Fans of Glen Templeton have given him a birthday to remember this year as “Ball Cap” climbs to the top position today on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 45 LIVE, on Glen’s birthday. Continue Reading →
Tag Archives | Glen Templeton
Glen Templeton’s “BALL CAP” Is Number One Spot On SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 45 LIVE Hits On Glen’s Birthday
Video Highlights From CMA Music Festival 2012
Photo credit: Courtney Davidson
CRS 2012: Interview With Glen Templeton
Check out this interview we did with Glen Templeton during CRS 2012!
Another Reflection On CRS 2012
Faith Hill performing during CRS 2012
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Well, I finally have a quiet moment to reflect on CRS 2012. Matt’s already shared his perspective and I thought I would take a few minutes to share mine.
WOW. That’s the best adjective that I can think of to describe this amazing 4-day long country music event known as CRS (Country Radio Seminar). Matt and I were fortunate enough to be allowed to cover all of the events of CRS as media for the very first time this year for Focus on the 615.
This was simply an amazing experience for anyone who loves music as much as I do! THIS is quite simply why I do what I do so I can be there, hearing firsthand, connecting, and then sharing with you this love for music. My love for music has gotten me through some of the worst times in my life and some of the best times. Especially country music with it’s incredible lyrics and songs filled with emotion. I feel so fortunate to be able to attend an incredible event such as CRS. I’m one of the lucky ones allowed to hear some of the most amazing music that is out there today up close and to be able to come in contact with many of the people who are making this great music. It was almost too much packed into 4 days to be able to absorb and much sleep was lost that week in order to take it all in, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat and hope we are given the opportunity to attend this extraordinary musical event next year.
Hunter Hayes performing during New Faces show at CRS 2012
High points of the week were being able to attend the Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner, Sony Music afterparty, and Black River Entertainment afterparty where long time friends Due West performed along with new friends, Sarah Darling and Glen Templeton. Then, there was the Lady Antebellum concert with Darius Rucker and Thompson Square opening followed by Warner Music’s Attack of the 80s afterparty where favorites like Jana Kramer, THE FARM, Jason Jones, Frankie Ballard, Gloriana, The Dirt Drifters, and Big & Rich performed one original song then one 80s song. That was one of my very favorite moments during CRS and a great way to end the night with all of the amazing people at Warner Music! Then, an incredible lunch brought to us again by Warner Music where I was front row being entertained by a full scale concert by none other than Faith Hill, who if anyone has doubts, has STILL got it and I eagerly anticipate the release of her new album! What an incredible performance and I’m fairly certain that will be the best lunch that I ever experience during my lifetime. Lofty words, but THAT will be hard to top! There were elegant cocktail parties and a fun meet & greet mixer with large spreads of food and just about everyone who is anyone in country music in attendance just to talk to and take pictures with. Then, the last night, another nice cocktail party where The Lost Trailers started off the evening with a short performance that ended with a gospel choir on stage singing this incredibly touching song “Underdog” that left me in tears. It was quite difficult for me to keep my camera in focus and take the pictures I was trying to get as I tried to see through my tears because I was so moved by their performance. Not only that, but they share a very touching story. It was all very moving! Check them out if you haven’t heard of them! Lastly, there was the New Faces show concluding the event that featured full band performances on the same incredible stage that had been set-up earlier that day for Faith Hill. Performers included: Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Sunny Sweeney, and David Nail who each gave incredible, crowd-stirring performance that were appreciated by all in attendance at this elegant dinner. Thompson Square was set to perform, but due to the loss of a loved one the evening prior, had to cancel unfortunately and completely understandable. At least, we got to see them a couple of days before with Lady Antebellum.
We even thoroughly enjoyed all of the hours spent in the media room every day as we had the opportunity to sit down with many favorite artists to talk about their music like Gloriana, THE FARM, Jana Kramer, Frankie Ballard, Amber Hayes, Due West, Marlee Scott, Glen Templeton, Billy Dean and many more…we had so many great interviews in those jam-packed 4 days! Please look for those interviews throughout the site as there were so many, we are continuously uploading more video interviews and not nearly done!
I created Focus on the 615 this past August because I want to help promote great music and the artists who make it that I believe in. All of which is coming straight out of Nashville, TN! Being allowed to attend such a special event as CRS only solidifies for me my reasons why I created this music blog and why I want to continue to support the music & artists for many years to come. If I want there to continue to be great music made, I feel like I have to do my part a little bit, too, and help promote. As great as the internet is in reaching masses, it’s had such a devastating impact on the music community as a whole because of illegal downloading and sharing. Countless labels have had to close their doors already, record deals have been lost due to labels simply not having the funds like they used to in order to fully develop and promote talented artists…in short, illegal music downloading has had a far reaching impact on the music industry. So please, if you love music as much as we do on Focus on the 615, pay for your music downloads from places like iTunes or buy the physical cds from the stores. Great music isn’t created for free and we can’t continue to get great music unless we support it. A few dollars for a cd or $1.25 per song on iTunes is a very, very small amount to pay for something that will bring enjoyment for many years to come!
