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Alison Krauss & Union Station Represent Bluegrass’s Finest at Ryman

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Alison Krauss and Union Station during a sold-out series at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Steve Lowry

Alison Krauss and Union Station set up shop at Nashville’s revered Ryman Auditorium for a two-night stand Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26 and 27. It was an evening showcasing all bluegrass’s finest points, crisscrossing from smooth and contemporary, to deep-rooted traditionalism.

Alison Krauss sings "Ghost In This House." Photo: Burney Skates

Krauss and longtime bandmates Barry Bales, Ron Block, Jerry Douglas and Dan Tyminski offered a set of fans’ most-loved songs laced with newer material. Touring in support of their first new album in seven years, they fittingly opened the Saturday evening concert with the project’s title track, “Paper Airplane.”

The acclaimed musicianship of the group tallies up to a sum greater than its parts. Driven partly by Block’s rollicking banjo, the evening’s uptempo pace never grew sleepy, even on the ballads. Throughout the night, Krauss’s celebrated fiddle-playing balanced her soaring, delicate vocals.

A video panel changed with the mood, showing colors and scenery from cityscapes to countryside as the group offered well-known songs “Let Me Touch You For A While,” “Ghost In This House” and “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You.”

It’s remarkable how Krauss and Union Station manage to make bluegrass so welcoming—exciting even—for genre outsiders. While the set included more accessible songs like “Whiskey Lullaby,” originally recorded by Brad Paisley and Krauss, it shined equally on genre basics, particularly when Dobro master Douglas took the stage alone for a mid-show breakdown. Tyminski’s deep, powerful vocals—a fitting complement to Krauss’s soprano—steered the sound into deep bluegrass territory several times, offering “Rain Please Go Away,” and “Dust Bowl Children.”

Angel Snow opened the two-night stand. Photo: Burney Skates

Krauss noted that in attendance that night were four of the songwriters behind the band’s cuts over the last 20-plus years: Robert Lee Castleman, John Pennell, Sidney Cox of the Cox Family, and, of course, Union Station’s own Ron Block.

Krauss also used the opportunity to highlight a newer writer on the scene—inviting songstress Angel Snow to open the two-night series. Snow, together with songwriter/musician Viktor Krauss, penned “Lie Awake” and two other songs recorded by Union Station for the deluxe edition of the band’s newest release.

At the Ryman, Viktor backed Snow onstage for an acoustic set that ranged from sunny toe-tapper “Stay Away” to moving ballad “These Days,” one of the songs recorded by Union Station.

Snow pleased longtime followers with her older solo-writes “Coals And Water,” and “Holiday.” She also offered new material, written with Viktor, such as the groove laden “As You Are.” He is producing her upcoming release, due this November.

Near the end of the evening Krauss and Union Station gathered around the center mic for “Down To The River To Pray” and a few other songs, in a soulful closing moment showcasing the band’s talent and harmonies.

Douglas says his favorite part of being on the road with Alison is that she sings the band to sleep every night. And who wouldn’t enjoy that?

The fiery red backdrop, which changed throughout the show, reflects the blazing musicianship. Photo: Burney Skates

 

Americana Honors Set For Live TV Broadcast

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Jim Lauderdale will host the Americana Music Association's Honors and Awards, which will air live on NPT Oct. 13.

The upcoming Americana Music Association Honors and Awards will be broadcast live on Nashville Public Television to the Middle Tennessee viewing area on NPT channel 8. Confirmed to appear at the Oct. 13 show at the Ryman are genre stalwarts and rising stars including Jim Lauderdale, Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, Gregg Allman, Elizabeth Cook,  Hayes Carll, The Secret Sisters, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and The Civil Wars.

“It was time to bring the Americana Honors to another level,” explains Jed Hilly Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “We could not have better partners in Nashville Public Television President and CEO Beth Curley for our Middle Tennessee premiere and Austin City Limits Executive Producer Terry Lickona to take this to a national audience.”

In addition to the live awards broadcast, an edited version of the show will be aired Nov. 19 as a special episode of the new season of acclaimed PBS series Austin City Limits (check local listings).

The program will be taped by High Five Entertainment and co-produced by its President Martin Fischer along with Lickona, Courtney Gregg, Holly Lowman, and Hilly.

