Preshias Harris joined Jon Rawl again this week on the Y’all Show for another look at what’s happening on Music Row. Among the items they discuss…
The new Barry Gibb album, Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1, with some of country music’s biggest stars, including Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, Brandi Carlile and more.
It’s CMA Awards time! Gabby Barrett sings her hit duet with Charlie Puth – and this is the first time they’ve met in person.
Dan + Shay are saying “Take Me Home For Christmas” with their first-ever original Christmas song.
Platinum-selling Blackhawk are releasing a two-disc greatest hit project, Just About Right: Live From Atlanta.
CJ Solar’s new single “The Only Present I Want” arrives while he is still celebrating his second No. 1 as a songwriter.
Plus a Q&A from “I Know Country” and some country music birthdays to celebrate this week.
Jon Rawl and Preshias talk Country on the Y’all Show
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
Lindsay Ell, Mitchell Tenpenny perform at dinner, bourbon
tasting
Here’s a last-minute opportunity to enjoy “When Pigs Fly”, an evening of fun and music that benefits Christmas 4 Kids, the organization that provides hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee with their very own Christmas shopping spree. Due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic, the need is even greater this year. Read on to find out more about the fun evening set for November 7 and the great organization you’ll be helping. Or go here for more info or to buy tickets to “When Pigs Fly” and other Christmas 4 Kids events.
Note: the annual shopping spree for kids in need will be a little different this year. Scroll down for details.
Lindsay Ell
Lindsay Ell and Mitchell Tenpenny have signed on to perform at the Christmas 4 Kids “When Pigs Fly” dinner event in Hendersonville, TN this Saturday, November 7. The evening will feature a BBQ dinner and bourbon tasting event with additional performances by Rockland Road and other surprise musical guests. The new Christmas 4 Kids fundraising effort will be made possible thanks to a partnership with Live Love Nashville, the Hendersonville Parks Department and HolidayFest.
Mitchell Tenpenny
“I’m so excited to be a part of the Christmas 4 Kids show again this year,” says Tenpenny. “I always love getting to be a part of giving back to the greater Nashville community as a native myself! Can’t wait to have a fun night with everyone!”
Catered by Martin’s BBQ, the dinner will take place at 7:00 pm/CT behind the Ultimate Party Super Store located at 246 West Main Street in Hendersonville. Tickets are $50.00 each, with an additional charge of $5.00 for Bourbon Tasting, provided by Lipman Brothers, and $10.00 to participate in a rib-eating contest sponsored by Texas Roadhouse. This event is also the first in a series of Hendersonville Hometown Jam music events for 2020. The Hometown Jam was started in 2019 by the Hendersonville Parks Department, and this year will feature multiple nights that benefit different charities throughout the year.
Live Love Nashville, a local 501c3 that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various local charities, will be hosting an online giving campaign with 100% of all gifts going to C4K. Live Love Nashville’s core values are helping children who are less fortunate, and this mission is a perfect match for C4K.
HolidayFest is a non-profit community service organization that serves as the umbrella organization to promote, market, and act as the governing body to set policies and determine approval of the charity and service organizations that are supported. HolidayFest has worked to raise funds for local charities for the past 16 years.
Virtual Concert with Phil Vassar Nov 23
To close out this year’s events, on Monday, November 23, country music artist Phil Vassar will host Phil Vassar & Friends for an at-home virtual concert starting at 7:00 pm/CT. Online tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased at philvassar.com. Virtual meet-and-greet passes can also be purchased for an additional amount. Gohere to purchase tickets for the Virtual Concert with Phil Vassar.
Shopping Spree will be different this year
Due to current social distancing restrictions, the shopping spree will be done a little differently this year. Each child will still receive the $150.00 shopping spree, but the kids will provide “wish lists” to volunteers who will personally shop for them at the Hendersonville Walmart on December 7th-8th. The Christmas gifts will then be delivered to the children at their appropriate schools on December 15.
Go here for more information on Christmas 4 Kids, to donate online or to purchase tickets to upcoming events.
About Christmas 4 Kids
Christmas 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over three decades. Each year, the organization provides hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee with their very own Christmas shopping spree. The funds generated from the annual Ryman concert and Tour Bus Show/artist meet-and-greet event, are used to give many children, from nearly 30 schools, a day-long shopping excursion. For more information, visit here.
