John Ozier, Executive Director of the Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), issued the below statement on the passing of prominent Nashville music publisher Jeff Carlton.

“AIMP Nashville is deeply saddened by the passing of Jeff Carlton, who devoted over 30 years of his life to the independent music publishing community in Nashville. His work was integral to the rise of local songwriters like Tony Martin, Lee Thomas Miller, Monty Criswell, and Jimmy Ritchey, not to mention Erin Enderlin, who he signed as an independent publisher and led to massive recordings such as Alan Jackson’s ‘Monday Morning Church’ and Lee Ann Womack’s ‘Last Call.’ Just this May, we honored Jeff with our AIMP Nashville Independent Spirit Award. While he could not be there to accept it himself, we felt his presence through his son Robert, who was gracious enough to say a few words on his behalf. We will miss Jeff dearly, as will the entire Nashville independent music publishing community.”