NARAS Elects New Nashville Officers

/by

Daniel Hill, Doug Howard, and Carla Wallace were elected as officers of the Nashville Chapter Board of the The Recording Academy. Hill will serve as President, Howard will serve as Vice President, and Wallace is the new Secretary. The newly elected officers will work in conjunction with The Recording Academy® staff and Chapter Board regarding the Chapter’s local programs and initiatives.

“We are fortunate to have the diversity and breadth of music industry experience available to The Academy with the election of our new slate of Chapter Presidents around the country,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “With their backgrounds, combined with the strong capabilities of our Chapter and National staff, we will continue to enhance and broaden our professional development and networking events, health and human services, advocacy initiatives, and music education programs for our membership. I look forward to working with our new elected leaders.”

About The Officers:
Hill is the President of Cal IV Entertainment, and is a 23-year veteran of music publishing in Nashville. Since joining the independent music publisher in 2000, the company has had hits by numerous artists including Rodney Atkins, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Keith Urban, and Lee Ann Womack.  Cal IV’s song “If You’re Going Through Hell” was distinguished as the 2007 ASCAP Country Song of the Year, and their writer Dave Berg was named the 2008 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year. Prior to Cal IV, Hill was VP, acting GM at PolyGram/Universal Music Publishing. He is an alumnus of Leadership Music, an executive committee board member of the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee, member of the ACM, CMA, and a voting member of The Recording Academy.

Howard is the former Senior Vice President of A&R for Disney’s Lyric Street Records where he served as head of A&R since its inception in 1997.  He’s worked with Sarah Buxton, Bucky Covington, Rascal Flatts, Love and Theft, SHeDAISY, and Aaron Tippin. In addition, he also served as the GM of the Nashville Disney Publishing office.  Previously, Howard was the VP/GM of PolyGram Music/Nashville where he represented the song catalogs of Angelo, Billy Ray Cyrus, Toby Keith, Gordon Kennedy, Kostas, Dickey Lee, Bob McDill, Ricky Skaggs, Don Williams, and many others. Howard has served as Trustee and Chapter President for The Recording Academy and is the current chair of the advisory board for the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University.

Wallace is a native Nashvillian and Belmont University grad.  She has worked in the publishing industry for more than 15 years.  Throughout those years she has worked with writer/ artists including NRBQ’s Al Anderson, Shawn Camp, Josh Kear, Pat McLaughlin, Vanguard Recording Artist Mindy Smith, John Scott Sherrill, and many others.  She previously pitched songs for Bluewater Music and Little Big Town Music. In 1998 she partnered with Kerry O’Neil to form Big Yellow Dog Music. Since then, the company has had 13 No.1 songs and 11 top ten songs including numerous Toby Keith recordings and Lady Antebellum’s multi-platinum downloaded single “Need You Now.” Big Yellow Dog has garnered awards including BMI 2006 Song Of The Year, ASCAP’s 2007 Song Of The Year, 2010 ACM Song Of The Year, and GRAMMY®-winning Country Song Of The Year for “Before He Cheats.” Wallace currently serves on the The Recording Academy and Nashville Human Association boards and is a Leadership Music alumnus.

Alan Jackson’s Estate Sells For $28 Million

/by

The 135-acre Williamson county estate belonging to Alan Jackson has sold for $28 million. He placed the home on the market almost a year ago for an initial asking price of $38 million. The Nashville Post reports the buyer is a trust in the name of Willis and Reba Johnson. He is the founder and chairman of the publicly traded California company Copart Inc., which auctions off wrecked cars for insurance companies and other institutions. Read the full story here.

Chevy Parade, Party To Open CMA Music Fest

/by

The CMA’s relationship with longtime supporter Chevy is still going strong. The CMA announced today that a Chevy sponsored parade and block party will kick-off the CMA Music Festival on Wed., June 9. Both events are free and open to the public.

