You can often hear some artists described as ‘living legends’ and in a lot of cases that title is somewhat overstated. But there is one living legend whose description as such is indisputable: Pat Boone.
Pat’s career has been phenomenal, beginning in the early 1950s. In fact, had he retired from show business in 1960 he would still be considered an influential star: he was the second-biggest-charting artist of the 1950s (only Elvis Presley was ahead of him) and, beginning at the age of 23, he hosted the nationally-broadcast musical variety show Pat Boone Chevy Showroom on ABC-TV from 1957 to 1960. (By the way, in 1955, Elvis was the opening act for the Pat Boone show in Brooklyn, Ohio!)
He has sold more than 45 million records worldwide including 38 Top 40 hits. Over time he progressed from pop music to both Country and Gospel, finding success in those genres and attracting new generations of fans.
I met up with Pat in Nashville during the 50th Annual CMA Fest and we sat down to catch up with what’s new in his busy life. Now 89 years old, Pat shows no sign of slowing down, continuing to make personal appearances and host his SiriusXM satellite radio show. He is also a best-selling author and an entrepreneur with his own record label. We talked about his latest project, a self-penned song titled “Grits” now released as his new single.
Catch up with what’s happening on Music Row – and beyond
By Preshias Harris
Getting set for Summer ’23 with new and recent releases, upcoming tours, artist and songwriter news and – of course – CMA Fest. Scroll down to catch up with a ‘digest’ of Inside Track on Music Row… Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, Chapel Hart, Dustin Lynch. Lainey Wilson, Tracy Lawrence, Moe Bandy, David Adam Byrnes, Buddy Jewell and much more. Send me music stuff, I love to get it! preshiaswriter@hotmail.com #PreshiasHarris
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” – Billy Joel
ALBUM NEWS: John Mellencamp’s new album Orpheus Descending was released June 2 via Republic Records. In anticipation of the release, Mellencamp shared the album track “Hey God.” Listen/share here, and pre-order the album here. This is his twenty-fifth album, produced by Mellencamp and recorded as his own Belmont Mall Studio. One of his most personal records to date, standout tracks “Hey God” and “The Eyes of Portland” focus on social issues Mellencamp continues to passionately advocate for. Mellencamp is currently in the midst of his massive Live and In Person 2023North American tour, with dates running through June 27 including stops in New York City, Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston and more. He’s currently performing songs from the new LP during his live set. Mellencamp is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy winner, a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award and Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and more recently, the Founders Award, the top honor assigned by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. #JohnMellencamp
ANNIVERSARY NEWS: Award-winning country music legend, Moe Bandy is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Top 10 duet with Becky Hobbs, “Let’s Get Over Them Together.” Written by Charlie Craig and Keith Stegall, “Let’s Get Over Them Together” became Bandy’s 16th Top 10 hit and continues to be a fan favorite. Bandy was recently inducted into the Class of 2023 of The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame along with The Texas Ranger Division of the Department of Public Safety, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Cleo Hearn, and Boots O’Neal. Bandy, was a proud competitor in bull riding prior to pursuing country music full-time. Bandy recently released his new album, Thank You Lord. Delivering a heartfelt project, Bandy recorded twelve heartfelt tracks and features special guests The Isaacs on “Family Bible” and The Oak Ridge Boys with Nora Lee Allen on “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” The title track, written by Mo Pitney, Bobby Tomberlin and Cheryl Riddle offers a true reflection of where Bandy is in his life today, of which he is thankful for another mile, another day, and a life many could have only dreamed of. Stream or purchase Thank You Lordhere.
CELEBRATION NEWS: Buddy Jewell is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his hit song “Sweet Southern Comfort” teaming up with several of his country music buddies to create what could be the vocal collaboration of the year in a newly-recorded version. Strategically picked, each artist represents a different decade in country music. The Bellamy Brothers from the 70’s, Shenandoah and Marty Raybon from the 80’s, Clint Black from the 90’s and Buddy Jewell from the 2000’s. Asking Clint Black to participate in the new recording was a no-brainer for Jewell. At the urging of his wife Tené, Jewell entered Nashville Star, a talent contest set to be televised on the USA Network. Eventually he was voted the winner of the inaugural season – two million votes ahead of the second-placed contestant, a young Miranda Lambert. It was Black who produced Jewell’s first album that quickly earned Gold certification and included the original version of “Sweet Southern Comfort.” The Bellamy Brothers said, “Such a joy singing on the 20th anniversary version of Buddy Jewell’s big hit (‘Sweet Southern Comfort’) and to be joined by Clint Black and Marty Raybon well, what more could you ask for!” Details here.
