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Home , Dave Loggins, Jerry Crutchfield

COUNTRY MU51C SPICIAL 1979

MCA Music N'ville Top Billing Increases Artist Intl Records Dist. Sees Heavy Chart Roster, Headway Assoc. Diversifies Action In 1979 Continues Into Many Fields Headed by President Tandy Rice, Top information, vintage and current MCA Music Nashville has had a particularly The country was in the midst of the Billing has this year increased its artist photography, Life Story 'booklets, a dis- impressive year in 1979, as the national 1973/74 recession when Mike Shepherd, roster and made continued headway for its cography and major awards sheet, a road trade charts very handily demonstrate in then manager of the Warner Bros. Records artists with special promotions, commer- show brochure, press releases and her terms of both heavy single and album ac- office in Nashville, and arranger/conductor cial endorsements, television, national and newest single and album on Ruboca tivity. Additionally, this same period has Hank Levine recognized the need for a dis- international bookings. Records. seen positive developments that have con- tribution outlet for the independent record Added to the Top Billing roster have The Kendalls and Jeannie C. Riley were tributed to' and definitely enhanced the ex- producer and small label. They felt their been: The Bellamy Brothers and Big Al honorees at press -attended functions citement at MCA Music. to potential hit product was being regularly re- Downing on Warner Brothers Records, preview new albums. Promoted were The MCA Music in Nashville with its individual jected by major labels due to the economic Charly McClain on Epic, Jimmy C. Newman Kendell's "Just Like Real People" album for catalogs, including Leeds Music, Dechess conditions in the record industry at the and Cajun Country on Plantation, Cal Smith Ovation Records and Riley's first release Music and Champion Music is headed by time, and so they started International on MCA and Tommy Cash on Monument. for CrossCountry, Fly." A vice president , director of "Wings To special Record Distributing Associates (IRDA). The Bellamys, Downing, McClain, New- homecoming tribute for St. Louis natives operations. Crutchfield, a veteran music Their idea then, as now, was to press up the man, Smith and Cash join Top Billing The Kendalls centered around a benefit executive is a successful writer and necessary promotional copies of the veterans , , performance they gave for the St. Louis Un- producer as well as the head of the record, mail them to radio stations, follow Johnny Carver, Jerry Glower, Floyd iversity Hospitals and included proclama- publishing operation. His songs have been up with promotion and sales, then collect Cramer, Jimmy Dean, Don Gibson, Tom T. tions from Tennessee and Missouri govern- recorded by major artists and as a from distributors on each record sold keep- Hall, Wendy Holcombe, The Kendalls, ment officials. A tribute for Jim Ed Brown is producer he has been represented in the ing a small amount as royalty and disburs- Dickey Lee; Jeannie C. Riley, Carl Smith, set to coincide with his performances dur- top of the charts countless times, including ing the balance of the funds to the owner af- Red Sovine, , Kitty Wells, ing six days of his home state Arkansas' seven number one records. ter pressing costs were deducted. The idea Johnny Wright and Bobby Wright, in addi- State Fair this October. For Jerry Glower, MCA Music, with a Nashville operation was new, and it worked. tion to (First Brother) Billy a full since 1965, is firmly committed to Nashville Carter and arrangements have been made for a guest list of speakers operating within the Top professorship at Mississippi In the first few months of operation the as a music center with a strong belief in State Univer- Billing platform division. will lecture Fall in company had a Top 10 hit single with "I solid traditional as well as sity. Glower this the Un- The undertaking promotions iversity's Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight" the blending sounds of contemporary of special schools of Communications, Theatre, by Stella Parton on the Soul Country label, musical influences, both of which are and projects, one of Top Billing's strengths, Marketing and Agriculture. have included a With followed immediately by "The Man On finding their way into the crossover success massive press campaign the upcoming release of Tom T. Kitty Wells Hall's Page 602" by Zoot Fenster on Antique of the total music spectrum. Some of the for who celebrated her 60th book, "The Storyteller's Nashville," birthday and 43 years in the entertainment Top Billing has been working with Double- Records. These hits were followed over the chart activity the past year has included next five years by chart records for Randy "Dream On" by the Oak Ridge Boys; "Two business. Mailed to U.S. and foreign press day to set up autograph parties and inter- contacts were press kits with biographical views. Hall's recent performance at the Barlow, David Rogers, Cathy Barnes, Steps Forward, Three Steps Back" by Christy Lane, Brick, John Wesly Ryles, (continued on page C-65) Hot Susie Allanson; "Danger: Heartbreak Ice, Vicky Fletcher, Brian Shaw, Bobby Ahead" by Zella Lehr; "Guess Who Loves NSA/ Pleased Smith, Candy Lee, Tommy Overstreet and You" by Mary K. Miller; "Crazy Arms" by April/Blackwood others. and the pop hit "Pieces of In the meantime, the company expanded April" by . With Rewarding Music Relies On into distribution of album product for small Recently MCA Music's songs were in- labels, and to date, numbers over 150 titles cluded in 20 of the top -charted country Year In 1979 Creative Balance in its Album World