NashvilleMusicGuide.com 1 NashvilleMusicGuide.com 2 NashvilleMusicGuide.com 3 Letter from the Editor Nashville is known to many as Music City, While blues lyrics often deal with the blues. USA -- but even more so it is considered personal adversity, the music itself goes the capitol for the Country Music Scene. far beyond self-pity. The blues is also This year marks the 5th Annual Music While both are true, over the past few about overcoming hard luck, saying what City Blues Spring Festival slated to be years Nashville has been cultivating its you feel, ridding yourself of frustration, held on Memorial Day at Centennial Park. other genres that can be found around letting your hair down, and simply having It is free to the public and the headliner is town. fun. From unbridled joy to deep sadness, Taj Mahal. no form of music communicates more Last year, NMG decided to start covering genuine emotion. We also hosted a Blues Jam and had some these other genres that have been quietly great artists come out to perform - Johnny growing on the side scenes of Country. The blues grew up in the Mississippi Hiland and Ronnie Lutrick of The Blues Delta just upriver from New Orleans, the Connection, The Andy T Band, Tyrone One of these genres was the Blues, birthplace of jazz. Blues and jazz have Carreker, Paris Delane and numerous surprisingly there was a larger scene than always influenced each other, and they others that blew away Midtown. any of us could have realized. still interact in countless ways today. From there it expanded across the South and We are proud to say that it was such a With May being Blues Month in eventually even further. huge success that we are doing our Second Tennessee, with the Beale St. Festival, the Annual Blues Jam this year at the end of Annual Music City Blues Festival as well When the country blues moved to the the month at Soulshine Pizza Factory as our Annual Blues Jam it only seems cities and other locales, it took on various (check out the back cover for more details). fitting that we dedicate this issue to the regional characteristics. Hence the St. Blues. Louis blues, the Memphis blues, the NMG is thankful for all of its advertisers, Louisiana blues, etc. Chicago bluesmen supporters and readers. It is because of When you think of the blues, you think such as John Lee Hooker and Muddy you all that we can continue to provide about misfortune, betrayal and regret. Waters were the first to electrify the blues these up and coming artists, writers and You lose your job, you get the blues. Your and add drums and piano in the late 1940s. musicians with the exposure that they mate falls out of love with you, you get need and deserve. the blues. Your dog dies, you get the blues. Today there are many different shades of Amanda Andrews Nashville Music Guide PO Box 331927 Nashville, TN 37203 NashvilleMusicGuide.com 4 Publisher & CEO Randy Matthews [email protected] Editor Amanda Andrews [email protected] Editor Krys Midgett [email protected] Accounts Rhonda Smith [email protected] Contributors Phil Sweetland, Preshias Harris, Leslie Armstong, Jessica Northey, Rick Amburgey, Sherryl Craig, Nicole Valdivieso, Deborah Bishop, Lynette Lo- renz, Sydney Robinson, Tyler Treft, June Johnson, Gina Kramer Contents Departments Photography Bob Coan, Jerry Overcast, Stacy Scruggs, Randi Radcliff, Chad Lee, Features Michael Jenkins, Julianna Birdwell 2 Editor’s Letter Dan Wunsch Founder 6 Manuel 9 Songs For The Planet HOW TO REACH NMG Press releases, CD Reviews Wear it Well, Wear it Out 13 Songwriter Nights [email protected] 8 Cali Tucker Songwriter Nights Listing Advertisement/Rates [email protected] Making Music My Way 15 Nashville Music Venues Event Submissions 10 George Jones 18 Inside Track [email protected] Remembering a Legend 20 Deborah Bishop General Info Ask A Singing Entrepreneur [email protected] 11 Judas Tree To The Point Give A Little Nashville NMGRadio.com 21 [email protected] 12 Business Spotlight 30 Artists On The Rise NMG Radio Delivery Serivce Downloads and More Sounding Board [email protected] 32 Emilee Allen Special Review on Clinton Mailing Address 14 PO Box 331927 Nashville, TN 37203 On The Move Gregory by Preshias Physical Address 16 Music City Blues 33 Biz Buzz Nashville Music Guide 38 Music Sq E, Suite 112, 1st Floor Spring Festival 34 Nashville Country Club Nashville, TN 37203 Headlined by Taj Mahal Office 615.244.5673 Fax 615.244.8568 28 Don Gaylord Disclaimer: Nashville Music Guide, Inc is not liable for any inaccuracies submitted by freelance journalists, Living The Blues advertisers, publicists, and/or persons using this issue for the free publicity and/or any royalty payments or 31 Olivia West fees due to the publication of