Nashville Archives - Page 4 of 19 - Nashville Music Line

Jimmy Charles finds ‘Hard Way To Go’

Overcoming setbacks inspires listeners

Album review by Preshias Harris

This is an album that has a message that is very close to my heart and my own approach to coping with major issues such as cancer.

Jimmy Charles first came to national attention when American Idol sent him to Hollywood. Now comes a seven-song collection titled HARD WAY TO GO. Produced by Paul David (CeCe Winans, Andre Crouch, Jonny Lang), the EP is a showcase for Charles’ musical range from soulful ballads to guitar-shredding rockers.

Charles spirit on this album demonstrates that he is more than just a strong and confident vocalist. The EP kicks off in high gear with the guitar-driven “Blue Spaces,” made for happy-go-lucky beach listening. Charles sings: Hey shotgun pilot / the coast is clear / let’s sail out of dodge / like two beach ballin’ buccaneers. It’s a fun ear-worm that gets the listener in the mood for next summer’s sand-between-the-toes seashore fun.

Anthem of hope and strength

“I Am Not Alone” (also his current single) tells the story of dealing with cancer from the perspective of a teenager, a married man, a young mother and a senior citizen. The song becomes an anthem of hope and strength as each person in turn finds the determination to carry on. (On that subject, please read my personal note, at the foot of this review.) Continue reading “Jimmy Charles finds ‘Hard Way To Go’”

Country Christmas gift ideas and stocking stuffers

CDs and more for your Country gift list

Santa’s gone Country! Here’s a whole sleigh-full of Country stocking suffers for family, friends and you too. You deserve it! Scroll down for mini-reviews and handy links.

Top artists on ‘Country Faith Christmas 2’
A blue (grass) Christmas with Dailey & Vincent
Tracy Lawrence is ‘Frozen in Time’
Brett Eldredge: still GLOWing strong
Rodney Crowell finds ‘Christmas Everywhere’
Martina McBride swings into Christmas
A quirky Yuletide: from lullabies to kazoos
Celebrate with Ray Stevens
Scroll down for mini-reviews and links

Top artists on ‘Country Faith Christmas 2’

If you’re headed to Cracker Barrel, here’s a CD you could find. ‘Country Faith Christmas Vol. 2’ is a new Christmas album from the faith-based brand, Country Faith. The CD features top Country Music artists including Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Kelsea Ballerini, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams Jr, Darius Rucker, John Berry and more. Distributed through Curb/Word Entertainment, the album is available now through digital retailers, including Apple Music and Amazon. The CD will be sold exclusively in Cracker Barrel stores and is one of only four featured Christmas releases at Cracker Barrel’s over 600 stores, which are located across the U.S. More details here.

A blue (grass) Christmas with Dailey & Vincent

If someone you know is dreaming of a blue (grass) Christmas, here’s the perfect gift. Multi-GRAMMY® nominated duo Dailey & Vincent have released of their first-ever Christmas record, ‘Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas,’ available now from BMG. The Sounds of Christmas experience is more than just an album release as momentum continues throughout the holiday season with a nationally broadcast television Christmas concert special, four all-new Christmas episodes of “The Dailey & Vincent Show” on RFD-TV and a 15-city Christmas tour. The album features Christmas classics like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain” as well as never-before-heard holiday tunes such as “Road To Bethlehem” featuring Dolly Parton. Tour info and more here.

Tracy Lawrence is ‘Frozen in Time’

Here’s a new album from one of favorite people: Tracy Lawrence. ‘Frozen In Time’ offers a mix of classic holiday favorites plus four original tracks, including the album’s title track, co-written by Tracy and Rick Huckaby. Tracy describes that song as “a festive nod to family traditions served up Western Swing style, with a side of holiday cheer.” Your gift recipients can enjoy the album on CD, vinyl or digital (available here). Track listing and more info at Tracy’s website.

Brett Eldredge: still GLOWing strong

In 2016, Brett Eldredge released a Christmas album titled, ‘Glow.’ Now he has re-released the album in a ‘de-luxe edition’ that includes all the original tracks plus five new tracks. Brett has added his renditions of ‘Do You Hear What I Hear,’ ‘Silver Bells,’ ‘Sleigh Ride,’ ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ and ‘Christmas Time Is Here.’ He has also added some pre-holiday dates to his tour schedule and no doubt he’ll be singing some of the tracks from the album. Gift idea: add a couple of tour show tix to the album for that special someone. Go to Brett’s webpage here. And check out the cool ‘snow globe’ graphic with Brett in a powder blue tux!

