Willie Nelson has signed with Rounder Records for the release of his next studio album, Country Music, coming April 13.
Produced by T Bone Burnett, Country Music features old-time banjo master Riley Baugus, double bassist Dennis Crouch, Buddy Miller on guitar, Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Burnett himself and others.
“Some folks have mistakenly called it bluegrass,” says Burnett. “It’s actually pre-bluegrass. It’s some of the songs Willie’s been singing his whole life.” The material ranges from 1920s to 1960s.
Recorded live in Nashville in four days, it includes “The Man With the Blues,” which Burnett says is the first song Willie ever wrote. Other tracks include covers of “Dark As a Dungeon” by Merle Travis and “You Done Me Wrong” by Ray Price.
Nelson, known for a relentless touring schedule of over 200 days a year, will return to the road again in 2010. The full tour itinerary is yet-to-be announced.
The legendary artist, songwriter, actor, and social activist has a career spanning six decades and more than 200 releases.
In August 2009 Blue Note released his Grammy nominated studio album American Classic. Prior to that he was signed to Lost Highway Records.
Country Music track listing:
1. Man With The Blues
2. Seaman’s Blues
3. Dark As A Dungeon
4. Gotta Walk Alone
5. Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
6. My Baby’s Gone
7. Freight Train Boogie
8. Satisfied Mind
9. You Done Me Wrong
10. Pistol Packin’ Mama
11. Ocean Of Diamonds
12. Drinking Champagne
13. I Am A Pilgrim
14. House of Gold
15. Nobody’s Fault But Mine
Colgate Country Showdown Winner Announced
/by Michelle2009 Colgate Country Showdown National Final Winner, Karla Davis, stands alongside LeAnn Rimes as she receives her check for $100,000.
Karla Davis, representing radio station WRHI Rock Hill in South Carolina, was named “Best New Act in Country Music” at the 28th Annual Colgate Country Showdown on January 14. Davis won the Grand Prize check of $100,000. The North Carolina native recently moved to Nashville and is sponsored by Takamine Guitars.
LeAnn Rimes hosted and performed at the televised event, which will be nationally syndicated to air in spring 2010. The national finalists performed in front of a panel of industry executives; Jim Catino (Sony Music), Rod Essig (CAA), Fletcher Foster, Fred Foster (Atlantic Records), Cris Lacy (Warner Music Nashville), and Brian Mansfield (Nashville correspondant for USA Today).
Rimes and the finalists, which included Kendall Phillips, Casey Lee Smith, Terry Lee Spencer, and Whisky Row, paid tribute to former contestant and country music legend, Garth Brooks. Many of today’s top country artists have competed in past competitions including; Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, and Miranda Lambert.
Photos From Country Cares for St. Jude Kids
/by Sarah SkatesGroup shot from Country Cares
Jewel plays with a patient.
The 21st annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar was held over the weekend (1/15-16) in Memphis. Artists and radio representatives from around the country gathered to continue building on the successful radio fundraising program that has made more than $365 million to support St. Jude’s mission of finding cures and saving lives.
There were sessions on planning successful radiothons, tours of the hospital, meet and greets with patients and their families, and opportunities to learn more about treatment at St. Jude.
Attendees included Country Cares founder Randy Owen, Carrie Underwood, Jewel, Joe Nichols, Little Big Town, Darryl Worley, Blaine Larsen, Steve Azar, Danny Gokey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steel Magnolia, and many others. The 2010 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar concluded Saturday evening with the always popular Songwriters’ Dinner with performances by Owen, Lee Miller, Wayne Carson, Brice Long, Jim Weatherly and Wynn Varble.
Carrie Underwood visits a patient.
“You realize how hard St Jude’s works to put the power to get well in their hands,” Larsen marvels. “They try really hard to let them go home, whether it’s to apartments near the hospital or back to where they actually come from… which they do by working aggressively on a treatment protocol that the family can take back to their doctors… since children do better when they’re in a more natural environment. You see these kids, the families… and they’re fighting for their lives. That’s something to be scared about… only there’s so much joy, so much faith.”
Country Cares founder Randy Owen visits a patient's bedside.
Little Big Town with a patient.
Community: Haiti Benefit, Trey Bruce, Dan Harr, Josh Ragsdale
/by Sarah SkatesThe Nashville Area Red Cross and the Music City Community Chorus are presenting a benefit concert tomorrow night, Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Limelight. Pam Tillis, Buddy Jewell, John Cowan, Troy Johnson and others will perform Handel’s Messiah along with a chorus and an orchestra made up of members of the Nashville Symphony. The Nashville Area Red Cross’s portion of the proceeds will go to disaster relief efforts in Haiti. The show also benefits the Music City Community Chorus, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, directed by vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams.
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A benefit for Dan Harr, owner of web site Music News Nashville, has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tues., Feb. 2, at Limelight in Nashville. Harr was diagnosed with cancer in May 2009 and has been undergoing treatment. Artist headliners and auction items are needed. If you have items you can donate, please mail them to: Susan Greene, 256 Seaboard Lane, #G-103, Franklin, TN 37067. Or call her to arrange pick-up at 615-210-5306. A headliner artist and songwriter/artists are needed for the evening. Please contact Harr at 770-316-2922 or 615-948-7425 if you have a performer who can participate.
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Sara Qualls, mother of Chrysalis Music VP A&R Nashville Trey Bruce, passed away Sun., Jan. 17. Visitation will be 5-7 PM, Jan. 19 at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis. Funeral services will be held Wed., Jan. 20 at 10 AM.
