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BRAD PAISLEY TAKES HUMOR SERIOUSLY Brad Paisley is known for using humor in his songwriting, and in a recent interview with the AP, he explained that there's a real art to writing a funny song. Asked whether it's easier to write a funny song than a serious one, Brad replied, "I don't know if they're easier. Sometimes they're harder to perfect. I think that humor, for me, is a way of making an album well rounded. There's got to be a few of those for it to feel like one of my records. There's also got to be a few serious songs for it to feel like one of my records. I would never want to do a record of 10 funny songs." As for the secret of a successful funny song, Brad said, "I think it's all in the timing. It's like fishing. It's baiting the hook and knowing when to set it. In 'Ticks' you bait them and go all the way down the chorus to 'I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers.' I could have ended it then with 'So let's take a drive' [laughs]. But that's not setting the hook. After 'I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers,' the ball is sitting on the tee, so you swing and give it a line like 'And I'd like to check you for ticks.'" FRIDAY THE 13TH BAD-LUCK DAY FOR SINGER You can't blame country singer Gene Watson if he's a little superstitious about Friday the 13th. Watson, 63, and his Farewell Party band were on their way from Houston to perform on the Grand Ole Opry when their bus caught fire just outside of Nashville. The blaze ignited from a broken axle shaft spewing grease. A mechanic before he had his first hit with "Love in the Hot Afternoon," the Palestine, Texas, native quickly went to work trying to extinguish the fire. "We used everything we had on the bus to douse the flames, from sodas to water bottles," he said in a release from his publicist. "The firemen arriving on the scene still gave it a good shot, too." Sarah Brosmer, the singer's publicist, said black smoke and flames engulfed the back of the bus by the engine. Watson and his band were trying to keep it from spreading under the floorboard. They fought it for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived, she said. No one was harmed, though Watson did singe his hair. The group had to rent another bus to continue to their Opry gig. It could take several days before Watson's regular bus is repaired. "When we say we were smoldering hot in Nashville, we really mean it," cracked Watson, whose other hits include "Fourteen Carat Mind" and "Paper Rosie." BOOTS RANDOLPH IN HOSPITAL Associated Press - June 27, 2007 7:35 PM ET NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Saxophone player Boots Randolph was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday in Nashville. Officials at Skyline Medical Center said Randolph's family had asked that no other information be released about him other than to ask for prayers. The 80-year-old Randolph is best known for his 1963 hit "Yakety Sax," which became the theme song for the TV show "The Benny Hill Show" more than two decades after the tune was released. He had been a top Nashville session musician, playing with dozens of recording artists, including Elvis Presley and he performed regularly in Nashville nightclubs for 30 years until the mid-1990s. He
has just had his latest CD released, a 14-track jazz instrumental album. TOBY TO SNUB THE CMA AWARDS Toby Keith says he won’t attend the Nov. 7 Country Music Association Awards because he feels the organization has repeatedly snubbed him. June 26, 2007 – "I'm done with it, but I tried to keep that quiet,” he told Nashville newspaper The Tennessean. “I don't want this to be sour grapes.” Out of 27 nominations, Toby has won only two CMA trophies. "The very same two years I swept through the [Academy of Country Music Awards] and had Entertainer of the Year twice,” he said, “I was sitting on the front of the CMAs getting zero. . . . It just makes you question the integrity of a system where the person who has the biggest year and is most nominated and has outperformed and been the No. 1 ticket seller, which I was in that time, to walk out zero for 16." FORMER "AMERICAN IDOL" FAVOURITE TO TOUR PERSIAN GULF June 26, 2007 — Josh Gracin, who spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, will tour the Persian Gulf this summer in support of our troops overseas. Josh will leave his wife and three children at home in Nashville to play shows and spend time with the troops stationed throughout the Persian Gulf. The overseas tour is sponsored by the Armed Forces MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) division and Stars for Stripes. "It means a lot to me to do this," Josh said. "As a former Marine it's important for me to give back to our men and women in uniform. I hope these shows can help them to escape for just a moment and bring a little piece of home to our folks serving overseas." The former "American Idol" contestant's self-titled debut CD is certified gold by the RIAA and has sold over 680,000 copies. The first single from the project, "I Want To Live," was also his first hit, climbing to No. 4 on the country charts. Josh's second single, "Nothin' To Lose," was his first No. 1 record. His third single "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" was also a Top 5 hit, giving him three consecutive Top 5 songs. JACK INGRAM GETS THE ACTING BUG Singer Jack Ingram is in the upcoming film, "The Last Confession Of Ransom Pride." Ingram plays the role of Ransom Pride in this Western set in the early 1900s. He shared screen time with actor Gary Busey, who plays a bounty hunter disguised as a priest. SAMMY KERSHAW ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR LOUISIANA LT. GOVERNOR Speaking in his hometown of Kaplan, La, Sammy Kershaw ended weeks of speculation and officially announced he will run as a Republican candidate for Lt. Governor of Louisiana. I am proud to be a citizen of this state and I want to be a part of building its future. I'm committed to ensuring that the unique culture and proud heritage of this state is preserved and promoted, said Kershaw. Kershaw is running to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to help move Louisiana forward at a time when strong leadership is critical. I am not afraid to make difficult decisions. I know that with leadership comes responsibility. For the past 20 years I have taken care of my employees and their families and have learned that leadership means personal sacrifice. It means putting the needs of others before your own. I am going to bring that same mentality to Baton Rouge. As Commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, I will bring the entire experience of my career. I will lead the effort of expanding Louisiana's reach and creating economic diversification through what is uniquely ours. As Lt. Governor, some of Kershaw's top priorities include: * Making the entertainment industry a viable source of economic development in Louisiana. * Creating education programs that will train a sustainable labor force for this industry. Sammy
Kershaw is known for being one of country music's most talented artists
with a Cajun kick. Since his debut in 1991, he has had platinum and
gold records, but no amount of success has been able to tear him away
from his Louisiana roots. He and wife, Lorrie Morgan, have seven children
and two grandchildren. BRAZILIAN STAR MOVES TO NASHVILLE Rodrigo Haddad, country music singer from Brazil, has moved to Nashville this week for a minimum of 6 months. He is a leading performer in Brazil with a couple of hit albums to his credit and wants to pursue his career in Music City and finish his upcoming album. The
CMA has constantly nominated him for the Global Award and he regularly
performs in Nashville at all the events. As well as singing he is now
to be heard as a DJ on CMR Nashville, direct from Music City. You can
hear him on Tuesdays at 1pm. and 7pm. and also at 1am and 7am (Wednesday
mornings) and FERLIN HUSKY RESTING AFTER SURGERY Associated Press Country singer Ferlin Husky is resting in a Springfield, Mo., hospital this evening after doctors discovered blockage in arteries in both of his legs, his spokesman said. Husky, 81, was admitted to St. John's Hospital after blockage was suspected in one leg. But doctors discovered problems in both legs and decided to schedule surgery later, said Tracy Pitcox, president of Heart of Texas Records, Husky's label. The Flat River, Mo., native had open heart surgery in 1977. He also was hospitalized for a week in 1983 after suffering a heart attack in Seattle. Despite his health, Husky still performs about once a month, including a recent '50s festival in Wisconsin with Little Richard, Wanda Jackson and Bo Diddley. At
the height of his career, Husky was a movie and TV star and recorded
hit songs like "Wings of a Dove," "Gone" and "Country
Music Is Here to Stay." He made 18 movies with co-stars like Jayne
Mansfield ("Las Vegas Hillbillies" in 1966) and Zsa Zsa Gabor
("Country Music Holiday" in 1958). Husky, who also recorded
under the names Terry Preston and Simon Crum, sold more than 20 million
records, mostly in the 1950s and early 1960s. He has homes in Missouri
and Tennessee. GOSPEL BAND’S VAN INVOLVED IN CRASH THAT KILLS 1, INJURES 8 By
CHRIS SMITH CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A wreck early Friday morning on Interstate 24 killed a woman and injured eight people, leaving one in critical condition. Most of those injured were in a passenger van belonging to Harvest Wind Band, a bluegrass gospel group from Statesville, N.C. The band was scheduled to perform later that day in the Bluegrass Pickin’ Time festival in Dixon, Mo. The woman who died in the 3:15 a.m. accident was ejected from the van as it crashed. Names of the victims and details of how the wreck happened have not been released, and Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesmen said official information may not be released until Tuesday. The festival’s organizer, Scott Reeder, said a band member called him Friday to cancel the appearance, saying they’d been in a tragic wreck. Several attempts to reach the band Sunday were unsuccessful. Harvest Wind Band was nominated for two 2007 Dove Awards, one of them Bluegrass Album of the Year for “Ancient of Days,” according to the band’s Web site at www.harvestwindband.com. Reeder said a moment of prayer was held at the festival for those hurt in the wreck. “They’re a terrific band,” he said. “We were really looking forward to them coming.” Vanderbilt University Medical Center spokesman Jerry Jones said Sunday that of the three victims airlifted from the wreck, one went to Vanderbilt, one went to Saint Thomas and one went to Baptist, all Nashville hospitals. The patient who went to Vanderbilt was the one who died, Jones said. Three other victims were taken by ambulance to Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville. The remaining three who were injured did not require hospital attention. Revonda Roberts, lead singer of Harvest Wind, told the Statesville Record & Landmark on Saturday that as the van flipped, all she could do was pray. “All I kept saying over and over was, ‘God, I want to live,’ ” Roberts said. Roberts, her husband, Lonnie, and son Justin Bowles, as well as two other band members, Brad Wood and Robert McIntosh, were in the van. “We were hit from behind by a car and thrown into the path of a tractor-trailer,” Roberts told the Record & Landmark. Roberts said she believes that she and her band were witnesses to a miracle in Clarksville and that a mystery man had a hand in their survival. “Eyewitness accounts state there was another man at the scene of the accident, but no one could find him,” Roberts told the North Carolina newspaper. “No one knows who he was or where he came from, but he came up to Brad’s little girl, gave her an angel and said that this angel was going to watch over her.” Roberts sustained a shattered tibia and received staples in her head from a laceration, but was released from the emergency room the same day, she told the paper. Her husband suffered spinal injuries and is still in the hospital. Bowles, McIntosh and Wood had minor injuries and were also released. “Everyone is doing much better,” Roberts said. “God had his hand in this and blessed us to be alive.” TENNESSEAN.COM IFCO TO PRESENT PORTER WAGONER WITH THE IFCO TEX RITTER AWARD NASHVILLE - IFCO (the International Fan Club Organization) announced today that they will present the IFCO Tex Ritter Award to Porter Wagoner at the 40th Annual IFCO FunFest Show on Monday, June 4 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The legendary Tex Ritter was a friend, supporter and long-time member of IFCO. Following his death on January 2, 1974, IFCO collaborated with his wife, Dorothy, to establish the IFCO Tex Ritter Award. The honor was created to recognize an artist, individual or group for their contribution to country music, the music community, and fans everywhere. Nominations are accepted from IFCO-affiliates and industry professionals. Previous winners have included Mother Maybelle Carter, Ernest Tubb, Ralph Emery, Roy Clark, the Oak Ridge Boys, Louise Scruggs, Robert K. Oermann, Bill Anderson and Jim Halsey, to name a few. Porter Wagoner is among the most recognized names in all of country music. His grand showmanship, rhinestone suits, and loyalty to the Grand Ole Opry have culminated in numerous awards (including four Grammy awards), and a role in the Clint Eastwood movie, Honkytonk Man. IFCO congratulates Porter not only for being this year¹s IFCO Tex Ritter Award recipient, but for recently being honored as a ³50 Year² member of the Grand Ole Opry. Headlining the 40th Annual IFCO FunFest Show is Joe Diffie. Also performing are Trick Pony, Aaron Tippin, Chris Young, Ty Herndon, Billy Yates, Lady Antebellum, Carly Goodwin, John Stone, Todd Fritsch, Gary Mule Deer, and Two Foot Fred. IFCO's band leader is Joe Bob Barnhill, and Robert K. Oermann will be the night's host. The 40th Annual IFCO FunFest Show will also, for the first time, be broadcast on XM Satellite Radio/Highway 16. The show will re-air several times throughout June and early July. Additional air dates will be posted at ifco.org and xmradio.com. The 2007 IFCO FunFest Show benefits Nashville's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt (http://www.vanderbiltchildrens.com/). This hospital was created to give children a place to hope and heal. The focus is on research, education and advocacy, which allows the hospital to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art care delivered in a nurturing, family-centered environment. Ticket prices are $40 for Tier 1 seating, $35 for Tier 2 seating, and $27.50 for Tier 3 seating. A limited number of special VIP meet & greet tickets are sold out. Ticket orders can be placed online at: http://www.ifco.org or by calling 615.371.9596. IFCO is an international regulatory body, and is widely regarded as the foremost authority on setting-up and operating fan clubs. Founded in 1967 by Loudilla, Loretta and Kay Johnson, they have since established IFCO as a respected force in the entertainment industry, a clearing house for fan clubs, and consumer watchdog for the fans. For more information, please point your browser to http://www.ifco.org
NO
JAIL FOR WILLIE NELSON ON DRUG CHARGE Willie Nelson and his tour manager were spared jail time Tuesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession. Nelson and tour manager David Anderson, along with Nelson's sister, Bobbie Nelson, and two drivers, were issued citations on Sept. 18 after state troopers said they found marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms on the country legend's tour bus during a commercial-vehicle inspection on Interstate 10. State District Judge Paul deMahy fined Nelson and Anderson $1,024 each and put both on probation for six months. As part of a plea agreement, the citation against Bobbie Nelson was dismissed. St. Martin Parish Assistant District Attorney Chester Cedars said he dismissed the citations against the two drivers because there was no indication they "had anything to do with the contraband." Word spread quickly that Nelson was in this small southern Louisiana town, and a crowd of about 25 fans gathered outside to wait for the entertainer after his brief court appearance. When he emerged, Nelson obliged, shaking hands, signing scraps of paper and posing for photographs. "Thank y'all," he said, waving as he climbed into a waiting car. BILLY JOE SHAVER FREE Billy Joe Shaver has been freed on bail after a gun shooting incident. He turned himself in and was charged with aggravated assault. The 67 year old was unlawfully carrying a hand gun to add to the charges. ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR COUNTRIEST of the COUNTRY SHOW Joe
Diffie, Tammy Cochran, Michael Peterson, Chris Young, Highway 101, David
Frizzell, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Jimmy Fortune, Billy Ryan and David Kroll
are among the artists slated to appear on Billy Yates' COUNTRIEST of
the COUNTRY show scheduled for Wednesday, June 6th at the Ernest Tubb
Texas Troubadour Theater in Nashville. TRIBUTE NIGHT TO HANK COCHRAN A SUCCESS The
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum kicked off its new quarterly programming
series Poets and Prophets with a salute to legendary songwriter Hank
Cochran. A capacity crowd of well over 200 fans in the Ford Theatre
enjoyed the show. For 90 minutes Hank laughed and shared stories about
his "I always tried to make my songs short, sweet and make it rhyme," Cochran said in describing the recurring qualities of an amazing array of compositions that have not only been turned into country hits, but also been hits in other genres. The lengthy Cochran list includes "Make The World Go Away," "Set 'Em Up Joe," "Ocean Front Property," "She's Got You" and "The Chair." Hank was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1974 - he continues to write, adding new tunes to his impressive catalogue. KRISTOFFERSON TRIBUTE PLANNED FOR CMT AWARDS Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson and more will take part in a tribute to Kris Kristofferson on the 2007 CMT Music Awards, April 16, on CMT at 8 p.m. ET. April 12, 2007 – Kris will receive the Johnny Cash Visionary Award during the telecast from the Curb Event Center in Nashville. The award recognizes an artist’s musical vision, groundbreaking music videos and pioneering initiatives. Rosanne Cash, Johnny’s daughter, will present the award to Kris. Also appearing in the tribute are actors Russell Crowe and Luke Wilson, along with Oscar-winning film director Martin Scorsese. FORMER HOME OF JOHNNY CASH DESTROYED BY FIRE Fumes from a wood preservative ignited by a spark are the likely cause of a mid-afternoon fire at the home at the late Johnny and June Carter Cash......situated in a suburb about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of downtown Nashville........ according to Hendersonville Fire Chief Jamie Steele. Fire trucks arrived within five minutes, but the house was already engulfed in flames. “We’ve got a pretty good idea what happened,” said Steele, who said he would offer more on the fire Wednesday.
