craftsmanship. After following Lori’s “Luxury of Knowing,” Matraca mentioned, “I was gonna throw Ashley under the bus, but I’ll take the hit…I feel really great about the future of women in songwriting.”
Musician/Photographer Bev LeCroy Passes
/by Robert K OermannBev LeCroy
James Beverly LeCroy was notable in Nashville for his classical and jazz contributions, as well as for his work as a photographer.
Bev LeCroy died on Saturday, Feb. 25, at age 93. LeCroy first picked up the trombone at age 13 in his native Chattanooga. He played in the University of Chattanooga marching band as well as on WDOD radio.
He moved to Nashville in 1943 and became a charter member of the revived Nashville Symphony Orchestra. He also played in the big swing bands of Francis Craig, Beasley Smith and Owen Bradley.
LeCroy performed “Near You” while with Craig. The band’s 1947 recording of this song became Nashville’s first million-selling record. Demand was so great for “Near You” that the city’s first record-pressing plant was built to meet it. The song still holds the record for remaining at No. 1 on the pop charts longer than any other, 17 weeks.
The trombonist was known to many Nashvillians for his long-running stint as a member of WSM radio’s Waking Crew band. In the early days of television, The Waking Crew also performed on WSMV’s “Noon Show.”
In the 1960s, Bev LeCroy began a second career as a staff photographer for the National Life & Accident Insurance Company. His photos of r&b singer Etta James in action on stage at Nashville’s New Era Club were used on the LP jacket of Etta James Rocks the House. These images were featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s celebrated “Night Train to Nashville” exhibit in 2004-05.
Bev Le Croy is survived by his wife Katherine, son James, daughter Donna, granddaughter Sylvia and great-grandson Austin. Funeral services will be held Tuesday (2/28) at 10 a.m. in Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall, 660 Thompson Lane.
Music City Roots Releases Live Recordings
/by Eric T. ParkerIncluded, is a selection from musical host Jim Lauderdale followed by 18 South, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Nanci Griffith, Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade, Scott Miller, Caitlin Rose, Charlie Louvin, The Black Lillies and Mike Farris with the McCrary Sisters. The final number is a show-closing jam of “Up On Cripple Creek” lead by Sam Bush
“The tremendous artists who grace our stage week after week are a gift to lovers of musical authenticity and integrity the world over, and we’re proud to release what we hope to be the first of many such collections of excellent and diverse artistry,” says MCR co-founder John Walker.
Launched in October of 2009 as a throwback live radio show and new-era webcast, Music City Roots has become a curator of new and established talent in contemporary folk and Americana music.
A portion of the proceeds from the album will be donated to The Nature Conservancy.
Niemann Prepares Sophomore Album
/by Freeman“I am so excited to release “Shinin’ On Me” as the first single from my second album,” shares Jerrod. “Not only does it represent some of the unconventional instrumentation on this record, it’s also intended to just make you wanna roll down the window on a bad day and smile with someone ya love.”
Jerrod’s major label debut Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury produced the RIAA-certified Platinum Digital single “Lover, Lover” and the Gold Digital single “What Do You Want.” Niemann is currently on the road with Miranda Lambert’s “On Fire” tour. See dates here.
Classic Country Songwriter Roy Baham Passes
/by Robert K OermannRoy Baham
Award-winning country songwriter Roy Baham has died at age 74.
Baham won his BMI Award for “Charlie’s Shoes,” recorded by Billy Walker. The song became Walker’s biggest hit when it rose to No. 1 on the country charts in 1962. The songwriter’s other notable success was Jimmy C. Newman’s recording of his “Blue Lonely Winter” in 1968.
He also wrote songs recorded by Carl Smith, Ray Price, Anita Carter, Lucille Starr, Burl Ives, Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely, Charlie Walker, Skeeter Davis, Bobby Bare, Justin Tubb and many others.
Dave Dudley recorded 17 of Roy Baham’s songs and released two of them as singles, 1973’s “Rollin’ Rig” and 1975’s “Fireball Rolled a Seven.”
Roy Baham died on Wednesday, Feb. 21. He is survived by his wife Helen, son Jonathan, daughter Diane, granddaughter Brianna and brother Alfred. The funeral and burial were held on Saturday in Birmingham, AL.
Alan Jackson Breaks San Antonio Rodeo Attendance Record
/by Sarah SkatesAlan Jackson and The Strayhorns. Photo: Laurie Rush Photography
Alan Jackson’s Thursday night (2/23) performance at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo broke the event’s all-time attendance record. He attracted 17,000 fans, the most since the rodeo’s inception in 1950.
