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Music Row One Sheet, April 2018

Nashville Music News Roundup

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

How artists and songwriters can stay safe on social media
Bellamy Brothers still touring! Exclusive interview
Copyright Royalty Board OK’s big raise for songwriters
ACM Lifting Lives: stars turn out in Vegas
The Outlaws, Blackhawk benefit MusiCares, cancer research

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

Social media safety vital for singers, songwriters

Staying safe on social media is important for everyone, but it can be vital for young singers, musicians and songwriters who are posting photos and information about themselves as a way to build a following and boost their careers. However, your posts at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can also attract stalkers, cyber-scammers and identity thieves.

For a helpful guide to staying safe online, read this article by Jim Akin posted on Experian’s website. Among Jim’s recommendations: adjust your Facebook privacy settings and uncheck the ‘Discoverability’ boxes in Twitter’s safety and security controls. He also suggests being discreet about your whereabouts on social media. He explains how to disable location tagging on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Read the full article for many more helpful online safety tips.

Bellamy Brothers still circling the globe

David (left) and Howard Bellamy. Photo: Preshias Harris

The Bellamy Brothers remain hugely popular both in the USA and overseas. They have been touring almost nonstop for more than 40 years. They have written a new autobiography titled ‘Let Your Love Flow: Life and Times of the Bellamy Brothers’ that will be available this month. Additionally, ‘Honky Tonk Ranch,’ a TV show about their hectic lives, is set to air in the USA on the Cowboy Channel.

I caught up with Howard and David Bellamy while they were on a brief break between international tour dates, and we sat down in Nashville to talk about their new projects. My exclusive interview with the Bellamys has now been posted at Country Music News International, a blog based in Germany. You can find the full interview here.

Songwriter royalties: ‘significant increase’

The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has released its ruling on mechanical rates for songwriters for 2018 – 2022. This decision is the result of a trial that took place between March and June of 2017 with NMPA and the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI), representing the interests of music publishers and songwriters against Google, Amazon, Apple, Spotify and Pandora.

The court’s decision includes a significant increase in the overall percentage of revenue paid to songwriters from 10.5% to 15.1% over the next five years – the largest rate increase in CRB history. Additionally, the CRB removed the Total Content Cost (TCC) cap, giving publishers the benefit of a true percentage of what labels are able to negotiate in the free market resulting in significantly higher royalties for songwriters.

The CRB also increased the TCC rate resulting in the most balance between record label and publishing rates in the history of mechanical licensing. In addition, the CRB granted a late fee which will dramatically alter the licensing practices of digital music companies. Read the full press release from NSAI here.

ACM is ‘Lifting Lives’ in Vegas

With the ACM Awards just around the corner, it seems like half of Nashville is heading to Las Vegas. The stars and their crews will be getting there early for ACM’s ‘Party For A Cause.’ On Friday, April 13, The Joint at the Vegas Hard Rock is the venue for ‘ACM Stories, Songs & Stars,’ a songwriters’ event benefitting ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Among those scheduled to appear: Lee Brice, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally and more, The event will be hosted by Storme Warren.

The next morning, Saturday, April 14, Darius Rucker and Charles Kelley host ACM Lifting Lives Top Golf Tee-Off at the MGM Grand’s Top Golf. Among the celebs who have signed up: Chris Lane, Levi Hummon, Raelynn, Eric Pasley and more.

It’s back to the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sunday night for the Official After Party with performances by Lauren Alaina, Lee Brice, Luke Combs, Cassadee Pope, Jerrod Niemann, Tracy Lawrence and more.

Anything else? Oh yes! Almost forgot. The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas, Sunday, April 15, 8:00pm / 7:00 Central on CBS, hosted by Reba McEntire. The show will pay tribute to the victims of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

Since 2008 ACM Lifting Lives has given more than 8 million dollars to more than 150 worthy causes and supports many projects throughout the year to create awareness and help those in need.

Blackhawk and The Outlaws make $$ donations to MusiCares and cancer research

Last week in Nashville, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, members of country group BlackHawk, as well as southern rock band The Outlaws, paid visits to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares to deliver donations raised for each organization.

L to R: Debbie Carroll (MusiCares Sr. Executive Director), Henry Paul (BlackHawk / The Outlaws)

Paul and Robbins presented a $40,000 check to Vanderbilt (on behalf of BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund”) and a $20,000 check to MusiCares (on behalf of The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund”).

“The ‘Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund’ and ‘The Fallen Outlaws Fund’ were both formed to help give back to two very worthwhile causes in the name of BlackHawk and Outlaw fans, respectively,” says Paul. “Raising money for cancer research at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and also for MusiCares, an organization that helps fund healthcare costs for uninsured musicians, is the cause. Honoring former founding BlackHawk member Van Stephenson and former founding Outlaws members Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones and Frank O’Keefe, by perpetuating their memory in the name of these two charities, is our goal.”

Visit Blackhawk’s and The Outlaws websites. To find out more about the MusiCares program click here.