division catalog. Among albums with names such as , 1979 has been a very rewarding year for them are such name artists as Duke & , John Conlee, With over 20 country chart singles, multi- the Nashville Songwriters Ellington, Peter Frampton, Tommy Oak Ridge Boys. Crystal Gayle and Tammy Association, ple cuts in as many chart albums, and nine International. Overstreet, Sly Stone, Muhammad Ali, Neil Wynette. This impressive activity comes as current active singles, April/Blackwood In February, the Sedaka, Tony Orlando, Gladys Knight And the result of the combined efforts of the annual election of the Music's Nashville office is having a banner The Pips, The Ink Spots, Tina Turner, Rod MCA Music staff which includes: Ted Bar- board of directors was held and those com- year. According to A/B's Nashville head Stewart And Faces, Hoyt Axton, Jerry Lee ton and Pat Higdon, both associate direc- prising the board are: Patsy Bruce, Charlie Monk, "We've got the best creative Wayland Lewis, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday and tors of creative services; Colby Detrick, Holyfield, Liz Anderson, Paul balance in town. We've got country music's Ferlin Husky. Executive vice president Mike director of administration; and Dee Craft, Don Wayne, Hal Bynum, Paul Richey, most -awarded, longest -running writing Shepherd states, "These albums are Williams, administrative assistant. Rory Bourke, Ed Bruce, Del Bryant, John E. team in Jerry Foster and Bill Rice; the Denny, Danny Dill, Linda Hargrove, Diane writing and singing of Dottie West and Jerry (continued on page C-66) Warner Music Petty, Charlie Monk, Bob Montgomery, Ray Fuller; the writing and proudction of Larry Pennington, Frances Preston, Ed Shea, Nat Butler; the pop catalogues of Billy Joel, Little Giant: New In Stuckey, Sonny Throckmorton, Marijohn Walter Egan, Laura Nyro, Kansas, Dave Flourishes '79 Wilkin, Norro Wilson, and Jean Zimmer- Warner Bros. Music has stayed con- Mason, and the finest young writing staff And On The Charts man. Directors at large are: Chris Collier, sistently hot in 1979; starting with the #1 Ed- I've seen since I've been in Nashville." Ralph Emery, Pee Wee King, die Rabbitt single "Every Which Way But , More emphasis has been put on The Little Giant Record Company, head- Clarence Reynolds, Don Robertson, Loose" nominated for the CMA's song of Joe developing new writers and writer -artists quartered at 1014 16th Avenue South in Sullivan, Cliffie Stone, Bernie Wayne and the year, and continuing with singles by this year. Roger Murrah is a good example Nashville, was formed in April 1979 by R & Tommy West. Olivia Newton -John, Johnny Duncan, of a total Arpil/Blackwood effort. Monk M Sounds partners Roy Sinkovich, who The board, in turn, Jacky Ward, Charlie Rich, Con Hunley, elected the officers states, "With the help of Jerry Foster and serves as president of the label, and Mick for the year: president Patsy Bruce; David Rogers, Joe Sun, Hank Thompson, - first Bill Rice, we've been able to get over 30 Lloyd, who holds the label position of vice vice president Wayland Holyfield; Red Steagall, R. C. Bannon, Louise Man- - covers of Murrah's tunes including the president of A & R Heading up promotion second vice president drell, and others. - Llz Anderson; current Top Ten "My Silver Lining" by and public relations is national promotion secretary Paul Craft; treasurer Don In addition to these singles Warner Bros. - - Mickey Gilley. We're excited about our un- director, Dee Ygama. Dick Broderick Wayne; and -at -arms and Music has songs in current albums by sergeant charted writers," Monk continued, "we've serves the label in a consultant capacity, parliamentarian Hal Bynum and Paul , Crystal Gayle, Kenny - gotten eight covers on just one title written with his primary focus being international Richey. Rogers, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck by newcomer Chris Waters and we've just marketing and distribution. In February, NSAI offered its first and Jacky Ward along with self -penned sym- began." The present artist roster of Little Giant posium "Songwriting to Z." Offered singles and albums by R. C. Bannon, David - -A In the writer/artist category, Monk has consists of De De Upchurch, Jerri Kelly, as a service to members of NSAI, the signed Keith Stegall to Capitol Records and Bobbe Seymour & The Nashville Rhythm Allan Coe, Michael Clark, and Bobby David. success of the symposium was Nashville general manager Tim Wipper- so is helping to groom Murrah, Waters, and Section, the duo of Kelly & Lloyd, and Mick phenomenal that it will become an annual man and professional manager Johnny Michael Garvin for major record deals. Lloyd. Lloyd handles all production chores event, culminating, as it did, with the annual Wright stated that "In addition to the few ex- "With just me, Judy Harris, and Bob for the label, as the primary aim of Little Songwriter Achievement Ceremony and amples of activity above we have been in- Mather, we've had to work 25 hours a day to Giant is to maintain in-house control of all Dinner. Twenty songwriters were honored volved in several movie and TV projects in- compete with the bigger teams," Monk product and promotional activities, and to at this year's ceremony, and the event was cluding a movie about to go into production confessed, "but this week we've got five expand slowly in a cost-effective manner. by an additional songwriting based on the David Allan Coe composition enhanced chart singles and - the hits just keep com- Since its inception, the young label has "Take This Job and Shove It." (continued on page C-63) ing." (continued on page C-67)

C-42 Cash Box/October 13, 1979

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