A friend forwarded this to me, reminding me that some of the most important things in life are not canceled, despite all the virus-related shutdowns:
Going outdoors is not cancelled.
Listening to music is not cancelled.
Quality time with our families is not cancelled.
Reading a book is not cancelled.
Phoning a friend is not cancelled.
Singing out loud is not cancelled.
Laughing has not been cancelled.
Sharing hope with others has not been cancelled.
Let’s embrace what we have.
The rescheduled ACM Awards will be held September 16 at a location to be announced. By chance, that will be the same date that the Americana Music Awards will be held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. As some labels, publicists and artists’ managers will have clients appearing at both events, Billboard notes that they will face some “uncomfortable scheduling decisions.”
Southern rock icon Charlie Daniels is giving fans something to look forward to, despite the current virus situation. He will once again present his Volunteer Jam, headlined by The Charlie Daniels Band (CDB), and scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m. CT at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Joining the CDB on the big night are Trace Adkins, Justin Moore, The Marshall Tucker Band, Chris Janson, Charley Pride, Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, Delbert McClinton, Keb’ Mo’, The Outlaws, Jenny Tolman, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Devon Allman & Duane Betts, Travis Denning, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Scooter Brown Band, The SteelDrivers, Rhett Akins, Pure Prairie League and comedian Dusty Slay. “With so many kinds of music and so many artists from different fields and different eras, this is shaping up to be the most unique Jam yet,” said Daniels. Tickets available at Ticketmaster. Updates at https://www.charliedaniels.com/
On March 30 (his 30th birthday) Thomas Rhett released “Be A Light” a never-before-heard song with the help of friends Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban. You can find the song at www.thomasrhett.com
“I wrote ‘Be A Light’ last year as a way to process negativity and sadness I was seeing in the world,” said Rhett. “Now we are in the middle of a world-wide pandemic affecting every single human on earth, all while our town of Nashville is still healing from devastating tornadoes that destroyed so much of our city less than one month ago. But, among the wreckage, I see us come together in ways I never dreamed possible. I knew in my heart this was the time to share this message with the world and our community. I hope this song serves as a reminder that we are all in this together.”
All proceeds from “Be A Light” go to the MusiCares® COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Recording Academy® and its affiliated charitable foundation MusiCares® have established the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease. https://www.grammy.com/MusiCares/CoronavirusReliefFund
- For the April 11 Billboard charts, “Be A Light” is the highest new entry for the week at No. 17 on Country Airplay and debuted at No. 1 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.
Bobby Bare will release Great American Saturday Night, a concept album written entirely by the late Shel Silverstein and recorded in 1978. Throughout this record, Bare takes the listener on a journey as Silverstein tackles real-life topics in these outrageously entertaining and thought-provoking songs. The album will be available everywhere on April 17, and can be pre-ordered at https://www.bobbybare.com/ “Living Legend,” is the perfect song as the lead off of Great American Saturday Night. The title says it all especially as the first tongue-in-cheek line of the song says, “it sure is sweet to be a living legend.” Born in Ohio, Bobby Bare is one of the most iconic country artists of our time with chart-topping songs like “Detroit City,” “500 Miles,” “Marie Laveau” and many more. Bobby Bare is a Country Music Hall of Fame member and Grand Ole Opry member. This year, he will turn 85. More at https://www.bobbybare.com/
Billboard Country Airplay Top 5 for the week of April 11: (last week’s position in parentheses)
- (4) “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” Jordan Davis
- (2) “Catch” Brett Young
- (6) “I Hope” Gabby Barrett
- (8) “Nobody But You” Blake Shelton w/Gwen Stefani
- (9) “More Hearts Than Mine” Ingrid Andress
- “Slow Dance” is Jordan Davis’ second No. 1. His first No. 1 was “Singles You Up” (2018), while “Take It From Me” peaked at No 2 in 2019.
•••
“I Know Country” Q&A from www.IKnowCountry.com
QUESTION: Who took “Blue Suede Shoes to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart on April 8, 1956?
•••
On this day in Country Music
April 8, 1980 The TV movie Kenny Rogers as the Gambler aired on CBS-TV. It earned two Emmy nominations and was followed by four sequels.
April 8, 1982 The No. 1 song on Billboard’s Country Singles chart was “Bobbie Sue” by the Oakridge Boys, their sixth No. 1 single.
April 8, 1990 “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, sung by Randy Travis and written by Hugh Prestwood.
This week’s Country Music Birthdays
April 5 Cowboy Jack Clement (songwriter, producer) 1931 (died Aug 8, 2013)
Troy Gentry (Montgomery Gentry), 1967 (died Sept 8, 2017)
April 6 Merle Haggard, 1937 (died April 6, 2016)
April 8 John Schneider III (Bo Duke) 1960
April 10 Maren Morris, 1990
April 11 Jim Lauderdale, 1957
Steve Azar, 1964
•••
“I Know Country” Q&A ANSWER: Did you say Elvis? Nope! That No. 1 country hit was by Elvis’ Sun label-mate Carl Perkins who also wrote the song that was later recorded by Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and many more.
- The B-side of Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” was another self-penned song, “Honey Don’t” that was covered by the Beatles with Ringo Starr on lead vocals.
- Both “Blue Suede Shoes and “Honey Don’t” are now considered Rockabilly ‘classics.’
Preshias Harris is the author of “I Know Country” with 366 daily country music questions and answers. You can buy and instantly download your e-book copy at www.IKnowCountry.com.
Harris is also a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Visit www.collegeofsongology.com for more details. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
