Dailey and Vincent (front) with fiddle player Adam Haynes (far left) and sound engineer Key Chang. Photo: Collin Peterson
Chapter 321
This year’s IBMA awards belonged to Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, who picked up five trophies, but last year’s champs Dailey & Vincent snagged the biggest prizes of all.
Cleveland and company won the Instrumental Group, Instrumental Performance and the Fiddler, Bass Player and Mandolin Player of the Year awards. Dailey & Vincent triumphed as the Entertainers of the Year, as well as winning the Vocal Group of the Year and the Gospel Recorded Performance honors.
Dan Tyminski, Photo: Dan Loftin
But the 20th anniversary of these bluegrass awards, staged Thursday (10/1) at the Ryman Auditorium, wasn’t really about who won or lost. It was about outstanding music. For those of you who gripe about the lack of true “country” in today’s country music, I hereby direct your attention to the world of bluegrass. The event featured stunning performances by The Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Dan Tyminski Band and more.
Kathy Mattea and Hot Rize co-hosted, drawing from a usually witty script and interspersed with appearances by the band’s honky-tonk alter ego Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers. Presenters included Dixie & Tom T. Hall, Andy Leftwich, Cia Cherryholmes, Claire Lynch, Ronnie Bowman, Alecia Nugent, Chris & Sally Jones and Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White.
“I don’t have much voice this week,” whispered Tyminski when he was ironically named Male Vocalist. When he also won Album of the Year, presenters Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas humorously spoke for him while he moved his lips.
Female Vocalist winner Dale Ann Bradley turned Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” into a bluegrass romp. In a nice twist of fate, her honor was presented to her by her producer, Alison Brown. They hugged.
“This is one of the greatest thrills of my life, to be here tonight,” said Steve Martin. He meant it. And he was wildly cheered by the capacity audience, for his The Crow CD has dramatically raised bluegrass music’s profile. In addition to presenting, Martin performed with The Steep Canyon Rangers. His CD won awards for liner notes and artwork.
When Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent won for their gospel performance of “On the Other Side,” they called songwriters Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney and Tom Botkin to the stage. “This is killer, right here,” said Cleveland when his band won the Instrumental Performance award. During the evening the blind fiddler thanked his parents for transporting him to competitions and festivals.
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper took home five awards at last night's (10/1) IBMAs. Photo: Collin Peterson
Doyle Lawson inducted The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. He noted that the group was founded by the late Ezra Cline in 1937 in West Virginia. “The group weathered a lot of personnel changes,” he noted, adding, “I wonder what that feels like.” Lawson’s Quicksilver has long had a rotating cast. Surviving Lonesome Pine members Melvin Goins, Paul Williams and Bobby Osborne accepted and got a standing ovation.
One of the most interesting performances occurred when Danny Paisley & Southern Grass and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice took the stage together. Both were nominees as Male Vocalist and Emerging Artist. Each performed separately and then as a big, merged band.
The Recorded Event trophy went to The Daughters of Bluegrass. There are 31 women on this record, and more than a dozen of them trouped to the stage to accept en masse.
Among my favorite performances of the show was “Ring the Bells” by The Gibson Brothers. Dailey & Vincent drew gasps with a tour de force, a cappella gospel number punctuated by long sustains in perfect harmony. The Grascals were quite moving on “Satan Knew My Grandma Well.” Mattea and Hot Rize sang her hit “Untold Stories,” which the group’s Tim O’Brien wrote. One of the most memorable instrumentals of the night came from an all-star lineup consisting of Stuart Duncan, Rob Ickes, Ronnie McCoury, Jim Mills, Missy Raines and Bryan Sutton. Between them, they account for 44 IBMA Awards. Speaking of McCoury, The Del McCoury Band turned in a eyebrow-raising bluegrass-rockabilly performance of the Jerry Lee Lewis classic “Break Up.”
“The only reason I’m here is this group,” said John McEuen when inducting The Dillards into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. “I’m flabberghasted,” said Doug Dillard in accepting. “I want to thank God for giving us bluegrass music. Keep this music alive forever.”
