Tag Archive for: Songwriters

Big Loud Extreme Partnership

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schottSongwriter Jenn Schott has signed with Big Loud Shirt. This is the company’s first signing under its partnership combining the Big Loud Shirt & Extreme Writer’s Group creative teams. “I’ve known and been a fan of Jenn Schott’s for years and we are thrilled to work with her. It was also great that Michael Martin of Extreme and Seth England at Shirt could come together to make this happen,” said Craig Wiseman, multiple award-winning songwriter and founder of Big Loud Shirt Industries.

Get Out For A Good Cause This Week

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mhThe Miller Harris Foundation Benefit Concert is tonight, Wed., June 24 at the Bluebird Cafe. Two shows featuring some of Nashville’s favorite songwriters will benefit the organization which helps children with asthma. The 6 PM in-the-round welcomes Kim Williams, Amanda Williams, Roxie Dean, and Brice Long; followed by the 9 PM show with Keith Stegall, Jim McBride, Wynn Varble and David Lee. For reservations go to www.bluebirdcafe.com or call (615) 383-1461.

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The 3rd Annual Alex LeVasseur Memorial Skate & Music Festival will be Sun., June 28 from 2-9 PM. The free, family-friendly event will be at Jim Warren Park in Franklin. There will be skate demos, live music, local food vendors, airbrush tattoos, game booths, silent auction items and giveaways, and much more. Performers this year include Jeffrey Steele, LoCash Cowboys, Ricky Young & Red White Blue, and Pearl Heart. Money raised will go to the Alex LeVasseur Fund and the Memorial Scholarship Program, which works in conjunction with Sixth Avenue skate park in Nashville to help overlooked and underprivileged youth by creating programs to keep them motivated in school and life through skating. LeVasseur is the late son of Steele, and the event was founded in his memory.
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A benefit for the NSAI legislative fund will be held tomorrow night, Thurs., June 25, at the Bluebird Cafe. The 9 PM set features hitmakers Karen Staley (“Let’s Go To Vegas,” Faith Hill; “The Keeper Of The Stars,” Tracy Byrd); Danny Mark Wells (“These Days,” Rascal Flatts; “Check Yes Or No,” George Strait), and friends. For reservations go to www.bluebirdcafe.com or call (615) 383-1461.

Skyline Signs B&D Hitmaker Don Cook

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Pictured (L-R): Chip Voorhis, Paul Worley, Liz Morin, Wally Wilson. Seated: Don Cook. Photo: Katie Voorhis

Don Cook, writer and producer of numerous hits by Brooks & Dunn, has signed with Skyline Music Publishing. Among his credits are the B&D songs “Only In America,” “It’s Getting Better All The Time,” “Brand New Man,” “My Next Broken Heart,” “That Ain’t No Way To Go,” “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” and “She Used To Be Mine.” Since 1991 he has co-produced thirteen No. 1 hits by Brooks & Dunn, and served as producer on successful albums for The Mavericks, Olivia Newton-John, Shenandoah, Lonestar, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Diffie, and more.

He also wrote “Even The Man In The Moon Is Crying” and “Born To Love You” by Mark Collie, “What I Meant To Say” and “On A Good Night” by Wade Hayes, “Now I Know” by Lari White and “Small Town Girl” by Steve Wariner. In addition, Cook has had cuts by Conway Twitty, George Strait, Keith Whitley, Vince Gill, Alabama, Waylon Jennings and a host of others.

In 1994, Cook was named Senior Vice President at Sony/ATV Tree, and four years later was upped to Chief Creative Officer. He retired from the business side of publishing in 2004 to focus on his family and songwriting.

Artists Step Up To Help Charity

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vinceamyalison

Photo: Robin Weiner

Several Nashville stars marked the launch of a new charity initiative for injured veterans on June 8 in Washington D.C. Amy Grant and Vince Gill hosted and performed at the musical event at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and were joined by Alison Krauss, Michael McDonald, Darius Rucker, Melinda Doolittle and Mac McAnally. The Challenge America initiative supports returning injured veterans and their families by helping them through recreation, finding jobs and housing programs. Also on hand to share their poignant stories were ABC’s Bob Woodruff, and NY Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield.

