ARTISTS & MUSIC Skaggs label Salutes Bill Monroe Hornsby, Loveless, Parton Among Big Names Honoring `Big Mon BY JIM BESSMAN roe's nickname. "Mr. Monroe was Skaggs notes that John Fogerty, who NASHVILLE -Bill Monroe, who physically strong and made this delivers the Monroe classic "Blue died in 1996, was a big man whose music out of his brute strength," Moon Of Kentucky," was attracted musical legacy lives on in "Big says Skaggs, recalling stories told by by Monroe's concept of the bluegrass Mon -The Songs Of Bill Monroe," Monroe, a Kentucky native, of work- "lean." which Skaggs Family Records ing at the Sinclair Oil refinery in "He always loved the way we lean releases Aug. 29. Indiana prior to forming the seminal into the music and not back off from Produced by '30s bluegrass group the Monroe it, and I agree," says Skaggs. "That's label head Ricky Brothers with his brother Charlie. why Mr. Monroe was such a hero to Skaggs, the com- "He was so strong that he handled rockabilly guys like Buddy Holly and pilation of songs 50 -gallon oil barrels like soup cans, Elvis and Carl Perkins. They loved Honoring The Coal Miner's Daughter. Loretta Lynn was recently presented that bluegrass and he and Charlie could put their him because he wasn't a sappy bari- with the career achievement award during the Country Radio Broadcasters' pioneer Monroe backs together and take on any six tone kind of country singer but Country Music DJ Hall of Fame banquet. Pam Tullis and Chely Wright performed wrote or per- men," says Skaggs. "In all his life he leaned in and took authority, with his a musical tribute prior to Lynn's acceptance of the honor. Pictured enjoying the formed features never got knocked down, and he little, small mandolin that made a festivities, from left, are Billy Yates, Linda Davis, Lynn, and Phil Vassar. the varied likes of SKAGGS always represented strength, honor, (Continued on page 60) Skaggs, Bruce and integrity." Hornsby, Dolly Parton, Steve Musically, of course, Monroe's in- Wariner, Patty Loveless, John fluence crossed categories. "He was Fogerty, the Whites, Dixie Chicks, an incredible inspiration," says fel- Peterson, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Joan low Kentuckian Osborne. "How Job- Swappers At Dreameatcher; Osborne, Mary Chapin Carpenter, many other people single-handedly Dwight Yoakam, and, on the track invented their own genre of music ?" Inducted Into CCMA Nall Of Fame "Big Mon," an all -star bluegrass The "Big Mon" project's "correct Rambeau instrumental group including combination of humility and adven- Skaggs, Del McCoury, Béla Fleck, turousness" appealed to Osborne, GATOR -AID: Dreamcatcher Records, the Nashville Also, Marty Mitchell joins WYNY as assistant PD/ J.D. Crowe, and Sam Bush. who joined Skaggs in singing Mon - label co -owned by Kenny Rogers, promotes Gator music director. He previously was assistant PD at The album title derives from Mon- roe's "On The Old Kentucky Shore." Michaels from field promotion director to VP of pro- WRWD Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Mitchell replaces Shari motion. Director of national promotion Anne Weaver, Roth, now director of A &R for Columbia House. who recently led the label's promotion team to its first No. 1 single with Rogers' `Buy Me A Rose," exits. ARTIST NEWS: Marty Stuart was presented with Steagall Entertainer Of The Year Giant Records Southwest regional promoter John the Heritage Award, a ceremonial banjo, at the Uncle Trapane joins Dreamcatcher as Southwest field promo- Dave Macon Days festival, held July 7 -9 in Murfrees- tion director. Jeff Stouten, who recently joined Dream - boro, Term. The award honors individuals who have ded- At The Cowboy Masters Awards catcher from the director of national promotion job at icated their careers to the preservation and promotion Nashville -based independent promotion firm Young - of old -time music and dance. Stuart is producing a new BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE The Texas Trailhands won the Olsen & Associates, has been named East Coast field Rounder album for last year's award recipient, banjo FORT WORTH, Texas-Red Steagall award for duo/group of the year, while promotion director. Jim Malito remains West Coast field player LeRoy Troy. took home the entertainer of the year Ken Overcast was named tops in the promotion director. Martina McBride co- honors at the fifth annual Will Rogers yodeling category. Western Jubilee produced "You," a bonus Cowboy Masters Awards July 11 at recording artist Rich O'Brien won as AROUND THE IN- 13th track on labelmate the Scott Theater here. The awards instrumentalist of the year. DUSTRY: Viacom's Coun- Sara Evans' new album, were presented by the Academy of In the western swing division, Billy try.com has launched Nashville "Born To Fly," with Western Artists, an organization Mata claimed the male vocalist honor, Country.com Radio on its Evans and Paul Worley. based in Gene Autry, Okla., that pro- with Peggy Rains taking the female site. Created and operat- This is McBride's first motes western music and cowboy arts. vocalist prize. Industry