The packed-to-the-rafters crowd was notable for its whoops and hollers throughout the show. This was especially notable during the instrumental by Cleveland & Flamekeeper.
They also erupted several times during the finale. Osborne, Williams and Goins joined Hot Rize in a “Pain in My Heart” tribute to The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. All three of the senior citizens are still in excellent voice. The show-closing Dillards tribute, “The Old Home Place,” demonstrated that the veteran group can also still “cut the mustard.”
“I think we have some of the best musicians in the world in this music,” said Rob Ickes in accepting his 11th consecutive Dobro Player of the Year IBMA honor. Amen to that, pal.
Spotted in the admiring crowd were David Preston, David Crow, Dan Keen, Joey & Rory, Jerry Salley, Perry Howard, George Walker IV, Scotty Cline, Vernell Hackett, Stan Hitchcock, Keith Bilbrey, Lance Leroy, Lynn Robin Green and Carl Jackson.
- Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, Photo: Collin Peterson
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International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, The Dillards
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients – Hylo Brown, Pati Crooker, Jody Rainwater, Dick Spottswood, Joe Wilson
Entertainer of the Year – Dailey & Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year – Dan Tyminski
Female Vocalist of the Year – Dale Ann Bradley
Album of the Year – Wheels, The Dan Tyminski Band, produced by Dan Tyminski, Rounder Records
Vocal Group of the Year – Dailey & Vincent
Instrumental Group of the Year – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Song of the Year – “Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away,” by Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass (artist), Chris Stuart & Ivan Rosenberg (writers)
Recorded Event of the Year – “Proud to Be a Daughter of Bluegrass” featuring Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Lisa Martin, Gloria Belle, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, Lisa Ray, Linda Lay, Sally Jones, Jeanie Stanley, Carol Lee Cooper, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman, Michelle Nixon, Jeanette Williams, Sophie Haislip, Louise Tomberlain, Mindy Rakestraw, Lizzy Long, Frances Mooney, Lorraine Jordan, Annette Kelley, Lilly Lieux, Dixie Hall, Judi Marshall, Melissa Lawrence, Beth Lawrence, Rebecca Frazier, Donica Christensen, Lisa Maning & Jenni Lyn Gardner (artists); Dixie Hall, Paula Wolak & Frances Money (producers); Blue Circle Records
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – “Jerusalem Ridge,” Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (artist), Bill Monroe (writer), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers), Rounder Records
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – “On the Other Side;” Dailey & Vincent (artists), Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney & Tom Botkin (writers); Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers); Rounder Records
Emerging Artist of the Year – The SteelDrivers
Instrumental Performers of the Year:
Banjo – Kristin Scott Benson
Fiddle – Michael Cleveland
Dobro – Rob Ickes
Mandolin – Jesse Brock
Bass – Marshall Wilborn
Guitar – Josh Williams
Bluegrass Event of the Year – Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival; Oak Hill, New York; July 2008
Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year – Katy Daley; HD Radio WAMU 88.5 Channel 2, 105.5 FM & www.bluegrasscountry.org; Washington, D.C.
Print Media Person of the Year – Roger Siminoff; Siminoff’s Luthiers Glossary, Banjo Newsletter and Bluegrass Breakdown
Best Liner Notes for Recorded Project – Steve Martin (writer), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist), 40 Share Productions (label)
Best Graphic Design for Recorded Project – Greg Carr & Salli Ratts (designers), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist), 40 Share Productions (label)
The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Awards Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass week, including the industry’s Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, September 28 – October 4 in Nashville.
NOW That’s What I Call A Country Christmas!
