ARTISTS & MUSIC Marty Wills Returns On Mercury Western Music Acts Honored Set May `Permanently' Establish Artist As Solid Hitmaker Don Edwards, Sons Of The San Joaquin Top Winners BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE put it on the second album, but Alan Mark Wills' face and image with the TUCSON, Ariz. -Sons Of The San The awards show was part of the NASHVILLE - During these times Jackson had it on hold. Then Clay great songs people have been hearing Joaquin and Don Edwards were 11th annual International Western when it's increasingly difficult to Walker cut it. When we were record- the last couple of years on the radio." once again among the Music Festival, held break and sustain a new country act, ing this third album, I said, `I don't Grady says the label is securing top winners at the 1999 Nov. 4 -7. This year's Mark Wills has quietly become one of care who's recording it or has it on prime positioning at retail. "Mark Western Music Assn. event featured semi- the industry's major success stories. hold, I'm cutting it.' It's a really cool Wills will be in the No. 1 position in (WMA) Awards, held nars, concerts, and jam After a solid first album, his sopho- song with a great message." every retail store in America when we Nov. 4 at the Tucson sessions showcasing the more disc spawned three hit singles, The first single from the album is a come out of the chute," he says. "He Convention Center. best in western music went platinum, and netted him the cover of the Brian McKnight hit `Back and Wynonna ship the same time, and Edwards repeated talent from all over the Academy of Country Music's (ACM) To One." It marks the first time Wills they'll both be front and center." his win as male per - country. Dave Stamey, top new male vocalist award. has borrowed a single from the pop Wills is booked by William Morris former of the year, and SONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN R.W. Hampton, Jon The title of Wills' third release, community, something artists in that and managed by John Gallichio of Sons Of The San Joa- Messenger, the Bar -D "Permanently"-which Mercury will genre have already been doing. His Atlanta's Star Ray Management. He quin once again took home the tro- Wranglers, Prickly Pear, and the release Jan. 11 -seems an apt hit "I Do (Cherish You)" is currently is signed as a songwriter to EMI phy for top duo /group. (Continued on page 40) description of Wills' status in the a pop hit by 98 °, and "Don't Laugh At Music Nashville. country star firmament. Me" was just covered by a new girl "Mark continues to take incredible group, Surreal. An executive on the strides forward as an artist," says pop side of the label thought John Grady, Mercury Nashville senior McKnight's "Back To One" would VP of sales, marketing, and promo- make a good country song and sug- The Hazel tion. "When they deliver records this gested Wills record it. Disney lassos Riders In Sky; good on top of a platinum record we The song is already gaining sup- just had, I think it lays the gauntlet porters at country radio. "I am play- down to us to take this record further. ing it. I think it's a hit record," Smith Is Honored; Emmylou Campaigns These days platinum records are hard WUBE Cincinnati PD Tim Closson to come by, and we're says. "It definitely has CHECKING IN WITH: Everyone's favorite singing With those, we got the Louvin Brothers' 1959 Christ- really proud of this last a pop flavor to it, but cowboys, Riders In The Sky, have a special project in mas album, and that's where I first heard that song." one, but I think his vocal country music needs addition to their new Rounder Records Christmas work on this new one is variety, there's no album, "Christmas The Cowboy Way." ON THE ROW: Heather Myles and Jack Ingram a cut way above any- question about that. Calling on his cell phone from beside the campfire have both signed with the Ewing- Roberts Agency thing he's ever done." Mark Wills has deliv- at Harmony Ranch, Ranger Doug tells Nashville (ERA) for booking. Other ERA artists include Billy Grady and everyone ered a great record Scene that the group isn't actually sure how they land- Joe Shaver, Daylon Wear, and Pat Haney. in the Wills camp agree for us. It's [our] pick ed the plum job of singing the Randy Newman com- At Mercury Nashville, Jim Kemp is promoted to VP that strong songs have hit of the week." position "Woody's Roundup" in the upcoming Disney of creative services, and Danny Bess is named senior been key in the Georgia Grady says a key film "Toy Story 2," which opens Nov 24. "I honestly director of finance. native's success. "Jacob's component of the don't know how it happened," he says. "Someone called Diamond Rio drummer Brian Prout has under- Ladder," Wills' first marketing campaign us. You know, you work long enough, you get a fan on gone surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and plans to single, released in June is making sure listen- the inside somewhere." rejoin the group in January. 