NATD Honors to Be Held November 14 in Nashville

The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) announces six industry leaders to be recognized at the 2nd Annual NATD Honors gala on Wednesday, November 14 at the Hermitage Hotel (231 6th Avenue North, Nashville). Honorees include Nashville Predator and NHL Foundation Award recipient Mike Fisher, Morris Management Group President Clint Higham, CAA Nashville Agent John Huie, legendary country music icon George Jones and Nashville Symphony President & CEO Alan Valentine.

President WBA Entertainment, Inc. Robert S. Williams will receive the Hubert Long Award. Named after one of the most influential and multi-dimensional industry executives in country music history, The Hubert Long Award is presented to individuals who have made a significant and positive contribution to the music industry relating to artist development.

The NATD Honors begins with a reception at 6:00 PM followed by a dinner and ceremony at 7:15 pm.  Ticket information can be found at www.ticketfly.com.

The 2012 Honorees were chosen by the NATD Board of Directors, led by President Steve Tolman of LogiCom. “Our goal is to recognize the work that these individuals have done to help better the community around them. Not only are they leaders in their chosen professions but they believe in continuing and supporting education which is one of our main goals at NATD.”

Past honorees include Alabama, Tony Conway, Mayor Karl Dean, James H. Gosnell, Jr., and Barry Trotz.

ABOUT NASHVILLE ASSOCIATION OF TALENT DIRECTORS:
NATD, founded in 1958, professionally represents, directs, and promotes the entertainment industry through its members.   Today, NATD members generate millions of dollars annually for Nashville-based artists! NATD not only serves as a forum for its members as an idea exchange, it also serves as a vehicle for other facets of the industry to share information vital to the overall growth of the Nashville music and entertainment industry.  NATD members foster camaraderie among “friendly competitors” which seems to be something unique to the closely-knit Nashville music and entertainment community.  NATD provides scholarship funds for students showing exemplary performance in academics, civic duties, and personal goals. This is the 24th year that aid has been granted. For more information, please visit www.n-a-t-d.com.

ABOUT MIKE FISHER:
Winner of the 2012 NHL Foundation Award, which recognizes a player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork, Nashville Predator Mike Fisher aims to enrich the lives of people in his community. As a world class hockey player, Fisher has received the seventh-most votes for the Selke Trophy falling only one goal (24), one assist (27) and two points (51) shy of career highs in each category.

ABOUT CLINT HIGHAM:
Chosen among Billboard’s “The Power 100,” Clint Higham has distinguished himself among the multitude of artist managers for his ground breaking work in the development of country music superstar Kenny Chesney. With Higham as one of Chesney’s key team members, the multi-Award winning artist has sold over 30 million albums, nearly 20 million digital transactions and over one million concert tickets every year for eight consecutive years. Higham’s success stems from putting the artist first and focusing on long term careers. He was named President of Morris Artists Management in 2012 and represents Chesney along with Martina McBride, Jake Owen and more.

ABOUT JOHN HUIE:
In the early ‘90s, John Huie moved from LA to Nashville to join Creative Artists Agency, the top talent agency in the world, to open the company’s first satellite office. He brought with him over ten years of experience in the booking world working with companies like The Paragon Agency and International Creative Management as well as his own companies Frontier Booking International and H-1. Over his career, Huie has helped the careers of the Charlie Daniels Band, The Allman Brothers, The Police, The GoGo’s and Joan Jett. However, he was most noted for his work in the Contemporary Christian music industry crossing over to a broader mass market with clients Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Since moving to CAA, his client list has grown to include Faith Hill, Sugarland, Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band and many others.  As co-head of the office, John has guided the company’s growth from 2 employees to over 70, seeing the client list diversified from Kings of Leon to Loretta Lynn and CAA’s services expand to tour marketing and tour sponsorships.  John has been honored by his industry peers by being selected Pollstar Magazine’s Third Coast Agent of the Year in 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2010.

ABOUT GEORGE JONES:
George Jones is the #2 best-charting country artist of all time, with a staggering list of hit singles in every decade since the ‘50s.  The Beaumont, Texas native also has 143 Top 40 hits to his name, has received two Grammy Awards, was a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor recipient, is a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, was presented with a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award this year and holds a National Medal of Arts.  At 80, Jones continues to be an active country music superstar, headlining dozens of concerts each year.

ABOUT ALAN VALENTINE:
Alan D. Valentine joined the Nashville Symphony as its President and CEO in June 1998. Since then, he has presided over an unprecedented period of growth at the Symphony, highlighted by  seven GRAMMY® Awards and 14 GRAMMY® nominations; more than 20 highly regarded and best-selling CD releases on the Naxos and Decca labels; eight national television broadcasts, one of which won an Emmy Award; multiple national radio appearances, including the internationally syndicated radio series American Encores; a critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut and sold-out East Coast tour in September 2000; two consecutive and very successful capital and endowment campaigns in which a total of $145 million was raised; and the construction of the world-class, acoustically superb Schermerhorn Symphony Center, which opened in September 2006.

ABOUT ROBERT S. WILLIAMS:
Williams is the president of WBA Entertainment a Nashville-based yet globally reaching professional talent management, Merger and Acquisition, and film/television production firm that has managed, consulted, and represented clients including the Moffatts, 4 The Cause, Cledus T. Judd, William Lee Golden, Jeff Allen, Naturally Seven, producers Jeff Coplan, Csaba Petoz, painter Gregori Maiofis, and sculptor Jon Leitner. Williams is also co-founder of 335 Records and WBA Records which have received numerous Grammy Nominations and Won for Best Pop Instrumental album in 2011.

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