The Nashville Cats series of conversations with pivotal country, rock and Americana music artists continues Oct. 22 at the Country Music Hall of Fame, as Bill Lloyd interviews legendary drummer D.J. Fontana. Fontana was the drummer on Elvis Presley’s earliest hits and appeared on almost 500 Presley recordings. He was also a prominent session player and has recorded with a wide…
Jayhawks top Americana chart
The Jayhawks, with founding member Mark Olson on hand for the first time since 1995, have the top album on the Americana Music Assocation chart this week. “Mocking Bird Time” (Rounder) replaces Robert Earl Keen’s “Ready for Confetti” after a one-week run at the top. New to the top ten is Ry Cooder’s “Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down”…
Del McCoury featured in new in-studio video series
Three years ago, Steve Fishell, a one-time member of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and later a producer of a number of cool country and Americana acts, launched the Music Producers Institute in Nashville. It was a studio with a twist. Fishell’s business model gave artists an economical way to record a new album, while inviting recording students and fans to…
Concert review: Elvis Costello at the Ryman Auditorium
Roy Acuff wouldn’t have approved. There on the stage of the legendary Ryman Auditorium tonight was a go-go dancer moving to the music of Elvis Costello and the Imposters. The dancer’s cage – and the multi-colored “Spectacular Spinning Songbook” that drove the setlist- contributed to a carnival-like atmosphere and an entertaining and outlandish show. This was in sharp contrast to…