by Preshias Harris
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Songs write themselves, we just hold the pen” – Garth Brooks on stage at the 2020 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, TN.
My column, Inside Track on Music Row, is the longest-running country music column in the USA and now worldwide on the Internet! Send me music stuff, I love to get it!
Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com TN/USA. Google “Preshias”
Here, below, are just some of the news items in the March 2020 column that is published by Nashville Music Guide. Scroll down to continue reading…
- Lauren & Thomas Rhett welcome baby Lennon Love
- Love Lives On tells stories of fallen warriors’ survivors
- Cody Purvis on “Drinkin’ Terms” with Billboard Indicator chart
- Brandy Clark: “Love Is a Fire” can warm you or burn you
- “Copper Coil” new song from duo Band Steele
- CJ Solar’s “Watered Down Whiskey” heralds new EP
- Outlaw music from Billy Don Burns
- Chris Bandi’s first step on hallowed Opry stage
- Tin Pan South tix going fast: grab yours now
- Scroll down to read these news stories from Inside Track on Music Row
BABY NEWS
County singer Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins welcomed their third daughter last month. Her name is Lennon Love Akins, and she weighed 9lbs 2oz and a head full of dark hair and blue eyes. His father Rhett Akins and his wife Sonya are expecting a boy in March… More baby news… Shay Mooney (Dan+ Shay) and wife Hannah welcomed their second child, another boy, named Ames Alexander on February 21st in Nashville. He joins big brother, three-year-old Asher James.
CD NEWS
Roots & American Music Society (RAMS), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, has teamed with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to orchestrate and create a meaningful recording project titled Love Lives On. The combined creative endeavor aligned TAPS military families, who have endured the loss of a loved one, with some of the music industry’s most gifted and renowned songwriters to pen the family members’ intimate and personal stories in music and song.
The title track and debut single, “Love Lives On,” will be released as an early introduction to the 10-track collaboration and will be available via all major digital retail and streaming outlets on Friday, March 20, 2020. The unique album features Vince Gill, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Rich, All-4-One, Gatlin Brothers, Lonestar and many others. The star studded event listening party was amazing. Info and pre-order at https://www.lovelivesonmusic.com/ PERSONAL NOTE: I KEPT MY KLEENEX VERY CLOSE, AS I LISTENED AND HUNG ON TO EVERY WORD.
CHART NEWS
Cody Purvis scored his first Top-50 single on Billboard’s Indicator chart in February with his single, “Drinkin’ Terms” that was nominated for CMT’s “Next Up Now,” featured on SiriusXM’s “On the Horizon,” and Spotify’s “New Boots,” “Wild Country,” “Next from Nashville,” and “Hot Country” playlists, and accumulated a whopping 7.5 million streams prior to being serviced to radio. The single, which appears on Purvis’ latest EP, Boots on the Ground, produced by the Dove award-winning Jeff Silvey (best known for his work with Gospel icon Bill Gaither, and “The Last Ride” movie soundtrack), has been on a steady climb since its release to radio in late October. Now managed by Erv Woolsey Company (George Strait, Lee Ann Womack), Purvis appeared as a contestant last year on USA Network’s “Real Country” featuring Travis Tritt, Shania Twain and Jake Owen. For more information on Cody Purvis, see www.CodyPurvis.com.
CMT NEWS
The official music video for Brandy Clark’s new song, “Love is a Fire,” is in rotation at CMT. Of the inspiration behind the song, Clark reflects, “The idea [is] that love is a fire, you just never know if it’s going to warm you—or burn you.” “Love is a Fire” is the latest song from Clark’s new album, Your Life is a Record, to be released March 6 on Warner Records. Rolling Stone recently included it as one of their “70 Most Anticipated Albums of 2020.”
Produced by award winning producer Jay Joyce, the 11-track album was recorded largely as an intimate acoustic four-piece—featuring Clark, Joyce, Giles Reaves and Jedd Hughes. Created after the dissolution of a long-term relationship, the album features Clark’s most personal songwriting to date along with special guest appearances from Randy Newman and guitarist John Osborne. Clark will tour extensively throughout 2020 including a series of winter tour dates with Tanya Tucker on the CMT Next Women of Nashville Tour. Find the “Love Is Fire” video at YouTube and see tour dates at https://www.brandyclarkmusic.com/
DUO NEWS
The Band Steele, the duo comprising Bo Steele and Ben Rubino, released its sixth studio recording, titled “Copper Coil,” in late February. Co-written by Steele, Rubino and Stacy Stavola, the soulful and captivating track is available via all digital retail and streaming platforms. Produced by Matt McClure (Lee Brice/Lindsay Ell/Dylan Scott) and recorded at The Roost in Nashville, Tennessee, the original tune was inspired by the mystique of “The Man In Black” and an old-time family heritage. The eerie western opener dresses the scene for a darkness that lies within a backwoods forest and blankets a tortured soul who seeks freedom and escape with the aid of a powerful spirit. Prophetic fiddle solos dance with weeping banjo hooks to complement Bo Steele’s raw and mournfully haunting vocals to reveal a painful and desperate emotion.