Rodney Crowell finds ‘Christmas Everywhere’

Singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell says that he’s read the poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (a.k.a. “Twas The Night Before Christmas”) on Christmas Eve to his children and grandkids for more than 40 years. If he wants a break from tradition, he could play them his new Christmas album, “Christmas Everywhere” instead. Unlike most other Xmas offerings, this album consists of twelve original Christmas-themed songs, and features guest stars (including Vince Gill) and his own kids. The album is available digitally, on CD and on vinyl (black or marbled red and green). Order your copy here. More info at Rodney’s website.

Martina McBride swings into Christmas

“It’s The Holiday Season” and that’s the title of Martina McBride’s 2018 yuletide album (her first since 1988’s “White Christmas”). The new album features more of a Christmas-pop vibe than the previous album that focused more on Christmas hymns. Recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, Martina is backed by orchestras with 40+ top musicians. Martina will also be taking that big band sound on the road for a number of pre-Christmas dates. If someone on your gift list is more into cooking than listening to Holiday tunes, Martina has a book for that. Her second cookbook, ‘Martina’s Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life,’ is out just in time for gift buying. All of Martina’s merch is available vis her website and the usual retail outlets.

A quirky Yuletide: from lullabies to kazoos

Do you know somebody who would enjoy something a little, er… different? The CMH Label Group is releasing more of its catalog to Global Radio for the Christmas season. This includes a brand-new 3 song EP, “Rockabye Baby,” featuring Yuletide hits “All I Want For Christmas is You,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Last Christmas.” Speaking of unique renditions of Christmas classics, it doesn’t get more unorthodox than a “Kazoo Christmas,” except for maybe a “Surfin’ Christmas.” And what would a CMH Christmas be without “Pickin’ On Christmas,” a collection of holiday hits done in our one-of-a-kind bluegrass style. “Stars & Snow” is an album full of Texas Country covers of both modern and traditional Christmas classics. Then, it’s time for a Feliz Navidad, as the Red Hot Jalapenos take you on a trip to a “Christmas South of the Border.” You can find links to these and more here.

Celebrate with Ray Stevens

How about gifting Ray Stevens fans with some show tickets? The music legend is “decking the halls” at his new Nashville showroom, CabaRay. Through Saturday, December 29, Stevens will perform multiple live “Christmas at CabaRay” dinner shows at the venue. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the CabaRay,” says Stevens. “The CabaRay is now fully decorated for the holidays and the shows take on a decided Christmas flavor right after Thanksgiving.” At each show, dinner seating begins at 6:00 p.m. with the live concert following at 7:30 p.m. Ticket pricing: $99 seats include VIP seating, dinner and live show / $79 seats include dinner and show on the main dining floor / $59 seats are available in the balcony (does not include dinner). Tickets are available now at Ray’s website or by calling 615-327-4630. CabaRay is located at 5724 River Road in West Nashville.

There you have it: my roundup of Country Christmas gift ideas for 2018. Now go shopping, in-store or online. Merry Christmas!

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

Tracy Lawrence, country stars, give back at Christmas

Country artists generous with time and talent

Tracy Lawrence ‘Mission: Possible Turkey Fry’
Christmas 4 Kids helps children in need
Michael Ray’s Wrigley Cares helps shelter animals
Charlie Daniels reaches out to veterans

scroll down to read all these stories

Country artists are among the most generous members of show business when it comes to giving their time and talent to help others or to support a charity. As we approach the Holiday season, many country stars are finding ways to help those in need.

Tracy Lawrence ‘Mission: Possible Turkey Fry’

Case in point: Tracy Lawrence. He is already warming up the fryers and calling up his friends in music. The reason is Tracy’s 13th annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry at Nashville Rescue Mission. Now a long-standing Holiday tradition, the event takes place Tuesday, November 20. It will provide hundreds of tasty and nutritious meals for ‘underserved’ people in Metro Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Tracy will be up and out early in the morning to get the turkey fryers fired up. The day will wrap up at the Wildhorse Saloon at 7:00 pm with live performances by Tracy and some of his friends. Proceeds will benefit Nashville Rescue Mission. Scheduled to appear: EMI recording artist Eric Paslay, BMG/Chrysalis singer/songwriter Doug McCormick, Outlaw Country duo Halfway To Hazard, newcomer Bristyn Camp and some special surprise guests. A live auction to benefit the Rescue Mission takes place during the show. Continue reading “Tracy Lawrence, country stars, give back at Christmas”

CMA Awards: The Winners

Paisley and Underwood co-host

An amazing night at the 52nd annual CMA Awards! Security was (understandably) tight at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, but we were safely seated and treated to one of the best shows in years.

