Don Wayne
[Updated 9/14]
Visitation will be 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. today (9/13) at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN (615) 646-9292.
A life celebration will be held 2:30 p.m. Thursday (9/14) at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home with burial to follow at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens.
Sign the online guestbook.
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Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Don Wayne has died at age 78.
Mark Ford of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) states that the famed composer of such hits as “Country Bumpkin” and “Saginaw, Michigan” passed away last night, Sept. 12.
The songwriter was born Donald William Choate on May 30, 1933. He was a Nashville native. As a boy, he enjoyed listening to Grand Ole Opry stars such as Ernest Tubb and Eddy Arnold on the family’s radio. His early career was as a tool and die maker.
In 1953, Wayne had his first major-label cut as a songwriter when George Morgan recorded his “Lonesome Waltz” for Columbia. The songwriter was also a recording artist, himself. He recorded for Look Records and released several albums on his own in later years.
Don Wayne signed with Tree Publishing in 1963. The following year, Lefty Frizzell took his “Saginaw, Michigan” to the top of the country charts. Wayne went through a somewhat fallow spell as a songwriter, then bounced back with “Country Bumpkin” in 1974. As recorded by Cal Smith, the tune earned Song and/or Single of the Year honors from the CMA, ACM and NSAI.
Other notable Don Wayne copyrights include “The Belles of Southern Bell” (Del Reeves, 1965), “It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler” (Cal Smith, 1975), “What In Her World Did I Do” (Eddy Arnold, 1979), “If Teardrops Were Silver” (Jean Shepard, 1966), “She Talked a Lot About Texas” (Cal Smith, 1975), “Nashville” (David Houston, 1971), “The Marriage Bit” (Lefty Frizzell, 1968) and “Hank” (Hank Williams Jr., 1973).
Wayne’s “Walk Tall,” a 1965 top-10 hit for Faron Young, later became an underground rock favorite via recordings by Stiff Little Fingers and The Popes. Val Doonican made it a huge hit in Great Britain.
Don Wayne’s songs were also recorded by Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Connie Smith, The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Garcia, Tanya Tucker, Tex Ritter, Jack Barlow, Jim & Jesse, Sheb Wooley, Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb, Doug Kershaw, Tommy Cash, The Wilburn Brothers, Hank Snow, Burl Ives, George Jones, Bobby Bare, The Browns and Dick Curless, among many others.
Don Wayne was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1978.
He had been hospitalized for some time and was moved to home hospice about a week ago. At press time, no funeral arrangements had been announced.
Wayne was one of the songwriters who performed at last year’s inaugural event at the Woods at Fontanel. Proceeds from Songwriters Sing for Nashville went to flood relief. Seated (L-R): Fontanel co-owners Marc Oswald and Dale Morris; Standing (L-R): Hugh Prestwood, Roger Murrah, Mike Reid, Dickey Lee, Mark D. Sanders, Don Wayne, Jim Weatherly, Dallas Frazier, Dennis Morgan, Kye Fleming.
Wayne was part of the 1978 class of the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame. Pictured (L-R): Joe Allison, Danny Dill, Don Wayne, Zeke Clements, Curly Putman, Cindy Walker (center), Don Robertson, Marijohn Wilkin, John Loudermilk, Hank Snow, Harlan Howard, Boudleaux Bryant, Jack Clement, standing in for Tom T. Hall - Mrs. Hall.
McBride Partners With Amtrak For Album Promotion
/by FreemanMartina McBride and Amtrak are partnering for “Eleven Across America Powered by Amtrak,” a four-day train ride to promote her Republic Nashville album Eleven due out October 11.
The tour will begin in Los Angeles in October and culminate in New York City, hitting eleven cities in all. On the itinerary in addition to LA and NYC are Flagstaff, Ariz.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Newton, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; Chicago; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia. Fans in Albuquerque, Chicago and NYC will be treated to intimate performances.