This is not the first time firefighters had responded to a fire there. They came twice in the 1980s, said Steele, who noted the Cashes were very gracious and appreciative. "It was a very, very unusual contemporary structure," Cash's brother, Tommy, said. "It was built with stone and wood and all kinds of unusual materials, from marble to old barn wood. I don't think there was a major blueprint. I think the builder was building it the way he wanted it to look." Johnny and June lived there the entire time they were married, It was the only house they lived in together until they both passed on. "All but two of Hendersonville’s fire units came out to the scene and were joined by one unit from the Gallatin Fire Department. One firefighter suffered minor injuries. All the workmen escaped the flames.
The property was purchased by Barry Gibb, a former member of the Bee Gees, in January 2006. Gibb and his wife, Linda, had said they planned to restore the home on Old Hickory Lake and hoped to write songs there. Barry has said that he is going to preserve the place and honour Johnny's memory. Bought for a reported $2.3 million, they had not yet moved in to the home. Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys said "Maybe it's the good Lord's way to make sure that it was only Johnny's house." BILLY
JOE SHAVER CONNECTED WITH TEXAS BAR SHOOTING Singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver has been connected to a shooting in a Texas bar Saturday night. A man was shot in the face about 8:30 p.m. on the covered back porch of Papa Joe's Texas Saloon in Lorena, a suburb of Waco, said John Moran, Lorena city manager and chief of police. The name and age of the victim, who remains in Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, have not been released, he said. Shaver “has not been charged with anything and hopefully he won't be charged with anything," said Austin attorney Joseph Turner, who represents the songwriter. Turner is a well-known and highly successful criminal defense attorney who has represented Willie Nelson, Matthew McConaughey and Branch Davidian Ruth Riddle. "He is not under arrest and they haven't issued any warrants for his arrest." Shaver is a beloved Texas performer whose songs have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Marty Stuart. His songs were the basis for Jennings' landmark 1973 Honky Tonk Heroes album. His own hits include "Georgia on a Fast Train" in 1973 and "You Asked Me To" in 1978. He was a 2006 inductee into the Texas Music Hall of Fame. Turner was retained by Shaver, 67, on Saturday and has been in touch with police investigators. "We are cooperating the best we can. They are still conducting the investigation." Turner would not comment on speculation that the man who was shot had a knife. Moran, the Lorena police chief, would not discuss details of the case or confirm that Shaver was involved. "I am not saying this person is a person of interest at this point because it is a case in progress. The Texas Rangers are assisting in this investigation. I can't go into details on it right now." There were witnesses to the shooting, Moran said. The Waco Tribune-Herald reported that about 25 people were in the bar. "We've been talking to folks," Moran said. "There are a lot of people to talk to." When asked about the shooting Sunday night, the person answering the phone at Papa Joe's said, "There wasn't none, thank you," and hung up. However, an eyewitness told the Waco newspaper the shooting occurred outside the back door. "All I heard was a pop," said the man, who wouldn't give the newspaper his name. "I thought it was a firecracker. (The victim) came walking back in with his hand on his cheek and had blood all over his face. “Then I guess the (shooter) ran and got in his car and took off.” A
Lorena police officer told the Waco paper that he had difficulty getting
information from customers at the scene. "No one knows a thing,”
he told the paper. “If they do know, they’re not saying anything.” INTERNATIONAL SONG CONTEST ANNOUNCES WIINERS The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announce its 2006 winners. Almost 15,000 songs by amateur and professional songwriters from 88 countries were submitted to the 2006 competition, confirming ISC's status as the world's leading global songwriting event.Entries were received from faraway countries such as Rwanda, Uzbekistan, Iran, Guatemala, and Hungary, among many others. More than $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among the 56 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash - the largest cash grand prize of any songwriting competition in the world. It is with the greatest pleasure that ISC is awarding this year's Grand Prize to Scott Leger of Austin, TX, USA for his song "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow." Upon learning of a friend's cancer diagnosis, Scott wrote the song both as a personal coping mechanism and as a tribute to honor cancer survivors across the world. According to Leger, the song is dedicated not only to his friend but also to the millions of people affected by cancer. His hope is that the song will encourage people everywhere to live life to its fullest, whether they're dealing with cancer or any other challenge. The song was debuted at the Lance Armstrong Foundation Gala in front of a room full of VIP's including former President Bill Clinton. In addition to its lyrical content, the song's memorable chorus and strong pop sensibility resonated with the ISC judges, culminating in it being awarded this year's Grand Prize. As the lead singer and principle songwriter of the award-winning band Wideawake, Leger brings a passion and purpose to his songwriting that is inspirational and timeless. Wideawake's two releases, Bigger than Ourselves, and Not So Far Away have sold a combined 40,000 units independently, and they have shared the stage with Switchfoot, Blue October, Third Eye Blind, Sister Hazel, Sheryl Crow, Hootie and the Blowfish, Tears for Fears, Vertical Horizon, and Gavin Degraw. Leger has also recently launched a solo career. In addition to the Grand Prize winner, many other deserving songwriters also share in the prestige and kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC 2006. These winners hail from all over the world, representing diverse cultures and ranging from talented amateurs to seasoned songwriting veterans. The 18 categories include all genres of contemporary music, from rock to jazz to R&B/Hip-Hop and more.
Renowned for its high caliber of judges, ISC compiled a stellar panel of judges for the 2006 competition, including: Brian Wilson; Tom Waits; Rosanne Cash; Sean Paul; Mark Chesnutt; Jerry Lee Lewis; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse); Medeski Martin & Wood; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; John Scofield; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); MercyMe; Macy Gray; Charlie Musselwhite; Peter Hook (New Order); Blue Man Group; Tiesto; and Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan) Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Sr. VP A&R, Columbia Records and Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Alexandra Patsavas (Owner, The Chop Shop Music Supervision - credits include The OC, Grey's Anatomy, Without A Trace, Carnivale, Rescue Me); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Danny Epstein (Music Supervisor, Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Emily Wittmann (VP, Nick Records); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); Larry Willoughby (VP A&R, Capitol Records Nashville) and Manolo Gonzalez (Sr VP Regional Mexican A&R and National Promotion, Univision Records) ISC 2006 Sponsors: ASCAP, Epiphone, Berklee College Of Music, Sam Ash, Cakewalk, Shure, D'Addario, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician's Atlas, Sibelius, Karian Studios, Planetary Group, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, Platinum Blue Music Intelligence, Alphabet Arm Design, George Stein, Esq., SongU, Sleepless Media, Shari's Berries and Taxi www.songwritingcompetition.com BAND AGAINST MS FOUNDATION HIRES NEW DIRECTOR Country music star CLAY WALKER pleased to name Kyle Frederick, Director of BAMS NASHVILLE, TN – When country music singer CLAY WALKER decided to make his private battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) public by forming Band Against MS Foundation (BAMS) in 2003, he had no idea that his association with the disease and determination to raise awareness as well as funds toward MS research would produce such significant results. The growth of the organization has led down an exciting path with the addition of Kyle Frederick to the BAMS team as Director of Operations. “By continuing to fund research, Band against MS Foundation gives those living with Multiple Sclerosis hope for the future. We are sincerely grateful for the individuals, groups and businesses that contribute to the Foundation’s success and recognize that they are at the core of our endeavor,” says Frederick. “Additionally, I am personally grateful that Clay has charged me with steering his Foundation. He has proven to be the consummate example of how one overcomes adversity through sheer determination and fortitude in his battle with MS.” Frederick moved to Nashville in 1980 to pursue career as a guitarist and has since toured US, Canada, and Europe with various nationally acclaimed recording artists. He released a Pop/Rock solo LP in 1991, and left his solo career when he was originally hired by Clay Walker in 1993 as acoustic guitar player/band leader. His ventures then led him to the role of Walker’s tour manager, publicist and co-manager. Thus, it’s only fitting that following a stint with SHeDAISY 2005 and 2006 as manger, Frederick is back with Walker and excited to be named Director, Band Against MS Foundation. Upon being named Director, Frederick has held a benefit concert and live auction in Monterey, CA and led the organization toward a generous $100,000 contribution to University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston at UT Medical Center. Frederick plans to lead on-going awareness campaign and fundraising activities with a forthcoming planned donation and ceremony with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) Lone Star Chapter in coming months. In addition, he will be overseeing the launch of a new BAMS website this spring. To contact Kyle Frederick, Director of Band Against MS Foundation, you may write to 2409 21st Avenue S. Suite 102, Nashville, TN 37212 or phone 615-297-8875. For additional information and updates, be sure to visit www.bandagainstms.org. WILL KEITH URBAN SOON BE A FATHER? March 29, 2007 — The Australian media is once again speculating that Keith Urban's wife, actress Nicole Kidman, is pregnant with the couple's baby. This time, Australia's Woman's Day magazine claims that after months of fertility treatment, Nicole has told family and friends that she and Keith are expecting their first child. Although there has been no confirmation of the rumors, Keith has been talking about becoming a father in recent interviews. "I am looking forward to fatherhood," he told Australia's Sunday Telegraph. "I have always wanted to be a good dad. My brother's got two kids and he's an excellent dad, and I think we both have that sense of being home and being solid family guys." Keith is already stepfather to Nicole's two children, Isabella and Connor, but he says he has always longed to father his own child. "I don't get to see the kids as much as probably a lot of stepdads would, but it is a good relationship," he said of Nicole's kids, who spend much of their time with their father, actor Tom Cruise. "SKIP A ROPE" SINGER HENSON CARGILL DIES Henson Cargill, who reached No. 1 on the country charts in 1968 with "Skip a Rope," died Saturday (March 24) in Oklahoma following complications from surgery. He was 66. Released on Monument Records, "Skip a Rope" spent five weeks at the top of Billboard's country chart and was nominated for CMA song of the year. It was written by Jack Moran and Glenn Tubb. Cargill also reached the country Top 10 a year later with "None of My Business" and later recorded for Mega, Atlantic and Copper Mountain. In the 1980s, Cargill operated a country music bar in Oklahoma City called Henson's. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2007 at Highland Hills Baptist Church at 7900 Devore (just north of NW Expressway on Council) with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. BON JOVI GOES COUNTRY Bon Jovi have completed work on their new country-flavoured album. It's called "Lost Highway" and will be released on June 19th. The group releases the first single to country radio shortly, with the title, "(You Want To) Make a Memory". The project has been developed in Nashville, with the band collaborating with a host of top Music Row songwriters. WILLIE IN TROUBLE OVER HIS VEGETABLES Willie Nelson has been in trouble over suspect vegetable matter before, and now it's happened again...but with a difference. His new ice cream flavour at Ben & Jerry's, called Willie Nelson's Country Peach Cobbler, was recalled immediately after it hit the shops. It seems the ingredients list omitted wheat, which is contained in the ice cream and can cause allergic reactions. So 250,000 pints of the dessert had to be sent back to the factory. KEITH AND NICOLE IN OZ Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman say they plan to spend more time in their native Australia this year. Keith has been on a week-long promotional jaunt down under and has told local radio that because both he and Nicole have family in Australia, they are going to make it a point to return more frequently than they have in the recent past. MORE BAD NEWS FOR LONESTAR More bad news for Lonestar fans: after being dropped by their record label, the group is now losing lead singer Richie McDonald. Richie's vocals have always been the lynchpin of the Lonestar sound, and although the remaining group members say they will carry on with a new singer, it will be tough for them to maintain Lonestar's position in the country music heirarchy with a new lead voice. Richie says although he still loves the rest of the guys and will honour all current show commitments, he felt it was time to attempt a solo career. His last performance with the group will be in November. INDIE ACT BUCK JONES DIES IN FREAK ACCIDENT The independent country music world is mourning the death of singer Buck Jones who died on Saturday 17th March on his way to a gig in a bizarre chain of events which began when his tyre blew near Greenville, Texas. His passenger was Jon Byrd, a guitar player. Jones walked down the road to try and get help when he was struck by a car. 33 year old Jones leaves a wife and seven-month old son. A memorial fund has been set up, and contributions may be sent to the Buck Jones Memorial Fund, care of Fifth Third Bank, 5000 Maryland Way, Brentwood, TN 37027. BOB WILLS' STEELY DIES Steel
Guitarist Tom Morrell has died. He was 68. In a career which spanned many
decades he appeared on many hit records and worked with some of the best
