RECORD women WORLD COUNTRY GMA Sets Committee Assignments Anderson Honored RCA Names Dea NASHVILLE - Committee as- man of the finance committee, signments for members of the and serving with him are John T. Exec Producer board of directors of the Gospel Benson, Ill, Brock Speer, Helen NASHVILLE-The appointment Music Association have been Maxson, Bob Benson, RW VP of Roy Dea as executive pro- announced by Marvin Norcross, John Sturdivant and J. D. Davis. ducer, , has been president. These committees met announced Yearbook by Jerry Bradley, for the first time during the division vice president, Nashville board's quarterly meeting Dec. Heading the committee to pre- operations, RCA Records. 1-2 in New Orleans. pare the 1977 GMA Yearbook Prior to joining RCA Records, Norcross and Directory is Helen Maxson. Bill Anderson was recently honored by named W. F. (Jim) Dea had spent five years with Myers to head the 1976 Dove Working with her are Hal Spen- being voted into the Country Music Song- writers Hall of Fame for his ability as a Mercury Records where he pro- Awards cer, Don Baldwin, John Benson, committee. Working with composer and lyricist. Pictured above, duced recordings by Linda Gail Myers Ill, Don Butler, Wendy Bagwell, will be Steve Speer, composer Harlan Howard (left) presents Lewis and co -produced record- Shirley Enoch, Aaron Brown, Lou Erick AuCoin and Bob Benson. Anderson with the "Manny" statuette, which is given all ings by Dave Dudley and Hildreth, Jim Black, Charles Eddie Benson will again head to new members of the Country Music Songwriters Hall of Fame. Johnny Rodriguez. Monk, Joe Huffman, Patty Parker, the membership committee, and Maurice LeFevre, Herman Harper named to serve with him were and Donna Hilley. Dianne Hooper, Les Beasley, Rex John Rees was named chair - Nelson, J. D. Sumner, Mary Hill - NASHVILLE REP RT yard, Joel Hemphill, (vous Sisk, Auditions Begun Larry Orrell, Sam Starr and Davis. B RED O'DONNELL Sturdivant was named chair- , the Pittsburgh Steelers quarter- By Opryland man of the editorial committee. back, completed his first recording session here On the committee with him are last week in less than one day. (He cut "Four NASHVILLE-Opryland U.S.A. Gordon Jensen, Brock Speer, Walls," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Burning has begun holding auditions this Connor Hall, Eldridge Fox, Walter Bridges" and "Makin' Plans.") First single release month in 17 cities in nine states Heeney, David Mead and Wayne is scheduled the week of Dec. 29. to fill more than 300 positions Christian. "I was unbelievably nervous at the start-about available in the 11 fully -staged, Mrs. Hilley again heads the 10 a.m. I I won't be live musical shows planned for know that nervous at the public relations committee, and Super if we make said. the park's 1976 season. Bowl, it-and we will," he serving with her are Emliiy Brad- "However," explained the premier passer Auditions began in Bowling football shaw, Norman Odium, Windy from , "I got sorta relaxed in the afternoon and calmed down Green, Ky., on December 3, fol- Johnson, Sharon Peck, David a bit." lowed by auditions and inter- Benware and Rees. Chewing a wad of scrap tobacco "to soothe my nerves," Bradshaw views through February 7 in Ten- added: "I did exactly what producer told me. He was nessee, New York, Georgia, In- Broadcast Media the coach." diana, Ohio, Illinois, Alabama Heading the broadcast media Kennedy, low profile as per usual, was unaccustomedly excited. and North Carolina. committee is Miss Peck. Named Bradshaw's manager, Tillman Franks, described the session as "fan- Technicians to work with her are AuCoin, tastic." The eight Nashville Sound musicians who backed him up Benware, Bagwell, Johnson, Fox According to John Haywood, agreed. "He (Bradshaw) not only can throw game winning passes but and Mrs. Sisk. production manager, the music he can sing," they chorused. theme park will need 300 singers, Harper was named to head Ooops! Listing of MGM Records in Nashville telephone directory is the time and place committee musicians, dancers, actors, for "MGM Country Club." Golf anyone? Nope, I am told it's the printer's

future meetings of the . clowns and specialty acts to ap- board. boo boo . . Taping of Jerry Reed's first program of a 90 -minute pear in the shows, and approxi- Working with him are Steve weekly syndicated talk -music show scheduled Thursday (18) at the mately 35 technicians, including Speer, Sumner, Spencer and Grand Ole Opry House. Burt Reynolds, Tammy Wynette, Ray Stevens stage managers, lighting special- Christian. and the host's 15 -year -old daughter, Sedina, guest. Show debuts ists, sound engineers, stage Spencer heads the special pro- nationally in late January on approximately 150 stations. hands and follow spot operators jects committee, and serving Earl Scruggs, who suffered a broken left ankle and left wrist when to fill technical positions. with him are Baldwin, Christian, the plane he was piloting crashed Sept. 29, probably will be able to A piano accompanist, record Odium, Mead, Hall, Starr, Jen- resume work by the middle of next month. "This confinement is player, guitar amplifier, and tape sen, Miss Hooper, Mrs. Bradshaw murder," said Earl, still confined to a wheelchair. "I've been doing recorder will be available for and Mrs. Hillyard. a lot of reading-but haven't been able to play the banjo. By the performers and all auditionees Named to head the nominating way, I've lost some weight. Must be Louise's (his wife) cooking," should bring their own material. committee was Butler, and he laughed. Persons interviewing for technical working with him are Orrell, Didja notice that La Costa is listed on the Record World charts positions should bring a typed Eddie Benson, Beasley, Nelon, with a single ("Western Man") ahead of younger sister Tanya Tucker resume. Sumner and Hemphill. (Continued on page 66) COUNTRY PICKS OF THE WEEK LEE, "SOMETIMES" (Grand re KATY MOFFATT, "I CAN ALMOST SEE THE LeFEVRES, "EXPERIENCE." W e Prize, BMI). Hats off to Houston a HOUSTON FROM HERE" (Cen- z Long o formidable force in the radio once again as they have W tral, BMI). A great song and m gospel field, the LeFevres have proved this a hit already in W a great new singer who you'll J an excellent album of gospel that area with the lead singer J be hearing more about in the music with strong commercial at Gilley's Club. Johnny Lee tn future. Katy is Billy Sherrill's country possibilities. Especially belts out this old latest discovery, and the pub- good are "He's Ready To Come, number in winning form-and lic will soon be discovering a I'm Ready To Go," "Jesus Would you can bet the listeners will star. She belts this out with Love Me The Same" and "Jesus have the phone lines lit for a voice that's like no other. Is Mine." Great guns-go gospel! requests. ABC Dot DOA -17603. A brand new 'star-shining Canaan CAS -9777. bright! Columbia 3-10271.

RECORD WORLD DECEMBER 20, 1975 65

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