September 25, 2016
Cam gets wed
Rising Country singer Cam (Burning House) married Adam Weaver on Saturday evening (Sep. 24) in their home state of California. The ceremony took place in the desert town of Joshua Tree. It was an intimate ceremony with 140 guests in attendance.
Grand Ole Lady Jean passes
Grand Ole Opry legend Jean Shepard has died. The Country Music Hall of Famer and regular at the Grand Ole Opry for 60 years died on Sunday morning (September 25) at the age of 82.
Shepard celebrated 60 years of membership at the Grand Ole Opry on Nov. 21, 2015. It ended up being her final Opry appearance as her health began to deteriorate afterward. Last week she entered hospice care. She is the only female to reach 60 years of membership at the Grand Ole Opry.
The Oklahoma-born, California-raised singer scored hits in the 1950s and ’60 with songs like “I Want to Go Where No One Wants Me” and “Beautiful Lies.” “A Dear John Letter,” a duet with Ferlin Husky, made her a star however Shepard couldn’t tour to promote the single. She was a minor at the time, and you had to be 21 years old to leave the state in those days.
In 1960 Shepard married fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins, and was pregnant with the couple’s second child when he was killed in a plane crash three years later. She would return to the stage and studio, recording hit songs like “Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar),” “If Teardrops Were Silver,” and Bill Anderson’s “Slippin’ Away. Her last hit song came in 1975 when “The Tip of My Fingers” peaked inside the Top 20.
Many of her hits are featured on a 2 CD set "Country Music : Pure & Simple" released earlier this year by Humphead Records.
Shepard would become a Country Music Hall of Fame member in 2011. She is survived by husband Benny Birchfield and sons Don Robin Hawkins, Harold Franklin Hawkins II and Corey Birchfield.
“The Opry family is truly saddened by the news of Jean’s passing,” Grand Ole Opry general manager Pete Fisher said. “Although we will miss Jean’s presence on the Opry stage, she has left us the wonderful gift of her music which will be remembered for generations to come.”
Her loss will be felt far beyond The Grand Ole Opry. Several Scottish acts, including Ruby Rendall & Colorado were introduced by Jean onto the Opry stage. She recorded several duets with Gerry Ford.
Shepard celebrated 60 years of membership at the Grand Ole Opry on Nov. 21, 2015. It ended up being her final Opry appearance as her health began to deteriorate afterward. Last week she entered hospice care. She is the only female to reach 60 years of membership at the Grand Ole Opry.
The Oklahoma-born, California-raised singer scored hits in the 1950s and ’60 with songs like “I Want to Go Where No One Wants Me” and “Beautiful Lies.” “A Dear John Letter,” a duet with Ferlin Husky, made her a star however Shepard couldn’t tour to promote the single. She was a minor at the time, and you had to be 21 years old to leave the state in those days.
In 1960 Shepard married fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins, and was pregnant with the couple’s second child when he was killed in a plane crash three years later. She would return to the stage and studio, recording hit songs like “Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar),” “If Teardrops Were Silver,” and Bill Anderson’s “Slippin’ Away. Her last hit song came in 1975 when “The Tip of My Fingers” peaked inside the Top 20.
Many of her hits are featured on a 2 CD set "Country Music : Pure & Simple" released earlier this year by Humphead Records.
Shepard would become a Country Music Hall of Fame member in 2011. She is survived by husband Benny Birchfield and sons Don Robin Hawkins, Harold Franklin Hawkins II and Corey Birchfield.
“The Opry family is truly saddened by the news of Jean’s passing,” Grand Ole Opry general manager Pete Fisher said. “Although we will miss Jean’s presence on the Opry stage, she has left us the wonderful gift of her music which will be remembered for generations to come.”
Her loss will be felt far beyond The Grand Ole Opry. Several Scottish acts, including Ruby Rendall & Colorado were introduced by Jean onto the Opry stage. She recorded several duets with Gerry Ford.
Prairie Star
Alloa's Prairie Star C&W Club meet next Saturday, October 1st in their usual Weirs Club venue.
The entertainment comes from Bill Alexander.
The entertainment comes from Bill Alexander.
Home meeting For Mairs
This month's regular acoustic night at The Meeting Place @ Stonelaw Church in Rutherglen, will feature a whole night with The Mairs Family Band. Of couse a few guests may just appear. It all happens Friday, 30th May.
Jackie Storrar loses her fight
Fife based singer and broadcaster Jackie Storrar has sadly lost her fight with cancer.
The former Radio Tay, Smooth Radio, and CMR Nashville presenter was first diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2010 aged just 43. After getting the all clear, she learned it had returned in December 2013 - just as she and husband Steve were due to head to the Caribbean for a five-month working cruise. This time, doctors advised Jackie that her cancer was terminal.