material in the form of a press release, events, publicity, or advertising. Making It Work 35 Soulshine Bringing Blues to Midtown 24NashvilleMusicGuide.com 5 Wear It Well, Wear it Out Manuel jobs back to Americans. Music City Denim is slated to be a brand within itself but also a manufac- turer for private labels, brands, and designers as well. “There is not a single day that goes by that I am not thankful for all these wonderful people. It’s a cel- ebration of life. I am excited for all the support and blessings,” said Manny. “It has been an emotional, physical, and financial struggle for me and my family. It is just amaz- Internationally known fashion designer and an iconic Nash- ing, the people that have come to- ville personality, Manuel Cuevas Jr., otherwise known as gether.” Manny, recently suffered a near-death medical battle. While he is on his way to recovery and returning to being a full-time Last year, Manny was rushed to the hospital due to a massive father and extraordinary clothing designer, Manny’s unfortu- blockage in his large intestine. He endured a very complicated nate health circumstances have put him and his family in a surgery and faced months of recuperation time. In late 2012, financial burden. On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 6:00pm at the Manny faced several more surgeries that were unsuccessful. Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, Tennessee a benefit was held Fortunately, earlier this year, Manny entered what should be to aid Manny and his family. his last surgery and is on the road to recovery. The Mavericks, with a new album and tour, headlined the ben- Amidst all the sudden health problems, Manny and Lora were efit concert, along with performances from Cumberland Col- blessed with a healthy baby girl, Annabella. With a newborn, lective, Eric Lee Beddingfield, Coy Taylor, Ty Bates, William caring for the other children – Sofia Esperanza (9) and Maxi- Stuart, Keith Gattis, Shawn Camp, Pit Crew, Los Dellgado’s, millian (2 ½), and caring for Manny, Lora has been unable Greta Gaines, Brittany Dunbar, Mandy Barnett, Craig Wayne to help financially. Manny admires how Lora has been the Boyd, Doc Holiday, Hank Williams III, Craig Campbell, Al “rock” of the family and told NMG how amazing she has been Anderson, and Jeff “Shaky” Folks. through it all. Billy Block and Kelly Meselli offered their services to co-host Linda and Betty were instrumental in the organization of the the benefit. Other sponsors of the benefit were Midtown Print- benefit. Linda had met Manny through industry events in the ing, Manuel, and Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom. past. In December, when she heard about the medical battle that Manny was fighting, in the true Nashville music support “Raul and Betty Malo, Linda Dunbar, Hank Rosenfelder, Jon- system manner she wanted to help. athan Pears were diligently working around the clock getting donations, auction items, building splash pages for the web- “When Linda first came to me asking to put on this benefit, site, putting this whole thing together. I wouldn’t have been I had to take time to think about it for a few days. I am one able to do this without them,” said Manny. of the few people who don’t like to throw the burden of sick- ness or the grief of struggles on my friends and family,” said Some of the items for the auction and raffle were an original Manny. “I know I am not the only one who has struggles, the Manuel suit, a weekend in Maine with a lobster boating expe- whole world has problems. After a few days of thinking, I dition, a signed guitar, posters, albums, and more. realized how humble it was for her to come out and want to give me some blessings. So I agreed to allow her to start the “Wear it Well, Wear it Out Manuel Benefit Concert’s main benefit.” goal from the beginning was to brand Manny. Not just to get him money now, but to expand him and provide awareness for Once the benefit was agreed upon, Linda went to work dili- future endeavors,” said benefit co-coordinator Linda Dunbar. gently pulling resources and phoning friends about the cause. The benefit was also the launch for Music City Denim, a new “The Nashville community stands behind its friends and came venture Manny is working on. Its focus is on the rejuvenation out to help one of their own back on his way to the top. By of manufacturing in the United States. It is one of Manny’s purchasing tickets to the benefit show the funds will help passions and goals that he has been striving for. One-by-one, Manny and his family with their monthly bills while Manny the goal is to start reopening old factories and rebuilding what recuperates and re-opens for business,” stated Linda Dunbar.