Tin Pan South plays to sell-out crowds again

Hit songwriters share their stories

The only problem with Tin Pan South: having to decide WHERE you are going to go! There are 100 venues, all with a full schedule of amazing songwriters, performing their songs to packed audiences of appreciative listeners.

Here’s a taste. Tuesday evening, April 3 at 3^rd and Lindsley…

Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano

Super songwriter extraordinaire Ashley Gorley kicked it off with his first Number One for Jon Pardi, ‘Dirt On My Boots.’ As of this week, Ashley (ASCAP’s Songwriter of The Year, for five consecutive years) has the current number one record on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for Thomas Rhett with ‘Marry Me.’ This makes Ashley’s 37th or 38th Number one record. I have lost count! This Kentucky boy sure makes us proud J.

L to R: Ashley Gorley, Brett Young and Chris DeStefano. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Then next up was Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist and dad, Chris DeStefano. Chris started out with his celebrated number one as a co-writer with Dan + Shay’s ‘From The Ground Up.’ Chris also co-wrote the Carrie Underwood, 7-week, #1 song ‘Something in the Water,’ the third-longest running female #1 Hot Country song in chart history.

Brett Young surprise guest

The show’s surprise artist was BMLG’s ‘Golden Boy’ Brett Young. Every single Brett has released (all three) have gone to number one status. He told the story of his first number party experience. It was about award-winning songwriter Jon Nite’s second number one party. He talked about how Jon told about his journey and Jon and his wife’s move here for him to be a songwriter when they were both just 18 years old and had a 18 month old child. They had all they owned in a Uhaul trailer. So Brett dedicated his next single song to Jon Nite, ‘Beautiful Believer.’

As another artist surprise, Chris brought up newcomer Warner Brothers/Nashville artist Morgan Evans. Morgan is from Australia and is Kelsea Ballerini’s better half. He surprised the crowd with a “Story Behind the Song and the Song” for his recent chart-climbing single ‘Kiss Somebody’ that he co-wrote with Chris and Josh Osborne.

As things ended, the best quote of truth, that made me smile was Brett’s. “God‘s plan was a little different from mine, but he got me up here.” — Brett Young talking about his journey as songwriter that turned into an artist.

… and then on to the next venue!

For more about Tin Pan South, click here. And for info about Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) click here.

Ten ways to keep your music career moving forward

Make Nashville’s ‘ten year town’ reputation work for you

So you’re a songwriter or an artist with the goal of a successful career in music. You’ve been in Nashville for six months or a year, or maybe a couple of years. You’re beginning to wonder why ‘things aren’t happening’ for you. Perhaps your family and friends back home are dropping hints that ‘you haven’t made it yet.’

It’s hard to keep focused on your career when you feel it is stagnating, going nowhere. It’s even harder when loved ones cast doubts on your decision to follow your musical dream. Those doubts begin to worm their way into your mind, undermining your self-confidence.

Note: This is a corrected re-post of a previously posted item. Due to an editing error, much of the information in Number 6 (“Join a songwriters’ association”) was inadvertently omitted. The correct text has been restored, below. Apologies for the error!

A marathon, not a sprint

It is important to remind yourself (and maybe Mom and Dad) that this is a marathon not a sprint. Everything you do, every day, is bringing you closer to achieving your goal. Think of it this way: if you’d chosen to become an engineer or an architect, instead of a singer or a songwriter, you’d have attended a four-year college, and then gone on for a master’s degree and post-graduate work before you ever had a chance to earn a single dollar. Speaking of dollars, you (or your parents) would have had to invest many tens of thousands of dollars in your education over many years with no guarantee of success.

As an aspiring musician, you are creating your own education, with the help of peers and mentors, honing your craft, learning and getting better every day.

Every day, promise yourself to do something that moves your music career further along. Here are some idea starters that you can adapt to suit your own career objectives.

“You’ve got to work hard for your success and you’ve got to have a steady presence. That’s the secret.” – Kid Rock

[1] Network

Get out there. Meet people. Be where things are happening. Introduce yourself by saying, “I’m [Name]. I’m a singer-songwriter.” Hear yourself saying that out loud! See? Now that’s what you are! Get to know other people who are at the same level of experience (or lack of it) as you are. Also network with people whose knowledge and experience you can learn from.

A word of warning: Do NOT be a gherm! (The ‘g’ is hard, as in ‘Grrrrrrr!!’) That Nashville term refers to someone who is obnoxiously pushy, perhaps going up to a famous artist or producer and trying to hand them your CD or aggressively asking a song publisher for a meeting when they have no idea who you are. It’s a matter of respect. Get a reputation as a gherm and your career can quickly stall. Network: Yes! Gherm: No!

[2] Write… and Co-write

Keep writing, every day. Write something, even if it is just a phrase or a few words. Keep a ‘hook book’ in which you can jot down words, phrases, a snatch of overheard conversation or just ideas that maybe someday you could turn into a song. (Your hook book can be a ruled paper notebook or a file on your iPhone, whichever you’re more likely to use as soon as the idea hits you.)

