October 17, 2022, Issue 829
Galante, Lewis, Whitley Enter Hall
“A wild pioneer of rockabilly, a hard-living Kentucky balladeer, and a record executive who dared to believe that Nashville could be more than an outpost for the New York and L.A. labels” were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday evening (10/16). Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley and Joe Galante, as described by CMA CEO Sarah Trahern, were “all outliers who became the ultimate insiders.” Impeccably produced by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum staff and presided over by CEO Kyle Young, the event traced what he called “three paths to the unbroken circle that is the Country Music Hall of Fame.” Joe Galante: Musical performances Joe Galante began with Alabama’s Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry leading the Medallion All-Star Band in “My Home’s In Alabama.” Miranda Lambert performed her first No. 1, “White Liar,” and Kenny Chesney offered “The Good Stuff.” Medallion presenter Kix Brooks told of Galante’s role in reviving Brooks & Dunn’s career. “Sometimes it takes a guy like Joe Galante, whose life depends on Jerry Lee Lewis it, to tell us what we’re doing is magic [and who] sometimes has more faith in us that we may have in ourselves.” Citing many whose support was pivotal, Galante pointed to the education he received from Jerry Bradley and Frances Preston, in particular. RCA and Sony executives and staff were called out for their hard work, passion and friendship. Family was a recurring theme. Keith Whitley “My dad was a postal service worker and when I took this job, he kept asking me, ‘What do you do?’” Galante said. “I tried to explain, [but] he kept going, ‘I don’t get it.’ I brought him down one year for [the CMA Awards]. He hung with me at meetings the next couple days. (continued on page 6)
Great Halls Of Fire: Joe Galante, Keith Whitley’s widow Lorrie Morgan and Jerry Lee Lewis’ wife Judith Lewis (l-r) in the Hall of Fame Rotunda before the induction of the Country Music Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Carrie On: Underwood Launches Tour
Capitol’s Carrie Underwood kicked off The Denim & Rhinestones Tour featuring Stoney Creek’s Jimmie Allen Oct. 15 in Greenville, SC. The show will stop Star Of Stage in 43 cities through And Jean: Spring 2023, but Capitol’s Carrie iHeartMedia WSSL/ Underwood Greenville MD/ with WSSL/ afternoon personality Greenville’s Aaron Michael Aaron Michael was among the on opening first to see the show night of The and tells Country Denim & Aircheck readers Rhinestones what to expect when Tour in the tour hits Greenville, SC. their market.
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