“This partnership is perfect for many reasons,” said David Lim, chief marketing officer, Amtrak. “We both value connections. Martina wants to connect even more closely with her fans—her music touches so many people, and is relatable to so many American’s lives—and Amtrak’s trains connect people across the country every day.”
Both Amtrak and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominee McBride are currently celebrating career milestones. Eleven is, of course, McBride’s 11th studio album and she was recently declared the most played female artist on country radio for the past 11 years by BDS and Mediabase. Concurrently, Amtrak is celebrating its 40th anniversary, which it will mark with numerous special promotions and events.
“This album is very special to me, and I wanted to be able to share it with my fans far and wide,” says Martina. “I also wanted to do something that has never been done before, and I thought what better way to do that than with a cross-country train ride with Amtrak where we make several stops along the way? Eleven stops, to be exact. I’m so excited for this journey across America.”
Soundland Prepares To Make A Big Noise
/by FreemanOver 100 artists are scheduled to perform through Saturday, September 24, including Foster The People, Ghostland Observatory, M. Ward, Justin Townes Earle, Yelawolf, Big K.R.I.T., Dawes, Cults, The Low Anthem, JEFF The Brotherhood, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Bonobo, The Ettes, Jonny Corndog, and many more.
Educational Field Trips include a Civil Wars Case Study September 22 at the Belcourt, American Songwriter Sessions with The Low Anthem and Justin Townes Earle (also Sept. 22), the State of A&R (Sept. 23), and more. Check here for full Field Trip details.
Foster The People
VIP badge holders have swanky parties every day of the event, including the Opening Night Reception at TPAC on Sept. 21; the SunTrust Industry Party presented by Loeb & Loeb and The Orchard at Virago Sept. 22; the ASCAP-sponsored BBQ & Beer Day Party at Jackalope Brewery and Nashville Scene & Gibson VIP Party at Gibson Showroom on Sept. 23; and the BMI-sponsored Brunch at Imogene & Willie September 24.
Single day tickets for $25 are still available to some of the shows, including M. Ward (9/21); Foster The People (9/22); Ghostland Observatory (9/22); Justin Townes Earle with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit (9/23); Yelawolf & Big K.R.I.T. (9/24), and the just-announced Neuhoff Factory Party (9/24) with local faves JEFF The Brotherhood, Those Darlins, The Black Belles, Tristen, Jessica Lea Mayfield and more.
M. Ward
Four-day, all music wristbands are also available for $65 that grant access to all shows and venues, with unlimited venue-hopping. For $150, fans can get the full VIP experience that includes all music, VIP parties, field trips, a goodie bag, and plenty of free food and drink.
Artists Give Back
/by Sarah SkatesDuring the recent "Xtreme Muzik The Tour" stop at The Woods Amphitheater at Fontanel, co-headliners Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich surprised Air Force veteran Shaun Meadows with a new house. It will be built with proceeds from the show in conjunction with Operation Finally Home. Meadows lost both legs during combat and has since become the first active-duty double amputee in Air Force history to successfully perform a personnel drop (skydive).
• A benefit for Mark Wehner is tonight (9/14) at Douglas Corner at 6 pm. Set to perform are Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Pat McLaughlin, Sally Mudd, The 1861 Project and more. Wehner, a longtime Americana music supporter, has stage four cancer.
Performing at the fundraiser Tolliver (L) and Warrix (R). Credit: Debbie Wallace
• Chad Warrix and David Tolliver, formerly of Halfway to Hazard, teamed with Concerts 4 A Cause to host the Crockettsville, Ky. Charity Concert and Trail Ride to benefit children of adoption and foster care. Helping raise over $80,000 were artists Randy Houser, Keith Anderson, Christian Kane, Danielle Peck, Gabe Garcia, Craig Wayne Boyd, Larry Cordle and Lisa Torres.
• Collin Raye has been named national spokesperson of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, a foundation created by her parents and siblings following her death by starvation in 2005.
• Peter Cetera will perform a concert Sept. 22 at The Factory at Franklin to benefit Christ Presbyterian Academy. Details at www.cpalions.org/petercetera.