veterans Ray ed in partnership with production project other The evening marked the second Price & the Cherokee Cowboys were sister site SonicNet, Seem than her own recordings. time Steagall has won entertainer of honored in the duo/group category. Country.com Radio is "Born To Fly," due Sept. the year. The veteran singer/song- The song of the year was "Sing Faded programmed by its host 26, also includes a cover writer/cowboy poet also hosts a west- Love, Dayne Gayle," recorded by Bob site's senior music writer, of Bruce Hornsby's ern radio show, "Cowboy Corner." The Wills' niece Dayna Wills and Norma Jay Orr. The playlist by Phyllis Stark "Every Little Kiss" fea- program airs in 140 markets and is Lee. The top album in the western includes album cuts and turing Hornsby on piano. host of the 10th annual Red Steagall swing category was "Playing With A singles from every period of the format's history and Chely Wright will be featured singing "Part Of Your Cowboy Gathering, an arts, music, Stacked Deck" by Cowjazz. includes some alternative country and bluegrass selec- World" on the soundtrack to Disney's "The Little Mer- and cowboy poetry festival slated for In the cowboy poetry division, tions as well. The site identifies each song being played maid 2," due in September. She will perform the song October in Fort Worth. Larry Maurice was voted best male by title, artist, and album title. It also allows users to August at the film's Hollywood premiere. The awards show recognized musi- cowboy poet. Ann Sochat took home program their own music selections. Capitalizing on Kenny Chesney's much-publicized cal artists who perform in the west- the honor in the female category. Den- The Canadian Country Music Assn. will posthu- recent arrest in Buffalo, N.Y., after he took a little ride ern music and western swing genres, nis Gaines won the comedy award. mously induct singer/songwriter Colleen Peterson and on a police horse, BNA Records papered telephone as well as saddle makers, spur mak- "I've been wanting to pick one of Anne Murray's former manager, Leonard Rambeau, poles along Music Row with "wanted" posters solicit- ers, and other artisans whose work is these things up ever since I was 4 into its Hall of Fame this September in Edmonton, ing votes for Chesney in the Country Music Assn. part of western culture. Aired in Fort years old, and here I am at the Acad- Alberta, during Country Music Week. Awards' male vocalist of the year category. Worth on the MARCUS cable net- emy of Western Artists and finally Jennifer Page is named music director at Jones Inter- Wynonna will be the only country artist featured in work, the event showcased western landed it," said Kimes. "This is not national Networks' Great American Country video net- a photo essay on women in music in the September issue music's seasoned acts as well as up- the music of the past. I see it as the work, replacing Harriett Connolly, who exits. Page was of Interview magazine. The photos were taken by video and- coming talents such as Dan music of the future. Guys like Roy a part -time air personality at Jones' U.S. Country format director Hype Williams and feature artists Williams Roberts and Kazzi Shae, who netted Rogers, Gene Autry, and Bob Wills and previously was music director of KYGO -FM Denver. has worked with on videos, including Missy "Misde- the Rising Star Award. brought us something we don't want NewKastle Entertainment has signed Mike Lawler meanor" Elliott, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC, and In the western music division, to let die, and I don't see it dying." to a writing and co- publishing deal. Lawler has per- Macy Gray. Roberts took home the trophy for male Kazzi Shae, an 18- year -old Texas - formed with James Brown, Steve Winwood, and the Clay Walker's "The Chain Of Love" will be used in vocalist. Jeanne Martin won the female based artist, said, "It's so incredible Allman Brothers and recently completed projects with the Warner Bros. film "Space Cowboys," due in theaters vocalist accolade. Terry Brown's "Sil- to be among these artists. I felt so Elton John and Collective Soul. Aug. 4. The film was directed and produced by Clint ver Spur" won song of the year honors. privileged just to be in the running Eastwood and stars Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones. Former Asylum artist Royal Wade with them, and to actually win the RADIO NEWS: Afternoon personality Larry Bear Songwriters are Jonnie Barnett and Rory Lee. Kimes, who is now making a name for award is beyond words." has been promoted to PD at WYNY (Y107) New York. Patsy Lynn of Warner Bros. duo the Lynns and her himself in the western music commu- Roberts said, "I was just tickled to Bear stepped in as interim PD following the departure husband, Philip Russell, welcomed their second child, nity, won in the album category for be in a category with that many great of Darrin Smith for the dotcom world a few months ago. Phillip David Russell, July 3. "Hangin' Around The Moon." western entertainers." 58 www.billboard.corn BILLBOARD JULY 22, 2000 www.americanradiohistory.com