May 2022 - Nashville Music Line

Ryman Auditorium named Rock & Roll HoF landmark

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hails Ryman as rock venue

By Preshias Harris

*The new Historic Marker. Photo: Linda Wyatt for NML*

The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville is known as “the Mother Church of Country Music.” However, the Ryman has been a favored venue for acts from every genre of music including Rock & Roll. More than one hundred members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have played the Ryman over the decades. That connection has now been made official. Bonnie Raitt and members of Old Dominion were among the musicians, celebrities, politicians and members of the Nashville music industry who were on hand to mark the momentous event.

Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium has been designated as an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In a dedication ceremony held May 26, Mark Fioravanti, President of Ryman Hospitality Properties, and Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, made the announcement at the Ryman, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary.

(L to R): Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion speak during the announcement at the Ryman. Group member Whit Sellers was unable to attend. Photo: Preshias Harris

Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022

Joe Galante, Jerry Lee Lewis and Keith Whitley

By Preshias Harris

Country fans and members of the country music industry are congratulating the newest members-elect of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Joe Galante, Jerry Lee Lewis and the late Keith Whitley will be honored during a private, invitation-only Medallion Ceremony at the Museum in October 2022, with heartfelt testimonials and once-in-a-lifetime musical tributes.

JOE GALANTE has been described as “the man who taught Nashville how to sell records.” He had been transferred by RCA to Music City in the mid-1970s on the understanding that he could return to his native New York after two years. However, in the Ken Burns’ docuseries Country Music, Galante claimed that after sitting in on a Waylon Jennings recording session he began to understand the heart of country music. As the company’s vice president, Galante enthusiastically got behind Alabama’s first RCA LP, My Home’s in Alabama, moving two million copies on an album not expected to top 60,000.

Elvie Shane wraps his first headlining tour

Set to play Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

By Preshias Harris

A few days ahead of appearances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, Wheelhouse Records singer/songwriter Elvie Shane wrapped his first-ever headlining run on April 21 with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Basement East.

*Elvie Shane plays to a sold-out crowd at The Basement East in Nashville. Photo credit: Garrett Rizan*

Shane brought his My Kinda Trouble Tour with Frank Ray to a close, playing songs from his critically acclaimed debut album Backslider as well as surprising the capacity crowd with guest appearances by Lainey Wilson who joined Shane for a rendition of her ACM Song of the Year winning “Things A Man Outta Know” and Tenille Townes as she and Shane sang their duet “Nothin’ Lasts Forever.”

*Elvie Shane sings a duet with guest Lainey Wilson. Photo credit: Garrett Rizan*

NSAI holds “World’s Largest No. 1 Party”

Jody Williams honored with the 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award

by Preshias Harris

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with event sponsors, Truist Wealth and Ford, welcomed songwriters and guests to The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. for their long-awaited World’s Largest #1 Party. The celebration was held to honor all songs with a Nashville-associated writer that reached #1 on the Billboard Airplay, Digital, Hot or Mediabase charts during the period of September 2019 through December 2021.

The event began with a special presentation, announcing that Jody Williams, industry powerhouse and founder of Jody Williams Music, was the 2022 recipient of the ‘NSAI Champion’ award. The award is given in recognition of generous support for – and dedication to – songwriters, the music industry and NSAI, and is chosen by the NSAI Executive Director.

*(L to R): Steve Bogard, NSAI Board President, Jody Williams, 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award recipient. Photo credit: NSAI / Savannah Grimm*

“Jody Williams has spent his professional career in the music industry helping songwriters and others. I am one such individual, in my twenty-five years as NSAI Executive Director enlisting Jody’s help dozens of times. He’s always responded and his word is as good as gold.” – Bart Herbison, Executive Director, NSAI

(If I may add my own testimonial for this well-deserved ‘NSAI Champion’ award, during his tenure in Writer Relations at BMI, I have personally seen Jody Williams get enthusiastically involved with the careers of songwriters – including new and emerging writers – often guiding them to successful publishing deals.)

Naomi Judd

January 11, 1946 – April 30, 2022

By now, everyone will have heard the deeply saddening news about the passing of Naomi, the matriarch of the Judd family. At this time, let us keep her family, friends and fans in our prayers and loving thoughts, and remember the joy she brought us with her music.

Never will she be forgotten.

*Naomi Judd. Photo: Derek Kupish, dkupish productions*

#welovethejudds