APA Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Casey James, who finished in third place on the ninth season of Fox’s American Idol in 2010. The Texas native will independently release album Strip It Down this Friday.
“I’ve been searching for a long time to find the right group of people to work with, and I’m extremely excited and honored to have finally built my team,” James said in a statement. “It’s a huge blessing to feel confident and comfortable with management and an agency, and I’m thankful to know that I’m in capable hands that are going to work as hard as I do to move my career forward.”
Citing Albert King, Tab Benoit and ZZ Top as inspirations for his blues-inflected album, James is currently on tour in the U.S., which includes an album release party June 9 at Nashville’s City Winery.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Casey James to the APA Nashville family,” agency partner and head of concerts Steve Lassiter said in a statement. “His authentic connection with the audience is extraordinary, and we’re excited to help him take his career to the next level.”
Another music man
Country star Clay Walker has signed with UTA. The East Texas native made his eponymous album debut in 1993 with the hit single “What’s It to You.” Despite a multiple sclerosis diagnosis three years later, Walker followed up with 10 more No. 1 singles, including “If I Could Make a Living,” “This Woman and This Man” and “Rumor Has It,” three more platinum albums and two gold albums. In total, he has sold more than 11 million albums.
Walker, who has continued to tour steadily, founded the Band Against MS foundation in 2003, raising more than $5 million through charity concerts, golf tournaments, bike rides and auctions. He is set to release his first studio album since 2010’s She Won’t Be Lonely Long later this year.
“We’re excited to have Clay as a new client,” UTA’s Nick Meinema said in a statement. “His world-class voice, performance style and commitment to philanthropy makes him an artist that we are thrilled to represent. We look forward to working with him on some innovative new opportunities.”
Walker continues to be managed by the Erv Woolsey Company.
This week’s column has a theme
Silence composers Kim Allen Kluge and Kathryn Kluge have signed with First Artists Management, the Calabasas-based agency that specializes in representing TV and film composers, music supervisors and music editors. Kim Allen Kluge, who also is a conductor, and his wife, Kathryn, have written music for artists including Branford Marsalis and Midori, and released American Concerto for Piano & Orchestra in January.
The theme is a coincidence
Iconic girl group TLC has signed with publicity firm 42West in advance of the June 30 release of its self-titled final album, T-Boz's and Chilli’s first since fellow member Left Eye’s death in 2002. TLC scored big in the '90s with hits including “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” “Creep” and “Unpretty,” and all four of its previous albums have gone platinum, with 1994’s CrazySexyCool achieving a diamond certification.
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