The parade starts at 11:30 AM/CT, with Brenda Lee as Grand Marshal and members of the National Guard driving artists in Chevy vehicles. Participating in the parade will be Lynn Anderson, Katie Armiger, Rodney Atkins, The Band Perry, Bo Bice, Ash Bowers, Carter Twins, Jeff Cook, Diana DeGarmo, Fast Ryde, Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, The Grascals, The Harters, Buddy Jewell, KingBilly, Jesse Lee, LoCash Cowboys, Lonestar, Jerrod Neimann, James Otto, Danielle Peck, Point of Grace, Marty Raybon, Pam Tillis, Trent Tomlinson, and Chuck Wicks.

The Fifth Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party will follow the parade at 1 PM on the Chevy Music Stage on the Bridgestone Arena Plaza (corner of Fifth Ave. and Broadway).
12:50 PM-12:55 PM Bria Kelly (National Anthem)
1:00 PM-1:20 PM David Nail
1:35 PM-1:55 PM Chuck Wicks
2:10 PM-2:30 PM Jerrod Neimann
2:45 PM-3:15 PM Joe Nichols
3:30 PM-4:00 PM Randy Houser

The Chevy Music Stage on the Bridgestone Arena Plaza Free and open Thursday – Sunday, June 10-13 (see schedule below). At the stage, fans can test drive a new Chevy and the car maker will donate $10 for every test drive to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s flood relief efforts.

Thursday, June 10
11:00 AM-11:25 AM Bomshel
11:45 AM-12:10 PM  Tyler Dickerson
12:30 PM-12:55 PM  Jaron and the Long Road to Love
1:15 PM-1:40 PM  Blaine Larsen
2:00 PM-2:25 PM  Randy Montana
2:45 PM-3:10 PM  Kentucky HeadHunters
3:30 PM-4:30 PM  Classic Country Show featuring Lynn Anderson, Jim Ed Brown with Helen Cornelius, Jeannie Seely, and Gene Watson
4:50 PM-5:15 PM  Doug Stone

Friday, June 11
11:00 AM-11:25 AM  James Wesley
11:45 AM-12:10 PM  Katie Armiger
12:30 PM-12:55 PM  Mark Wills
1:15 PM-1:40 PM  Fast Ryde
2:00 PM-2:25 PM  The Harters
2:45 PM-3:10 PM  Steve Azar
3:30 PM-3:55 PM  Chris Janson
4:15 PM-4:40 PM  Brantley Gilbert
5:00 PM-5:25 PM  Emily West

Saturday, June 12
11:00 AM-11:25 AM  Trent Tomlinson
11:45 AM-12:10 PM  Jesse Lee
12:30 PM-12:55 PM  Brady Seals
1:15 PM-1:40 PM  Mallary Hope
2:00 PM-2:25 PM  Ash Bowers
2:45 PM-3:10 PM  Julie Roberts
3:30 PM-3:55 PM  Jason Boland
4:15 PM-4:40 PM  Thompson Square
5:00 PM-5:25 PM  Shel
5:45 PM-6:10 PM  Bo Bice

Sunday, June 13
11:45 AM-12:10 PM  Whitney Duncan
12:30 PM-12:55 PM  KingBilly
1:15 PM-1:40 PM  Carter’s Chord
2:00 PM-2:25 PM  Confederate Railroad
2:45 PM-3:10 PM  Jason Michael Carroll
3:30 PM-3:55 PM  Trailer Choir
4:15 PM-4:40 PM  LoCash Cowboys
5:00 PM-5:25 PM  Stealing Angels

http://www.cmafest.com/

Melissa Peterman To Host CMT Red Carpet

/by

CMT has tapped Melissa Peterman to host the red carpet special for its upcoming awards show. The comedienne and host of the CMT series The Singing Bee, will be joined by fellow CMT host Evan Farmer at the event airing live on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.

The network is ramping up fan interaction initiatives for its upcoming show. Throughout the one-hour red carpet special, fans at home can see artists on the CMT Skype candid camera. They can also submit red carpet questions for consideration to Peterman via @Followtheblonde or @FollowCMT on Twitter in the coming weeks.

Peterman will also serve as backstage correspondent during the 2010 CMT Music Awards, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and timed to coincide with the CMA Music Festival.

Scheduled to perform on the awards show are Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band, with more to be announced. Presenters will include Trisha Yearwood, Zac Brown Band, celebrity cook Paula Deen, American Idol’s Kara Dioguardi, the NFL’s Terrell Owens, actress Hayden Panettiere, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson, with Kid Rock set to host.

