COUNTRY" " ACM Announces Nominees; Country I Program Scheduled For May 4 The Column — Warner Bros, artist Donna Fargo has a#1 single this week in CB with her ‘‘Do I Love You 4 LOS ANGELES — The Academy of Country SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR (Yes In Every Way)” release. She appeared in Vegas at the Frontier Hotel with Roy Clark Music has announced the five finalists in (Award to Artist, Producer & Record Com- during the week of March 9-15. And her next engagement is the Wembly Tour leaving each of a series of major categories for its pany): Blue Bayou (Linda Ronstadt), Don't March 21 for London, Sweden, Holland, Finland and Norway. annual awards presentation which will be It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (Crystal MCA 's Mel THUS will be seen on the ABC-TV network this spring, hosting his own variety held at the Shrine Auditorium on April 27 Gayle), Lucille (Kenny Rogers), Lucken- series. Former Miss California, Susan Anton, will co-host the series with Mel. At this time 4. Jennings), You Light and air on ABC-TV on May bach, Texas (Waylon no airdates have been scheduled and the title of the show is to be announced. Life Boone). ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Roy Up My (Debby Con Brio has announced its affiliated publishing companies. Con Brio Music, Wiljex Clark, Loretta Lynn, , Kenny SONG OF THE YEAR — (Award to Artist, Publishing Company and Concorde Publishing Company have entered into a long-term Tillis. Publisher): Don't It Rogers, Mel Composer & Make My with Burlington Music Company LTD of London and its affiliates for TOP MALE VOCALIST: Mickey Gilley, Brown Eyes Blue (Crystal Gayle). From worldwide representation, excluding the U.S. and Canada. Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, Graceland To The Promised Land (Merle Mercury artist Faron Young taped his first television special Conway Twitty. Haggard), Lucille (Kenny Rogers), Lucken- when he did the special for K-TEL International on Feb. 11 from the Crystal Gayle, bach, Jennings), Light X TOP FEMALE VOCALIST: Texas (Waylon You Wheeling Jamboree in Wheeling, W. Va. Other tapings by Faron Harris, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Par- My Life Boone). Emmyiou Up (Debby were the ‘‘Nashville Scene" hosted by T. Tommy Cutrer and the ton, Linda Ronstadt. ALBUM OF THE YEAR — (Award to Art- “Marty Robbins Spotlight.” Faron's current single "Loving Here VOCALIST: Debby ist, Producer & Record Company): Conway TOP NEW FEMALE And Living There And Lying In Between" Is #46 bullet this week in Boone, Helen Cornelius, Janie Fricke, Twitty's Greatest Hits Vol. II (Conway CB. Stella Parton, Mary Lou Turner. Twitty), (Dolly Par- ABC recording artist Tom Bresh, who Is represented by the Tony VOCALIST: Bobby ton), Kenny Rogers (Kenny Rogers), Moody TOP NEW MALE Ford Agency of Beverly Hills, recently appeared on his first net- Gosdin, 01’ Borchers, Howdy Glenn, Vern Mel Blue (Elvis Presley), Waylon (Waylon work TV show, ‘‘Command Performance" shown on CBS. Tom per- McDaniel, Eddie Rabbitt, Jennings). i formed for the NARM Country Show at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Ca. Jan. 20 and TOP VOCAL GROUP: Asleep At The CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Jerry will appear at Disney World in Orlando, FI. April 7. Wheel. Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn, Dave Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Paycheck, Country duo Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn are currently busy in the studio, working & Sugar, Oak Ridge Boys, Statler Brothers. Jimmy Rodgers, Dottle West. on material for their eighth duet album on MCA Records. After their recording dates, the 4 team will be touring together in the midwest and southeast. Gayle Headlines ‘Country Concert’ RCA’s Porter Wagoner played his first road show engagement in three years when he Ontario Festival Series Completed performed for the ‘‘Grand Ole Opry Stars on Tour” show in Pontiac, Mi. This show is an NBC special to be telecast on April 5. i NASHVILLE — Grammy Award winner LOS ANGELES — “Country Concert," Grand Ole Opry star Jimmy C. Newman joined a group of entertainers who have re- Crystal Gayle tops the list of performers set Filmways Radio's recorded live hour-long cently donated articles of clothing to the Hall of Fame for display in their for the "Giant Country Spring Festival” weekly radio syndicated program, has costume exhibit. His "Alligator Suit" costume came from his Cajun-oriented 1961 hit which is being held April 22 at the Riverside completed its first 13-show cycle. "Alligator Man. International Raceway in Ontario, Califor- Artists featured in the show, now airing Monument's newly signed artist. Tommy Jennings, has released his first single for the nia. The festival will feature 16 acts and run on over 200 country radio stations label. Older brother. Waylon, is doing the harmony for the new release. "Don't You Think approximately 12 hours. nationwide, include Johnny Paycheck, It's Time.” In addition to Gayle, other performers in- Moe Brandy, Tom T. Hall, The Statler Ovation Records' promotion man. Joe Sun, recently found out who the swingers are on i clude Johnny Paycheck, Hank Williams. Brothers, Barbara Mandrell, Doug the country airwaves when he sent out 250 invitations requesting the presence of DJs and Jr., the New Commander Cody Band, the Kershaw, Mickey Gilley, Hoyt Axton, Larry trade writers to a fake wife swapping party. The RSVP responses had the Ovation phones Kendalls, Mickey Gilley, Molly Bee, Ira Gatlin, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Jim Ed ringing off the wall. Allen & The Palomino Riders and Jerry Brown & Helen Cornelius, Kenny Rogers MCA's Ronnie Sessions’ new single "Cash On The Barrelhead" Naylor, who will also emcee the show. and Dolly Parton. debuted on the CB charts at #85 bullet. He has embarked on an ex- Promoter of the event is Anaheim-based “Since each of the 13 shows airs in tensive tour of the midwest and west to celebrate its release. Giant Rock Productions. Talent is being co- sequence and then the 13-week cycle is Monument’s Larry Gatlin has a new single being released March