• New compilation album My Country: Smash Hits 2 features tracks from Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Jamie O’Neal and many more to benefit the Fisher House Foundation. In addition, F3 Technologies and Stadium Entertainment are offering a contest for fans to enter a video of their soldier’s homecoming and become a part of the music video for O’Neal’s single “Soldier Comin’ Home,” which is on the album. The contest runs until Sept. 30 here.
• The 10th annual John Jarrard Foundation Concert runs Sept. 23-24 at Brenau University in Gainesville, Ga. featuring a songwriting seminar, and performers including Steve Dorff, Manuel Seal, Jan Smith, ZBB’s Jon Driskell Hopkins, Greg Barnhill, Will Robinson, Mark Beeson. Katie Deal, Stella Parton, Rachel Farley, and Blackberry Smoke. Late songwriter Jarrard is a Gainesville native with several country hits who was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The concert benefits local charities. Details here.
• Global humanitarian organization World Vision has added several Country music artists to its growing list of supporters in the United States and around the world. Joining the World Vision efforts are Attwater, Carter’s Chord, Jason Crabb, Sarah Darling, Lainey Edwards, LoCash Cowboys and Gary Morris.
Ty Herndon and former NFL player Kevin Turner were celebrity spokespersons for the 10th annual CVS/pharmacy “Researching A Cure” ALS fundraising campaign. On Sept. 1 at Boston’s Fenway Park they presented a check to the ALS Therapy Alliance for $4.3 million. Pictured (L-R): Kevin Turner, Ty Herndon, and campaign co-chairs Barry Winovich and Treg Charlton. Photo: Sue Bruce Photography.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/14/11)
/by Robert K OermannWith Sunny Sweeney, Merle Haggard and newcomer Glenn Kearney leading the charge, this listening session was packed with hard-core sounds. There’s not a pop platter in the stack.
A lot of this week’s tunes are ballads, but some of these sounds can really rock your world. Definitely turn it up when you put on Sunny, Kyle Park or our Disc of the Day winner, MCA’s Kip Moore. I was a huge fan of Kip’s “Mary Was the Marrying Kind,” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” delivers on that initial promise in spades.
Honky-tonk balladeer Kearney competes with Canada’s Ashley Robertson, New Orleans newcomer Josh Charles and Sea Gayle/Arista’s Brent Anderson for this week’s DisCovery Award. Inventive songsmith Brent gets the nod.
KYLE PARK/Make Or Break Me
Writer: Kyle Park/Ryan Beaver; Producer: Kyle Park; Publisher: Walk in the Park/St. Beaver, BMI; Winning Road (track) (www.kylepark.com)
—Produced with plenty of oomph—crashing guitars, thudding percussion, slippery steel and admirable energy. The driving, melodic country rocker has a splendid undertow beneath his boyish tenor delivery. Listenable in the extreme.
SUNNY SWEENEY/Drink Myself Single
Writer: Monty Holmes/Sunny Sweeney; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Funky Merle/EMI April/Ash Street/Richardson Zuleger/Bluewater/Big Music Machine/Three Minute Movie/Super 98, ASCAP/BMI; Republic Nashville (track)
—It’s a gutsy, gal honky-tonker loaded with drawling attitude. The steel-soaked track stirs up a ruckus while she serves notice that she’s going on a tear. It’s enough to make you believe in real country music all over again. Grade: A-plus.
GLENN KEARNEY/Broken Heart
Writer: Tommy Barnes; Producer: Steve Tveit; Publisher: Glenn Kearney, BMI; GK (www.glennkearneymusic.com)
—His aching baritone is as warm as a campfire on this weeper ballad. Classic sounding.
BRENT ANDERSON/Amy’s Song
Writer: none listed; Producer: Frank Rogers; Publisher: none listed; Sea Gayle/Arista (track)
—I like his soft, lightly rasping vocal delivery on this yearning salute to the Pure Prairie League 1975 hit “Amie.” The group’s alumni Craig Fuller and Vince Gill provide the vocal harmonies.
