Nashville, Tenn. — Ten songwriters and five songwriter/artists have been nominated for one of the nation’s highest songwriting honors – induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Of the nominees, two from the songwriter category and one from the songwriter/artist category will be inducted during the annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony to be held on Sunday, October 26, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

“Each of these nominees has honed the songwriting craft to perfection, and the songs they’ve given us are absolute treasures,” said Roger Murrah, a 2005 inductee and the current chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF), which owns and administers the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The ballot seeks to recognize songwriters whose first significant works achieved commercial success and/or artistic recognition at least 20 years ago and have “positively impacted and been closely associated with the Nashville music community and deemed to be outstanding and significant.”

This year’s ten nominees in the Songwriter category are: Matraca Berg (“Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter), Paul Craft (“Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life” by Moe Bandy), Kye Fleming (“I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” by Barbara Mandrell), Larry Henley (“The Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler), the late John Jarrard (“Blue Clear Sky” by George Strait), Bob Morrison (“You Decorated My Life” by Kenny Rogers), Mark D. Sanders (“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack), Tom Shapiro (“Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” by Brooks & Dunn), John Scott Sherrill (“Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner) and Sharon Vaughn (“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” by Willie Nelson).

The five nominees in the Songwriter/Artist category are: the late Paul Davis (“I Go Crazy”), Larry Gatlin (“All the Gold in California”), John Hiatt (“Ridin’ With the King”), the late Johnny Horton (“Honky Tonk Man”) and Tony Joe White (“Rainy Night in Georgia”).

Biographical information on the nominees, and an online version of this release, is available at: http://www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/73TEMP/news13B.html.

The ballot was recommended to the NaSHOF board of directors by the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, which is comprised of Hall of Fame members and Music Row historians. Votes are cast by Hall of Fame members and Professional Songwriter members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), as well as the boards of the NaSHOF and NSAI.

Established in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame boasts 168 members, including songwriting luminaries such as Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Bob Dylan, Don & Phil Everly, Flatt & Scruggs, Vince Gill, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Bill Monroe, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Carl Perkins, Dottie Rambo, Jimmie Rodgers, Cindy Walker, Jimmy Webb, Hank Williams, Sr. and Hank Williams, Jr. It was announced in September 2007 that the future home of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will be the historic building at 34 Music Square East, former home of the Quonset Hut, Columbia Studio A, Columbia and Epic Records and Sony Music Nashville. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will become the first organization honoring songwriters to emerge from a virtual entity to one with a physical location.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit foundation dedicated to honoring and preserving the songwriting legacy of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The NaSHOF’s principal purposes are to educate, archive and celebrate songwriting that is uniquely associated with the Nashville music community.

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Memphis, Tenn. — Supporting the classic folk traditions from live performances, guitars, banjos, songs and dances to the new world of podcasts, blogs, Youtube, and VideoRanch, over 2,000 people, both young and old, will gather in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate the 20th year of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (The Folk Alliance) at the International Folk Alliance Conference February 18 - 22, 2009. Catch up on what’s the best - best performances, best events, best technology, best advice. Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) will be the keynote speaker for the opening session of the conference which is held at the Memphis Marriott Downtown and Cook Convention Center. All showcase entries, early registrations, sales, sponsorships, private showcases, and hotel bookings, begin July 1. Details at www.Folk.org.

The Folk Alliance provides a vital network of activity for the performing folk-arts world on an international and regional level. The regional conferences are ideal for artists, presenters, business people, journalists & bloggers, folk societies, folklorists, and DJ’s to help build a stronger music community in focused geographic areas.