/by Sarah SkatesTrack Listing
DISC ONE
Darius Rucker
Winter Wonderland
Brad Paisley
Away in the Manger
Julianne Hough
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
George Strait
Joy to the World
Lady Antebellum
It’s Cold Outside
Brooks and Dunn
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Luke Bryan
Run Run Rudolph
Josh Turner
The First Noel
Kellie Pickler
Santa Baby
Trace Adkins
It’s Christmas
Little Big Town
Go Tell it on the Mountain
Lee Ann Womack
The Man With the Bag
Taylor Swift
Christmases When You Were Mine
Kenny Chesney
Silver Bells
DISC TWO
Gene Autry
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Elvis/Martina McBride
Blue Christmas
Merle Haggard
Jingle Bells
Vince Gill
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Alison Krauss
Shimmy Down the Chimney
Reba McEntire
Up On the Housetop
Glen Campbell
O Holy Night
Tanya Tucker
What Child Is This
Alabama
Christmas In Dixie
Brenda Lee
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Kenny Rogers
Kentucky Home Made Christmas
Dolly Parton
Hard Candy Christmas
Amy Grant
A Christmas to Remember
Johnny Cash
Silent Night
Burl Ives
Holly Jolly Christmas
The NOW That’s What I Call Music! series is a joint venture from EMI Music North America, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group. To date, the NOW series has generated sales of over 200 million albums worldwide, and has sold 73 million copies in the United States.
IEBA Plans Conference, Awards
/by MichelleLuke Perry
Actor Luke Perry will host the IEBA Honors, Oct. 12 at the Ryman Auditorium. Industry pioneer Joan Saltel will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and the winners of the IEBA Industry Awards will be recognized onstage. Winners include Entertainment Buyer of the Year – Todd Boltin of Variety Attractions; Promoter of the Year – Outback Concerts of TN; Talent Agent of the Year – John Huie of CAA; Venue of the Year – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN; and Event of the Year – Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
Numerous performances are scheduled for the IEBA conference. Point of Grace, Heartland, The Molly Ringwalds, Williams & Ree and a surprise guest will perform Sunday, October 11 at the APA showcase. Ricky Skaggs, Mercy Me, Eli Young Band, The Family Stone, Sunny Sweeney, Caitlin Crosby, Walker Hayes and more surprise guests will perform later that night at the Paradigm showcase at The Stage on Broadway in downtown Nashville.
Other artists and special guests scheduled to appear at IEBA 2009 include: Bob Lefsetz, Dan Clark, Don Felder, The Wailers, Boyz II Men, Phil Vassar, Michelle Branch, Joey + Rory, Uncle Kracker, TobyMac, Emily West, Marcie Allen of MAC Presents, Drew McGowan of Clorox Company, John Grady of Borman Entertainment, Mary Hilliard Harrington of The Greenroom, Derek C. Crownover of Crownover Tisinger, Lang Scott of Music City Networks and leading executives from MySpace, iLike and other social networking sites, plus much more.
American Airlines is the official airline of IEBA. Conference attendees will receive a 10% discount off the lowest applicable eligible published airfare when using the following promotional code: 92H9AT, valid from October 8-16, 2009. www.aa.com.
Jason Crabb
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“Somebody Like Me”
Spring Hill/Nine North
But now the Grammy nominated, 10-time Dove Award winner is going solo with his self-titled album and new country single “Somebody Like Me.” Produced by Grammy Award-winning Tommy Sims (Michael W. Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Amy Grant) and Norro Wilson (Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, George Jones, Shania Twain), Jason Crabb features cameo appearances by country music legend Vince Gill, southern Gospel mainstay The Gaither Vocal Band and acclaimed songstress Sonya Isaacs.
With songs like “Walk on Water” (written by Bobby O. Pinson, Trent Tomlinson, Vicky McGehee) and “Sometimes I Cry,” (written by Gerald Crabb, one of the most prolific songwriters around with 22 No. 1 southern Gospel hits), Jason both acknowledges and encourages hurting people, leaving something more substantive that ‘feel good entertainment.’ Other surprises on the debut include: the bouncing, danceable “Hope For Me Yet,” a Marc Broussard/Radney Foster/Justin Tocket ode to love, “Forever’s End” penned by Randy Goodrum (“Oh Sherry,” “You Needed Me”), reinterpretations of the Crabb Family favorite “Through The Fire,” and “Daystar,” a Cathedrals’ classic, and a worshipful ballad “I Will Love You.”
http://www.jasoncrabb.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jasondcrabb
Bobby Karl Works The Room: IBMA Awards
/by Sarah SkatesDailey and Vincent (front) with fiddle player Adam Haynes (far left) and sound engineer Key Chang. Photo: Collin Peterson
Chapter 321
This year’s IBMA awards belonged to Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, who picked up five trophies, but last year’s champs Dailey & Vincent snagged the biggest prizes of all.
