Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar—legendary lead singer of Van Halen, founder of the Cabo Wabo Tequila brand, and one of rock music’s most notoriously successful performers—tells his unforgettable story in this one-of-a-kind autobiography of a life at the top of the charts. From his decade-long journey alongside Eddie Van Halen to his raucous solo career with Chickenfoot and everything in between—the drugs, groupies, and excesses of fame, the outrageous stadium tours, and the thrill of musical innovation—Hagar reveals all in this treasure trove of rock-and-roll war stories. Red is a life-changing look at one of music’s biggest talents—an essential read for music fans and anyone dreaming of becoming rock’s next number one star.

Amy Black Takes Her Shot With Sophomore Album One Time Juggling Success in the Business World with Following Her Dreams of Music

Singer/songwriter Amy Black releases her sophomore album entitled One Time today, March 29, 2011. After a decade of success in the business world, Black is taking a chance and following her music dreams with this new release. The rootsy collection of revealing and authentic tunes was recorded with producer, Lorne Entress (Lori McKenna, Bittertown). Available digitally, the album’s foundation is a traditional American roots sound but it’s not without a dash of rock and soul. “My goal was to create music that successfully merged the acoustic and electric instrumentation that I love,” says Black. “I tend to be drawn to a classic sound and paid my respects to some of the great music of the past when I wrote this album.”

Black worked with Entress to bring the perfect cast of characters together – top-notch musicians, including singer/songwriter Mark Erelli on vocals, guitar and lap steel and Nashville’s favorite fiddle player, Stuart Duncan. With Entress’ guidance the players have created a rich and compelling album. The music spotlights traditional roots instruments like Dobro, fiddle, mandolin, pedal steel and upright bass as well as the smooth and classic sounds of the electric guitar. “Making One Time was an incredible experience for me,” says Black. “As happy as I am to get the music out there, I’m also sad that the creation process is over. My favorite part of making this record was witnessing these incredible musicians doing what they do best. I can’t wait to get back in the studio with them again.”

In her debut album Amy Black & The Red Clay Rascals, Amy paid tribute to her favorite songwriters. With One Time, Amy’s powerful voice and presence are matched by the commanding range of her own song writing as seen in the nine originals on the album. The characters in “Molly” and “Whiskey And Wine” ache with bittersweet yearning in a world of pleasure and pain. “All My Love” simmers with seduction, while “Meet Me On The Dance Floor” is a flirty delight. “Stay”, featuring harmony vocals by Amy’s little sister Corrie Jones, swings with grown-up romance and “Run Johnny” crackles with bluesy menace.

“This album is really a tribute to my southern roots and is dedicated to my Granddad who grew up dirt poor in Alabama,” says Black. After putting himself through college, Black’s grandfather worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for decades before pursuing his dream of starting his own business. This can-do tenacity along with a flare for storytelling, are traits passed along to Black. “He was a bit of a showman and I think I got that from him,” says Black. “He passed away during the production of the album and I’m proud to honor him with this music.”

In the album’s potent title track, "One Time," the plaintive lyric “Time for you to make a break/And show what you’re good for” could describe Black’s bold step with this new release. “I decided a few years back that it was now or never,” says Black. “I love music way too much to sit on the side lines. You only get one chance at this life, and I’m taking mine.”

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Thirty-Four Steps and Fifty Years, at The Country Music Hall of Fame

 The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor a Nashville institution, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, with a new photographic exhibition, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Thirty-Four Steps and Fifty Years.  The exhibit, which opened April 1, will be presented in the Museum's West Gallery and will run through September 30, 2011.

In 1960, Jeff and Hattie Louise "Tootsie" Bess bought a small restaurant on Broadway in Nashville and rechristened it Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.  With its proximity to the Ryman Auditorium, the club became a haven for many Grand Ole Opry stars, who would run over and grab a drink between sets.  As Willie Nelson described the trek, "It's 17 steps to Tootsie's - and 34 steps back."

