Billie Jo Spears, one of the most consistent female country hit-makers of the 1970s, has died in Texas at age 74.
She was famous for her 1975 international smash hit “Blanket on the Ground,” as well as for working-girl anthems and for songs that fused country and disco. Spears was extremely popular in Great Britain and was a fixture in Branson, Mo. for a time.
Born in 1937 in the shipyard city of Beaumont, Texas, she was the daughter of a truck driver father. Her mother was a welder in the shipyards, as well as a guitarist in the Light Crust Doughboys western-swing band. Billie Jo Spears began singing professionally at age 13. She first recorded in Houston at that age and also appeared on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, La.
After working as a drive-in restaurant carhop and as a secretary, she moved from Texas to Nashville in 1964. Signing with Capitol Records, she first hit the top-10 on the country charts with 1969’s “Mr. Walker It’s All Over,” the saga of a downtrodden secretary. She followed it with “Pittsburgh General,” which stood up for nurses. Other early singles included “Stepchild” (1969), in which a boy kills his abusive stepfather, and “Marty Gray” (1970), which dealt with teen pregnancy.
She faded from the hit parade and underwent vocal-cord surgery, then scored a huge comeback on United Artists Records with the toe-tapping “Blanket on the Ground.” It became her first and only No. 1 hit, both in the U.S. and abroad.
She fused country songs with danceable pop rhythms in such big hits as 1976’s “What I’ve Got in Mind,” 1977’s “If You Want Me,” 1978’s “57 Chevrolet” and 1979’s remake of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic “I Will Survive.” Spears was also distinctive in that she rarely recorded female “victim” material. Almost all of her hit ballads are about women asserting themselves. These include “Standing Tall” (1980), “I’ve Got to Go” (1978), “I’m Not Easy” (1977), “Never Did Like Whiskey” (1976) and her revival of Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” (1981).
Her other hits include 1976’s “Misty Blue” 1978’s Love Ain’t Gonna Wait for Us” and 1979’s “Livin’ Our Love Together.” She also recorded several notable duets with the late Del Reeves. Throughout her career, she sang with a tangy Texas accent and a feisty attitude. Her last appearance on the national country charts was in 1984.
Billie Jo Spears was married five times. In later years, she retained her popularity in the U.K. and recorded several albums for that market. She continued to tour stateside, despite triple-bypass heart surgery in 1993. Her most recent album was released in 2005. She had 22 British shows booked for 2012 at the time of her death.
She died of cancer on Wednesday morning, December 14. Survivors and funeral details were not available at press time.
Skip Bishop Exits Sony
/by FreemanPrior to joining Sony he served as President and CEO of his own Bishop Bait & Tackle, a large independent marketing and promotion firm. Bishop’s career also includes time as Sr. VP MCA Los Angeles and Sr. VP Pop Promotion for RCA in New York.
No further details regarding Bishop’s plans or his replacement at Sony are available at this time.
For Sony Music Nashville promotion inquiries, please contact lesly.tyson@sonymusic.com (Arista Nashville), keith.gale@sonymusic.com (RCA), or norbert.nix@sonymusic.com (Columbia/BNA).
Martina’s “Hits and More” Due In January
/by FreemanGAC recently premiered Martina McBride: The Road To Eleven, an hour-long special following the singer from her signing with Republic Nashville through her four day train journey to promote the release of her new album Eleven. The special is set to re-air December 18, at 10 PM/CT. McBride’s current single “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” is at No. 6 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.
Hits and More tracklist:
1. “My Baby Loves Me”
2. “Independence Day”
3. “Wild Angels”
4. “A Broken Wing”
5. “Valentine” (with Jim Brickman)
6. “Happy Girl”
7. “Whatever You Say”
8. “I Love You”
9. “Love’s the Only House”
10. “Blessed”
11. “Where Would You Be”
12. “Concrete Angel”
13. “This One’s For the Girls”
14. “In My Daughter’s Eyes”
15. “Anyway”
16. “Ride”
17. “Wrong Baby Wrong”
18. “Surrender” – NEW
19. “Straight to the Bone” – NEW
20. “Being Myself” – NEW
Messina, Warren Play St. Jude Country Music Marathon Party
/by FreemanGuests will receive two complimentary drink tickets and the first 100 guests get to take home an official event t-shirt. Additionally, runners who register for the St. Jude Country Music Marathon or 1/2 Marathon on site will get a $10 discount. 25 raffle prizes, including local restaurant gift certificates, will be given out and attendees are encouraged to wear their wackiest running attire for the Tacky Christmas Runner Costume Contest.
