Artists: News Roy D. Mercer  

Scott Hendricks, chief of Virgin Records' new country division, announced that the initial roster for the Nashville label includes Julie Reeves, River Road and comedian Roy D. Mercer. Hendricks originally signed River Road and Mercer to Capitol when he was the head of that label. Mercer's How Big'A Boy Are Ya? Volume Five will be released on November 17. River Road is scheduled to go into the studio this winter to begin working on its Virgin Records album. Hendricks is currently producing the debut album by Reeves, a 24-year-old singer from Ashland, Kentucky.