Brenda Lee, Ray Walker (the Jordanaires), Manuel and the families of Loretta Lynn and Merle Kilgore are the latest additions to the growing list of celebrities participating in tomorrow’s (9/29) dedication of the Nashville Music Garden. The event will be emceed by Ralph Emery, with Barbara Mandrell and Lynn Anderson serving as celebrity hosts. The star-studded open-to-the-public ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Hall of Fame Park, located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Demonbreun (across from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum).
The Nashville Music Garden is a one-of-a-kind “Garden of the Stars” that pays tribute to those who have made a positive impact on Nashville’s entertainment community, ranging from singers to industry execs. The tribute garden is home to the Nashville Music Garden Collection, an assortment of over six dozen flowering plants whose names include Barbara Mandrell, Country Rock Pioneer Rick Nelson, Grand Ole Opry, Minnie Pearl, Pretty Woman, Purple Haze, Elvis, Ring of Fire, Tennessee Waltz, Alabama, Chantilly Lace, Dolly Parton, Kiss an Angel Good Morning, Hank Williams, Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis and Amy Grant, just to name a few.
Among the celebrities already confirmed to attend the ceremony tomorrow are Patti Page, Donna Fargo, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeff Cook of Alabama, Irlene Mandrell, Marty Raybon, Janice Wendell, Mandy Barnett, Gunnar Nelson, songwriters Jeffrey Steele, Shane Minor, Bart Allmand, Randy Thomas, Mac Gayden, and Buzz Cason, and the families of songwriter Ben Peters, The Big Bopper, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, DeFord Bailey, Minnie Pearl and Jimi Hendrix. Officials from the State of Tennessee and Mayor Karl Dean will also be in attendance.
The first 500 attendees will receive a long-stemmed rose courtesy of Rio Roses and a hot biscuit from the Loveless Cafe. The event is free and open to the public. For details visit www.nashvillemusicgarden.com.
Music Garden Will Be In Full Bloom Tomorrow
/by Sarah SkatesThe Nashville Music Garden is a one-of-a-kind “Garden of the Stars” that pays tribute to those who have made a positive impact on Nashville’s entertainment community, ranging from singers to industry execs. The tribute garden is home to the Nashville Music Garden Collection, an assortment of over six dozen flowering plants whose names include Barbara Mandrell, Country Rock Pioneer Rick Nelson, Grand Ole Opry, Minnie Pearl, Pretty Woman, Purple Haze, Elvis, Ring of Fire, Tennessee Waltz, Alabama, Chantilly Lace, Dolly Parton, Kiss an Angel Good Morning, Hank Williams, Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis and Amy Grant, just to name a few.
Among the celebrities already confirmed to attend the ceremony tomorrow are Patti Page, Donna Fargo, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeff Cook of Alabama, Irlene Mandrell, Marty Raybon, Janice Wendell, Mandy Barnett, Gunnar Nelson, songwriters Jeffrey Steele, Shane Minor, Bart Allmand, Randy Thomas, Mac Gayden, and Buzz Cason, and the families of songwriter Ben Peters, The Big Bopper, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, DeFord Bailey, Minnie Pearl and Jimi Hendrix. Officials from the State of Tennessee and Mayor Karl Dean will also be in attendance.
The first 500 attendees will receive a long-stemmed rose courtesy of Rio Roses and a hot biscuit from the Loveless Cafe. The event is free and open to the public. For details visit www.nashvillemusicgarden.com.
Grascals Strike Black Gold
/by Sarah SkatesFollowing the luncheon, the team unveiled the Mobil Delvac/The Grascals-branded tour bus the band will call home for the next 12 months. The tour bus will be filled with Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15w-40, a heavy duty diesel engine oil which will also be tested periodically by the Mobil team. As part of the sponsorship, the band will also make several appearances at industry events and retail locations over the next 12 months.
The Grascals are nominated at this week’s IBMA Awards, including nods Entertainer of the Year, and Album of the Year.
Country Stars Croon With Patty Griffin
/by Sarah SkatesBentley is offering a free download of “Beautiful World,” his song featuring Griffin on CMT.com beginning today (9/28). “This is definitely one of my favorite songs, not just from the last album, but probably that I’ve ever written and recorded,” he says. “The whole premise is that if you watch the news or read the headlines, there is a lot of really negative stuff happening out there that can pull you down, but if you choose to follow the good and believe in something better, then it is a ‘Beautiful World.’”