Too many high spots to mention them all. But Keith Urban‘s emotional acceptance of the Entertainer of the Year Award and Garth Brooks debut of ‘Stronger Than Me’ (dedicated to wife Trisha Yearwood) were lump-in-the-throat moments.

More than thirty-five live performances were featured and Executive Producer Robert Deaton and his crew kept it flowing seamlessly.

‘Ten Year Town’

For anyone who doubts that Nashville is known as a ‘ten year town,’ Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year for ‘Golden Hour.’ It was the tenth anniversary of her move to Nashville.

All the winners

In case you missed any of the results, Here is a list of all the nominees with winners’ name in bold.

Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban – WINNER

Single of the Year

“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton – WINNER
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert
“Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood – WINNER

Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Keith Urban

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland

New Artist of the Year

Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs – WINNER
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER

Album of the Year

From A Room: Volume 2, Chris Stapleton
Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves – WINNER
Graffiti U, Keith Urban
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett
The Mountain, Dierks Bentley

Song of the Year

“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton – WINNER
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert
“Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Musical Event of the Year

“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris feat. Vince Gill
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney – WINNER
“Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

Music Video of the Year

“Babe,” Sugarland feat. Taylor Swift
“Cry Pretty,” Carrie Underwood
“Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson
“Marry Me,” Thomas Rhett – WINNER
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Musician of the Year

Jerry Douglas, Dobro
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Dann Huff, Guitar
Mac McAnally, Guitar – WINNER
Derek Wells, Guitar

For news, video and more info, visit the CMA Awards official website.

Country, Bluegrass, Americana news and more

November’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ sneak peek

‘Hannah’ new single from Tom Mackell EP
Dailey & Vincent’s ‘first ever’ Xmas album
77 million streams for Tenpenny’s ‘Drunk Me’
Kip Moore has acoustic ‘Room To Spare’
And much more

Catch up on more than thirty music news items in the November 2018 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row. The entire column (and a whole lot more) is now posted here at Nashville Music Guide, complete with photos, videos and graphics. Thank you NMG editor Amanda Andrews! You always make the column look SO good.

The column is the longest-running Country music column in America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at just a few of the items in the November column.

‘Hannah’ new single from Tom Mackell EP

AMERICANA NEWS: Tom Mackell hails from Philadelphia and debuts a unique sound resembling a cross between outlaw country and Americana. The Nashville based singer/songwriter has released his latest single ‘Hannah’ – the first single from a forthcoming E.P. slated for early 2019.

Fusing elements of classic Americana and outlaw country revival with youthful sincerity, ‘Hannah’ explores an old country adage through the lens of a millennial songwriter. Despite the challenges that inspired the song, Mackell has managed to turn 2018 into a banner year musically, crafting a new album on which ‘Hannah’ will appear, in addition to touring with 90’s stalwart Sister Hazel and securing forthcoming dates with ‘The Voice’ alum Tony Lucca. Music, tour dates and more at tommackell.com.

Dailey & Vincent’s ‘first ever’ Xmas album

BLUEGRASS NEWS: Heading into the holiday season, multi-GRAMMY® nominated duo Dailey & Vincent are gifting fans their first-ever Christmas record, ‘Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas,’ available from BMG. The collection of Christmas classics and never-before-heard holiday tunes ranked No. 2 on the Amazon’s Holiday Hot New Releases.

To order ‘Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas,’ click here. Country music icon Dolly Parton collaborated with Dailey & Vincent on the Jimmy Fortune and Jeff Bates penned “Road To Bethlehem. The bluegrass veterans were also joined by 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ricky Skaggs, on a cut of Alabama’s “Tonight It’s Christmas,” which is one of two bonus tracks available exclusively when fans purchase the Christmas record at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and online at CrackerBarrel.com. Tour dates and album info at daileyandvincent.com.

