Tag Archive for: nashville

Craig Carothers lived in Portland before it was hip and moved to Nashville before it was ready for prime time. He’s always been a little ahead of the curve and an old school kind of cool. His music is heartbreakingly beautiful and scathingly funny, delivered with a lively deadpan smile and a voice that’s downright swoony.

Too folk for rock, too pop for folk, too jazz for country, too tall to be a jockey. It’s difficult to easily categorize his music without the use of hyphens. But the wide-ranging influences of Craig’s music-teacher parents can be heard in each of his more than 20 albums.

He’s a songwriter’s songwriter, sharing co-writes with Bruce Hornsby, Marty Stewart, Don Henry, Maia Sharp, and Don Schlitz, to name a few. He’s had songs recorded by Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea, Lorrie Morgan, Russell Hitchcock, and Peter, Paul and Mary, as well as numerous international artists whose names are unspellable.

As a touring musician and a regular at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Craig has shared a stage with the likes of Richard Thompson, Janis Ian, Donovan, David Wilcox, John Gorka, Patty Larkin, Gretchen Peters, Catie Curtis, Greg Brown, Shawn Mullins, Patty Larkin, Michael McDonald, and Kim Richey.

When not traveling to hundreds of shows each year, Craig shares his songwriting expertise as a professor at University of Miami, and through online and in-person songwriting workshops across the U.S. and Europe.

A true Renaissance man, Craig is also a producer, recording engineer, background singer, booking agent, graphic designer, photographer, Tex-Mex connoisseur, left-wing inactivist, and a collector of exquisitely obsolete gadgets.

His many recordings are available at live shows and via the website, as well as Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, CDbaby, and all other digital streaming providers.

A U.S. Marine from rural Crystal Hill, Virginia, Stacey Lamont Sydnor appeared to be fascinated by rhythm from the time he could use his hands to beat on his mother’s pots and pans. At the age of eleven, his grandmother bought him his first “gold sparkle” snare drum and he’s never stopped playing since.

Early on, he was influenced by the sounds of Traditional (Quartet) Gospel and his father’s love of old school soul and R&B (Johnny Taylor, James Brown, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes). While in elementary school, he joined the band, became classically trained, and learned to appreciate Big Band Jazz.

Under the tutelage of mentor, Damon Brown (www.batclefmusic.com), he went on to win multiple awards around the state of Virginia and became well known, becoming exceptionally popular with local Gospel Quartet groups in Southern Virginia and North Carolina. He also excelled in his new found love of Jazz, Theatre and Southern Rock.

He started touring professionally at the age of fifteen with Gospel artists, the Heavenly Five and the Pilgrim Jubilees of Chicago. He also performed as a drummer/percussionist for a variety of musicals to include: “Anything Goes, “Cowboys” and “Westside Story”. From there he went on to perform in the US Marine Corps Band, attaining the position of Principal Percussionist in a little under two years. While in the Marine Corps, he teamed up with fellow marine, Mike Corrado to form The Mike Corrado Band (www.mikecorrado.com). The band toured for eleven years now and has sold over 100,000 albums independently.

His resumé runs like a Who’s Who of, well, every possible genre of music.

He’s performed with:

  • Pop/Country/Rock Stars: Seal, Trisha Yearwood, Daughtry, Starship, Hillary Duff, Robbie Williams, Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), Taylor Dayne, Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Bobby Brown, The Rembrandts, and Daniel Powter & Macy Gray.
  • Hip Hop artists Sean “Diddy” Combs, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, Flo Rida, Busta Rhymes and Ice Cube.
  • R&B and Soul artists Alicia Keys, Jermaine Jackson, Philip Bailey, Chrisette Michell, Keri Hilson, Layla Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Bobby, Brown, Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, Melanie Fiona, Teedra Moses, Faith Evans, Stevie Wonder, Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), Macy Gray, Denise Williams, Shirley Murdoch, Tank, Avant.
  • Motown/Funk/Soul Legends: The Jacksons, Earth Wind & Fire, George Clinton, Sly Stone, The Temptations, Heatwave, Bloodstone, Malo, The Delphonics, The Floaters, The Deele, Billy Paul, Percy Sledge, Peaches & Herb, The Intruders, the S.O.S. Band and Mandrill.
  • Gospel Recording Artists: Deitrick Haddon, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Ann Nesby, Damita Haddon, Tammi Haddon, The Soul Seekers and Yolanda Adams while serving in the music ministry of Bishop Noel Jones.
  • Smooth Jazz Artists: Jonathan Butler, Keiko Matsui, The Late George Duke, Marcus Johnson, Althea Rene, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mike Phillips and the late Wayman Tisdale.

He is currently still working with The Jacksons & Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire as well as a member of The Myron McKinley Trio!