“You overhear a conversation on a bus and you think, ‘that’s a great first line.’” – Richard Thompson from an interview at SongwritingMagazine.co.uk

Continue reading “Ten ways to keep your music career moving forward”

Nashville is a ten-year town

7 inspiring stories from stars who stayed the course – and won

If you are an aspiring artist or songwriter, there will be times when it feels like your creative career is going nowhere. A little voice in your head is telling you that if you’re going to ‘make it,’ you’d have done it by now. Worse still, that voice might be coming from a well-meaning family member nudging you to give it up and come back home. Right now, you need inspiration and encouragement. And maybe some stories about ‘making it in Music City’ to tell the folks back home.

“Success isn’t overnight. It’s when every day you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up.” – Dwayne Johnson

Nashville is a ten-year town. If we needed any proof, we need look no further than the recent spate of Number One parties and the artists and songwriters whose songs were being honored.

Jon Pardi

During the celebration for his two No. 1 hits, ‘Dirt on My Boots’ and ‘Heartache on the Dance Floor,’ Jon Pardi mentioned that he arrived in Music City ten years ago and even before that, he was writing songs and playing in bands from his early teens. In fact, it has taken him well over a decade to get where he is today, as an established artist with a solid track record.

“Thank you so much for believing in me. I’ve been here for a while now and Feb. 23, 2008 is when I moved to town. Ten years later, I have three number ones and we’re at a double number one party. Thank you. Thanks for believing in me.” – Jon Pardi

Kip Moore

A few days earlier, Kip Moore and the writers of ‘More Girls Like You’ were being honored for their chart-topping success. Moore had moved to Nashville in 2004 and signed a songwriting deal. It was eight more years before he was signed to a recording contract with MCA.

It wasn’t an easy time for Moore, but he kept his eyes on the prize as the years progressed. He told me during the Number One party what kept him going: “It was knowing I wasn’t going to be happy doing anything else. There was no Plan B.” He also noted, “It was a battle to keep one foot in front of the other.”

Brett Young

Brett Young co-wrote his recent No. 1, ‘Like I Love You,’ with Jesse Lee and both have paid their dues on the road to success. Young had been writing songs and performing for fourteen years before he even got to Nashville and signed a record deal with BMLG.

Young’s previous chart-topper, ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ marked him as the first Country artist to gain an RIAA Platinum certification in 2017, and the song went on to reach the 2X Platinum sales mark.

Jesse Lee

Jesse Lee had to overcome disappointment on her way to becoming a hit songwriter. She had signed a recording contract with Atlantic Nashville in 2007, but her releases met with only limited success. However, she was not about to let this discourage her.

As she said at the Number One party, “People didn’t want me on the radio! So I reinvented myself and started to write. Then I realized I was getting into publishing companies because of my writing not my artist talents.” Her change of direction paid off, co-writing Kelsea Ballerini’s first No. 1, ‘Peter Pan.’

“it’s been more than a ten-year town for me. It’s been eleven!” – Jesse Lee

Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch recently scored his fifth Number One with ‘Small Town Boy,’ but he has invested many years of his young life moving toward that level of success. He grabbed the chance to perform at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café at the age of sixteen, moving full-time to Nashville in 2003. While studying at Lipscomb University, he continued to write songs and perform at every opportunity. When he graduated with a B.S. degree in biology in 2007, he decided to stay in Nashville and focus on his music career.

Persistence paid off, and Lynch was signed to Valory Music Group, moving to Broken Bow Records in 2011. It was ten years between that first performance at the Bluebird and signing the record deal with Broken Bow, and a further seven years to this point, establishing him as a successful artist with a string of hits to his credit.

Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce achieved her first Number One, ‘Every Little Thing,’ at the age of twenty-eight. She was sure that her future would be in music: at the age of nine, she visualized herself singing on a stage and never gave up on that goal. At sixteen, she was working at Dollywood, learning stagecraft from more experienced performers.

She moved to Nashville, taking menial day jobs while she worked on building her skills as a songwriter and a singer in the evenings. She remembers sitting at home watching the CMA Awards on TV. She made it her goal to be on that show one day. Her tenacity paid off with a nomination in the ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year’ category at the 2018 CMA Awards.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry. I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.” – Carly Pearce

Buddy Jewell

Think about Buddy Jewell if you want to know about persistence! He started pursuing a career in music in Arkansas in 1982. He learned his craft the hard way, working in gunfighting shows at Six Flags Over Texas and entering talent shows, including one sponsored by the band Alabama. He moved to Nashville in 1993 and found work singing more than 5,000 demos for songs that became hits for artists such as George Strait, Clay Walker and Gary Allan.

Jewell spent years perfecting his vocal skills, networking and preparing for the success that he knew would come if he stayed the course. When his big opportunity presented itself he was ready, winning the first season of Nashville Star. This led to a recording contract with Columbia Records and a self-titled, GOLD-certified Number One album.

Success takes an investment of time

Talent alone is just the starting point to a career in music just as in any other endeavor. Pushing too hard, too fast means you are more likely to trip and fall.

Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Brett Young, Jesse Lee, Dustin Lynch, Carly Pearce, Buddy Jewell. Scroll up and look again at when they arrived in Nashville, when they began to achieve success and what they did in between.

Their stories are just a few examples of artists and songwriters who understand that the road to success is a marathon not a sprint. If ever you need encouragement, go online and research the timeline of almost any star singer or songwriter. Quite often, ‘ten years’ is the least they invested in pursuit of their goals. Remember that you are studying for a ‘Doctorate in Songology’(R) and every day is one more investment in your own success story!

In my next post, I’ll suggest ten ways to stay focused on success by moving your career forward, one day at a time.

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

Persistence pays off for Carly Pearce

Invested years building toward success

“I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry. I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.” – Carly Pearce

It’s a long way from Taylor Mill, KY to Nashville, TN, but perseverance paid off for the 28-year-old singer-songwriter who never gave up on her dream.

[L to R] busbee, Carly Pearce and Emily Shackelton celebrate. together. Photo credit: Ed Rode

Nashville’s music community came out to celebrate the success of Carly Pearce’s ‘Every Little Thing’ (Big Machine Records) on Monday, March 19. The Number One party, co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI was held at the CMA’s headquarters on Music Row, to honor Carly and her co-writers, Emily Shackelton and busbee.

The party celebrated ‘Every Little Thing’ topping Mediabase and Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Not only was it Carly’s first No. 1 single, it was also the first No. 1 for one of her co-writers, Emily Shackelton. busbee, who also produced the song, is a music industry veteran with a string of hits both as a songwriter and producer.

Carly’s whole life, she told us, has focused on music. She was speaking at a media session before the awards presentation. “I dreamed about being on stage since I was nine years old,” she said.

Carly Pearce in front of the ‘Country Forever’ wall at the CMA Offices on Music Row. Photo Credit: Preshias Harris

“I’m an only child, and my parents have always supported my dreams,” Carly said. When she was sixteen, her family relocated from Taylor Mill in Kenton County, KY, to East Tennessee so she could follow her dream by finding work at Dollywood, the entertainment complex and theme park owned by Dolly Parton. When that dream took her from Pigeon Forge to Nashville, she had to find ways to support herself, often with menial jobs such as cleaning Air B&Bs. She said that her parents’ support and encouragement kept her going, even when she became disheartened and didn’t feel she could go on.

Long way from Dollywood to Number One

It’s been a long journey from those days in her mid-teens at Dollywood to standing on a stage, holding an award for a Number One hit song. There have been ups and downs in her career, but “I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry,” she said. “I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.”

Speaking about this special occasion, Carly revealed, “I’ve dreamt of what it would be like to have a No. 1 song since I moved to Nashville.” She continued, “If I am living proof of anything, it’s that one song can change everything. I have experienced that with my peers over the years and have listened to the stories behind the songs that changed other people’s lives.” She added that, at the time she recorded ‘Every Little Thing’ she had no idea that was going to be the song that changed her life.

Carly was scheduled to appear at The Grand Ole Opry the next evening. I asked her if it will be different this time, with a GOLD-certified single to her credit.

“I’m nearing my 50th Opry performance,” she said. “The Opry has always showed me support, even when I didn’t have a record deal or a publishing deal [and] I had nothing going on. It’s a special time every time I step on the Opry stage.”

Carly added, “I dream of being an Opry member one day.”

The song’s co-writer and producer, busbee, has written or produced songs for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Tony Braxton, Adam Lambert, Lady Antebellum and Gwen Stefani. I asked Carly what it was like working with busbee. Carly said that, when she first met him, she thought, “he’s more pop and I’m country. I’m not sure he’s going to ‘get’ me.” However, she soon realized that it was a great working relationship. “It was amazing,” she said. “Like it was meant to be.”

ACM nomination: “I just screamed!”

Carly Pearce fields media questions before the Number One party. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Carly was asked how she found out she had been nominated for an ACM award in the ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year’ category. She said she was in-flight on a plane when she received the news. “It’s hard to explain my feelings,” she said. “I just screamed!” She said that she used to sit on her couch, watching the show and dream of being nominated one day. Even if she does not win, “Being recognized in an honor on its own,” she emphasized.

Carly also talked about her experiences as part of Blake Shelton’s ‘Country Music Freaks Tour’ with Trace Adkins and Brett Eldridge. She said that Blake and Gwen Stefani were so kind to her. “Gwen is the most ‘down to earth’ person I’ve ever met, even though she’s a megastar,” Carly recalled. However, she admitted she was ‘too scared’ to ask Stefani for any fashion tips!

Learning how to ‘work’ an audience

Asked what she learned from the tour, Carly said, “I’m stronger than I think I am. I can go with less hours sleep than I thought I could!” She added that she learned a lot just from watching Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins. “They know how to ‘work’ an audience,” she said.