The Honors and Award Show is the capstone event of the Americana Music Festival and Conference presented by Nissan, running Oct. 12-15, 2011 in Nashville. A limited number of awards tickets are available at ryman.com. For more information go to americanamusic.org.

Chesney Ends Tour With Hurricane of Activity

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(l-r): Morris Artists Management Group Executive Vice President and CMA Board member Clint Higham, CMA Board member Connie Bradley, CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore, CMA Board member Bob DiPiero, Matraca Berg, Kenny Chesney, Brett James, Wendell Mobley, and Craig Wiseman. Photo credit: Natasha Moustache


Kenny Chesney’s 2011 Goin’ Coastal Tour celebrated its last weekend, in Boston, with a two-show hurricane of activity. To be exact, the Sunday 8/28 performance was rescheduled for Friday 8/26 because of approaching hurricane Irene and Saturday went on as scheduled. Together, the two shows sold over 106,000 tickets at the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Chesney called the crowd, “one of the loudest and most loving crowds of the tour.”

Guests included Billy Currington and Zac Brown Band. Mid-show, CMA President Steve Moore presented Chesney keyboardist Wyatt Beard with the organization’s first-ever Touring Musician of the Year Award.

While in Boston the Luttrell, TN homeboy appeared with hit songwriters Bob DiPiero, Matraca Berg, Brett James, Wendell Mobley and Craig Wiseman as part of the CMA’s sold-out Songwriter Series at the Royale Nightclub. The show was streamed live on Chesney’s Noshoesradio Internet station. Chesney also visited with Boston College football team, the Eagles and later spent an hour practicing with the New England Patriots. (Reportedly he missed a pass from quarterback Tom Brady…)

The weekend capped an incredible run with over 1.1 million tickets sold for the Goin’ Coastal Tour.

 

 

Four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney and CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore presented the inaugural CMA Touring Musician Award to Chesney keyboard player Wyatt Beard Saturday during the Foxboro Stadium concert date in Boston. (l-r): Wyatt Beard; Shirley Beard, mother; Chesney; Karyn Beard, wife; Moore; and RD Beard, father. Photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Charlie Cook On Air

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Tweeting For Radio, Artist and Listener

You can go to another page on this site and see that Taylor Swift has over 7 million twitter followers. I have answered a few of her tweets but alas, have not heard directly back from her.

That is the downside of Twitter—it is most often a one way communication. Except for Blake Shelton, who apparently puts down his beer to tweet back unless he’s mastered one hand texting. As an aside for Blake: don’t drink and drive and don’t text and drive. Get Blake a driver.

I like Twitter. I don’t really use it too much because even I don’t care what I am doing 24/7. I can’t expect many others care. And when you have nothing to tweet for a couple of days does that make you look pathetic? Now you see what I do in my free time.

That said, Twitter is a cool marketing tool for Country Music acts because we know that there is no more loyal group of fans than Country Music fans. If Taylor can tweet that she enjoyed Minneapolis and that the crowd was responsive I can see her fans wishing they were there to see the show.

If Blake tweets that he had to step off stage to pee, I can see his fans, well maybe they wouldn’t exactly want to be there, but they become engaged in his irreverence.

I have spoken to Scott Borchetta about this a couple of times and I know that he works closely with his acts to stay engaged in blogs and tweets. Scott is one of the best marketers in our genre and he gets it as well as anyone. He also knows that Twitter is only one way to market. And that is my point today.

Earlier this year I read an article by an Erica Swallow (I am so glad that this is not being tweeted to Blake) on Mashable. Erica used examples of successful tweets so I went back and looked at those and then some of the artist sites.

What many artists miss are the opportunities to use their fans as viral marketers. If I follow an artist I would be included in the tweets, but I am always looking for a way to pay off the listener. On the radio side we talk about a promotion benefiting the sponsor, the listener, and the station. Two out of three is not good enough.

What do your artists do to pay off the listener? A contest for a free download a day?   How about a personal phone call to one of your followers each week? A promotion to win a pair of tickets when you’re in their market? This is the kind of stuff that will encourage tweet-chatters to share tweets and hashtags in their personal social network.

Not only will this help you build your followers but build the kind of additional loyalty that help you sell an extra 10,000 downloads over the life of a CD.

