Author Archive for Robert K. Oermann
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
“Pete” Peterson Passes
Vanderbilt University professor Richard “Pete” Peterson—one of the first sociologists to seriously study country music—has died at age 77.
During his career, Peterson studied the Nashville music industry, popular culture, the definition of musical genres, the aging of the fine-arts audience and the impact of digital technology on music. In addition, he was a former consultant [...]
Madeleine Parlatore and Shirley Collie LifeNotes
(Updated 2/3/10) Madeleine Parlatore, longtime administrator and office manager of Big Tractor Music, has passed away. The company’s Jason Krupek says she was “Mom” to everyone at the publishing company, where she spent 13 years. The funeral will be Friday, February 5 at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, located at 9090 Highway 100. Visitation will be [...]
Noted Arranger Sheldon Kurland Passes
Sheldon Kurland, known throughout the Nashville music community as a session musician and as the leader of The Sheldon Kurland Strings, died Wednesday, Jan. 6 at age 81.
He can be heard on such hits as “Last Cheater’s Waltz” by T. G. Sheppard, “Rose Colored Glasses” by John Conlee, “Everything is Beautiful” by Ray Stevens, “When [...]
Nashville Star, Earl Gaines: 1935-2009
Nashville r&b star Earl Gaines died on New Year’s Eve at St. Thomas Hospital. He was 74 years old. Gaines was a gruff-voiced shouter who was a central figure in Music City’s soul scene for decades. That fact was underscored by his prominence in the Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit and Grammy Award winning [...]
Bess Lomax Hawes Dies
Lifelong folk-music champion Bess Lomax Hawes died Friday, November 27 at the age of 88 in Portland, Oregon.
In 1941-43 she was a member of The Almanac Singers alongside Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. In 1948, she wrote the folk classic “M.T.A.,” which became a hit for The Kingston Trio in 1959. She moved to Los [...]
DISClaimer (9/25/09)
Yikes: How did it get to be the end of September already?
The official first day of Autumn was Tuesday, and everyone is polishing up their late-year releases. Tim scores big points in this column with “Southern Voice,” the title tune of his Oct. 20 CD. Last night, Miranda debuted her Revolution at the Ryman. That [...]
DISClaimer (9/18/09)
No cash this week, because there’s not a clunker in sight.
Everybody is playing at the top of their game, especially the ridiculously talented Steve Wariner, Gene Watson and Darius Rucker. Programmers are going to hate this next sentence. All 10 of these platters deserve airplay.
Polish off a DisCovery Award for Chris Heers. He is a [...]
DISClaimer (9/16/09)
The Americana music convention begins today in Nashville, so what better time to run a column about the genre?
The artists we’re talking about today are all up for awards at Thursday’s gala at the Ryman Auditorium. So we’re talking the cream of Americana, here. Earlier in the year, I raved about nominees such as Buddy [...]
DISClaimer (9/11/09)
It’s country collaboration day!
Ronnie Milsap is singing with Trace Adkins. Bruce Springsteen turns up as a guest on John Fogerty’s album. Billy Gibbons meets Brooks & Dunn in a roadhouse rumble. And in the most unlikely scenario of all, Hank Williams Jr. takes a ride in Appalachia with The Grascals.
And mostly the match-up listening is [...]
DISClaimer (9/4/09)
This is quite a mixed bag.
Leeann Atherton clocks in with a dreamy blues tune. Rocker Ronnie Godfrey has a Tennessee Titans fight song. We have excellent Nashville songwriter albums from Bill Luther and Kent Blazy. And there’s a whole flurry of newcomers. Among them, Melanie Denard wins our DisCovery Award.
And to add some extra [...]
DISClaimer (8/28/09)
The stars are twinkling so brightly that I am temporarily blinded.
That is to say, I simply can’t make up my mind. Should I choose the hearty male country vocal? What about our teen-queen sales champion? And then there’s the refreshingly rocking group performance.
All three qualify for a Disc of the Day prize, yet they’re all [...]
DISClaimer (8/21/09)
We live in an era of singles and tracks, but there are still a few out there who buck the trend.
It pleases me to report that there are several folks in this week’s stack of platters who still make true ALBUMS. There is an art to this that many mainstream country artists seem to have [...]
DISClaimer (8/14/09)
It is independents’ day.
We are in what are known as the dog days of summer, when major-label releases slow to a trickle in anticipation of the big fall product push. What better time for the indies to scurry about and make some noise?
As is generally the case in surveying indie singles, the quality varies widely. [...]
DISClaimer (8/7/09)
This stack of platters is a nice mix of veterans and baby acts.
In the former column are Marty Raybon and Brady Seals, both of whom have splendid CD’s coming your way. Somewhere in between vet and baby are Trey Hensley, The Coal Men, Emma Jacob, Mica Roberts and Lee Brice, all of whom competed for [...]
Bluegrass DISClaimer (10/2/09)
The best part of the bluegrass-music week starts today.
Up until now it has been mostly panel discussions, showcases, a trade show and last night’s awards gala. Today begins the Bluegrass Fan Fest part of the IBMA’s convention. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you get nothing but music, music, music on the lower level of the [...]
Updated: Lifenotes: Rick Schulman
Entertainer Rick Schulman Finney died suddenly Tuesday morning, September 29, at his home in Nashville at age 63.
During his colorful career as Rick Schulman, he was a songwriter, studio sideman, advertising pitch man, movie actor and Nashville nightclub star. He was the co-writer of the hit 1980 George Jones and Johnny Paycheck duet “When You’re [...]
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James Otto, Warner Music Nashville -
- They Might Be Giants, Jonathan Coulton, Vetiver and more March 11, 2010
- Nashville bassist Billy Cox, Jimi Hendrix’s longtime friend and collaborator, recalls a guitar god who still casts a long shadow March 11, 2010
- Critics' Picks March 11, 2010
- David Bazan looks forward, looks back, takes questions March 11, 2010
- Magic Hammer at The End [Dance Video] March 17, 2010
- George Thorogood Tonight at The Wildhorse March 17, 2010
- Jack White: 'I Just Did a Record With Jay-Z' March 17, 2010
- Muse at Bridgestone Arena, 3/15/10 March 16, 2010
- Folk Punks Defiance, Ohio Play Little Hamilton Tonight March 16, 2010
Faith has got this one right on. Nice job. Thanks to whomever posted this. 
Faith did an outstanding job on that song! She looked stunning! 
To quote another poster, "ROCK ON NED!" 
I love it, since when did WTF become profanity? Kind of reminds me of Natalie Maines... 
Your Nashville Beotches say,"ROCK ON DAVID ROSS!"