acts in the business. He was a former member of the Texas Playboys. RED GORILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL Want to perform in Austin March 14-17? Deadline extended for RedGorilla Music Fest until February 23! This is your last chance to submit your music for a chance to perform in Austin during what is the busiest, most important music week of the year. This is the music industry's premier destination for the year, where thousands of fans and music industry professionals descend upon Austin to network and check out new talent at the various music festivals around town. Click here for a printable entry form. Over 150 bands and solo artists will perform in RedGorilla showcases on 6th Street in Austin, TX – right in the heart of all the action. So, don't miss the chance to take advantage of this excellent opportunity. RedGorilla continues to be a "No Badge Required" event. It is free to attend and is open to the general public. Want to be included on the RedGorilla Compilation CD? Deadline for entering is February 19 – enter your song now! RedGorilla Music Fest invites you to enter your song for inclusion on the RedGorilla Compilation CD. Your music can be in the hands of industry professionals before the event even starts. With over 2,000 bands on 6th Street in mid-March, it is difficult for industry professionals to decide which artists to see. Hearing your music beforehand might just be the pivotal factor that entices that "important someone" to come see your showcase. The Compilation CD will be made available before the event begins to over 500 major and indie record label execs, music publishers, film and television music supervisors, music producers, and managers. The CD will also be handed out in Austin during the event and will be available for download to 1,000 RedGorilla VIPs (music industry professionals and bands) who will be given a special dog-tag necklace with a download code. The CD will also stream in a hot podcast on the Next Big Hit New Music Mix - currently the largest indie music program on the internet with over 80,000 listeners each month. You can secure your spot on the Compilation CD for only $500 (and if you're not performing at RedGorilla but want to be on the CD, you can still submit your song!) Your song will reach nearly 100,000 new people, and you'll also receive 10 copies for yourself. Space is limited, and there are only a few slots remaining, so take advantage of this incredible opportunity and secure your track today. The deadline for RedGorilla to receive all materials is February 19th, so contact us quickly to reserve your track on the 2007 RedGorilla Compilation CD. Contact Kelly at (615) 866-0836 to reserve your spot now. JONI AND JEAN-PIERRE INDUCTED TO HALL OF FAME Canadian singer/songwriters Joni Mitchell and Jean-Pierre Ferland were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on Jan. 28th at Toronto’s John Bassett Theatre. Revered Montreal-born Quebec legend Ferland was recognized in performances of his catalog by the province’s francophone stars Isabelle Boulay, Laurence Jalbert and Mario Pelchat. As well, French star Patrick Bruel sent a videotaped address from Paris. “Music has no law, music has no religion, music has no politics, and no solitude,” Ferland told the audience of 400 in a bilingual speech that received a standing ovation. “Music is just a noise. A wonderful noise, and I’m proud to be a part of it.” Alberta-born, Saskatchewan-raised Mitchell was lauded by performances of her songs by American artists, singer/songwriter James Taylor, jazzman Herbie Hancock, singer Chaka Khan as well as Canadian opera soprano Measha Brueggergosman. Also, famed Canadian author Margaret Atwood spoke her praises. Hancock, who collaborated with Mitchell on her 1979 album “Mingus” described her songwriting “a map to the human heart.” He added that, “Joni had vision so far out on music’s horizon that she would never stay in one place with one sound.” Before his performance of Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” Taylor recalled meeting her in Toronto at the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1970. “Joni, you’ve been a dear friend and a great well-spring of inspiration musically to me throughout these years,” Taylor said directly to Mitchell sitting in the front row. “I love you.” In addition to Taylor playing “Woodstock,” Khan and Hancock performed “Help Me” and Brueggergosman sang a towering version of “Both Sides Now” which closed the show. The other two Mitchell songs inducted were “Big Yellow Taxi” and “You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio.” Mitchell, who took the stage to a standing ovation, recalled meeting her first songwriter when she was 18. “I was working in a coffee house in Saskatoon and I’d sung songs and I’d danced to songs but I’d never met a man who had wrote a song, and about three years, I guess, it took until I wrote my first song and, well, as you know, I wrote a lot of them, a lot of them are quite unorthodox.” Mitchell
added, “You know, I’m told that I was really born with a scientific
bent more than a creative bent. I really need to explore and discover.
That has given me, to some what seems like courage, but really it’s
just in my stars. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame during the evening were two pioneering Canadian musical figures – country legend Wilf Carter, and Broadway lyricist Raymond B. Egan. Among the classic Canadian songs inducted at the ceremony were David Clayton-Thomas’ “Spinning Wheel,” Ralph Freed and Burton Lane’s “How About You” and Sylvia Tyson’s “You Were On My Mind.” The event also featured performances by Clayton-Thomas, Michael Buble, Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy and country singers George Canyon, Corb Lund, and Oh Susanna. Canadian broadcaster CBC-TV will broadcast a one-hour special on the event on March 5. HONORARY
DOCTORATE FOR LORETTA LYNN Soon you can call her the coal miner's doctor. Loretta Lynn is slated to receive an honorary doctorate of music from Berklee College of Music during her March 17 performance at the Grand Ole Opry. The honor from the Boston college puts the 71-year-old Lynn into a select group of recording artists that includes Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs, Sting and Sarah Vaughan. "Loretta
Lynn's songs have squarely addressed real-life situations faced by many
women, and she's used her artistry to deal openly with themes like loyalty,
divorce, desire and women's role in society before others in country music,"
Berklee President Roger Brown said in a release Wednesday. Lynn's many
hits include "Coal Miner's Daughter," "You Ain't Woman
Enough" and "The Pill." ILLUSTRIOUS COUNTRY MUSIC DUO CAUGHT UP IN FLORIDA TORNADOE We were up all night dodging tornadoes. They were all around us. We had our few most important items, including my outboard hard drive, in the car, with the car aimed toward the street. You get about 5 to 8 minutes warning. I woke up about 2PM today and noticed the answering machine blinking. Friends and relatives worried about us. We're OK.... this time. We were hit by hurricanes in 2004. I woke Misty up, and we've been watching the TV coverage on all channels all afternoon. We
were right on the edge of two violent storm systems the worst one a couple
of miles to the north, and another a couple of miles to the south. A "supertornado"
is what they are calling the one that ripped a 300 yard swath from coast
to coast. It looks like a war zone. They know of 19 people killed so far,
and they're still searching. Historically,
Florida tornadoes are smaller ones... not like those in the Midwest. The
planet is changing. Jack Blanchard (Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan) OUR
ONLINE CD CATALOG: MORE FROM JACK BLANCHARD & MISTY MORGAN IN THE STUDIO (PART ONE). By: Jack Blanchard
We remember the genius of the Nashville A-team musicians, and how they would take our ideas and make them sound better than we had imagined. Lloyd Green, Billy Sanford, and Hargus Robins say that our music was the most creative they’ve played, but it goes both ways. Our
sessions were like parties. In fact, sometimes we hurried to get things
done before the party got too wild. Whenever we’d find a good engineer that was easy to work with we’d asked for him as often as possible. This is especially important to us because we always oversee and take part in the mixdown. When we first hit Nashville and they weren’t used to us, some engineers resented our suggestions, but after a while they became friends and allies. (To be continued.)
Jack
Blanchard FOLK SONG CHRONICLES PRISON ESCAPEE'S PLIGHT At least one songwriter in Nashville couldn't pass up the tale of an escaped convict accused of stealing a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer and a country star's tour bus because he wanted to see his critically ill mother. Bluegrass picker Tim O'Brien wrote the lyrics to "The Ballad of Christopher Daniel Gay" about the convict's journey and set them to the melody of folk singer Woody Guthrie's "Pretty Boy Floyd." O'Brien first read about Gay last week in a Colorado newspaper. "I just knew there was a song in there," he said. "Chris Gay's mother even rhymed for a reporter saying, 'What he done was wrong, but he knows his mama don't have long.'" Back in Nashville, O'Brien recruited Dobro ace Jerry Douglas and bassist Wayne Moss. They knocked out the track Monday after a few takes and posted it as a free download on O'Brien's Web site. http://www.timobrien.net/download.cfm "It was like this in the old days ... you know, write it Sunday, record it Monday and get it on the radio on Tuesday," O'Brien said. The third verse goes, "Stole a pickup in Carolina, then a Wal-Mart truck with 18 wheels. He drove toward his dyin' mama in the Cheatham County hills. "And it's down those lanes and back roads the police made their chase. And he almost made her trailer, he almost saw her face." Gay, 33, escaped from a prisoner transport van Jan. 21 near Hardeeville, S.C., apparently to visit his terminally ill mother in Tennessee. He is suspected of stealing a pickup truck in South Carolina, and then the cab of a tractor-trailer in Georgia. He allegedly drove to Manchester, about 60 miles southeast of Nashville, where he hooked the cab to a Wal-Mart trailer filled with $300,000 in merchandise and took off again. Police
say he abandoned the rig within 50 yards of his mother's home northeast
of Nashville and fled to the woods as authorities closed in. He never
saw his mother. Gay was later spotted driving country singer Crystal Gayle's
tour bus Thursday in Florida. He was arrested the next night near Daytona
Beach, Fla., where he remains in custody. He
aroused suspicion when he went to USA International Speedway in Lakeland,
Fla., and said he was there to pick up NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. 2006 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED - LISTEN AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SONG For Immediate Release February 2, 2007 - The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announce its 2006 finalists and semi-finalists. Selected out of almost 15,000 entries from 88 countries, they represent all genres of contemporary music. For a complete list of 2006 ISC finalists and semi-finalists, please visit: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm ISC winners are chosen from the group of finalists and will be announced in March, 2007. ISC's judges include executives from 14 record labels and esteemed artists such as Tom Waits, Brian Wilson, Sean Paul, Jerry Lee Lewis, Rosanne Cash, Craig Morgan, Robert Smith (The Cure), Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Cassandra Wilson, Darryl McDaniels (RUN DMC) and many more. Over $150,000 in cash and merchandise will be awarded to 56 winners, including an Overall Grand Prize winner who receives $25,000 in cash (the largest cash Grand Prize of any songwriting competition in the world) and over $25,000 in prizes. The 2006 ISC finalists' songs are currently posted on the ISC website as part of the 2006 People's Voice - an online voting contest that allows the public to listen to and vote for their favorite ISC finalist. The winner of the People's Voice is selected solely by public vote and is in addition to, and completely separate from, the regular winners who will be selected by the prestigious ISC judging panel. Visit http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/pvwelcome2006.htm to listen to the 2006 ISC finalists' songs and cast your vote! The complete panel of 2006 judges include: Brian Wilson; Tom Waits; Rosanne Cash; Sean Paul; Mark Chesnutt; Jerry Lee Lewis; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse); Medeski Martin & Wood; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; John Scofield; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); MercyMe; Macy Gray; Charlie Musselwhite; Peter Hook (New Order); Blue Man Group; Tiesto; and Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan); Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Sr. VP A&R, Columbia Records and Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Alexandra Patsavas (Owner, The Chop Shop Music Supervision - credits include The OC, Grey's Anatomy, Without A Trace, Carnivale, Rescue Me); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Danny Epstein (Music Supervisor, Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Emily Wittmann (VP, Nick Records); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); Larry Willoughby (VP A&R, Capitol Records Nashville) and Manolo Gonzalez (Sr VP Regional Mexican A&R and National Promotion, Univision Records) 2006 Sponsors include: ASCAP, Epiphone, Berklee College Of Music, Sam Ash, Cakewalk, Shure, D'Addario, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician's Atlas, Sibelius, Karian Studios, Planetary Group, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, Platinum Blue Music Intelligence, Alphabet Arm Design, George Stein, Esq., SongU, Sleepless Media, and Taxi International
Songwriting Competition Complete List Of 2006 ISC Finalists AAA USA Americana Blues Children's
Music Country
Dance/Electronica
Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Gospel/Christian Instrumental
Jazz
Latin Lyrics
Only Performance Pop/Top
40 R&B/Hip-Hop
Rock
Teen
World
Music ASCAP ANNOUNCES 2ND ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO SONGWRITING AND COMPOSING 2007 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO set for April 19-21 in Los Angeles Building
on the extraordinary, sold-out success of past spring's ASCAP "I
Create Music" EXPO, the first and only national conference dedicated
to songwriting and composing, ASCAP announces plans to stage an even larger,
more comprehensive event for music creators, April 19-21, 2007 at the
Hollywood Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. COUNTRY HAS THREE OF OF MUSIC'S BIGGEST MONEY MAKERS In a report by America's Forbes magazine on music's biggest moneymakers, country music stars score very well with Tim Mcgraw/Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney in the top 10. The acts on the list checked in with a collective $973 million in 2006, down a bit from last year's total of $994 million, The Rolling Stones topping the list for the second year in a row with $150.6 million from their "A Bigger Bang" tour. The Top 10 is...
