Award-winning producer, songwriter, and musician Larry Butler passed away in his sleep yesterday (Jan. 19) at home in Pensacola, Florida. He was 69 years old.
The first and only Nashville producer to win the Grammy for Producer of the Year, Butler experienced his greatest successes as Kenny Rogers’ producer. Their collaboration resulted in landmark hits for Rogers, including “Lucille,” “She Believes In Me,” “The Gambler,” “Love Or Something Like It,” and “Coward of the County.”
Pensacola native Larry Lee Butler’s musical career began at age six when he joined the Harry James Orchestra. He moved to Nashville in 1963, after encouragement from publisher Buddy Killen.
He began landing session work, playing piano on hits like Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin” and Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey.” His musical contributions also appear on cuts by Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and many, many more.
In the late 1960s, Butler moved to Memphis and began working with songwriter Chips Moman in the group the Gentrys, who scored hits with “Keep On Dancin’” and “Every Day I Have To Cry Some.”
Butler later returned to Nashville and joined United Artists Records as head of the label’s Nashville office. Under his guidance, the label helped launch the successful careers of Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, Dottie West and the Kendalls.
He won a Song of the Year Grammy for “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” another Chips Moman co-write that B.J. Thomas took to No. 1 in 1975. In 1979, Butler earned his Grammy for Producer of the Year. He launched a publishing company in 1984, signing writers Mickey Newbury, Dean Dillon and Julie Didier and landed the George Strait hits “The Chair” and “Ocean Front Property.” For his multitude of accomplishments, the University of West Florida awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts.
He is survived by his wife Peggy Maultsby Butler, daughter Schanda Butler Olsson, grandson Justin, sister Alva Chop and numerous other extended family members and friends.
Memorial services will be held in Pensacola, Florida Tuesday, January 24 at 11:11 AM at Perdido Bay United Methodist Community Center. A celebration of Butler’s life will be held in Nashville at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Belmont University, Don Gant Scholarship, Office of Development, 1900 Belmont Ave., Nashville, TN 37212.
Weblinks: Top “Idol” Earners, Facebook/Vevo, Haggard
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Facebook is having preliminary talks with music video service Vevo to replace YouTube as the platform’s host. More from CNET.
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Merle Haggard was released from the hospital on Friday (1/20) follow a bout with pneumonia. As previously reported, the 74-year-old has canceled tour dates through the end of the month.
McGraw Strikes Gold with “Felt Good On My Lips”
/by Caitlin RantalaThe good news comes as McGraw’s new studio album, Emotional Traffic (Curb Records), is slated for release tomorrow (1/24). “Felt Good On My Lips” is included on the album.
Following the release of Emotional Traffic, McGraw will join Kenny Chesney on the Brothers of the Sun Tour in June. The coast-to-coast large arena concert schedule will hit more than twenty major market venues between June and August. Markets already confirmed include Tampa, Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, Nashville, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Anaheim, and Washington, DC.
Music City Songwriting Competition Adds Black River VP
/by Eric T. ParkerThe competition will be narrowed to the top 25 entries to be judged based on melody, composition, originality, lyrics and commercial appeal by a panel including Morgan, Tim Nichols, Mike Sistad, Alex Torrez, Storme Warren and Butch Spyridon.
The winner will recieve $1,000 cash, five nights admission and airfare for two to Nashville’s CMA Music Fest with an interview on GAC and Sirius XM. A mentoring session from Craig Morgan will be offered along with a feature in American Songwriter, a co-write session, demo recording session and a single song publishing deal with Black River Entertainment.
Johnson has had over 100 cuts and seven No. 1s and worked with the careers of Patty Loveless, Collin Raye, Doug Stone, Joe Diffie, Ty Herndon, Clay Walker, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Leann Rimes, Wynonna and Lee Brice.
Songs are accepted by mail or mp3 online for $25. Additional songs for $15. All entries receive a copy of Morgan’s upcoming CD.
Rascal Flatts To Receive Humanitarian Award At CRS 2012
/by FreemanBig Machine’s Rascal Flatts has been named the recipient of the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award, to be presented at Country Radio Seminar Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The multi-platinum trio will be given the honor based on their charitable contributions and humanitarian efforts through their career. In 2010, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney donated $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center. They also serve as spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization, The Jason Foundation, and have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for seven years.
“The board is very pleased to honor Rascal Flatts with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. “They join a long, distinguished list of celebrities who have received this prestigious award since it was instated in 1990.”
The honor will be presented to the group at 10:30 AM/CT on Feb. 22 in the Nashville Convention Center immediately following the seminar’s Keynote Address. CRS 2012 runs Feb. 22-24 in downtown Nashville. The $499 regular registration rate expires this Friday, Jan. 27 and increases to $599.