Fan Events Surround CMA Fest

/by

CMA Music Festival officially runs June 10-13, but events for fans start as early as June 8. Here’s a run-down of some of the events sent to MusicRow. If you would like your event to be listed, please email news@musicrow.com.

••The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has special programming on the docket. During June 8-13, Museum visitors will be able to attend autograph signings and/or performances featuring some of country music’s most popular artists. Live from the Museum Store, Presented by CMT, will include autograph signings with Dierks Bentley, Diamond Rio, Danny Gokey, Jake Owen, Josh Turner and Trisha Yearwood, and a performance by and autograph signing with Cherryholmes. The Museum will also present a special Songwriter Session with Jeffrey Steele. Details at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

•• City of Hope’s 20th annual Celebrity Softball Challenge will be June 7 at 7 p.m. at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Playing for the “After MidNite with Blair Garner” team are Keith Anderson, MLB’s Ben Broussard, Chuck Wicks, David Nail, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Luke Bryan, comedienne Melissa Peterman, JP Dumont of the Nashville Predators, CMT’s Katie Cook as emcee, Mike Gossin and Rachel Reinart of Gloriana, Randy Montana, Savannah Jack, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ken Amato and Donnie Nickey of the Titans, Vince Gill and Whitney Duncan. Grand Ole Opry team players include Brian Lambert as coach, Carrie Underwood, Cheyenne Kimball and Tom Gossin of Gloriana, Craig Morgan, Colt Ford, Felix Cavaliere, Jaron & the Long Road to Love, Jason Aldean, Wade Belak of the Nashville Predators, Julianne Hough, Justin Moore, Mallary Hope, GAC’s Storme Warren as emcee, The Band Perry, Titans Courtland Finnegan and Justin Gage, Trailer Choir and Two Foot Fred. Tickets ($20) are available at www.ticketmaster.com. An online auction is at www.auctionsforhope.org.

••The Porter Wagoner Memorial Artists & Anglers Fishing Tournament is set for Tuesday, June 8. Country music artists and celebrities will be paired up with top professional bass anglers for a day of fishing on Nashville’s J. Percy Priest Lake. Bobby Bare, Mel Tillis, Ash Bowers, Jeff Cook, Easton Corbin, Andy Griggs, Todd Harrell of Three Doors Down, Wade Hayes, Brice Long, Matt Kennon, Jeremy McComb, Trent Willmon and others are set to participate. The weigh-in will take place at the Music Valley Event Center. In addition, the pre-tournament reception and flood relief party scheduled for Monday, June 7, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., will be at the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant in Hendersonville, TN.

••Lynn Anderson and George Hamilton IV will co-host the 31st Sunday Mornin’ Country® Celebration at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theatre on June 13 at 2:30 pm. The inspirational event will feature performances by Louise Mandrell, Buddy Jewell, Jason Crabb, Gary Morris, T. Graham Brown, a reunion of many original “Hee Haw” cast members, and a musical tribute to the legendary Roy Clark. Tickets are $20 and available at  www.TPAC.org or by calling TPAC, 615-782-4040. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank.

••The R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Proffessional Entertainers) Spectaclur will be Wed. June 9, 7 p.m. at the Al Menah Shriner’s Temple in Nashville. It will be hosted by Keith Bilbrey with performances by Lorrie Morgan, Crystal Gayle, John Conlee, Charlie McCoy, Tommy Cash, David Frizzell and more. Adult admission is $20, and children are $10. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to flood relief. For details call Leslie Elliott at (615) 860-9257. Ticket orders can be sent to  R.O.P.E., PO Box 2048, Madison, TN 37116.

••Darryl Worley’s fan club party is set for Tuesday, June 8 at The Stage on Broadway. Doors open at 11 am, followed by a performance and autograph signing.

