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WILLIE NELSON INDUCTED
Willie Nelson was inducted August 13, 2011 into the Agriculture Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kansas. That was the same day as the 26th annual Farm Aid concert, which was being held in nearby Kansas City, for which Willie was being honored.
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the Southern United States in the 1920s.
The term country music gained popularity in the 1940s in preference to the earlier term hillbilly music. The term country music is used today to describe many styles and subgenres.
Harlan Howard stated "Country music is three chords and the truth."
OPRY MEMBER DIES
Billy Grammer, a long-time Grand Ole Opry member, he crossed over into the pop charts with "Gotta Travel On" (#4) in 1959. He died in a hospital in his home town of Benton, Illinois on Wednesday August 10, 2011. He was 85 years old. Billy had suffered a heart attack in March, 2011. He had retired twenty years ago due to a degenerative eye disease. He played with Hawkshaw Hawkins and Grandpa Jones and was a member of Jimmy Dean's television band. He also owned the Grammer guitar company. He was inducted into the Illinois Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.
CASH BAND MEMBER DIES
Marshall Grant, bass player in Johnny Cash's backup group, the Tennessee Two, died of an aneurysm in a Jonesboro, Akansas hospital on Sunday August 7, 2011. He was 83 years old. Grant had travelled to Jonesboro from his home in Hernando, Mississippi to speak at the Johnny Cash Festival set up to raise funds to restore Johnny's boyhood home. He fell ill and collapsed on Wednesday, August 3rd. Grant also managed the Statler Brothers for many years and played bass on their hit, "Flowers On The Wall." He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2007.
RONSTADT WRITING BOOK
Linda Ronstadt is going the way of alot of artists making side money by writing a book. Linda's memoirs, entitled "Heart Like A Wheel," will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2013.
PATSY CLINE HOME
It certainly does not rank up there with Graceland, but then, what place does? The Patsy Cline Historic House, which is the restored home of the star in Winchester, Virginia where she lived from 1948 to 1957, opened to the public August 2.
NASHVILLE HOME BURNS
A fire on Saturday June 25, 2011 destroyed the Nashville home of songwriter producer engineer Jack Clement. Best known for his work at Sun Records in Memphis, Jack also wrote such hits as Johnny Cash's "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen" and "Guess Things Happen That Way". The fire is believed to have started in Jack's attic recording studio.
GLEN CAMPBELL
Glen Campbell revealed on Wednesday June 22, 2011 why he will be retiring after his next album this August and a series of farewell concerts this fall. The 75 year-old was diagnosed recently with Alzheimer's Disease. Said Glen, "I still love making music. And I still love performing for my fans. I'd like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin."
TOP 10
COUNTRY SONGS OF ALL TIME
01 "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - George Jones
02 "Crazy" - Patsy Cline
03 "Your Cheatin' Heart" -
Hank Williams
04 "I Fall To Pieces" -
Patsy Cline
05 "El Paso" - Marty Robbins
06 "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" - Hank Williams, Sr
07 "Today I Started Loving You Again" - Merle Haggard
08 "Lovesick Blues" -
Hank Williams, Sr
09 "He'll Have To Go" -
Jim Reeves
10 "The Dance" - Garth Brooks
CURRENT TOP 20
COUNTRY SONGS
This Week’s Chart:
1. Scotty McCreery – “I Love You This Big”
2. Brad Paisley w/ Carrie Underwood – “Remind Me”
3. Scotty McCreery – “The Trouble With Girls”
4. Kellie Pickler – “Tough”
5. Blake Shelton – “God Gave Me You”
6. Blake Shelton – “Footloose”
7. Martina McBride – “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
8. Taylor Swift – “Sparks Fly”
9. Toby Keith – “Made In America”
10. Lauren Alaina – “Like My Mother Does”
11. Reba McEntire – “Somebody’s Chelsea”
12. Keith Urban – “Long Hot Summer”
13. Chuck Wicks – “Old School”
14. Lady Antebellum – “We Owned The Night”
15. Rodney Atkins – “Take A Back Road”
16. Pistol Annies – “Hell On Heels”
17. Sara Evans – “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
18. Alan Jackson – “Long Way To Go”
19. The Band Perry – “All Your Life”
20. Jason Aldean – “Tattoos On This Town”
NASHVILLE NIGHT OUT REVEALS UNLIMITED TALENT IN
MUSIC CITY
By: JW Davis
MusicWIre Magazine
Nashville, Tennessee - I now have a very clear perception of why Nashville is called Music City USA. I went in search of America's talent for the Aurora Country Festival in Aurora, Kentucky. I am honored to be the Chairman of the 34th Annual Aurora Country Festival being held in Aurora, Kentucky in western Kentucky on Kentucky Lake on October 7, 8, 9, 2011.
