Stacy’s Music Row Report- Music Row Report

Stacy's Music Row Report

DOUG STONE fans interested in investing in the singer (and themselves, thanks to a steady stream of income courtesy of sound recording royalties from Doug's From the Heart ) will find out how to do so here.

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KIRT WEBSTER has resurfaced as the president of Music Row's Spinning Plates, Inc. (not to be confused with another company of the same name located nearly 900 miles away).

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Thanks to CLARK SONDEMAN for extending an invitation to attend the performance of my choice of Mr. Romantic. First opportunity will be at the Franklin Theatre May 18, 2025. The show moves to Café Carlyle (June 11-13, 2025) before moving on to The Palace (June 20, 2025).

... to ASHLEY NATARENO for the media invitations to SHINEDOWN's May 10, 2025 Bridgestone Arena performance and JACK VAN CLEAF's May 8, 2025 showcase at The Blue Room.

... to TAYLOR VAUGHN for the invite to KALEO's May 7, 2025 album release party at Nashville's American Legion Post #82.

... to ASHLEY NATARENO and TAYLOR VAUGHN for the media invite to SAWYER HILL's May 2, 2025 appearance at the Exit/In.

... to SCOTT ADKINS and RACHAEL NICHOLS for the media invitation to LEWIS BRICE's April 23, 2025 radio release party at Barstool Nashville.

... to ASHLEY NATARENO for extending an invitation to BOOTSY COLLINS' April 16, 2025 performance at lowbar.

... and to KENZIE DAVIS for inviting me to BEN KWELLER's April 16, 2025 showcase at the Basement East.

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In case you missed this AMANDA ROBERTS would like your reaction.

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From the emailbag and used with permission: My fellow Vandy alum, ART SMITH of Tampa, Florida writes: "STACY, Just stumbled across your blog post from 1999 about CONWAY TWITTY and the controversy over his will.

"I was thrilled to read the part about JIMMY and his wife at the CMA Awards. It brought a smile to my face.

"I met Jimmy in the fall of 1978 at Vanderbilt University. He was moving into the dorm room across the hall from me. He and his best friend (DWAYNE, as I recall) had to run an errand and Jimmy asked me to keep an eye out for his father.

"After a short while, MR. JENKINS arrived. I invited him to wait in my room until Jimmy and Dwayne returned from their errand.

"The next day he thanked me and said his father had enjoyed our conversation and wanted to invite me to a ball game. We were treated like royalty at the Sounds field and seated behind home place.

"Jimmy's father soon arrived and sat next to me. He regaled me with several stories, some of which I still retell.

"That's when I learned he was Conway Twitty.

"Although I had only met him a few times after that, Conway was always genuine and friendly. His memory will always be with me, as it is now nearly 50 years later.

"I hope Jimmy and his family are well. Please send them my regards.

"Thanks for bringing back those memories once again."

After sharing my own fond memories of interactions with "Jimmy's father," I asked Art for yet another and he obliged.

"The story was about car shopping in Nashville after his first hit song, It's Only Make Believe.

"It went like this: I was sitting next to Conway at the Nashville Sounds ballpark and he told me a story about his attempt to buy a new car in Nashville after his first big hit.

"Dressed in jeans and a cowboy hat, the 25-year-old Conway was considering the purchase of a new Lincoln. After looking around a bit he sat in the front seat of a Continental Mark III, setting his hat on the seat next to him. Moments later he was approached by a salesman who asked where his parents were: 'Our customers don't like to see kids hopping in and out of the cars,' he said.

"Conway left the showroom and went down the street to the Cadillac dealership where he purchased a brand new black Cadillac, huge fins and all.
"He returned to the Lincoln showroom and asked for a manager, informing him that he came to retrieve his hat. The manager asked how it came to be in a car on the showroom and Conway replied 'I wanted to buy a Lincoln but your salesman sent me away.'

"'I'll be happy to help you,' the manager replied.

"'I already bought a Cadillac,' Conway responded, pointing to his new car in front of the showroom.

"The story has stayed with me for decades, reminding me that you should never judge a book by its cover. I have included the story in several sales training manuals I have written."

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Music Row listen up!: JOHN LOMAX III wants "to sing folk songs for your civic group or church.

"Solo presentation of many of America's favorite folk songs all associated with the Lomax family's 149 year history of finding and preserving unique American music and musicians."

John promises "flexible rates and show length."

Interested? Contact John here.

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No sooner were the names of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame announced than the predictable discussion and comments on social media followed. It's the same thing every year: Just change the names to reflect the year of induction.

The choices are those of an anonymous electorate.

I've covered Music Row for over a half-century. I've never had a vote, which, like other glaring omissions that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the tax-favored 501 behind the initiative, should be important to anyone who believes in the concept of a tie-breaking vote.

My exclusion and the reasons for it are best addressed by those who feel they can defend it, though it would be easy to "out" the least-qualified electors by giving them a test of country-music history. (Their qualifications will never be challenged because, under the current guidelines, or lack thereof, who wants to say publicly (certainly not the hypocrites who have done/will do so privately) that anyone who has been or will be inducted is undeserving?)

The selection process began impulsively. Like most halls of fame, the inductees are supposed to be the "best of the best" and therefore, by definition, it is to be a numerically elite group.

But, as with many halls of fame, this one's founding electors never made its intentions clear: Is statistical accomplishment enough- or must the inductee also be of pristine character? (No right or wrong answer to this one, but without clarification from the git-go critics are ready to pounce.)

An inexperienced electorate results in not only popular choices who are undeserving unless the metrics are adjusted, but in inducting DOLLY PARTON before PORTER WAGONER, GLEN CAMPBELL before JIMMY DEAN, ALABAMA before the STATLER BROTHERS et al, rendering the WILBURN BROTHERS, as an example, effectively ineligible because they have been on too many previous preliminary ballots already and are as unknown to the youngest of the current and next generation of industry "experts" as say, some of the early Opry string bands.

BILL MONROE in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame? ELVIS PRESLEY in the Country Music Hall of Fame? Performing songwriters, already in various songwriters' hall of fame, also members of the Country Music Hall of Fame? Make the case for each, but at what cost to others who, due to the process of attrition previously noted, will never be inducted?

KENNY CHESNEY's biggest initial claim-to-fame was horseygate, just as TRACY LAWRENCE's career was launched by being shot. (Chesney's conduct resulted in being arrested, Lawrence became a hero until he, too was arrested [more than once] years later at which point Tracy was canceled until he started his holiday dinners for the homeless at which point all was forgiven.)

All these years after horseygate, with Chesney's 2025 induction, is it incumbent upon the 2026 electors to induct Kenny's partner-in-crime, TIM McGRAW?

By her own admission, JUNE CARTER was not a great singer nor stylist. According to TOMMY CASH, June was not the cowriter of Ring of Fire but, discounting her heritage (in a year of discussion about nepo babies) and gender (always a plus so long as the Country Music Hall of Fame strives in the 21st century to reduce its embarrassing lack of gender parity), June is an overdue selection in light of the elimination of country comedy awards and the dearth of country-music comediennes- of which she was one of the best- who have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

TONY BROWN? No question as to his accomplishments as a performer (though not of country music) and producer. Maybe not even an inappropriate choice if a morals clause could/should be a disqualifier, since JAMIE NICOLE BROWN has yet to weigh in. (The two accounts of the same events could not be further apart and JUDGE AMANDA McCLENDON eventually dismissed the case.)

I mean, who would want BILL ANDERSON's induction rescinded?

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