JOSH CHARLES/Life Ain’t Fair
Writer: Josh Charles/Milton L. Brown; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Downhome (www.joshcharlesmusic.com)
—This downbeat, hard-luck-in-hard-times lament is performed at a languid, resigned pace that underscores its message of defeat. Definitely a song for today.
JOSH THOMPSON/Change
Writer: Josh Thompson/Phil O’Donnell/Chris Wallin; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia (CDX)
—The lyric’s message is the more things change, the more they stay the same. Josh’s plain-spoken delivery is set to a deliberate, shuffling tempo underscored by sighing, keening electric guitar work. At first listen, it seems a mite dull, but I have a feeling it could grow on me.
KIP MOORE/Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck
Writer: Kip Moore/Dan Couch; Producer: Brett James; Publisher: Music of Stage Three/Songs of Comman/Roll Through/BMG Chrysalis/Songs From the Couch, BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—This former DisCovery Award winner has a cool, blue-collar-rocker vibe that gets more and more intense as this thumper progresses. I dig everything about this—the way it’s written, the way he wails it, the insistent percussion, the instrumental fade, everything.
FREDDY POWERS & MERLE HAGGARD/Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn
Writer: Freddy Powers; Producer: Merle Haggard, Freddy Powers & Lou Bradley; Publisher: Air Fred, BMI; Hag (CDX) (www.freddypowers.com)
—Powers is a veteran country-jazz fusion man who has always been cooler than the breeze. He and Hag swap lines with warmth, camaraderie and gentle swingability here, while his guitar filligrees embellish the the track beautifully. The sound of two masters at work.
ASHLEY ROBERTSON/Return to Me
Writer: Ashley Robertson; Producer: Ashley Robertson; Publisher: none listed, SOCAN; AR (Canada) (www.ashleyrobertson.com)
—Minor key, melodically repetitive and faintly Celtic sounding. Utterly unprogramable.
SEAN PATRICK McGRAW/What I’d Do
Writer: Sean Patrick McGraw/Ann Chappell/Jason Jones; Producer: Sean Patrick McGraw; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Little Engine (track) (www.seanpatrickmcgraw.com)
—This longtime Music Row fave is back with a shuddering ballad of heartbreak and regret. The song is so tuneful and ultra hooky that if his version doesn’t strike paydirt, somebody else should cover it pronto. A super effort.
Loeb & Loeb Promotes Tiffany Dunn
/by Sarah SkatesTiffany Dunn
Tiffany A. Dunn, an associate in Loeb & Loeb’s Nashville office, has been promoted to Senior Counsel. She is a transactional lawyer working primarily in the music, television and motion picture industries and focusing on entertainment, corporate and intellectual property transactions, copyright and trademark protection as well as a talent practice. Her clients include recording artists, songwriters, producers, publishing companies, record labels, production companies, management companies and other parties in the music industry.
“Tiffany is an important part of the tight-knit and specialized team that makes up our Nashville office,” says John T. Frankenheimer, chair of the firm’s Music Industry Practice Group. “The practice there has continually evolved to serve our diverse array of clients and top flight talent in a range of transactional, corporate and intellectual property matters unique to the industry.”
Dunn is a regular speaker on music law related topics at industry conferences and events. She received her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law, and her B.B.A. cum laude from Belmont University. She can be reached at tdunn@loeb.com.
Industry Ink Tuesday (9/13/11)
/by Sarah SkatesNashville’s Exit/In marked its 40th anniversary with a series of concerts featuring performers from throughout the venue’s history. Among those taking the stage were Guy Clark, Griffin House, Clayton Bellamy, Marshall Chapman, Mac Gayden, Will Kimbrough, Tommy Womack, and Buzz Cason. Proceeds went to MusiCares. Pictured singing (L-R): Tracy Nelson and Dianne Davidson, the venue's first ever performer. Photo: Alan Mayor
• City National Bank and The Recording Academy® will present NSAI’s World’s Largest No. 1 Party on Mon., Sept. 19. The event runs 4 – 5:30 p.m. and honors the past year’s top songwriters in Nashville. Join them under the big tent in the NSAI parking lot (1710 Roy Acuff Place, the former Music Mill).
