Bobby Karl Works the Grammy Salute to Country Music Honoring Vince Gill Chapter 317
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page 1 Friday, September 11, 2009 Bobby Karl Works The Grammy Salute To Country Music Honoring Vince Gill Chapter 317 When Nashville is “What a gift all of these playing at the top of its artists are giving, singing game, there is no other Vince’s songs,” said Amy. music center that can “Michael McDonald, that touch it. was pure ecstasy and joy That was the take-away on his face, the whole message of Wednesday’s time.” Her grace and Grammy Salute to Country eloquence warmed us Music Honoring Vince Gill throughout the event. at the Loveless Barn (9/9). Alison Krauss, a 26- The evening was one time Grammy winner, was musical thrill after next up. She sang an another—real singers, exquisite version of real players, no auto- “Whenever You Come tuning, no trickery. Around,” then raised “This town, it’s further goose bumps with probably the most vibrant “These Days.” music community in the world,” said “That is about as tender as it gets,” emcee Amy Grant. She wasn’t the only commented Amy. transcendent figure on stage that night. “One of the special things about the Michael McDonald first met Vince Grammy Award community is that it when he was in The Doobie Brothers and brings people together,” she added, Vince was singing lead in Pure Prairie before relating an anecdote about Eric League in 1980. Michael took the stage Clapton introducing himself to Vince at a and raised the roof with soul-drenched Grammy party. performances of “When I Call Your Name” Brad Paisley met Vince as an 11- and “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” year-old attending a Steve Wariner concert Like all of the evening’s saluters, he was where Vince was the opening act. “Singing backed by Vince’s awesome band, led by these songs to you is so stupid,” Brad John Hobbs. wisecracked, “a kamikaze mission.” ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Friday, September 11, 2009 Nevertheless, he worked his Heaven.” Brad and Vince traded way admirably through the ballad guitar licks on a rocking “One “Tryin’ to Get Over You,” then More Last Chance,” and silver- took “Oklahoma Borderline” at voiced Michael McDonald dueted breakneck speed, punctuating it with the Country Music Hall of with an astoundingly blazing Famer on “I Still Believe in You.” guitar solo. “I’m proud to be “I’ve got chill bumps on my here, buddy,” Brad said. TOES!,” exclaimed Allison Steve Martin’s banjo record Jones. She and the other The Crow features an appearance women I was sitting with all by Vince. The comedian had them proclaimed that Vince was ultra rolling in the aisles with one droll cute with his new look, wearing quip after another. “I guess when Steve Martin and Vince Gill glasses. you think about Vince Gill, one The evening began with a word comes to mind—tantrums,” cocktail party featuring margarita Steve remarked about the varieties. Servers mingled with famously laid-back star. trays of crab cakes, goat-cheese “I hope that my being here toast points and beef tenderloin tonight to honor you proves there biscuits. Did I mention that the are some things you can’t get Loveless is a property of Tom out of.” Morales, of TomKats movie- Recording Academy CEO catering renown? Neil Portnow responded to He joined us at the V.I.P. Steve by practically inviting him after-party, a halibut-and- to host next year’s Grammy scallops cocktail supper. So did show. He also congratulated Terry Elam, Terry Hemmings, Brad on having received six CMA John Styll, Jody Williams, nominations earlier that day. Vince Gill and Brad Paisley Clay Bradley, Denise Stiff and After introducing a career- Lori Badgett. Larry Fitzgerald overview video, Neil presented said he’s practically doubling the Vince with the NARAS President’s size of his building with an Merit Award. addition, right next door to the “This is a very humbling Recording Academy’s office. experience, to be in this room Charlie Monk is celebrating his with so many people I care so fifth anniversary as a satellite- much about,” said Vince. “It’s radio personality. such a gift to get to share music The gala’s crowd of fabulons with people. also included Justin Niebank, “I’ve never lost sight of the Ben Fowler, Wynonna, fact that I just wanted to be a Fletcher Foster, Pete Fisher, part of it. I didn’t have to be the Shelby Kennedy, Gordon center. I just wanted to be in it. I Amy Grant and Vince Gill Kennedy, Ralph Emery, Tracy just wanted to be one of those Photos: Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Wireimage.com/ Gershon, Ron & Regina Stuve, guys whose name was on the Frederick Breedon © 2009 Jeff Hanna & Matraca Berg, back of a record jacket. Carla Wallace, Joanna