77 million streams for Tenpenny’s ‘Drunk Me’

Mitchell Tenpenny. Photo credit: Alan Poizner

CD RELEASES: Nashville native Mitchell Tenpenny burst onto the scene earlier this year when his RIAA-certified Gold single, ‘Drunk Me’ hit airwaves across the country. The breakthrough song has earned more than 77 million on-demand streams tracking 3 million a week, and has surpassed 500,000 units of downloads in the U.S.

Tenpenny’s debut album, ‘Telling All My Secrets,’ will be available everywhere Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, on the Riser House/Columbia Nashville. The title track is available now with pre-order. Tenpenny wrote 56 songs in preparation for the album narrowing it down to 11 strong tracks that tell his story including Top 15 single ‘Drunk Me,’ and fan favorite ‘Alcohol You Later.’ His total career streams exceed 104 million, across various platforms. Music and tour info here.

Kip Moore has acoustic ‘Room To Spare’

EP NEWS: Kip Moore announced he will release ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS EP on November 16. Driven by a promise to fans to share an acoustic EP, Moore shared further insight into the project exclusively with American Songwriter, including the creative process that went in to the seven-song collection and co-writing five of the tracks.

Audiences across the country will also be able to experience the new tracks live this fall as Moore also revealed a limited Room To Spare: Acoustic Tour kicking off in Milwaukee, WI on 11/29. The new EP showcases multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Moore’s signature sound in a stripped-down setting. Music, merch, tour updates and more here.

Read the entire column and much more at Nashville Music Guide!

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

James Robert Webb balances music and medical careers

“Now We’re Gettin’ Somewhere” new single from upcoming album

When you meet most singer-songwriters, you discover they have a ‘day job,’ at least at the start of their music careers. Maybe they are restaurant servers or they are delivering pizzas. James Robert Webb has a day job and he has no intention of giving that up. He is a doctor with a medical practice in his home state of Oklahoma, as well as a blossoming recording career and a new album being produced in Nashville. As he told me during our interview (below), “I can’t abandon my patients.” His hashtags say it clearly: #DoctorByDay #SingerAtSundown

The upcoming album and the first single from the album, ‘Now We’re Gettin’ Somewhere,’ are under the direction of Grammy-winning producer Buddy Cannon. The single is now available everywhere on digital platforms. I recently met up with James Robert Webb to talk about his life and music.

Preshias Harris: OK, tell us the secret of how you balance a successful medical practice and a successful music career.

James Robert Webb: Sometimes I wonder how well I balance it. The other thing is, I’m a father, too. I’ve got my wife and three kids. The hardest thing for me is to make sure I’m spending enough time with the family, with all the travel and everything. But I don’t do a lot outside of music. My hobbies are all replaced by songwriting.

PH: So, no golf?

Keeping priorities straight

JRW: Exactly! Classically, as a doctor I’m not out playing golf. I’m not going out to Africa and shooting trophy lions or anything like that! [laughs] Most of my free time involves playing somewhere. But for me, it really comes down to having to keep the priorities straight. It might sound egotistical and greedy, but my number one priority is my health and me. Because if I crumble then everything else crumbles after that. Then it has to be my family, and third is my medical practice, because I always have to have that, and I can’t abandon my patients. And after that it’s music. That sounds like a lot of things to do, but you just get up every day and you’ve got to do those things in order.

“My goal is not to go out and be a star and play on stage for fame and glory or whatever. My goal is to create the best music. Music that can stand the test of time. To do the best I can with the gift I’ve been given.” – James Robert Webb

PH: What is one of the hardest things that you have to face in your dual careers?

JRW: It’s being away from my family, away from my kids. We would have moved here to Nashville, but we have a lot of family roots, both sides of the family, back home in Tulsa and Texas. So there’s a lot of support structure there, there’s a lot of people. Plus, my kids are in the age range of fourteen down to eight, so I don’t want to uproot them. But the good this is we have FaceTime, things like that we didn’t have ten or twenty years ago, to see people face to face.

PH: Your single, “Now We’re Getting’ Somewhere,” was released last month. Can you give me some “media tidbits” for what we can expect for your album?

JRW: A media tidbit… well, I’ve got a song I’m cutting by Bob McDill that has never been recorded. I love Bob McDill, he’s in the Hall of Fame. He’s been retired for a number of years.