Now, you cannot live on Twitter alone. Facebook still is the big gun for your acts but one of the things that I like about Twitter over Facebook is the longer life span of a tweet and the apparent immediacy that Twitter brings. Because Twitter has become so associated with breaking news it appears to be more “important” and not so much a social gathering spot like Facebook.

So how does all of this tie Radio and your Artists together? I know that many radio stations follow acts and forward tweets about those acts to their followers but how about making sure that you’re not missing these opportunities? Why not take the initiative away from the radio programmer and guarantee that your activities are being sent to the right people?

Do radio stations have a list of hashtags of their acts anywhere on their websites? This is the kind of stuff that the Country Music listeners expect from the music and their stations. Make their life easier and yours more accessible. If you think that following someone is as easy as stumbling across them on Twitter you’re wrong. Everyone needs to reach out.

Remember that this has to benefit all three elements. Radio, Artist and the Listener.

The Band Perry at The Ryman Is a Virtual Sell-Out

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Being in The Band Perry is a really good place to be. According to TBP reps, the sibling trio’s first headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium (scheduled for February 20, 2012) virtually sold out in 20 minutes this morning.

However, as of this posting, some individual tickets (no pairs) to the show appear to still be available for purchase via Ticketmaster.

“It’s an amazing thing. So much of our creative efforts have come inside Nashville … and it’s the center of our creativity,” Kimberly Perry recently told The Tennesean about the Ryman show. “We so much revere that (Ryman) stage. And I feel like there’s an amazing spirit about that place.”

TBP has played the Ryman stage before as part of the Grand Ole Opry and other multi-artist events, but this will the group’s official debut as headliners.

Kimberly and brothers Neil and Reid are still rolling strong on their 2010 album The Band Perry, which has produced the hits “If I Die Young” and “You Lie.” The album’s fourth single, “All Your Life,” is currently at No. 31 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart and climbing rapidly.

Weekly Chart Report (8/26/11)

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Arista Nashville’s Ronnie Dunn was recently in Norfolk, VA to perform at a USO-sponsored show. Dunn’s current single “Cost Of Livin’” is at No. 16 on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Dunn and WUSH PD Brandon O’Brien

LIFENOTE
Congratulations to record promoter Johnny Mitchell, whose family just got a little larger with the addition of great granddaughter Alayna Grace Clouse. The newborn is Mitchell’s sixth great grandchild, born to Daniel Spann and Brandy Clouse. Mother and baby are both well.

RADIO NEWS
Don Wilson, PD of Thunderbolt Broadcasting’s WYVY/Union City, TN is exiting the station at the end of this week to accept a ministry position in Orange Park, FL. Station manager Jason Aldridge will serve as interim PD until his replacement is named.

ON THE CHART
Kudos to Toby Keith and Show Dog-Universal’s promotion team for giving their superstar boss a second week at No. 1 on the CountryBreakout Chart with “Made In America.” Keith Urban’s “Long Hot Summer” jumps 4-2, moving ahead of still gaining duets “You and Tequila” (Kenny Chesney/Grace Potter) and “Remind Me” (Brad Paisley/Carrie Underwood) as well as Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”

Frozen Playlists: KMKS, KZZY, WBKR, WBYZ, WCMS, WOOZ, WTCR

SPIN ZONE
One hot discussion topic recently has been the prevalence of rural/outlaw/redneck themes in country music, and there’s no shortage of opinions on the matter [Full disclosure: I provided my own opinion on this site a couple weeks ago]. Truthfully, it hardly seems to matter what a jaded critic says when you’ve got chart bullets galore and your record is knocking on the door of No. 1 glory.

Which makes me wonder how the folks in small market radio feel about it all, since it is ostensibly this very type of place inspiring the writers to pen these songs. Many PDs and MDs seem to agree that there’s a certain pride among small town dwellers, echoed in songs like Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” and Rodney Atkins’ “Take A Back Road.”

“Small towns, backroads, rivers and fishin’ is what we are and who our listeners are,” muses Dave Tyler of WTRS/Ocala, FL. “With that said I personally find it a little fatiguing to hear another ‘Where I came from’ or or ‘my town is so small’ song but they seem to climb the charts and get requests.”