Cleveland and company won the Instrumental Group, Instrumental Performance and the Fiddler, Bass Player and Mandolin Player of the Year awards. Dailey & Vincent triumphed as the Entertainers of the Year, as well as winning the Vocal Group of the Year and the Gospel Recorded Performance honors.
Dan Tyminski, Photo: Dan Loftin
But the 20th anniversary of these bluegrass awards, staged Thursday (10/1) at the Ryman Auditorium, wasn’t really about who won or lost. It was about outstanding music. For those of you who gripe about the lack of true “country” in today’s country music, I hereby direct your attention to the world of bluegrass. The event featured stunning performances by The Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Dan Tyminski Band and more.
Kathy Mattea and Hot Rize co-hosted, drawing from a usually witty script and interspersed with appearances by the band’s honky-tonk alter ego Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers. Presenters included Dixie & Tom T. Hall, Andy Leftwich, Cia Cherryholmes, Claire Lynch, Ronnie Bowman, Alecia Nugent, Chris & Sally Jones and Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White.
“I don’t have much voice this week,” whispered Tyminski when he was ironically named Male Vocalist. When he also won Album of the Year, presenters Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas humorously spoke for him while he moved his lips.
Female Vocalist winner Dale Ann Bradley turned Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” into a bluegrass romp. In a nice twist of fate, her honor was presented to her by her producer, Alison Brown. They hugged.
“This is one of the greatest thrills of my life, to be here tonight,” said Steve Martin. He meant it. And he was wildly cheered by the capacity audience, for his The Crow CD has dramatically raised bluegrass music’s profile. In addition to presenting, Martin performed with The Steep Canyon Rangers. His CD won awards for liner notes and artwork.
When Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent won for their gospel performance of “On the Other Side,” they called songwriters Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney and Tom Botkin to the stage. “This is killer, right here,” said Cleveland when his band won the Instrumental Performance award. During the evening the blind fiddler thanked his parents for transporting him to competitions and festivals.
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper took home five awards at last night's (10/1) IBMAs. Photo: Collin Peterson
Doyle Lawson inducted The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. He noted that the group was founded by the late Ezra Cline in 1937 in West Virginia. “The group weathered a lot of personnel changes,” he noted, adding, “I wonder what that feels like.” Lawson’s Quicksilver has long had a rotating cast. Surviving Lonesome Pine members Melvin Goins, Paul Williams and Bobby Osborne accepted and got a standing ovation.
One of the most interesting performances occurred when Danny Paisley & Southern Grass and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice took the stage together. Both were nominees as Male Vocalist and Emerging Artist. Each performed separately and then as a big, merged band.
The Recorded Event trophy went to The Daughters of Bluegrass. There are 31 women on this record, and more than a dozen of them trouped to the stage to accept en masse.
Among my favorite performances of the show was “Ring the Bells” by The Gibson Brothers. Dailey & Vincent drew gasps with a tour de force, a cappella gospel number punctuated by long sustains in perfect harmony. The Grascals were quite moving on “Satan Knew My Grandma Well.” Mattea and Hot Rize sang her hit “Untold Stories,” which the group’s Tim O’Brien wrote. One of the most memorable instrumentals of the night came from an all-star lineup consisting of Stuart Duncan, Rob Ickes, Ronnie McCoury, Jim Mills, Missy Raines and Bryan Sutton. Between them, they account for 44 IBMA Awards. Speaking of McCoury, The Del McCoury Band turned in a eyebrow-raising bluegrass-rockabilly performance of the Jerry Lee Lewis classic “Break Up.”
“The only reason I’m here is this group,” said John McEuen when inducting The Dillards into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. “I’m flabberghasted,” said Doug Dillard in accepting. “I want to thank God for giving us bluegrass music. Keep this music alive forever.”
