Artists Unite For 'america The Beautiful'; Japanese Country Star Is Subject Of Film

STAR-SPANGLED: More than 60 country and contemporary Christian artists gathered June 19 in a Nashville studio for a "We Are the World" style recording of "America the Beautiful," under the guidance of mega producers Tony Brown of MCA Nashville and James Stroud of DreamWorks. Among the participants were Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Lonestar, Keith Urban, Billy Dean, Jaci Velásquez, Avalon, Mark Miller, Trace Adkins, Brenda Lee, Jars of Clay, Toby Keith, Jamie O'Neal, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and Martina McBride.

The event was orchestrated by renowned TV producer Norman Lear, who says the session was conceived and organized in just eight days. Within two days of taking the idea to Brown and Stroud, the men Lear calls "the two geniuses" had already laid down the track and organized the artists to sing, with the help of Creative Artists Agency.

Lear purchased one of the surviving original copies of the Declaration of Independence about a year ago on a Sotheby's Internet auction and started a nonprofit foundation, the Declaration of Independence Project, aimed at keeping the document circulating around the country in constant public view. Lear says, "I purchased it as the people's document, [intended] to move among the people."

On Independence Day, July 4, the document will be read at a Philadelphia event by 11 actors, including Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, and Kathy Bates. That event, which will air as a live special on ABC-TV, will also feature performances from Garth Brooks, Jill Scott, and Blue Man Group.

Lear says footage from the Nashville recording session will be used on either the ABC special, ABC's Good Morning America, or both. Lear says plans call for every Nashville label to have a hand in taking the song to radio for airplay in the days leading up to the July 4 event.

GOOD TIMES: The documentary My Name Is Good Time Charlie premiered June 21 in Nashville. The film follows the life of Japanese country artist/nightclub owner Masateru "Charlie" Nagatani, who has produced the annual Country Gold Festival in Kumamoto, Japan, since 1989 in conjunction with Nashville-based manager and international agent Judy Seale.

My Name Is Good Time Charlie was produced by New York-based film producer Tracey Barry and was inspired by a story about Nagatani in National Geographic. The film was shot on location in Nashville, Kumamoto, and Branson, Mo.

Meanwhile, this year's Country Gold Festival is set for October in Kumamoto. Already booked to appear are Chad Brock, Danni Leigh, Jolie & the Wanted, and Trent Summar & the New Row Mob.

ON THE ROW: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing has promoted Woody Bomar from VP/GM of creative services to the department's senior VP/GM post. Also, Terry Wakefield is upped from senior director of creative services to VP of the department.

Gary Harrison, senior director of A&R for Mercury Records, exits after six years with the company to join Big Picture Entertainment as managing partner in charge of writer development.

Mike Borchetta exits his position as VP of Caption Records to become executive GM/senior VP of promotions for Broken Bow Records. Mike Chapman remains as VP of national promotion.

ARTIST NEWS: Pam Tillis exits the Arista Nashville artist roster. She has released seven albums on the label since 1991, including a greatest-hits set in 1997. Her latest, Thunder & Roses, was released March 6 (Billboard, Feb. 24). Sister label BNA Records has parted ways with singer John Rich and will not release his Sharon Vaughn-produced album, Underneath the Same Moon, recorded last year. Comedian Bill Engvall exited the BNA roster as well.

The Little River Band will release its first studio album in 12 years, Where We Started From, July 31 on the Nashville-based Scream Marketing label. The album includes nine new tracks, plus rerecorded versions of the hits "Night Owls" and "Cool Change."

Chips Moman, the renowned producer/songwriter/guitarist, has launched chipsmowman.com and will use the Web site to market a new album from Billy Joe Royal, plus CDs of previously unreleased music from Carl Perkins and Billy Lee Riley. The site's label arm, chipsmowman.com Records, will begin selling Royal's Now and Then . . . Then and Now, July 10.

Deryl Dodd segues from Columbia Records to sister label Lucky Dog. His album Pearl Snaps is due Sept. 11.