“The relationship with God or with Jesus or with anybody that you follow religiously—it seems like we’re all guilty of only keeping that relationship up when we’re really in need,” Ingram recently explained to CMT. “This song is admitting guilt to that.” It was written by Ingram and Grammy winner Chris Tompkins. Click here to preview “Seeing Stars.”
Ingram heads to Los Angeles this week to tape the television debut of the single on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, airing Mon., Oct. 5.
Lifenotes: CRS Founder Tom McEntee
/by Sarah SkatesMcEntee started the radio tip sheet Country Music Survey, and spent time as country chart editor of Cashbox Magazine. His career also included radio promotion gigs, stints in publicity, bio writing, artist management, and songwriting.
He played a role in the careers of Jimmy Buffet, Alabama, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Eddie Rabbit, Earl Thomas Conley, Jimmy Dean, The Kendalls, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie McDowell, Susan Marshall, and Lefty Frizzell. He helped Alabama get its first record deal, and wrote the liner notes for Frizzell’s last album.
An award winner several times over, McEntee’s plaques included the Country Radio Broadcasters President’s Award, the Nashville Mayor’s Award, and the BMI Commendation of Excellence.
Miranda Revs Up Her “Revolution”
/by Sarah SkatesPhoto: Rick Diamond, Getty Images
Miranda Lambert’s third album Revolution comes out tomorrow (9/29) and the release is already garnering raves from Rolling Stone (4 stars) and Entertainment Weekly (A). She performed the album in its entirety last Thursday night (9/24) to a sold-out mix of industry and fans at the Ryman Auditorium. In addition to the 15 new tracks, she threw a few country classics and songs from her previous albums into the mix. Following the show, a VIP reception was held at The Stage (pictured below).
Earlier last week Lambert performed “Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star” as a salute to Merle Haggard at the 2009 ACM Honors Awards (see right).
This week, she continues the Revolution with live performances on Good Morning America (9/29), Late Show with David Letterman (9/29), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (10/1), Ellen (10/5) and The Bonnie Hunt Show (10/7).
(L-R): Director Robert Deaton; Sony Nashville Chairman Joe Galante; Lambert; RAC Clark, ACM Awards Show Exec. Producer; and Sony Nashville Exec. VP Butch Waugh
Underwood To Receive Symphony’s Harmony Award
/by Sarah SkatesPrevious recipients of the Harmony Award include last year’s honoree Martina McBride, as well as Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Tony Brown, Mike & Linda Curb, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, Chet Atkins, and Rascal Flatts.
Celebrating its 25th year, Nashville’s Symphony Ball is an invitation-only evening benefiting the Nashville Symphony and its music outreach programs. Chairing the 2009 event are Dara Dickson and Perian Strang.
Underwood is a four-time Grammy winner and the three-time, reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. On November 3, she will release a new album, Play On, on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville.
Artist Photos
/by Freeman——————————-
———————————
Stars For Second Harvest & Music Row Rally
/by MichelleLuke Bryan, Joey & Rory, Jeffrey Steele, Tony Mullins and comedian Gary Mule Deer have been added to the lineup for the 5th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on Tues., Sept. 29 at the Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by Craig Wiseman, the concert will also feature Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar and Heidi Newfield in an unplugged acoustic style show. Event tickets, $35, are available at ticketmaster.com. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in their efforts to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community.
As previously reported in the Sept. 23 issue of @MusicRow, available only to Music Row subscribers, Craig Wiseman, the Big Loud Shirt gang, the Second Harvest staff and others will be stationed at the Row roundabout and the 17th St./Wedgewood intersection from 4-6 p.m. today (9/25) to collect monetary and canned food donations from cars driving by for the 1st annual Music Row Rally.
Delilah Showcases Art in Nashville
/by FreemanLimited tickets are available for $45 from www.mix929.com. Scheduled to attend are Wynonna, Amy Grant, Big Kenny, Joe Dee Messina, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal, Plumb, Abigail Zsiga, Jim Brickman, Dan Hill, and more.
Delilah is the most-listened-to-woman on radio in the US and can be heard locally on Nashville’s Mix 92.9 (WJXA) 7-12mid, Monday through Sunday. Her latest book, Love Matters, was released in October of 2008.