* The Rolling Stones $150.6 million WESTERN
SWING STEEL PLAYER TOM MORRELL PASSED AWAY Tom was well know around the Dallas-Fort worth area and was in the Texas Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame. For over 50 years this touring sideman and session player delivered Western Swing, Jazz and Country with artful skill on motion picture sound tracks and on the recordings of innumerable artists, including Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. Later as a bandleader, he arranged and produced dozens of albums. During the 1990's he proved to be a major force in the resurgence of non-pedal steel through touring, arranging and recording besides his brands of Morrell and the Morrell-Shields Steels. He was one of the founders and designers of MSA Pedal Guitars. Born:
October 31, 1938 Dallas, Texas CRYSTAL
GAYLE’s TOUR BUS RECOVERED WITH FUGITIVE ON BOARD From Prostitution Sting to Evading Police, Fugitive finally caught in Daytona Beach, Florida on Crystal Gayle’s bus Country music legend CRYSTAL GAYLE and her “tour bus” have been the topic of conversation within the media community over the last 2-3 days and finally some closure to the saga. The 45’ blue Prevost that carries Crystal Gayle across the country to perform for fans night-after-night, was stolen in Pleasant View, Tennessee, from the Prevost lot by fugitive Christopher Daniel Gay. Gay who was running from police used Gayle’s bus to travel from Tennessee to Florida. On Thursday night, Gayle was informed of the stolen bus and although not mad at the situation as it was out of her control, she wished for no harm to anyone and for the fugitive to turn himself in so he could see his dying mother. The drama continued until late Friday night when Gay was seen in the bus after dropping off a prostitute in the area police were conducting an undercover prostitution sting. Police pulled the bus over and Gay was arrested without incident. “I am relieved that nobody was hurt,” says Gayle. “I do know that the bus must have been rocking and rolling with a prostitute on board and we’ll have to do some cleaning with Clorox,” laughs Gayle. The condition of the bus is still unknown. In
the meantime, Gayle and her husband/manager Bill Gatzimos have been in
contact with Gay’s sister Leann. “Leann wanted to apologize
to us for what her brother had done,” says Gatzimos. FUGITIVE STEALS CRYSTAL GAYLE’S TOUR BUS TO ESCAPE POLICE From Talladega Nights to USA International Speedway CRYSTAL GAYLE’s name keeps popping up for racing fans!! Nashville, TN – In a bizarre turn of events, the tour bus that normally carries country music’s long-haired beauty Crystal Gayle, was used as an escape vehicle by fugitive prison escapee Christopher Daniel Gay. Gay, who escaped while being transported between states, was eluding police when he began his journey to Florida from Tennessee in Gayle’s blue Prevost tour bus. “I am glad that no one is hurt, I wish he would have went to see his mother who is very sick instead of joy riding in Florida,” said Gayle from her Nashville, Tenn. home. Thursday evening (Jan 25), at about 6:00 PM, Gayle’s office was contacted by USA International Speedway Operations Manager Barry Williams to inquire about Gayle’s bus being in Lakeland, Fla. Williams had quickly become suspicious of the bus driver who identified himself as Daniel Pitts and said he was at the track to pick up NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. After being questioned by Williams the bus driver left “to get a sandwich.” Williams asked police to run the plates of the bus, thereby determining that it belonged to Gayle. Rumors
of Gayle’s bus being abandoned by Gay and recovered by Florida police
are circulating. There is no confirmation of that report, and no information
regarding the condition of the bus or the whereabouts of Gay. MUSIC FANS FLOCK TO MONTGOMERY TO HONOR HANK WILLIAMS Hank Williams fans from across the country began arriving Saturday in Montgomery to take part in a holiday weekend of activities to honor the memory of the legendary country music singer. Blake and Kerrian (cq) Clayton had a good reason to drive 11 hours from their home in Peoria, Ill. — they became engaged at the Hank Williams Museum three years ago. Asked if he got down on one knee to propose, Blake nodded in the affirmative while his wife responded with a big smile. The engagement became official in front of the 1952 baby blue Cadillac in which Williams died on Jan. 1, 1953 in Oak Hill, W.Va. as he was being driven to Ohio for a concert. He was only 29 at the time of his death, but his legend continues to grow half a century later and Montgomery continues to play a big role in keeping his memory alive. The 54th annual memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Oakwood Cemetery Annex, where Williams’ grave is located next to his wife, Audrey. Fans from as far away as Wisconsin visited Williams’ grave Saturday afternoon and many planned to remain in Montgomery to take part in a variety of activities. Some of the events have been closed to the public because advance reservations were filled weeks ago, according to Beth Birtley, manager of the Hank Williams Museum at 118 Commerce St. That includes a New Year’s Eve party tonight and a visit to Williams’ gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery. The party is sold out, but “Midnight in Montgomery” at the cemetery is open to the public. Birtley credits Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel, with increasing the crowds by printing the “Hank Williams Trail” brochure, which outlines places of importance in the singer’s meteoric career. “The trail brochure has really helped us and an Associated Press article was printed in newspapers all over the country,” Birtley said. “ I think at least 50 percent of the people coming this year read the article.” At 2 p.m. Monday, a historical marker will be displayed at the cemetery. It will be erected at the Williams gravesite at a later date, Birtley said. A steady stream of fans arrived at the cemetery throughout the day Saturday — taking pictures and paying their respects. A fan from Texas placed a large gold sunflower on Williams’ grave with a ribbon that read “We Love Hank And His Music.” James Webb of Maumelle, Ark. was in Montgomery for the funeral of a young relative whose grave is only a few feet from where Williams was buried in 1953. He and his wife, Laura, and their daughter, D.J., spent several minutes at Williams’ grave. “He’s a legend to so many people,” James Webb said. “This is the first time we’ve been here to pay our respects.” Chris Partain, 33, of Athens, Ga., said Williams’ songs contain the “pure essence” of country music and there are “no age differences” when it comes to appreciation of his lyrics. “He cut to the chase in his songs,” said Partain. “There was no fluff in his music.” Partain said he bought a box set of Williams’ hits for a young cousin “and she was in tears when I gave it to her. By Alvin Benn. Montgomery Advertiser. 02 January 2007. BARRY GIBB RESTORES CASH HOUSE AND PLANS TO MAKE COUNTRY ALBUM Barry Gibb, who is about two-thirds done with his renovation of the Johnny Cash estate in Hendersonville, plans on recording a country record here. Barry, his wife, Linda, and their songwriting sons, Stephen and Ashley, attended a BMI reception held in their honor Wednesday. Among the 170 RSVPs to welcome the former Bee Gee and his family were Big & Rich, LeAnn Rimes, John Carter Cash, Steve Cropper, Duane Eddy, Phil Everly and Bill Anderson. Last year, Barry and Linda, who live in Miami and have five children, bought the iconic Hendersonville lakefront home built in 1968 and vow to preserve it and honor the Cashes' memory. His plan is "to bring it back to its original pristine condition," he said. "Johnny and June were there for 35 years, and a lot of things needed to be done. All the wood has been brought back to its original condition." The Gibbs first saw the house in Cash's "Hurt" video — "we have always loved the house"— so when Linda saw its sale featured on Entertainment Tonight, she yelled at Barry to turn on the TV. "We both on the spot said, 'We've got to go after this house,' " he said. "It became the inspiration for everything. Do you realize how many hit songs have been written in that 4- or 5-acre area, including Roy Orbison next door? The inspiration, being surrounded by the musical atmosphere that has been there for 35 years, we just had to do it." GEORGE JONES U: SCHOOL OF COUNTRY MUSIC Country-music luminary George Jones wants to share his knowledge of the industry as part of a just-launched "country music university" named for him. Dedicated to teaching students how the music industry works and how to break into the business, George Jones University will assemble its first 3-day session in late March. The kickoff session, which likely will be held at Jones' Nashville-area home, will be followed by similar quarterly seminars. The cost for each session will be $300 per student. Music executive Tandy Rice, who has been tapped as dean, said George Jones University was modeled off Trump University, established last year by New York real estate mogul Donald Trump. Each day's sessions will be moderated by Rice, formerly a Belmont University music business professor Country Music Association president. Besides Jones, the school plans to bring in guest lecturers such as Ralph Emery, Tom T. Hall and Hank Williams Jr. The seminars will focus on music publishing, recording contracts, artist management and bookings, life on the road and the politics of Music Row. The history and traditions of country music and its legendary icons also will be covered. "We want our students to have fun and depart with new knowledge they can literally take to the bank," Rice said. "Because of George Jones, they'll gain insight from our classes that they can't get anywhere else." The school is a for-profit group, though partners have pledged a portion of all profits to Middle Tennessee children's charities. George
Jones U even has a mascot it got from the singer's nickname, a possum. ALAN JACKSON A CHRISTIAN CROSSOVER STAR Sometimes
it's the simplest, purest creative expressions that resonate most powerfully
with consumers. The success of Alan Jackson's "Precious Memories"
is a prime example. Jackson places at No. 1 on the year-end Top Christian Artists chart, and his Arista Nashville album claims the No. 1 slot on the Top Christian Albums recap. In addition to being the top-selling Christian title this year, "Precious Memories" was one of five CDs nominated for album of the year at the Country Music Assn. Awards in November. Although it lost to Brad Paisley's "Time Well Wasted," it marked the first time a Christian album had been nominated in that category. "SNEAKY" PETE KLEINOW PASSES AWAY Legendary
pedal steel guitarist, "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, passed away on
Saturday, January 6, according to Paige Cofrin, President of Luna Chica
Records, and Brenda Cline, of NashRock Entertainment, Kleinow's former
record label head, and manager, respectively. Kleinow's death was apparently
due to complications from Alzheimer's. He was diagnosed with the disease
in 2006, and had been living in a convalescent home in Petaluma, California,
for the past few months. There will be a special tribute feature in the
March issue of OPRY SUED FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION
Jackson has been a member of the show since 1956. He had a string of hits in the 1950s and '60s, including the Number 1 hit "Waterloo." Jackson told The Associated Press today that he lost his health insurance coverage through the Opry, and suffered humiliation and embarrassment. He said the hardships led to heart problems. The suit seeks punitive and compensatory damages of $10 million. WTVF-TV Channel 5 - Nashville HELLO, DOLLY; GOODBYE, JESSICA! Dolly
Parton may not have had a problem with Jessica Simpson's poorly executed
rendition of "9 to 5" at the Kennedy Center Honors last month,
but the same can't be said for Simpson herself. Simpson's unimpressive performance was chalked up to her anxiety over paying tribute to her heroine, which left her "overcome with emotion," her rep said. After she flubbed the lyrics to "9 to 5" in her initial go-round, Simpson blurted out, "Dolly, you make me so nervous, I can't even sing the words right." The next day, she taped a second performance, but even without Parton and assorted dignitaries looking on, she was apparently unable to deliver. Parton spoke up in Simpson's support earlier this month, denying any hard feelings over the less than stellar tribute. "Jessica is so talented that I'm sure that someday they will be paying tribute to her, and I would be honored to perform for her," Parton said in a statement. "But I'll probably be so nervous that I'll forget my wig!" SUGAR HILL RECORDS DOWNSIZES AND CLOSES DURHAM HEAD OFFICE Sugar Hill Records, a premier roots-music record label that has put out albums for the likes of Dolly Parton, Nickel Creek and Sam Bush, announced Monday that it will move its headquarters from Durham, N.C. to Nashville. But depending on who you talk to, the move is being portrayed either as a cold-hearted corporate downsizing or a nod to Nashville's central position in the growing Americana music genre. Staff at the Durham office were unaware until they arrived at work on Monday and were told that as of that moment the office was closed/ Some were offered positions in Nashville, others lost their jobs The label had been based in that office since opening in 1978. The company said its artist roster would not be affected. Six people currently work out of Sugar Hill's Nashville office and eight had been in the Durham office. Sugar Hill also announced that it has named producer and Grammy-winning sound engineer Gary Paczosa as vice president of A&R for the label. That move puts into question the role of Steve Fishell, Sugar Hill's existing director of A&R. In a news release Monday, Kevin Welk, president of the Santa Monica, Calif.-based company that owns the Sugar Hill and historical Vanguard labels, said the move to Nashville will help strengthen the label's position as a "premier roots label." Welk said that "with strong artist ties to Nashville as well as Gary (Paczosa)'s decision to join Sugar Hill we feel the timing is right for us to expand our presence in Nashville." DEL REEVES DIES AT 73 The
man who will always be known for his massive trucking hit 'Girl On The
Billboard', Del Reeves, has died after a long illness. He was born Franklin
Delano Reeves in 1933 in North Carolina. His first claim to fame was when
he had his own radio show at the age of 12. By the time he was 27 he had
his own TV show and the hits started in 1961 - his first hit was for Decca
- a Del
managed to hit the charts nearly 50 times as a solo act and had hit duets
with Bobby Goldsboro and Billie Jo Spears. He also appeared in a number
of movies. He was a fun guy too and included many impressions and comedy
material in his act. In the 90s he moved into management and was the man
who discovered Billy Ray Cyrus. GRAMMY NOMINATIONS - CHICKS, CARRIE UNDERWOOD LEAD NASHVILLE CATEGORIES
In Grammy voters’ eyes, the Chicks are nothing less than the most exemplary country act of the year, as evidenced by five nominations, including three in the prestigious all-genre album, song and record of the year categories.
