Variety at William Morris
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Ray Griff Enterprises: A Year for Change Campbell's Popularity Gets Even Stronger NASHVILLE-A decision by re- 1975 is a year Glen Campbell cording artist Ray Griff to enter will long remember - it's the into a publishing administration year he re-emerged as a major agreement with Chappell Music recording artist. Although Camp- of New York has resulted in major bell was always around and drew change this year within the music extremely well on personal ap- complex of Ray Griff Enterprises. pearances and had good album Making the agreement inan sales, he lacked a recent single effort to allow additional time for hituntil "Rhinestone Cowboy" developing his career as a singer, hit. Griff entered the pact in July of Number One this year, and under its terms the Produced by Dennis Lambert Chappell organization now repre- and Brian Potter in Los Angeles, sents and administrates Blue Echo both thesingle and album Music (ASCAP), Blue Melody Mu- zoomed up the country and pop sic (ASCAP) and Blue Band Music chartsachieving anacross the (BMI) on a worldwide basis. board number 1 for Glen. A new recording/producing Glen Campbell contract was also part of this past Ray Griff Personal Reflections year's business for Griff, when he The album contained a collec- when he sang them - songs joined the roster of acts on Capi- 30 songs recorded during the past tion of songs that seemed to be like "Rhinestone Cowboy" and tolRecords.Hisaffiliationim- year, with current singles includ- personal reflections of Campbell, "Country Boy (You've Got Your mediately brought about hit sin- ing "Wave At 'Em Billy Boy" by though he didn't write them. At Feet In L.A.)." gle, "You Ring My Bell," and an Dave Dudley and "Where Love any rate, the songs on that al- Campbell's album and single album release scheduled for Begins" by Gene Watson. bum were extremely believable were certified gold and he was January. The offices of Ray Griff Enter - featured on the cover of Record Griff'spublishingcompanies prices are located at 1104 Eigh- World as he proved, once again, reaped the rewards of having over teen Avenue South in Nashville. Buck Owens that when a single explodes, a kit art kgarnmiac atuan hiaaar Capricorn's Mixture of Old andNewVariety at William Morris NASHVILLE - The William Nashville head Bob Neal stated Brings Out the Best of Both Worlds Morris Agency in Nashville, that 1975 was a very successful MACON, GA. - Capricorn There Wanna Be A Daddy." John- headed by Bob Neal, continues yearforthe Agency and that country is an interesting mixture ny Wright, her husband and for- to represent a variety of countrysome expansion within the same of the old and new - established mer half of the legendary Johnny talent in a broad base of offerings building is planned for the future artists, some of country music's and Jack duo, has also received as 1975 comes to a close. Others because of their growth. true pioneers and some of the airplay this year with his release inthe Nashville offices besides The importance of the Nash- "newer breed" of country acts of "Wild Passionate Lover." Neal include agents Sonny Neal, ville branch of the William Mor- that could be called progressive Kenny O'Dell, writer of such Dave Douds and Jack Haynes, ris Agency is proven by the fact country artists. hits as "Behind Closed Doors," who recently joined the organi-that key executives Sam Weis- zation, and assistants June Hazle- Capricorn'scountryactsin- "I Take It On Home" and "Beau- bord, executive vice persident in clude Billy Joe Shaver, Kitty Wells, tiful People," has received airplaywood, Gay Baker and Holly Potts. Beverly Hills; Lee Stevens, execu- Johnny Wright, Dickie Betts, Ken- success from his country singles Artists represented by the Wil- liam tive assistant to the president in ny O'Dell, Razzy Bailey and the thisyear, "Honky Tonk Ways" Morris Agency'sNashville New York; Lou Wise, in charge Marshall Tucker Band. and "Soulful Woman." His next office include Tom T. Hall, John- of TV in New York; Lee Salomon, ny Rodriguez, Bobby Bare, Donna KittyWells,the "Queenof scheduledrelease is "ICan't in charge of variety in New York; Think When You're Doing That Fargo, Sonny James, Jerry Reed, Fred Moch, in charge of Nevada Country Music," has had chart Asleep at the Wheel, Barbi Ben- success with several releases, the ToMe" b/w"TogetherThis bookings, based in Beverly Hills; Christmas." ton, Freddie Hart, the Hagers, the Bob Ringe of the London office; most recent being "Anybody Out Hart Family, Wanda Jackson, 