Among the other previously announced events are:

June 7
7th Annual CMA Global Artist Party at The Stage On Broadway
Darius Rucker and Friends Benefit Concert for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at Wildhorse Saloon

June 8
7th Annual AristoMedia Global Showcase at The Second Fiddle
Chely Wright’s 10th Annual Reading, Writing, and Rhythm Concert at TPAC – James K. Polk Theater
Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert at Wildhorse Saloon

June 9
2010 CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena
Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam at Ryman Auditorium

June 12
Grand Ole Opry Fan Fair Matinee featuring Pam Tillis, Mandy Barnett, Mark Chesnutt, and more at Ryman Auditorium

Bluebird Birthday Bash; Wildhorse To Reopen

/by

The Bluebird Cafe is planning its 28th Birthday Bash, set for June 9 at 9 p.m. On the line-up are Will Barrow, Ric Lonow, Mike Loudermilk, Toni Sehulster, Shawn Camp, Cowboy Jack Clement, Ashley Cleveland, Gail Davies, Jimmy Hall, Michael Johnson, Carleton Moody, Jonell Mosser, Frank Sheen and Roberto Bianco. All of the performers will be backed by The Jay Patten Band. Patten played the first-ever show at The Bluebird Café and has continued to return annually for the Birthday Bash.

The show will be presented as part of The Bluebird Café’s BirdSongs Campaign, which was established to help secure the future of the venue, currently under the direction of COO Erika Wollam Nichols. The cost is $20.00. For more information or for reservations visit: www.bluebirdcafe.com.

••••••••••••••••••

The Wildhorse Saloon will reopen its doors this weekend, following the flood that ravaged much of downtown Nashville and other areas. The Wildhorse is returning in time for the CMA Music Festival, and is holding a grand reopening event Saturday, June 5, from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Lifenotes: Ella Tomlinson, Mother of Troy Tomlinson

/by

Condolences to Sony/ATV President/CEO Troy Tomlinson and his family on the passing of his mother, Ella Tomlinson, on May 30.

The devoted wife and mother was born in Sumner County, TN and retired from Eaton Corp. in Gallatin in 1984.

She is survived by four sons, James (Faye) Wright of Gallatin; Bobby (Polly) Wright of Gallatin; Troy (Sylvia) Tomlinson of Portland; and Tim (Vanessa) Tomlinson of Portland; daughter, Mary Watson of Jackson, TN; ten grandchildren; several great grandchildren; sisters and brothers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Tomlinson.

Funeral services for Mrs. Tomlinson will be held at 1 p.m. today (Tuesday, June 1) at Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home in Portland, TN, followed by interment in Old Brush Cemetery. Visitation will precede from 10 a.m. until the funeral at 1 p.m. Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home can be reached at (615) 325-4191.

The Flying Cowboy Passes

/by

Longtime Fan Fair favorite Jimmy Kish, known as “The Flying Cowboy,” died in Nashville last Thursday at age 84.

Mr. Kish was a guitarist, songwriter, publisher, actor, square-dance caller, radio personality and licensed pilot. He had a booth at the first Fan Fair celebration in 1972 and has been a fixture there ever since. Initially, he had his own booth, complete with a plywood airplane. In more recent years he built and managed the booth for The Pioneers of Country Music, known as The Reunionaires.

The Ohio native entered show business in 1945, performing on a medicine show. His singing, guitar playing and square-dance calling led to a radio job on KCOR in San Antonio. Other early radio jobs included WJHP in Jacksonville and KWBN in Williston, North Dakota.

He appeared in the 1946 movie Geronimo Pass with Red River Dave. Returning to Ohio, he worked at radio stations in Youngstown and Ashtabula.

In 1952, Jimmy Kish & His Radio Cowboys became the staff band on WHK in Cleveland. In 1952-54, he was a regular on Pee Wee King’s television show. It was at this time that he earned his pilot’s license. He made a number of records, both as a singer and as a square dance caller.

In 1966, while hosting a radio show on WELW in Willoughby, Ohio, he flew a group of country fans to Nashville to see the Grand Ole Opry. An announcer dubbed him “The Flying Cowboy,” and the nickname stuck.

In later years, Mr. Kish did cameos in music videos by George Jones, Hank Williams Jr. and Garth Brooks and in the movies Ernest Goes to Jail, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Living Proof and Sweet Dreams.

Jimmy Kish passed away on May 27. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth Kish, by five children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The funeral was Monday, May 31, with burial following at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Country Singer Judy Lynn Passes

/by

Country singer, Las Vegas headliner and former beauty-pageant queen Judy Lynn has died at age 74.