“If I am living proof of anything, it’s that one song can change everything.” – Carly Pearce

Carly is a true ‘country’ girl, born and raised in the small town of Taylor Mill in northeastern Kentucky, and is ‘pure country’ to her soul. Her next single, ‘Hide the Wine,’ is already climbing Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. More at https://www.carlypearce.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Emily Shackelton

Co-writer Emily Shackelton, a native of Biwabik, Minnesota, is signed to Liz Rose Music/Warner-Chappell publishing in Nashville. In addition to ‘Every Little Thing,’ her first No. 1, her songs have been recorded by Wynona Judd, Sara Evans, Cassadee Pope and X-Factor winner Tate Stevens, among others.

Music Row One Sheet, March 2018

Nashville Music News Roundup

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

Hope Nation Radio brings joy to children fighting cancer. Celebrates 500th show 4:00 pm CT, March 17

Jason Aldean announces tour schedule. Hootie & Blowfish to join Aldean in Atlanta

Larry’s Country Diner set to tour live venues. TV show to book 20 – 25 ‘live’ stage shows per year

Shenandoah album release party March 20. Tickets on sale now for Nashville Winery show

Songwriters, artists celebrate chart-topping singles. March a big month for Number One parties

Volunteer Jam XX brings the stars to Bridgestone Arena. 4+ hour show to air on AXS TV

2018 ACM Award nominations announced. Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

Hope Nation Radio sets 500th show, March 17

Hope Nation Radio, the online radio station devoted to bringing joy and hope through music to the lives of children fighting cancer, will present their 500th show on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 4:00 pm CT. They will celebrate this milestone achievement LIVE on their show ‘Big Daddy LIVE (From the Man Cave)’ on St. Patrick’s Day. Nile Peaytt, better known as “Big Daddy,” created this station with the goal of bringing hope into the lives of children (or as he calls them, “kiddos!”) fighting cancer.

‘Big Daddy’ Nile Peaytt [right] on air with Jeff Bates

In celebration of this 500th episode, Peaytt said, “What started as such a small mission has now grown into such a beautiful community of listeners. Keeping hope alive in trying times is so important.” Hope Nation Radio was formed in 2013 by Peaytt and Thomas Hammonds and plays a variety of country music, pop, rock, contemporary, Christian and gospel from signed and independent artists. Big Daddy intermixes hopeful music with his own hilarious and energetic interjections and stories of hope he shares. Watch an explanatory video and learn more about this great organization at hopeiseverything.org

Aldean’s High Noon Neon tour starts May 10

Jason Aldean has revealed the one-night-only lineup from SunTrust Park for his HIGH NOON NEON TOUR stop at the new Atlanta Braves stadium, on July 21. Tickets will be available beginning 10:00 am ET, Friday March 23 at JasonAldean.com and LiveNation.com. Aldean will be joined on the tour by Luke Combs and Lauren Alaina. For the July 21 Atlanta date only, Aldean will also be joined by Darius Rucker reuniting with former bandmates as Hootie & the Blowfish. The High Noon Neon Tour will launch on May 10 in Kansas City, MO, following the April 13 release of his latest album REARVIEW TOWN. The new music follows Aldean’s last three albums that each bowed at No. One on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart.

‘Larry’s Country Diner” goes from TV to stage

“Larry’s Country Diner,” the down-home TV variety show that serves millions of fans with an appetite for wholesome, family-friendly programming and a palette for traditional country music, is packing its kitchen and will soon be coming to a city near you. The cast of five, including host Larry Black, Renae The Waitress, church lady Nadine, announcer Keith Bilbrey, Sheriff Jimmy Capps and a special guest music performer, will be bringing their humor and good times to live audiences at venues across the United States and Canada on its first-ever tour.

“Larry’s Country Diner” Road Show plans to book around 20-25 shows per year. The “Larry’s Country Diner” Road Show recently concluded two six-night runs at the Starlite Theater in Branson, Missouri, and a Caribbean cruise, all of which sold out. Currently, the show has also started taping its upcoming season at Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in Nashville. Details at larryscountrydiner.com.

Shenandoah album release party, March 20

Shenandoah celebrates their first country album in 20 years with a party at City Winery Tuesday, March 20 that will include performances from several surprise guests. Click HERE to purchase tickets. RELOADED includes ‘live’ versions of many of their smash hits, recorded at venues during their 2017 tour. The album also includes three new songs.

Charlie Daniels hosts Volunteer Jam XX

Charlie Daniels and friends at Volunteer Jam XX. Photo credit: Rick Diamond

The stars came out (and played) for Charlie Daniels’ Volunteer Jam XX. With a killer ensemble and set list of over 30 songs – from Jamey Johnson’s take on Daniels’ “Long Haired Country Boy” to Skynryd’s performance of “Sweet Home Alabama” to Devon Allman, Duane Betts and Chuck Leavell’s once-in-a-lifetime collaboration on “Midnight Rider” to, of course, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” a packed Bridgestone Arena witnessed over four hours of incredible music continuing the Jam’s legacy. AXS TV filmed the concert event for a primetime broadcast special this summer; information on air date and time to be announced at a later date. Charlie has parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children and others in need. More at charliedaniels.com