“We appreciate them since we’re in that type of surrounding,” adds George Henry of WDXX in Selma, AL. “Our audience very much relates to it. People who live in the city only wish that their lives were that simple. I hope Nashville keeps them coming. Country music still needs to reflect the country lifestyle. Otherwise, it ain’t nothing but contemporary pop.”

“The recent influx of ‘outlaw’ or ‘rebel’ songs is proving successful because they are in line with the thinking of our listeners,” agrees Mike Thomas of KFAV/Warrenton, MO. “In light of the economy, world and national events, many people have a ‘mad as hell, not gonna take it anymore’ attitude and I think the country genre has tapped into that.”

Listeners are a key part of the picture, and their active engagement with the stations has helped the rise to popularize some of the new crop.

“Leah Seawright’s last single [“On The Backroads”] was top 10 phones for us and Rodney Atkins current single [“Take A Back Road”] is also Top 10 phones,” says Ted Cramer of WIFE/Connersville, IN. “My market knows it is a rural area just outside a metro and is proud of the country lifestyle maintained here.”

To borrow Dave Tyler’s expression above, there does however seem to be a little fatigue–or at least the threat of it–with the trend.

“Like most good ideas, too much of a good thing can lead to overkill,” cautions Mike Thomas.

“It seems like once a theme gets accepted by one or two good records, everyone jumps on the bandwagon and then we have several (tons) of records from un-noticed artists that come, take up our time, and go,” says Susie Martin of WATZ/Alpena, MI. “Just because that seems to be the theme at the time. It’s the same thing we get around Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July and they are starting to come in for 9/11.”

Bandwagon or not, the rise in popularity of more rural and outlaw-themed material could indicate a major shift in listener demographics. Which, some say, is quite a good thing for the longevity of country radio.

“These songs are bringing a younger audience to Country Radio,” says Ken Scott of WJVL/Janesville, WI. “This music has an attitude and this audience relates well to it! It’s simply art imitating life. These young people are, for the most part, struggling middle class workers. Many are content with their existence, working hard at a not so glamorous job, spending time with family and friends, and looking forward to the weekend. This is their reality and they’re okay with that. All these songs are little anthems for a simple, good life, that is truly American. There’s an audience turnover in progress. We still have our baby boomers and generation X, but it’s time to program for this new audience, the Millennials, because they’re our future and they’re diggin’ us!“

Upcoming Singles
August 29
Reba/Somebody’s Chelsea/Valory
Chris Cagle/Got My Country On/Bigger Picture
Risa Binder/You Made It Rain/Turnpike
Vince Gill/Threaten Me With Heaven/MCA

September 6
Jason Aldean/Tattoos On This Town/Broken Bow

September 12
Kevin Fowler/That Girl/Average Joes
Chris Young/You/RCA
Ashley Gearing/Me, My Heart and I/Curb
Crystal Shawanda/Love Enough/Sun/Nine North

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Jason Aldean/Tattoos On This Town/Broken Bow — 72
LiveWire/Tater Fed/LiveWire Records — 76
Buddy Jewell/Jesus, Elvis and Me/Diamond Dust — 77
Steve Richard/Love’s Gotta Go Somewhere/Force MP — 78
Pistol Annies/Hell On Heels/Columbia — 79
Bomshel/Halleluy’all/Curb — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 557
Miranda Lambert/Baggage Claim/Columbia — 516
Eric Church/Drink In My Hand/EMI Nashville — 511
Blake Shelton/God Gave Me You/Warner Bros./WMN — 370
The Band Perry/All Your Life/Republic Nashville — 335

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 35
Eric Church/Drink In My Hand/EMI Nashville — 30
Jason Aldean/Tattoos On This Town/Broken Bow — 26
Reba/Somebody’s Chelsea/Starstruck/Valory — 14
Steel Magnolia/Bulletproof/Big Machine — 14
Chris Young/You/RCA Nashville — 13
The Band Perry/All Your Life/Republic Nashville — 12
Hunter Hayes/Storm Warning/Atlantic/WMN — 11
Miranda Lambert/Baggage Claim/Columbia — 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Jason Sturgeon/The Cover/Toolpusher/Spinville — 194
Coleman Brothers/Beer-Thirty/PVI — 185
The O’Donnells/She Leaves The Light On/Song Valley Music — 173
Ira Dean/Beer or Gasoline/Average Joes Entertainment — 173
Brett Eldredge/It Ain’t Gotta Be Love/Atlantic/WMN — 166

