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Country Artist of the Week: Granite Is Established As ATV West Coast Country Label HOLLYWOOD — Formation of distributors and jobbers for Granite Granite Records as a Records, new West-Coast-based Coun- label that will emphasize west coast- try music label, has also been an- based artists, writers and production nounced by label head Cliffie Stone. facilities has been announced by Sam The outlets currently are dealing Trust, head of the ATV Music Group with Granite’s first single, “Mother in the United States. Granite will op- Maybelle,” erate as part of the ATV Music The outlets for Granite singles and Group, Trust said, supervised by the are: organization’s director of the country music division, Cliffie Stone. Arizona—Alta Distributing Co., Phoenix; California Record Mer- Trust said GRT Music Tapes will — chandising Co., Los Angeles; Florida exclusively handle Granite tapes in Music Sales of Florida, Miami; Geor- the United States and will handle gia Godwin Distributing, Atlanta; both Granite tapes and records, as — Illinois—Summit Distributors, Chica- well, in Canada. GRT will be respon- go; Louisiana All-South Distribut- sible for general administration of — ing, New Orleans; Michigan Arc- the Granite label, he added. — Jay-Kay Distributing, Detroit; Min- operation of Joining Stone in the nesota—Heilicher Bros., Minneapolis, Granite is Corky Mayberry, former and Lieberman Enterprises, Min- executive who ear- broadcast industry neapolis; Missouri—Choice Records of lier was involved in development Distributors, Kansas City, and Com- for Atlantic the country music market mercial Music, St. Louis. Records. Nebraska—Lieberman Enterprises, Stone commented, “Without dimin- Omaha; New York—Best and Gold, ishing the importance of Nashville Buffalo, and Alpha Distributing centers and other country music Corp., New York City; North Caroli- throughout the country, we’re anxi- na—Bib Distributing, Charlotte; ous to restore on the west coast a Ohio—PIKS Corp., Cleveland; Penn- LET’S THINK ABOUT DOLLY—In a very brief time Dolly Parton has made base for the many artists and other sylvania—Chips Distributing, Phila- her mark on the country music scene as one of its top singers and most capable talents who work and live creative delphia Tennessee—Hot Line Record songwriters. here. Distributors, Memphis, and Music From a large family, rich in love and music, Dolly has been singing all of ground “This area was the proving City Record Distributors, Nashville. her life and writing songs since she was five years old. She first sang on Tennessee Ernie for talents such a,s Texas—Big State Distributing, Dal- record when she was eleven and appeared, for the first time, on The Grand Haggard, Buck Owens Ford, Merle las, and Record Service, Houston Ole Opry when she was twelve. In January of 1968 Dolly signed as an ex- and a host of others. We believe that, Washington—Fidelity Record and clusive RCA artist and later that same year became a member of The Grand Records’ activity by focusing Granite Tape Sales, Seattle; Washington, Ole Opry. here, we can give that same opportu- D.C.—Schwartz Brothers, Inc., D.C. Dolly writes many of the songs she sings and “Put It Off Till Tomorrow” nity to up and coming Country music which she co-wrote with her uncle, Bill Owens, won the BMI award for Best talents.” Country Song of 1966. With her records such as “Joshua” and “Coat Of Many First Granite Records release is the Homecoming Day Colors” always reaching high in the trade charts, her current hit record of single “Mother Maybelle,” written “Jolene” is fast climbing into #1 position, and, according to Wally, Elroy, and and performed by Chase Martin and Larry, it is the best single to date. inspired by the legendary Mother For Willie Nelson directs Dolly’s recordings for RCA while Top Billing, Inc. Maybelle Carter, whose permission NASHVILLE — When a city number- handles all bookings. was secured prior to recording. Stone ing 375 persons can hold a concert produced. The session. attended by 10,000 people the artist Martin is an ATV Music writer, one must be special, and Willie Nelson, Felt Forum To Host of several brought into the organiza- Johnny Darrell, Waylon Jennings, tion by Stone when he affiliated with Sam mi Smith, Billy Joe Shaver, Sam- the British-based music operation in my Vaughn, Darol McCall, George M. N.Y. Country Music Fest May. Others include Kay Adams, Mol- Jones, Asleep at the Wheel, Kinky ly Bee and Ron Fraser. Friedman and Kenneth Threadgill NEW YORK — Country music is at- Muskogee,” has become an anthem the artists who picked and sang tempting to once again crack the core ballad by the country people whom it The ATV Music Group is one of Sir were Nelson of “The Big Apple” with a rather defends, and by the underground in- Lew Grade’s British-based entertain- at the Abbott Texas Willie 4th. “dramatic” series of C&W concerts at tellectuals whom it attacks. ment