Sheldon Kurland, known throughout the Nashville music community as a session musician and as the leader of The Sheldon Kurland Strings, died Wednesday, Jan. 6 at age 81.
He can be heard on such hits as “Last Cheater’s Waltz” by T. G. Sheppard, “Rose Colored Glasses” by John Conlee, “Everything is Beautiful” by Ray Stevens, “When I Dream” and “Half the Way” by Crystal Gayle, “Happy Birthday Darlin’” and “I May Never Get to Heaven” by Conway Twitty, “I Wish I Was 18 Again” by George Burns, “Fancy Free” by The Oak Ridge Boys, “Dreaming My Dreams” by Waylon Jennings and “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” by Ronnie Milsap.
He worked on recording sessions for virtually every country star in Nashville. Clients included Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, The Browns, Hank Locklin, Eddy Arnold, Reba McEntire, Michael Johnson, Willie Nelson, Ed Bruce, Bobby Bare, Con Hunley, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Jack Clement, Hank Snow and many more.
Kurland’s contributions extend to the pop-music world, as well. He is on Jimmy Buffett’s Changes in Attitudes Changes in Latitudes LP, England Dan & John Ford Coley’s “Nights Are Forever” and Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait, as well as recordings by Donovan, James Galway and Amy Grant. He not only appeared on Comes a Time by Neil Young, he also toured with the rock superstar.
The New York native was classically trained at Julliard. He came to Nashville in 1964 to teach at Peabody College, but was soon playing sessions. He formed The Sheldon Kurland Strings in the 1970s and was featured on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969-71 and again in 1976, sometimes wearing a jacket with “Julliard” spelled out on the back in rhinestones.
Two of his children have become prominent in Nashville entertainment. Daughter Amy Kurland founded The Bluebird Café. Son Peter Kurland runs the Darkhorse Theater. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Check back with MusicRow for updates.
Industry News: Nashville At Sundance, Gospel Honors
/by Sarah Skates—————————
BMI will honor gospel greats Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch at its 11th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, Jan. 15 at Rocketown. Held the day before the 25th Annual Stellar Awards, BMI’s invitation-only ceremony will welcome gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.
—————————
More details about the Show Dog-Universal Music label will be unveiled Wed., Jan. 13 when Principle Toby Keith and President Mark Wright hold a press conference in Nashville.
—————————
Moraine Music Group Canadian singer/songwriter Johnny Reid closed out 2009 as the Top Selling Canadian Artist on the Billboard Country Album chart, selling 300,000 units. Reid also swept the CCMA’s, winning six awards.
—————————
Digital Music News reports producer Matt Serletic—known in Nashville most recently for his work with Gloriana—has been at CES in Las Vegas promoting his software company Music Mastermind. The game-like program is designed to make music-making easy regardless of musical background. DMN calls it “ProTools for the masses.”
—————————
Longtime Napster CEO Chris Gorog and president Brad Duea are leaving the company; owner Best Buy says both positions are being eliminated. Christopher Allen, previously Napster’s COO, will move to General Manager.
—————————
SXSWeek 2010 will be March 12-21 in Austin. The first headliner announced is Cheap Trick. Other early conference topics include case studies on music from the film Twilight: New Moon, and examining how music makes it way into mass culture via the video game Rock Band.
Shelton Six-Pak Coming Soon
/by Sarah SkatesAlso available exclusively on iTunes until Jan. 12 is Blake Shelton: The Essentials, a digital compilation of Shelton’s best-known tracks such as “Austin,” “Some Beach,” “Home,” “The Baby,” and “She Wouldn’t Be Gone.” After the 12th it will be available at other outlets too.
Shelton and his Warner Music Nashville labelmates Whitney Duncan, Gloriana, Jessica Harp, Jason Jones, and James Otto, are working with BAM Racing to offer NASCAR lovers a VIP Fan Experience, where they meet the recording artists and BAM’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Team. As part of the partnership, artists will have their own paint schemes on the cars, perform pre-race concerts and watch the race with fans from the pit box.
Nashville Scene: Paisley, Lambert, Swift, Johnson Top Critics’ Poll
/by contributorMiranda Lambert's "Revolution" was voted best album of 2009 by the Scene's critics' poll.
“The Mount Rushmore of country music’s future—Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Jamey Johnson—tops the 2009 Country Music Critics’ Poll”
See the Critics’ top albums, commentary, chart vs. critic comparison and more. Read the story here.
Letter To The Editor Re: Urban At PC Awards
/by Sarah SkatesSome members of the music community are riled up over Keith Urban’s acceptance speech for Favorite Male Artist at last night’s (1/6) People’s Choice Awards. On stage at the Nokia Theatre LA Live he thanked fans and said the most important thing to him is that people hear his music, even if they download it illegally.
Here’s one reader’s thoughts in an open letter to Music Row:
Paisley Tour Opens Tonight With Lambert, Moore
/by Sarah SkatesIn the past 12 months Paisley’s tour has played to more than 1.2 million fans in over 75 markets, garnering 52 sold-out shows. The lucky one millionth ticket holder was given a 2009 Chevy Silverado by Paisley in Jacksonville, FL. Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne joined him on the first leg of the outing.
Steve Seskin Plans Songwriting Seminar
/by Sarah SkatesSteve Seskin
The 6th annual Steve Seskin Songwriting Seminar will be held January 22 – 24, 2010 in Nashville, with hit writers Allen Shamblin and Gretchen Peters set to participate. There will be two days of lectures, workshops and discussions. Friday night Jan. 22 includes a Steve Seskin concert at Edgehill Studios Cafe. Workshops will follow on Saturday and Sunday at the Bluebird Café, the location of the Saturday night concert to benefit Alive Hospice featuring Steve, Chuck Jones, Jesse Terry and Jamie Floyd.
