Down On The Corner
• Producer Todd Smith, who also has Label X, tells LMN that the label now has a deal with a company called Madacy Entertainment, which markets and distributes various music and video productions nationally. Label X then will put the Digby CD into that system. The upshot is that Digby has a record distribution deal. Digby and Smith have been working on five new songs for the upcoming album One/Zero, which will also include songs from Go Digby. A national spring release is tentatively on the books.
• The buzz around the band Eclectic has been approaching a roar lately. Now their first single, "Breathe," from Tables Turned. has been picked up for inclusion on a compilation CD put out by A&R Worldwide, a Beverly Hills-based talent discovery and development group. Entitled Unearthed, Vol. 1, the compilation is a sampler of independent musical talent and will be distributed to radio stations and music industry executives worldwide.
"Breathe" also made it into regular rotation on WLRS 105.1 back in October and was in the Most Request Song list for fourteen weeks.
• The Filson Historical Society will dedicate an evening to Louisville's blues heritage on Friday, February 20. There'll be a blues concert featuring the 10th Street Blues Band; a short presentation about the history of blues music in Louisville plus an exhibit of blues artifacts, instruments, records and photographs of blues performers. Pen Bogert, who works at the Filson and whose wife Brenda is the President of the Kyana Blues Society, has been researching and documenting Louisville blues musicians for some years. Bogert also performs now and then, most often with the late Fred Murphy. Admission is $25. Call The Filson at (502) 635-5083 for reservations and more information.
• Wayne Young, President of MERF, sent along this note about the recent benefit for Dennis Ervin: "We raised $1270 Thursday night and commitments from others to help out in the future. I would like to thank Scott Kennedy for organizing this event with MERF VP Ryan Murphy. Ryan also represented Mom's Music with the back line equipment and a $50 gift certificate. We would like to thank Don Ernst with Ernst Audio and Derek Young with the lighting and Mark Langley of Clifton Pizza for the great pizza.
"Many thanks to Dan Reed with WFPK with promotion and Scott Mullins as the Master of Ceremonies. We want to thank Jeffrey Lee Puckett for the article in the Courier-Journal and Marty Rosen for the article in the LEO. Thanks to Courtland Rose and the entire staff at Jim Porters for all their support. Special thanks To Robbie Bartlett and Tanita Gaines and their bands, plus the Youngsters for a terrific show. LMIA president Shaun Johnson donated $50 from LMIA to Dennis. Thanks Again Everybody !!!! Wayne Young, MERF President."
The Kentucky Country Music Association recently presented Kentucky Video Services with the 2003 KCMA Producer/Director Video of the Year award. Kentucky Video Services is owned by Steve Wills and Becky Malone-Wills. Malone-Wills is also the supervisor for Insight's Public Access programming.
KVS recently wrapped the video shoot for Louisville country singer Rachel Coogle and also contributed to Tantric's new Warner Bros./Maverick Records music video "Hey Now." For more information, log on to KVS's website at http://www.kyvideoservices.com/html/latest_news.html .
Codas
• Lloyd Burdette Coots, 81, died in Louisville on January 16. She was a violinists and played with a number of symphony orchestras and string groups.