ARTISTS & MUSIC Monte Warden Keeps Rolling Along Wagoneers Veteran Hits The Road With New Asylum Solo Release BY CHET FLIPPO Evelyn Shriver's first signing when songs for the first time in my life. NASHVILLE -As a member of the she took over the label last April. The irony of it is that people are pioneering alt.country group the "Back when I was a publicist, telling me these sad songs are some Wagoneers, Monte Warden recorded Monte was the only act I ever sought of the finest writing I've ever done. two landmark albums on A &M- out to sign," she says. "I loved the It's funny how diversity can bring out "Stout & High" and "Good For- Wagoneers. I went to see them play the best in you. As a writer, you write tune"-that have passed into history. the IFCO [Interna- about what you know, about what As a solo artist, Warden then cut tional Fan Club Orga- you're living." two critically acclaimed albums for nization] show at Fan Warden is a versatile writer-with the Austin, Texas-based Watermelon Fair and went up and cuts done by the likes of Maria Records. His self -titled 1993 debut introduced myself McKee, Patty Loveless, Danni Leigh, release and 1995's "Here I Am" are and got involved with Billy Yates, and Bruce Robison-but still available from some online retail- [Warden's] career. I his most personal writing in years is ers, although Watermelon has filed love him and his mu- on this record. for bankruptcy. WARDEN sic. He's always done Such divorce -fueled songs as "A Now, Warden hopes the third time it his way." Stranger To Me Now" and "I Can't Platinum Hope. Garth Brooks, producer Don Was, and actress Sandra Bullock is the charm as he starts another solo "I was shocked as hell when she Tell My Heart What To Do" (both received double -platinum awards for the "Hope Floats" soundtrack, which has career with Nashville's Asylum Rec- called me about Asylum," says War- written with Nashvillian Bill Lloyd) been certified for sales of 2 million units by the Recording Industry Assn. of ords, which on March 9 releases the den. "She said, `I can't be your publi- rank up there with many fine, sad America. Shown, from left, are Was, Brooks, and Bullock. album `A Stranger To Me Now" cist anymore.' Instead, she became mainstream country songs. Warden was Asylum president my record company president. A The first single, "Someday," is gar- number of labels were looking hard at nering much airplay in the East, me, but Evelyn has total faith in me." thanks to Warden's extensive radio In recording the album, the often - touring there. WCTO Allentown, Pa., ebullient Warden says he was devas- PD Chuck Geiger says that Warden tated by a bitter divorce that shaded brought his guitar to the station and Remembering The late Decca Records: From his songwriting. played live on the air for an hour, mak- "It really broke my heart," he says. ing new friends in the area. To "I also quit playing much, because I "He's getting a real good response Nashville Pioneer '90s Independent Spirit didn't feel like singing all those happy here," says Geiger. "Requests for him songs that I had written before. So I are up, and we're going to have him o N THE ROW: In further fallout from last month's Decca became a country power with the likes of was trying to learn how to write sad (Continued on page 37) Universal Music Group reorganization and the clos- Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, Jimmie Davis, Bill Mon- ing of Decca Records here (Billboard, Jan. 30), Lee roe, Kitty Wells, and Webb Pierce. With such roster Ann Womack, Mark Ches- additions as Brenda Lee, Decca survived the nutt, and will be rock'n'roll of the late DfigLCA Gary Allen explosion '50s. Teen Jessica Andrews Greets R[ C O R O S the only Decca artists absorbed When Cohen retired in 1958, Bradley became head into MCA Nashville. At Mer- of Decca's country offices, which were then moved cury Nashville, veteran artist from New York to Nashville. `World' With DreamWorks Set John Anderson, comic Rodney Carrington, and new Bradley found his Eliza Doolittle in Patsy Cline. artist Jenny Simpson were let go. Some artists After Cline's failure as a rockabilly singer, Bradley BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE got very excited about the music. I dropped by Decca are already being scouted by other guided her to crossover stardom; she made a series NASHVILLE-The '90s may well be think she has a bright future." labels (see story, page 1). of marvelous recordings for Decca until her death in remembered as the decade of the teen Andrews started working toward Among those Decca executives let go are label head 1963. Bradley, who was responsible for the rise of the in country music. On the heels of the that future