Underwood's hit single "Jesus, Take the Wheel" -- written by Nashville songwriters Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson -- is up for an all-genre song of the year award. Country categories included nominations for the Chicks, Underwood, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, George Strait, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and others. Gospel nominees include Kirk Franklin, MercyMe, Third Day, Alan Jackson (for his Precious Memories album) and the Gaither Vocal Band. The awards show will be held Feb. 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. PETER COOPER Staff Writer - TENNESSEAN.COM FIRST COUNTRY FESTIVAL IN CHINA Ricochet, formerly with Columbia Records, have become one of the first country acts ever to perform in the People's Republic of China when they took part in a Festival in the city of Huangshan. BILLY JOE'S MARRY GO ROUND Billy Joe Shaver has just re-married his second wife. Nothing too strange about that, but before he met his current wife Wanda he was married to his now sadly departed previous wife, Brenda, three times.
Winners Marked *
PARTON TO START EUROPEAN TOUR IN DENMARK Dolly Parton will kick off her first major European tour since the 1970s in Denmark this year. The 60-year-old country singer will begin her eight-stop tour in Horsens, 125 miles west of Copenhagen, on March 7, said Horsens Ny Teater, a theater company organizing the Danish concert. Parton will continue to Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, England and Scotland before ending the tour April 2 in Dublin, Ireland, the company said Monday. Horsens
Ny Teater said it was the first time since the 1970s that Parton had embarked
on a major European tour. COLLECTORS FIND LOST HANK WILLIAMS' NOTEBOOK What might be called the Holy Grail of country music has been discovered in Nashville. The long lost notebook of country legend Hank Williams contains hand-scribbled, never-recorded songs and the mystery of its existence has been talked about for almost 60 years. This huge discovery will no doubt lead to an industry-shaking legal battle. Hank Williams's life is now bigger than life. His songs and death at age 29 still launch questions of what could have been. Maybe now some answers can be found in that 59 year old tattered brown notebook filled with songs he never lived to record. "It's just so rich in history, a lot of early career material (that was) never recorded, early career of Hank Williams is very significant,” Stephen Shutts said. For country music history collectors Shutts and Robert Reynolds, it's a significant find. "A chill went through my body, and it was then I realized we were holding exactly what I had a hunch we were holding,” Reynolds said. Hand-scribbled lyrics from 17 never recorded songs titled: "Tomorrow May Not Come, I Wish I had a Dad, and Honky Tonkin' Mama.” “Something about the way he says ‘listen to me little gal, you better quit your foolin’ around and honky tonkin' mama,' you know you can hear that in his voice. It doesn't take a lot of imagination,” Reynolds said. It is also not hard to imagine the fight that's coming over ownership of a collector's piece appraised for several-hundred-thousand dollars. Sony Music Publishing believes it owns all things Hank and has demanded the notebook be turned over to them. The fight will involve money and raise notebook questions such as whether or not the notebook was stolen from a Sony safe. The collectors said it was found outside the building, thrown away in a dumpster by a former Sony janitor and then sold at a yard sale. Metro detectives are now on the case. Reynolds and Shutt believe an interview is just the beginning of a long fight. "But I'm up for the challenge because I take pride in the work we do and I do believe we do it with integrity and honesty," Reynolds said. Reynolds and Shutt own the Honky Tonk Hall of Fame and more than 1,000 country music artifacts and said they believe the notebook belongs in the Country Music Hall of Fame or even the Smithsonian. They said they want it known that their collection business is not a small, bubble gum card kind of hobby. The two have spent countless hours and dollars searching for artifacts like this, and when they legitimately find one, they expect respectful treatment and a financial payoff. So far, according to Reynolds, they have not received either. Sony Music Publishing CEO Troy Tomlinson did not return phone calls. Visit
The Honky Tonk Hall of Fame's Website http://www.honkytonkhalloffame.com/ SARA EVANS SPLITS FROM HUSBAND & QUITS TV SHOW 35 year old Sara Evans, has filed for divorce following "recent events that shed light on the status of her marriage", which is an interesting new way to put it! She has also quit the TV show "Dancing With The Stars" in America, which is a celebrity contest reality TV show. Sara and her soon-to-be-ex-husband Craig Schelske have been married 13 years and have three kids. TOBY KEITH WORKS ON MOVIE SCRIPT Toby Keith is writing a movie script based on the duet he did with Willie Nelson a few years back called "Beer For My Horses." "My dream project for the last four years is to do a full feature film on "Beer For My Horses," Toby tells X Radio. "I’ve got about half of it written and there’s another writer involved now. I’ve just never written one before. But I wanna do the music for Beer For My Horses. I wanna have some of my top buddies that I run with make cameos in it. It's set up really nice for that the way the story unfolds." CHARLEY PRIDE MOVIE IN THE MAKING Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer says he and Terrence Howard are working on a movie biography of country singer Charley Pride. Howard got an Oscar nomination for his work in Brewer's Hustle & Flow, portraying a pimp who longs to be a rap artist. Howard will portray Pride in the new movie, Brewer told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis. Pride, who was born poor in Sledge, Miss., played baseball for the Memphis Red Socks of the Negro American League before beginning his career as a country singer in Nashville in the 1960s. Brewer said he has been discussing the movie project with Pride for several months. Howard, a guitar player and country music fan, came up with the idea, Brewer said. "Everybody's been speculating as to what my and Terrence's next project would be, and I'm ecstatic that this came out of Terrence's passion," Brewer said. "Charley Pride is a character, man." JAMES TAYLOR HONORED BY HOMETOWN COLLEGE James Taylor, who penned "Carolina in My Mind" while homesick for North Carolina, has been honored by his hometown university. Taylor, 58, performed the song with the North Carolina Symphony on Sunday when both were given 2006 Carolina Performing Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "I've sung it many times," the five-time Grammy winner said of the song he wrote in 1967. "It's strange but somehow compelling to come home and sing it." The singer-songwriter was born in Boston but raised in North Carolina after moving to Chapel Hill with his family at age 3. His father, Dr. Isaac Taylor, began working for the university's medical school in 1952. The song was included on Taylor's first album, released in 1969, and has become an unofficial anthem for the university and state. Taylor
has sold about 40 million albums worldwide, and was inducted into the
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2000.
He now lives in western Massachusetts LONG-TIME AUSTIN MUSICIAN AND YODELER EXTRAORDINAIRE DON WALSER DIES Walser died of complications from diabetes. An accomplished singer, guitarist and songwriter, Walser spoke about how he hoped the songs from his albums would live long after him in an interview with News 8 Austin in 2002. "If you think of me 20 years from now after I'm gone, with some of music, I'll feel good about it. But it's got to earn it like those old songs that I'm singing, you got to earn it," Walser said. Walser is best remembered for his series of records in the 1990s produced with Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson. Walser, who recently turned 72, was a country music icon in Austin, where he had the good fortune of a late-life career revival. He was a regular performer at Jovita's, The Broken Spoke, the Continental Club and Emo's. He retired from live performances three years ago. He attracted a unique fan base, often opening for the Butthole Surfers. He's also known for keeping western swing alive by performing the music of Bob Wills and Eddie Arnold. A reviewer for Playboy magazine once referred to Walser as "the Pavarotti of the Plains." SCOT WINS GONG AT CANADIAN COUNTRY AWARDS The
Canadian Country Music Awards showcased some of Canada's biggest country
stars at Harbour Station in Saint John,New Brunswick, and Scots born Johnny
Reid topped off a great weekend, by not only collecting the Chevy Trucks
Rising Star Award in front of a nationwide TV audience, but also a 2007
truck, courtesy of the presenting sponsor. Earlier in the weekend, the
Scots born singer songwriter, who has named his fan club, "The Tartan
Army", won two independent label awards for Top Male Vocalist &
Single of the Year for "Missing an Angel". The annual Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans Choice Award, voted on by fans from coast to coast was presented on stage by the Ultimate Fan contest winner to Terri Clark, who set yet another new record this year by winning for the sixth time. The 2 hour TV showcase also featured Aaron Lines, Emerson Drive, Amanda Wilkinson, Aaron Pritchett and Great Big Sea. Highlights included a touching tribute from superstar Anne Murray, to Hall of Fame Inductee Brian Ahern. Murray was also on hand to present her manager Bruce Allen with the Leonard T. Rambeau International Award of Achievement. Michelle Wright and Brad Johner took to the stage for a special tribute celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Country Music Association, singing a collection of songs from the past including one from this year's Hall of Fame Artist Inductee, the late Terry Carisse. 2006 CCMA Award Winners Kraft
Cheez Whiz Fans’ Choice Award: Terri Clark Independent
Female Artist of the Year: Patricia Conroy 2006
CCMA All Star Band Winners |
LISA O'KANE CAUGHT UP IN AIRPORT DRAMA Lisa O'Kane, who is playing a number of UK dates in July, was on board an American Airlines flight which was diverted overnight from Los Angeles to New York due to a security breach. A suspected terrorist was removed from the plane. "I
was shocked," said a shaken Lisa. "I am just thankful that
everyone was safe." Luckily she was scheduled to get into Britain
in plenty of time to do her tour. MORE BIG DATES FOR LUCIE Lucie Diamond has been named as support act to Ricky Skaggs at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, on August 2nd. She will appear unplugged with a guitarist/vocalist and will play tracks from her new album "I Wanna Be Rich". In addition to this she has been signed up to top the bill with her full band at the Visagino Festival in Lithuania in August 2008 in front of upwards of 10,000 people. The event will also be televised. Other news on Lucie: she joins a star-studded list of female singers including Bonnie Raitt, Tanya Tucker and Martina McBride who have all sung duets with multi Grammy winner Delbert McClinton. The Texas-born roots
star added his worldclass vocal skills to Lucie's debut Lucie is the first non American to sing with Delbert in more than 15 years, and the only British artist to ever duet with him. "Closed Curtain" is written by one of Nashville's best known session singers, Bekka Bramlett, daughter of Delaney and Bonnie. She co-wrote the song with Danny Wilde, former lead singer of The Rembrandts, who wrote and sang the theme tune to US sit-com, Friends. Delbert McClinton is not the only Grammy winner to guest star on Lucie's debut CD. Guitar legend Albert Lee plays on the track "I Wanna Love You Wild Sometimes." "I Wanna Be
Rich" is to be released on Big Feat Records on 14th July, the Pre-release signed
copies of her new CD can be ordered from Lucie's official BRITISH STAR JOE BUTLER DIES The death has been announced of Joe Butler, a stalwart of the country music scene in Britain. Joe was a long-time member of "The Hillsiders", arguably the most successful band to come out of Britain, and one of the true characters of the British Country scene. Joe was also a popular DJ on Radio City in Liverpool but as part of the Hillsiders, one of the most popular bands ever to come out of the UK, he shot to fame. The band were signed to RCA Records in the 1970s and toured in Germany with Bobby Bare and Red Sovine. They also appeared at the Wembley Festival on many occasions. Former Radio City boss Dave Lincoln say's "Radio in Liverpool during the 70s wouldn't have been the same without Joe Butler on the radio. Not only did he host the country music show, but also an amazingly popular Sunday lunchtime request show. He'll be sadly missed." The news will come as a big shock to the many thousands of friends and fans that he has garnered over the years and it goes without saying that, he will be VERY, VERY sadly missed!! Joe was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer around a year ago. An Interview that I did with Joe back in 1994, can be found on the "Talking Country" pages. CLICK HERE to go straight there. UK HALL OF FAME GROWING WINGS The British Country Music Hall of Fame Ceremony to be held at Fort San Antone, Gt Birchwood, nr Blackpool has captured the imaginations of the British Country music loving public. Ticket sales in the first week of going on sale have been phenomenal - luckily a large venue has been chosen for the event. The date for the
Ceremony is 21st, 22nd & 23rd September and it is asked that if
any Radio broadcasters or journalists require a complimentary ticket
they get their request in now before they all go. Accommodation at the
venue is also being taken up faster than anticipated but Blackpool Leisure