Thanks to the staff at Aristo PR for putting together such a spectacular event!
I would like to leave you with this great video from new Curb recording artist, Rachel Holder! When I saw this video aired just prior to the New Faces show, I absolutely loved it and it continues to stick out in my mind! Enjoy!
Focus on the 615 at CRS 2012
And that’s a wrap. Averaging four hours of sleep per night, around noon on Friday we finished up our last of 23 interviews for CRS week. Aside from all of these (stay tuned to watch them all here), the week consisted of exclusive performances, incredible after parties and an overload of fun.
CRS again is the Country Radio Seminar, a weeklong event at the Nashville Convention Center “created to provide a platform and structure for education and growth for the Country Music format, serving as the conduit connecting the interests of Country Radio with the Country Music Industry” (crs.org). Our job was to cover it as part of the media… therefore we hung out in the media room and interviewed artists instead of going to the educational seminars. Not a bad gig.
Tuesday
Day 1 was Tuesday, a day that proved just a warm up for the week ahead. We started at Warner Music where we caught up with The Dirt Drifters, HER & Kings County and Ty Stone. HKC are some of the most energetic people we had the good fortune of meeting.
“Y’all kicked our hangover to the curb like a Bloody Mary.” – HER & Kings County
You’re welcome guys.
Then it was up to the Bridge Bar (a cool lounge area located on the walkway over Commerce Street) to meet up with The Roys, DJ Miller and Mark Cooke. Six interviews ain’t bad for a days work, and then we were invited to attend the Country Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony, followed by the Sony-hosted after party featuring Brent Anderson, Wade Bowen and Jerrod Niemann. They all brought the house down, especially Niemann’s finale, a cover of the classic Pride and Joy.
Wednesday
Now we come to the day where we almost had TOO MUCH fun. No kidding, it was almost hard to process it all. The day started early with an interview with The Farm, a great group of people, then Gloriana, who I’ve had my eye on since their first single Wild At Heart three years ago. Then finally, I got to meet Jana Kramer who is in fact the sweetest person in the entire world.
Then came lunch at The Ryman, one of the best musical venues in the country, for a performance by nearly the entire Universal Music Group roster. I won’t mention them all, but it started off with none other than King George Strait. Let me tell you, there is not a lot that can trump watching Troubadour live in The Ryman Auditorium as the sun shines through the stained glass windows. But if there was one thing that could, it was the way they closed the show: with Lionel Richie. And he immediately brought out one of his biggest fans to perform with him: Luke Bryan. They played Easy (Like Sunday Morning) one of my favorite songs of all time, and after a well-deserved standing ovation, we were back to the media room. So yeah, that was lunch.
After this, we caught up with Marlee Scott, Frankie Ballard and Jason Mitchell. Soon thereafter we found ourselves at a meet-and-greet with most of the aforementioned artists in attendance, along with Josh Turner, Scotty McCreary, Lauren Alaina, Luke Bryan, Craig Morgan, and others. No interviews with those folks unfortunately, but all very nice people.
But we weren’t done yet: after that was the sold out Lady Antebellum concert at Municipal Auditorium. Thompson Square opened the show in incredible fashion before Darius Rucker took the stage, singing a couple Hootie & the Blowfish classics as well as a Nashville favorite Family Tradition. Then it was Lady A’s turn, and they put on one impressive show. They played all the hits, and even featured surprise cameos from Luke Bryan (performing Do I, co-written by Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood) and Sara Evans (who performed Stronger, co-written by Hillary Scott). After the show we were exhausted… oh, but not done yet.
The after party was a Warner Music gathering with an 80’s theme. Artists played one of their own songs followed by an 80’s classic. On the roster were (among others) HER & Kings County, Ty Stone, Jana Kramer, THE FARM, Jason Jones, The Dirt Drifters, Frankie Ballard, Hunter Hayes, and Big & Rich who performed a rousing rendition of Madonna’s Like A Virgin.
Cue exhaustion.
Thursday
After Wednesday, Thursday became a blur of sleep deprivation masked with too much caffeine. Of the interviews I remember, we had Glen Templeton, Due West, Amber Hayes, Jessie James, Deborah Allen, Adam Gregory, Maggie Sajak and Bucky Covington (forgive me if I forgot anyone). By the time Bucky finished out the day our batteries were drained figuratively AND literally (Bucky’s interview ran slightly short due to the death of the camera battery).
Lunch featured an acoustic set by Alan Jackson, and shortly thereafter we had a few hours where I was able to go home and nap before the Black River Entertainment showcase featuring Glen Templeton, Sarah Darling and Due West.
Friday
An easy day today! Only two interviews with icon Billy Dean and the lovely The McClymonts, and then on to lunch with Faith Hill! She debuted two new songs during her performance, and sounded as good as ever.