The packed-to-the-rafters crowd was notable for its whoops and hollers throughout the show. This was especially notable during the instrumental by Cleveland & Flamekeeper.
They also erupted several times during the finale. Osborne, Williams and Goins joined Hot Rize in a “Pain in My Heart” tribute to The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. All three of the senior citizens are still in excellent voice. The show-closing Dillards tribute, “The Old Home Place,” demonstrated that the veteran group can also still “cut the mustard.”
“I think we have some of the best musicians in the world in this music,” said Rob Ickes in accepting his 11th consecutive Dobro Player of the Year IBMA honor. Amen to that, pal.
Spotted in the admiring crowd were David Preston, David Crow, Dan Keen, Joey & Rory, Jerry Salley, Perry Howard, George Walker IV, Scotty Cline, Vernell Hackett, Stan Hitchcock, Keith Bilbrey, Lance Leroy, Lynn Robin Green and Carl Jackson.
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International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, The Dillards
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients – Hylo Brown, Pati Crooker, Jody Rainwater, Dick Spottswood, Joe Wilson
Entertainer of the Year – Dailey & Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year – Dan Tyminski
Female Vocalist of the Year – Dale Ann Bradley
Album of the Year – Wheels, The Dan Tyminski Band, produced by Dan Tyminski, Rounder Records
Vocal Group of the Year – Dailey & Vincent
Instrumental Group of the Year – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Song of the Year – “Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away,” by Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass (artist), Chris Stuart & Ivan Rosenberg (writers)
Recorded Event of the Year – “Proud to Be a Daughter of Bluegrass” featuring Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Lisa Martin, Gloria Belle, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, Lisa Ray, Linda Lay, Sally Jones, Jeanie Stanley, Carol Lee Cooper, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman, Michelle Nixon, Jeanette Williams, Sophie Haislip, Louise Tomberlain, Mindy Rakestraw, Lizzy Long, Frances Mooney, Lorraine Jordan, Annette Kelley, Lilly Lieux, Dixie Hall, Judi Marshall, Melissa Lawrence, Beth Lawrence, Rebecca Frazier, Donica Christensen, Lisa Maning & Jenni Lyn Gardner (artists); Dixie Hall, Paula Wolak & Frances Money (producers); Blue Circle Records
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – “Jerusalem Ridge,” Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (artist), Bill Monroe (writer), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers), Rounder Records
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – “On the Other Side;” Dailey & Vincent (artists), Jimmy Fortune, Kevin Denney & Tom Botkin (writers); Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent (producers); Rounder Records
Emerging Artist of the Year – The SteelDrivers
Instrumental Performers of the Year:
Banjo – Kristin Scott Benson
Fiddle – Michael Cleveland
Dobro – Rob Ickes
Mandolin – Jesse Brock
Bass – Marshall Wilborn
Guitar – Josh Williams
Bluegrass Event of the Year – Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival; Oak Hill, New York; July 2008
Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year – Katy Daley; HD Radio WAMU 88.5 Channel 2, 105.5 FM & www.bluegrasscountry.org; Washington, D.C.
Print Media Person of the Year – Roger Siminoff; Siminoff’s Luthiers Glossary, Banjo Newsletter and Bluegrass Breakdown
Best Liner Notes for Recorded Project – Steve Martin (writer), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist), 40 Share Productions (label)
Best Graphic Design for Recorded Project – Greg Carr & Salli Ratts (designers), The Crow, Steve Martin (artist), 40 Share Productions (label)
The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Awards Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass week, including the industry’s Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, September 28 – October 4 in Nashville.
Bluegrass DISClaimer (10/2/09)
/by Robert K OermannUp until now it has been mostly panel discussions, showcases, a trade show and last night’s awards gala. Today begins the Bluegrass Fan Fest part of the IBMA’s convention. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you get nothing but music, music, music on the lower level of the Nashville Convention Center.
Friday’s 21-act lineup includes The Grascals, Dan Tyminski, The SteelDrivers, Cherryholmes, Del McCoury and our Disc of the Day winner, Alecia Nugent.