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The Writer’s Share, to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation for cancer and AIDS, will take place June 18 at the Bluebird Cafe. The 9 PM show, arranged by Jen Foster in memory of her mother, will feature Foster, Richard Marx, Chuck Cannon, Mike Reid, and Lari White.

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The Blackberry Jam Music Festival will take place for the sixth consecutive year at the Boyd Mill Farm at 3218 Boxley Valley Road in Franklin on Sat., June 20 from 2-10 p.m. This live music event, held on a “u-pick” blackberry farm, features Walter Egan, Colin Linden and Buddy Greene. Proceeds will go to Hard Bargain Mount Hope Redevelopment, Mercy Children’s Clinic, Kids on Stage Scholarship Fund and Kid Pan Alley. Tickets are $10 for adults; children 12  and under are free. For details or tickets go to http://www.theblackberryjam.com

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The 11th Annual Phillip Fulmer and Charlie Daniels Golf Classic will be tomorrow (6/16) at the Hermitage Golf Course. The event will benefit The Jason Foundation, a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide.

Festival Fundraiser Memorializes Steele’s Son

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alexThe Alex LeVasseur Memorial Skate and Music Festival—the third annual event hosted by songwriter Jeffrey Steele and his family—is set for Sunday, June 28 at Jim Warren Park in Franklin, Tenn. Proceeds will benefit the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation, and its scholarship program to motivate kids.

The free festival opens at 2 PM with a performance by Steele, who will also close out the bash ending at 9 PM. In between, American Bang, LoCash Cowboys, Ricky Young & Red White Blue, and Pearl Heart, will rock the stage. The event featuring skate demos, giveaways, games, food and an auction was created in loving memory of Steele’s late son Alex, an avid skater who died at age 13. www.rememberalex.com.

If you’d like to get involved with the organization, contact Casey LeVasseur at [email protected]. Title sponsors are BMI and 3 Ring Circus Music & Records.

Happy Birthday Bluebird Cafe

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The Bluebird Café is celebrating its 27th year in business tonight with a Birthday Bash featuring The Jay Patten Band and special guests Jonell Mosser, Cowboy Jack Clement, Deborah Allen, Shawn Camp, and more. The 9:00 PM event benefits Happy Endings Animal Rescue (H.E.A.R.). The cost is $15.00.

Jeffrey Steele Takes Manhattan

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jeffrey-steeleNashville hit writer Jeffrey Steele performed at Joe’s Pub in New York City last Wednesday (3/25), and the New York Times was there. Times writer Jon Caramanica turned in a rave review of Steele’s hit-filled performance, praising the singer/songwriter’s storytelling skills and citing his “detail-rich and emotionally specific lyrics” and “brute skill rescuing even unappealing subject matter.” You can read the entire article here.

SESAC Celebrates Christian Award Winners

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SESAC honored Jason Ingram as its 2008 Christian Songwriter of the Year during ceremonies held Monday (2/23) at Nashville’s Sambuca Restaurant. The performing rights organization also named Peertunes Ltd., Grange Hill Music, and Windsor Way Music as 2008 Christian Publishers of the Year.

Ingram realized extraordinary success last year with his song “Give Me Your Eyes,” which was a No. 1 hit on two radio formats. Artist Brandon Heath, who took the tune to the top of the charts, performed an inspired version of the hit at the awards event. In 2008, Ingram also had success with his songs “Peace Be Still” and “Wonder Of The World” by Rush Of Fools.

Other SESAC award winners included Christian chart-toppers Ian Eskelin and Adam Agee of Stellar Kart, and Jeremy Kunkle of This Beautiful Republic.

