COUNTRY The Country Column SESAC Holds 14th Annual T. G. Sheppard will join Willie Nelson and a few friends Nov. 11 down in Tampa, Fla. for a Country Awards Presentation a of a Cerebral Palsy benefit. The Warner Bros. artist also recently finished taping segment by Bob Campbell ment" in recognition of the writer's con- television special which will focus on the happy times friends spent with the late Elvis NASHVILLE - The SESAC Licensing tribution to country music during the past Presley. Sheppard worked with Presley for five years and was a genuine close friend of Organization held its 14th annual Awards year. Elvis. T. G. also has a new single, "Daylight," which sits this week at #9 with a bullet on the Presentation last week in Franklin, Tenn. Exec Hosts Cash Box Country Singles Chart. near here and presented awards of ex- Hosting the awards were SESAC chair- Tom hosted a RCA's Charley Pride and Collins recently reception in the Opryland Hotel cellence in 10 categories, including man A.H. Prager and SESAC president in Nashville honoring Pi -Gem and Chess songwriters. Pride and Collins own the ASCAP "Heaven's Just A Sin Away" (written by Norman Weiser. Other executives at- and BMI publishing companies. Writers for the two companies include Kye Fleming, Gary Jerry Gillespie) as the SESAC "Most Recor- tending were SESAC vice presidents Harrison, Terry McMillan, Geof Morgan, Kent Robbins, Dean ded Song of the Year." Charles Scully and Norman Odium; Brad Rutherford, Dennis Morgan, Archie Jordan, Conrad Pierce, A highlight of the awards was the presen- McCuen, director of country music; Jim Charles Quillen, John Schweers and David Wills. Approximately tation of the Paul Heinecke Citation of Merit Black, director of gospel music; Don Lowe, 80 people attended the reception, including ABC's Barbara to the Country Music Association "in director of black music; Vincent Candilora, Mandrell and RCA vice president Jerry Bradley. recognition of invaluable leadership in the director of creative services; and Sheila First Generation's tireless Ernest Tubb will head for the international promotion and exposure of Tybur, administrative assistant, Nashville northwest next month and will play 37 out of the 40 days he will be country music as America's own musical division. on the road. Tubb recently completed a double album in which he art form." CMA executive director Jo The following is a list of the SESAC was helped out by virtually every major artist in the business, in- Walker accepted the award, which is Award winners: cluding Willie and Waylon. named after SESAC's founder and is the ALL I WANT OF YOU - Ronnie McDowell - Brim T.G. Sheppard "Riders In The Sky," a group of Nashville guys who entertain most prestigious award given by SESAC. Music - Ronnie McDowell; ANIMAL - Ronnie McDowell audiences with a straight shot of authentic western -cowboy music, will head out on a - Brim Music - Ronnie McDowell; BURNING BRIDGES The Paul Heinecke Award has only been Walter Scott Sage & Sand Music Tom T. Hall; national tour in November and December. "Riders In The Sky" play all the old Gene Autry - - - awarded three times: to Winfield Dunn, for- CONVOY - Chip Davis/William Fries - American and "Sons Of The Pioneers" songs. mer Tennessee governor; the late Hubert Gramaphone - C.W. McCall; FREEDOM AIN'T THE BEIN' FREE Jackie D. Johnson Conten- Three -time Grammy winner John Hartford is spending part of this month working as a Long; and to Irving C. Waugh, former presi- SAME AS - - captain and deckhand on the riverboat "The Julia Belle Swain." The new "Look" Magazine tion Music - Eddy Arnold; THE GALLOPIN' GOOSE - dent of WSM and now a vice president for Chip Davis/William Fries American Gramaphone in a future issue. Author - - is photographing Hartford's experience fora photo essay segment Tree International. C.W. McCall; HEART - Ronnie McDowell - Brim Music of "Gentle On My Mind," Hartford has completed a new album for Flying Fish Records 