• Warner Music Nashville has added Raffaella Braun to the W.A.R. promotion team as West Coast Promotions Manager beginning Fri., Sept. 16. Braun most recently worked at Creative Artists Agency. She will report directly to Chris Palmer, W.A.R. VP of Promotion. Contact Braun beginning Friday at (973) 930-9118 or raffaella.braun@wmg.com.
John Esposito, wife Chantel, and baby Isabella
• Also joining the Warner team is Isabella Heather Esposito, born Sept. 10 to President & CEO of Warner Music Nashville John Esposito and wife, Chantel. She is the couple’s first child and weighed in at 7lbs, 9oz, and 21.4 inches long. She joins siblings Jessica and Johnny. Espo happily reports that Isabella has already smiled at the sight of a Steelers Terrible Towel. Her other immediate plans include listening to Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.”
• Sony Music Nashville was named all-genre Label of the Year at the recent Trans World convention, and Sony Music Entertainment won Vendor of the Year. Trans World Entertainment Corporation operates over 400 stores, the majority of which are united under the brand name F.Y.E. (For Your Entertainment).
• Kent Earls, Senior VP of Creative at Universal Music Publishing Group, and hit songwriter Joe Doyle will lead a Songwriters Law Seminar on Oct. 1 at the Listening Room. Running 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., the event will cover copyright and collaboration, publishing contracts, and singer-songwriter recording agreements. Registration here or contact Brian Mencher for more information at brian@bmlawgroup.com, or (718) 390-3503.
Pictured are Jerry Foster (L) and Museum Editor Michael Gray (R). Photo: John Russell
• The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum honored Jerry Foster in its quarterly Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters series on Sept. 10. Throughout the program, which included archival recordings and videos, Foster discussed his forty-plus years writing songs, including his 19-year stint with Bill Rice as the songwriting duo Foster and Rice. The pair is one of the most decorated songwriting teams in ASCAP history with a catalog that includes “The Day the World Stood Still,” “Here Comes the Hurt Again” and “Thirty Nine and Holding.”
• SuperStar Records is launching with a new release by Grammy® winning producer, songwriter and solo artist Tom Hambridge. The new company was formed by Hambridge; entertainment attorney, television producer and creative architect Michael Holstein; and business executive, marketer, and entrepreneur John Heithaus. The SuperStar Records office is located at 9 Music Sq. S., Suite #276, Nashville, TN 37203. Call them at 866-803-5825 x101. BOOM! is Hambridge’s sixth solo album.
Arrangements For Hit Songwriter Don Wayne
/by Robert K OermannDon Wayne
[Updated 9/14]
Visitation will be 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. today (9/13) at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN (615) 646-9292.
A life celebration will be held 2:30 p.m. Thursday (9/14) at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home with burial to follow at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens.
Sign the online guestbook.
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Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Don Wayne has died at age 78.
Mark Ford of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) states that the famed composer of such hits as “Country Bumpkin” and “Saginaw, Michigan” passed away last night, Sept. 12.
The songwriter was born Donald William Choate on May 30, 1933. He was a Nashville native. As a boy, he enjoyed listening to Grand Ole Opry stars such as Ernest Tubb and Eddy Arnold on the family’s radio. His early career was as a tool and die maker.
In 1953, Wayne had his first major-label cut as a songwriter when George Morgan recorded his “Lonesome Waltz” for Columbia. The songwriter was also a recording artist, himself. He recorded for Look Records and released several albums on his own in later years.
Don Wayne signed with Tree Publishing in 1963. The following year, Lefty Frizzell took his “Saginaw, Michigan” to the top of the country charts. Wayne went through a somewhat fallow spell as a songwriter, then bounced back with “Country Bumpkin” in 1974. As recorded by Cal Smith, the tune earned Song and/or Single of the Year honors from the CMA, ACM and NSAI.