On Saturday, you can hear such greats as Dale Ann Bradley, Dailey & Vincent, Joe Diffie, The Infamous Stringdusters and The Lonesome River Band among the 22 performers.
It’s bluegrass gospel on Sunday morning, featuring Union Station’s Ron Block, plus Kenny & Amanda Smith and more. Have fun, music lovers.
ALECIA NUGENT/Don’t Tell Me
Writer: Buddy Miller/Julie Miller; Producer: Carl Jackson; Publisher: Bughouse/Music of Windswept/Bug, ASCAP; Rounder (track) (www.alecianugent.com)
—Alecia is rare as a bluegrass star with a music video. This gorgeous, heartbreaking ballad is like a rose petal floating on an icy lake. She is one of the greatest country singers alive, and shimmers on every track of her current Hillbilly Goddess CD. On its title tune and on “Nugent Family Band” she emerges as a songwriter for the first time. The all-star cast includes Rob Ickes, J.D. Crowe, Sonya Isaacs, Bradley Walker and Andy Leftwich, as well as her brilliant producer, Carl Jackson. An essential record. I wrote the liner notes, but don’t let that keep you from buying it.
RICKY SKAGGS/Foggy River
Writer: Fred Rose; Producer: Ricky Skaggs; Publisher: Sony-ATV, ASCAP; Skaggs Family (track) (www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com)
—Ricky’s latest is called Solo: Songs My Dad Loved. It leads off with this dazzlingly melodic Carl Smith goldie. Ricky’s nimble guitar work on it is as stellar as his vocal. I’ll say one thing: Hobart Skaggs had excellent taste. The set also includes “This World Is Not My Home,” “What Is a Home Without Love,” “Branded Wherever I Go,” and a very cool, overdubbed Ricky-and-Ricky performance of “God Holds the Future in His Hands.”
DALE ANN BRADLEY/Don’t Turn Your Back
Writer: Louisa Branscomb; Producer: Alison Brown; Publisher: Millwheel, BMI; Compass (track) (www.compassrecords.com)
—Don’t Turn Your Back is Kentuckian Dale Ann’s first album since moving to Nashville last year. Appropriately, the title tune is a high, lonesome, wistful song about making a journey by train. She sings with the delicacy of bird in flight. The CD’s repertoire casts its net wide, from Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” to The Carter Family’s “50 Miles of Elbow Room,” from Fleetwood Mac’s “Over My Head” to Dale Ann’s own “Music City Queen.” This is the finest work of her career to date.
DAILEY & VINCENT/Years Ago
Writer: Donald Reid; Producer: Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent; Publisher: Songs of Universal, BMI; Rounder (track) (www.daileyvincent.com)
—Darrin and Jamie have always had a thing for The Statler Brothers, so it’s no surprise to find a revival of that group’s 1982 hit on their superb Brothers From Different Mothers CD. It remains a delightful, bitter-funny song, and no one sings with as much thrilling timbre as these two do. The bluegrass vocal treatment they apply to Roger Miller’s “You Oughta Be Here with Me” made the hairs on my arms tingle. They are particularly exciting on “Your Love Is Like a Flower” on the gospel tunes and in their twin-guitar and vocal duet of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ “Winter’s Come and Gone.” Oh what am I saying, every track is a minor masterpiece.
Gloriana
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“How Far Do You Wanna Go?”
Emblem Music Group/Warner Bros.
Ultimately it’s the fans who have made Tom Gossin, Mike Gossin, Rachel Reinert and Cheyenne Kimball collectively one of 2009’s hottest new country acts. Gloriana’s self-titled Emblem Music Group/Warner Bros. Records debut premiered at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 and at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart. The album had the best first-week sales of any new country artist in 2009, and “Wild At Heart” is the best-selling song by a new country artist in 2009, selling over 350,000 copies to date. The diversity of their appeal can be seen in the fact that they have appeared both on the Grand Ole Opry and in the pages of several magazines aimed at teens.