“Being diagnosed first time round is devastating for anyone but when they say you have it for a second time and it’s incurable, its unbearable”, Jackie explained in an interview earlier this year. “Some of the hope goes and you feel lost, but you can’t give up, and now it’s about making memories - and squeezing out of life as much joy as you possibly can.”
And Jackie certainly didn’t give up. She expedited her bucket list of things to do, and achieved many of her goals. Having toured the world singing on cruise ships for many years, there were places she still wanted to visit, so, whilst still fit enough to travel, she and Steve went travelling. Altogether Jackie visited 82 different countries around the globe.
Although she worked in radio, her love was singing. She had recorded two albums.
The first, “Somewhere Between” was recorded in 1996, whilst she was in Malta. She followed that up with “Cross The Border” in 2007.
But Jackie had a final wish. She wanted to record another CD - something that she could leave as a legacy. One which, perhaps, said more about her, than her earlier albums. The money raised from the album would be donated to the Maggies Centre in Fife, which had given so much support to Jackie. A crowdfunder was set up, and, backed with local and national press coverage, quickly raised enough to cover studio time to get the project underway.
Between rounds of chemotherapy, Jackie headed into studio to make the most of her time away from hospital. She continued to build on the interest created by the project, by doing interviews with local press and radio, and highlighting the amazing work done at Maggies to support people like her.
Jackie was thrilled when she received the hard copies of the CD. Her dream was fulfilled. She had made the final album that meant so much to her. The release date was set as September 1st, but the week before, she hosted a meet & greet at The Maggies Centre in Kirkcaldy, giving her local supporters the chance to get the CD first.
That was to have been followed by a public launch in Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall, a venue where Jackie had performed previously. It’s also where Jackie & Steve marked their recent wedding anniversary by exchanging “Named Seats”, which will ensure they’re together for the next ten years.
Unfortunately, the public launch came too late. After her brave battle, Jackie lost the fight on September 14th. She passed away peacefully at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.
Her story inspired many. She never let her cancer stop her pursuing her dreams. Even in her last few months, she spend every moment that her body would allow her being active, whether in the studio, or even shopping with her mum.
She passed away in the same hospital where she began her radio career at VRN. After 12 years at Radio Tay, she moved to Malta, where she worked on the island’s main station, Island Sound, as Breakfast presenter and Programme Controller for 4 years. She also developed her singing during this time.
She went on to spent many years singing on cruise ships all over the world. It was on the high seas in 2000 that she met husband Steve, and they married in 2003. They performed as a duo, “Foreign Affair”.
They set up home back in Kirkcaldy, performing locally as a duo, but still working the cruise ships regularly. Even after Jackie was diagnosed with cancer, the couple would travel near & far.
Stuart Cameron has been following Jackie’s story, and is putting together a documentary of the making of the album. In the meantime, Stuart has released a video tribute to Jackie, featuring the closing track on her album, “A Beautiful Night”. Check it out at https://vimeo.com/183293408
The former Radio Tay, Smooth Radio, and CMR Nashville presenter was first diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2010 aged just 43. After getting the all clear, she learned it had returned in December 2013 - just as she and husband Steve were due to head to the Caribbean for a five-month working cruise. This time, doctors advised Jackie that her cancer was terminal.
“Being diagnosed first time round is devastating for anyone but when they say you have it for a second time and it’s incurable, its unbearable”, Jackie explained in an interview earlier this year. “Some of the hope goes and you feel lost, but you can’t give up, and now it’s about making memories - and squeezing out of life as much joy as you possibly can.”
And Jackie certainly didn’t give up. She expedited her bucket list of things to do, and achieved many of her goals. Having toured the world singing on cruise ships for many years, there were places she still wanted to visit, so, whilst still fit enough to travel, she and Steve went travelling. Altogether Jackie visited 82 different countries around the globe.
Although she worked in radio, her love was singing. She had recorded two albums.
The first, “Somewhere Between” was recorded in 1996, whilst she was in Malta. She followed that up with “Cross The Border” in 2007.
But Jackie had a final wish. She wanted to record another CD - something that she could leave as a legacy. One which, perhaps, said more about her, than her earlier albums. The money raised from the album would be donated to the Maggies Centre in Fife, which had given so much support to Jackie. A crowdfunder was set up, and, backed with local and national press coverage, quickly raised enough to cover studio time to get the project underway.
Between rounds of chemotherapy, Jackie headed into studio to make the most of her time away from hospital. She continued to build on the interest created by the project, by doing interviews with local press and radio, and highlighting the amazing work done at Maggies to support people like her. Jackie was thrilled when she received the hard copies of the CD. Her dream was fulfilled. She had made the final album that meant so much to her. The release date was set as September 1st, but the week before, she hosted a meet & greet at The Maggies Centre in Kirkcaldy, giving her local supporters the chance to get the CD first.
That was to have been followed by a public launch in Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall, a venue where Jackie had performed previously. It’s also where Jackie & Steve marked their recent wedding anniversary by exchanging “Named Seats”, which will ensure they’re together for the next ten years.