Pictured (L-R): Trevor Gale (SESAC, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations), Tim Fink (SESAC Associate Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations), Jason Ingram, David Steunebrink (Grange Hill Music, President), Dennis Lord (SESAC, Executive Vice President), Kevin Lamb (peermusic Ltd., Vice President, Nashville) and John Mullins (SESAC, Associate Director, Writer/Publisher Relations). Photo: Ed Rode

Pictured (L-R): Trevor Gale (SESAC, VP, Writer/Publisher Relations), Tim Fink (SESAC Assc. VP, Writer/Publisher Relations), Jason Ingram, David Steunebrink (Grange Hill Music, President), Dennis Lord (SESAC, Exec. VP), Kevin Lamb (peermusic Ltd., Vice President, Nashville) and John Mullins (SESAC, Assc. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations). Photo: Ed Rode

Parties Fete “Don’t” Songwriters

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Many in the music industry spent Tuesday afternoon (2/24) celebrating Billy Currington’s recent No. 1 hit, “Don’t.” Parties at BMI and ASCAP marked the occasion for the song’s co-writers Jim Beavers and Jonathan Singleton. It is the pair’s second trip to the top of charts together; they also co-wrote Gary Allan’s “Watching Airplanes.”

(L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Billy Currington, producer Carson Chamberlain, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, co-writer Jim Beavers, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Luke Lewis, BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Kay Williams

(L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Billy Currington, producer Carson Chamberlain, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Jim Beavers, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Luke Lewis, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Kay Williams

(L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Crosstown Songs Dan Huff, Darrell Franklin, Megan Galbraith, Jonathan Singleton, Billy Currington, and Jim Beavers.

(L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Crosstown Songs' Dan Huff, Darrell Franklin, Megan Galbraith, Jonathan Singleton, Billy Currington, and Jim Beavers.

LifeNotes: Scotty Turner

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A Nashville memorial service was held this morning, Feb. 18, for the multi-faceted music industry figure Scotty Turner. Nashville Association of Talent Directors president Rod Harris announced Turner’s death at the NATD’s monthly meeting last week.

Turner was a musician, record producer, label executive, music publisher and songwriter. Early in his career, he was the lead guitarist for Tommy Sands, Guy Mitchell and Eddie Fisher. He then became a producer at A&M Records in Los Angeles. His songs were recorded by the label’s Tijuana Brass and The Baja Marimba Band.

His first publishing job was as the general manager of Central Songs, also in Los Angeles. He then became the head of the country division of United Artists Records, which brought him from the West Coast to Nashville. As a record producer, he worked with Slim Whitman, Jimmy Bryant, Del Reeves and Jimmy Clanton. He is particularly associated with Jim Cartwright, whom he worked with for 23 years.

Turner was the writer of more than 400 songs recorded by Eddy Arnold, Nilsson, Dean Martin, Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dean, Wanda Jackson, Wynn Stewart, Red Simpson, The Del Vikings, Robert Gordon, Skeets McDonald and Gene Vincent among many others. As a songwriter, one of his most notable collaborators was the late Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of World War II and the star of dozens of Hollywood films. Other co-writers included Buddy Holly, Herb Alpert, Nilsson, Doc Pomas, Red Lane, Alex Harvey, Cliffie Stone and Mac Davis.

Turner’s biggest hits include “Shutters and Boards” (Jerry Wallace, 1962 & Slim Whitman, 1970), “When the Wind Blows in Chicago” (Roy Clark, 1965), “Hicktown” (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1965), “Little Pink Mack” (Kay Adams, 1966), “Your Forevers Don’t Last Very Long” (Jean Shepard, 1967) and “Trucker’s Prayer” (Dave Dudley, 1967). He was also the author of the book Song Publisher’s Perspective.

He was born Graham Morrison Turnbull in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He died while visiting his son in upstate New York on Feb. 9 at age 77. He is survived by his son, Trevor; daughter, Adrienne (Jeffery) Cullen; granddaughter, Eve; and former wife, Diane Iungano (Jackson).

The Nashville service took place at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home’s Dignity Hall at 11:30 AM. Memorials may be made to Marathon For A Better Life, PO Box 268, Warnerville, NY 12187 or to a Nashville Cancer Charity of your choice.