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Parton sings songwriters' praises in Nashville
09/20/2007 9:39 PM, Reuters
Susan Butler
"I'll never retire!"
exclaimed an effervescent Dolly Parton, sporting a new upswept
hairdo, as she presided at a Music Row event on Thursday
recognizing country music's most neglected talent -- the
songwriter.
"When my time comes, I hope I fall dead in the middle of
the stage and I hope it's to a song I wrote," the 61-year-old
Parton said, whose new hairstyle has her platinum hair piled
high.
The occasion at Curb Records' studios marked the
announcement of a partnership between the independent label and
Belmont University to house the Nashville Songwriters Hall of
Fame inside the Curb building. The planned facility will also
cater to students aspiring to music careers.
Parton, who has always called herself a songwriter first,
termed it "old home week" in looking over the crowded historic
Curb Records building. The building was once the hub of pioneer
songwriters, musicians and performers during the years when
performers really did wear overalls and boots, performed in
barns and hoped for a spot on the Grand Ole Opry.
Parton now records on her own label, Dolly Records, and
will soon have a new album out.
Nearby along Music Row sits RCA Studio B where Parton,
Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and
Waylon Jennings recorded hits.
Label chairman Mike Curb, the one-time lieutenant governor
of California and a songwriter and performer himself, founded
the Mike Curb Family Foundation and is the driving force behind
Belmont University's college of entertainment and music
business.
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