Unfortunately, the public launch came too late. After her brave battle, Jackie lost the fight on September 14th. She passed away peacefully at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.
Her story inspired many. She never let her cancer stop her pursuing her dreams. Even in her last few months, she spend every moment that her body would allow her being active, whether in the studio, or even shopping with her mum.
She passed away in the same hospital where she began her radio career at VRN. After 12 years at Radio Tay, she moved to Malta, where she worked on the island’s main station, Island Sound, as Breakfast presenter and Programme Controller for 4 years. She also developed her singing during this time.
She went on to spent many years singing on cruise ships all over the world. It was on the high seas in 2000 that she met husband Steve, and they married in 2003. They performed as a duo, “Foreign Affair”.
They set up home back in Kirkcaldy, performing locally as a duo, but still working the cruise ships regularly. Even after Jackie was diagnosed with cancer, the couple would travel near & far.
Stuart Cameron has been following Jackie’s story, and is putting together a documentary of the making of the album. In the meantime, Stuart has released a video tribute to Jackie, featuring the closing track on her album, “A Beautiful Night”. Check it out at https://vimeo.com/183293408
September 01, 2016
Merle's award causes Music City row
Miranda Lambert will be honored by the Academy of Country Music with its inaugural ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award during the ACM Honors event, a two-hour television special which will air on Friday, Sept. 9 on CBS Television Network.
The award honors uncompromising artists in the spirit of Merle Haggard. The award was approved by the ACM Special Awards panel and voted on by the ACM Board.
But, using Merle's memory to further todays Country music didn't go down well in all corners. Sturgill Simpson took to Facebook to blast the Academy of Country Music for it's new Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
The country music traditionalist accused the ACM of "hitching their wagon to his name" while knowing "what Haggard thought about them."
"If the ACM wants to actually celebrate the legacy and music of Merle Haggard, they should drop all the formulaic cannon fodder they’ve been pumping down rural America’s throat for the last 30 years along with all the high school pageantry, meat parade award show bulls--t and start dedicating their programs to more actual Country Music," the singer-songwriter wrote.
Simpson's note went viral and while he received support from fellow country singers like Jason Isbell, he later updated his post saying he would be "blackballed" by Music Row for his remarks.
The award honors uncompromising artists in the spirit of Merle Haggard. The award was approved by the ACM Special Awards panel and voted on by the ACM Board.
But, using Merle's memory to further todays Country music didn't go down well in all corners. Sturgill Simpson took to Facebook to blast the Academy of Country Music for it's new Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
The country music traditionalist accused the ACM of "hitching their wagon to his name" while knowing "what Haggard thought about them."
"If the ACM wants to actually celebrate the legacy and music of Merle Haggard, they should drop all the formulaic cannon fodder they’ve been pumping down rural America’s throat for the last 30 years along with all the high school pageantry, meat parade award show bulls--t and start dedicating their programs to more actual Country Music," the singer-songwriter wrote.
Simpson's note went viral and while he received support from fellow country singers like Jason Isbell, he later updated his post saying he would be "blackballed" by Music Row for his remarks.
Garth in running for top Country award.
Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban will vie for this year’s Entertainer of the Year trophy at the 50th annual CMA Awards.
Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Stapleton top the list of final nominees with five nominations each. Bentley, Underwood, and Urban received four nominations and Tim McGraw received three nominations. This brings his career total of nominations to 38.
Artists receiving two nominations include Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Bryan, Cam, Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett.
The 50th annual CMA Awards will air live on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Stapleton top the list of final nominees with five nominations each. Bentley, Underwood, and Urban received four nominations and Tim McGraw received three nominations. This brings his career total of nominations to 38.
Artists receiving two nominations include Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Bryan, Cam, Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett.
The 50th annual CMA Awards will air live on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Americana's Lifetime achievers
The Americana Music Association has revealed its 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees. The six recipients are William Bell, Billy Bragg, Shawn Colvin, Woody Guthrie, Jim Lauderdale and Bob Weir.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting goes to singer and songwriter William Bell. Billy Bragg is this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award. Shawn Colvin has been named the Trailblazer honoree.The President’s Award is posthumously awarded to Woody Guthrie. Jim Lauderdale is this year’s WagonMaster recipient. Bob Weir will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement honor in the category of Performer.
The honorees will be celebrated at Americana’s 15th Annual Honors & Awards held at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 21. The show is part of the 17th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, held Sept. 20-25 in Nashville.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting goes to singer and songwriter William Bell. Billy Bragg is this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award. Shawn Colvin has been named the Trailblazer honoree.The President’s Award is posthumously awarded to Woody Guthrie. Jim Lauderdale is this year’s WagonMaster recipient. Bob Weir will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement honor in the category of Performer.
The honorees will be celebrated at Americana’s 15th Annual Honors & Awards held at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 21. The show is part of the 17th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, held Sept. 20-25 in Nashville.
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