by Scott Turner

To quote my friend Ted Harris, an accomplished songwriter in Nashville with many #1 songs and standards to his credit, he said, "It's rewarding to see that two individuals have been appointed to executive positions at two of Nashville's major labels because they know, understand and appreciate the construction of the true country song and are open-eared so to speak when it comes to the country songwriter". He is referring to David Conrad, former head of Herb Alpert's and Jerry Moss' (A&M Records heads) Almo and Irving Music. As a passing note, yours truly was the first general manager of those firms in the early 60's and learned a wealth of information from both Herb and Jerry. The firm was sold to the Atlantic Music Corp. last year. So I guess that's where some 100 or so of my songs are based these days. I met David many times during my executive days at United Artists Records and he is an ultra respectable and well-informed song man. He was always open to listening to material from new writers who (finally) found a place where someone would listen.

The other individual is Paul Worley, a great producer in his own right, formerly with the Sony-Tree Music Group. Paul also has "great ears" (as they say) and he knows how to find the right song for the right artist.

Ted Harris had sold his publishing firms to Acuff-Rose Music (which was recently sold to Sony-Tree) and both Paul and David are admirers of his writing talent.

So...a new era has evolved in Nashville where superior, talented people will be listening to and for "the art of the true country song". Good luck, guys and I'm certain you'll be successful...again...opening new avenues of the Nashville songwriting circles. Ted and all of his song-crafting friends are overly glad about the announcement.

To be honest, I'm not absolutely certain of the labels they now head (because Ted was overly excited about the information). But I believe one went to Warner Bros. and the other to MCA, but whoever went where will do wonders in the near future.