9TH ANNUAL NATD HONORS GALA SET FOR NOVEMBER 19
Honorees Include the Late Bill Hearn, Charlie Monk, Bob Skoney, Butch Spyridon, Bonnie Sugarman, Troy Vollhoffer and CeCe Winans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 8, 2019) – The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) has announced seven highly-respected honorees who will be recognized at the 9th Annual NATD Honors Gala scheduled for November 19, 2019 at the Hermitage Hotel. Tickets for the gala can be purchased here.
Honorees being awarded for their accomplishments and service to the Nashville entertainment industry include: (In Memoriam) Former CEO of Capitol Christian Music Group Bill Hearn, publishing and radio legend fondly nick-named “the Mayor of Music Row” Charlie Monk, recently retired GM of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium Bob Skoney, head of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp since 1991 Butch Spyridon, recieving the “Colonel Tom Parker Award” legendary music agent Bonnie Sugarman, Premier Global Productions and Country Thunder’s Troy Vollhoffer and the best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time CeCe Winans.
“The NATD Honors Gala is a very special, intimate and heartfelt event based on the feedback we receive from our honorees and guests every year, which tells me we are creating emotions and doing things for the right reasons,” said Steve Tolman, President of NATD.
The Gala will begin with a reception at 6:00 P.M., followed by dinner and awards ceremony. For tickets and sponsorship information, visit nashvilletalentdirectors.com.
About Bill Hearn
Vision, creativity and commitment are qualities often passed from generation to generation, and that’s obviously the case in the Hearn family. Bill and his dad, Billy Ray, were both pioneers in the growth and development of the Christian music industry as well as respected philanthropists who contributed greatly to their adopted city of Nashville. The Hearn’s music dynasty started when Bill’s Dad, Billy Ray founded Sparrow Records on the West Coast in 1976. The company grew exponentially and relocated to Nashville in 1991. The Hearns sold the label to EMI the following year. It was a landmark move in the Christian music business that opened the door for other mainstream corporations to enter the Christian/gospel music arena. Bill served as president/CEO of Capitol Christian Music Group, which counts Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, tobyMac, David Crowder and Chris Tomlin among its many artists. A division of Universal Music Group, Capitol CMG includes Capitol CMG Label Group (Sparrow Records, ForeFront Records, sixstepsrecords and Hillsong). Capitol CMG Publishing, Motown Gospel and Capitol Christian Distribution. “Bill took my little song and made a symphony out of it,” Billy Ray said of his son building upon his considerable legacy. Bill received the NARAS President’s Merit Award in 2006 for their contributions to Christian and Gospel Music. Bill served as chair of the Gospel Music Trust Fund and served on the advisory board of Porter’s Call. He was a past chair of the Nashville TJ Martell Board and served on the national board as well. “We want to make a difference in people’s lives and impact popular culture through great music,” Bill Hearn used to say. It’s obvious that commitment to caring has become a family tradition. NATD Honors Bill Hearn in Memoriam.
About Charlie Monk
Affectionately named the “Mayor of Music Row,” Charlie Monk may actually be known by everyone working in Nashville’s music community. In a career that spans more than sixty years, he has had an impact on virtually every segment of that community – radio, TV, theatre, movies, commercials, songwriting, music journalism, teaching and music publishing. He has held executive positions at ASCAP, CBS Songs and Gaylord’s Acuff-Rose Music Publishing and was named 1998 SESAC Music Publisher of the Year. It’s no surprise that all of that has led to his induction into the CRB Country Radio Hall of Fame (2019), the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (2014) and the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame (2018), made him lifetime director of the Country Radio Broadcasters, and made him a board member or officer of virtually every major industry organization – ACM, CMA, Leadership Music, GMA, The Recording Academy, NSAI and SAG-AFTRA (past President). In 2017, Monk was honored by his hometown of Geneva, AL with a street named Charlie Monk Lane. After a 35 year absence, Monk came back to his first love, radio, in 2004 to host the morning show on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. Charlie also hosts a weekend music and interview show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. Somehow, when he’s not working the room at a major music event or bringing legendary knowledge, experience, and connections to everything he does and everyone he meets, Monk also finds free time to enjoy painting and writing songs. “I’m a talent scout, a nurturer, a developer, and a song seller,” he says. “I think my instincts are good, and I believe I’m the luckiest guy in Nashville because I’ve made a living doing what I enjoy.”
About Bob Skoney
Bob Skoney was General Manager of the historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium, a 9900 seat venue built in 1962, in downtown Nashville. After a career of nearly 43 years, he recently retired. Bob began his career at Municipal Auditorium after graduating from the University of Alabama where he majored in Performing Arts Management and became involved as a student ticket manager for the University Program Council’s campus concerts. During Bob’s tenure at the Municipal Auditorium, keeping the aging facility relevant, competitive and in good repair was a constant challenge. The mix of events changed over the years as Nashville grew, and the landscape of new venues transformed. In 2013, the City of Nashville relocated the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum to the Auditorium’s lower level. Most recently, the concert business was revived by entering into an agreement with Live Nation, which has brought artists of all genres back to the stage at Municipal. Bob has worked hard over the years to reinvent the aging Auditorium more than a few times since its doors opened in 1962. Stories from the Auditorium’s years of operations abound, like the time Ozzie Osbourne went to sleep in the wrong hotel room, leaving Bob to deal with an angry mob of fans wreaking havoc on the building; or the time the Elephants got loose; or another time a monster truck crashed through a dressing room wall. Bob has seen it all. Bob met his love of his life, Lesa, while a member of Nashville Ski Club and they have been married for 30 years. They have two daughters, Jessica and Sarah, who enjoyed many a Shrine Circus and rodeo growing up. The ticket wall on the front of the Auditorium is a collection of tickets from events Bob worked over his career.