As I scouted Music City, I came across unlimited talent in the Honky Tonks, Clubs and talent showcases surrounding Music Row. Not only did I find unlimited talent in those establishments, I also found very admirable talent on the street with unlimited street performers playing everything from guitars, drums and reggae music to dancing troops, breakdancing performers and even Michael Jackson impersonators. The talent I found performing on the streets of Nashville was astonishing to say the least.
I was able to invite at least a half dozen performers to come and perform at the Aurora Festival and it is my belief those attending these performances at the festival will not be disappointed and will be amazed at the talent we found.
Nashville was indeed a melting pot of musical and performing talent I am sure is not found in any other city in America.
Stay tuned folks...
COVERING A WIDE SPECTRUM OF THE MUSIC SCENE ACROSS AMERICA & THE GLOBE...
CMA AWARDS 2011:
LIST OF WINNERS
MusicWire Magazine -The 45th Annual Awards aired Live on Nov. 9 from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on ABC!
Here is the list of the
2011 CMA Awards WINNERS...
WINNER - Entertainer of the Year
Taylor Swift
WINNER - Female Vocalist
of the Year
Miranda Lambert
WINNER - Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton
WINNER - New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
WINNER - Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
2011 CMA NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
10.18.11-MusicWire Magazine - A number of country music stars were on hand to help announce the nominees for the 45th Annual CMA Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011.
The Band Perry and Jake Owen announced some of the nominees on ABC's "Good Morning America." Jerrod Niemann and Thompson Square are set to announce the rest of the finalists at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Taylor Swift is the only female artist up for Entertainer of the Year. She's joined in the category by country stars Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban, all of whom are nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year.
Paisley, is again hosting this year's award show with Carrie Underwood. He was CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2010.
Last year's winner for Female Vocalist, Miranda Lambert, is up for the award again this year with Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans and Martina McBride.
This is the fourth straight year that Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley have hosted the CMA's events together. The two country stars have won 19 CMA awards between them.
WINNER - Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland
WINNER - Single of the Year
"If I Die Young"
by The Band Perry
Winner - Song of the Year
"If I Die Young"
by Kimberly Perry
Album of the Year
"My Kinda Party," Jason Aldean
Musical Event of the Year
"Don't You Wann Stay,"
Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson
Music Video of the Year
"You and Tequila,"
Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter
Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally, Guitar
TOP 10 MOMENTS AT THE CMA'S
Nashville, TN - The 45th Annual CMA Awards is history and it was another year for memories. Two artists took home their first CMA honors, a living legend was honored by three of country music’s biggest stars and another superstar made her return to the CMA stage for the first time in five years, just to name a few of the highlights. Here are the Top 10 Moments from the CMA Awards:
Taylor Swift took home the biggest prize of the night when her name was called for Entertainer of The Year for the second time. “I am so happy right now!” Taylor exclaimed after accepting her award from Reba McEntire. She thanked her fans for filling arenas and stadiums across the country night after night. “I’m so happy we had so many to play for this year,” she said. “You have made my year. Thank you so much!” Taylor also debuted new music during the show, performing “Ours” acoustically.
It was a big night for The Band Perry, who won their first CMA awards, taking home three trophies by the end of the night. The sibling trio won Single of the Year for their hit “If I Die Young” and Kimberly Perry was honored as the track’s songwriter with the Song of the Year award. “Thank you to the beautiful fans of country music,” Kimberly said while accepting the Single of the Year trophy. “It is the joy of our whole lives to sing this song night after night.” The trio also won the CMA for New Artist of the Year. “We just wanted to thank everybody so much for the last few years that you’ve given my brothers and me,” Kimberly said with her brothers, Neil and Reid Perry, by her side. “We promise to keep working hard every day out on the road and here at home in Nashville.
