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International Country Music Association Newsletter Arrest Made In Music Row Murder Case The Kevin Hughes case has been the source of much speculation, since his gangland style execution. The evening of March 9, 1989, Kevin and his friend Sammy Sadler were leaving Sammy's Music Row office. A masked killer opened fire. One bullet struck Sammy in the shoulder. Sammy ran with blood pouring, from his wound. Kevin Hughes ran the other direction. The gunman ignored Sammy. He loped into the middle of the street, took careful aim and shot Kevin in the back. Kevin fell face down in the street. The gunman casually trotted down the street. He stood over Kevin and calmly put two more bullets into him. Having put the hit on Kevin, he trotted around the corner and vanished. The cold-blooded execution has been the subject of numerous newspaper articles and television news shows. Last January, I wrote about it, in this newsletter. I reported some of the many rumors that were circulating on Music Row, after reports of Chuck Dixon's death. Many people with knowledge of the case warned me. They said the people who had hired a contract killer to eliminate Kevin Hughes would not hesitate to hire one to eliminate me. A few canceled appointments for business meetings. One canceled a dinner invitation to his home. They didn't want to be shot, when the hitman came for me. I am neither unusually brave nor foolhardy. I had thought about the risk before writing the article. All journalists accept that risk when they choose to enter the profession. A journalist spends his life shining bright lights into dark places. Roaches, rats, and similar vermin hate light. Roaches always run. Most rats run. Occasionally, a rat will attack. It goes with the territory. It is the nature of the beast. What follows is a mixture of known facts and educated guesses. You should consider this article to be my opinion. I have been fascinated by the story and the characters. I have spent countless hours following its many twists and turns. I have traced each lead to its end. Sometimes, it was a dead-end. Sometimes it was a stonewall of silence. In 1989, there were two competing independent country music chart publications. They were "Cashbox" magazine and "Indie Bullet" magazine. "Cashbox" was the oldest and best known. It had began life decades earlier, as a jukebox chart. Many jukebox companies were controlled by organized crime. They were cash businesses which could be used to launder money, from gambling, loansharking, and other illegal activities. From the very beginning, "Cashbox" was thought to be controlled by organized crime. When the jukebox business faded away, "Cashbox" became a radio chart. "Indie Bullet" was new on the scene. It had been started in Texas, by Roy Haws. Roy was a tall and slender intellectual. He had more in common with absent minded college professors, than he did with most music industry executives. His magazine was known to the industry as a totally honest chart. It was an exact reflection of the weekly radio reports, he received. Roy did not knowing play games with his charts. If you were an independent country music recording artist, you needed radio play. You needed chart positions. Good chart position separated you, from other independent artists. Having a "Top 40" record meant more and better paying gigs. A string of chart topping records might lead to a major label recording contract. A lot was riding on your chart position. Radio play became chart position. Independent recording artists were willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on radio promotion. An entire industry grew up around it. Most record promoters were honest hard working people. They spent several hours each day calling radio program directors, trying to persuade them to play their clients' records. They laughed, told jokes, persuaded, and begged for radio play. They knew program director's birthdays, their kids names, and sort of pets they had. Program directors were kings and radio promoters were royalty, because they had access to the kings. Legends grew about miracles performed, by radio promoters. Jeniffer Foxx was "Queen of Music Row" because of her successful promotion of, "He Stopped Loving Her,Today." It was song of the year, two years in a row. Large sums of money always draw a few shady characters. If a person could fix the charts, that person could become wealthy. Unsuspecting recording artists would pay thousands of dollars for fake chart numbers they thought were real. With its well known name, "Cashbox" was the prime target. The "Cashbox" charts were compiled, by Richard D' Antonio. He was known on the street as Tony D' Antonio. Tony had an extensive arrest record. He had been arrested in Alabama and Georgia on burglary, aggravated assault, and drug charges. Chuck Dixon was a record promoter. His real name was Charles Detterline (he pronounced it Det ter leaney). He bragged about his connections to the Scarfo family, which ran organized crime, in Philadelphia. It wasn't long before his promotion clients dominated