No. 1 parties for Janson, Young, Lynch

‘Fix A Drink’ fixed Chris Janson another Number One and he celebrated with co-writers Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley at a Number One party on the afternoon of March 6^th. The party, co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI, was held at BMI’s Nashville location. More at chrisjanson.com …

Later that day, it was time for Chris Young to celebrate the success of ‘Losing Sleep.’ That Number One party took place at Nashville’s Tin Roof – renamed TEN Roof for the evening in honor of Young’s tenth Number One hit. Young was joined by co-writers Chris DeStefano and Josh Hoge, co-hosted by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. See chrisyoungcountry.com …

Dustin Lynch took time out of his busy schedule for a Number One party, marking his four-week No. 1 single, ‘Small Town Boy.’ The song, written by Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip and Kyle Fishman, was also hailed as the ‘largest audience song of the year’ during the party. Tour and ‘meet & greet’ updates at dustinlynchmusic.com…

Next week, it will be Carly Pearce‘s turn to celebrate her No. 1, ‘Every Little Thing,’ with co-writers Emily Shackelton and busbee (who also produced the song).

2018 ACM Award nominees announced

The Academy of Country Music Awards will include performances by Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, GFL, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and more. Chris Stapleton is up for eight awards, Thomas Rhett has six nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year. Reba McEntire hosts the show, airing live from the MGM Garden Arena, Sunday April 15, 8:00 pm ET/PT on CBS.

See the full list of nomineess at Billboard’s website here.

Billy Burnette is ‘Crazy Like Me.’ It’s in his DNA

New book and album filled with rock n’ roll memories

Billy Burnette looks over some of the musical memorabilia in his home studio. Photo: Preshias Harris

Billy Burnette was literally born into the world of rock n’ roll and has lived in and around it ever since. Now he has written a book filled with his personal memories of those times, and has released a full-length CD to complement the book.

Titled ‘Crazy Like Me: From Memphis and the Rock n’ Roll Trio to Fleetwood Mac,’ the story begins with Billy growing up in a house filled with music. Billy’s father and uncle, Dorsey and Johnny Burnette, comprised two-thirds of the Rock n’ Roll Trio and are widely recognized as being among the very first rockabilly acts, starting out in the early fifties.

I asked Billy about growing up in a family that was part of the entertainment industry. When did it strike him that this wasn’t the way every kid grows up?

“You know,” said Billy, “I thought – because I got into it so young – like I performed with the Rock n’ Roll trio at three and a half and did my first major record deal in 1960 when I was seven for Dot Records, so I thought everybody did this. I thought it was just a normal thing.”

By the time Billy was twelve, he was touring the Far East, opening for Brenda Lee and entertaining U.S. troops posted overseas.

The Rock n’ Roll Trio started out in Memphis, where a scrawny kid named Elvis Presley would hang out to watch them play at the Lauderdale Courts

Recognition for the Rock n’ Roll Trio

The Rock n’ Roll trio. Photo: Billy Burnette collection

I wondered if one of Billy’s motivations to write the book was to set the record straight so that the Rock n’ Roll Trio got the recognition they deserved.

“They actually influenced so many people,” said Billy, “beginning with Elvis Presley who used to hang out at their rehearsals at the Lauderdale Courts. In fact, while I was doing the book, I found a picture of Elvis and my dad at a Boys’ Club in 1954 so he was hanging around them. They started their band about the time I was born in 1953 and wrote the song ‘Rockabilly Boogie’ which is about my cousin Rocky and myself.

“But they were, I think, the first rock n’ roll band out of Memphis. They influenced Elvis because he was always hanging around. My mom knew him well and grew up with him. [Lauderdale Courts] was a project for the poor after the War, so that’s where everybody lived and my mom said it was a fun place because they had basketball courts there and it was nice, actually. When I went back to interview my mom – because someone was going to do a documentary on them [the Rock n’ Roll Trio] and I interviewed her myself for it and to get some information for my book and I didn’t realize how nice it actually was, still to this day.”

Billy’s musical journey reads like a history of rock n’ roll, told from a very personal point of view. Unlike many books about music, Billy was actually there, and the book is filled with his accounts of meeting, working with – and quite often ‘partying’ with – a who’s who of popular music. Glen Campbell, George Harrison, Delaney and Bonnie, Roger Miller, John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Paul McCartney… even Charlie Manson and many more. Billy’s memories of these and other iconic characters have never been told before. All are told from the point of view of someone who was a participant in the story.

Invited to join Fleetwood Mac

Billy Burnette (far right) with Fleetwood Mac

Billy joined Fleetwood Mac after Lindsey Buckingham quit the band at short notice. I asked Billy to think back to the day he got the call to join the band.