Carter, “I’m tied to this whole room. This night is so much Darrell Brown, Drew Alexander, Roy Wunsch & more about all of us, rather then just me.” Mary Ann McCready, Pat Collins, Dan Rogers, Dan He thanked each performer personally, saving a Hill, Chuck Flood, Doug Howard, Scott Hendricks, special quip for his wife: “I’m married to a Spice Girl. Ken Robold and Jim Hester. People don’t believe me. I married Bible Spice,” he Our own George Flanigen was introduced as the remarked about his Christian-music superstar spouse. new Recording Academy chair. He reminded the audience Vince then rocked the house with “Liza Jane.” Amy about the organization’s accomplishments with its joined him for a sweet duet of “Faint of Heart.” Daughter Foundation and MusiCares divisions, and pointed out that Jenny Gill sang lead on the moving child-abuse song the Nashville chapter’s Producers & Engineers Wing had “Forever Changed.” The proud pop announced her developed the standards and practices for music delivery engagement to EMI Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg. that are now used worldwide. Steve Martin reappeared, toting his banjo for a This was the first Grammy Salute to Country Music. bluegrass romp through “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” Vince suggests that the next one should honor Alison Then Vince performed the stunning “(Threaten Me with) Krauss. Sounds good to me. ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 3 Friday, September 11, 2009 Source Honoree Margaret Parker Passes by Robert K. Oermann One of July’s Source Foundation Award winners died suddenly this week. Margaret Parker delighted banquet attendees with her warm, witty and entertaining acceptance speech. She passed away on Sunday, September 6, at her weekend home in Dover, TN at age 84. Margaret Parker went to work for National Life in 1943 and moved through WSM, Opryland, the Opryland Hotel and Gaylord before retiring in 1993 after 50 years. She then worked part-time until fully retiring in 2005 after 62 years of service in the same organization. While at WSM she served as Irving Waugh’s administrative assistant for 10 years. During that time, Waugh conceived the idea for Opryland U.S.A. The Source Foundation which honored Margaret Parker is dedicated to saluting pioneering women in Nashville’s music industry. Its plaques are displayed in the Musicians Hall of Fame. A memorial celebration is being held for family and friends Andi Zack has signed a publishing agreement with Zavitson Music Group. at the Opryland Hotel on Sunday (9/13) from 3-5 p.m. Zack co-wrote John Thompson's current single "Beer On The Table" with Thompson and Ken Johnson. (L-R): BMI's David Preston; ZMG's Jenny BMI Foundation Board Elects Gill; Zack (seated); and ZMG's Debbie Zavitson and Carrie Bleitner. New Members David F. Bills, Richard A. Garza and Camellia Petty Information Technology, and is responsible for all application have been elected to the Board of Directors for the BMI systems and database administration. Prior to joining BMI Foundation. Nashville-based Petty is the Assistant VP of as a Project Manager in 1995, Petty worked for Schneider Electric and as an IT professional for several Middle Tennessee retailers and manufacturers. She is also a member of the Nashville CIO Council and Nashville Technology Council Board with recent speaking engagements for Oracle, Women of Technology Tennessee and Gartner. Bills is the Sr. Dir. of Online Communications, overseeing BMI’s web presence and Garza is the Dir. of Legal Affairs for Performing Rights. Both are based in New York. The non-profit BMI Foundation was formed by BMI employees in 1985 and sponsors programs in support of music education and study for young musicians. David F. Bills Richard A. Garza Camellia Petty ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 4 Friday, September 11, 2009 Young Leads Country Sales For The Week The best selling new album of last week was Whitney Houston’s comeback effort, which moved 305K units according to Nielsen SoundScan, a division of The Nielsen Company. RCA Nashville’s Chris Young enjoyed a double Top 10 week, as his single, “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” powered into the country radio Top 10 while his new album, The Man I Want to Be, debuted at No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with 26K (15% digital). Cross Canadian Ragweed had the next highest country debut The Country Music Association announced its association with MS&L at with 14k, followed by George Jones’s Cracker Barrel an event in New York City on Wednesday (9/9). MS&L will work with exclusive with 5.4K, Texas act the Casey Donahew Band CMA primarily on entertainment marketing, branding and sponsor (3.7K), and Radney Foster (1.3K).