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Emmy award-winning drummer and percussionist Scott Pellegrom is known throughout the drumming community as the “mad scientist.” His playing as a soloist and band leader exudes creativity, from surprising ideas to blinding hand speed, using found objects to pulling unconventional sounds from conventional instruments. Videos of his hyper-creative playing can be seen on Drumeo, the Dream Cymbals and PDP/DW Drums social media channels, Scott’s Instagram (@scottpellegrom), and numerous other places around the web. Incorporating elements of drum and bass, jungle, and fearless improvisation into his playing, this “drummer’s drummer” defies expectation and genre, whether it’s playing jazz standards or today’s most experimental music. In March 2020, Modern Drummer recognized Scott as one of the top five soloists in the world and top five clinician/educators in the world. Read more

Note: Sorry about the audio issues here. If you can get past them, you’ll enjoy Jeff’s personality and hilarious stories!

When you see a legendary band like Starship, it’s tough not to focus on Mickey Thomas’ inimitable vocal range, or the engaging presence of female lead Stephanie Calvert… until you see what an entertainer Jeff Adams is. On his own, Jeff fronts a stellar band in Memphis, Tennessee, and when he’s onstage with Starship, it’s remarkable to hear this guy play bass, sing his ass off, and bring a stage presence that would leave insecure lead singers envious.

I really enjoy Jeff’s energy offstage, too. We’ve been all over the world together, and this was a fun share “backstage”.

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Stella Parton was branded a Maverick in 1975 when she launched her very own record label – Soul, Country and Blues S.C.A.B Records before going on to write, produce, & release her chart topping debut album “I Want to Hold You (In My Dreams Tonight)”. Since that time Stella has gone on to release 39 albums, 32 chart singles, become an accomplished actress and author with 3 cookbooks, an inspirational memoir ‘Tell it Sister, Tell it’ and 4 starring roles in Broadway touring musicals; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Pump Boys & Dinettes & Gentleman Prefer Blondes.

In 2015, at the request of her older sister Dolly Parton, Stella served as a consultant on the NBC Television movie ‘Coat of Many Colors’ in addition to being portrayed in the film as a child and appearing in a character role as Corla Bass. She reprised her role in the Emmy-Nominated follow up ‘Christmas of Many Colors’ (2016). In 2018 Stella became an audience favorite on the BBC’s Celebrity Masterchef series and partnered with British Airways as a spokesperson for their new direct flight between London and Nashville.

Stella continues to perform around the world and speak out as an advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Her 40th studio album ‘SURVIVOR’ is available now everywhere music is sold. February 2020 saw the launch of Stella’s very own podcast ‘PARTON ME, NASHVILLE!’ with the Los Angeles based Bleav Podcast Network. The weekly episodes are slated to feature a diverse group of guests chatting with the legend about everything from food, fashion and music to politics and human rights issues.

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Do you wanna know what it takes to pack up and move to Nashville, kick ass and take names? Hang out with Brian Powell and me for an all access live chat. You’ll be backstage with one of the Northwest’s most versatile bass players, who brought his “chameleon” talents to Nashville!

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Rich Redmond is an award-winning recording and touring drummer based in Nashville and Los Angeles. As an in-demand artist, Rich has recorded/toured/performed with: Jason Aldean, Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Bryan Adams, Bob Seger, Joe Perry, Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Thompson Square, Eric Church, Deana Carter, Chris Stapleton, Montgomery Gentry, Alabama, John Anderson, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Travis Tritt, Emily West, Chris Cornell, Kelsea Ballerini and many others.

Not only that: he’s also an Actor, Author and Motivational Speaker for corporate environments. If you don’t find inspiration in the conversation we had today (whether you’re a drummer or not!), then you don’t have a pulse! This was one of the most inspiring hour-long conversations with someone that knows not only how to hustle, but share the secrets, keep the fire and motivate others to do the same. I needed that – maybe you do, too!

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Jim Riley’s been recognized as one of Country Music’s most accomplished and in-demand artists. Bandleader and drummer for multi-platinum group “Rascal Flatts”, Jim has also authored several publications, has TV and video game credits to his name, and millions of fans have watched him shine from his throne. We’re taking you “backstage” to hang out with this drum legend on Tuesday, September 1 at 3pm Pacific, 5pm Central/Nashville Time, y’all!

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Chad and Rachel Hamar are one of those rare married couples that can make it work in the business, and make it work well. They maxed out their success cap in the Pacific Northwest and moved their country act “Cloverdayle” off to the most logical path for country artists: Nashville. I’ve known these dynamos for over 20 years, back when we played high school assemblies together! Come hang “backstage” with us on All Access Live’s YouTube as we get a little bit country and a little bit (nah… a LOT) of rock n’roll. Monday August 31 at 3pm Pacific.

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I first met Jenn when she was playing keyboards for Richard Marx, on my first tour w/ A Flock of Seagulls. We sailed the Caribbean Seas on The 80s Cruise, and I got to witness the kind of spirit I love to discover in the music industry. She’s a seasoned pro, having been long-term bandmates with Aimee Allen & the Interrupters and Ke$ha, as well as having done many other session and hired gigs. The past several years, Jenn’s been focusing valuable efforts on Best Friends Cat Rescue in Los Angles. Come hang “backstage” with me and Jenn, and get your weekend started on a positive note!

Best Friends Orgaanization Best Friends Pet-Saving Dasbhoard Jenn Stone on Facebook

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