Last Tuesday (8/16) KAJA/San Antonio hosted “KJ Heartstrings” to benefit local children’s charities supported by “For the Love of Kids & Harleys.” Josh Abbott, Rick Trevino, Josh Thompson, Joe Nichols, Roger Creager, and The JaneDear Girls played to 3,000 KJ listeners at the Cowboys Dancehall for an acoustic night that raised over $20,000. (L-R): Joe Nichols, Josh Abbott, Rick Trevino, Roger Creager, KAJA Programming Assistant Bree Wagner, Josh Thompson, KAJA PD Travis Moon, and the JaneDear Girls’ Danelle Leverett and Susie Brown

Matt Gary (17 Music Entertainment) pulled together a winning team of family and industry to play golf with PGA pro Ken Duke at the Nationwide Tour Midwest Classic Pro-Am kick-off event in Kansas City. Matt also performed a live show at the pairings party the night before. (L-R): Mike Kennedy (KBEQ-Q104, Kansas City), John Ettinger (Quarterback Records/Ettinger Talent Associates), Golf Pro Ken Duke, Mike Gary and Matt Gary.

Reba played a set at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines this past weekend, and visited with with KLMJ/Hampton, Iowa. Reba’s “Somebody’s Chelsea” is at No. 63 in its second week on the CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): Janet Betten, Reba and KLMJ MD Mike Betten

Breaking News: Sony Exits Hit Nashville

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Sony Music Nashville laid off 12 staffers this week as part of a restructuring, MusicRow has confirmed.

Among those exiting are Jimmy Rector, Mike Wilson, Stephanie Cox and Debbie Linn.

Columbia’s radio promotion team was hardest hit.

Exiting are:

• Columbia Nashville VP National Promotion Jimmy Rector ([email protected], 615-293-6669)

• Columbia Director of National Promotion Mike Wilson, had been at the label group for about 20 non-concurrent years,([email protected], 615-557-8884)

• Regionals Diane Monk (Arista), Jennifer Thorpe (Columbia), Cliff Blake, Steve Pleshe (RCA), and David “Bubba” Berry (BNA).

• Columbia Promotion Coordinator Ben Sterling, (615-556-5602, [email protected]).

• Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing Debbie Linn, who had been at the label 21 years, (615-293-6962, [email protected])

• Monument Publishing’s Stephanie Cox and Ben Strain ([email protected], 615-319-8007)

• A&R Coordinator Tim Riffle, ([email protected], 951-315-3751)

• Director Field Sales, Marketing & Catalog Development Mike Rivers ([email protected], 615-500-8346).

Rector has a message for the industry, “Hire Ben Sterling, then we’ll worry about me.” Sterling was a seven-year employee of the label.

Doug Morris is settling in as the company’s CEO, and has started restructuring. The reorganization hit Nashville following many lay-offs at Sony’s New York operations. A new regime was announced recently for the pop/rock division of Sony’s RCA, resulting in the exit of about 20 staffers, including several VPs. The New York Post reports that the wider plan is to fold Jive into RCA. Morris also broke off Epic from Columbia and brought in L.A. Reid as chairman of Epic, where about 50 team members have exited.

Morris took office on July 1, 2011, making the move from his former post leading Universal Music Group as chairman. The 72-year-old brings with him five decades of experience. He has a track record of successful mergers, namely the PolyGram and Universal merger under his watch, and was expected to smooth over any rough edges remaining at Sony following the 2004 merger with BMG.

This story will be updated as it develops.

email [email protected] or call 615-349-2171 with news tips, or to share updated contact information

Bobby Karl Works the SOURCE Awards

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(L-R): Chuck Chellman accepting for his late wife Georgia Twitty Chellman, Millie Kirkham, Evelyn Shriver, Roberta Edging and Janice Erickson Wendell.

Chapter 371
Photos: Alan Mayor

Every year, the SOURCE organization honors the women of Nashville’s music business.

This year’s awards banquet, held at the Noah Liff Opera Center (8/25) put the spotlight on Janice Wendell, Evelyn Shriver, the late Georgia Twitty Chellman, Barbara Orbison and Roberta Edging.