Ms. Lynn recorded more than a dozen albums and had hit singles with such titles as “Footsteps of a Fool” (1962) and “My Secret” (1963). She was also renowned as the most flamboyantly costumed country star of her generation.

Born Judy Lynn Voiten in 1936, she was the daughter of bandleader Joe Voiten. Raised in rural Idaho, she was an authentic cowgirl who could rope and ride at an early age.

She first performed in public at age 10. Blonde and blue-eyed, she was named Queen of the Snake River Jamboree in 1952. The following year, she was crowned America’s Champion Yodeler. She competed as Miss Idaho in the 1955 Miss America contest and finished as a runner-up.

In 1957, she was chosen to co-host the first national Grand Ole Opry network telecast. She also became a frequent guest on Jimmy Dean’s network television show. During her heyday in the 1960s she had her own syndicated TV series.

She signed with ABC-Paramount Records in 1957. Although she had no notable successes with the label, Billboard named her its Most Promising Female Country Singer later that same year. United Artists Records signed Ms. Lynn in 1962. Produced by Pappy Dailey, she had a top-10 hit that year with “Footsteps of a Fool.” She wrote two of her other hits for the label, “My Secret” and “My Father’s House.”

She became a tireless entertainer for the troops, making many USO tours overseas. She also began headlining at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. She settled in that show-business capital and eventually graduated to starring at Caesar’s Palace. Ms. Lynn appeared with Eddy Arnold, Red Foley, Elvis Presley, Rex Allen, Eddie Fisher, Gene Autry, Ferlin Husky and other top stars of her era.

Her album jackets illustrate her eye-popping visual flair. Ms. Lynn performed in elaborately tooled cowgirl boots in vivid colors to match her skin-tight stretch slacks and figure-hugging blouses. She was clad in electric-blue leather, shimmering purple lamé, green gabardine embellished with shiny gold or silver flowers, rhinestone bedecked crimson polyester or blouses with metallic sleeve fringe, always topped by matching kerchiefs at the throat and highly decorated cowgirl hats atop her gleaming golden tresses.

She moved to Musicor Records in 1966. By then, she had expanded from her Vegas base to also headline in the casinos of Reno and Lake Tahoe.

She was produced by Frank Jones on Columbia Records in 1969, then returned to the charts with Alex Harvey’s song “Married to a Memory” on the independent Amaret label in 1971. Her last charted single was 1975’s “Padre” on Warner Bros. Records.

Ms. Lynn was married to musician Jack Kelly. In 1980, she abruptly quit show business to become an ordained minister.

She died at home of congestive heart failure on Wednesday, May 26. At the time of her passing, she was residing in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She is survived by a daughter and several grandchildren.

Throwdown Forced To Trim Dates

/by

The Country Throwdown Tour has announced it will cancel four upcoming shows in Houston (6/9), Dallas (6/10), San Diego (6/17) and Phoenix (6/18). In addition, the Bakersfield date (originally set for 6/16) has now moved to Friday, 6/18. Tickets from the above listed shows will be honored at all other Country Throwdown tour dates and refunds are also available at the point of purchase.

According to tour Producer Kevin Lyman, “After many attempts to keep these shows, we’re regretfully unable to bring Throwdown to these four markets due to low tickets sales and too many shows competing with one another. We are trying to bring a festival style tour with 21 artists, at a reasonable and fair ticket price (average ticket cost $31), but because most markets are currently flooded with shows, we end up cannibalizing one another and someone ends up with lower ticket sales. As a result, we can’t afford to keep the show on the road for ALL of its intended dates. It’s a first year tour and we expected year one to be full of key lessons so that next year– and there will be a next year–is even better.”

The tour, which offers a unique presence in country music, mixes top artists with emerging singer-songwriters in a festival environment. Featured artists include Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town, Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram and Eric Church. Additional artists featured are Heidi Newfield Emily West and Tyler Reeve. there is also a Bluebird tent with up and coming songwriters such as Sarah Buxton and Jed Hughes (Buxton Hughes).

The event was conceived and orchestrated by Kevin Lyman and Sarah Baer of 4 Fini, the company responsible for the Vans Warped tour now in its 16th season.