Michael Ray at the Saturday Night Block Party. Photo: Preshias Harris
Songwriters, performers and music fans swelled the usual population of vacationers and year-round residents at one of the USA’s most unique locations for five days in May.
The occasion was the 27th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival, held at the southernmost tip of Florida and the Sunshine State lived up to its nickname for the five-day Fest, May 3 through 7. As always, the Festival’s shows drew songwriters and appreciative audiences from across the USA and beyond.
(L to R:) SJ McDonald, McCall Chapin, Josiah Siska. Photo: Preshias HarrisRaltson Wells (left) and Garrett Bradford point to their favorite songwriter(L to R:) Hannah Noel, Preshias Harris, Dawson Slade enjoy the Key West sunshine. Photo: Brittni Talley/NSAIContinue reading “Key West Songwriters Festival: musical fun in the sun”
Album features Craig Morgan, Michael Ray, Darryl Worley
By Preshias Harris
When Jeff Carson passed away suddenly from a heart attack on March 26, he was working on a new project alongside producer (and former Toto member) Buddy Hyatt. Jeff is known for ‘90s hits such as “The Car” and “Not On Your Love” among the fourteen singles on the Billboard country charts.
Prior to that success, he had paid his dues, playing guitar with bands in Branson, Missouri and – after moving to Nashville – at the Opryland Hotel before signing with Curb Records in 1994. And now comes a bittersweet moment in Jeff Carson’s story: the posthumous release (on May 12, 2023) of his final album, 448, originally intended to be the next chapter in his musical life. Read my article about the album at Center Stage Mag here.
Disenchanted with the music industry, he withdrew from the business and changed direction, joining the Franklin, Tennessee, police department as a full-time officer in 2009. But he could not entirely distance himself from the music and he signed with Encore Music Group in 2021.
The album is poignantly titled 448 which was Jeff’s badge number as a serving police officer. 448 includes nine re-recordings of Jeff’s favorite songs and features friends Darryl Worley, Michael Ray and Craig Morgan. Find 448here.
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com #PreshiasHarris
Interprets rock classics plus originals in 30-track project
By Preshias Harris
Nobody can deny that Dolly Parton has conquered Country. Co-hosting the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, May 11 with Garth Brooks, Dolly even poked a little fun at being call a GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – pulling a pink wagon onto the stage with a live goat sitting in it!
So yeah, Dolly’s a Country GOAT… but Rock? You might remember that when her name was put forward as a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she initially declined the nomination saying, “I don’t feel that I have earned that right.” However, Dolly was persuaded to accept the nomination and was inducted into the Rock Hall in November 2022.
So, what’s a country girl to do when she is officially recognized as a rock star? Well… record an album titled Rockstar, of course. The 30-track project will be available November 17, 2023 in effectively all media from vinyl to streaming via Butterfly Records. (Find links and more details in my article posted here at Center Stage Mag.)
Tenpenny joins cowriters at “The Truth About You” No. 1 party
By Preshias Harris
Mitchell Tenpenny will probably look back on April 2023 as a pretty special time in his life. He could certainly be living proof of the old adage, “good things come in threes.”
An ACM Award nomination
A Number One party for a Platinum single
His first full-band performance at Nissan Stadium
Almost silhouetted against the beautiful backdrop of the Nashville skyline on the rooftop of BMI, (L to R) Mitchell Tenpenny, producer Jordan Schmidt and songwriters Matt Alderman and Thomas Archer discuss “The Truth About You”. Photo credit: Preshias Harris
On Friday, April 14, it was 74° and sunny on BMI’s rooftop patio. It was the ideal place for an early spring celebration that BMI hosted in honor of Mitchell Tenpenny’s hit song “The Truth about You” that he co-wrote with Matt Alderman and Thomas Archer.
