lit MIN r 1. CAPITOL COUNTRY -A clutch of Capitol executives flew to Nashville during CMA week Hart; Kenny Dale; Mel McDaniel and Mel Albert, Cash Box vice president and general and attended the label's country show at the Municipal Auditorium and a special reception manager. Shown (l -r) in the bottom row of photo are: Don Zimmermann, president and at Nashville's Hyatt Regency Hotel. Pictured (l -r) in the top row of photus are: Stephanie chief operating officer of Capitol Records; King; Capitol recording artist ; Os- Gootnick, national country promotion staffer, Los Angeles; Pat King, regional country car Arslanian, director of press & artist relations; Dan Davis, vice president of merchandis- promotion manager, Dallas; Chuck Flood, director of country A&R, Nashville; Ed Keeley, ing & advertising/creative services & artist relations; Rupert Perry, vice president of A&R; national country promotion manager; Jack Pride, regional country promotion manager, Gene Rumple, Atlanta promotion manager; Jerry Brackenridge, Atlanta district sales Nashville and Vince Cosgrave, director of country A&R/marketing; Jeannie and Bobby manager; Dick Bethel, promotion manager, Detroit and Tom Tilton, district sales manager, Bare and Capitol recording artist Don Schlitz, who wrote "The Gam bler," which Bare recor- Dallas; and Cosgrave; McDaniel; Zimmermann; Dale; Perry and Stephen Peeples, ded; and Stan Monteiro, Cash Box director of marketing; Capitol recording artists Freddie manager, press & editorial services. Mercury's Mel Street Dies , Matriarch From Self -Inflicted Gunsho Of Country Music Dies at 69 by Bob Campbell NASHVILLE - "Mother" Maybelle Ad- NASHVILLE - Apparently depressed over dington Carter, one of the most influential a heavy recording and work schedule, artists in the history of country music and a Phonogram/Mercury's Mel Street killed member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, himself Oct. 23 with agunshot to the head. It died at age 69 of a respiratory ailment on was his 43rd birthday. the morning of Oct. 23 at her home in Street had been eating breakfast with his Madison, Tenn. She had been in failing wife, Betty, and his brother and sister-in- health for some time. law, Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Street of Virginia at Along with her cousin Sara and brother- his home in Hendersonville, Tn. near in-law A.P. Carter, Maybelle Carter was a Nashville. During breakfast, he excused member of the pioneer folk -country group, himself, went to his bedroom and a shot "The ." In August of 1927 in rang out a few seconds later. Bristol, Tenn., Jimmie Rodgers and The Street's Manager Jim Prater said "his Carter Family were both discovered and brother went upstairs and found him lying Mel Street recorded by Ralph Peer for Victor Records. there on the floor with a handgun beside him." Street was rushed to Nashville's From that beginning, The Carter Family May e e ar er Memorial Hospital and died at 11:10 a.m. recorded more than 250 songs on a dozen Born on May 10, 1909, Maybelle Carter is Heavy Schedule labels over the next 17 years. The Carter survived by her three daughters, a brother SHIPPED OCTOBER 16 Performing an average of 200 concerts a Family officially retired in 1943, but and by , the only remaining NEW VERSION year, Street had been holding down a Maybelle Carter continued for the next two member of the original Carter Family. schedule and recently com- decades with "The Carter Sisters" and as (VOCAL/INSTRUMENTAL) strenuous pleted one of two albums scheduled to be "Mother Maybelle." The Carter Sisters con- Court Restrains completed by the end of the year. His latest sisted of Maybelle, and her daughters " single, "Just Hangin' On," sits this week at Helen, Anita and June (wife of Johnny `Elvis' Record The Carter Sisters joined the Grand (GM -004) #55 on the Cash Box Country Singles Cash). NASHVILLE temporary restraining or- Ole Opry in 1950. -A Chart. Ironically, the song concerns a man der against further production or distribu- BY New Generation operating under severe strain. tion of the alleged first recording by the late With appearances at the Newport Folk Prater said Street had always been , "Tell Me Pretty Baby," on the TOMMY WILLS Festival in 1963, Maybelle Carter influen- punctual for show dates, but lately had Elvis Classic Label has been obtained by ced a new generation of artists which in- been complaining of his road schedule and Vernon Presley and RCA Corporation. cluded Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Carter NOMINATED CMA work load. Said to be recorded in the early months also appeared on the classic "Will The Cir- "He had just come off a tour in Texas," of 1954 in Phoenix, Az., the record was INSTRUMENTALIST 1978 cle Be Unbroken" album recorded in the Prater said. "The last place he worked was placed on the market last month by Andrew '70s ." Texas. He was supposed to be at the Mer- early by "The Lee Jackson of Dallas, Tx. and distributed Elected to the Country Music Hall of MEMBER OF WWVA cury Records Show on Wednesday night by Cin/Kay Distributors here. In affidavits Fame in 1970, The Carter Family recorded (D.J. week), but he didn't feel up to it. To filed by Presley's father, Vernon, and WHEELING JAMBOREE standards as "Will The Circle date, from the time we started together, he such country Presley's producer, Felton Jarvis, informa- had never missed a show. He seemed very Be Unbroken," "Wildwood Flower," "Keep tion was advanced stating the young INDEPENDENTLY On The Sunny Side," "Lonesome Valley," depressed, and it seemed like things were Presley was never in Phoenix at the alleged "Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes" and DISTRIBUTED pressing him. They really weren't, but to time, and that Presley had never in his life "East Virginia." him, it seemed that way." mentioned being in Phoenix at that time. Maybelle Carter's unique guitar and FOR DI COPIES WRITE TO: A native of Bluefield, Va., Street's biggest Presley ánd RCA are seeking damages hits have been "Borrowed Angel" and "Lov- style revolutionized country from Jackson (International Classic work. Country guitar had generally GOLDEN MOON ing On Back Streets." Street and his wife guitar Productions), Hal Freeman of Cin/Kay Dis- been limited to rhythm playing, but Carter had four children. Their oldest daughter, tributors and are seeking a permanent in- RECORDS added lead notes to the melody. Her lead Mrs. Sherry Hamilton, is married and lives junction against the promotion and sale of C P.O. BOX 217 work on "Wildwood Flower" has served as a in Madison, Tn. The other children, Chet, "Tell Me Pretty Baby." The temporary MOQRESVILLE, IN 46158 primer for country and folk guitarists for 16, David, 14, and Jenny Carol, 6, live at restraining order remains in effect until (317) 831-5207 many years. home. Nov. 1.

54 Cash Box/November 4, 1978 www.americanradiohistory.com