Artist News Friday (5/9/08)

Universal Records South will release Jennifer Hanson's new studio album as a digital exclusive on June 3. Thankful features all new music written by Hanson, and co-produced by her and Nick Brophy. Label GM...

Phil Vassar and Friends Celebrate New Album

05/08/2008

Universal Records South recording artist Phil Vassar recently hosted a cocktail party at his home to celebrate the release of his new album Prayer of a Common Man.

Pictured (L-R): Fletcher Foster, Sr. VP/GM Universal Records South; Teddi Bonadies, VP Natl. Promotion Universal Records South; WMIL OM Kerry Wolfe; Vassar; Sirius' Scott Lindy; and Redlight Mgmt.'s Greg Hill.

Lifenotes: Jerry Wallace

Sarah Skates – 05/08/2008

Jerry Wallace at Fan Fair 1975. Photo: Alan Mayor

Jerry Wallace, known for the million-selling hit “Primrose Lane,” passed away on May 5 in California from congestive heart failure. Nicknamed “Mr. Smooth,” Wallace was a successful pop artist before switching to country. His 1964 release “In The Misty Moonlight” was written by Cindy Walker and began his country transition. His biggest country hit was 1972’s “If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry.” During the late 1960s and through the mid ‘70s he was signed to Mercury, Liberty, Decca, MCA, and MGM.

ACM Awards Set Stage For New Singles

Sugarland and Kellie Pickler will debut songs during the May 18 ACM Awards, airing live on CBS. Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will perform “All I Want To Do,” the lead single from their...

Lifenotes/Benefit News Thursday (5/8/08)

A memorial service for Tom Oteri will be held Sun., May 18. He died April 26, 2008 at age 69. Oteri was the founder and CEO of the multi-award winning music publishing company, of...

Artist News Thursday (5/8/08)

Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd are planning their first tour together. The Rock and Rebels Tour includes dates through August in cities such as Houston, Toronto, and Hartford. Kid Rock and his Twisted Brown Trucker...

Shelton Hits “Home” With Listeners

Sarah Skates – 05/06/2008

Warner Bros. is releasing a special edition of Blake Shelton’s Pure BS today (5/6) which includes current hit single “Home.” The track, recorded and released after the album’s first pressing, was such a hit the project is being re-released so it can be included. “Home,” originally written and recorded by Michael Buble, is currently #6 on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart.

Shelton started adding it to his live show, and got such a positive response he released it digitally and as a single in February. It is featured in radio ads for the Pepsi Stuff MP3 download promotion. The song also ended up on Blake Shelton: Collector’s Edition, a hits package available only at Wal-Mart. Pure BS Deluxe Edition will include two other new self-penned tracks, “Chances” and “I Can’t Walk Away,” as well as hits from the first edition “Don’t Make Me” and “The More I Drink.”

Jake Owen Visits CMA

05/06/2008

Sony BMG rising star Jake Owen visited the Country Music Association recently, where he performed songs for the staff. Owen will perform at 2008 CMA Music Festival as part of the Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park in Downtown Nashville on Friday, June 6.

Pictured (L-R): Brandon Gill, Assoc. Mgr. Morris Mgmt. Group; Clint Higham, CMA Board member and VP Morris Mgmt. Group; Mike Betterton, Booking Agent Dale Morris & Assoc.; Tammy Genovese, CMA CEO; Owen; Joe Galante, CMA Board member and Chairman Sony BMG Nashville; Connie Bradley, CMA Board member and Sr. VP ASCAP; and Butch Waugh, Exec. VP Sony BMG Nashville. Photo: Amanda Eckard/CMA

Artist News Tuesday (5/6/08)

Dierks Bentley will be featured in Anheuser Busch's "Real Men of Genius" advertising campaign in a spot that will begin airing nationally this month. Bentley, "Mr. Sad Country Song Songwriter" comments, "It is pretty funny...

A Jackson Homecoming

05/05/2008

Alan and Denise Jackson returned to their hometown of Newnan, GA recently for a personal appearance at Scott’s Bookstore, where they greeted media and fans (some of whom had camped out since 2:00 a.m. and driven from as far away as Florida and Minnesota). The Jacksons remained until the last CD and book had been signed. Alan was autographing copies of his CDs, including his latest No. 1 album, Good Time. Denise signed copies of her New York Times No. 1 bestseller, It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life and her new book, The Road Home. Later that evening, the Jacksons received the Richard Brooks Visionary Award of Artistic Achievement, presented to them by the Coweta County Schools’ Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.