0. Billy Joe Shaver Sidney Epstein of the Chicago of- B. McClinton, Melba Montgom- fice; and Marty Beck in the Bev- Billy Joe Shaver isscheduled ery, Webb Pierce, Brenda Pepper, erlyHillsoffice,willallbe in Soundwaves Inks Mack to record an album this fall, al- JeannieC.Riley,PatRoberts, though the exact time and place Marilyn Nashville during the Grand Ole Sellars,JoeStampley, Opry Birthday celebration. hasn't been set. The Texas singer/ Charlie Rich, Gene Watson and songwriter is known for his pro- David Wills. gressive writing and has had an album of his material recorded by Waylon Jennings. Carolyn Hollaran Alsoduringthepastyear, Johnny Darrellhad an album, Enterprises Bows "Pieces of My Life," released and NASHVILLE-Carolyn Hollaran JimNesbitt released the single SoundwavesRecords, owned by David "Shaving Cream." Enterprises was created this year Gibson, has signed Gary Mack to an ex- when Miss Hollaran had her first clusiverecordingcontract.Mack'sfirst Dickie Betts, a member of thebook published, "Your Favorite record for Soundwaves, titled "Hamburger Allman Brothers Band and writer Country Stars," by Popular Library Patty and Dollar Bill," has already been of theclassic "Ramblin' Man," released. Soundwavesisdistributedby in New York, and she formeda Nationwide Sound Distributorsin Nash- made inroads into the progressive tour company, "See -All Tours." ville.Picturedat the signing are (from country field when he released a The book was written after the left) Gary Branson, professional manager solo album, accompanied bya of Singletree Music; David Gibson; Dave tour that included fiddler Vassarformer WSM tour guide got the Burgess,presidentofSingletreeMusic idea while giving tours andan- and Mack's producer; and (seated) Gary Clements and The Poindexters. Mack. swering questions about the art- Razzy Bailey ists. The book features 64 chap- Razzy Bailey, a name to watch ters -64 artists and is aimed di- Buddy Lee Attractions: on Capricorn, had one single re- rectly at the fans. leased in 1975, "Peanut Butter," The tour company, formed with Always on the Move with more forthcoming nextyear. partner Eddie Karm, was formed The Marshall Tucker Band has this year and features tour serv- NASHVILLE - "Time never Charlie and Bill Monroe just released a single, "Fire On icesto accommodate the many stands stillat Buddy Lee Attrac- The Mountain," which country tions" has been a slogan at the coachesorbuses coming into stations are playing as wellas Nashville averaging 40-46 visitors booking agency for several years. their album. They are part of the And the business pinch felt by who are in town to see the Opry 4 Star Names Three "progressive country" sound that and sightsee. Their offices are lo- our industry and the nation for more and more are turning to. the past year has made this slogan cated at 2815 Belmont Blvd. New Department Heads a necessary reality at Buddy Lee NASHVILLE - JoeE. Johnson, Attractions, Inc. to further diver- 'T' Time president of 4 Star, has officially sifyhisrosterinthe pop and announced the appointment of novelty fields. Furthermore, Lee's threeindividualstoheadthe New York vice president, Joe Hig- company'smajordepartments. gins, recently signed Al Martino Johnson has turned the operation for future bookings. of 4 Star Music Publishing over The past year has not been to Jean Zimmerman, the market- without some tragedy at Buddy ing and sales of all 4 Star product Lee Attractions. The passing of isunder thecontrolofDavid two great artists, George Morgan Woodward, with 4 Star Records, and Lefty Frizzell, saddened the the newest endeavor for the Nash- entire organization and millions ville -based company, under the of fans around the world. In addi- direction of Bill Clark. tion,theunfortunateaccident Johnson and Peter Sale, gen- whichseriously injuredHank eral manager of 4 Star, will con- Williams, Jr. jolted the company, tinue to head the company from which was instrumentalinthe its new six -story office building, career of this young artist. which includes two 14 -trackre- Agency plans call for continued cording studios. The studios will expansion of sales markets be used by Johnson to produce through its Nashville, Omaha and Columbia Records' Willie Nelson recently brought hisTexas sounds to Tennessee as many of the 4 Star artists, includ- New York offices. headliner for the "T For Tennessee" music festat Vanderbilt. Nelson performed to an ing Jerry Wallace, who records for estimated crowd of over 8000. Shownon stage with him is MCA artist Tracy Nelson. MGM. 64 RECORD WORLD OCTOBER 18, 1975 SECTION II.