Gloriana was produced by Grammy Award-winner and Emblem Music Group label owner Matt Serletic (Rob Thomas, Willie Nelson, Aerosmith), and mixed by Justin Niebank (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) and Chris Lord-Alge (Faith Hill, Tim McGraw). Emblem Music Group is Serletic’s Diamond and multi-Platinum award-winning label, with over 50 million album sales to its credit. In the early stages of the album’s development, Serletic began writing with one of Nashville’s finest songwriters, Jeffrey Steele, and co-wrote the group’s debut single “Wild At Heart” with Josh Kear and Stephanie Bentley. At the same time, the group was collaborating with a talented array of Nashville songwriters including Trey Bruce, Kyle Cook, Ben Glover, Chuck Jones, Kevin Kadish, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Danny Myrick.
“I know how much music has impacted all of our lives,” says Tom. “It connects us all, it moves us and it can change a person,” adds Mike. “We hope that our music will do that for others for a long time to come.”
http://www.gloriana.com/
http://www.myspace.com/gloriana
Opry Plans Annual Birthday Bash
/by Sarah SkatesJosh Turner
Some of country music’s favorite artists will be part of the excitement as the Grand Ole Opry® celebrates its 84th birthday with birthday shows and special events Oct. 9 and 10. The weekend will include three Opry shows, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers in concert, backstage tours, and an Opry Plaza Birthday Party presented by Martha White. Among those scheduled to appear on Birthday Bash Opry shows are Diamond Rio, Jimmy Dickens, Joe Diffie, Kathy Mattea, Montgomery Gentry, Lorrie Morgan, and Josh Turner. Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers will celebrate the Opry’s Birthday with a Saturday afternoon concert in the Acuff Theatre.
Among the Opry fans from across the country who will descend on Nashville for the annual celebration is radio personality/author/songwriter Delilah, whose eponymous nationally syndicated radio show attracts millions of listeners nightly. Delilah will serve as an Opry guest announcer on Saturday’s first Birthday Bash show.
For a complete schedule and details, go to opry.com.
Taylor Swift Stars In Band Hero Video Game
/by Sarah SkatesOther new characters for the game include Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, and more songs are being added as well.
From the makers of Guitar Hero, Band Hero will allow multiple gamers to play with any instrument combination of guitar, bass, drums and vocals.
Check out the video below to see how Swift’s character was created.
Artist News From David Nail and Gloriana
/by Sarah SkatesThe Chicago White Sox and WUSN celebrated “Country Music Night” on Sept. 22 and featured MCA Nashville artist David Nail performing the national anthem and a four-song acoustic set on the field. He is also acting as MLB.com’s first ever celebrity blogger and will post weekly updates through the World Series. Nail will return to the Windy City Nov. 13 for a performance at Joe’s Bar to benefit cancer research.
Elsewhere, Nail will be GAC’s “Fan Focus” artist in October with special coverage and promotional spots. He continues to tour in support of his recent release I’m About To Come Alive, which is up 15% in sales this week.
(L-R): Erich Wigdahl, Nail, and Eric Kinney perform before the White Sox game. Photo: Ron Vesely
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Gloriana is hosting a contest for fans with the winner receiving a new iPod Touch loaded with the band’s music. Because the band loves to watch videos of fans performing their songs, they are having fans send in these videos via YouTube, where they will choose their favorite. To enter, reply via YouTube.
Carrie’s Single Sales Explosion
/by Sarah Skates“Cowboy Casanova” is the lead single from her Nov. 3 Arista/19 Recordings release, Play On, and is the fastest rising single of her career. The music video debuts tomorrow (10/2) as part of CMT’s multi-artist “Big New Music Weekend” of nine exclusive video premieres. Fans can also look for the video beginning tomorrow on CMT.com, and CMT Pure.
A four-time GRAMMY Award winner, ACM Entertainer of the Year, and reigning, three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner, Underwood re-teamed with producer Mark Bright for the new album. He also helmed her Carnival Ride collection as well as seven tracks from her 2005 album debut, Some Hearts. To date, Underwood has amassed more than 10 million in U.S. album sales with Some Hearts and 2007’s Carnival Ride.