PH: He’s one of those honest songwriters. Continue reading “James Robert Webb balances music and medical careers”

Darius Rucker celebrates Number One ‘For the First Time’

Co-writers join Rucker at Number One party

Darius Rucker, Derek George and Scooter Carusoe were honoured at a Number One party, hosted by ASCAP and First Tennessee Bank held at ASCAP’s Nashville office. ‘For the First Time,’ Rucker’s ninth Number One, produced by Ross Cooperman, is the second single from the album, ‘When Was the Last Time’ (Capitol Nashville).

‘For The First Time’ is the third Number One for Derek George as a writer. For Scooter Carusoe, the song is his fifth as a songwriter and his fifteenth as a publisher.

Before the award ceremony, Darius, Derek and Scooter sat down to take questions from music industry journalists.

L to R: Derek George, Darius Rucker, Scooter Carusoe. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Darius recalled the writing session during which ‘For The First Time’ was written. “For me, we started out with just that first line, I mean, I didn’t even need to hear the chorus. I’m like, that’s cool,” he said. “It was one of those songs; I was just writing about me again, once we started writing. It’s a song that, at this point in my career, it was a really cool song to write. To have so much fun as I’ve had, thinking about all the things I said I was going to do when I was a kid, if I would ever make it, and now, everything in that song came from my bucket list.”

‘That never, ever get’s old’

Asked what it felt like when he heard that the song had reached Number One, Darius said with a chuckle that he found out when he was on the road. “I want to say something that Charles Kelly said to me that will always stand the test of time. He said, ‘that never gets old.’ And I was like, yeah, that never, ever gets old. It’s always awesome.” Continue reading “Darius Rucker celebrates Number One ‘For the First Time’”

Brett Young, Sean McConnell honored for ‘Mercy’

Brett Young’s 4th Number One

It was party time at Nashville Underground Wednesday afternoon. A mix of friends, family and Nashville music biz execs were on hand to mark Brett Young’s Number One hit, ‘Mercy.’ The song, co-written by Young and Sean McConnell, was the fourth consecutive Number One from Young’s debut self-titled album.

Chalking up four Number Ones is an achievement for any artist. When those four are also consecutive chart-toppers AND all from an artist’s debut studio album, that achievement puts Young up there where the air is rare. Additionally, all four have been certified Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

It says so on the shirt!

(L-R): BMLG Records’ Madeline Farr, Michelle Kammerer, Jimmy Harnen, Andrew Thoen, Brett Young, Matthew Hargis, Cherylynne Nader, Producer Dann Huff

To mark that remarkable feat, Brett Young’s label team at BMLG (Big Machine Label Group) and producer Dann Huff surprised Young with a special ‘uniform.’ They came onstage wearing tee-shirts with the number ‘4’ across the front. Young put on his own ‘4’ shirt and posed for photos as he was presented with a unique ‘4 #1s’ plaque.

Those ‘uniforms’ might have reminded Young of what could have been a different career path. A stand-out high school pitcher, he was scouted by both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins. But following an elbow injury, he focused on a career in music. Baseball’s loss is country music’s gain.

Sean McConnell (left) and Brett Young field media questions. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Before the presentation of the awards, Young and co-writer McConnell took questions from music industry media. Young was asked if having a Platinum-certified album and four Platinum singles added to the pressure or took the pressure off. Young said, “It makes me feel responsible now to achieve growth.”

Success with ‘relatable’ songs

Responding to a question about ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ Young said that the song wasn’t meant to be about any specific relationship. Rather, he saw it as reflecting the way that everybody feels when they are in a relationship, and so they can relate to the song. Similarly, he said that ‘Mercy’ was a song he knew he could sing with feeling. “It’s so relatable,” he added.

Sean McConnell has numerous cuts including songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Meat Loaf, Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Brothers Osborne, Brad Paisley and more. His songs have also been heard on the TV show Nashville.

New album due December 7

(L-R): Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, BMLG’s Laurel Kittleson, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Producer Dann Huff, Sean McConnell, Warner Chappell’s BJ Hill, Brett Young, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Young’s four consecutive Number Ones are: ‘Sleep Without You,’ ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ ‘Like I loved You’ and ‘Mercy.’ His next album, ‘Ticket to L.A.,’ is scheduled for release by BMLG on December 7, 2018. Young has said that the album’s title was inspired by his frequent trips back to his home in California before he moved to Nashville four years ago.