Other notable Don Wayne copyrights include “The Belles of Southern Bell” (Del Reeves, 1965), “It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler” (Cal Smith, 1975), “What In Her World Did I Do” (Eddy Arnold, 1979), “If Teardrops Were Silver” (Jean Shepard, 1966), “She Talked a Lot About Texas” (Cal Smith, 1975), “Nashville” (David Houston, 1971), “The Marriage Bit” (Lefty Frizzell, 1968) and “Hank” (Hank Williams Jr., 1973).
Wayne’s “Walk Tall,” a 1965 top-10 hit for Faron Young, later became an underground rock favorite via recordings by Stiff Little Fingers and The Popes. Val Doonican made it a huge hit in Great Britain.
Don Wayne’s songs were also recorded by Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Connie Smith, The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Garcia, Tanya Tucker, Tex Ritter, Jack Barlow, Jim & Jesse, Sheb Wooley, Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb, Doug Kershaw, Tommy Cash, The Wilburn Brothers, Hank Snow, Burl Ives, George Jones, Bobby Bare, The Browns and Dick Curless, among many others.
Don Wayne was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1978.
He had been hospitalized for some time and was moved to home hospice about a week ago. At press time, no funeral arrangements had been announced.
Wayne was one of the songwriters who performed at last year’s inaugural event at the Woods at Fontanel. Proceeds from Songwriters Sing for Nashville went to flood relief. Seated (L-R): Fontanel co-owners Marc Oswald and Dale Morris; Standing (L-R): Hugh Prestwood, Roger Murrah, Mike Reid, Dickey Lee, Mark D. Sanders, Don Wayne, Jim Weatherly, Dallas Frazier, Dennis Morgan, Kye Fleming.
Wayne was part of the 1978 class of the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame. Pictured (L-R): Joe Allison, Danny Dill, Don Wayne, Zeke Clements, Curly Putman, Cindy Walker (center), Don Robertson, Marijohn Wilkin, John Loudermilk, Hank Snow, Harlan Howard, Boudleaux Bryant, Jack Clement, standing in for Tom T. Hall - Mrs. Hall.
GAC Takes Stars Back to Their Day Jobs
/by contributorJoe Nichols gives warehouse dock work another go on GAC Day Jobs.
By Caitlin Rantala
On Oct. 2 GAC premieres Day Jobs, an original series that follows country artists as they revisit the day jobs they had before they had airtime on the radio. Each one-hour episode will show three artists as they work an eight-hour shift at their prior place of employment.
Artists featured in Day Jobs include Trace Adkins (roughneck/offshore oil rig), Chris Young (AC unit installation), Craig Morgan (Army soldier), Kimberly Schlapman (waitress), Neal McCoy (women’s shoe salesman), Rodney Atkins (landscaper), Chuck Wicks (potato farmer), Josh Kelley (golf instructor), Eddie Montgomery (butcher), Joe Nichols (warehouse dock worker), Aaron Tippin (corporate jet pilot), David Nail (Dairy Queen employee), Darryl Worley (commercial fisherman), Easton Corbin (Ace Hardware employee), Gary Allan (construction worker), Phil Vassar (restaurant owner), Troy Gentry (bartender), Danny Gokey (truck driver), and Clay Walker (cattle rancher).
“Country music has long epitomized the working man and it was great to see so many stars wanting to tell their stories and revisit their early jobs alongside the hard working people doing those jobs today,” said GAC President Ed Hardy. “Viewers will get rare insight—straight from the stars themselves—about an important part of these artists’ lives.”
Many of the stars, including Adkins, had to put in additional training hours to re-qualify for the old gigs.
Day Jobs is produced by Taillight TV, producer Sarah Brock, and executive producers Tom Forrest and Thom Oliphant.
Other new programming coming to GAC includes Tom’s Wild Life, featuring famed outfitter Tom McMillan and celebrity friends such as Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, who retreat to his Kansas ranch. Set to premiere Sun., Sept. 18 at 8:00 p.m./CT.