2008 FOLK ALLIANCE CONFERENCES

October 2-5 SWRFA - Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, www.swrfa.com
Location: TBA (Region: TX, OK, NM, CO)
Showcase deadline: August 15 - Registration open

October 10 - 12 FARM - Folk Alliance Region Midwest, www.farmfolk.org
Location: Techny Towers Conference & Retreat Center in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. (Region: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI)
Showcase deadline: Passed - Registration open

October 17-19 SERFA - Southeast Regional Folk Alliance, www.serfa.org
Location: Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
(Region: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
Showcase deadline: TBA

October 24-26 FAR-West - Folk Alliance Region West, www.far-west.org
Location: Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel & Convention Center, Ariz.,
(Region: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, MT, WY)
Showcase deadline is July 31, 2008 - Registration open

November 13-16 NERFA - Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, www.nerfa.org
Location: Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY
(Region: CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)
Showcase deadline: July 25 - Registration open

February 18 - 22, 2009 International Folk Alliance Conference www.folk.org
Location: Memphis Marriott Downtown, Memphis, TN
Showcase deadline: November 20, 2008 - Registration open

Above and beyond the conferences the Folk Alliance offers wonderful programs through their year-round services including arts advocacy, health and instrument insurance, an online music business directory, newsletters, and workshops. Contact www.Folk.org for information on membership and all conferences or call 901/522-1170.

Folk Alliance Mission: The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music, dance, and related performing arts in North America. The Folk Alliance seeks to strengthen organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

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Justin Townes Earle received a nomination for The Americana Music Association’s 2008 New Emerging Artist of the Year. Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins.

The Americana Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2008 Honors and Awards ceremony - Justin Townes Earle received a nomination for New Emerging Artist of the Year. The winners will be announced September 18th in a ceremony at the historic Ryman Auditorium - the show will be hosted by Jim Lauderdale and features a band led by Buddy Miller. The 7th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer seminars and panels from September 17 - 20.

It’s been a huge year for Justin Townes Earle - since the release of his first album, he debuted on the Grand Ole Opry, appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition and in dozens of profile publications like New York Times, LA Times, Nashville Scene, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, American Songwriter, No Depression and many others. “The Good Life” debuted on the Billboard country chart, no small feat for a new artist, and is currently charting at #10 on the AMA Radio Charts, 3 months after the release.

With Justin Townes Earle’s pedigree comes mixed blessings. As the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle, high expectations are the name of the game; but he’s shown that he is up to the task, crafting stark portraits with elements of acoustic blues and folk. After a misspent youth in bluegrass/ragtime combo The Swindlers and the louder, more rocking The Distributors, the 25-year-old cleaned up his act, dropped his self-destructive habits and began to focus on songcraft. With inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt (he was named in honor of the elder Earle’s hero), The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues, Justin forged his own brand of American roots music.

“The Good Life” is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

Justin Townes Earle on the road:

• Fri June 20 — Knoxville, TN - World Grotto
• Sat June 21 — Atlanta, GA - Smith’s Olde Bar
• Sun June 22 — Nashville, TN - 3rd and Lindsley
• Tue June 24 — Mobile, AL - Callaghan’s Irish Social Club
• Wed June 25 — Auburn, AL - The Strutting Duck
• Thu June 26 — Macon, GA - The Hummingbird
• Fri June 27 — Gatlinburg, TN - Arrowmount School of Arts
• Sat June 28 — Louisville, KY - Francis of Assisi
• Sun June 29 — Chicago, IL - Belmont Arts and Music Festival
• Mon June 30 — Rock Island, IL - Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor
• Fri July 11 — Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Sat July 12 — Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Sun July 13 — Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Thu July 17 — Kilbarchan, Scotland - The Cellar
• Fri July 18 — Greenock, Scotland - Greenock Wanderers Club

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The Hacienda Brothers “Arizona Motel” (Proper Records)

Tucson, AZ. — The Hacienda Brothers, whose Western soul sound received worldwide acclaim in the course of the band’s five-year history, will release their final album, Arizona Motel, on June 24, 2008, distributed by Proper Records. It’s an unexpected memorial to the band’s lead singer and original member Chris Gaffney, who tragically passed away on April 17th after a short battle with liver cancer.

The title Arizona Motel reflects the fact that The Hacienda Brothers originated, recorded and wrote the majority of their songs in Tucson, Ariz., even though the band all lived California. Arizona was more of a state of mind than a state of domicile for The Hacienda Brothers. Gaffney had planned to spend his retirement in the state.

