Bill Gatzimos

NATD was honored to have guest speaker Bill Gatzimos, the husband and manager of the beautiful and talented Crystal Gayle.

Robert K. Oermann

Robert K. Oermann writes bi-weekly columns for Music Row magazine and has been published in more than 100 other national periodicals. His eight books to date include the award-winning Finding Her Voice and A Century of Country. He has penned liner notes for more than 100 albums and boxed-set productions. He has scripted and/or directed television specials and documentaries for CMT, CBS, the BBC, TBS, TNN and others. And he appears frequently on-camera as a commentator on VH-1, A&E, CMT and the BBC. Oermann’s recent projects include scripting the 2000 CBS television special celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, penning the liner notes for the Grammy-winning O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack album in 2001 and cowriting the autobiography of 2002 Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Brenda Lee. He was a judge on the 2003 USA Network series Nashville Star.

Butch Spyridon

“Tourism is our business - the direct impact of the hospitality industry in Nashville is $3.5 billion annually with over 10 million visitors to Music City every year.” Spyridon acknowledged the need to keep an eye on the gloomy economic climate;. however, Spyridon also says booking Music City Center is going well so far. Spyridon has garnered four major bookings for the Music City Center beginning in 2013. “We started knocking on doors in April,” Spyridon said. “The response is beyond anything I would have expected.” Spyridon added that the goal was to book 100,000 rooms before the end of the year and have one million rooms booked before the proposed center opens in 2013. The barometer currently used to measure booking success of the existing Convention Center is that hotel rooms stay booked at about 70 percent, Spyridon said. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau sells and markets Nashville, Music City, to the world as a premier entertainment destination for travelers who seek authentic and unique leisure and convention experiences. Locals rarely see their work - they enjoy the results.

Annual NATD Christmas Party

NATD celebrated another great year of networking and proffessional accomplishments at their annual Christmas Party!  There was excellent food and drink and of course a very special guest. . . .Santa Claus!

Keith Bilbrey

Radio and Entertainment Personality

650 AM WSM and the Grand Ole Opry

"40 Years in Broadcasting" - Keith Bilbrey hails from Cookeville, Tennessee and has been on the air at WSM for 32 years. He can be heard weekdays from 10 am to 3 pm on 650 AM WSM. During a visit to the the Opry when he was only 12, he says that he knew he would work there someday and sure enough... He's been an Opry announcer now for 22 years! You'll remember Keith as the original host of Grand Ole Opry Live on TNN as well as his days as the morning weatherman on WSMV-TV here in Nashville. He recently was featured in A & E "Biography" shows on Buck Owens and Ronnie Milsap. Keith also has co-written a song with Tom T and Dixie Hall and future plans include a book about his years in broadcasting on WSM.

Larry Holden

Editor In Chief

Country Weekly Magazine 

Larry Holden spoke about Country Weekly Magazines' powerful new indie special feature, "Listen Up!", a section designed to offer unmatched exposure for the independent country music artist of today, and YOU could use it.  Country Weekly Magazine is the world's #1 selling Country Entertainment Magazine.

Annual NATD Breakfast 

An outstanding time was had by all at our annual NATD Breakfast in honor of IEBA. We announced the recipients of the coveted "Hubert Long" - Sonny Simmons, "Talent Director of the Year" - Kevin Neal and "ICON Award" - George "Goober" Lindsay.

Mr. Sherrill Blackman 

Song Plugger / Co-Founder - The Independent Pluggers Association 

A number of members requested a song-plugger for an NATD event ... We proudly presented the legendary award- winning Sherrill Blackman, Song-Plugger of the Year three times running... Mr. Blackman is a three-term past president of The Nashville Publishers’ Network and co-founded The Independent Pluggers Association, Nashville’s premier song- pitching group.

John Carter Cash

Songwriter, Producer, Author / Cash Cabin Studios-Owner

John Carter Cash spoke to us about his new book "Anchored In Love - An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash." He is an author, producer, songwriter, fisherman, adventurer, snow skier, gold panner, hiker, outdoorsman, early riser and hunter.... Husband of Laura Cash, Father of Jack Ezra, Anna Maybelle and Joseph John Cash.....Son of Johnny Cash and June Carter... he is the Manager and Owner of Cash Cabin Studios near Nashville.

Shelby Singleton

Country Music Producer 

A talented and dedicated country producer, Shelby Singleton helmed many a classic session, first as an R&B producer with the likes of Clyde McPhatter and later as a country producer with Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom T. Hall, and Charlie Rich. In the mid-'60s he began forming his own imprints to release the artists he was discovering and nurturing. He discovered Jeannie C. Riley, for example, and produced her smash "Harper Valley P.T.A." In 1969 Singleton made a brilliant business move by buying the rights of the Sun catalog from Sam Phillips and left the recording studio for good to focus on the business side of the industry. ~ Steve Kurutz, All Music Guide

NATD Picnic in the Park 

Our fifth annual NATD Picnic In The Park was a huge success with the best attended picnic ever. Lunch was compliments of the Iron Chef's of NATD. We all enjoyed good food and good friends under the shelter at Fannie Mae Dees Park.

Rod Harris

NATD President 

Newly elected NATD President Rod Harris addresses the crowd with his vision for NATD's future.

NATD Elections

Elections were held  for determining the next officers and such of the Nashville Association of Talent Directors.