HEARD ON THE GRAPEVINE

“Merv Shiner is an inspiration to all who know him. A great performer and person who is friendly, funny, and as real as it gets. Happy 100th!” — Dave Pomeroy

LOCAL 257'S OLDEST LIFE MEMBER — GUITARIST MERV SHINER — TURNS 100!

Local 257’s oldest life member, guitarist Merv Shiner, celebrated his 100th birthday Feb. 20 with a festive, yet COVID-19-safe gala held near his home in Tampa, Florida. Friends and family who couldn’t be there in person called in and attended by Zoom to speak to Shiner and be part of the happy event, which included music, poems, and many recalled memories. As a special honor, AFM Local President Dave Pomeroy sent a framed proclamation which detailed the artist’s long career and many milestones.

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, native is the singer of the beloved hit tune “Peter Cottontail,” which he performed on the Grand Ole Opry at Eastertime in 1950. He cut the single on the advice of Country Music Hall of Fame producer Paul Cohen, who said it would “make him a star.” The song was written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, who also composed “Frosty the Snowman.”

Prior to the success of the song, Shiner had performed as part of a duo with his mother, appearing at shows and festivals as well as on radio programs. Over the next several

Merv with friends Ray and Cheryl Belanger.

Merv and Marilyn Shiner

decades Shiner continued to record and write; he also worked as a concert producer. He toured the country and played at a variety of venues. Shiner moved to Florida in the 1970s, and retired in 1997. In September of 2015 Shiner was honored with a display at the Martin Guitar Museum in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. He performed "Peter Cottontail" during a visit to the facility.

Shiner continues to perform, these days with his wife Marilyn as the M&M Duo.

“It’s been a wonderful 100 years,” Shiner said.

LOCAL 257 MUSICIANS BRING ATTENTION TO GOOD CAUSES

Jeff Coffin

It’s been a tough year for musicians, including students who have struggled to adapt to full-time virtual learning during the yearlong pandemic. Now, as schools reopen, the task becomes how to play together safely. Music industry leaders and artists like Local 257 member Jeff Coffin have joined forces with Give A Note Foundation and other groups to help support music education programs nationwide, and these efforts were celebrated during a March 30 virtual event. Coffin, a saxophonist and Vanderbilt University music educator, addressed the vital benefits of music education at the event — where more than $50,000 was raised to provide Nashville high school and middle school students with music-specific equipment that ensures safe participation while playing instruments.

The combined effort of these musicians and organizations under Give A Note’s Let’s Play Music Fund is providing more than 8,500 instrument masks and bell covers for brass and woodwinds to be distributed to Metro Nashville Public Schools. “Nashville is known as Music City so we all want to keep band practice going as schools reopen,” said GAN CEO Beth Slusher. “These specialized instrument masks and bell covers will make it possible for students to come together and play music safely.”

Following guidelines set by the International Coalition of Performing Arts Aerosol Study, Slusher worked with music and apparel partners to develop a unique instrument mask pattern and bell covers. “What’s so great about our mask versus those sold by other music education companies, is the hands-free flap that makes it possible for students to easily position the instrument into playing position,” Slusher said.

Give A Note received support and donations from key funding partners Save The Music Foundation, SongFarm, Gibson Gives, Music Makes Us, Sony Music Group, and Alliance Bernstein.

Old Dominion

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere hosted a streamed virtual concert March 31 to benefit zoos and aquariums across the country that have been hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inaugural star-studded event featured a host of artists including Local 257 members Old Dominion and headliner Brad Paisley.

All Together for Animals raised funds for 240 member organizations across the country.

Old Dominion band members also participated in 2ndAveStrong, a March 26 virtual fundraiser in tribute to first responder law enforcement officers. The group joined Nashville Mayor John Cooper, Governor Bill Lee and others to raise money toward a $10 million goal, for the Second Avenue community impacted by the 2020 Christmas Day bombing. TNM