As was noted during the presentations, the platinum-selling song made chart history with the shortest span between #1 songs since 1982 with just three weeks since his last chart topper. “Truth About You” followed Mitchell’s co-penned No. 1 collaboration with labelmate Chris Young, “At The End Of A Bar”.
For Alex Miller, it all began with his fan-favorite appearance on American Idol. But it was a beginning that was a decade in the making for an artist who had been performing since he was nine years old.
Now with a new single – “Girl, I Know A Guy” – impacting radio April 21 and a new EP scheduled for later this year, Alex is on the way up. In March, Alex and I sat down at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) to catch up on what’s going on in what he calls his “crazy” life. Read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.
The new single follows previous releases, “When God Made the South”, “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me”, “Don’t Let the Barn Door Hit Ya” and “Through With You” – the latter peaking in the Top 35 of the Billboard Indicator Chart and at No. 1 on The Country Network.
Alex Miller and his grandfather GB Miller visiting the Ernest Tubb Record Store in Nashville.
In our interview, Alex shared a touching story about the unflagging support he received from his grandfather. “He’d say, ‘You’re gonna play at the Grand Ole Opry someday. I’m gonna make that happen,’” Alex told me.
Opry superstar Charley Pride honored with new statue
By Preshias Harris
Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe and Little Jimmy Dickens are together again at the Ryman Auditorium.
In a special outdoor ceremony April 13, the new life-size bronze statue of Charley Pride was unveiled to join those of Lynn, Monroe and Dickens previously positioned at the Ryman Auditorium’s Icon Walk. Artist and sculptor Ben Watts created all four of the bronze likenesses now at the location.
Pictured L-R: Colin V. Reed, Executive Chairman, Ryman Hospitality Properties; Hortense Ransom, Head of Operations, CECCA Productions; Rozene Pride; Ben Watts, sculptor; Dion Pride; Dennis Quaid. Photo credit: Catherine Powell
Charley Pride’s widow Rozene and his son Dion Pride were joined at the unveiling by friends and colleagues from the world of music, along with local dignitaries and fans.
During her introductory remarks, Gina Keltner, Director of Opry Talent Scheduling & Logistics at Grand Ole Opry, noted that the concept for the Icon Walk began in 2015 as the vision of Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed.
Clint Black, Marty Rabon, Bellamy Brothers add their voices
By Preshias Harris
Buddy Jewellcaptured hearts and ears across America when he emerged as the fan-voted winner of Nashville Star’s inaugural season – ahead of second placed Miranda Lambert.
His prize included a record deal with Columbia Records and an album to be produced by country superstar Clint Black, as he recounted in an interview with me at Center Stage Mag here.
The self-titled album quickly earned Gold certification, and the debut single, “Help Pour Out the Rain,” became the highest-debuting single by a new country artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tabulating charts.
The second single from that self-titled album was “Sweet Southern Comfort” penned by Rodney Clawson and Brad Crisler, released in October 2003, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks the following year.
Celebrating the song’s twentieth anniversary, Jewell has now recorded a new version of the hit song and he invited some famous friends to join him on the track: Clint Black, Marty Rabon of Shenandoah and the Bellamy Brothers.
I caught up with Buddy Jewell during Country Radio Seminar in March and he told me the story behind the original 2003 recording and why Clint Black had to be part of the new version too.
Jewell has certainly earned his place in the spotlight, recording 5,000 demos as an in-demand demo singer for ten years before the Nashville Star opportunity came along. But when he could finally record his own albums, “singing all those demos really helped a lot,” he told me.
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com@PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris
(L to R): Mark Hudson, Garth Brooks, Victoria Shaw on the Musicnotes Stage, Analog/Hutton Hotel. Photo credit: NSAI
If you were able to attend the history-making 2023 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, then you were a lucky human. From hearing the stories behind the songs that included: ‘The Dance”, “Amazed”, ‘Check Yes or No”, “The Most Beautiful Girl”, “Ships That Don’t Come In”, “The River”, “Beer With Jesus”, “Daddy Wasn’t The Cadillac Kind”, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina”, “All About That Bass” “Whiskey Glasses” and I could go on for days… :D. If there was a place where GOOSEBUMPS came from, it might be a Tin Pan South show…