And George Strait sat down for a rare two-part interview with Storme Warren on Headline Country, with the second installment airing Thurs., Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m./CT.
George Strait talks about his new album with Storme Warren.
Johnny Reid Leads Canadian Country Music Awards
/by Sarah SkatesJohnny Reid
Leading nominee Johnny Reid was the opening performer at last night’s Canadian Country Music Awards and went on to win three trophies. At the event in Hamilton, Ontario he received CMT Video of the Year for “Today I’m Gonna Try And Change The World,” Male Artist of the Year, and the coveted Fans’ Choice Award. His album A Place Called Love also won Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year at the previous night’s Gala Awards.
Dean Brody took home two 2011 Canadian Country Music Awards, Single of the Year for “Trial of Life,” and Album of the Year for Trial of Life. Terri Clark went home with Female Artist of the Year and trio Hey Romeo took Group or Duo of the Year. Last year’s New Artist Showcase winner Chad Brownlee won his first Canadian Country Music Award for Rising Star.
Canada’s biggest country artists graced the stage at Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum. Presenters included Deric Ruttan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Ronnie Dunn, Ron James, Howie Dorough and Michelle Wright as well as a rare duet by Doc Walker and Luke Bryan, collaborating on a performance of their songs that share the same name, “Country Girl.”
Fans’ Choice Award: Johnny Reid
Single Of The Year: “Trail In Life” Dean Brody
Album Of The Year: Trail In Life, Dean Brody
CMT Video Of The Year: “Today I’m Gonna Try And Change The World” Johnny Reid
Female Artist Of The Year: Terri Clark
Male Artist Of The Year: Johnny Reid
Group Or Duo Of The Year: Hey Romeo
Rising Star: Chad Brownlee
Music Council Refocuses, Rebrands
/by Sarah SkatesNow known as the Music City Music Council (MC2), the new moniker emphasizes one of Nashville’s most important offerings, its music. “We’re not just any city. We are Music City, and that designation is an appropriate and descriptive name for the Council as it works to further cement our Music City identity,” explains Mayor Karl Dean. “Under this new structure, the Music Council will be better equipped to recruit entertainment companies and visitors to our city and all that Nashville offers.”
MC2 is co-chaired by Dean and Music Row veteran Randy Goodman, who was most recently president of Lyric Street Records. Goodman says, “As we evaluated different approaches and strategic initiatives toward our overarching goals, it became obvious it was necessary to downsize the Council to be nimble and focused enough to give appropriate and timely counsel to the Mayor, his staff, the Chamber and the CVB.” Previously, sixty artists and music executives served on the Council. The new 21-member body places a greater focus on economic development.
Additionally, Honey Hopkins has been hired to the newly created, full-time position of director of the Music City Music Council. Hopkins, who had served as the liaison between the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Music Council, will manage the group’s initiatives and day-to-day operations.
The Council includes: Co-Chairs, Dean and Goodman; Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau; Ralph Schulz, president and CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; and Mary Ann McCready, immediate past co-chair.
Committee chairs: Ryman Auditorium General Manager Sally Williams, chair of the Live Music Committee; Vector Management Partner Ken Levitan, chair of the Business Development Committee; Nancy Shapiro of The Recording Academy, chair of the Education Committee; Bohan & Associates Partner David Bohan, chair of the Marketing Committee; and Country Music Association CEO Steve Moore, chair of the Association and Trade Organizations Committee. Goodman will chair the Hospitality Committee.
At-large members: Joe Galante; Clarence Spalding, president, Spalding Entertainment; Troy Tomlinson, CEO, Nashville Sony/ATV Publishing; David Ingram, chairman and president, Ingram Entertainment Inc.; Scott Clayton of Creative Artists Agency; Mike Wells, president and CEO, Jackson National Life Insurance Co., and Steve Turner, principal, MarketStreet Enterprises.
The organization launched in 2009 as a partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Honey Hopkins can be reached at (615) 880-1506 or hhopkins@musiccitymusiccouncil.com.