Preshias talks Nashville music with Y’all Show host Jon Rawl
Preshias and Jon talk about the new single “Pink”
Another packed livestream as Preshias Harris and Jon Rawl talk about what’s happening right now in Country music. Among the topics up for discussion on this week’s Y’all Show…
Jake Owen makes a ‘mini movie’ as the music video for “Homemade”
The new single “Pink” brings together Dolly Parton, Sara Evans and more to benefit breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen
BIG NIGHT at the Museum makes country music history ‘sing again’ in the hands of modern masters
A preview of the 51st annual GMA Dove Awards, putting the focus on Contemporary Christian and Gospel artists
Jon Rawl and Preshias Harris on this week’s Y’all Show
Read the story behind the making of “Pink”, the new single featuring Dolly Parton, Sara Evans, Monica, Jordin Sparks and Rita Wilson, produced by Victoria Shaw at the Susan G. Komen blog here.
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
His love of stepson captures No. 1 spot on TikTok with
#MyBoy
By Preshias Harris
Elvie Shane knows just how much dedication and hard work (and patience!) it takes to see one of your songs eventually begin to climb the charts. The Billboard Country Airplay chart for October 16 shows Elvie’s “My Boy” jumping in at No. 56. The song also tops Billboard’s “Most Added” chart that lists the songs added to the playlists of Country Radio stations nationwide.
Watch Elvie perform a ‘Live in Studio’ version of “My Boy” at YouTube here.
Due to the continuing corona virus, Elvie and BBR Music Groupreimagined the traditional radio tour. The innovative approach involves customized, high-quality live-streamed, full-band performances and video chats, which deliver extraordinary experiences for the viewer and will likely become the model of radio tours for the foreseeable future. For six weeks straight, Elvie has performed roughly five full-band shows per day—miraculously maintaining his stamina, gaining believers and setting the bar high for future newcomers.
The song also leapt to No. 1 on TikTok’s Country chart with well over 775 million uses of #MyBoy and more than 1.5 million streams in the USA alone. You can see a few of the posted TikTok videos here.
No overnight success
Elvie Shane wows the crowd at the 2019 CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
This achievement is no overnight success – either for “My Boy” or for Elvie himself. Growing up in rural Caneyville, KY, Elvie absorbed influences from the Gospel music of his church and the gritty rock music favored by his truck-driving dad.
He credits a professor at Western Kentucky University for encouraging him to develop his creative writing, but, much as he enjoyed listening to music it wasn’t an immediate career choice, particularly as he devoted his attention to providing for his wife and stepson.
After he watched the now-famous Chris Stapleton/Justin Timberlake duet at the 2015 CMA Awards, he saw that his voice and personal style of songwriting might find an outlet in country music. He started performing anywhere he could find a mic.
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
Ashley Gorley opens up to cmt.com about writing hit songs
By Preshias Harris
However successful you are as a songwriter, your name will always be in parentheses (and probably italics) while the song title and the artist’s name will be in big, bold type.
But seeing his name in parentheses is just fine with Ashley Gorley. He recently became the first and only songwriter in any music genre to write FIFTY No. 1 hits in the history of the Mediabase and Billboard airplay charts.
Ashley Gorley. Photo credit CMT
Ashley spoke with music journalist Alison Bonaguro who interviewed him for cmt.com. What Ashley said about his approach to songwriting and his disdain for celebrity status should serve as an inspiration and an object lesson for all emerging and aspiring songwriters. Read Alison’s full interview with Ashley here at cmt.com.
Ashley has come a long way from his Danville, KY, roots to his record-setting perch on Nashville’s Music Row. But it was no overnight success. Even after snagging a song publishing deal, it was seven years before his name (in parentheses) appeared under the title of a Top 40 song, and longer still before he was credited with a No. 1 – “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” for Carrie Underwood.
Self-imposed work ethic drives success
Unsurprisingly, Ashley’s work ethic plays as big a role in
his success as his talent. He tells Alison:
Tin Pan South 2020: a free-to-access virtual experience
By Preshias Harris
Tin Pan South is still on – but with a new twist, thanks to the pandemic. For 2020, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will be virtual with five evenings of amazing music and more from the cream of today’s songwriters. Put the dates in your calendar: October 20 – 24, 2020.
Tin Pan South, billed as ‘the world’s largest songwriter festival, was launched in 1993 by the members of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). An announcement at the Tin Pan South website states:
Make plans for a Tin Pan South Festival like no other! In partnership with NSAI, Regions Bank is presenting a virtual version of the festival and it’s happening October 20-24, 2020! Check out the line-up and plan to watch some of your favorite songwriters from the comfort of your own home right here at tinpansouth.com. Did we mention all events are FREE to watch?! Clear your calendars and tune in!
Initially planned for March 2020, the now-virtual Festival, again presented by Regions Bank, will be free of charge to enjoy.