Through the years, Tootsie's regulars included country stars such as Patsy Cline, Webb Pierce, Charley Pride and Faron Young, as well as up-and-coming songwriters Bill Anderson, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller and Mel Tillis.  When the Opry moved to the Opryland complex in 1974, Tootsie's fell out of favor.  And by the time Tootsie Bess died in 1978, downtown Nashville was experiencing the urban blight that affected many cities in the 1970s.  In danger of closing, Tootsie's was brought back to life by entrepreneur Steve Smith, who bought the club in 1992.  Smith's structural renovations and canny musical bookings, which included future country star Terri Clark, breathed new life into the club.  Coinciding with this was the re-emergence of downtown Nashville as an entertainment district.  Today, Tootsie's provides a historic anchor amid a thriving entertainment scene.

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Thirty-Four Steps and Fifty Years features a dozen photographs that capture memorable moments at Tootsie's, both onstage and off, including shots of Jamey Johnson and Mel Tillis performing together; Kenny Chesney and rocker Steve Miller onstage; and Kid Rock admiring the club's décor, featuring walls plastered with 50 years of artist photographs.  The exhibit will also include text panels and additional historic photos detailing the venerable club's half-century of history.

Grand Ole Opry's Mel McDaniel Succumbs to Cancer at 68

Mel McDaniel died Thursday (March 31) at his home in Hendersonville, Tenn., following a battle with cancer. He was 68.

Born Sept. 6, 1942, in Checotah, Okla., McDaniel began performing professionally when he was in his early teens. Subsequently, he would work the club circuit in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. He made his first foray into Nashville in the late 1960s. When nothing came of that effort, he moved to Alaska, where he performed in clubs there for two years.

In 1973, he returned to Nashville and secured a job writing songs and recording demos for Combine Music Publishing. Impressed by McDaniel's sound, the Grand Ole Opry's Wilburn Brothers helped him land a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1976. That same year, he charted with the single "Have a Dream on Me." Over the next four years, he charted a dozen more times, never reaching higher than No. 11.

Then, in 1980, he scored a No. 7 with the song that would become his signature tune, "Louisiana Saturday Night." After that came the Top 10 hits, "Right in the Palm of Your Hand," "Take Me to the Country," "Big Ole Brew" and "I Call It Love." Finally, in 1985, he went No. 1 with "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," a song written by Bob McDill. The next year, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, where he continued to perform periodically after his recording activity began to flag in the late '80s.

McDaniel's other Top 10 hits were "Let It Roll (Let It Rock)" and "Stand Up" (both 1985) and "Real Good Feel Good Song" (1988).

His last Opry appearance took place with the show's full cast on Sept. 28 when the Grand Ole Opry House reopened after sustaining flood damage in May.

CHRIS PICKERING CLAIMS SPOT IN LIGHTNING 100'S MUSIC CITY MAYHEM'S SEMI-FINAL ROUND

Alt-country rocker Chris Pickering launched his successful solo career seven years ago in Brisbane, Australia, touring heavily throughout the country, earning multiple Australian music awards and nominations and releasing two full albums before turning his sights state side.

Now a Tennessee resident, Pickering immersed himself in Nashville's alt-country music scene co-writing with local songwriters and recording his third album, Work of Fiction (Oct. 2010, Other Tongues), in Memphis with famed producer Don Nix (Albert King, Freddie King). The album received rave reviews from both media and fans and catapulted Pickering's advance in the 2011 Music City Mayhem competition hosted by Nashville's Independent Radio Lightning 100.

Pickering's song "Fit to Print" from his 2009 release Excuses, Excuses has beat out two other artists' singles for a place in the "Elite Eight" semi-final round. The next fan-voted round takes place Friday, April 1, where he'll compete against The Cold Stares for a place in the Fantastic Four Showdown. Fans can log in to the Lightning 100 site and  vote once per round from 10am to midnight on the day of the scheduled round. The four artists/bands left standing will compete on stage on April 9 at Nashville's Exit/In. The winner of Music City Mayhem will go on to play Live On the Green.