Kay Smith, who founded SOURCE with Judy Harris and Shelia Shipley-Biddy in 1991, welcomed the sold-out crowd of 250 and explained the SOURCE mission of being a networking, education, financial support and job-bank organization.

Kay announced that the SOURCE plaques will have a home in the new Musicians Hall of Fame, thanks to the generosity of Joe & Linda Chambers. When the Municipal Auditorium celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012, it will do so with a new name, The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at Municipal Auditorium. The hallways surrounding the auditorium will hold historical exhibits about the venue. The Museum and SOURCE exhibits will be located in the 68,000-square foot exhibit hall that is on the ground floor.

(L-R): MusicRow's Robert K. Oermann, 2010 Source Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Frances Preston, David Preston and Source founder Kay Smith.

Jeannie Seely hosted the awards. Current SOURCE president Laurie Hughes gave out the plaques as each honoree took the stage.

“I’m amazed at not only our award winners, but all the women in this room,” said Seely. SOURCE membership is now approaching 200.

Roberta Edging was saluted first. The Nashville native ran Eddy Arnold’s business office for four decades. Jeannie described her as “a true family friend, even beyond the Country Music Hall of Famer’s death in 2008.” To the end, she typed Eddy’s  correspondence on a manual typewriter and took dictation the old-fashioned way. And, as Jeannie noted, Roberta always referred to her boss as “Mr. Arnold.”

“Roberta kept him functional,” noted Charlie Monk. “It was a little hard to keep his office tidy. It looked like the set of Sanford & Son.”

“That office still looks exactly the same, by the way,” said Arnold’s grandson Shannon Pollard. “We’ve kept it that way….I have literally known her my entire life. I consider her to be a grandmother to me, in many ways.”

“I appreciate all the kind words,” Roberta responded. “I appreciate the almost 43 years I spent with a gentleman, Eddy Arnold.”

(L-R): Evelyn Shriver, K. T. Oslin, 2008 Source honoree Hazel Smith, Carlie McCoy and 2009 Source honoree Pat McCoy.

Honoree Millie Kirkham is also a Nashville native. She began her career as secretary to the late Jack Stapp at WSM. When he formed Tree Publishing, she went with him to Music Row. She next became one of the most in-demand session vocalists in the industry. Jeannie recalled Millie’s unforgettable soprano on such hits as Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” and George Jones’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

Millie’s acceptance speech was a delight. Because of the demands of the recording studio, “I wasn’t home to cook dinner for my family,” she recalled. “Thank goodness, a company called Swanson’s came along. My daughter is living proof that you can survive on frozen TV dinners.

“This is the first award I have ever won. We had an earthquake and a hurricane on the East Coast, and Millie Kirkham finally got an award.” Hoots of laughter and applause greeted her as she left the stage.

Barbara Orbison was honored for managing Roy Orbison’s career, for establishing her successful Nashville music-publishing company in 1996 and for launching Pretty Woman perfume in 2009. She was unable to attend, but we all got samples of Pretty Woman when we left the banquet.

After a New York career as a publicist for Diana Ross, Cher, Henry “The Fonz” Winkler, the stars of TV’s Dallas and dozens more, Evelyn Shriver moved to Nashville in 1985. She has worked for Randy Travis, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson and many others. Named the SRO Publicist of the Year four times, Evelyn rose to become the first female president of a record label in Nashville (Asylum Records, 1998-2000). She now heads the George Jones imprint Bandit Records.

“I don’t feel like I have any claim to be here,” said Evelyn modestly. “I appreciate all the support I’ve gotten from the women in this business.”

Top executive Janice Wendell was saluted for her leadership of the powerhouse Ericson Advertising firm. Retired since 1992, she is the wife of Country Music Hall of Fame WSM/Gaylord executive E.W. “Bud” Wendell. Jeannie Seely noted that, “Mr. Wendell was my boss for many years [at the Opry]. He was always wonderful to work with. I assumed it was because he received such wonderful training at home.”

(L-R): Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Director Kyle Young, Bud Wendell, Janice Erickson Wendell, Frances Preston and Sony/ATV President/CEO Troy Tomlinson.

Janice accepted, saying, “I hope all of you find something you love to do. Because it won’t feel like working if you do….Enjoy life. It’s short. Do something nice for somebody every day.”

