JD SOUTHER Releases First Live Recording, RAIN

“JD Souther is the proverbial mad scientist who pours over his craft with jubilation, a sense of wonder and a never-ending curiosity. His songs are classics that are full of twists and turns that come from a mind that is at once brilliant and surreal. He is equally at home talking about Roy Orbison or Thelonious Monk, and in my book, that’s saying something!” – Jeff Coffin. 2x Grammy Award winning saxophonist-composer
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones

JD Souther, one of the prime forces behind the Southern California country/rock scene, follows last year’s acclaimed release IF THE WORLD WAS YOU, with his first ever live recording, RAIN. Available on Slow Curve Records, the digital-only EP was recorded live at the historic Belcourt Theatre in Nashville and will be available through iTunes, Amazon.com and other select online outlets. The October 20th release date falls a day after the co-writer of such Eagles hits as “Best of My Love”, “Heartache Tonight”, “How Long” and “Victim of Love” receives the prestigious Golden Note Award during the 47th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

After 25 years away from the music scene, Souther returned in late 2008 with one of his strongest projects ever, the jazz inflected, Cubano influenced collection of new original material, IF THE WORLD WAS YOU. That acclaimed release featured Souther’s voice and guitar backed by a stellar quintet of jazz musicians helping the versatile artist realize a lifelong dream.

Ralph Stanley’s Intimate Memoir, Man of Constant Sorrow

(Nashville, TN) – October 15, 2009–Dr. Ralph Stanley’s behind-the-scenes autobiography, Man Of Constant Sorrow: My Life & Times, makes its debut in bookstores today.  It is being spotlighted by stories in the New York Times, USA Today as well as by the 82-year-old mountain singer’s recent appearance at Carnegie Hall.

Co-written with music journalist Eddie Dean, the book chronicles in Stanley’s own distinctive voice his rise from poverty and a broken home in rural Virginia to his musical pairing with his older brother, Carter, and the creation of the trailblazing Stanley Brothers sound to his career culmination as a multiple Grammy winner, member of the Grand Ole Opry and recipient of the National Medal of Arts.

In its ringing review of the book, Publishers Weekly observed, “Stanley’s plainspoken narrative is told in a rural diction as though he were sitting in the front seat of an old Ford headed down the mountain for his next show. His story is a comprehensive and endearing cornucopia of authentic mountain music, place, family, friends, rivals, faith, love, life, death and the road.”

Labeling Stanley’s narrative “a delightful, outspoken surprise,” Kirkus Reviews concluded, “He’s at his best recalling his backwoods upbringing, the vicissitudes of the bluegrass road, the murder of one of his lead singers, the power of gospel music and old-time religion and the fast-vanishing South of his boyhood. An often tart yet affecting music memoir.”

Stanley continues to tour with his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.

(SXSW) Music Announces Keynote Speaker

Austin, Texas — October 22, 2009 - South By Southwest (SXSW) is thrilled to announce that the legendary Smokey Robinson will deliver the keynote address at their 2010 Music Conference. The address will kick off SXSW activities at the Austin Convention Center on Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Smokey Robinson is one of the architects of the “Motown sound” and his voice and songs established the label’s profound impact on culture across the globe. Robinson’s artistry has been celebrated worldwide, having received Kennedy Center Honors, a membership in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the “UK Special Achievement Award” at the Ivor Novello Awards and The ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Heritage Award. Bob Dylan called Robinson “America’s greatest living poet,” and his work as an executive at Motown was central in establishing a unique chapter in popular music history.

Robinson continues to forge new trails, mentoring “American Idol” contestants in 2009 and writing and recording new music. Robinson’s current CD “Time Flies When You’re Having Fun,” was released on August 25, 2009 on his own Robso Records and the songs sound as fresh and timeless as his pioneering work from the 60′s.

Robinson’s keynote anchors the twenty-fourth annual South By Southwest Music Conference and Festival, a world-renowned gathering of artists and music professionals. By day, registrants attend conference events and the trade show at the Austin Convention Center. At night, hundreds of performers command dozens of stages throughout downtown Austin. Registrations are now available for SXSW 2010 at the official website.

For more information on Mr. Robinson, visit http://www.smokeyrobinson.com.

For more information on South By Southwest, visit http://sxsw.com.

Steve Martin To Appear At Merlefest ’10

WILKESBORO, N.C. (October 28, 2009)—MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe’s, is proud to announce that multi-talented Grammy® and Emmy® winning actor/comedian/musician Steve Martin will perform on the Watson Stage on Saturday, May 1.

“I’ve heard great things about MerleFest for years,” said Martin.  “As a musician, it’s an event I’m really looking forward to playing.”

Martin is currently drawing rave reviews as he tours in support of his Rounder Records release, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, which spent multiple weeks at the top of the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart.  Touring with Martin are the Steep Canyon Rangers, who will perform with him at MerleFest.  Together they have performed at the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, The View, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Ryman Auditorium, and other venues in cities including Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Santa Fe and Troy, NY.  The tour will wrap up on November 9 at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Martin is a three-time Grammy® winner, the latest for his collaboration with Earl Scruggs on Foggy Mountain Breakdown (2001) and two for the comedy albums Wild and Crazy Guy (1978) and Let’s Get Small (1977.) After playing on the Grammy® Award winning Foggy Mountain Breakdown with Earl Scruggs, Martin began writing a string of new banjo songs, some with lyrics and some as instrumentals. An album 45 years in the making, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo features special vocal appearances by Mary Black, Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, Dolly Parton and instrumental guest spots by Earl Scruggs, John McEuen, Stuart Duncan, Jerry Douglas, Pete Wernick and Tony Trischka.  Martin wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album, which was recorded in Dublin, Hollywood, Nashville and New Jersey.