After a little break, we were back for the New Faces of Country Music show. The pre-show and happy hour featured a performance by The Lost Trailers, before we adjourned into the performance hall to see Hunter Hayes, Eli Young Band, Sunny Sweeney and David Nail. Thompson Square was also set to perform, but had to cancel due to an unfortunate death in Shawna’s family. The performances were amazing, and the after party was equally as amazing with everyone cutting loose after a long week.
We have pictures of all this excitement on our Facebook page, and will be sure to post these interviews online as soon as possible, so be sure to check back often! We would also like to thank each artist for their time, their management for their patience, and everyone who was involved with CRS for their hard work and dedication to an extraordinary week. Thank you!
Below is a recap of our CRS interviews:
The Dirt Drifters
HER & Kings County
Ty Stone
The Roys
DJ Miller
Mark Cooke
The Farm
Gloriana
Jana Kramer
Marlee Scott
Frankie Ballard
Jason Mitchell
Glen Templeton
Due West
Amber Hayes
Jessie James
Deborah Allen
Adam Gregory
Maggie Sajak
Bucky Covington
Billy Dean
The McClymonts
Tootsie’s Celebrates Its 51st Birthday In Style
Kid Rock joins John Stone and band on stage
The famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge celebrated its 51st birthday on Wednesday, November 23rd with a star-studded birthday bash all day out in the streets of downtown Nashville with a large stage on the corner of 5th & Broadway.
Crowds of music fans were treated all day long starting just after noon to live full-band shows just outside the doors of this famous honky tonk by such acts as The Roys, The McClymonts, and The Kentucky Headhunters,who were introduced to the stage by Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens. It didn’t end there, though. Then fans were treated to an after-party following Kid Rock’s concert at the Ryman Auditorium where Tootsie’s headliner, John Stone and his band, continued to entertain crowds well past midnight. This after-party even included a special drop-in performance by Kid Rock himself to the delight of the large crowd that had gathered.
The McClymonts
I felt like a human popsickle after it was all said and done since I stayed out there enjoying all of the festivities all day then well past midnight. It was worth it, though! It had turned unusually cold that day in Nashville, but I was probably a bit thin-skinned since I had just returned from a Caribbean cruise just a couple of days before. I fair much better in warm tropical climates with a cool breeze blowing through my hair and sipping on a frozen rum concoction than I do in cold wet, climates where I actually BECOME the frozen “concoction”! lol Ok, enough about that! I guess you know where my head is at today! Yes, dreaming about being back on that ship! Obviously, so much so that I had forgotten to bring my jacket to keep me warm and had to buy a hoodie from the Tootsie’s souvenir shop just to keep warm during the event. Thank goodness for that hoodie! Anyway…
The Roys
About Tootsie’s
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge opened its doors 51 years ago next to the legendary “mother church” of country music, the Ryman Auditorium. Mom’s was the original name of this famous honky tonk before Tootsie Bess bought the establishment in 1960. Tootsie credits a painter with naming the location when she walked up one day to find the outside of it painted orchid. So, the name was born after the owner, the color, and it was also her favorite flower.
Since the doors opened at Tootsie’s 51 years ago, countless country legends have walked through its doors. Many of its famous patrons slipped out the back door of the Ryman Auditorium across the alley into the back door of Tootsie’s to enjoy a beer or two and enjoy some music. Legends like Patsy Cline, Kris Kristofferson, Faron Young, Willie Nelson, Tom T. Hall, Hank Cochran, Mel Tillis, Roger Miller, Webb Pierce, Waylon Jennings….just to name a few. Careers have been launched for people like Terri Clark, Joanna Smith, and Glen Templeton, songs have been inspired about it like “The Wettest Shoulders in Town” and “What’s Tootsies Gonna Do When They Tear the Ryman Down?”, movies have been filmed there like ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’, and countless singers/songwriters have taken to its stages in hopes to be seen by the right people who could make their dreams come true.
The Kentucky Headhunters
Tootsie’s is a Nashville institution and landmark that will no doubt continue for, at least, 51 more years to come. I have no doubt. As long as the Ryman stands, those doors should continue to lead through the back alley to Tootsie’s and the many other honky tonks that line the streets of Broadway where many country music fans from around the world continue to visit in hopes that they might possibly get a glimpse of their favorite country star who decides they just might drop in for a beer or two and hear a little live music, too. And, that’s definitely not so far-fetched! You never know WHO just might enter through that back door late at night after the Ryman has closed its doors for the evening.
Happy birthday, Tootsie’s, and here’s to another 50 or so more years of making great memories!
Glen Templeton: New Black River Recording Artist
I recently had the opportunity to meet and listen to some music by new Black River recording artist, Glen Templeton, inside the offices of Black River Entertainment. He was just signed to Black River Entertainment this past summer. Continue Reading →
