by Steve Goetzman, steve@goetzmanconnect.com
In America we look up to a man of principle after doubt is satisfied we’ve placed our fingers in his wound looked him in the eye and maybe pressed a little to be sure he is hurting. For we intend to align ourselves and tell his story and should be certain because are we not a man of principle, too? Dan Seals was a man of principle. This story can be told by a witness.
Dan’s agency scored an exclusive relationship with a cruise line of ships sailing from Singapore. Led by a flamboyant man bent on featuring high-profile American acts on board his ships, the cruise line CEO threw exorbitant, staggering sums of money at available talent and enjoyed it immensely. He treated his customers to luxurious entertainment and himself to the joys of sharing-the-wealth. A parade of American acts made the trek to Asia, performed a handful of shows on week-long cruises and returned home with more cash than some of them made in a year. In the end the CEO disappeared and the account dried up, but not before Dan would have his chance at the cash carousel.
Dan Seals was a mountain of talent. Through the latter years of his career he played shows as a trio because he could overwhelm any audience with his diminutive act—a couple of deeply talented ‘sidemen’ who would be insulted by the title, and rightfully so. During an age when performing with less than a full band, or acoustically, or to pre-recorded tracks sorely limited opportunities, Dan’s little trio played the big and small stages and all in between. A tight, low-overhead, easy to transport act with enough punch to compete at all levels, Dan’s little trio covered a lot of ground and made money.
Shortly before a Holiday season the cruise line needed an act in a hurry and loved the idea of presenting Dan Seals. The agency called Dan’s long-time manager and friend, Tony Gottlieb, and floated an offer of $90,000. “Dan won’t do it,” came the shocking reply. Dan was booked on a show out west for $3,500 right smack in the middle of the Singapore cruise and he would not break his contract. Dan’s manager suffered every manner of persuasion the agency could muster, but held his ground. Finally, with deadlines sizzling, the agency got permission to approach the $3,500 promoter and offer a replacement act for Dan. If he were voluntarily released from his contract, Dan said, he would go to Singapore.
Concert promoters who buy $3,500 acts are usually gambling with scared money. Dan’s promoter had paid out a few thousand dollars for advertising and needed the show to recoup his investment. The agency offered to reimburse all costs and provide a replacement act, but no go. Acting on fear or principle, the promoter would not release Dan.
The Bahia faith is a mystery to many on Music Row, yet it came as an explanation, at least in part, for Dan’s decision to honor his contract and pass on the cruise in Asia. For whatever reason he held in his heart, Dan Seals and his family enjoyed a $3,500 Christmas, and what could have been his $90,000 sailed away at Singapore.
Our beloved music business manufactures heroes daily, spins them out and hopes the plastic won’t snap in transit. Mature artists well past prime will join with the new heroes, one needing the other bad, a mutual anointing, for the mirror. The new hero gets a float, the old guy gets fifteen more minutes, and everyone else applauds politely.
And then there’s Dan Seals who stood on principle, real hard-won talent and a mysterious faith we might never understand, even after pressing into his wounds. Undeterred, Dan Seals died as he lived; principled.
Read Dan Seals Passes
Jeffrey Steele Takes Manhattan
/by LB CantrellOpry Mainstay Hal Durham Passes
/by LB CantrellSinger/Songwriter Duane Jarvis Enters Hospice
/by LB CantrellPrincipled—Dan Seals
/by contributorby Steve Goetzman, steve@goetzmanconnect.com
Dan’s agency scored an exclusive relationship with a cruise line of ships sailing from Singapore. Led by a flamboyant man bent on featuring high-profile American acts on board his ships, the cruise line CEO threw exorbitant, staggering sums of money at available talent and enjoyed it immensely. He treated his customers to luxurious entertainment and himself to the joys of sharing-the-wealth. A parade of American acts made the trek to Asia, performed a handful of shows on week-long cruises and returned home with more cash than some of them made in a year. In the end the CEO disappeared and the account dried up, but not before Dan would have his chance at the cash carousel.
Dan Seals was a mountain of talent. Through the latter years of his career he played shows as a trio because he could overwhelm any audience with his diminutive act—a couple of deeply talented ‘sidemen’ who would be insulted by the title, and rightfully so. During an age when performing with less than a full band, or acoustically, or to pre-recorded tracks sorely limited opportunities, Dan’s little trio played the big and small stages and all in between. A tight, low-overhead, easy to transport act with enough punch to compete at all levels, Dan’s little trio covered a lot of ground and made money.
