Bobby Karl Works the Grammy Salute to Country Music Honoring Vince Gill Chapter 317

Home , Bobby Pinson, Buddy Jewell, Cheyenne Kimball, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Honky Tonk Stomp, Jeffrey Steele

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.”

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.

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

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). partnerships. (L-R): Bruce MacKenzie, Sr. VP/head of MS&L’s entertainment marketing, branding and sponsorship sales group; Sheri Warnke, VP Country seemingly got a limited spike from the ABC Strategic Partnerships; RCA Nashville recording artist Chuck Wicks; television special CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Tammy Genovese, CMA CEO; Steve Moore, CMA Board Pres.; and Dan Rock, with a 4% increase in total country album sales this Bowen, CMA VP Mktg. and Communications. Photo: Stuart Ramson week over last week.

More Artist Showcases Added to “One of the most prominent requests from our Radio- Info.com community has been the addition of content IEBA Conference relating to programming and music,” says Radio-Info.com Phil Vassar, Michelle Branch and Joey + Rory have publisher/CEO Diana Fleming. “In partnership with been added to the list of artists who will showcase during Nielsen, we are now launching 25 charts that will update the 2009 IEBA Conference October 11-13 at the Hilton continually. We will also continue to increase our editorial Downtown Nashville. The three artists join a lineup of special content surrounding the charts with news and analysis guests for the IEBA Conference that includes Chubby written and edited by our staff of experienced journalists. Checker, Boyz II Men, Don Felder, The Wailers, Jamey We invite all those interested to visit our site and explore Johnson, Randy Houser, Chris Young, Jessie James its rich radio content.” and Bob Lefsetz. The annual conference and IEBA Honors "We feel this is the perfect partnership that's a win-win at the Ryman Auditorium have become must-attend events for not only Nielsen and Radio-Info.com, but for radio and for those in the touring business and features over 40 label professionals,” says Catriona McGinn, General Manager showcases from top artists to rising stars. BDSradio, The Nielsen Company. “This new alliance combines the industry's leading chart service, Nielsen BDS, with the superior music and programming editorial content from World’s Largest No. 1 Party Set Radio-Info.com all on one easy-to-use, ‘must bookmark’ portal." For Sept. 21 NSAI’s World’s Largest No. 1 Party, presented by Avenue Hellard Signs With Big Loud Bucks Bank and CMA, will take place Monday, September 21 Ron Hellard, the writer of chestnuts between 4:30pm - 6:30pm. The annual outdoor gathering like “I’m No Stranger To The Rain” by Keith celebrates some of the past year’s top songwriters in Whitley and “I Tell It Like It Used To Be” Nashville and will be held in the NSAI parking lot at 1710 by T. Graham Brown, has signed with Big Roy Acuff Place, with food and drink provided. Loud Bucks for the administration of his catalog. Artists who have recorded Hellard’s Radio-Info.com To Carry Nielsen songs include George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Toby Keith, Lee Greenwood, Tammy BDS-monitored Chart Info Wynette, Tom Jones, Tanya Tucker and Radio and music industry website Radio-Info.com has Conway Twitty. Most recently, Hank announced a partnership with the Nielsen Company to publish Williams, Jr. cut Hellard’s “Forged By Fire” Ron Hellard Nielsen’s chart information in more than 20 radio formats. for his 127 Rose Avenue CD. Effective immediately, Nielsen’s BDSradio.com chart data will be added to Radio-Info.com’s new Programming & Music MusiCares Offers Free Mammograms Section, where it will be updated weekly. Every BDS-monitored MusiCares will offer free mammograms to women in the format will be represented, including country, Top 40, urban, music industry during the week of October 12-16. The AC, smooth jazz, multiple rock formats and several Christian service is for the uninsured or for those who have not had a formats. The charts will continue to be managed by Billboard’s mammogram in more than one year. Screenings will take chart department.

place at the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center (1035 14th Ave. N., Nashville). Please contact MusiCares at 615-327-0050 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment. Muzak’s New Plan Muzak has announced that it is filing a Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Silver Point Capital Advisers L.P., a committee representing Muzak’s unsecured creditors, supported the plan. Under the current terms, Muzak’s outstanding debt would be reduced by more than half to $230 million and its annual interest expense would get a significant reduction. A hearing to consider approval of the Disclosure Statement is scheduled for October 27. Taylor Swift and tour openers Gloriana surprised country radio programmers during a recent dinner in New York City before her sold- out Madison Square Garden show. (L-R): Gloriana’s Mike Gossin and DISClaimer Cheyenne Kimball; WKLB’s Ginny Rogers; Swift; and Gloriana's Tom by Robert K. Oermann Gossin and Rachel Reinert. Swift's Fearless 2009 Tour makes a stop at It’s country collaboration Nashville's Sommet Center tomorrow night (9/12). day! Ronnie Milsap is singing with Trace Adkins. Bruce Springsteen turns up as a guest on John Fogerty’s album. Billy Gibbons meets Brooks & Dunn in a roadhouse rumble. And in the most unlikely scenario of all, Hank Williams Jr. takes a ride in Appalachia with The Grascals. And mostly the match-up listening is good. Among our other discs today are fine outings by Buddy Jewell, Phil Vassar and Miranda Lambert. And then there is that impossibly hooky Rascal Flatts made their second appearance on Oprah yesterday new item from Gloriana, which wins the Disc of the (9/10). As part of the show’s 24th season kick-off the band performed Day prize. “How Far Do You Wanna Go?” All the way to live for crowds on Michigan Ave. Black Eyed Peas, James Taylor and Jennifer Hudson also performed. Number One. In the absence of any other contenders, West Virginia’s The New Relics take home a DisCovery Award by default. But I do think they still need a little polishing.