the "Cashbox" country music charts. People began calling him "The Godfather of Country Music." Roy Haws moved his "Indie Bullet" magazine from Texas to Nashville. Honest promoters such as Jeniffer Foxx stopped promoting to "Cashbox" and started taking their clients to the more honest "Indie Bullet" charts. Word began spreading throughout the industry that the "Cashbox" charts were fixed, inaccurate and without value. Small time confidence man and would be music promoter, Gary Bradshaw followed "Indie Bullet" from Texas to Nashville. He became a close friend of Chuck Dixon. If they could devise a way to fix the "Indie Bullet" charts, they could control the entire independent music industry in Nashville. Gary Bradshaw was grossly fat, loud mouthed, and overbearing. He had been accused of child molestation and was unattractive to most women. Chuck Dixon was more polished and urbane. He appeared to be more intelligent than Bradshaw. People on Music Row give him credit for devising the plan. He already had power and was attractive to certain types of women. They say he seduced a trusted female employee at "Indie Bullet." He spent money lavishly and soon had her assisting in their scheme. She altered the radio reports before Roy saw them. Roy entered the altered reports into the chart tabulation computer program. Bradshaw's promotion clients began to dominate the "Indie Bullet" charts. Between them, they had control of Nashville's independent music industry. When an unsuspecting artist came to Nashville, he was caught in their web of deceit. If he hired Bradshaw for "Indie Bullet" promotion, Bradshaw refereed him to Chuck, for "Cashbox" promotion. If he hired Chuck for "Cashbox" promotion, he was refereed to Bradshaw for "Indie Bullet" promotion. If another promoter wanted to promote to either chart, he was expected to pay a percentage of his fee to "The Godfather." The owner of "Cashbox" decided it was time to create a more honest image. He moved Tony D' Antonio out of the chart room. He hired a bright clean cut young man to compile the weekly charts. Kevin Hughes came from a respectable middle class background. He was open, friendly and likable. His respectability would improve "Cashbox's" tarnished image. Kevin's honesty was real. When he was told to fix the charts, he refused to do anything so dishonest. He saw the world through the eyes of honesty and high moral values. He had no idea who he was telling, "No." He thought gangland executions existed only in movies. He had never looked evil in the face. He did not recognized it. If his background had been a little less sheltered, he might have taken precautions. If he had even a little larceny in his soul, he might have recognized true evil when he saw it. Basically honest and believing everybody else had his moral values, he could not imagine being killed over a radio chart. He was a lamb walking unsuspectingly to slaughter. July 24, 2002, an arrest was made in Las Vegas. Richard D' Antonio was charged with the murder of Kevin Hughes. He was employed in a Las Vegas casino. He is stalling for time, by fighting extradition. There is no doubt the Nevada courts will ultimately turn him over to the state of Tennessee. Nashville's Chief of Police held a press conference to announce the arrest. One might believe the long story is nearing its end. However; I predict another series of twists and turns. I'm still waiting for several more shoes to drop, one at a time. My first prediction is Chuck Dixon's death was faked. I believe he is very much alive and in the witness protection program. My second prediction is Tony D' Antonio will be offered a chance to save his worthless life, by snitching on his co-conspirators. My third prediction is he will grab the offer. Scummy low life people will do scummy low life things, such as snitching on their partners in crime. Put enough rats into a tight enough cage, and they will rip each to shreds. My fourth prediction is there will be more arrests. Will Gary Bradshaw be among those arrested? My father had an expression that pretty well sums it up. He would say, "Time will tell. Sh-t will smell. And, water will seek its level." There is much more to this story. The murder of Kevin Hughes was apparently intended to restore their control of "Cashhbox" charts. It may have been intended to serve as a warning to anybody else who might want to challenge their authority. If these were their motives, it didn't work. They regained their control of the "Cashbox" charts. But, they failed to intimidate one very stubborn man. His name was Jason Hawkins. Jason and his wife, Jeniffer Foxx were highly successful music promoters. They had shifted their support and promotions to Roy Haws' "Indie Bullet" magazine. They promoted so vigorously one of their clients took the number one position in "Indie Bullet." Cody Austin was on so many radio reports he overwhelmed the fix. When Cody's song took the number one position, Jason was called to a meeting with Chuck and Gary. They said they had control of both charts. He would have to play by their rules. Jason went straight to Roy. He told