1996, peaked at No. 6, a ers connect Wills In "Toy Story 2," says Jo Dee Messina will strong showing for a w ILLS with his hits. "First Doug, "Woody realizes be one of the MCs for debut tune. Since then and foremost [the that he had a TV show CBS' telecast of the Wills has placed five more songs in the goal] with Mark going into this back in the 1950s and "1999 All American top 10 of Billboard's Hot Country Sin- record is to expand his image," says that he was a superstar, Nashville Thanksgiving Day gles & Tracks chart, with "Wish You Grady. "Every time the guy goes on as big as Howdy Doody, Parade." Were Here," the title cut of his sopho- TV we sell more records. When Mark and the little toys find it more album, hitting No.1. sang on the ACMs and won the in reruns somewhere. Seem PEOPLE: On Oct. 27, Grady thinks this album will con- award, we sold a lot of records. We So, they needed that '50s at a surprise party at tinue the momentum. "It's a song - saw it again when he was on the classic Western sound BMG, veteran Nash- driven format, and I think we've got [Country Music Assn.] Awards." for his theme song, and ville journalist Hazel the right songs to have another big Grady says Wills' wholesome life- so we did it. They also by Chet F lippo Smith was presented success with Mark," he says. style doesn't always generate publici- use it over the closing the 1999 CMA Media Wills says he's been fortunate to ty. "Sometimes it's harder to work an credits, so it's some fine Achievement Award. attract great songs because he used artist that nobody has anything bad to licks for America's favorite cowboys." Well -wishers on hand included Earl Scruggs, Connie to sing demos for some of Nashville's say about," he says with a laugh. The Christmas album itself, Doug says, is a bit of a Smith, Lee Roy Parnell, BR5 -49, Brad Paisley, top songwriters, and when he started "They don't create a lot of publicity stretch for the group, encompassing as it does a 12th - Clint Daniels, and George Ducas. Marty Stuart recording, they gave him top-notch when they live a relatively normal life. century hymn, a Christmas polka by producer Joey delivered a testimonial to Smith. material. He's particularly pleased He tours a lot. He sings. He's happily "The Cow Polka King" Stuart, meanwhile, is on the autograph trail with a with this collection. "I'm excited about married with a beautiful little baby Miskulin; a Christmas yodel; new book of his photographs and prose, "Pilgrims: Sin- everything on the record," he says. that he's completely enamored with. Wendy Waldman's and Carol ners, Saints, And Prophets," published by Rutledge "I'm just hoping people will respond He never says no to a charity, and he Ashford Elliot's "Corn, Hill Press. to these songs like they did the last works his butt oft Then he sings like Water, And Wood "; Vaughn Emmylou Harris brings a string of fellow singer/ album." this at the end. It's hard to come up Monroe's traditional "Let It songwriters to California for a series of guitar -pull- "In My Arms" is a tune on his new with a scandal, so we're going to have Snow, Let It Snow, Let It type concerts to benefit the Campaign for a Land - project he co-wrote about his daugh- to do this the hard way." Snow," which turns into a mine -Free World. The tour will kick off Dec. 1 at Stan- ter, Malty, and the emotional joys of For Mercury, doing it the hard way medley proving that every ford University in Palo Alto, followed by performances being a new father. "Still Waiting" is means aggressively targeting Wills' Christmas song ever sung is Dec. 2 at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa; a song he refers to as a "kind of top markets, including Atlanta, Min - RIDERS IN THE SKY based on "Let It Snow "; and Dec. 3 at El Camino College in Torrance; Dec. 4 at the upbeat version of "Don't Laugh At neapolis/St. Paul, Dallas, Houston, Doug's own "The Prairie University of California, San Diego; and Dec. 5 at the Salt Lake City, and Denver. Plans call Dog's Christmas Ball." University of California, Santa Barbara. "It's a thinking song," he says. "I for in -store appearances at retail that A favorite here is a retelling of the old Louvin Each night, Harris will be joined onstage by five guests like songs that make you look at real- will also tie in radio and TV in those Brothers' recording of "The Friendly Beasts," a song who will strip their songs down to guitar and vocals. ity, how you look at your life, and how cities. dating back to perhaps the 14th century, which tells Harris will be joined for all of the dates by Steve you look at other people." "We're going to go to his strongest how animals can speak once a year-on Christmas Earle. The other rotating guests will be Bruce Cock- "Time Machine" is a song Wills markets and make them even Eve. "Isn't that lovely ?" says Doug. "When I first burn, Patty Griffin, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, says he wanted to record for a long stronger," Grady says. "Other artists moved to town, my first wife and I were cashing in our Mary Chapin Carpenter, Guy Clark, Terry Allen, time. "I wanted to record it for my have done it over the last year or so green stamps in the S &H Green Stamp Store on Mur- Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Kris Kristof- first album, but Brooks & Dunn had and really sold a lot of records out of phy Road, and we had a few extra stamps left over. ferson, and Willie Nelson. it on hold," he says. "Then I wanted to the chute. Our biggest job is to tie 34 www.billboard.com BILLBOARD NOVEMBER 13, 1999 www.americanradiohistory.com