are Last year's inductees or representatives will be receiving their certificates and scrolls and this year's list is currently being finalised. Artists booked to appear include John McCane & Last Of The Breed, Buchanan, Ian Calford & The Railmen, Donna Wylde, The Wanderers, Settlers Creek and 17-year old Tim Mackay. More information at rob.cc@btconnect.com or telephone 01909 561003. TRAVIS LeDOYT SELLS OUT IN UK Thurso Concert Attracts 1500 + Travis LeDoyt, who has been called "the best young Elvis in the world," lived up to his reputation Saturday night in a standing-room-only, two-encore performance at the Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival in Thurso, Scotland. Taking his audience back to the 1950’s, LeDoyt and his Nashville-based band blew through hits like “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Jailhouse Rock” and strolled through the audience crooning tunes like “Love Me Tender” and “It’s Now Or Never.” The show concluded with two standing ovations and two encores from the sell-out crowd of more than 1500. According to one festival official, "We had to lock the doors." LeDoyt has performed extensively across the US and around the world in China, Chile, Scotland, England, Mexico and Canada where he typically receives the same response as he did this past weekend. His uncanny likeness to Elvis Presley in looks, vocal style and stage performance has garnered him a feature spot in the New York Times and the title of “World’s Best Young Elvis” among people who have worked with Elvis Presley, and even more flattering, from Presley fans. LeDoyt has been experiencing great success over the past year being one of the featured entertainers at Harrah’s properties all across the United States as well as other name casino chains, cruise ships, arts centers and festivals. To those people who think they have seen it all when it comes to Elvis Presley tribute acts, this is the one that makes them do a double-take. There is simply no way to describe LeDoyt and his performance except unbelievable. LeDoyt, who is based in Nashville, flawlessly captures the essence of Elvis in his prime, and restricts his shows to the hits and ambience of 1954-1962. Utilizing an outstanding three-piece Nashville band featuring electric bass, guitar, and drums, LeDoyt takes his audience back to a very believable 1950's concert. For those who missed an Elvis concert during those years, it is a chance to relive that exciting and wonderful era. For interviews or other information, please contact Dick McVey in Nashville at 615-264-3637. All
Star Publicity NICK BARRACLOUGH LEAVES RADIO 2 FOR NEW SHOW Radio 2 country presenter Nick Barraclough will leave his "New Country" show on BBC Radio 2 this month and start a three hour programme on four of the five radio stations in the Smooth Radio franchise every Sunday at 5pm starting on April 1st. Smooth Radio is effectively the new name for Saga Radio, which until now, has employed country stalwarts Tim Rogers and Bill Black, but we understand that Tim and Bill have been forced to step down to make way for Nick. WORLD CHAMPS ADOPT A BRITISH COUNTRY SONG Scottish singer Audrey Kelly was thrilled to learn that the Scottish Thistles linedance team, which took first prize at the United Country Western Dance Council World Championships in Nashville earlier this year, have adopted one of the tracks from her album Something Funny Goin' On, and will include it in future competition programmes. Team coach and choreographer, Anne Buchan, thought the track Don't Call Me Darlin' was really catchy and devised a dance for it. "The team absolutely love dancing to it" she said, "and we'll be competing this year in Norway, Spain, France and the European Championships in Blackpool, before defending our World title in Nashville again in December". LUCIE DIAMOND ONLY BRIT TO PERFORM AT CMA GIG Lucie Diamond will be the only Brit to perform at the prestigious CMA Global Artist Party in Nashville on the 4th June. She will be on stage with five other international acts, backed by a band of A-list musicians. The show will kick off the CMA Festival week. Travis Collins and Morgan Evans (Australia), Gord Bamford and Shane Yellowbird (Canada) and John McNicholl (Ireland) will be the other acts on the bill. Meanwhile
Lucie's long-awaited debut album will finally hit the stores later TRAVIS LEDOYT QUITS AMERICANA FESTIVAL The
young Elvis impersonator who has been wowing everyone who sees him, Commenting
in the March edition of Country Music People magazine, Chris A
major headliner will replace Travis LeDoyt, and this will be announced UK COUNTRY RADIO AWARDS 2006 The UK Country Radio Awards show took place on Sunday 4th February 2007 at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey, featuring The Swing Commanders, The Murphys, West Virginia, Henry Smith's Country Dreams, Chris Harris Band, Ridgeway Country at a sellout show. The winners were announced as follows: ALBUM
OF THE YEAR - The Picture - Buchanan Voting was world-wide this year thanks to the internet superhighway. Thank you to all who took part. 1 FEBRUARY 2007 - RACHAEL WARWICK NOMINATED FOR GLOBE AWARD Nominees have been selected for this year's CMA Global Country Artist Award which recognizes outstanding achievement by a country music artist who has furthered the popularity of, and brought attention to, the genre in their foreign-based territory. The eight nominees include Rachael Warwick (United Kingdom) Tom Astor (Germany), Calaisa (Sweden), Rodrigo Haddad (Brazil), Adam Harvey (Australia), Corb Lund (Canada), Melinda Schneider (Australia) and Michelle Wright (Canada). Candidates are chosen from artists nominated by CMA's international membership. UP COUNTRY CHANGES NAME The very popular Up Country magazine has changed its name and in future will be known simply as "UC Magazine". Editor Rob Davis said: "While Up Country has been enjoying a successful period of sales we feel it is always best to keep up with current trends. As well as the name change we have also revamped the cover and widened our country music coverage to suit. Stuart Cameron has joined "UC" with his "Hot Country News" column which used to appear in "Country Music Roundup" newspaper for many years. sadly CMRU ended with the death of its editor John Emptage last year. The February edition hits the streets on January 24th. BIG IRISH FESTIVAL NEXT MONTH The 3rd Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival takes place between 21st and 25th February and will feature a big line-up including Nanci Griffith, Paul Brady, Colin Hay and Lee Roy Parnell as well as Paul Overstreet and Gary Nicholson. For more details go to http://www.belfastnashville.com BARRY GIBB NEW COUNTRY ALBUM OUT SOON Former Bee Gee Barry Gibb is recording a country album. He has been embraced by the locals after he won the battle to own the Johnny Cash home in Hendersonville. Barry has said that he is going to preserve the place and honour Johnny's memory. It won't be the first time a Bee Gee has recorded country - the magnificent "Hold Her In Your Hand" by Maurice Gibb from the film "A Breed Apart" was one of the best country ballads of all time back in the 1980s. THE 27TH AMERICANA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Fri July 6: Carlene Carter (USA), Albert Lee & Hogans Heroes (USA/UK), Chuck Micallef (Canada), Bob Cheevers (USA), Billy Adams (USA), Chris Harris & Southern Rain Henry Smith’s Dreams (UK), Lazy Dog Country Cattin’ Kody (UK), Sons and Lovers (UK), The Blue Flames (UK), The Sun-Rays (UK), The Hicksville Bombers (UK), The Wanderers (UK), Snakeskin Starling (UK), Hi-Voltage (UK) Sat 7: BR549 (USA), Travis Ledoyt (USA), Billy Don Burns (USA), Los Pistoleros (UK), The Swing Commanders (UK), Brian Hughes & The Lone Sharks (UK), Rootn’ Tootn’ (UK), Luke Guy Reed Band (UK), Tony Dallas & Natalie Diamond Band (UK), Johnny Holland Carlos & The Bandidos (UK), The Skip Rats (UK), Burlesque Slim Jack Rabbit (UK), Johnny & The Jailbirds (UK), The Hamsters (UK), The Bon Jovi Experience (UK), Guns2Roses (UK) Sunday July 8: George Hamilton IV (USA) GEORGE HAMILTON V (USA) Travis Ledoyt (USA) Janis Martin (USA), Paul Ansell’s #9 Matchbox Quill, The Desoto Six T-Rextasy Slade, Hi Voltage (UK) Line-Dance Venue with the Sharon Betts All-Stars Country DJ’s: Curly Pete Moonshine Mama Screamin’ Brian Singer
song-writer sessions (Friday & Saturday SOUTHERN UNION DISBAND On a sad note, award winning singer / songwriter Chris Harris has decided to call it a day with the band Southern Union. Unfortunately the economics of touring with a four piece band are no longer viable. However, he has teamed up with his bass player, the ever popular Clive Grant ( ex Memphis Roots ) to form a duo who will perform the circuit as Harris’N’Grant. Clive has a wealth of experience on the British Country Music circuit and is known the length and breadth of the country for his work with Memphis Roots and more lately Wildfire. Chris is a relative newcomer to the British Country Scene but is quickly making his mark with his award winning single ‘I Aint Coming Back’, which spent 11 weeks at the top of the British Independent Country Music Charts last year. Harris’N’Grant are set to play the circuit primarily as a duo, there will, however, be ample opportunity to catch them as a three piece, utilising the talents of Bob Haskill on pedal steel. Chris says "We intend to honour the remaining dates that were booked for Southern Union as a three piece using backing tracks that Clive and I have recorded using live drums and bass and acoustic guitar. Clive and I will add live guitars on stage. This gives Clive a chance to shine as the excellent lead guitarist that he is and also means that our audiences will be getting all the benefits of a five or six piece band without either the cost incurred or the inevitable volume of a live drummer. Sadly, many of the clubs nowadays have got used to backing tracks and the presence of a drummer can often be more of a hindrance than a help. All the agents will be contacting the clubs concerned and if anyone has any particular worries please do not hesitate to call on the telephone number shown on our advert in this issue. We are booked to appear at the Radio Awards Show next February and will perform as a full band featuring Justin Ware on drums and Bob Haskell on Steel" Harris’N’Grant
are already picking up bookings across the country and look set to become
a popular name on the circuit. SARAH JORY JOINS VAN MORRISON Sarah Jory, one of Britain's top steel guitar players, is joining Van Morrison, the Irish legend, and in a knock-on effect her band, who include Len Whitehead and Barry Cooper have hooked up with Colin and Geoff from the Everlys Experience (a.k.a. Easy Rider). For further details and to book the new show contact Colin on 01902 672793. More info at: http://www.everlysexperience.co.uk ANOTHER AWARD FOR 50-UP GEORGE IV A special reception to honour country music entertainer George Hamilton IV, was hosted by the Ambassador of the United States and his wife, Robert and Maria Tuttle, in London, at the end of last year. Conceived by Tony Byworth, the event took place at Winfield House, the Ambassador's London residency in Regent's Park. It was attended by over 150 industry and media people, alongside personal friends, several travelling from outside the United Kingdom. The reception was in recognition of George Hamilton IV's 50th anniversary as an entertainer alongside his considerable work in bringing music to international audiences, including ground breaking work in Russia and other Eastern countries in the 1970s. With a guest list headed up by "clan" members, the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, James and Sacha Hamilton from Co. Tyrone, the fellow entertainers attending included UK pop stalwart Cliff Richard, Scotland's Moira Anderson, Raymond Froggatt, Little Ginny, Paul Wheater and Dave Travis. Ambassador Tuttle, in introducing his fellow "ambassador" (George Hamilton IV is well known as the International Ambassador of Country & Gospel Music, in the wake of an appropriately titled Billboard award), spoke of the artist 's considerable achievements over the years and presented him with a framed Certificate of Appreciation. Beloved for his work with many grassroots UK churches, Hamilton recalled his early days working in Britain and Europe, recognizing various people who contributed to his career including his official biographer and church-tour manager, Paul Davis. George IV, accompanying himself on guitar, sang a couple of songs. "It was a most memorable evening and wonderful to see so many people I've got to know over the years" said the entertainer. "I am very grateful to the Ambassador and his wife for staging the reception and holding it in their beautiful residence. It will be an evening I'll forever cherish." George Hamilton IV is currently touring in the UK and will be popping in to the Hotdisc Studios to sing a couple of songs with Tony Goodacre this week for a special show and future Hotdisc exclusive apperance. "THE MAN IN BLACK" ON TOUR CMR+ have teamed up with the Production Company Starturn to sponsor the touring theatre show 'The Man In Black' which is dubbed the essential tribute to Johnny Cash. Johnny is played by Dave Wright from London and along with four musicians and a narrator - the show takes the audience on a journey from the mid 50s to the final recordings of Cash's career. The plan is to take the show into various prisons. The tour will be filmed for TV and a full tour is planned in 2007 after a handful of dates in 2006. Contact lee@cmrplusradio.com for more information. QUIET MAN OF COUNTRY DIES The editor and publisher of "Country Music Roundup" newspaper, John Emptage, has died. John, 74, was editor of the newspaper for 16 years and took over the running of Britain's only country music newspaper from Colin Kettle. John was described as "the quiet man of country music" by his assistant editor Doreen Holder, who was deeply shocked by the news. The two of them were the backbone of the publication, and although John was never one for putting himself in the spotlight, he devoted his life to "Country Music Roundup" and worked tirelessly behind the scenes. He was a big supporter of British country music and regularly featured homegrown talent on the front cover. He will be much missed by the industry. John had been ill for a while, suffering a heart attack within the last couple of years, and was taken ill over the weekend. He died in hospital on Monday. His funeral will take place on Wednesday 6th September at 3pm at Grimsby Crematorium. It's
too early to say what will happen in the future with regards CMRU, but
Doreen added that the October edition would not be coming out. Messages
of CARLSBRO
SIGN EUROPE'S NUMBER ONE COUNTRY ARTIST LUCIE DIAMOND