500 Attend - Ronnie McDowell; HOLD ME - Glenn Ray - Gator Music. Inc. Barbara Mandrell; HOMELESS CHILD titled, "Headin' Down Into The Mystery Below." Nearly 500 music industry leaders atten- - - Ronnie McDowell Brim Music Ronnie McDowell; I Bobby Bare recently taped a segment of the PBS Network program, "Austin - - Columbia's ded the dinner, awards presentation and DON'T FEEL LIKE LIVIN' TODAY - Peggy Forman - new single, "Sleep Tight, Good Night City Limits," at Austin, Tx.'s KLRN-TV studios. Bare's dance, which also included a filmed "Birth- Hello Darlin' Music - Kenny Dale; I DON'T KNOW 8 I Man," currently rides the #25 spot with a bullet on the Cash Box singles chart. The single day Salute to the Country Music Associa- DON'T CARE - Chip Davis/William Fries - American was taken from his new album, "Sleeper Wherever I Fall." Gramaphone - C.W. McCall; I HOPE YOU'RE HAVIN' tion." BETTER LUCK THAN ME Ted Harris Contention an exclusive artist. - - Kent Westberry recently signed with Door Knob Records as The SESAC winners in 10 categories are Music - Crystal Gayle. Westberry co -wrote "Love In The Hot Afternoon" and will be produced by Gene Kennedy. as follows: I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW - Ronnie McDowell More than 200 versions of his songs have been recorded. - Brim Music - Ronnie McDowell; I NEVER DID QUITE Ambassador of Country Music, Jim GET OVER YOU Monk Gentry Hello Darlin' Music- MCA's Merle Haggard and Leona Williams were married in Lake Tahoe on Oct. 7. And - - Halsey; Best Country Album, "Out Of My Conway Twitty; IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN - Kaye the two have recorded a duet, "The Bull And The Beaver," which is #55 with a bullet on the Head And Back In My Bed;" Special Writer Milete/Gary S. Paxton/Jim Lusk - Kaysey Music/Garpax Cash Box singles chart this week. This is the first duet Haggard has recorded in 14 years. Award, Charlie Black; A&R Producer, Slim Music - Vern Gosdin; I'VE NEVER LOVED YOU MORE Lynn and husband Mooney hid out in Idaho for a couple of weeks this month. - Raymond A. Smith - Hello Darlin' Music - Conway Loretta Williamson; Most Recorded Country Song, Broadsword Music airplane could reach the location. There are no Twitty; LUCKY DAY - Lee Morgan - Their vacation site was so remote only an "Heaven's Just A Sin Away;" International, - Ronnie McDowell; OLD GLORY - Chip Davis/William access roads through woods. Following the rest, Loretta flew to Los Angeles and taped "The King Is Gone;" Country Single of the Fries - American Gramaphone - C.W. McCall; THE "The Dinah Shore Show," "Mery Griffin Show" and "The Mike Douglas Show." Loretta is REAL THING - Ronnie McDowell - Brim Music - Jean Year, "Out Of My Head And Back In My Shepard; SHADOWS OF THE WALL Ricci out in Reno, Nev. now for a two-week engagement at Harrah's Club. The MCA artist will - Bed;" Country Music Writer of the Year, Mareno/Thomas Beckett - Ricci Mareno Music - Gene also tape "Country Christmas," a television special set for airing on Dec. 7 on CBS. Peggy Forman; Best Country Song, "I Love Watson; TRAVELIN', WANDERIN', MAN - Ronnie Singers Bobble Gentry and Jim Stafford were recently married here on their newly - McDowell - Brim Music - Ronnie McDowell; WIPE YOU You, I Love You, I Love You;" SESAC Hall of FROM MY EYES - Cary Lynn Rutledge - Big Crush acquired 120 -acre farm near Nashville. Tennessee Lt. Gov. John Fame Award, "Burning Bridges." previously Music Company - King Edward IV; YOURS TO HURT Wilder married the couple. Gentry and Stafford, both In addition, nearly 75 individual awards TOMORROW - Peggy Forman - Hello Darlin' Music - for a show in Las Vegas last April. Conway Twitty. married, met while rehearsing were presented as "Certificates of Achieve - Both successful writers and artists, Gentry is best known for her haunting "Ode To Billy Joe." Stafford wrote and recorded "My Girl I Bill" and "Spiders And Snakes." Halsey Festiva Set Nov. 3-5 Lindsey, Jody