“The San Antonio Rodeo has welcomed me for a lot of years and it’s one of my favorite places to play,” says Jackson. “The rodeo and folks in Texas have always been good to me and I want to thank the fans for coming out to see us all these years.” It was his fifteenth time to play the rodeo, held this year at the AT&T Center.
Jackson’s current single, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” is climbing the country radio charts and is from his forthcoming album to be released as a joint venture between ACR (Alan’s Country Records) and EMI Records Nashville. He will perform it on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday, March 30.
The video by award-winning director Steven Goldmann video was shot at Coney Island in New York City and can be viewed here.
Mercury/Lost Highway’s Kacey Musgraves Joins Major Tour
/by Freeman“I can’t wait to get out on the road with John Mayer,” exclaimed Musgraves. “To be given this opportunity to tour with a musician and songwriter that I have such high respect for is a dream come true.”
Musgraves is currently in the studio working on her 2012 debut album, which she is co-producing with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird.
See Musgraves’ CRS Ryman showcase performance here.
John Mayer Spring Tour 2012 Dates/Markets:
Monday, April 9: Bloomington, IN
Tuesday, April 10: East Lansing, MI
Thursday, April 12: Grand Rapids, MI
Friday, April 13: West Lafayette, IN
Saturday, April 14: Detroit, MI
Tuesday, April 17: Orono, ME
Wednesday, April 18: Providence, RI
Thursday, April 19: West Point, NY
Saturday, April 21: Buffalo, NY
Sunday, April 22: Wallingford, CT
Tuesday, April 24: Richmond, VA
Thursday, April 26: Tuscaloosa, AL
Monday, April 30: Memphis, TN
Wednesday, May 2: Kansas City, MO
Friday, May 4: Albuquerque, NM
Saturday, May 5: Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, May 6: Phoenix, AZ
WCRS Live! Features All Female Lineup
/by Eric T. Parker(L-R) Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, Leslie Roberts (BMI), Matraca Berg, Ashley Monroe, Jessica Frost (BMI)
Lyrical sirens Lori McKenna, Matraca Berg, Natalie Hemby and Ashley Monroe showcased their songwriting, the bedrock of the industry, at the WCRS! Live show presented by BMI and Country Aircheck yesterday afternoon (Feb. 24) during CRS 2012.
Natalie Hemby was fresh off the new Ryman stage from opening The Band Perry’s first headlining show on Feb. 20 and kicked the girls’ traditional Nashville songwriter round to life in an RV, “Little House on the Highway.” The recently-signed EMI Publishing writer additionally introduced “Little Black Dress,” which brought to mind a modern version of “Looking For Something In Red.” Before finishing the round, Hemby expressed her devotion to songwriting when, just six years prior to watching Gwyneth Paltrow singing “Timing is Everything” in the Country Strong trailer, she had been working at Comcast for health insurance. “I would have continued to write music regardless of whether or not it was my full-time job,” she said.
Lori McKenna drew laughs with a quip about her chart history. “I was worried I would have been introduced by how many kids I have because I don’t have any No. 1s. Just five kids.” Her gut-wrenching, sober lyrics and voice exhibited a single from her most recent album, Lorraine, “Buy This Town.” She mentioned her utility worker husband before singing a song about a woman who “keeps you in your place,” and also introduced “Make Every Word Hurt,” as the song that has been cut three times but yet to make it on an album.
Ashley Monroe previewed “Like a Rose” and “Morning After” from her upcoming solo album recorded with Vince Gill and Justin Niebank. The vocal acrobat thanked the audience of radio broadcasters for sending her future child to college from her Jason Aldean hit, “The Truth.”
Back-to-back Miranda Lambert cuts were presented by Hemby and another from Monroe, who is also in Pistol Annies, including “Only Prettier” and “Heart Like Mine,” respectively.
NSAI Hall of Fame songwriter, Matraca Berg, hosted the round and played “You and Tequila,” which she explained came after the passing of her songwriting idol, Harlan Howard. “Harlan bought me my first shot of tequila,” she said. More hits kept rolling in including the song Trisha Yearwood made famous, “Wrong Side of Memphis,” and her iconic hit for Deana Carter, “Strawberry Wine.” Berg also treated the audience to “Your Husband’s Cheatin’ on Us,” a new and entrancingly eerie song about a wife, mistress and a new mistress.
Each writer seemed burdened with admiration at the prospect of following the others’ lyrical craftsmanship. After following Lori’s “Luxury of Knowing,” Matraca mentioned, “I was gonna throw Ashley under the bus, but I’ll take the hit…I feel really great about the future of women in songwriting.”