companies, whose activities to Homecoming Day November the Felt Forum beginning January The shows will be balanced by now have focused on exploitation of The Homecoming day sponsored by 19th. Dramatic because past N.Y. ven- country-oriented supporting acts major song copyrights owned the local PTA, started at 10:30 AM the un- tures featuring country music (e.g. which will have gained popularity through five publishing companies, and continued throughout day the Nashville Club at the Hotel Taft) with younger, urban audiences. In all, til 12:30 the following morning. including Maclen, a catalog built on have never been given the reception the makeup of the shows will range The Willie Nelson Concert recently Beatles compositions. they justly deserve. This time, hope- from hard-core Nashville sounds to performed in Dripping Springs, Tex- fully, the top name performers who the city-grown bluegrass of such Stone has been a vital force in as, 85% of the attendance was 25 have been slated for this event will pickers as David Bromberg, the West music for more than three years of age or below. With the dedi- country find a brightly receptive audience to Side Kid. cation of the country fan lasting for decades. Until last year he headed their particular brand of music. The Details of the Country in New a lifetime, it is evident Willie Nelson Central Songs, the country music link debut show on January 19th will York festival were announced after and his friends have a continuing feature Buck Owens, accompanied by the City Hall ceremony at a 5 pm at Beechwood Music, Capitol Indus- bright future. his “Hee Haw” TV companions and cocktail party at the Promenade Cafe tries’ publishing subsidiary. the Buckaroos. Also on the January on the ice skating rink at Rockfeller formed and direct- Stone originally Vaughn Appears 19th program will be the Nitty Gritty Center. The party was held in honor ed Central Songs, taking it to a posi- Dirt Band. of Charlie Rich, Tom T. Hall and Joe producer of an NBC-TV coun- tion as one of the world’s most im- The series, a “Country Music Fes- Cates, In Texas Clubs tival,” will be presented by country in try music spectacular to be aired in portant country music catalogs, in the NASHVILLE — San Antonio country New York as a joint venture with November. process helping establish artists such Country in New York, originated in music fans recently welcomed Sammy Madison Square Garden Productions Ferlin Husky, Lefty York pop columnist A1 as Ford, Owens, Vaughn when he appeared at Several Inc. the lineup, completed after six by New Aronowitz, first made its appearance Frizell, Stan Freberg, Tommy Sands, of San Antonio’s country music months of negotiations, has been an- nounced in a proclamation by Mayor with a series of two concerts at Phil- and Ms. Bee. He is a clubs. It was Sammy’s first appear- Ms. Adams harmonic Hall last Spring. The New ance in his home town since he left to Lindsay from the steps of New York former board member of the Country York debut of Tammy Wynette and travel with a show band working the City Hall. The ceremony, scheduled to Association and currently include George Jones on March 25 was also Music Vegas club circuit. He has also ap- songs by Charlie Rich, the newly the debut for country music at Lin- serves as president of the Academy of peared in movies and has done TV crowned King of Country Mu- sic, and Tom T. Hall, music’s coln Center. Since then, Aronowitz, Country Music Association and cur- work. country legendary storyteller, was held in also a controversial figure on the na- president of the The agents booking talent for the rently serves as New York City’s observance of the tional music scene, has been criticized 1974 River Festival were in the audi- Academy of County Music in Holly- end of Country Music Month. by underground writers for deserting ence at one of the clubs and booked In addition to Buck Owens, the his rock and roll loyalties. wood. Sammy for a their three-day show. stars of the five scheduled Country in Mayberry was with KFOX, Long This year’s attendance at the festival New York concerts will include Char- joining Granite Rec- was 100,000 plus. Jerry Lee TV Beach, prior to lie Rich, Lynn Anderson, Tammy release on Atlantic ords and earlier served as program Sammy’s latest Wynette and George Jones and Merle CHICAGO — Mercury r<; All She Wrote” has been well director at KBBQ, country music sta- “That’s Haggard, the new spokesman of tist Jerry Lee Lewis v received all over the country, and due country philosophy. Haggard, who T.V. debut in the N.n tion in Los Angeles. to its popularity in the Texas, has received recognition as a singer episode o to appear at the 24 Dist. Set Vaughn is scheduled and songwriter in the past few years, Lewis, Willie Nelson Homecoming to be held will be making his New York debut as a sin

An initial roster of some two dozen in Abbot, Texas. as a headliner. His classic “Okie From I has nevei

Cash Box — November 17, 1973 45