Jerry Crutchfield2

Lee Greenwood joined Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, and famed song writers Ed Bruce and Rob Crosby, for a concert Wed., Jan. 31, on the campus of Murray State University , to benefit the Jerry D. Crutchfield Scholarship Fund for MSU students.

An evening filled with songs and stories, these four talented artists honored Crutchfield with an anthology of music unique to each of their careers.

Crutchfield, acclaimed MCA producer and songwriter, was instrumental in each of these artists’ careers. “I would not have had a recording career without Jerry Crutchfield ,” says Greenwood . “His artistic approach to music always gave me confidence to treat a song with emotion and feeling instead of just singing it.”

Stewart credits Crutchfield as being a great friend and mentor. “I am honored that Jerry asked me to perform with him in this concert. He gave me my start in the music business, and when my father passed away became a second father to me.”

A talented artist himself, Crutchfield twice declined invitations to join The Jordanaires, a premier backup vocal group, but his relationship with the group’s tenor, Gordon Stoker, led to a recording contract via a country music business pioneer Chet Atkins.

Crutchfield decided to ride the success of his own vocal group, The Country Gentlemen. They landed a contract with RCA Victor, and with Atkins serving as producer, was quickly renamed The Escorts. Atkins encouraged Crutchfield to write songs for the group and within a short time, his creative endeavors were noticed by such country greats as Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb and Tree Publishing, one of only four publishing companies in Nashville at that time.

Working in the studio as a musician and singer, Crutchfield ultimately rose to become president of MCA Music in Nashville . He also served four year as executive vice president/general manger of Capitol Records.

His 30-year association with MCA Music Publishing allowed Crutchfield to continue writing songs while working fulltime as a record producer.

He left MCA in 1996 and currently serves as president of Crutchfield Music Publishing/Glitterfish Music. Located on Music Row, the company maintains a catalogue of new and previously-recorded songs which Crutchfield focuses on developing. On the lookout for fresh talent, he occasionally goes to small venues to hear new artists perform their own songs.

Murray State University remains a special place to Crutchfield, and hopes his scholarship will encourage students pursuing careers in the music industry.

For more information on the Jerry D. Crutchfield Scholarship Fund, contact Jim Carter , vice president of institutional advancement, Murray State University , at (270) 809-4894 or (800)-758-8510 or by email at jim.carter@murraystate.edu.