CRS After-Hours: Photo ReCap
/by Caitlin RantalaL-R: Phil Vassar, Rodeowave Entertainment's Lori Hartigan and KUPL OM Scott Mahalick.
Nashville’s Past Perfect restaurant was packed Wednesday night (2/22) with Country Radio Seminar revelers at the Rodeowave/Blaster event headlined and hosted by Phil Vassar. Vassar’s latest single, “Don’t Miss Your Life,” drew the same tremendous reaction live as it has been receiving from radio programmers and listeners.
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Jana Kramer receiving a plaque containing a polaroid of her and every program director she meet along her promo tour. (L-R: Scott Hendricks, Peter Strickland, Jana Kramer, Chris Stacey, Chris Palmer, Chad Schultz.)
Warner Music Nashville kicked off CRS on Wednesday night (2/22) with their annual “Warner Wednesday” party at Nashville’s aVenue. The label’s roster rocked out to 80’s songs as part of this year’s party theme “Attack of the 80’s.”
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L-R: Tenacity National Promotion Directors Gary Greenberg and Anne Sarosdy, Darryl Worley, Tenacity label president Mike Kraski, Bill Gentry, Tenacity Senior VP of Promotion David Haley and National Promotion Director Jeff Davis.
The Ryman Room was overflowing with CRS attendees Wednesday night (2/22) when Tenacity Records threw its first CRS bash. Keeping it all about the music, Tenacity artists Bill Gentry and Darryl Worley performed their new music and kept the party going well into the night.
RIAA’s Gold and Platinum Country January Highlights
/by Caitlin RantalaAmerican Idol champ Scotty McCreery took home his first Platinum award for debut Clear As Day (Mercury Nashville, 2011), while Toby Keith and Jerrod Niemann were presented their first ever Platinum download certifications for “Red Solo Cup” (Show Dog – Universal Music) and “Lover, Lover” (Sea Gayle Records).
Taylor Swift’s new year was one full of precious metals. The RIAA awarded Swift her 21st Gold download cert for new single “Ours,” a 4x multi-Platinum for popular ballad “You Belong With Me,” plus a 4x multi-Platinum album award for her 2010 album Speak Now (Big Machine Records) selling more than four million copies.
Additionally, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton each earned their second career Platinum download awards for their respective songs “Do I” and “God Gave Me You.”
Complete lists of all album, single, mastertone and video awards can also be accessed at www.riaa.com.
Sony Boat Show Combines New Artists and Seasoned Pros
/by Freeman(L-R): Kix Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Kristen Kelly, Sara Evans, Jake Owen. Photo: Alan Poizner
Sony Music Nashville’s General Jackson Show & Dinner cruise is a time-honored tradition of Country Radio Seminar, and the 26th installment on Thursday night (Feb. 23) presented the label’s diverse roster from newcomers to seasoned pros. Storme Warren, Sara Evans, and Kellie Pickler served as hosts between performances.
Jake Owen kicked off the evening, performing his current single “Alone With You,” and adding the PG-13 concert ending “I can’t be your booty call.” He also delivered a thundering version of his No. 1 hit “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”
New faces performing included Tyler Farr (on “Hot Mess” and “Hello Goodbye”), a soulful Kristen Kelly (on “You Love To Make Me Cry” and “Ex-Old Man”), and Casey James (on “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” and “Crying On a Suitcase”). Love and Theft, now a duo, came out to play “Angel Eyes” and their previous hit “Runaway,” with guitarist Josh Leo tossing in some sweet Knopfler-esque guitar solos for the extended jam. Josh Thompson stepped up for “I’m Comin’ Around,” and “Way Out Here.” Kix Brooks had his coming out as a solo artist with “Let’s Do This Thing,” and his debut single “New To This Town.”
A satellite acoustic stage (right in front of our table!) was reserved for acoustic performances from Pickler and Evans. Pickler played “Stop Cheating On Me” and “100 Proof” from her new album 100 Proof, and Evans played her classic “Suds In The Bucket” as well as “Anywhere.”
Pickler was a delight as host, expertly cracking wise with Warren and Evans. While waiting for headliner Carrie Underwood’s band to set up, she told a bawdy story about an ex who was obsessed with Sara Evans, prompting her to dye her hair much darker with disastrous results. Underwood joked, “I think we all learned why they asked me and not Kellie Pickler to host the CMA Awards.”
Underwood played her hit “Undo It,” as well as “Someday When I Stop Loving You,” before debuting her new single “Good Girl” which was emailed to programmers while we sat on the boat. The festivities wrapped up with an ensemble rendition of Young Rascals song “Good Lovin’” that featured Underwood, Evans, Kelly, Owen, and Brooks.