Dolly Unveils Sha-Kon-O-Hey!

East Tennessee native Dolly Parton, official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has released a new eight-song CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to benefit Friends of the Smokies. The CD retails for $10, $8 of which Parton will donate to the nonprofit organization that is devoted to protecting the Smokies. The Sha-Kon-O-Hey! CD features eight songs written by Parton, all of which will be performed in Dollywood’s new stage show Sha-Kon-O-Hey, which will premiere May 9. The 45-minute show commemorates the park’s 75th anniversary, capturing the spirit of the mountains and the heritage of the people who call them home. “Sha-Kon-O-Hey” is derived from the Cherokee name for the Smoky Mountains meaning “land of blue smoke.” For more information visit www.dollywood.com.

Sony ATV Signs Stegall

Sony/ATV Nashville has signed hit songwriter/producer Keith Stegall to a multi-year publishing deal. The co-writer of the pop standard, “We’re in This Love Together,” Stegall is also the writer of nine No. 1 country singles, including “I Hate Everything” by George Strait and “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” by Alan Jackson. As Jackson’s longtime producer, Stegall has helped the country superstar sell over 50 million units since his debut release in 1989.

Stegall is also the co-producer of The Foundation from the Zac Brown Band. The band’s debut single, “Chicken Fried,” spent two weeks at the top of the charts, giving Stegall his third No. 1 for the year. Currently, Stegall is in the studio with a new group, The Harters, and working on the followup to Clay Walker’s 2007’s album, Fall.

Keith Stegall Signs with Sony/ATV (l-r) Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville; Dale Dodson, Sony/ATV Nashville; Stegall; and Mike Whelan, Sony/ATV Nashville

Pedal Steel Guitarist Bill Johnson Dies

William Donald “Bill” Johnson, acclaimed pedal steel guitarist for artists including Red Sovine, George Jones and Marty Robbins, died March 17 in Tallassee, Alabama. In addition to his steel playing, Johnson made his mark as a songwriter, most notably with “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” which was recorded by over 150 artists, including Jack Greene, Johnny Cash, Stonewall Jackson and Ricky Skaggs. Funeral services were held Saturday (3/21), in Camp Hill, Alabama.

SOURCE Names 2009 Honorees

SOURCE, the nonprofit organization of executive women in the Nashville music industry will honor Joyce Jackson, Peggy Lamb, Pat McCoy, Sandy Neese, Margaret Parker, and the late Marion Keisker MacInnes with its 2009 Foundation Awards. The 7th annual awards dinner will be held Thursday, July 30 at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum.

Jackson’s career included time at Jim Reeves Enterprises, Floyd Cramer and Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Lamb’s experience includes Music City News and Sony/Acuff Rose Music. McCoy worked in television production, for AFM Local 257, and she continues to work with her husband, Charlie, at Charlie McCoy Enterprises. Neese worked with the Charlie Daniels Band and at Polygram/Mercury Records. Parker was a veteran employee of WSM and Gaylord Entertainment, and Keisker MacInnes served as office manager at Sun Records where she was the first to meet Elvis Presley, who had come to record a song for his mother in 1953.

Cox Radio Going Private

Cox Enterprises Inc. announced today (3/23) that it is beginning a $3.80 per share cash tender offer for the remainder of Cox Radio Inc.’s publicly held shares, for a total payment of about $69.1 million. Cox Enterprises owns a roughly 78 percent equity stake in Cox Radio with a voting interest of about 97 percent. The tender offer expires on April 17, depending upon shareholders tendering their shares. If the transaction is completed, Cox Radio will become a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, which is privately owned.

615 Unveils New Site and Search Engine

Nashville production music company 615 Music has redesigned its website and launched a comprehensive new music search engine called “615 Music Search.” The company will unveil its new website and Music Search features at the NAB convention in Las Vegas April 20-23.  According to 615 Music President and CEO Randy Wachtler, the newly launched “615 Music Search” allows users to enter information into one basic search box, as opposed to scrolling lists that had previously encompassed key words, genres, styles, instruments, etc. The search results are displayed in a similar fashion to iTunes with a scrolling list or by CD cover only. The features of “615 Music Search” also extend to auditioning tracks—users can follow the audio wave form and fast forward or rewind at the point in the track of their choice. Another benefit to the new music search is its ability to create cue sheets of particular play lists. 615 Music’s new website can be seen at www.615music.com. The “615 Music Search” system can be accessed by clicking on “Search and Download Music” from the home page, or by going directly to http://Search.615music.com.

Jennings Meets Johnson at Crossroads

Country outlaws Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson came together at Nashville’s Rocketown recently to shoot an episode of CMT Crossroads. The duo’s rowdy performance, which was taped before a live audience, will premier Monday, March 23 at 9:00 PM/CT on CMT. The episode features Jennings and Johnson collaborating on Johnson’s “High Cost of Living,” “Between Jennings and Jones” and his recent Grammy-nominated single, “In Color.” They also sang duets on Shooters’ “God Bless Alabama” and on a cover of his dad Waylon Jennings’ song, “Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out Of Hand.” CMT Crossroads, pairs country music stars with artists from other genres to play together, swap stories, and share their common love of music.

Shooter Jennings accompanies Jamey Johnson on CMT Crossroads. Photo: Rick Diamond

Shooter Jennings accompanies Jamey Johnson on CMT Crossroads. Photo: Rick Diamond

No Depression Adopts Community Model

No Depression, the roots music publication, has created a “community-driven website” powered by the ning.com platform. (Nashville’s Digital Nashville organization is also powered on the Ning platform.) Located at community.nodepression.com the new network allows the formation of niche communities based around a variety of themes. Readers can create a member page, plus share music, videos, photos and blogs. Also included are contributions from the publication’s editorial staff including co-founders Peter Blackstock and Grant Alden. “In this current state of the magazine industry, more and more magazines are shifting to the web,” said publisher Kyla Fairchild. “With our new presence harnessing the capabilities of Ning, we envision a No Depression online community where we will pass the torch to our faithful readers who will help us create the next chapter in our story.”

Alden and Blackstock will continue to publish twice-annual “bookazines” and No Depression has joined with Sasquatch Festival creator Adam Zacks to promote the first No Depression Festival, set for July 11, 2009 at Marymoor Park, outside Seattle, WA. No Depression ceased print publication in May 2008.

Americana Assoc. Offers Health Coverage

The Americana Music Association is now offering members the opportunity to obtain affordable health insurance coverage. The program, known as Americana Sound Healthcare, is designed for members who are self-employed, involved with small businesses that cannot easily offer coverage, or otherwise not in a position to afford coverage. True Group plans are also available to music companies who provide employee benefits. For more information go to www.americanamusic.org.

Industry Veteran Joe Boyland Dies

Nashville music industry veteran Joe Boyland passed away earlier this week at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was 61. Boyland moved to Nashville in 1980 and worked with Judds manager Woody Bowles before founding Hit List Music in 1986. He subsequently worked with a host of artists including Celine Dion, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Van Zant, Devonsquare, Robert Plant and Laura Branigan. Songs from his Hit List catalog were recorded by a wide range of artists including Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Billy Squier and Peter Wolf. Boyland also managed Bad Company for a few years in the mid-‘90s. Most recently, through his Nashville-based company, Big Street Entertainment, he produced the debut album for southern rockers Swampdawamp.