BROOKS & DUNN/Honky Tonk Stomp Writer: Ronnie Dunn/Terry McBride/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Ronnie Dunn & Terry McBride; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Arista (track) —The deep twang and a cameo vocal are provided by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Alas, the song is otherwise pretty dull, a party-hearty attempt that falls flat while making plenty of noise.

BOMSHEL/19 And Crazy Writer: Kelley Shepard/Kristy Osmunson/Mark Irwin/ Josh Kear; Producer: Chuck Howard; Publisher: Getting Grown/KupKake/Osmunson/Oceans One/Year of the Dog/Big Yellow Dog/Darth Buddah, BMI/ASCAP; Curb RCA Nashville's Chris Young recently appeared on RFD-TV’s Crook & Chase —Their bright voices are mixed too far down in the performing his Top 10 single “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” thumping production to be able to hear the clever lyric. from his new album, The Man I Want to Be.The episode also featured The energy level, however, is terrific. Wynonna. (L-R):Lorianne Crook, Wynonna, Charlie Chase, and Young.

THE NEW RELICS/Beautiful —This must have been a thrill for Trace, because he is a Writer: M. Arbogast/J. Swiger/B. Martin/J. Bidwell; huge Ronnie Milsap fan. He even asked for Ronnie to Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Blues induct him into the Opry cast. Both of them sing this Alley/Spinville (www.thenewrelics.com) frothing rocker with growling urgency. —Jaunty, sunny and young sounding. It is somewhat wordy and takes way too long to get to the hook: “What MIRANDA LAMBERT/White Liar are you doing when you’re not being beautiful?” Writer: Miranda Lambert/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke; Publisher: none listed, PHIL VASSAR/Everywhere I Go BMI; Columbia Nashville (CDX) Writer: Phil Vassar/Jeffrey Steele; Producer: Phil Vassar; —What a terrific country singer she is. I love every drawl Publisher: Phylvester/Jeffrey Steele/BPJ, ASCAP/BMI; and twang in this snarky vocal performance. The rolling Universal South song is superbly written and loaded with melodic hooks. —She is gone, and her memory is everywhere he turns. Catchy to the max. Phil turns on the passion in the nearly shouted choruses at the top of his range. JOHN FOGERTY & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN When Will I Be Loved BUDDY JEWELL/Somebody Who Would Die For You Writer: Phil Everly; Producer: John Fogerty; Publisher: Writer: Mark Narmore/Adam Wheeler; Producer: none Sony-ATV Acuff-Rose, BMI; Verve Forecast (track) listed; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Care Taker/Noble (615-251-0905) Vision, BMI/ASCAP; O’Reilly International —I have always said that John Fogerty was a country —That homeless vet you rushed past is somebody who singer trapped in a rock band. And it goes without saying would die for you. So is the father whose feelings you that Bruce has more blue-collar cred than half the hurt. You can see where this is going, can’t you? The country stars in this town. The two harmonize splendidly religious conclusion may be obvious, but this is a singer on this rollicking Everly Brothers twang fest. Do yourself who can wring every drop of meaning from every line. a favor and buy John’s Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again Extremely well done. for one of the finest country-music listening experiences of the year. It even comes on vinyl. GLORIANA/How Far Do You Wanna Go Writer: Matt Serletic/Jeffrey Steele/Danny Myrick; HANK WILLIAMS JR. & THE GRASCALS Producer: Matt Serletic; Publisher: Melusic/Primary Wave All The Roads Emblem/Jeffrey Steele/Soulride/BPJ, ASCAP/BMI; Writer: Hank Williams Jr.; Producer: Doug Johnson & Emblem/Warner Bros. Hank Williams Jr.; Publisher: Bocephus, BMI; Curb (CDX) —I am crazy about this band. The harmony-soaked —Bocephus goes acoustic in this delightful mountaineer rocker is an open-road song if I’ve ever heard one. And romp. The song is a hillbilly smile-a-minute. What a this particular highway leads straight to stardom. wonderfully fulfilling change of pace.

RONNIE MILSAP & TRACE ADKINS/My First Ride Writer: Shannon Lawson/John Phillips; Producer: Rob Galbraith; Publisher: Muzik Mafia/Do Write, ASCAP; Bleve (www.blevemusic.com)