LUCIE DIAMOND - Europe's number one female country artist - has been signed by Carlsbro Electronics as their only female endorsee. The UK-based manufacturer of electronic equipment for live music performance since 1959, recognise Lucie Diamond is hot property. Currently # 1 in the prestigious European CMA chart - knocking superstar Faith Hill off the top spot - claiming the coveted Christmas # 1 with a second week in the top slot. Her two previous singles - "What I Like About You" and "Kilimanjaro (that's what you do for me)" - reached # 5 & # 2 in the ECMA chart, and hit the top of the charts in many countries worldwide. Her debut release in January 2005, featured guitar legend Albert Lee. The full endorsement deal with Carlsbro provides Lucie with the brand new CMR 40 Wireless Radio Microphone, which she will use at her major show in Berlin in February. Lucie is also using a Carlsbro Delta PA system with Powerline Power amplifiers, in rehearsal for forthcoming shows in Norway and Germany. Carlsbro's sales and marketing director Jon Gold has closely followed Lucie's career since hearing early tracks from her forthcoming solo album, "Sweet Medicine," from a musician friend who played on those early recording sessions. Very impressed with what he heard, Jon set his sights on inviting Lucie to join Carlsbro's endorsee family. "Lucie is an exceptional talent, with a great voice and she is a beautiful young lady. We are delighted to welcome her into the Carlsbro family of endorsees, and look forward to working with her in 2006, and far beyond. "Lucie has achieved so much since she blasted onto the scene in January 2005 with her first single. I am 100% sure she will achieve far more success, and Carlsbro will be there alongside her. We will do all we possibly can to help her succeed and fly the flag for the UK - where we have manufactured quality electronic equipment for the music industry since 1959. "This is by no means just another endorsement deal for us. I am a big country fan myself, and recognise the pure talent and Lucie's sheer determination to succeed, that mirrors somewhat our own company philosophy. Maybe you could say we are two world-beaters together. We are very excited and proud to have Lucie on board with us," explained Jon Gold. Lucie will appear on Carlsbro's stand at major trade shows in the UK and overseas. She will also travel the UK later in 2006, presenting "vocal clinics" at selected retail stores. Lucie will feature in Carlsbro advertisements and marketing material. Taking a break from rehearsals, for a well-earned double champagne celebration - after signing the Carlsbro endorsement contract and on hearing she had the Christmas # 1 in the European charts (with the spine-tingling duet of "Always On My Mind" with Norway's Arly Karlsen) - Lucie said: "I have had an amazing year in 2005, and enjoyed every minute of it. I am so thrilled to be having records played all over the world next to the big stars I have idolised since I was a young girl, wanting to be a singer like they were. "To be at number 1 in Europe and have the great Faith Hill drop down to number 2, is just incredible. The DJs and country radio stations have been so good to me, and I want to thank them so much from the bottom of my heart. "I am genuinely delighted to be working with Jon and the team at Carlsbro, and being able to use their great equipment. The new radio mike is perfect for my big show in Berlin, and my shows on the bigger stages - to allow me to really connect with the audience. "I wish everyone reading this, a very happy and healthy New Year. 2006 is looking likely to be even busier than the last 12 months, and that is fine by me, especially now I have Carlsbro on my team. Bring it on......." said Lucie. http://www.luciediamond.com BBC REGULARLY FEATURES BRITISH COUNTRY SAYS BOSS One of the main complaints directed at the BBC has been their lack of support for British acts at national level - particularly on BBC Radio 2. There have been many people, including myself and former Radio 2 presenter David Allan, who have been championing the cause of the many talented British acts who deserve national exposure, and in a recent letter to Jenny Abramski, Head of BBC Radio & Music, David pointed out that there was virtually no airplay given to British country music acts, with the exception of Nick Barraclough's much publicised airing of Rachael Warwick on his Radio 2 show a few weeks ago. It was much publicised in that it was the first time in five years that Nick had given over airtime to a British act. Jenny disagreed with David's comments: "Having looked at current coverage of country music on Radio 2 alone, British artists are regularly featured on both Bob Harris's and Nick Barraclough's shows. "As with any genre, our producers have to make editorial decisions about which artists to include on our networks, and, with country music, there are specific issues where British country music does not generally reflect the same production values as that coming out of America," she said. "I do however believe that part of the BBC's role is to support and encourage British musicians and performers...." Exactly how Radio 2 plans to support British acts is unclear, but it is of great concern that she believes that one programme in a year's output - that's less than 1% devoted to British acts if you take into account both Nick and Bob's shows - is satisfactory. What do you think? Let me know if you think that the British Broadcasting Corporation should do more to support British acts the way it used to do in the days of David Allan and Wally Whyton. And you can always write to Jenny herself - her address is;
JENNY ABRAMSKI,
I'm sure she would be happy to hear from you. From:
HOT COUNTRY NEWS
2007 – THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF…TRAVIS COLLINS With his music on the airwaves and topping the charts of three continents, Travis Collins is rapidly becoming an international sensation.
It seems that these words were prophetic, because the world is fast discovering Travis and cannot get enough of his unique talents. Since winning this award, Travis debuted in the top 10, rising to the number 8 spot on the UK and European country charts with the cool and sexy song “Slow Train Coming”. Meanwhile in his homeland Australia, he achieved two number one hits on the Country Music TV Channel charts with two of his singles “I Was Wrong” and ‘Start the Car’, both zooming straight to the top; largely due to the huge number of requests from viewers. It
has been like a dream for the handsome young twenty-two year-old, whose
career had a kick-start by winning the 2004 Toyota ‘Star Maker Quest’.
Since then, the response to his debut album entitled ‘Start the Car’,
has been overwhelming with no less than four hit singles released from
the album. With
edginess reminiscent of Keith Urban, and a unique on-stage charisma, there
is no doubt that Travis is on a fast track, straight to the top. His cool,
raw, contemporary style of music is being enthusiastically embraced by
a new generation while remaining firmly entrenched in the country tradition.
In
July 2006, Travis starred with performers; Richard Clapton; Beccy Cole;
Brian Cadd; Adam Harvey; Rick Price; Catherine Britt and fellow ‘Spur
award’ winner Michael Carr, in a special Johnny Cash musical tribute
called “Aussies Walk the Line” at Sydney’s Star City Showroom.
Then Travis flew off for three weeks in the United States where, as special
guest he performed at three bluegrass festivals in Missouri, as well as
at venues in Nashville and Austin. Now, hot off the press the headlines
read: “TRAVIS COLLINS TO PERFORM AT THE 2007 GLOBAL ARTIST SHOWCASE
IN NASHVILLE ” Last
year, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA), in conjunction with an Australian
Advisory Group to the CMA Global Task Force, established a sponsorship
opportunity for an up & coming Australian Country recording artist
to perform at the CMA Music Festival, ‘Fanfare’ in Nashville
and announced that the recipient of this fantastic sponsorship for 2007
is TRAVIS COLLINS. As an added bonus, CRA offered him the opportunity
to perform two songs at their national Radio Conference last October where
he was officially awarded his sponsorship. This exciting offer will enable
Travis to display his talents at the Global Artist Showcase during one
of the biggest Country Music Festivals in the world; he sees this as a
very important stepping stone in his career. “TRAVIS COLLINS TO TOUR THE UNITED KINGDOM” Travis also looks forward to making new friends on his first time visit to Gt Britain. From July 13th to August 30th, he will be doing an extensive concert tour of the UK, however, we list just three Country Music Festivals where the whole family may see him and his band do some dynamic performances. For those in the Midlands, he will appear on Saturday July 21st at “Wolvestock Festival” Wolverhampton. In the Northeast of England, you can see him on Thursday August 2nd at “The Witton Festival” in Durham, and Sunday August 5th he will be appearing in Leicester at the “Sapcote Festival”. On
returning to Australia in late August 2007, Travis will release his 2nd
album through ABC Music and distributed by Warner Music. The album is
one of the most eagerly anticipated albums of 2007. Then Travis will be
touring all over Australia well into 2008 to promote his new album and
his very individualistic style. TRAVIS COLLINS WINS NATIONAL AWARD AT THE WHITTLESEA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL ABC recording artist, Travis Collins, has won the Trailblazers Heritage Award at the 16th Annual Victorian & National Country Music Awards with his brilliant rendition of the Bruce Woodley/Dobe Newton classic, “I Am Australian”. ABC Music released the song in mid 2006 as one of three bonus tracks to his successful debut album “Start the Car”. It was recorded live at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre after winning Star-Maker in 2004. This Award heralds a great start to 2007 for Travis, following hot on the heels of his two Golden Guitar nominations in January. KAREN LYNNE WINS 2007 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD It was standing-room-only at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club (Canterbury Country) in Sydney on March 8th when FRANK IFIELD announced that the winner of the 2007 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD was KAREN LYNNE. Frank, who presents the award each year in conjunction with The Galston Country Music Festival, told the audience that "...Karen Lynne is a breath of cool mountain air with a voice as clear as a bellbird. I admit to being an ardent admirer of her bluegrass music and her new CD 'Changes' is an excellent example of what she does best." The award includes a release for international airplay and Frank had prearranged that the track 'Blue Mountain Rain' be distributed to coincide with the award presentation. He was delighted to surprise Karen with the news that the following day the track had entered a UK and European Chart at number 3 and was number 1 in the corresponding Independent Top Ten! TIARA AWARD FOR KAREN LYNNE Blue Mountains based singer/songwriter Karen Lynne, has jointly won the Michael Cowdroy Songwriting Award at the Tamworth ‘TIARA’ Awards, presented at the 2007 Tamworth Country Music Festival.. The TIARA Awards (Tamworth Independent Artist Recognition Awards) were created in Tamworth to recognise the talents of many independent Country Music artists that were often overlooked by the industry media which tends to remain concentrated on the higher profile record company backed performers. They are meant to recognise artists in the grass roots sector of Industry, which happens to be around 90% of performers in country music today. The winning song ‘Blue Mountain Rain’ was a song co-written with Lismore based songwriter Richard Porteous and is featured on her latest album ‘Changes‘. Produced by Rod McCormack and Herm Kovac, ‘Changes’ is a contemporary Bluegrass & Acoustic recording which has received rave reviews and so far gained Top 5 placings on the National Australian Country Music Chart for the first two radio singles. The album has now received four major Award Nominations, these being in the ‘Album of the Year‘, ‘Female Vocal‘, ‘Bluegrass & Traditional’ and ‘Songwriting’ categories of various Australian Awards. Karen’s vocal ability and her very individual approach, make this latest album an absolute treat and well worthy of such recognition. The win was extremely welcomed following a string of 9 previous Finalist TIARA Nominations covering all 5 of her albums. The Award is now her 4th major songwriting honour, even though she’s always considered herself more a singer than a songwriter. Other songwriting achievements include a win (jointly with Blue Mountains singer/songwriter Pat Drummond) in the National TSA Songwriter Salute Awards for ‘Contemporary Country Song of the Year‘, three wins in the QLD TSA Awards for ‘Contemporary Country Song of the Year‘, ‘General Country - Modern’ and Overall ‘Best Contemporary Song’ categories; a Win in the National TSA National Country Songwriting Contest for her song ‘Grandma Used to Say‘, co-written with Heather Field and James Gillard (from band ‘The Flood‘); a Finalist position in the Australian Country Music ‘Golden Guitar’ Awards for ‘Apra Song of the Year‘; and a Finalist position in the prestigious Lawson Paterson Songwriting Competition (run by the Port Fairy Folk Festival). Regarding her preference to co-write, Karen said ‘I think I have good ideas, but I find it very difficult turning them into the completed song. Working with experienced songwriters seems to make me find the discipline required to bring the ideas together and actually finish the song in one or two sittings. Left longer than that I just get too busy and involved in other things. Then I lose my train of thought, lose confidence in my ability and then the song invariably gets ‘left on the shelf‘. Probably Country Music’s quietest achiever, Karen demonstrates not only great talent but remarkable perseverance and the staying power necessary to achieve longevity in an industry so fickle, where focus is constantly placed on the ‘next big thing’ rather than the many artists that continue to prove their worth as entertainers year after year. Now, with five great albums, eleven major Award wins, nearly forty major Finalist Nominations, three international tours, over ten Australian Country Music Radio Chart hits and a number of overseas chart hits, she continues to demonstrate a dedication not often recognised in her field. For further information on Karen Lynne, Albums & Interviews contact : Karen Lynne Music Ph: (02) 4757 3292 (O/S +612-4757 3292 ) Fx: +612-4757 3209 Email:
KarenLynne@bigpond.com Titles Available from Karen Lynne:- Labour of Love Solo (SR 19) Six Days in December Duet (SR 18) Blue Mountain Rain Bluegrass (SR 20) Second Wind Solo Country (SR 38) Changes