“I was in the studio with Roy Orbison, and I realized Mick [Fleetwood] was looking for me,” he recalled. “I had known him for five or six years. This was 1987. I called home and I was told, ‘Mick’s looking everywhere for you,’ so I called Mick. He said, ‘I need you to join the band.’ I said, ‘When?’ and he said, ‘Tomorrow morning.’ I was with MCA Curb, so I had to call Mike Curb to get out of my deal there, and he let me out. The first half hour was him trying to talk me into staying, because I’d just been nominated for the ACM’s Best New Male Vocalist, and things were going good for me but not as good as going on a major Fleetwood Mac tour. That was like the circus taking off that day. There were I don’t know how many trucks and trailers, We had our own private 727.” Continue reading “Billy Burnette is ‘Crazy Like Me.’ It’s in his DNA”

Stars join John Berry for ‘Songs and Stories’

Season 2 hits TV in April

‘Songs and Stories with John Berry’ Season 2 will soon be coming to U.S. television, as a new series of tapings wrapped up a few days ago.

The tapings took place over four nights in the Natchez Hills Winery at The Fontanel, on Whites Creek Pike in Nashville. The intimate venue, seating no more than a hundred guests, was an ideal setting for the laid-back show.

In each show, Berry talks with his featured guest who shares personal stories about the music that has changed their lives and inspired them to become the artists they are today. Each artist also joins Berry and the band to perform some of those songs.

Berry feels that ‘Songs and Stories with John Berry’ is a title that sums up the essence of the show. “For me and so many others, songs help us express what we feel inside and stories are the inspiration for the song that lies within,” he says.

New shows start airing in April

The season kicks off in April with the following shows scheduled:

Episode 1, Week of April 02: Mac Macanally;

Episode 2, Week of April 09: Rhonda Vincent;

Episode 3, Week of April 16: Steve Dorff;

Episode 4, Week of April 23: Ryan White;

Episode 5, Week of April 30: John Schneider.

(Left to Right): Blane Howard, John Berry, Sean Thomas Berry, Preston James at ‘New Artists Show’ episode of ‘Songs and Stories with John Berry. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Episodes airing in May and June will feature Radney Foster, Terri Clark, Tracy Lawrence, Daryle Worley, Pam Tillis, Exile, and will wrap up with a ‘New Artists’ Show’ with Sean Thomas Berry, Preston James and Blane Howard. A ‘Best Of’ compilation show will air highlights of Season 2 during the week of June 25.

At one of the tapings, Tracy Lawrence recalls a decision that changed his life. He had two years of college under his belt in Louisiana and was earning money in tips while playing in bars in the evening. “I decided, if I don’t go to Nashville now, I’ll never go,” he says.

John Berry performs with guest Tracy Lawrence (Right) during a show taping. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

He took the $700.00 that he’d made in tips over the past few weeks, packed his guitar in his car and headed to Nashville. Speaking about the music he is making now, he says, “I’m not chasing hits anymore. I’m going back to what I was passionate about.”

Each of the artists shares similar stories about their lives and their music, often revealing personal experiences that are connected to their songs.

TV show channel listings

The second season of ‘Songs and Stories with John Berry’ will be shown on numerous outlets, including The Family Channel, Heartland TV, The Country Network, ROKU and more. For show time listings in your area, click the ‘Where To Watch’ tab at www.songsandstories.com

A 3-disc DVD set of the first season of ‘Songs and Stories with John Berry’ is available for $30.00 at http://johnberrystore.bigcartel.com

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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

Shenandoah talk about ‘Reloaded’

‘Live’ album, plus 3 brand new songs

As I sat down with Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire, it was hard to believe that Shenandoah are celebrating thirty years of a career that gave us hits such as “Two Dozen Roses,” “Church on Cumberland Road” and “Next to You, Next to Me” among others. They are known for their matchless harmonies led by frontman Raybon, and founding member McGuire.

Even harder to believe: it’s been twenty years since Shenandoah released a country album. That all changes with RELOADED, available everywhere March 16. The new album, released by BMG, marks a new chapter in Shenandoah’s storied career.

Shenandoah are known for their dynamic live shows and the new album contains nine of the band’s best-loved tunes recorded live while on tour in 2017. RELOADED also includes three brand new bonus tracks produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts.

I caught up with Mike McGuire and Marty Raybon in Nashville a few days ago to talk about their decades-long career and the new album.

30 years in the spotlight

I started by reminding them that its almost thirty years since Shenandoah received their first CMA Awards. Now, years later, they are still being told, ‘You guys are the reason I got into music.’ I wanted to know how that made them feel.

Marty responded, “It’s really a special feeling, any time you hear anyone make a comment like that. I remember how it was. We had a single out, and we said, ‘You know what? We got a show and we’re gonna be opening for George Jones!’ or ‘We’re gonna be opening up for Merle Haggard!’ It would give you the opportunity to be able to visit with them and tell them how you felt about them and what their music meant to you.

“Nowadays,” he added, “you watch Aldean and Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert get up and sing ‘Sunday in the South’ and you hear [artists] doing ‘Ghost in This House’ and ‘Church on Cumberland Road’ on The Voice and you get to meet them. It’s actually flattering. It’s certainly a respectful thing, because I know that when I had the opportunity to tell Merle Haggard and George Jones the same thing at different times in different venues, it was certainly coming from the approach of gratitude because someone had literally moved and changed my life to the point that I truly appreciated that.”

