Putnam participates in Nashville celebration of Elvis

January 12, 2008

The Jackson Sun

Once more, Norbert Putnam of Jackson will play his Fender bass guitar on Elvis' songs. This time, the King won't be there in the darkened RCA Studio B making his music along with Putnam, David Briggs, who used to direct Elvis' performances, and other professional musicians.

But for Elvis' fans, both the King's memory and his music awaits at "Nashville Celebrates Elvis" coming up at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Briggs is directing the show and confirmed guest artists include Vince Gill, Amy Grant, BJ Thomas, Ray Walker of the Jordanaires, Wanda Jackson, Milli Kirkham, Ronnie McDowell, Pat Boone, and Humboldt native TG Sheppard (who's also performing at The Ned in Jackson on April 5). Special guest host will be George Klein who hosts an Elvis radio show live from Graceland each week on Sirius Radio.

Event proceeds will benefit the Cecil Scaife Music Business Scholarship Endowment to help students attend Belmont University's Curb College. Scaife, now retired, worked with legends such as Elvis, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins when they were with Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis. Scaife also presented Johnny Cash with his first gold record, "I Walk the Line."

Cecil Scaife "was Elvis' first promotional manager at Sun Records," said his daughter LaRawn Scaife of Nashville. "Obviously, Memphis claims Elvis because he lived there and because of Sun Records. But Elvis had a huge legacy in Nashville. He recorded many, many songs here. Nashville has not embraced that legacy so I thought it would be an exciting fundraiser to develop a concert at the Ryman that brings together those who played on his records or wrote his songs."

Some of Elvis' hits that he recorded at Studio B were "Heartbreak Hotel," "It's Now Or Never," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Crying in the Chapel."

After Cecil Scaife left Sun Records to go to Nashville, "he was a major entrepreneur in the music business," said Norbert Putnam. "And after Belmont decided to start a recording curriculum, Cecil went to the university president and said, 'You need to teach the business aspects.' Now, Belmont's program is one of the top 10 in the country."

Following his own passion for music industry education, Putnam is now a consultant and designer for Lambuth University's first entertainment/music industry studies program in Jackson. The program, directed by Dr. Brandon Goff, offers a bachelor's degree and teaches students not only about music, but about music law, copyright and licensing and starting a corporation, for instance.

While the Nashville concert is nearly sold out – down to a few $35 tickets – there are still $500 tickets left that are for both the Patrons Party on Feb. 11 and concert Feb. 12. At the Patrons Party at Studio B, those ticketholders can listen to Elvis' friends and musicians talk about their times with the King.



What to know
What to know
* “Nashville Celebrates Elvis!” A concert celebrating Elvis' association with Nashville's RCA Studio B on Music Row.
* 7:30 p.m., Feb. 12, Ryman Auditorium.
* Scheduled to appear: Vince Gill, Amy Grant, BJ Thomas, Ray Walker of the Jordanaires, Wanda Jackson, Milli Kirkham, Ronnie McDowell, TG Sheppard, Pat Boone and many of Elvis' session musicians including Norbert Putnam of Jackson and David Briggs (concert music director). Emcee: George Klein.
* Tickets: $35 through http://www.Ticketmaster.com and the Ryman box office; VIP $500 for premium seating and Patrons Party at the RCA Studio B recording studio on Feb. 11 through Belmont University at (615) 460-4085. $100 — sold out.
* Benefits the Cecil Scaife Music Business Scholarship Endowment. Scaife was an original founder of the Gospel Music Association and has served on the National Board of Governors/Grammy Awards Committee, Country Music Hall of Fame Executive Committee, Country Music Association and the Nashville Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).
* RCA's Studio B, owned by The Mike Curb Family Foundation; co-managed and operated by Belmont and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.





Source: http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS01/80112001