GAC Focuses On Fan Engagement
/by Sarah SkatesKellie Pickler chats with Suzanne Alexander and fans live on Facebook.com/GAC following "The Collection." Photo by Cheryl Ecton
GAC is focusing on fan interaction in 2012. On Wednesday the network hosted a live event with Kellie Pickler, allowing viewers to send in questions for the star via Facebook, Twitter or phone. It was the first live episode of The Collection, one of the network’s most popular shows, where artists reflect on their careers by looking back at their videos in chronological order. The artists join host Storme Warren to discuss what was going on in their lives at the time of each video and share details about the shoot.
Pickler and her videos are a consistent favorite of GAC viewers, so an hour with her was an ideal opportunity to try on-air viewer interaction, according to GM/SVP Sarah Trahern and VP/Programming, Suzanne Gordon. Producers let fans program the show by selecting which of Pickler’s videos they’d like to see. Plus, the singer’s feisty brand of humor and quick-wit make her a natural for a live setting. After the show, she joined GAC host Suzanne Alexander for an additional hour engaging fans through an online chat on the GAC Facebook page.
Trahern and Gordon say that viewers can expect more live, interactive programming throughout this year. The network—available in 62 million households—will continue to focus on fan engagement as it debuts new series this spring and brings back other recent additions to the lineup.
Fans were front and center when the network paired Trace Adkins and Exile for a remake of the latter’s ‘70s hit “Kiss You All Over.” Fans were allowed to join them in the studio for the show Hit Exchange, which aired in December.
Scheduled to return in 2012 is the Day Jobs series, which takes stars back to their first jobs. Also on the docket is the return of Tom’s Wild Life, which mixes legendary outfitter, hunter and cowboy Tom McMillan with celebrity clients including Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton at his Kansas ranch. Meanwhile, Warren’s news vehicle Headline Country will up the ante from twice monthly to weekly in 2012.
Fan voting has long been a key part of GAC’s countdown shows, including the Top 20 Country Countdown, and the new Top 50 Videos of the 2000s.
In recent years a partnership with the ACM has helped the network and the ACM Awards boost fan engagement. GACtv.com is hosting fan voting for the ACM New Artist of the Year Award. The eight nominees are also featured on GAC’s ACM Showcase show, where Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, JT Hodges, Scotty McCreery, Justin Moore, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann and Thompson Square are interviewed by Warren. Online fan voting to select the final three nominees closes Monday, Jan. 30, 12:00 pm/Eastern.
GAC will then feature the three finalists in a performance special, premiering Monday, March 19. That will be followed by a final round of online voting beginning Monday, March 19 at VoteACM.com.
The New Artist of the Year trophy will be handed out at the April 1 ACM Awards, where GAC will offer live red carpet coverage from the event in Las Vegas.
MusicRow Hires Eric Parker
/by FreemanEric Parker. Photo: Dabble Travel Magazine
MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson announces the hiring of Eric Parker as Marketing Manager. The newly-created position entails marketing initiatives for MusicRow web and print publications, RowFax song pitch-sheet, and the CountryBreakout Chart.
Parker will also coordinate the publication’s annual events including the MusicRow Awards, and the CRS CountryBreakout Chart Meet & Greet and Awards.
“Eric’s innovative marketing ideas and attention to detail will be essential as we expand the footprint of MusicRow,” says Robertson. “I am proud to have him on board as we continue to serve the music industry at the highest level.”
Parker began at MusicRow in 2010 as an intern to assist Chart Director/Managing Editor Jon Freeman with the CountryBreakout Chart and has since served as an editorial contributor. Parker split time at MusicRow while working with Bluewater Music in the copyright department, contributing as travel editor for Dabble travel magazine, and working with the production efforts of Nashville’s Ovvio Arte.
He holds a degree in Entertainment and Music Business from Belmont with intern experience including UMG’s A&R department, Starstruck Management, S1 Publishing, Tom-Leis Publishing, and EB Media.
Parker can be reached at eparker@musicrow.com.
New Catalog Purchase For Carlin America
/by FreemanBruce Cockburn. Photo: Kevin Kelly
Rotten Kiddies Music, a subsidiary of independent publisher Carlin America, has announced the acquisition of Canadian songwriter Bruce Cockburn’s catalog.
An Ottawa native with over 30 albums to his credit, Cockburn has landed nine Top 10 singles over the course of his career. Hits such as “Going To The Country” (1970), “Wondering Where the Lions Are” (1979), and “Lovers In A Dangerous Time” (1984) all performed well and brought Cockburn acclaim.
An accomplished guitarist, Cockburn has also composed works for television and film including the opening and closing credits to children’s series Franklin. As a songwriter, his works have been recorded by a diverse collection of artists such as Chet Atkins, Barenaked Ladies, Jimmy Buffet, Elbow, Dan Fogelberg, the Jerry Garcia Band, k.d. lang, and more.
