The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page A4

PHOTOS BY JAE S. LEE THE TENNESSEAN Members of the news media look at artwork called Sounds by Amber Lelli, adie Monroe and Whitney Proper at Nashville International Airport. The airport has a new isplay of five Bonnaroo-themed skylight art displays. Airport art gets musical Guitars hang as a work of art called the Music" by ail Christofferson at Nashville International A irport. 4A local news Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney is resigning effective April 11.

have had quite a ride. I have been honored and humbled to be a part of this remarkable history, but it is time for my family and me to embark on a new journey. Saturday, April 11, will be my final day as chairman of the Tennessee Republican Devaney said in a statement. In the statement Devaney said he has accepted a job as executive director of the Nutrition Program of Haiti, faith-based headquartered in Chattanooga. Devaney and his family live in Chattanooga, according to the announcement.

Earlier this year Devaney traveled to Haiti on a mission trip. He said it a major impact on mission applies, in my view, conservative principles to achieve its goals. It is not providing handouts, but is working to educate mothers and improve the health and development of Haitian children, particularly those suffering from Devaney said i the statement. Re-elected chairman recently for the fourth time, Devaney defeated former state representative and U.S. Senate andidate Joe Carr 47-17.

Devaney was onsidered the establishment Republic an candidate compared with Carr. Carr ran for the chairmanship after losing to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, in a relatively tight primary race. he April 11resignation date coin- ides with the State Executive Commit- next scheduled meeting.

Devaney has called a special meeting to elect a ew chairman who will start immediately after the regular meeting. Carr said not sure whether run for the chairmanship again but said resignation would give him something to think about as he rides his tractor at his farm Monday. The flurry of potential replacements started within minutes of announcement. Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, said in an email early Monday afternoon that he plans to run for the chairmanship.

statement included statements of thanks and support from Alexander; U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, and Gov. Bill Haslam. All noted the gains during chairmanship: The GOP took control of the General Assembly and the governorship with Devaney at the head of the party.

his time as party chair, Chris has helped lead Republicans to historic victories. He has been a driving force behind the history-making streak the party is on and Tennessee is abetter state because of Haslam said. At the same time, some of the tea party-aligned State Executive Committee members were not as happy with Devaney. Although the committee voted against supporting closed rimaries earlier this year, mirroring and establishment position on the issue, 29 of the 66 members disagreed. I wish Mr.

Devaney good fortune i his new endeavor and look forward the new chairman establishing a more open and collegial attitude toward all Tennessee said Mark Winslow, a committee ember routinely critical of Devan ey and his leadership. aynes was the only person to officially announce his candidacy as of onday. Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter GOP Chairman Devaney resigning He helped Republicans take over legislature, mansion Dave Boucher Chris esignation is effective April 11. Grammy-winning prod ucer, artist manager, publisher and label found er Al Bunetta died Sunday evening at Saint Thomas Hospital after a brief battle with can- er. He was 72 years old.

Mr. Bunetta got his start in the music business as a road manager or The Young Rascals (later just The Rascals) in he late 1960s. He then got a job as a talent manager in New York at Paul man- a gement company, CMA; there, he worked with acts uch as Al Green, Bette Midler and The Manhattan Transfer. In 1971, he began work- i ng with two of the compa- newest signees: Chic ago singer-songwriters John Prine and Steve Goodman of New and Never Even Called Me By My Mr. Bunetta erved as dogged anager for more than four decades.

For Prine, that relationship served a the bedrock to a legendary career of classics such as and Angel from still be singing these songs to the walls if i for Al Bunetta and (colleague) Dan he wrote in the liner notes for his 1993 collection, Days: The ohn Prine In 1984, Mr. Bunetta, instein and Prine co- founded Oh Boy Records, an independent label ased in Nashville that ould go on to release projects by Prine, Mac Wiseman, Kris Kristofferson, Todd Snider, Janis I an, Shawn Camp and ore, in addition to reis- uing classic recordings by artists such as Joe Tex, illie Nelson and Merle Haggard. was a real trailblazer in so many says avid Macias, founder of Thirty Tigers. Boy was an incredibly brave thing to do back then. I looked to him and John as examples fre- uently.

He was always somebody you could go to. was such a warm guy, but he was far from soft. He could make good and pragmatic business deci- ions when he needed regarious and pass ionate in everything he did, Mr. Bunetta took nearly as much joy in good food and good company as he did in good mu- ic. For years, he could be een holding court at Sav Cucina, where he had a sandwich named in his honor.

Nearly every ay, sit among other East Coast Italian-American transplants, talking, ating and laughing for hours. Writes Macias, bet St. Peter is on his way for a meatball sub, now that Al has gotten hold of Mr. Bunetta leaves behind his wife, Dawn. He is receded in death by his son, Juri, who died in 2011.

uneral arrangements will be announced in the coming days. In lieu of lowers, donations may be ade to the Juri Bunetta Friendship Foundation. John manager o-founded Oh Boy label Al Bunetta served as John anager for decades. Juli Thanki AL BUNETTA 1942-2015 Legislators who called on District Attorney Glenn Funk to answer questions about his pension say they no longer expect to hear from the chief prosecutor in Davidson County. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee said last week they wanted to hear from Funk before app roving funding for the ennessee District Attor- eys General Conference.

he executive irector allegedly created a job for Funk so Funk could start receiving state enefits before he was worn in to office. Funk said two days late he would pay back any benefits and salary he re- eived, while still promising to field any questions rom senate committee members. to the fact that District Attorney General Funk has paid back the funds in question and enrolled properly in the pension system and that other investigations regarding this matter are ongoing, after consultation with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we will not ask him to testify at ommittee Chairman en. Brian Kelsey, R-Germ antown, said in a state- ent Monday. unk wrote in a letter Kelsey that the controversy became a distract ion to the work he was lected to do as district attorney.

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