About Butch Spyridon
Butch Spyridon has served as the head of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) since 1991. Since that time, the NCVC has led the strategic development of Nashville’s hospitality industry, and Music City has evolved into a global, year-round destination, generating over $6.5 billion in visitor spending. During Butch’s tenure, the NCVC has been involved with development initiatives that include the Tennessee Titans, Bridgestone Arena, Music City July 4th, New Year’s Eve in Nashville, the Music City Center, Music City Walk of Fame, and the city’s first ever branding initiative. In addition, the CVC has produced two award-winning documentary films, including Silver Lion Awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Combined with the NCVC ongoing sales and marketing initiatives, Nashville hotel demand has grown faster than any other top 30 US city since 2013 and was named a top destination in the world by multiple publications for six consecutive years. Spyridon serves on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Travel Association and as Secretary-Treasurer of Destinations International. Raised in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Spyridon graduated from Vanderbilt University. He is a graduate of the Institute of Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown University. He and his wife, Sunny, have four children and five grandchildren.
About Bonnie Sugarman
Originally from Chicago, Bonnie Sugarman had the privilege of learning about live touring while working for E.O. Stacy, generally recognized as the ‘founding father’ of entertainment at Fairs. She relocated to Los Angeles with ICM and soon moved over to APA as head of Fairs & Festivals. When APA opened its Nashville office she relocated once again and has spent over three decades with APA, as co-head of the office, specializing in Fairs. Throughout her career she has formed lifelong bonds with buyers as well as artists. Among her most cherished memories are the years on the road with artists such as Red Skelton and Johnny and June Cash. She has been named the NATD “Agent of the Year” twice, received the prestigious Hubert Long Award in 2005, was inducted into the Source Hall of Fame in 2017 and the IEBA Hall of Fame in 2018. She currently serves as 1st Vice President of NATD. Bonnie left APA at the end of 2018 and is working on her “next chapter.”
About Troy Vollhoffer
Troy Vollhoffer has been successfully involved in the music industry for over 30 years. Premier Global Production, Troy’s first foray into the music business, has grown into one of the foremost staging and lighting companies in the world. Premier Global Production has provided touring lights and outdoor staging to some of the biggest artists in the industry like Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rush, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Sam Hunt, and many more. The company has also serviced some of the largest events in North America including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Electric Forest Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Voodoo Music and Arts Festival, Music Midtown, Tortuga Music Festival, and Hangout Music Festival, to name only a few. Fifteen years ago, Troy diversified, adding country music festivals to his portfolio of assets. Under Troy’s leadership, a successful management team developed that mirrors his philosophy. With the help of his team and over two decades worth of positive relationships within the music industry, the six events that encompass the Country Thunder brand has exploded across North America, and has become recognized for excellence in the music industry receiving numerous award nominations, and taking home the award for ‘Festival of the Year’ at the 50th ACM Awards and the 44th IEBA Awards for Country Thunder Wisconsin. In 2018, Country Thunder Arizona won the ACM for ‘Festival of the Year’ at the 53rd ACM Awards ceremony. Additionally, throughout the past few years, Troy has not only participated on boards for the T.J. Martell Foundation, ACM Lifting Lives, ACM, and the CMA, but he has also supported countless non-profit organizations every year in each festival community. His dedication and philanthropic commitment was recently recognized at the 2018 CCMA awards when he was honored with the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award.
About CeCe Winans
The best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, CeCe Winans has long since cemented her status as one of the most accomplished and celebrated women in modern music history. Recording and performing as both a solo artist and as a duo with her brother BeBe, CeCe has influenced a generation of gospel and secular vocalists over the course of her astonishing career. She’s been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Nashville Music City Walk of Fame, in addition to being named a Trailblazer of Soul by BMI and garnering multiple NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, Essence Awards, and more. She’s sold in excess of 5 million albums in the US, topping the Gospel charts repeatedly while crossing over with smashes like “Count On Me,” her stunning duet with Whitney Houston from the multi-platinum ‘Waiting To Exhale’ soundtrack, which sold 2 million copies and cracked the Top 10 on the Pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts.
About NATD
The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD), was founded in 1958 and professionally represents, directs and promotes the entertainment industry through its members. The organization serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas, a source of education and a vehicle for members to give back to the community. NATD sponsors a Speaker Series to educate the industry, an Honors Gala to pay homage to important figures in the Nashville entertainment community and supports many philanthropic endeavors such as partnering with Communities in Schools to donate washers and dryers to schools throughout Metro Nashville, and providing scholarship funds for students showing exemplary performances in academics, civic duties and personal goals. For more information, please visit nashvilletalentdirectors.com.
# # #
(Top L to R): Bill Hearn, Bob Skoney, Troy Vollhoffer
(Center): Bonnie Sugarman
(Bottom L to R): Butch Spyridon, CeCe Winans, Charlie Monk
