David Lee Rolls to the Top with Easton Corbin
Songwriter David Lee earned his third career No. 1 as “Roll with It” recently topped the charts. On Nov. 19, BMI hosted a celebration to toast the success of the song which was co-written with Tony Lane and Johnny Park and recorded by Easton Corbin. (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Universal Music Publishing’s Pat Higdon, producer Carson Chamberlain, Corbin, Lee, Park, Mercury Nashville’s Katie Dean, Lane and BMI’s Beth Laird. Photo: Steve Lowry

Acoustic and Eclectic East Side Sounds
BMI staged the latest installment of East Side Sounds on Nov. 17 at Rumours East Wine Bar. Highlighting Nashville’s rich scene east of the Cumberland River, the showcase featured locals Eric Wilson, Rayland Baxter and Shane Piasecki, as well as Austin’s Ruby Jane, whose performance doubled as a celebration of her 16th birthday. (L-R): Piasecki, Baxter, BMI’s Beth Laird, Ruby Jane, BMI’s Mark Mason and Wilson. Photo: Eric England

Marty Stuart

Marty Stuart will receive the prestigious Harmony Award at the 2010 Symphony Ball on Saturday, December 11 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel. Also at event, Mayor Karl Dean will be presented with the Gold Baton Award.

The Harmony Award is presented annually to individuals who have supported and helped develop Nashville’s musical culture, and shown particular interest in the many kinds of music which exist here in harmony.

Stuart is a four-time GRAMMY® winner, platinum-selling recording artist, Grand Ole Opry star, country music preservationist and songwriter. Record producer and previous Harmony Award winner Tony Brown explains, “Marty has been the torchbearer and authority on all things ‘Hillbilly, Mountain Music, Bluegrass, Traditional Country and Southern Music,’ period! He is absolutely one of Nashville’s treasures.”

Other previous recipients of the Harmony Award include Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Mike & Linda Curb, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Chet Atkins, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood.

The Gold Baton Award, being presented to Dean, honors individuals who represent the epitome of leadership, community spirit and service to others. This award has been presented by the Nashville Symphony only on rare occasions to acknowledge visionary leadership benefiting the Symphony, the music industry and the Nashville community.

The 26th annual Symphony Ball is being chaired by Lin Andrews and Janet Ayers. The ball annually raises $500,000 for the Symphony and its commitment to artistic excellence and music education. Since its inception in 1985, it has raised a total of more than $6.5 million. This year’s event is being held at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza while Schermerhorn Symphony Center continues to undergo repairs from the May flood.

Late country music icon Waylon Jennings will be honored with a deluxe tribute compilation on February 8, as Scatter Records and the Big Machine Label Group team up to release The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings, Vol. 1. Distribution and promotion will be handled by The Valory Music Co.

The star-studded tribute is part of a three volume project featuring some of country music’s best performing Jennings’ songs, including Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Patty Griffin, and Sunny Sweeney. The lead single from Vol. 1 is “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” which supergroup Alabama reunited to record. The single goes for adds Dec. 13.

The project was conceived in 2007 by Scatter Records founder Witt Stewart, who contacted Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter with the idea. Colter also appears on the tribute, dueting with Sunny Sweeney on “Good Hearted Woman.” Colter and Jennings’ son Shooter pays tribute as well, performing “Belle of the Ball” for Vol. 1. Every performance on the collection earned Jessi and Shooter’s blessing.

“There have been several tribute albums made in my father’s honor, all of which were great tributes to his legacy. But this one has been a true passion project for a lot of artists and friends who truly wanted to remember and give back to the wonderful man he was,” says Shooter. “In the years since my dad passed away, I’ve grown as an artist and I feel this is the first time I’ve been able to give back truly to the man who inspired, influenced and nurtured me and my musical passion.”

Volumes 2 and 3 are due to be released later in 2011.

Vol. 1 tracklist:

1.   This Time – Jamey Johnson
2.   Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way – Alabama
3.   I’m A Ramblin’ Man – Randy Houser
4.   Belle of the Ball – Shooter Jennings
5.   Good Hearted Woman – Sunny Sweeney and Jessi Colter
6.   Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out Of Hand – James Otto
7.   Just To Satisfy You – John Hiatt w Waylon Jennings
8.   Rose In Paradise – Kris Kristofferson and Patty Griffin
9.   You Ask Me To – Trace Adkins
10. Go Down Rockin’ – Waylon Jennings

(Bonus Track)
The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Want To Get Over You) – Chanel Campbell