cugina
2004-02-05 13:47:21 UTC
Gene Hughes, 67, a well-known Nashville record promoter and hit singer with
The Casinos, died Tuesday night in Saint Thomas Hospital after complications
from an October car accident.
Mr. Hughes was best known locally for his work as a promotion executive at
MCA, Polydor/A&M Nashville, and his own highly successful record promotion
company. He was active in numerous music industry associations, including
Country Radio Broadcasters, the Country Music Association and the Nashville
Music Association.
But he also was lead singer of The Casinos, a Cincinnati group that hit big
in 1967 with the million-selling single Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, a hit
that placed the band in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's ''One Hit Wonders''
room.
Mr. Hughes began singing in church as a youngster and later adopted a
''doo-wop'' style with friends, the precursor to the band Gene Hughes and
the Casinos. While performing, he also worked for a record distributor, and
in 1977, he began his own independent promotion company. Gene Hughes
Promotion worked with major labels such as RCA, MCA, Columbia, Warner Bros.
and Capitol. In 1984, he joined MCA as vice president of promotions. He also
managed Gary Lewis and the Playboys and promoted concerts in conjunction
with Sound 70, later serving as A&M's national director of promotion.
During his career, Mr. Hughes helped make hits for Toby Keith, Vince Gill,
Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Alabama, The Judds, George Strait and many
others. ''He set the standard for independent promotion in Nashville,'' said
his wife, Lynnette. ''He made the rules. He was successful because of his
personality and persistence.'' He was the kind of person who never met a
stranger, she said. ''He was well known to all radio people and was
responsible for getting a lot of records played that became hits, both in
pop and country,'' said Joe Sullivan of Sound 70, who promotes shows in
Branson, Mo. ''He had a lot of credibility. If Gene said it was worth
listening to, they would listen. He spotted lots of hits over the years.''
Mr. Hughes enjoyed performing solo ''oldies'' shows, his wife said. He never
retired from the music business. Even after the accident, he was making
calls from home.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of seven years, include two brothers,
Ronald and Glenn Hughes; six children; 12 grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were pending.
A concert originally planned as a benefit for Mr. Hughes' medical expenses
will go on as scheduled 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Trap but will be a tribute to
his life. More information is at www.musicnashville.com.
The Casinos, died Tuesday night in Saint Thomas Hospital after complications
from an October car accident.
Mr. Hughes was best known locally for his work as a promotion executive at
MCA, Polydor/A&M Nashville, and his own highly successful record promotion
company. He was active in numerous music industry associations, including
Country Radio Broadcasters, the Country Music Association and the Nashville
Music Association.
But he also was lead singer of The Casinos, a Cincinnati group that hit big
in 1967 with the million-selling single Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, a hit
that placed the band in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's ''One Hit Wonders''
room.
Mr. Hughes began singing in church as a youngster and later adopted a
''doo-wop'' style with friends, the precursor to the band Gene Hughes and
the Casinos. While performing, he also worked for a record distributor, and
in 1977, he began his own independent promotion company. Gene Hughes
Promotion worked with major labels such as RCA, MCA, Columbia, Warner Bros.
and Capitol. In 1984, he joined MCA as vice president of promotions. He also
managed Gary Lewis and the Playboys and promoted concerts in conjunction
with Sound 70, later serving as A&M's national director of promotion.
During his career, Mr. Hughes helped make hits for Toby Keith, Vince Gill,
Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Alabama, The Judds, George Strait and many
others. ''He set the standard for independent promotion in Nashville,'' said
his wife, Lynnette. ''He made the rules. He was successful because of his
personality and persistence.'' He was the kind of person who never met a
stranger, she said. ''He was well known to all radio people and was
responsible for getting a lot of records played that became hits, both in
pop and country,'' said Joe Sullivan of Sound 70, who promotes shows in
Branson, Mo. ''He had a lot of credibility. If Gene said it was worth
listening to, they would listen. He spotted lots of hits over the years.''
Mr. Hughes enjoyed performing solo ''oldies'' shows, his wife said. He never
retired from the music business. Even after the accident, he was making
calls from home.
Survivors, in addition to his wife of seven years, include two brothers,
Ronald and Glenn Hughes; six children; 12 grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were pending.
A concert originally planned as a benefit for Mr. Hughes' medical expenses
will go on as scheduled 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Trap but will be a tribute to
his life. More information is at www.musicnashville.com.