Music News 02/23/2012

Nashville’s Parallel Music Publishing has signed songwriter Thom McHugh to its roster. McHugh has five No. 1’s and an additional five songs to hit the Top five. Those hits include “Don’t Happen Twice,” “You Can’t Lose Me,” and “More” by Trace Adkins.

McHugh graduated from Belmont University’s Music Business Program in Engineering, interned at MCA Publishing where he worked his way up to become chief engineer of the studio. Engineering by day and writing by night, McHugh discovered his true passion in writing.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Tim Hunze [Managing Partner] and the entire Parallel Entertainment team,” said Thom. “It feels like the perfect fit.”

• • • •

Don Schlitz

Nashville’s own Don Schlitz is among the new class of inductees for New York’s Songwriters Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at the organization’s 43rd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner on Thurs., June 14 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Also joining the Songwriters Hall of Fame that night will be folk-pop hero Gordon Lightfoot (“Early Morning Rain,” “Sundown,” “Rainy Day People”), rock stalwart Bob Seger (“Against The Wind,“ “Turn The Page,” “Night Moves”), famed Broadway composers Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones, and theater/film/pop music composer Jim Steinman (Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album, “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”).

“Each of our 2012 inductees has created a unique range of extraordinary contributions, a body of work that has resonated with audiences around the world, and greatly enriched our global culture,” said SHOF Chairman Jimmy Webb. “We are looking forward to celebrating their craft and careers at our Annual Awards Gala.”

Schlitz’s first recorded song “The Gambler,” sung by Kenny Rogers, won the 1978 Grammy for Country Song of the Year. Randy Travis’ classic “Forever And Ever, Amen” earned the same award in 1988.

Schlitz’s songbook includes 24 No. 1 hits: “On The Other Hand,” “I Feel Lucky,” “Houston Solution,” “One Promise Too Late,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “40 Hour Week (For A Livin’),” “Rockin’ With The Rhythm Of The Rain,” “When You Say Nothing At All,” “Deeper Than The Holler,” “Learning To Live Again,” and “Strong Enough To Bend.”

His songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tanya Tucker, The Judds and many others. In 2001 he wrote the songs for the Broadway show, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This four-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993 and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010. Schlitz has won three CMA Song of the Year Awards and two ACM Song of Year Awards. Schlitz received the ASCAP Creative Achievement Award in 2007 and in 2010 was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s Poet’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting.

• • • •

L- R : Sharon Koltick, Pablo Ahogado (Bluewater’s Creative Director), Kathryn Graham (Bluewater Creative services), Kink Ador’s Dale Harper & Nicklas Hamilton

Bluewater Music Services Corp is proud to announce the signing of Sharon Koltick to an exclusive worldwide management deal. Koltick is the front-woman and bass player of Nashville based rock band Kink Ador.

To celebrate this event, Bluewater is hosting several industry showcases for the band, including one at Arlene’s Grocery in New York City on Mar. 1 at 6 p.m. The company will also host another show at 12th & Porter in Nashville on Mar. 10 at 9 p.m.

• • • •

EMI Records Nashville has signed singer/songwriter Kelleigh Bannen to the label. The Nashville native has been hard at work in the studio working with Paul Worley and Jerry Smith on her debut album. Bannen’s first single will hit radio later this year.

Standing: Cindy Mabe (Capitol/ EMI Records Nashville SVP Marketing), Jerry Smith (Co-producer), Paul Worley (Producer), Autumn House (Capitol/ EMI Records Nashville VP A&R) Seated: Mike Dungan (Capitol/EMI Records Nashville President/CEO ), Bannen, Tom Becci (Capitol/EMI Records Nashville COO)