Back in 1990 I moved from Dallas, TX to Nashville, TN to work for Vector Management. They were a fairly new artist management company. Their clients then included Holly Dunn, Nanci Griffith, New Grass Revival & Steve Wariner. The person I asked about Ken Levitan (one of the two partners) was Lyle Lovett - Ken was his attorney. He said he was good people. When I landed in Nashville I was met by Kathi Whitley who welcomed me aboard and said we had a new client, Foster & Lloyd and congrats they are yours! She became a sister. I helped bring in clients like Joe Ely, the subdudes, and Rick Trevino. Lyle Lovett, and others joined the client mix. We partnered with Side One and Los Lobos, John Hiatt & others became clients & clients-in-law. It was an exciting time. Vector set themselves up like a label. The other principle Dan Goodman mostly worked the country side - and taught me so much about booking agents & contracts. In addition to day-to-day management of Guy, Joe, Foster & Lloyd, Lyle, Nanci, and very briefly New Grass (Ken was a full time attorney in the first three years I was there, so learned a lot quickly) - I helped with marketing and radio promotion for all. Our publicist was Lance Cowan. Our publishing person was Lyndsey MacDonald (who also self managed this then new kid, Todd Snider - we lost her a few years ago to cancer, I still have a hole in my heart). Later when Lz left, Betty Rosen came in to fill her shoes. Jennifer Bunting joined the fray too. We all worked crazy hard & were like a family. One of us had a carefully guarded secret. Lance Cowan Music was also a songwriter. I discovered that by accident one night at The Bluebird Cafe. Three + years ago when Lance was finally readying his debut album, I had to manage him. It's been a joy. The other day our mutual friend Jim Caligiuri reviewed Lance's new album (his third in as many years) in his "Only A Fool Would Say That (blog)" - see review below.
Here's the blurb I pulled from it:
“I was enthralled with the new album by Lance Cowan, "The Air That You Breathe". It’s only since 2024 that he’s been putting out records on his own, with this new one his third in three years. It’s not a vanity project either. Cowan is the real deal….It’s a stunner. Sure, folk music, acoustic music, but not easy to pigeonhole either. Its success is in its gentleness, never bitter, always alluring. At a time when my head hurts with the day-to-day ravaging of our country, Cowan has composed eleven songs that may be his private feelings, yet they possess universal thoughts offering relief in a way only good music can. His songs can get under your skin in a good way, his voice presenting a subdued passion that is hard to resist.”
- Jim Caligiuri/Only A Fool Would Say That (8.10)
Lance's new record is also rockin' it at Folk Radio right now.
FAI Folk Chart for July 2026 (August 5th):
The Air That You Breathe #4 on Top Albums
“The Air That You Breathe” #9 on Top Songs
“Where’d They Go” #23 on Top Songs
Lance Cowan #6 on Top Artists
NOTE: this is the first time Lance has ever had an album
worked at this (or any) radio format.
it’s an extraordinary beginning, first step for him in
this next chapter.
Thank you to all at radio (+ Art Menius Radio) & media for helping shine a light on this important new voice…
