UMG?s Royce Risser and Luke Lewis, George Strait,
producer Tony Brown, manager Erv Woosey
and
Lionel
Richie were the surprise bookends during a private concert Wednesday (Feb. 22) at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium during
the Universal Music Group's showcase at the annual Country Radio Seminar. Strait, who charted his first single for the company's
MCA Nashville label in 1981, opened the show that was attended by radio programmers and personalities. Backed by guitarists
Mac McAnally and Steve Gibson, Strait performed "I'll Always Remember
You" and "Troubadour." He was presented a plaque commemorating his first-ever No. 1 single as a songwriter. He wrote the title
track of his latest album,
Here for a Good Time, with his son Bubba and veteran songwriter Dean Dillon. It topped the
Mediabase airplay chart. In addition to the plaque, he was also presented a guitar from ASCAP, the performance rights organization,
to commemorate the achievement. "I should've started doing this a long time ago," Strait joked. "Think of all the guitars
I could've been given." Others performing at the show included artists from the MCA and Mercury labels, including
Lee
Ann Womack,
Scotty McCreery,
Lauren
Alaina,
Laura Bell Bundy and the
Randy
Rogers Band. Richie closed the midday show by inviting
Luke Bryan to
join him on "Easy." Richie will release
Tuskegee, featuring duets with country artists of several of his biggest hits,
on March 26.