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A bone marrow donor has been found for musician Josh Ragsdale. Read more at his brother’s blog.
Country Music Hall of Fame’s Carl Smith Dies
/by Sarah SkatesGrowing up in the East Tennessee town of Maynardville, Smith learned to play guitar and eventually joined the military. He came to Nashville in 1950 and was soon given a regular spot on WSM and appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.
His first hit came in 1951 with “Let’s Live A Little,” followed by “Mr. Moon,” “If Teardrops Were Pennies” and many more over the next few years, resulting in a string of Top Twenty singles. “Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way,” was his biggest-selling single.
In 1957 Smith married Goldie Hill, a rising country singer who gave up her career following their wedding. In the 1970‘s Smith followed suit, and retired to a horse farm in Franklin. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
Smith was married to June Carter from about 1952–1956, and they had daughter Carlene Carter.
He was preceded in death by wife Goldie Hill. He is survived by sons, Carl M. (Pam) Smith, Jr. and Dean (Tammy) Smith; daughters, Lori Lynn Smith and Carlene Carter (Joe) Breen; twelve grandchildren; and twelve great grandchildren.
Visitation will be tonight (1/18) from 5-8 p.m. at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. The funeral will be tomorrow (1/19) at 11 a.m., with visitation preceding from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., also at Williamson Memorial with Eddie Stubbs and Friends officiating. Interment at Williamson Memorial Gardens. Honorary Pallbearers will be Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Bare, Keith Bilbrey and Charlie Dick.
Lost Highway Loses Two
/by adminJim Flammia
MusicRow has learned that Lost Highway’s VP Artist/Media Relations, Jim Flammia; and VP Adult Alternative Promotion, Ray Di Pietro have exited their Nashville-based positions.
Di Pietro is said to be forming an artist services promotion/marketing type company to be named, Bitter Little Dutchboy. Di Pietro can be reached at raybld99@gmail.com. Flammia can be reached at jimflammia@gmail.com
Ray Di Pietro
Reports surfaced yesterday (1/14) that Universal Music Group had trimmed its national staff by as many as 50 positions spread across many of the company’s labels and its distribution divisions.
UMG typically does not respond to questions about changes but did release this official statement, “Universal Music Group is continuing to transform our organization to better serve our artists and business partners. Given the current economic climate, we have to be as agile and efficient as possible. Unfortunately, these ongoing efforts have resulted in some redundancy. However, UMG will now be even better positioned to compete in the growing global, digital marketplace.”
SESAC To Offer Watermarked Files
/by adminHunter Williams, Senior VP of Strategic Development at SESAC, said, “Technology is changing the way music is consumed at the B2B level. Creators need tools to authenticate and protect their intellectual property (IP) as it travels through the digital domain. Copyright owners expect greater accuracy and transparency in accounting from their business representatives. Similarly, music consumers are looking for better efficiency in licensing content that they wish to exploit. The Ruby DS system responds to these needs in a very direct way.”
SESAC, ACC, and DigSound are inviting parties to join the Beta Launch of Ruby DS. It is not necessary to be a SESAC affiliate in order to participate. Those interested should visit SESAC.com for more information. Ruby DS is another step in SESAC’s ongoing mission to embrace the latest technologies for the benefit of its member writers and publishers plus streamline the copyright usage process for its clients.
Sprint Sound & Speed Highlights
/by MichelleGretchen Wilson at Sound and Speed
The fifth annual Sprint Sound & Speed Presented By SunTrust was held in Nashville Jan. 8-9. Since its inception, the event has raised over $800,000 for Victory Junction and The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr,. Chris Young, Danny Gokey, Holly Williams, Jason Michael Carroll, Kyle Petty and his band and many more kicked off the two-day event with performances at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, Jan. 8. There were also appearances by NASCAR standouts Michael Waltrip, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle during the Friday night event. On Saturday, Jan. 9 the event continued at Nashville Municipal Auditorium, where fans of racing and country music had the opportunity to get up-close and personal with drivers and top-name artists for autographs, story-telling, and question-and-answer sessions.
Jason Michael Carroll with GAC’s Suzanne Alexander
Josh Turner (L) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. taking questions from the crowd
Kyle Petty making his Opry Debut
Lady A Sells Ryman 2X; Strait/Reba Tour; Hope For Haiti
/by Sarah SkatesLady A's Hillary, Charles and Dave are the guest hosts on this week's installment of "CMT Top 20 Countdown," premiering today (1/15). Photo (l-r): Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, and Charles Kelley. Photo Credit: Brian Bayley
Due to the sell-out success of Lady Antebellum’s upcoming March 11 concert at the Ryman Auditorium, another show has been added on Wed., March 10. Tickets available via ryman.com and Ticketmaster outlets.
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The George Strait/Reba tour kick-offs next weekend in Baltimore, MD with guest Lee Ann Womack. After Baltimore, the tour continues to Greensboro, NC with additional dates coast to coast through March…Reba also has a new DVD coming out. CMT Invitation Only: Reba will be released Tuesday, Feb. 9 via CMT and the Valory Music Co.
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In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, MTV Networks is presenting Hope for Haiti, a global telethon to air commercial-free across ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, and CMT on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and 7:00 p.m. CT. Leading the charge will be George Clooney in Los Angeles, Wyclef Jean in New York City and CNN’s Anderson Cooper from Haiti. Musical performances and celebrity appearances are yet-to-announced. Proceeds will be split evenly among Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF and Yele Haiti Foundation. Facebook and MySpace have also signed on as official social media partners.