Roy the chart was being manipulated. Roy called in his employees and asked about it. The charges were denied. Roy went back to Texas, on a family matter. When he returned, his office had been turned upside down. His business records were missing. He had no records of who had bought ads in his magazine's next issue. He didn't know who owed him or who he owed. His cash reserves were gone. One of his most trusted employees had started a rival magazine. Her name was Adrea Medlock. She called her new chart magazine the "Indie Tracker." She was already contacting Roy's clients. She was offering discounted ad space and other services. Roy was effectively out of business. Roy called Jason Hawkins to tell him what had taken place. Jason refused to be intimidated or defeated. He provided financial and moral support to Roy. Roy decided to keep the "Indie Bullet" open. The independent record labels and promoters divided in two camps. Most believed Chuck and Gary would win. Some followed Jason's lead and supported "Indie Bullet." The following year saw things become very hot in Nashville. Late one evening Jason was in Roy's office. The two men were having a planning session. Somebody opened fire through the office windows. Roy dived under a desk. Jason ran through the back office door and down a hall to the parking lot. He ran onto the parking lot hoping to catch the gunman. The attacker was jumping into the passenger seat, as the driver shot the gas to the get away car. Music promoter Gene Anderson chose to support Jason and Roy. He was shot on Music Row. He was rushed to Vanderbilt hospital. They were able to save his life. He later moved to Arizona. Tony D' Antonio sent word to Jason that he was carrying a gun and would kill Jason on sight. Jason found Tony and Chuck Dixon sitting in a Music Row cafe. Jason walked straight to their table. He slapped Tony, told him bad things about his mother, and ridiculed him. Tony and Chuck left the cafe. Later, it was announced a mob hitman had been given a contract to kill Jason. Jason bought a full page ad in "Indie Bullet." The ad announced, Jason would be standing in front of the United Artists Tower every evening from 8 PM till 8:30 PM. The ad said he was doing this, so the hitman would have no trouble finding him. The hitman decided it was a trap and never appeared. "Cashbox" lost all credibility and eventually closed. Gary Bradshaw and Chuck Dixon became bitter enemies. Gary was accused of molesting a five year old boy and left Nashville. He disappeared from the music industry for about two years. Some say he was arrested for fraud and served a short prison sentence. They say he received a light sentence, because he snitched on his co-conspirators. I have not been able to confirm or disprove it. He later reappeared in Arizona and is promoting independent artists. Adrea Medlock closed "Indie Tracker." She appears to have left the music industry. Chuck Dixon is said to be dead. The reports claim he died December 23, 2001. Roy Haws sold "Indie Bullet" to Jason Hawkins. Roy moved back to Texas. He is now a school teacher. Jason changed the publication's name to "Airplay International" magazine. He continues to promote and produce independent recording artists in Nashville. ************************************************** The Following DJs Play Good Independent Music Dann Hansen, Vestervaenget 18 1 th, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.(country) Karma Ranch, P.O. Box 3493, Orlando FL, 32802, USA (old country, bluegrass) Michel GANDON, 33 Rue de la Madrague, 31850 Beaupuy, France (country) Per Lindgren, Corneliusaatan 30 A, S-774 31 Avesta, Sweden (country) ************************************************** Audition For 40 Music Companies Labor Day weekend more than 40 music companies will be in one place looking for new talent. About 50 percent of these companies will be involved in one aspect or another of country music. The remaining 50 percent will be divided between pop, gospel, urban, and rock. The dates are August 31, September 1, and September 2. If you have always wanted to talk to record companies this is your chance. You will be able to perform for, meet, and talk to a lot of great music people. If you''ve been waiting for a lucky break, wait no more. Visit this website for all the details: http://www.karaokesociety.com . ************************************************** Scottish Band "The Rise" To Tour New England In October one of the finest bands to ever come out of Scotland will tour New England. They will be interviewed and perform on several radio stations in the region. Be sure to catch them. This is the good stuff.
Mon 7th / Joan Orr WATD / Brewsters Cape Cod Louise Paquette WOMR / Provincetown Cape Cod Chuck Cole WOMR Tue 8th / Susan Forbes Hansen WHUS / Storrs Joe Cavangh WHUS / Storrs Wed 9th / Ed McKeon WWUH / W.Hartford Thur 10th / Doug Echols WPKN / Bridgeport (TV appearance?) Fri 11th / WSAS Sat 12th / NYC LT1 Television Dr Cosmos Sun 13th / NYC / Meeting Dan Herman of RCB Mon 14th Oct / Otto Bost WDIY / Quakertown ************************************************** |