The late Georgia Twitty Chellman (1935-1992) was recognized for her work in television (Gospel Jubilee), radio (Music City Hotline), hospitality (Veeson Travel) and food (Tennessee T-Cakes). She was also an award-winning photographer, helped to found Country Radio Seminar and raised six children.

Georgia had an outrageous sense of humor. Her widower, Chuck Chellman, accepted by saying, “Georgia was special. Good or bad, it was never boring….Whenever you go to a music function, she’s still with us today.”

The banquet hall was packed with powerful music-biz female personalities. Karen Conrad, Karen Oertley, Karen Sturgeon, K.T. Oslin, Katie Gillon, Kerry Hanson, Kira Florita, Susan Stewart, Susan Nadler, Suzanne Kessler, Becky Harris, Judy Harris, Judy Newby, Lori Badgett, Laurie Hughes, Caroline Davis, Cathy Gurley, Ree Guyer-Buchanan, Debbie Carroll, Nancy Shapiro, Tracy Gershon, Lyndie Wenner, Diane Pearson, Brandi Simms, Barbara Turner, Betsy Morley, Sarah Brosmer, Shatzi Hageman, Mary Miller, Margie Hunt, Gillie Crowder and Pat Rolfe schmoozed mightily.

Past winners attending included Frances Preston, Jo Walker-Meador, Pat McCoy, Liz Thiels, Celia Froehlig, Sandy Neese, Hope Powell, Ruth White, Carol Phillips and Hazel Smith.

And lest you think this was a ladies-only event, some of the notable gents in attendance included Paul Burch, Charlie McCoy, Bill Denny, Chuck Neese, Bob Saporiti, Fletcher Foster, Frank Mull, David Preston, Andrew Kitz, Gene Ward, John Lomax III, Jay Orr, Alan Mayor, Chris Dodson, Roger Shriver, Michael Campbell, Sherrill Blackmon, Gordon Stoker, Bud Wendell, Ron Cox, Don Cusic, Kyle Young and Troy Tomlinson.

Pianist Ronnie Brown serenaded each honoree with appropriately chosen selections (“Make the World Go Away” for Roberta, “Georgia on My Mind” for Georgia, etc.).

This was the ninth annual SOURCE banquet. This event is always noted for its excellent cuisine, and this year was no exception. We began with tossed green salad with pine nuts, blue-cheese crumbles and strawberries. The main course was melt-in-your-mouth roast beef with mushroom gravy, asparagus spears and the most scrumptious flakey scalloped potatoes I’ve ever tasted. Lighter-than-air raspberry and vanilla mousse with kiwi slices, blackberries and whipped cream finished us off.

Apple’s Steve Jobs Steps Down

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Steve Jobs

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced his resignation from that post today (8/24), and was elected chairman of the board of the technology giant. The company’s COO Tim Cook, who has been leading Apple during Jobs’ recurring medical leaves, will succeed Jobs as CEO according to the company’s official press release.

 

Jobs has been plagued with health issues in recent years following a 2004 fight with pancreatic cancer. However, there was no mention of his health in his resignation letter to the board (below). The tech visionary has been on medical leave since January, though he did appear briefly in public in March to launch the iPad2.

August 24, 2011

Letter from Steve Jobs

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

 

More here from the Wall Street Journal.

 

Eli Young Scores Solid Debut

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Eli Young Band’s Life At Best debuted with sales of 35K units, including a notably high 46 percent digital downloads. Fueled by hit lead single “Crazy Girl,” the project came in at No. 3 on the Country Album Chart (Nielsen Soundscan).

Spending a second week at No. 1 on that chart is Luke Bryan, moving 52K copies this week for RTD totals nearing 200K. Jason Aldean lands at No. 2, moving about 37K per week after 42 weeks on the chart. And Eric Church sells 31K to slide into No. 4 after just as many weeks.

On the digital tracks front, Lady A has two songs in the top 5 country downloads, both from upcoming release Own The Night, and moving about 60K each.

The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” is at No. 1 with 83K. Also faring well are downloads of the Brad/Carrie duet (68K), and Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” (70K).

Jay Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne is ruling the land, with 177K units for a two-week RTD total of 619K.