Always a nominee but never a winner, Jason Aldean finally heard his name called. Jason took home two awards, one for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” his duet with Kelly Clarkson, as well as the coveted Album of the Year award for his triple platinum My Kinda Party. He also thanked his producer, Michael Knox, and gave a shout out to his daughters, saying he hoped they were in bed soon. “I definitely think Album of the Year is a big one,” Jason said backstage. “From the guys who play on every song to the producer to the management to the label. It’s kind of a group win. To me, it’s big. Hopefully this album will be around long after I’m gone.”
Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley teamed up for a moving tribute to country music legend Glen Campbell. The three performed a medley of Glen’s hits “By the Time I Get To Oklahoma,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston” with Jimmy Webb, the man who penned the songs, joining in on piano. Glen, who announced earlier this year he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and embarked on his farewell tour, sang along in the audience before joining the group onstage. “It was awesome, it really was,” Glen said backstage after the performance. “The whole thing was just wonderful.”
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood returned as hosts for the 4th year in a row and left no current event in pop culture untouched. They opened the show with a hilarious parody of “Are You Ready For Some Football?,” a direct hit on Hank Williams Jr.’s controversial comments about the President earlier this year. Hank Jr. himself joined in on the fun for another parody, this one of his song “Family
Tradition.” Justin Bieber’s baby drama and Kim Kardashian’s short-lived marriage were also targets. The highlight, however, was Brad and Carrie’s hosting gifts to one another – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Barbie Dolls which, after examining them with their backs to the audience, were determined to be anatomically incorrect.
One of country music’s favorite couples, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, kept their his-and-her titles of Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, picking up the awards for the second year running. “I really didn’t prepare anything to say at all,” Blake said while accepting his Male Vocalist of the Year award. “I didn’t think y’all would let me get away with this two times.” Miranda shared similar sentiments. “I did not expect to get this at all,” she said, before saying her thank yous, including one to Blake. “It’s going to be a good night tonight, baby!” she exclaimed from the stage.
Faith Hill is back! Faith made her return to the CMA stage as a performer for the first time in 5 years, debuting her new single, “Come Home.” The song was aptly titled as Faith looked right at home on stage as she belted out the soulful sounding ballad and was welcomed back with a hefty round of applause and a standing ovation. The song was shipped out to country radio simultaneously with her CMA performance.
Lionel Richie was joined by Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts to preview some of the tracks on his upcoming country duets album, Tuskegee. LBT paired with Lionel on “Deep River Woman,” Darius joined him for “Stuck On You” and Rascal Flatts helped close down the medley with “Dancing On The Ceiling.” Lionel spoke about the making of the album backstage after his performance. “It came about because R & B and country are real, it’s just one of those things that worked out,” he said.
All five New Artist of the Year nominees had their chance to perform on the CMA Awards stage, showcasing their talents on a national level. Eric Church was up first in a three-nominee medley and donned his signature aviators for a performance of his current single, “Drink In My Hand.” Thompson Square followed him with their No. 1 hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” while Chris Young finished off the round with his No. 1 single “Voices.” Luke Bryan gave a rousing performance of “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” with a army of dancers to back up the song’s lyrics and The Band Perry kept it simple but unique when they wrapped up the New Artist nominees performances with their current single “All Your Life” against a gypsy caravan backdrop.
Duets were a recurring theme during this year’s CMA Awards. Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter performed their CMA-nominated hit “You And Tequila” which won the CMA Award for Video of the Year, while Rascal Flatts was joined by Natasha Bedingfield for “Easy.” Brad and Carrie performed “Remind Me” in addition to their hosting duties and Sugarland debuted a new song, “Run,” with with their friend Matt Nathanson. Zac Brown Band also had a special guest with Gregg Allman joining them on a cover of “Georgia On My Mind.” Blake Shelton, who opened the show, was joined by Kenny Loggins for “Footloose.”
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