The Band Steele has provided direct support to various multi-platinum selling recording artists, including Maren Morris and Andy Grammer, and a Band Steele original tune, “Good Times,” is featured in the Lionsgate film “Life On The Line” (John Travolta/Sharon Stone). Bo makes a cameo appearance performing the song. More at https://thebandsteele.com/
EP NEWS
CJ Solar celebrated Valentine’s Day by releasing “Watered Down Whiskey,” the latest single from his upcoming EP. The new song follows the singles “Coming My Way,” “Wild Hair” and MusicRow Top 15 singles “American Girl” and “Airplane” from his Get Away With It EP.
Said CJ of the song: “My buddy (co-writer) Charlie Berry and I were sitting around one day talking about past relationships and how when you’re crushed after a break up and everyone new doesn’t quite meet what you had with the ex… and this song just fell out!” CJ Solar was named the 2019 Independent Artist of the Year by MusicRow magazine. He was named by Taste of Country as one of their “5 Country Artists to Watch,” and one of Rolling Stone Country’s “New Artists You Need To Know.” CJ is an accomplished songwriter, with co-write credits on “Up Down,” a No. 1 for Morgan Wallen featuring Florida Georgia Line, and Jan Aldean’s “I Don’t Drink Anymore.” He’s also had cuts by Jerrod Niemann, Justin Moore and others. More about CJ at www.CJSolar.com
OUTLAW MUSIC NEWS
Country Rewind Records will release Outlaw Billy Don Burns, The Country Blues on March 15 with distribution by Select-O-Hits. The new recordings will also be available for streaming and download on all digital music platforms. “It is a great album, Billy Don sounds great, as he always does. The songs are fantastic. He sings about the truth and hard times, but he tells a tale of warning and a tale of heart with this album,” exclaims Shooter Jennings. “Long live Billy Don Burns and his very important place in the history of Country and Western Music.”
The album was produced by Executive Producers, Charlie Ammerman and Thomas Gramuglia and co-produced by Billy Don Burns / Jeff Williams / Mike Randolph at “The Den” Nashville Music Group. Additional production and engineering and mixing by Aaron Dethrage at EastSide Manor Studios East Nashville. Mastered by John Forbes and Aaron Dethrage. These recordings are a follow up to Country Rewind Records previous releases of such greats as Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Connie Smith, Jeannie C. Riley, Rex Allen Sr., Carl Smith, Rex Allen Jr. and more. Details at www.countryrewindrecords.com
OPRY NEWS
Breakthrough singer/songwriter and Records artist Chris Bandi made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday, February 25 taking his first steps inside the circle, witnessed by an audience full of fans, friends, and family. After an introduction by host, Bill Cody, Bandi delivered an energetic set, including unreleased songs “What If We Don’t,” and “They Make Whiskey,” closing out with his redemptive hit single, “Man Enough Now.” The coming-of-age tempo track, written by Bandi along with Jason Massey and Jason Duke, has racked up over 75 million streams and counting and is impacting country radio now.
“Feeling a lot of emotions, this is one of the greatest days of my life,“ says Bandi. “It was magical. Everyone told me how amazing the crowd is, and I don’t think you can really put it into words until you walk out into the circle.” Bandi is currently out with country breakout Matt Stell through March with a new EP expected this year. Music is out via RECORDS, a joint venture label between Barry Weiss and Sony Music Entertainment. The official music video for “Man Enough Now” has racked up 6.6 million views and counting! Check https://www.chrisbandi.com/ for tickets and information and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
TIN PAN SOUTH NEWS
The 28th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival just bumped the scheduled show count up to triple digits. Over the 5 days, 10 venues host two shows a night, bringing together over 400 songwriters for an experience like no other. Fans will have the opportunity to choose between over 400 songwriters performing at over a 100 shows at ten of Nashville-area music venues featuring hit-makers from all genres of music. Known as the largest songwriters-only festival of its kind, the event will include songwriters ranging from newcomers to top hitmakers, filling venues throughout Nashville. Music fans come from all over the world to see dozens of performances over the 5 days and to experience the songs and stories about their favorite hits straight from the incredibly talented songwriters that penned them.
The popular week-long Fast Access passes are now on sale, but they sell out fast so don’t delay if you intend to go. Check out www.TinPanSouth.com for information about venues, lineups, Fast Access passes and more. Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Tin Pan South reigns as the world’s largest all-songwriter festival. Dates are Tuesday March 24th to Saturday March 28th. Some performers are: Nicolle Galyon, Bobby Braddock, Jamey Johnson, Ashley Gorley, Ernest, Lori McKenna, Jimmy Robbins, Josh Kerr, Steve Bogard, Liz Rose, Shawn Camp, Matthew Perryman Jones, Dallas Davidson, Jake Owen, Brad Clawson, Abbey Cone, Ben Burgess, Gary Nicholson, Caroline Watkins, Travis Denning, Billy Montana, Tony Arata, Bobby Pinson, Jeff Middleton, Ty Herndon and many more. More info and schedule at www.tinpansouth.com.
Look for more stories from the March edition of Inside Track on Music Row, here, next week!
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com