- Solo Bluegrass & Acoustic (SR 55) KEITH'S WORLD TOUR As reported recently, Keith Urban will undertake a "world tour" in 2007. Music industry insiders say Keith will play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in the second week of May ahead of dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth with tickets expected to go on sale in mid-February. Keith will preview his "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy World Tour" show at a club in Munich on April 19, followed by other small-venue shows in Germany and Britain before he launches into the full-on arena gigs in Australia in May and the US and Canada in June. The North American leg of the tour will begin on June 8 in Phoenix, Arizona, and take in 36 arena shows across 33 cities. A music industry source said Keith would play arenas in the other major capitals at two or three-day intervals from mid to late May. The Grammy-winning singer performed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and other large Australian venues two years ago and is expected to play more than one date in the major capitals on this tour. Keith, one of country music's biggest-selling acts, locked in the tour dates after a stint in rehab and a Christmas holiday in Australia with his wife actor Nicole Kidman. "I'm looking forward to getting back on the road, to reconnecting with everyone and to doing what it is that I love to do," he said on his website. "To finally be able to present the songs from Love, Pain (& the Whole Crazy Thing) live is something that I've been looking forward to doing since recording the album." WINNERS IN THE 2007 AUSTRALIAN BUSH LAUREATE AWARDS Winners in the 2007 Australian Bush Laureate awards were announced before a capacity audience in the Tamworth Town Hall. In BOOK OF THE YEAR, ORIGINAL VERSE, for the best original Australian work in book form, the winner was THE EXODUS AND OTHER VERSE by Bob Magor. A sheep and cattle farmer from Myponga in South Australia, Bob is now the author of seven top selling books of his bush verse. In ALBUM OF THE YEAR, the winner was I’M BETTER THAN SHE IS by Carmel Dunn & Jennifer Haig. Both Carmel and Jennifer, from Queensland, have built a strong reputation over a short period of time for their work and have achieved a great deal of success with this collaborative work. For SINGLE RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR, the winner was WHY? by Carol Heuchan who also took out the inaugural BUSH POETRY PERFORMER OF THE YEAR award which was determined by public vote. Those aware of the prolific poetry successes of Carol Heuchan in recent years might imagine that she has been doing it forever. Not so! An instant top selling book in 2002 led to her first bush poetry competition and the rest, as they say, is history with poetry taking over her life, to the point where Carol has won more than 30 performance competitions in just a few years including state and Australian championships. Winner of the JUDITH HOSIER HERITAGE AWARD, for outstanding achievement in nurturing Australia’s heritage of verse, went to the Carmel Randle, a tremendous worker for the cause of bush poetry (see separate release). The Australian Bush Laureate Awards were first staged in 1996 to recognise excellence in published and recorded Australian bush poetry. The 13th Australian Bush laureate Awards will be held in Tamworth on Tuesday 22nd January, 2008. Carmel Randle – winner of the 2007 Judith Hosier Australian Bush Laureate Heritage Award Born and educated in Brisbane, CARMEL RANDLE spent most of her life in rural Queensland. Until retirement, she taught speech and drama, music and english, but she always found time to devote to her other great interest, rhymed poetry. Carmel travelled extensively throughout Australia performing poetry and appeared at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Nevada, USA, in 1999 and 2000. Although she has published three books of her own work and won many awards for her writing, including an Australian Bush Laureate Award for Book of the Year in 1997 and the prestigious Bronze Swagman Award in 1996 and 1999, it is for her efforts to further the cause of bush verse that she receives this award today. Carmel worked hard to establish the judging rules and categories for competitions and was a founding member of the Australian Bush Poet’s Association. She has edited and produced three “Co-operative Books of Verse for Aussie Children” and her publication “Help” – a handbook for writers and performers of rhymed verse – is the only practical guide yet written for Australian bush poets. Carmel also worked tirelessly to establish the Australian National Bush Poetry titles and helped make Winton a centre of excellence for bush verse. Last year, this award went to the Winton Tourist Association, partly because of Carmel’s recommendation that they were “a marvellous bunch of people doing a great job...” This year, it’s her turn! THE WOLVERINES, FELICITY & TROY HEAD UP 2007 PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS The Wolverines, Felicity Urquhart and Troy Cassar-Daley head up the winners list from the 2007 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards announced in front of a near capacity audience in Tamworth this afternoon. As the Wolverines, Darcy Le Year, John Clinton and Chris Doyle won two awards – Best Album for Good Times and Best Song for Angel Eyes, written by Matt Shelton (Matt’s award was accepted on his behalf by his father Louie). Felicity took home the award for Best Female Vocal while Troy won Best Male Vocal. Jonah’s Road won the award for Best Group, Dean Perrett won Best Bush Ballad with the Ian Quinn-penned Would Clancy Be Welcome while Dale Duncan won Best Heritage Song (his first award in country music) with Malabar Mansion written by his father Dave who was also in attendance to accept his award. Cat Southern was named Most Promising Future Star (also her first award apart from her 2006 Star Maker win) while John Nutting won Most Popular Country Music DJ and Country Music Radio won Most Popular Country Music Radio Program. A number of special awards were announced during this afternoon’s ceremony. Founders of the annual People’s Choice Awards, Smoky & Paula Sheldrick from the Australian Country Music Listener’s Association were honoured with a Founders’ Award, Bob Howe was named Musician of the Year while popular award-winning duo Carter & Carter were presented with a Career Achievement Award. Organisers of the Awards were delighted with results and attendance at today’s gala presentation. The 2008 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will be staged in Tamworth, Australia’s Country Music Capital, on Thursday, January 24. Voting is expected to get underway mid year. Weblink; www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au. URBAN EMERGES FROM REHAB, READY FOR ROAD After three months and 12 steps, Keith Urban is out of rehab. Nicole Kidman's country-singing spouse has completed a stint at the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California, his publicist, Paul Freundlich, confirmed Tuesday to E! News. Urban voluntarily checked himself into the facility last October to treat alcohol abuse. No further details were disclosed and it's not known exactly when Urban left the facility. Earlier Tuesday he issued a press release touting an upcoming European tour, and People magazine spotted the Grammy winner alongside Kidman at Creative Artists Agency's private Golden Globes after-party Monday night. Kidman and Urban have remained in close contact since he began treatment. In addition to her frequent visits to the facility, the couple spent the holidays together in Sydney over the holidays. Sightings of the A-listers on their Down Under home turf spawned speculation that Urban had already completed his stint in rehab, but his rep shot down such reports. Freundlich said at the time that Urban, who previously sought treatment for cocaine abuse, took a brief leave for the holidays and would resume treatment upon returning to the U.S. Now that he's completed rehab, Urban is planning to hit the road. Exact dates for the Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy World Tour are still being finalized, but he will tune up with a handful of intimate club shows in the U.K. and Germany in April, before launching his arena run in Australia in May. The chart-topper is aiming to take the road show to the U.S. and Canada in June. "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing" was released Nov. 7 and, despite his inability to make the promotional rounds in support of his fifth studio album, still managed to take the honky-tonk world by storm, reaching number one on Billboard's country album charts. He is expected to jet off to Germany on Thursday for a promotional TV appearance in support of the album before returning to States in time for the Grammy Awards on Feb. 11. Urban is up for Best Male Country Vocal Performance of the Year for his single "Once in a Lifetime." by
Gina Serpe 2007 GOLDEN GUITAR WINNERS The 35th annual Golden Guitar Awards were announced in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital. Winner,
Single of the Year ... Poster Girl (Wrong Side Of The World) by Beccy
Cole, from finalists Big World Small World by Melinda Schneider; Open
Ended Heartache by Adam Brand; The New Bush by Lee Kernaghan; Too Far
Gone by Catherine Britt. Winner,
Heritage Song of the Year... Close As A Whisper (The Gift) by Lee Kernaghan
(written by Lee, Colin Buchanan and Garth Porter); from finalists Poster
Girl (Wrong Side Of The World) by Beccy Cole; The Battle Of Long Tan by
Graham Rodger; The Hat by Michael O’Rourke; Women Of The West by
Anne Kirkpatrick. Winner,
New Talent of the Year... The McClymonts with Something That My Heart
Does; from finalists Donna Boyd with A Good Day; Katie Brianna with Jindabyne
Fair; Nik Phillips with Not In This Life; Cat Southern with Last First
Kiss. The Awards television special, presented by Jayco, will be broadcast on the Southern Cross Network Saturday, February 3, at 6.30pm. Network Ten will also be airing the program in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth the following day (Sunday, February 4, at 12 noon. A further broadcast of the Awards will be shown on CMC on Friday, February 9, at 7pm (all times Eastern Daylight Summer Time) and will include a Red Carpet and backstage special hosted by Steve Forde. COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS TOP FIVE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED The top five finalists in the 2007 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards have been announced. Leading the finalists charge are Graham Rodger, Cat Southern and the Wolverines with four placings each. Graham is a finalist for Best Male Vocal and twice in Bush Ballad (for The Battle Of Long Tan and What Country’s All About) while The Battle Of Long Tan (co-written by Alan McPherson) is also a finalist for Best Heritage Song. Cat is a finalist for Best Female Vocal and Most Promising Future Star while her hit Last First Kiss (co-written by Jay Collie and Jasper Somerville-Collie) is up for Best Song and her recording of the Michael Fix/Jeff Burton penned Memories & Dreams is a finalist for Best Heritage Song. The Wolverines are finalists for Best Group, their album Good Times is up for Best Album, their recording of the Matt Shelton song Angel Eyes is a finalist for Best Song and their recording of the Brenda-Lee Heathcote song The Ballad Of Young Bobby Dale is a finalist for Best Heritage Song. With three top five places each, Craig Giles, Anita Ree and Wildseed also figure prominently in the 2007 Awards while Felicity Urquhart has two. Craig’s placings are for Best Male Vocal, his album Kick It (up for Best Album) and Best Song with Riding The White Line, a song he co-wrote with wife and manager Roz Giles. Anita’s finalist placings are for Best Album with Bush Girl’s Heart, Most Promising Future Star and Best Bush Ballad with the self-penned Saltwater Creek Sliprails. Wildseed are up for Best Group and Best Album (with their self-titled release) and Best Song, The Fire, written by Alan Bruce. Felicity’s two finalist placings are for Best Female Vocal and Best Album with My Life. The 2007 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will be staged in Country Music Capital, at 1.30pm on Thursday, January 25, during the giant Tamworth Country Music Festival. Tickets are now available from The Regent on 02 6766 3162 at $23 each if purchased prior to December 31. The roster of guest artists will be announced shortly. The full rundown of finalists is below. Further information can be obtained from the Awards website http://www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au Further media information available from Bob Kirchner on 0267 622 993 or mobile 0419 998 386. Best
Female Vocal Best
Male Vocal Best
Group or Duo Best
Song Best
Bush Ballad Best
Heritage Song Best
Album Most
Promising Future Star Most
Popular DJ Most
Popular Radio Station or Program HALL OF FAME TO SALUTE THE MCKEAN SISTERS The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame has announced that the 2007 Hall of Fame Tribute Dinner will salute the pioneering McKean Sisters. The McKean Sisters – Joy and Heather – are more well known these days for their individual careers in the music industry, in Joy’s case, as one of Australia’s leading and award-winning songwriters, and, in Heather’s case, a singer and award-winning recording artist. Joy and Heather McKean grew up in a musical family which nurtured their talent in such a way that the girls were performing on stage and radio by the ages of 10 and eight respectively. In 1949, they began presenting their own country music radio show from 2KY in Sydney and, by 1951, were recording for the now legendary Rodeo Records. The McKean Sisters gave us country classics like The Gymkhana Yodel, Yodel Down The Valley and The Morning Mail. In 1953, Joy and Heather started pursuing solo careers, and also became two of Australia's most successful managers, working closely with their respective spouses Slim Dusty and Reg Lindsay. In 1983, The McKean Sisters became the eighth pioneering Australian country music act to be elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown. The tribute dinner to Joy and Heather will be held at Gregory’s Function Centre in Tamworth, Country Music Capital, on Friday night, January 26. Industry invitations are in the process of being prepared and distributed. Anyone requiring further information in the meantime can contact the Hall of Fame on 02 6766 9696. All proceeds from the dinner – including a silent auction which will run through the evening – will go towards establishment of Australia’s new Country Music Hall of Fame building. Further information also available from http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au
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