Buzz Surrounds Country Music Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Celebration

You’d be a fool to miss this!

Join honoree Buzz Cason on April 1 at the 10th Anniversary of the Country Music Hall Of Fame songwriter series Poets And Prophets: In-The-Round, where he will appear onstage with Dan Penn, Dallas Frazier, and Dickey Lee. For this particular show, which is being held in collaboration with Nashville Songwriters Association International's Tin Pan South festival, Cason, Penn, Frazier, and Lee will swap songs, exploring the stories and inspirations behind their collective pieces. This event is free in conjunction with the CMHOF 50th Anniversary celebration that is also taking place for the foolish price of $1.50 all day long admission - rolled back to what visitors would have paid at the attractions opening in 1967.

Cason's latest album Passion (ArenA Recordings) demonstrates his poignancy as a songwriter and storyteller. He explores an array of themes, from ode to times-gone-by "Just As Gone" (co-written with singer/songwriter Billy Swan) to Nashville love letter "The Ballad of Berry Hill". Elmore Magazine states: "...he's released what may very well be the best album of his career, one that nearly 60 years after his debut, shows he's as incisive as ever."

RELATED LINKS:
• Buzz Cason
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Tin Pan South

- Blog post by MusicCityNashville.net

Studio Tenn Brings "The Cash Legacy" to The Ryman

Reimagined and better than ever, Studio Tenn brings "The Cash Legacy: A Tribute To The Man In Black" to the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium, this weekend. Opening on Friday, March 31 and running through Saturday, April 1, this lauded production offers a new set, new arrangements and a new star-studded cast with tickets starting at just $27.50.

Studio Tenn’s illustrious Legacy Series takes patrons on an exploration through music, bringing the cultural arts of middle Tennessee to the surface while showcasing the music and songwriting of legendary artists. Unlike any other show, Studio Tenn’s "The Cash Legacy" brings accuracy to the personality, essence and story of Johnny Cash through some of Nashville’s finest performers.

Featuring an eclectic group of singers and musicians, "The Cash Legacy" cast includes GRAMMY® Award winners Ashley Cleveland, Mike Farris, the star of "Always… Patsy Cline" Mandy Barnett, and many more.

"The whole process of putting 'The Cash Legacy' together has been such an amazing experience," Ashley Cleveland said. "There are so many great artists that are a part of this show, each with their own unique ideas and style. It really gives testament to the universality and versatility of Johnny’s music."

Don’t miss your chance to see this one-of-a-kind theatrical concert on stage at the Ryman Auditorium March 31 and April 1. Tickets for "The Cash Legacy: A Tribute to the Man in Black" are available at ryman.com or by calling (615) 889-3060.

RELATED LINKS:
• Studio Tenn
• Ryman Auditorium

- Blog post by MusicCityNashville.net

The Zombies Show No Decay As They Prepare to Stroll into Nashville

The Zombies continue their remarkable 21st-century resurgence with a North American tour, the release of a lavish coffee-table book and reissues on CD and Vinyl. The Spring 2017 trek across the U.S. and Canada, which will continue to England and Europe later next year, includes the final full-album performances of Odessey and Oracle reuniting all four surviving members of the group, with Colin Blunstone on lead vocals, Rod Argent on keyboards/vocals, Chris White on bass/vocals, and Hugh Grundy on drums and will land in Music City fpr One Night Only on April 9 at the Tennessee PAC James K. Polk Theater.

Along with founding members Blunstone and Argent, the current line-up of the Zombies, celebrating their current release Still Got That Hunger on The End Records includes bassist Jim Rodford, guitarist Tom Toomey and Steve Rodford (Jim's son) on drums. The Zombies just received their second nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Odessey and Oracle produced the group's biggest hit ("Time of the Season"), and became a musical touchstone for generations to come. 50 years later, it brings the four surviving members back together on stage to perform the album in its entirety for the final time.

The book, which will be published by BMG Books and Reel Art Press in March 2017, will include handwritten lyrics for all the songs on Odessey And Oracle, as well as many of their other popular songsLavishly illustrated with rarely seen photos from throughout the band's career, the volume also includes original artwork to accompany the lyrics - from both Terry Quirk who created the iconic cover for Odessey and Oracle, and Vivienne Boucherat, who created individual works for each O&O song. The book's text will include anecdotes behind the songs and their recording, all from the original members, as well as reflections from Brian Wilson, Nate Ruess, Clive Davis, Carlos Santana, Susanna Hoffs, and many others. The Foreword was written by Tom Petty.

The Odessey and Oracle is being reissued for the first time on CD in digipak on March 17th. Bonus tracks on the CD include alternate versions and outtakes from the original recording sessions. The booklet contains never seen photos as well as new notes from Andrew Sandoval. A Greatest Hits LP is set to release on April 7th. Both these titles are being released via Varese Sarabande. There will also be a reissue of 'Still Got That Hunger' on vinyl in baby blue which will be ready in time for the tour via The End/BMG.

RELATED LINKS:
• The Zombies

- Blog post by MusicCityNashville.net

The Chieftains Set to Make Their St. Patrick's Pops a Three-Night Affair in Nashville

"55 years, wow, where have they gone as we’re still going strong", says Paddy Moloney, leader of the six-time Grammy Award winners, The Chieftains. The Chieftains have been highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and International scale. The Chieftains were formed in Ireland in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, one of the top traditional folk musicians in Ireland and around the world. Their ability to transcend musical boundaries to blend tradition with modern music has notably hailed them as one of the most renowned and revered musical groups to this day. After more than fifty five years of making some of the most beautiful music in the world, The Chieftains' music remains as fresh and relevant as when they first began. So now The Chieftains are set to embark on their 55th Anniversary Tour in the US beginning in California on February 17th making their way across the US to the east coast with a final show on St. Patrick’s Day in Jacksonville, Florida. Paddy Moloney says, "This tour will have all the musical force of what we’ve accumulated and achieved over the last 55 years, with a few extra gems thrown in for good measure".

As cultural ambassadors, their performances have been linked with seminal historic events, such as being the first Western musicians to perform on the Great Wall of China, participating in Roger Water’s "The Wall" performance in Berlin in 1990 and being the first ensemble to perform a concert in the Capitol Building in Washington DC. In 2010, their experimental collaborations extended to out of this world, when Paddy Moloney’s whistle and Matt Molloy’s flute traveled with NASA astronaut, Cady Coleman, to the international space station. Although their early following was purely a folk audience, the range and variation of their music and accompanying musicians quickly captured a much broader audience, elevating their status to the likeness of fellow Irish band, U2. The Chieftains are never afraid to shock purists and push genre boundaries and the trappings of fame have not altered The Chieftains' love of, and loyalty to, their roots however- are as comfortable playing spontaneous Irish sessions as they are headlining a concert at Carnegie Hall.

Paddy finishes with, "With this tour of music, song, dance and a few surprises…..our guests are the cream of the crop joining in for a great party". Join The Chieftains at the ornate and lovely Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville March 9 through 11, 2017.

RELATED LINKS:
• The Chieftains
• Buy Tickets

- Blog post by MusicCityNashville.net