Artist News Thursday (5/15/08)
Michelle Ross
Whiskey Falls band members Seven Williams and Wally Brandt along with Wally’s twin brother and co-producer Bill Brandt received an ASCAP Award for the theme song for the CBS television series Shark. This is the second time the trio has won this award having written the theme song for the television series Simple Life in 2004. Pictured (L-R): Bill Brandt, Williams and Wally Brandt.
Taylor Swift will perform on the CBS Early Show Saturday morning, May 17, live from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, the site of the upcoming ACM Awards. The following night she is set to perform on the ACM Awards telecast on CBS, where she is the top female nominee, competing for Album of the Year, Top Female Vocalist, and Top New Female Vocalist. Swift has also secured a partnership with L.e.i. Brand, as the face of the L.e.i. Back-to-School 2008 print, mobile and online advertising campaign. The brand for juniors and girls, will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores beginning in July.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is scheduling events to compliment the CMA Music Festival beginning June 5. Programs and/or autograph signings at the Museum will features artists such as Trace Adkins, Kathy Mattea, Phil Vassar, Trisha Yearwood and others. CMA Music Festival badge holders will receive $2 off adult general admission to the Museum.
Vince Gill’s 16th Annual Vinny Pro-Celebrity Invitational is set for May 18-19 at the Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs. Kramer Guitar will donate 27 acoustic guitars to the youth who have been selected to play in this year's event, to be presented by Gill at the awards ceremony.
In addition to the charity auction and golf tournament, the 5th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will also include a concert event. Kicking off on June 6, the event will include performers such as Keith, Little River Band, Banana Seat and Rodney Carrington who will act as MC for the evening.
Country Thunder Records & Graham Artist Management will present "Party Under the Stars" on June 4 to celebrate the kick off of the CMA Music Festival Week. The event is set for 10 p.m. at Graham Central Station's roof and will include performances by Heartland, Rio Grand, Bluefield, Shawn Hammonds and surprise special guests. Admission to the concert is free by showing the CMA Music Festival tickets/passes.
Anne Murray will be this year's recipient of the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award at the 2008 Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards dinner, set for June 19 in New York. Previous recipients include Clive Davis, Garth Brooks, and Diana Ross. Inductees at this year's event include Desmond Child, Albert Hammond, Loretta Lynn, Alan Menken and John Sebastian.
Dierks Bentley was named one of the 25 Fittest Guys in America by Men's Fitness Magazine alongside others such as Tiger Woods, Brady Quinn, Will Smith, Daniel Craig, Flo Rida and Barack Obama. The issue will be released on May 19. Bentley will also perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live today (5/14).
Whisperin' Bill Anderson recently welcomed the birth of his seventh grandchild, Hallie Elizabeth Anderson on May 9. She was born to Anderson's son and daughter-in-law Jamey and Beth Anderson who also have two sons Blake and Gabe.
Jeremy McComb recently released My Side of Town, his debut album featuring single "This Town Needs A Bar."
Universal Records South's Randy Houser will release his debut single, "Anything Goes," on June 2. Houser will also perform at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort today (5/15).
Shawna Russell will perform for Welcoming Home Troops from Development in Support of Iraqi Freedom event in Oklahoma tomorrow (5/16). The event is in celebration of the return on approximately 230 members of the 964th AACS who have been deployed in Iraq since December of last year.