Jeb Schoonover, manager, longtime friend and business partner with Gaffney recalls, “Chris had this small but beautiful piece of land out in the desert of Southeastern Arizona. All he wanted out there was a singlewide and a satellite TV. Chris was unpretentious and that’s what made him special. In this crazy music business of ours he was one to appreciate the little things like connecting with people and making others laugh. Chris never got caught up with notoriety or having hits, but if you count the number of friends as one’s success, then he was truly a superstar.”

These last five years with The Hacienda Brothers allowed Gaffney to spread his music and love to countless new fans. As founding partner, main songwriter and guitarist Dave Gonzalez puts it, “People were really drawn to Gaffney’s unique vocal style and his soulful, no b.s. delivery. He was truly one of a kind, and his presence could make everyone in the room stop whatever they were doing and just listen. I am honored to have been his friend and very lucky to have written and recorded with Chris so much.”

The sessions for Arizona Motel were done in two parts. The first was last September in Nashville during the Americana Music Conference, with legendary producer Dan Penn again at the helm recording four new original songs. The band, which had been nominated for “Group of the Year,” did not receive the award but had already considered themselves winners because to them nothing beat playing the Ryman Auditorium (home of the awards show) and recording with Dan Penn.

In the studio, Penn put his classic touch on the country soul gem “Ordinary Fool” and captured the incredible honky-tonk ballad “I Still Believe.” He also lent his talent as a songwriter, co-writing with Dave Gonzalez as well as producing the songs “Used to the Pain” and “Break Free.”

The second session found the band back in Tucson at the end of their last tour in December where they went into the familiar confines of the Cavern Recording Studios for a spirited self-produced session. Several of these new recordings such as “A Lot of Days Are Gone,” “I’ll Come Running,” “Big Town City,” and “Long Way To Town” showcase the signature tight Hacienda Brothers sound. Gaffney’s soulful singing can be heard throughout Arizona Motel but is especially highlighted on both “Soul Mountain” and “Divorce or Destroy.”

Perhaps, however, the most poignant moment on the album is a song idea Gaffney brought to the band about the war. The song, titled “Uncle Sam’s Jail,” is set in Vietnam but is every bit relevant today. Told from the soldier’s point of view, the song is more about the poor man’s blues than a political statement. It’s an Irish-tinged ballad that has all the markings of a classic Gaffney song: simple, yet relevant, and truly heartfelt. It’s the way Chris liked to live his life, and down at the Arizona Motel you will still find him there!

Dave Gonzalez of The Hacienda Brothers will tour to support the new release and celebrate the life of his friend and musical partner Chris Gaffney.

Dave Gonzelez tribute to The Hacienda Brothers on the road:

• June 19 — Twilight Alive - Kingsport, TN
• June 20 — Private Function – Country Music Hall of Fame - Nashville TN
• June 21 — Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN
• June 29 — Oneida Casino - Green Bay, WI
• July 4 — The Livery - Benton Harbor, MI
• July 5 — Fitzgerald’s American Music Festival - Berwyn, IL
• July 6 — Sunday Roundhouse - Omaha, NE
• July 10-11 — Zoo Bar Anniversary Festival - Lincoln, NE
• July 12 — Knuckleheads - Kansas City, MO
• July 13 — Cherokee Casino - West Siloam Springs,OK
• July 18 — Continental Club - Houston, TX
• July 19 — Continental Club - Austin, TX
• July 20 — Gruene Hall - New Braunfels, TX
• August 8 — Slims - San Francisco, CA
• August 9 — The Palms - Winters, CA
• August 13 — Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
• August 14 — Duff’s Garage - Portland, OR
• August 15 — Duff’s Garage - Portland, OR
• August 16 — Bend Brewfest - Bend, OR
• August 17 — Summer Sundays - Bend, OR

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With “The Infamous Stringdusters,” the award-winning sextet has put on record the dynamic of intimacy and virtuosity that distinguishes their live shows. The eponymous album is both a nod to traditions and a challenge to conventions, proving that the Infamous Stringdusters’ combination of innovation and experience has truly molded a new level of newgrass music.

Read a review of the new Stringdusters Album on BluegrassJournal.com

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