Seskin’s cuts include “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” recorded by Tim McGraw, and “Don’t Laugh at Me,” winner of NSAI Song of the Year and MusicRow Magazine Song of the Year, recorded by Mark Wills. Among his other hits are songs by Neal McCoy, John Michael Montgomery, Ricochet, Colin Raye, and Kenny Chesney.
For more information on the songwriting seminar which costs $345, check out Seskin’s website or contact Claudia Young at csyoung@comcast.net or 615-309-9449.
Noted Arranger Sheldon Kurland Passes
/by Robert K OermannSheldon Kurland, known throughout the Nashville music community as a session musician and as the leader of The Sheldon Kurland Strings, died Wednesday, Jan. 6 at age 81.
He can be heard on such hits as “Last Cheater’s Waltz” by T. G. Sheppard, “Rose Colored Glasses” by John Conlee, “Everything is Beautiful” by Ray Stevens, “When I Dream” and “Half the Way” by Crystal Gayle, “Happy Birthday Darlin’” and “I May Never Get to Heaven” by Conway Twitty, “I Wish I Was 18 Again” by George Burns, “Fancy Free” by The Oak Ridge Boys, “Dreaming My Dreams” by Waylon Jennings and “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” by Ronnie Milsap.
He worked on recording sessions for virtually every country star in Nashville. Clients included Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, The Browns, Hank Locklin, Eddy Arnold, Reba McEntire, Michael Johnson, Willie Nelson, Ed Bruce, Bobby Bare, Con Hunley, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Jack Clement, Hank Snow and many more.
Kurland’s contributions extend to the pop-music world, as well. He is on Jimmy Buffett’s Changes in Attitudes Changes in Latitudes LP, England Dan & John Ford Coley’s “Nights Are Forever” and Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait, as well as recordings by Donovan, James Galway and Amy Grant. He not only appeared on Comes a Time by Neil Young, he also toured with the rock superstar.
The New York native was classically trained at Julliard. He came to Nashville in 1964 to teach at Peabody College, but was soon playing sessions. He formed The Sheldon Kurland Strings in the 1970s and was featured on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969-71 and again in 1976, sometimes wearing a jacket with “Julliard” spelled out on the back in rhinestones.
Two of his children have become prominent in Nashville entertainment. Daughter Amy Kurland founded The Bluebird Café. Son Peter Kurland runs the Darkhorse Theater. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Check back with MusicRow for updates.
Underwood On CBS Sitcom; Evans at Davis-Kidd
/by Michelle••••••
Other book promotion events include an appearance on ABC’s The View on Jan. 13 and more booksignings. Her inspirational fiction novel is written with best-selling author Rachel Hauck, known for titles like Diva NashVegas and Love Starts with Elle.
Clay Walker Concert To Fight MS; Artist Benefits
/by Sarah SkatesClay Walker
Clay Walker is playing a Feb. 23 benefit concert at the Wildhorse Saloon to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis research. Chords of Hope: The Clay Walker MS Benefit Concert is presented by 98 WSIX and produced by Walker’s charity, Band Against MS (BAMS). Tickets start at $10 and will be available starting Saturday (1/9) through the Wildhorse Saloon. All proceeds will go toward multiple sclerosis research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
————————
BLEVE Records President Mickey Milam donated 1,000 copies of the CD My First Ride to be sold to raise money for the families of four fallen police officers in Washington state. The CDs sold-out within days, raising $15,000. The multi artist-compilation features Ronnie Milsap, George Strait, Vince Gill, John Michael Montgomery, James Otto, The Bacon Brothers, and others.
————————
Gilda’s Club Nashville, a support community for those touched by cancer, kicks off its annual 16-week training program for the Country Music Half Marathon on Saturday (1/9). Bryan White is the Honorary Chairperson. Proceeds benefit the charity. For more information contact Deb Sandvik at 615-329-1124 or deb@gildasclubnashville.org.
————————
MJ2 and Dolly Parton
Las Vegas based country act MJ2 has recruited Dolly Parton, Wayne Newton, Heidi Newfield, Larry Gatlin, Cowboy Troy and more to sing on their debut single “You Can’t Say Love Enough.” Proceeds from the song, out on SweetSong Nashville Records, go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
————————
Singer-songwriter Skip Ewing has joined forces with Béla Fleck and Dave Koz on the single “Julianaʼs Smile” to benefit Juliana Wetmore, a girl with Treacher Collins Syndrome. Available on iTunes.
————————
Pictured l-r: Dustin Finch, BBBSMT CEO Lowell Perry Jr, Brandon Finch
The Brothers Finch participated in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee (BBBSMT) fundraiser at the Franklin Wine Festival which raised more than $95,000. The Brothers Finch, currently working on their debut album, have appeared on CMT’s “Music City Madness 2” and “Can You Duet?”
Swift, Urban, Underwood Win PCAs
/by Sarah SkatesKeith Urban won overall Favorite Male Artist and Taylor Swift was voted overall Favorite Female Artist at last night’s (1/6) People’s Choice Awards. Carrie Underwood took home Favorite Country Artist at the show at the Nokia Theatre LA Live. This marks the sixth People’s Choice honor of Underwood’s career.
Other Nashville related wins include Miley Cyrus taking home Favorite Breakout Movie Actress and Paramore being named Favorite Rock Band. Katherine Heigl, wife of UMG artist Josh Kelly, was voted Favorite TV Drama Actress.
photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for PCA
Vampire movie Twilight was the evening’s top trophy-getter, with it or its stars winning Favorite Movie, Favorite Franchise, Favorite On-Screen Team, and Favorite Breakout Movie Actor (Taylor Lautner).
Other winners included Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga, The Big Bang Theory, and House. See the whole list.