Jay DeMarcus produced Shenandoah’s new songs

I asked them to sum up, in one word, what it was like, working with Jay DeMarcus on the new album.

Marty quickly said, “A treat!”

“Lucky,” added Mike. “We were very lucky!”

I asked Mike how it came about, Jay producing the new songs.

“Jay called me,” said Mike. “He’d heard that Marty had rejoined the band after being gone for 17 years and he called to ask me if it was true. I said, yeah, it’s true. He’s been back for a few months now. So he said, ‘Look, I’m a huge Shenandoah fan and so are the other guys in Rascal Flatts. I’d love to take you guys in the studio and record some stuff and try to get a deal for you guys.’ He said that the first song they ever sang together as Rascal Flatts was ‘Church on Cumberland Road’ and that was our first number one. Continue reading “Shenandoah talk about ‘Reloaded’”

Double the fun for Jon Pardi

Back-to-back Number Ones

Left to Right: Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Rhett Akins, Jon Pardi, Bart Butler (also producer of ‘Heartache’), Brice Long. Photo Credit: Preshias Harris

It was party time for Jon Pardi and the writers of his two recent Number One hits, ‘Dirt on My Boots’ and ‘Heartache on the Dance Floor.’ The Pardi party was at BMI’s Nashville HQ and was co-hosted by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

Honored for writing ‘Dirt on My Boots’ were Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley. The awards for ‘Heartache on the Dance Floor’ went to songwriters Bart Butler, Brice Long and the artist himself, Jon Pardi.

Before the official presentations, Pardi sat down with his fellow songwriters for some Q&As with the music media.

Pardi has been touring with Miranda Lambert and will continue through March. Speaking about those tour dates, he said, “Being out west with Miranda was a lot of fun, specially since it was January! Last year I spent January in Canada. Out on the west coast there was sunshine!”

‘Paul played this stage, now here we are!’

He added that he has been performing in some markets he had not been to before. “We were up in Washington and Oregon and it was just like, packed houses. We played the venue where I went and saw Paul McCartney last year. It was kinda like ‘Paul played this stage and now here we are playing this stage! It’s a packed house and people are going crazy. San Diego was great. Everything was great about the Miranda tour, and we’re still going.”

I asked Jon about performing at the New Faces show at this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in January. CRS in general – and the New Faces Show in particular – is considered a ‘golden ticket’ to radio airplay because artists are playing before a captive audience of hundreds of radio program directors and air personalities.

“I give fans what they want,” said Pardi, “Whether they’re program directors or not. I mean, I’m not, ‘Oh, there’s no program directors here, I can slack off tonight.’ I just look at it like that and I give it my all anyway I can. And I think that programmers know that. If I [go to a station] they know I’m gonna show up and have a good time and give it my all.”

Boots seem to figure prominently for Pardi, both as footwear and as musical success. ‘Dirt on My Boots’ is his second consecutive Number One, following 2015’s Platinum-selling ‘Head Over Boots.’ Both ‘Boots’ songs are cuts from his second studio album, ‘California Sunrise.’

Pardi said that he thought Mike Dungan, Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group, might not want to release another song with ‘boots’ in the title so soon after ‘Head Over Boots.’ However, that wasn’t a problem. “He [Dungan] said, ‘I don’t care about back-to-back boot songs, I just care about back-to-back hits,’” recalled Pardi.

Rhett’s dirty boots inspire song

Rhett Akins ‘dirty’ boots. Photo Credit: Preshias Harris

Speaking about the writing session that produced ‘Dirt on My Boots,’ songwriter Ashley Gorley noted that Pardi and the other writers all had very busy schedules and the only timeslot that worked for all of them was 8:00a.m. “When Rhett arrived, he said, ‘I am NOT a morning person,’ but we all wanted to be a part of this,” noted Gorley.

As they got started, Akins came up with an idea. “I remember looking at my boots and they were really dirty,” he said. “I looked down and said ‘What about the dirt on my boots?’”

A ‘ten year town’ for Pardi

Pictured (back, L to R) Hori Pro’s Courtney Crist and Keithan Melton, Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, BMI’s Bradley Collins and Word’s Janine Ebach; (front, L to R) Song Factory’s Jennifer Johnson, Bill Butler Music’s Bill Butler, Bart Butler, Pardi, songwriter Brice Long and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: BMI

During the awards presentation, Pardi noted that he has been working on his career in Music City for several long years. “Thank you so much for believing in me,” he said. “Thank you everybody. You guys know who you are. You’ve been there since day one. I’ve been here for a while now and Feb. 23, 2008 is when I moved to town. Ten years later, I have three number ones and we’re at a double number one party. Thank you. Thanks for believing in me.”

As with most apparent ‘newcomers,’ Jon Pardi has worked long and hard at his career leading up to this afternoon in the limelight. Growing up in Dixon, California, he started writing songs when he was 12 and was performing in a small band by his mid teens. Leaving high school, he headed to Nashville with his eyes on a career in music. As he noted in his comments above, it has taken him years to get where he is today.

More about Jon Pardi, including upcoming tour dates at www.jonpardi.com