early but was almost side- Shelia Shipley Biddy smooth Nashville phenomenal success of LeAnn Rimes lined by health problems. "It was a and VP of promotion sound along with RCA's and the burgeoning career of Lila bone growing through my spinal Rick Baumgartner. Chet Atkins, was as McCann comes the latest strong con- cord," she says of the condition that Others leaving, from the adroit with Cline's lush tender, Jessica Andrews, who recent- was diagnosed when she was 7. "I had promotions, administra- Nashville sounds as he was with ly turned 15. Already acclaimed for a 50/50 chance of coming out of the tive, and publicity staffs, Loretta Lynn's tradi- "I Will Be There For You," on "The surgery paralyzed. I just feel blessed were Lee Adams, Eric tional country style. Prince Of Egypt-Nashville" album, that I'm OK now" Beggs, April Rider, P.J. cetke The last years of Andrews will see her debut set, A native of Huntingdon, Tenn., Olsen, Trudie Richard- Decca marked the rise "Heart Shaped World," released Andrews entered her first talent con- son, Larissa Juzwiak, of Lynn and Conway March 23 on DreamWorks Nashville. test at age 10, and someone sent a tape Denise Melton, and Twitty, both separate- "LeAnn really opened the to Byron Gallimore, who has Gina Gamble. by Chet Flippo ly and as a duo. In doors for young artists," says produced Tim McGraw and Jo Decca senior VP of 1973, after Decca be- Andrews. "People took LeAnn Dee Messina, among others. A &R head Mark came MCA Records seriously because she was so Gallimore says he liked her Wright is in discussions with MCA Nashville about and the Decca name was retired, Bradley himself talented. I think that's when voice but didn't know what he joining that label. Decca Southwest regional promot- retired from the executive life in favor of full -time pro- people started realizing could do with a 10- year -old. A er Enzo DiVincenzo replaces MCA Southwest rep ducing. teenagers are great and they couple of years later, mutual Darlene Edwards. After many corporate years as MCA, the label was deserve a shot. I credit her friends introduced them, and Decca's demise leaves a long legacy of Music Row relaunched in 1994. Shipley Biddy as senior VP/GM with opening the doors for AND REWS they began working together. history. Although RCA, Capitol, and Mercury have and Wright as head of A&R brought an independent younger people. I don't think "It was a long process," she strong country lineages, Decca and MGM pioneered sensibility to the new Decca. age is so much the issue any more; I says. "We looked for songs for over country recording sessions in Nashville in 1947 at the Chesnutt, as the label's premier artist, embodied think it's all about the music." two years. We really wanted to go into Castle Studios in the Tulane Hotel. Decca's independent spirit-as ready to cut a Diane "I Will Be There For You," the first the studio and experiment a lot to find Decca Record Co. Ltd. was formed in the U.K. in Warren/Aerosmith song as to carry on the trad -coun- single, was released Jan. 25. The my sound and style and things that 1929. Jack Kapp left Brunswick Records in New York try standards. Decca's biggest recent achievement video is already on CMT, TNN, and worked the best for me." to form Decca Records in the U.S. in 1934. Under was in breaking new trad artist Womack in an era in other outlets. "The thing that hit me Andrews says she and Gallimore Jack's brother David, Decca began making "hillbilly which naysayers said it couldn't be done. the most is when I was able to hear recorded almost 50 songs before set- records" in the form of field recordings or in studios Decca also gave country icon Dolly Parton anoth- her album, I got through the first five tling on the 12 that are on the album. in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. After World er opportunity after Universal's Rising Tide Records songs and thought they were awe- She credits Gallimore and his wife, War II, Decca's hillbilly side was renamed Country & was folded, and Parton responded with her strongest some. Then I realized I hadn't even Missy, with getting top-notch songs Western, with Paul Cohen as its head. album of new songs in years. gotten to the single yet," says Travis from publishers. "Missy has a great Cohen started recording in Nashville with Owen Decca has been a proud name in country music in Moon, music director of KEEY Min- relationship with all the publishers in Bradley, then music director at WSM, assisting him. the finest Nashville tradition. R.I.P. neapolis. "I thought, `Wow, there's at Nashville," Andrews says. "She took least six songs that are smashes.' I (Continued on. page 37)

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