“You First”
Show Dog Nashville
Mac McAnally has worn many hats in his storied career—producer, vocalist, guitarist, chart-topping songwriter, member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer band—and his recording artist cap recently earned a nice feather in “Down The Road,” his No. 1 duet with Kenny Chesney. Now, McAnally and his new label Show Dog Nashville look to build on that success with the release of “You First,” which impacts radio April 27.
A poignant series of vignettes about brotherly love, “You First,” is the first release from McAnally’s upcoming Show Dog debut album.
The single follows the successful of “Down The Road,” a song penned by McAnally and recorded by Kenny Chesney, who invited the Mac to sing on the track with him. It was McAnally’s sixth No. 1 as a writer and first as a recording artist, which led to an ACM Vocal Event of the Year nod.
Significant as those milestones are, however, they only tell part of McAnally’s accomplishments. From his days as a Muscle Shoals session musician, Mac has given musical support to artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and many more. He’s a longstanding member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer band, and his production credits include Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat.
Mac was named 2008 Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association, the same year he was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. He is also a 2007 inductee to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. McAnally signed his first record deal at the age of 16 and was the first artist signed to the legendary Geffen Records.
http://www.macmcanally.com/
Mac McAnally
/by ProgrammerPlaylist“You First”
Show Dog Nashville
A poignant series of vignettes about brotherly love, “You First,” is the first release from McAnally’s upcoming Show Dog debut album.
The single follows the successful of “Down The Road,” a song penned by McAnally and recorded by Kenny Chesney, who invited the Mac to sing on the track with him. It was McAnally’s sixth No. 1 as a writer and first as a recording artist, which led to an ACM Vocal Event of the Year nod.
Significant as those milestones are, however, they only tell part of McAnally’s accomplishments. From his days as a Muscle Shoals session musician, Mac has given musical support to artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and many more. He’s a longstanding member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer band, and his production credits include Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat.
Mac was named 2008 Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association, the same year he was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. He is also a 2007 inductee to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. McAnally signed his first record deal at the age of 16 and was the first artist signed to the legendary Geffen Records.
http://www.macmcanally.com/
Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Names New Generation Award Winner
/by LB CantrellLeadership Music Names Dale Franklin Award Winners
/by LB CantrellCMT Nom for Newfield’s “Johnny and June”
/by LB CantrellApril 17 – Port Huron, MI
April 18 – Grand Rapids, MI
April 24 – Kennesaw, GA
April 25 – Clewiston, FL
May 1 – Nashville, TV
May 22 – Miami, OK
May 24 – Roanoke, VA
May 25 – Cincinnati, OH
June 6 – Enterprise, AL
June 12 – Chicago, IL
June 13 – Winstock, MN
June 19 – Marinette, WI
June 26 – Oshkosh, WI
June 28 – Grand Junction, CO
IFCO’s Loretta Johnson Passes; Visitation Set
/by Robert K OermannLoretta Johnson died Monday, April 13, following a long battle with multiple myloma. She was 67 years old. With sisters Loudilla and Kay, Johnson was the co-founder of the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO). Begun in 1967, IFCO’s annual concert and get-together was the precursor of Fan Fair (now known as the CMA Music Festival). The IFCO show proceeds are always given to charities. The organization also gives out the annual Tex Ritter Award to deserving music-industry figures. The sisters created the original Loretta Lynn Fan Club, being attracted to the star because of the two Lorettas sharing the same first name. It became a model for country-music fan organizations, which led to the formation of IFCO. In recent years, the sisters have particularly concentrated on up-and-coming country artists.
Visitation for Loretta Johnson will take place Monday, April 20, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Clark Funeral Service in Beaver, Oklahoma. The funeral service will be at the town’s Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Elmwood, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to The Loretta Johnson Medical Fund Contribution Account, Bank of America, 133 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027 OR mailed to IFCO – Loretta Johnson Medical Fund, P.O. Box 40328, Nashville, TN 37204.
Because of Loretta’s illness, the sisters have not been able to plan an IFCO concert for this year’s CMA Music Festival. Promoter Rod Harris has announced instead a show billed as, “For the Love of IFCO, a benefit for Loretta Johnson.” It will take place on June 9 at The Nashville Palace.
Public TV Show Spotlights Songwriters
/by LB CantrellSteve Buckingham Exits Welk Music Group
/by LB Cantrell“Those of us who have been in the music business for many years know that when ‘someone is exiting a label to pursue other opportunities,’ it usually has other meanings,” Buckingham said. “The simple truth is that my position was eliminated. Despite this outcome, I am grateful to Larry and Kevin Welk for the opportunities they gave to me.”
Buckingham can be reached by email at DanEdog@AOL.com
Echo Operations Move To L.A.
/by LB CantrellAccording to unofficial sources, Ticketmaster has announced it will restructure and greatly trim its echo music footprint in Nashville, by approximately 60 employees. It is believed that a small presence will remain related to ticketing and artist services with employees such as J.D. May, Catherine Oliva and Keith Gibson. The transition is scheduled to take place in mid-June.
Echomusic is an Internet marketing company, creator of online presence and e-commerce for more than 300 performing artists and corporations, which specializes in branding, Web development, digital distribution of music and merchandise and online advertising. The partnership with Ticketmaster in March 2007 was designed to provide echomusic clients increased opportunities to distribute music, concert tickets and merchandise directly to fans. It also provided a financial shot in the arm, allowing echomusic to grow its staff by about 30 percent. Clients have included Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Casting Crowns and the Academy of Country Music. The company describes its function as building compelling websites and fan clubs for entertainment brands. “echo is where these brands invite their audiences to form real living communities.”
In January, Echomusic co-founder Mark Montgomery departed. He was replaced by Tawn Albright, Ticketmaster Vice President of Corporate Development, and about 10 percent of the staff was laid off.
AT&T In Talks To Extend iPhone Deal
/by LB CantrellSteve Wariner Records Chet Atkins Tribute
/by LB CantrellThe abbreviation “c.g.p.” stands for “Certified Guitar Player,” a title that Chet would bestow on only four guitar pickers: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, the late Jerry Reed, and Wariner. The album covers the wide range of material that Atkins recorded — from the mountain music of his earliest days in his hometown of Luttrell, Tennesesee, to the swing, rockabilly, pop, folk and jazz that distinguished his long and prolific career. Wariner includes versions of songs from the Atkins repertoire, plus “Producer’s Medley,” which compiles some of the hits Atkins produced for other artists. But the bulk of the album consists of Wariner originals written in the various styles that Atkins made famous. Wariner first met Atkins when he was 18 years old and playing bass in Dottie West’s band. Atkins produced Wariner’s first records at RCA Studio B and subsequently hired the young musician to play bass in his band. “Chet was an incredible person who gave me so many opportunities,” Wariner said. “I’m proud to call him my friend.”