Faith Hill To Perform On People’s Choice Awards
/by Eric T. Parker“We are so lucky to have Faith Hill on board to perform at the People’s Choice Awards,” said Executive Producer Mark Burnett. “Her experience, mainstream appeal and status as one of the top female performers of our time make her the perfect addition.”
2012 nominees for Favorite Country Artist are Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift. Swift will also compete with mainstream artists for Favorite Tour Headliner and Favorite Female Artist, while Lady Antebellum competes for Favorite Album of the Year. Voting remains open for only Favorite New TV Comedy and Favorite New TV Drama online.
Faith’s new single, “Come Home,” is No. 33 on the most recent MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart. Her new album is expected in early 2012.
Good Works: Rodney Atkins
/by MichelleRodney Atkins Photo: Jeremy Harris
As part of the Crown Royal Heroes Project—an ongoing initiative by the whisky brand to honor and give back to everyday heroes—Rodney Atkins provided a free performance to show support for local volunteer firefighters at the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys game in Texas on Dec. 11.
Atkins took the stage one hour prior to kick-off with a special performance dedicated to members of the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund. Adult fans were able to show their support for the Texas-based charity by packing commemorative versions of the Crown Royal purple bags with items to be sent overseas. Crown Royal is donating $10 to the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund for every bag packed by fans before the start of the game. The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness for volunteer firefighters in Texas.
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Atkins also performed during the inaugural American Giving Awards in Los Angeles, which aired Dec. 10 on NBC. The audience gathered at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to find out which five charities will be chosen to receive additional funds from Chase Community Giving (CCG). Other featured guests included Miley Cyrus, motivational speaker J.R. Martinez, Will.i.am, Jesse Tyler Ferguson of NBC’s Modern Family, Colin Farrell, and host Bob Costas.
Billie Jo Spears Passes
/by Robert K OermannShe was famous for her 1975 international smash hit “Blanket on the Ground,” as well as for working-girl anthems and for songs that fused country and disco. Spears was extremely popular in Great Britain and was a fixture in Branson, Mo. for a time.
Born in 1937 in the shipyard city of Beaumont, Texas, she was the daughter of a truck driver father. Her mother was a welder in the shipyards, as well as a guitarist in the Light Crust Doughboys western-swing band. Billie Jo Spears began singing professionally at age 13. She first recorded in Houston at that age and also appeared on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, La.
After working as a drive-in restaurant carhop and as a secretary, she moved from Texas to Nashville in 1964. Signing with Capitol Records, she first hit the top-10 on the country charts with 1969’s “Mr. Walker It’s All Over,” the saga of a downtrodden secretary. She followed it with “Pittsburgh General,” which stood up for nurses. Other early singles included “Stepchild” (1969), in which a boy kills his abusive stepfather, and “Marty Gray” (1970), which dealt with teen pregnancy.
She faded from the hit parade and underwent vocal-cord surgery, then scored a huge comeback on United Artists Records with the toe-tapping “Blanket on the Ground.” It became her first and only No. 1 hit, both in the U.S. and abroad.
She fused country songs with danceable pop rhythms in such big hits as 1976’s “What I’ve Got in Mind,” 1977’s “If You Want Me,” 1978’s “57 Chevrolet” and 1979’s remake of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic “I Will Survive.” Spears was also distinctive in that she rarely recorded female “victim” material. Almost all of her hit ballads are about women asserting themselves. These include “Standing Tall” (1980), “I’ve Got to Go” (1978), “I’m Not Easy” (1977), “Never Did Like Whiskey” (1976) and her revival of Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” (1981).
Her other hits include 1976’s “Misty Blue” 1978’s Love Ain’t Gonna Wait for Us” and 1979’s “Livin’ Our Love Together.” She also recorded several notable duets with the late Del Reeves. Throughout her career, she sang with a tangy Texas accent and a feisty attitude. Her last appearance on the national country charts was in 1984.
Billie Jo Spears was married five times. In later years, she retained her popularity in the U.K. and recorded several albums for that market. She continued to tour stateside, despite triple-bypass heart surgery in 1993. Her most recent album was released in 2005. She had 22 British shows booked for 2012 at the time of her death.
She died of cancer on Wednesday morning, December 14. Survivors and funeral details were not available at press time.
Burrell And Houghton to Host BMI’s Trailblazers of Gospel Music
/by Caitlin RantalaKim Burrell and Israel Houghton will host BMI's Trailblazers of Gospel Luncheon
Gospel legends Kim Burrell and Israel Houghton have been named as hosts of the 13th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon scheduled for Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 at Rocketown in Nashville.