Miller, The Oak Ridge Boys. The Exit/In held a special writer's night last week in which several NASHVILLE The second annual Tulsa - Ray Price, Buck Trent, Tammy Wynette. well-known Nashville songwriters and performers entertained. International Music Festival, to be hosted Mel Tellis, Barbara Fairchild, Freddy Fen- Dick Feller, Steve Young, Linda Hargrove, R. C. Bannon, Harlan by Jim Halsey of the Jim Halsey Talent der, Joe Stampley and Don Williams. Sanders and Ladysmith were among the writers who performed. Agency Nov. 3-5, will be taped by Osmond GMC Artist Mundo Earwood has been playing a series of fair and Jimmy Dean Television for future use. Talent buyers, Hicks And Roberts rodeo dates, and he recently drew a capacity crowd at the prestigious Pasadena, Tx. performers, major television and radio Livestock and Rodeo Show. "Things I'd Do For You," is charting at #24 this week on the producers and fair promoters are expected Cash Box chart and is Earwood's strongest record yet. to attend the festival which will feature per- Join Top Billing MCA's Bill Monroe recently was surprised on his 67th birthday with a party given by his formances by more than 20 major acts. NASHVILLE - Tandy Rice, president of office staff. In attendance were Ernest Tubb, Wilma Lee Cooper and other friends of the A new feature for the festival will be a Top Billing, Inc. management and booking bluegrass legend. Galactic Laser Experience Show produced agency, has announced the recent appoint- ABC's Don Williams, who walked off with this year's CMA "Male Vocalist of the Year" by The Image People in association with ments of Raymond Hicks as a company Award, heads down to Texas soon for a seven -date tour. AV -III, which will be presented during the booking agent and Susan Roberts as a Entertainer Jimmy Dean has recently signed with Top Billing Management and Booking VIP banquet Nov. 3 which will open the special services division publicist. Agency. Active in television, nightclubs and recording work, Dean is probably best known festival. The laser shows will involve 20 pro- A native of Arkansas who studied for his million -selling "Big Bad John." bob campbell jectors and a multi -media presentation political science at The University of synchronized with performances. Arkansas, Hicks previously worked for Mel Another feature will be the presentation Tiflis Enterprises. He joins the booking by Country Music Magazine of its annual team of Don Fowler, Jack Sublette, Ginger Bullet Awards during a noon luncheon on Hennessy and excutive vice president and Saturday, Nov. 4. Ten acts from around the sales chief Andrea Smith. world, many making their American debut, A five-year veteran of the publicity and will appear in Saturday's International artist relations department of MCA here, show. Roberts will work with special services Radio Program head Kathy Hooper, publicity director Halsey said a future radio broadcast of Arletta Breidenbaugh and television coor- the entire festival may transpire. "Negotia- dinator Ty Coppinger. tions are currently underway with a major radio program syndication company for taping and later broadcast of the entire festival," Jim Foglesong, ABC president, HEARTBREAKER IS GOLD FOR DOLLY - RCA Records artist Dolly Parton recently per- Nashville, has announced that a live record formed a concert at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland, after which she album will be released documenting met with local record retailers to thank them for helping to make "Heartbreaker" her festival performances. second straight gold album. Pictured with Parton are (l -r): Vince Penn, RCA sales Entertainers scheduled to perform for representative for Washington, D.C.; Ron Quimby, manager of Records & Tapes Ltd.#2; the Halsey Co. during the three-day festival and John Matthews, manager Records & Tapes Ltd.#1. will include Roy Clark, Roy Head, George H cks Roberts

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