“The time seemed right to try to bring this music to the attention of a wider audience,” says Cockburn. “When the people at Carlin expressed interest in buying the catalog it felt like the songs had found a perfect home. l’m looking forward to working with them.”
Kobalt Expands Into Label Services With Major Acquisition
/by Sarah SkatesThe Artist and Label Services division is propelled by the company’s acquisition of AWAL, which distributes and promotes the recorded music of more than 5,000 independent labels and artists, including Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, the Editors, and Moby. Through the acquisition, Kobalt obtains access to AWAL’s worldwide distribution network of more than 200 digital retail partners, including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, eMusic, Rhapsody, 7Digital, Beatport, Deezer, Nokia and 247.
During the coming year Kobalt Artist and Label Services division will roll out next generation services for artists and labels worldwide, offering digital retail, subscription, D2C and social media services, and advanced data analytics.
“Our expansion and launch of Kobalt’s Artist and Label Services division and the acquisition of AWAL is a response to our clients’ needs and to a major shift in where we see the market is heading,” said Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt Music Group. “With an efficient platform, direct distribution channel, a successful track record and strong management, AWAL was built on similar core values of transparency and integrity as Kobalt was. This acquisition is a building block in Kobalt’s long-term strategy of creating a new kind of full music service alternative for rights holders including artists and labels.”
AWAL will remain a standalone company within Kobalt Music Group. The company is expected to expand and will continue to operate independently from its London and Sheffield offices.
Paul Hitchman will serve as Managing Director of Kobalt Artist and Label Services, effective Feb. 1. Hitchman’s career includes co-founding the European digital music companies Playlouder, MSP and CI, as well as time at Warner Music UK and Arista/BMG UK. AWAL’s management team of Kevin Bacon, Jonathan Quarmby, Denzyl Feigelson and Paul Bower will remain intact reporting to Hitchman.
Kobalt Neighbouring Rights Limited (KNRL) has tapped Hans van Berkel, Founder and former CEO of leading rights society SENA, as KNRL Executive Chairman. In the U.S., John Simson, former executive director of SoundExchange, will serve as U.S. Representative for Artist Relations and Business Development. Sabine Jones, who previously ran neighboring rights societies PAMRA (UK) and SWISSPERFORM, has joined as KNRL Managing Director.
Producer and Songwriter Larry Butler Passes
/by FreemanThe first and only Nashville producer to win the Grammy for Producer of the Year, Butler experienced his greatest successes as Kenny Rogers’ producer. Their collaboration resulted in landmark hits for Rogers, including “Lucille,” “She Believes In Me,” “The Gambler,” “Love Or Something Like It,” and “Coward of the County.”
Pensacola native Larry Lee Butler’s musical career began at age six when he joined the Harry James Orchestra. He moved to Nashville in 1963, after encouragement from publisher Buddy Killen.
He began landing session work, playing piano on hits like Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin” and Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey.” His musical contributions also appear on cuts by Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and many, many more.
In the late 1960s, Butler moved to Memphis and began working with songwriter Chips Moman in the group the Gentrys, who scored hits with “Keep On Dancin’” and “Every Day I Have To Cry Some.”
Butler later returned to Nashville and joined United Artists Records as head of the label’s Nashville office. Under his guidance, the label helped launch the successful careers of Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, Dottie West and the Kendalls.
He won a Song of the Year Grammy for “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” another Chips Moman co-write that B.J. Thomas took to No. 1 in 1975. In 1979, Butler earned his Grammy for Producer of the Year. He launched a publishing company in 1984, signing writers Mickey Newbury, Dean Dillon and Julie Didier and landed the George Strait hits “The Chair” and “Ocean Front Property.” For his multitude of accomplishments, the University of West Florida awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts.
He is survived by his wife Peggy Maultsby Butler, daughter Schanda Butler Olsson, grandson Justin, sister Alva Chop and numerous other extended family members and friends.
Memorial services will be held in Pensacola, Florida Tuesday, January 24 at 11:11 AM at Perdido Bay United Methodist Community Center. A celebration of Butler’s life will be held in Nashville at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Belmont University, Don Gant Scholarship, Office of Development, 1900 Belmont Ave., Nashville, TN 37212.
Artist Updates (1/20/12)
/by Freeman(L-R): Morgan, Marc Womack (Co-Producer, Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors) Photo: Joshua Glaudin/Outdoor Channel
Craig Morgan earned two honors at the Outdoor Channel’s 12th Annual Golden Moose Awards last night (Jan. 19) in Las Vegas. Morgan was awarded in the categories Best Turkey and Best Deer from his Outdoor series Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors. “I cannot tell you what an honor it is to get recognition for the show,” says Morgan. “Along with being so much fun to create it’s also a lot of hard work. For the industry to acknowledge our show is an amazing feeling.” Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors airs Saturdays at 10 AM/CT.
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