Shortly before a Holiday season the cruise line needed an act in a hurry and loved the idea of presenting Dan Seals. The agency called Dan’s long-time manager and friend, Tony Gottlieb, and floated an offer of $90,000. “Dan won’t do it,” came the shocking reply. Dan was booked on a show out west for $3,500 right smack in the middle of the Singapore cruise and he would not break his contract. Dan’s manager suffered every manner of persuasion the agency could muster, but held his ground. Finally, with deadlines sizzling, the agency got permission to approach the $3,500 promoter and offer a replacement act for Dan. If he were voluntarily released from his contract, Dan said, he would go to Singapore.
Concert promoters who buy $3,500 acts are usually gambling with scared money. Dan’s promoter had paid out a few thousand dollars for advertising and needed the show to recoup his investment. The agency offered to reimburse all costs and provide a replacement act, but no go. Acting on fear or principle, the promoter would not release Dan.
The Bahia faith is a mystery to many on Music Row, yet it came as an explanation, at least in part, for Dan’s decision to honor his contract and pass on the cruise in Asia. For whatever reason he held in his heart, Dan Seals and his family enjoyed a $3,500 Christmas, and what could have been his $90,000 sailed away at Singapore.
Our beloved music business manufactures heroes daily, spins them out and hopes the plastic won’t snap in transit. Mature artists well past prime will join with the new heroes, one needing the other bad, a mutual anointing, for the mirror. The new hero gets a float, the old guy gets fifteen more minutes, and everyone else applauds politely.
And then there’s Dan Seals who stood on principle, real hard-won talent and a mysterious faith we might never understand, even after pressing into his wounds. Undeterred, Dan Seals died as he lived; principled.
Read Dan Seals Passes
Reba’s “Strange” Widget
/by LB CantrellPickler Establishes Official Fan Club
/by LB CantrellMoraine’s Johnny Reid Goes Gold
/by LB CantrellBBR Launches New Label
/by LB CantrellContact Information for Stoney Creek Promotions Department:
Denise Roberts, 818-679-5479, deniseroberts@stoneycreekrecords.com
Heather Propper, 602-317-0551, heatherpropper@stoneycreekrecords.com
Stacy Blythe, 615-887-9860, stacyblythe@stoneycreekrecords.com
Bill Lubitz, 702-580-6886, billlubitz@stoneycreekrecords.com
T.J. Martell Gala Raises $400,000 For Cancer Research
/by LB Cantrell“The Honors Gala gave the Martell Foundation in Nashville the opportunity to reach out to new people and deliver our message of the important cancer research that we fund at the Frances Williams Preston Labs at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center,” said Tony Conway, President and CEO of Buddy Lee Attractions and President of the T.J. Martell Foundation – Nashville Division Board of Directors. “We are proud to have launched such a wonderful event by honoring four incredible individuals who have played such significant roles in our community and helped raise major funds for TJ Martell Foundation that will be directly used for cancer research.”
Front Row Left to right: Peter C. Quinn (CEO of the T.J. Martell Foundation), C. Wright Pinson (Associate Vice Chancellor of Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of the Vanderbilt Medical Center and Co-Chairman of the Honors Gala), The Honorable Al Gore (Former Vice President of the United States), Frances Williams Preston (Former President and CEO of BMI and national President of the T.J. Martell Foundation), Michael Bolton (Entertainer), Dr. Harold L. Moses (Director Emeritus of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Director of the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center) and Tony Martell (Chairman and Founder of the T.J. Martell Foundation)
Second Row Left to Right
Orrin H. Ingram (President and CEO of Ingram Industries Inc. and Chairman of Ingram Barge Company) and Brian Philips (President of CMT and Co-Chairman of the Honors Gala)
Photo Credit: Alan Mayor
Joe Nichols
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“Believers”
Universal Records South
“This song is about passion—when people have passion about something, the sky’s the limit,” says Nichols. “It’s also about believing in something bigger than what’s right in front of you. There have been a lot of times in my life, both recently and in the past, that I’ve needed a lot of belief just to move me forward. This song gives me that.”
The single was written by Ashley Gorley, Wade Kirby and Bill Luther, and produced by Nichols’ longtime producer Brent Rowan.
“Believers” is the lead single from the artist’s new album, which will be released by Universal Records South later this year. The as yet untitled recording is the follow-up to Nichols’ critically acclaimed 2007 release, Real Things.
Nichols has had 4 Grammy nominations over the course of his career and notched massive hits with singles like “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” “Brokenheartsville” and “The Impossible.”
http://www.joenichols.com/