ordinated by the William Boyd Agency and repeated on each station, we have, in es- 20. The title is “Nighttime Magic" and it will be the first record Gatlin Jerry Naylor. sence, completed six months of production has cut in California. on 'Country Concert,' ” Filmways president ABC artist Roy Head was the first performer to appear at a new Gary Standard said. San Antonio club called "Head First.” The club was named after a He further noted that the “Country Con- one of Roy's ABC albums. Roy has a new LP coming sometime this cert" production staff will begin a short month. hiatus before returning to start production Jean Shepard has signed an exclusive recording contract with Scorpion Records. Jean of the next 13-show cycle in late spring. came from United Artists Records where she had two #1 records and several that made Top 10. Her first release for Scorpion, written by Ronnie McDowell, is called "The Real Management Co. Opens Thing. — Inc. is taking DENVER Greensprings Express, has Columbia’s Sonny James a month out of his touring schedule for some restand i been formed recently here under the direc- to complete his forthcoming album on the Columbia label. His current single "This Is The tion of Ron Greensprings, former leader of Love," this week is #62 bullet on the CB charts and will be the title of his new album. Los Angeles country-rock band Yukon Ex- press. The company will handle manage- ment, bookings and promotion. Initial artists on the company roster in- clude Chuck Price, the Desperados, Rollin' Smoke Revue, Sleeper and Timothy P. and

the Rural Route III. i Parton Draws 84,000 HOUSTON — Dolly Parton drew an es- timated crowd of 84,000 at the Houston Livestock Show recently during a matinee and an evening performance. Dolly’s eve- I ning performance, drawing 43,105, set a a record second only to Elvis Presley, who tour years and two days earlier drew a crowd of 44,175. Gayle Serves Indiana LOS ANGELES — Crystal Gayle served as 1 honorary chairperson for Indiana AG Day, March 20, The event was held A simultaneously with National Agriculture V Day. Gayle, who grew up in Wabash, In- GOVERNOR GETS GOLD — Governor diana, helped officials at various activities Cliff Finch of Mississippi (r) recently was of the day in Indianapolis. presented a gold record by Phono- PALOMINO CELEBRATION — Freddy Fender and ABC Records hosted a birthday party gram/Mercury A&R director Phillips in New Label Is Bilingual Jud for producer Huey Meaux following Fender's recent performance at the Palomino in North recognition of his contribution to the LOS ANGELES — The new album by the Hollywood. Pictured (l-r) are: Bob Kirsch, product manager, ABC: Meaux; Jay southern music industry. Finch has started "King Of Indian Jewelry.” Gilbert Ortega, is Morgenstern, vice president and general manager at ABC Records, international division a Mississippi Hall of Fame for music in- and president, ABC/Dunhill out on the new LRJ label, and is biling- Music and American Broadcasting Music; Fender and Robin 4 dustry personalities born In the state. ual/country. Shoemaker, road manager for Fender.

56 Cash Box/March 25, 1978