Once again, Dann Huff was tapped to produce. The first single from the album, ‘Here Tonight,’ dropped September 14.

Loretta Lynn, Skynyrd, more on Inside Track

October’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ sneak peek

‘Wonderful Women Who Write’ at The Bluebird
Martina McBride’s new Christmas album
Loretta Lynn: CMT’s ‘Artist of a Lifetime’
Lynyrd Skynyrd bid farewell
and much more

Catch up on more than thirty music news items in the October 2018 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row. The entire column (and a whole lot more) is now posted here at Nashville Music Guide, complete with photos, videos and graphics. Thank you NMG editor Amanda Andrews! You always make the column look SO good.

The column is the longest-running Country music column in America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at just a few of the items in the October column.

Bluebird to host ‘Women Who Write’

Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Carlene Carter will host an October residency at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe. Aptly titled ‘Wonderful World of Women Who Write,’ the series will feature some of her favorite female songwriters and collaborators. Lilly Hiatt and Elizabeth Cook will be featured at the October 2 show. Lauren Morrow and Pam Tillis are scheduled for October 16, and Gretchen Peters and Matraca Berg will join Carter on October 30. All shows are 9 p.m. Central. Reservations will be available on a pre-paid basis for $25.00 one week ahead of each show date at The Bluebird Cafe website. bluebirdcafe.com.

It’s Christmas in October for Martina McBride

Martina McBride did not let the Nashville summer heat ruin her Christmas spirit, and begins her gift giving with the release of ‘It’s The Holiday Season.’ The 9-song holiday set will be released on October 19, the first with her new record label partner, BMG. McBride also continues her ‘The Joy of Christmas Tour’ tradition, this time bringing to life the harmonic, orchestral sounds on the album by using local symphonies on each stop. For this album, McBride collaborated with the late Patrick ‘Pat’ Williams to arrange a set of classic Christmas songs with accompaniment from more than 40 world-class musicians at the famed Capitol Studio in Los Angeles and Blackbird Studio in Nashville. Details here.

CMT honors Loretta Lynn

Continue reading “Loretta Lynn, Skynyrd, more on Inside Track”

SOURCE Awards honor women in music

Six of Nashville’s ‘Leading Ladies’

It was a busy week in Music City. Just one day before the CMA celebrated its 60th anniversary, Nashville’s music and entertainment communities were celebrating the careers of six Hall of Fame inductees at the 2018 SOURCE Awards. SOURCE Nashville is the longest-running organization for females in the music industry in Nashville. The celebration was held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Historic Municipal Auditorium, August 25, 2018, and was sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms.

The 2018 SOURCE Hall Of Fame inductees are:

(Left to Right) Front row: Tammy Genovese, Jo Ann Berry, Holly Gleason. Back Row: Barbara Baker, Cathy Gurley, Anita Hogin, Ronna Rubin. Photo Credit: Bev Moser

Barbara Baker, Blue Crest Music Publishing, Tree Publishing, Ray Baker Productions, Frank Mull Promotions, Baray Music.
JoAnn Berry, KHOO Radio, Jim Halsey Co., Dick Blake Int., World Class Talent, CBN.
Tammy Genovese, Country Music Association, The Country Network, Music City Sports and Entertainment Group, Crossroads Arena.
Holly Gleason, Miami Herald, Rolling Stone, L.A. Times, HITS, Sony Nashville, Joe’s Garage, Midwest Midnight Music, Kenny Chesney.
Cathy Gurley, WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, Country Music Association, Capitol Nashville, Gurley and Co., You Have The Power.
Anita Hogin, Shelby Singleton Inc., Jack Clement, Inc., Picalic Group of Companies, International Artist Management, H Three Events.
Ronna Rubin, Warner Bros. Records, Rubin Media.

SOURCE Hall of Fame inductees are nominated and inducted based upon peer recommendations, biographies, accomplishments, reputation, the number of years each individual has worked within the entertainment industry, and level of community involvement.

About SOURCE Nashville

Founded in 1991 by Shelia Shipley Biddy, Judy Harris and Pat Rolfe, SOURCE is the longest running organization for females in the music industry in Nashville, and is dedicated to fostering relationships and opportunities for its members through continuous education, networking, and community service initiatives.

SOURCE is a nonprofit organization supporting an exclusive community of accomplished women professionals who work in all facets of Nashville’s entertainment industry. For more information, please go to the organization’s website.