The invitation-only event will honor Kirk Franklin, the best-selling contemporary gospel artist in SoundScan history, and Pastor Hezekiah Walker, a multiple Grammy-winner and leader of the Love Fellowship Choir. Franklin is one of gospel’s most decorated artists with 20 No. 1 gospel singles, seven Grammys, 37 Stellar Awards, 14 Dove Awards, and six NAACP Image Awards, in addition to sales over 15 million. Walker’s highly influential Love Fellowship Choir has won numerous Grammys and 11 Stellar Awards. He additionally founded the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church and Hezekiah Walker Ministries in New York and Pennsylvania, and resource centers for congregations all over the country.
Nimbit Reports Spotlight Boosting Facebook Sales
/by bossrossJacobson says that Facebook sales accounted for 49.67% of total sales for Nimbit artists during Nov. 2011. Nimbit is especially interested in this strong sales uptick because the company introduced its new “Spotlight” Facebook store functionality in September 2011. Nimbit Facebook sales for Sept. to Nov. 2011 vs. the same period in 2010 are up 481%,
Nimbit attributes the huge increase to its redesigned Facebook store options— “Spotlight”—plus “better executed promotions by artists.” The company has also compiled a page full of tips for artists about how to best present their Facebook store and get the best sales results.
TFEMC Promotes Raines, Hires Locklin
/by contributorBob Raines, who was most recently serving as interim Executive Director, is now the Executive Director. Music industry veteran Hank Adam Locklin will fill the newly created role of Director of Music and Business Development.
Raines has been with the TFEMC since 2002, and has developed extensive relationships with members of the entertainment industry and local communities and organizations throughout the state. In his previous TFEMC roles, he has administered the state’s film and TV incentive program, successfully negotiated film, television and music projects, and marketed the unique aspects of doing business in Tennessee to companies throughout the country and around the world.
In his new role, Locklin will identify and strengthen partnerships with Tennessee’s one-of-a-kind music industry. A key objective of the TFEMC going forward will be recruiting entertainment companies to relocate jobs to Tennessee and Locklin will lead the state’s efforts in this area. Most recently Locklin was interim Executive Director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame where he still serves as chairman of the Board. He was previously Senior Manager of Membership and Industry Relations for the Country Music Association, where he was responsible for developing CMA membership and other forms of music industry outreach.
Locklin currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Metro Nashville Tourism and Convention Commission and is a board member of the Women’s Music Business Association. A University of Alabama undergrad and law school graduate, Locklin has previous experience in artist management with Loretta Lynn and Billy Yates and has produced two critically acclaimed albums for his late father, country music star Hank Locklin.
When Gov. Haslam’s Jobs4TN economic development plan was unveiled in the spring, the entertainment industry was identified as one of the key clusters in which the state has a clear competitive advantage. The TFEMC will fall under the supervision of Will Alexander, assistant commissioner of Strategy and Innovation, as the TFEMC staff works to capitalize on Tennessee’s current entertainment assets and explores opportunities for the industry’s expansion and job creation.
“I look forward to working closely with Bob and Hank along with the nine members of the Tennessee Film Entertainment and Music Commission as we develop strategies that will allow our state’s entertainment industry to thrive,” Alexander said. “The wealth of experience and unique perspectives the TFEMC Commission members and staff offer will help us continue to grow the entertainment sector and forge new paths as we move forward.”
Scenes From the Hall: Sarah Trahern, Suzy Bogguss
/by MichelleOn Saturday (12/10), the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum hosted Suzy Bogguss for a special concert related to the Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player exhibition. Bogguss shared memories and songs from her work with Atkins, including their duet album Simpatico, and performed material from her newest album, American Folk Songbook as well as a few Christmas songs.
(L-R): Director of Museum Programs Ali Tonn, Harry Stinson, Pat Bergeson, Suzy Bogguss, Fred Carpenter, Keith Case, Charlie Chadwick and Vice President of Museum Programs Jay Orr. Photo: Donn Jones
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On Monday (12/12), the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum honored executive Sarah Trahern at the fifth annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum. The forum traced Trahern’s career from her time at C-SPAN to her current position as General Manager-Senior Vice President for Great American Country Television. Among her creations are Opry at Carnegie Hall, Country at the White House and, most notably, the live three-hour telethon Music City: Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief. Made possible by the Gibson Foundation, the forum was established in 2007 to explore issues related to the business side of the music industry and annually recognizes an individual who represents the legacy of pioneering agent-manager Louise Scruggs, the adoring wife and savvy business partner of Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs.
(L-R): 2010 Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum honoree Bonnie Garner, Trahern and Museum Senior Vice President of Public Relations and 2008 honoree Liz Thiels. Photo: Donn Jones