Among the songwriters already on the schedule:
CHRIS DESTEFANO – JIMMIE ALLEN – SHANE MCANALLY – CARLY
PEARCE – ALLISON VELTZ CRUZ – SHAED – JOHN PAUL WHITE – TROUBADOR 77 – RITA
WILSON – CAROLINE WATKINS – LIZ ROSE – MATTHEW RAMSEY – HARLOE – WADE BOWEN –
LORI MCKENNA ROB SNYDER – JAKE MITCHELL – JOSH LONDON – EMILY WEISBAND – ROB
HATCH – CHANNING WILSON – JOSH MIRENDA – EMILY SHACKELTON – UNCLE KRACKER –
VICTORIA SHAW – WYATT DURRETTE – DYLAN LEBLANC – JEFF COHEN – MEGHAN KABIR –
GEM AND EYE – ERIKA ENDER – AARON BARKER – J.T. HARDING – ERIC BAZILIAN –
VICTORIA BANKS – BRANDON STANSELL – MIGNON – DERIC RUTTAN – NAT DUNN – KELLY
ARCHER – SAMMY BRUE – JIM COLLINS – MARK ERELLI – KRISTAL TYTEWRITER – CHRIS
BARRON – JENNA ANDREWS – DESMOND CHILD – ROB ALDRIDGE – JUSTIN OSBORNE – LEE
ROY PARNELL – JIM PETERIK – DEAVID LEE MURPHY – KRIS DELMHORST – DR. DANNY –
MEL WASHINGTON – JAMES LEBLANC – COYLE GIRELLI – CHRIS BARRON – SOUTHERLAND –
ASHLAND CRAFT – SETH ENNIS – ROBYN COLLINS – TREVOR ROSEN – PHIL BARTON – JOSH
OSBORNE – ERNEST
Livestreaming shows just part of #SaveOurStages action plan
By Preshias Harris
Independent venues are where most emerging singers and
songwriters make their first stage appearances as they hone their skills and
reach out to audiences, often in smaller, more intimate settings.
Now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting ban or limits on public performance, those independent venues are the ones suffering the most – and are most likely to go dark forever. That would be a disappointment for potential audiences, but more seriously, it could be devastating for those singers, musicians and songwriters who rely on those venues to launch and develop their careers. (You can help by letting the Senate and the House of Representatives know you support this project. See below.)
In an effort to raise awareness and funds, the stars are coming out to put their talent and their celebrity status behind a push to “Save Our Stages.” The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is partnering with YouTube for a 3-day virtual music festival to #SaveOurStages. #SOSFEST will live stream on NIVA’s official YouTube channel October 16-18 and will feature all new performances. This benefit event aims to generate significant awareness, advocacy and donations for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, directly supporting our most vulnerable venues experiencing catastrophic revenue loss.
Nashville #SaveOurStages shows
Throughout the 3-day virtual festival, live performances will stream directly from some of those iconic venues across America – including, of course, Nashville. Already announced: Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini at the Exit/In, Brothers Osborne at Mercy Lounge and Reba McEntire at the Ryman Auditorium. More are being added.
90% of independent venues will not survive the COVID-19 pandemic without financial aid. Your voice matters — Tell your legislators to save independent music venues! More than 2 million live music lovers have written letters to their elected officials via Help to #SaveOurStages by telling Congress to ACT NOW! You can make a difference. See how to tell your legislators to save independent music venues HERE!
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
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
October’s Inside Track by Preshias now posted at NMG
You’ll find around 30 news items in this month’s column that I have been writing for more than a quarter of a century! Inside Track on Music Row is the longest continuously-published monthly country music column in America – and probably the world.
Thanks, as always, to Amanda Andrews and her crew at Nashville Music Guide for making Inside Track on Music Row look SO good every month. For October, you’ll find the entire column with added music, videos, photos, graphics and more.
Among the many news items and stories in the October 2020 Inside Track:
Keith Urban’s new album, The Speed of Now
Reba McEntire’s 30th Anniversary edition of Rumor Has It
Ashley Gorley named Songwriter of the Year for a record fifth time
New music from Shenandoah, their first in 26 years
Chris Stapleton drops another single, ahead of the November release of Starting Over
Hit writer Kent Blazy (“If Tomorrow Never Comes”) releases Authentic album
Christmas albums from Dolly, Carrie, Maddie & Tae and more
Updates on rescheduled tours for Scotty McCreery, Lee Brice
The only 2020 live gig for superstar group Alabama
New single, video and Neon Town album from David Adam Byrnes
Ray Stevens is livin’ it up in quarantine with hit song and video
UK trio Essex County crossing the pond with “Love at First”
Plus more ‘news you need to know’ for music industry insiders and country music fans. It’s all in the October Inside Track on Music Row at Nashville Music Guide Magazine (print and online). Find the October edition of Inside Track on Music Row by Preshias here.
NMG has been publicizing Singers, Musicians, and Writers to Nashville’s Music Row and Beyond Since 1995.
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
