MMJ/ATO Official, Whitley Gone

By Waldo Jaquith
ATO Records appears to have made it official: they have signed Louisville, Kentucky-based My Morning Jacket as their newest artist, as was expected. ATO hasn't issued any sort of an announcement, but MMJ's inclusion on their artists listing webpage makes things clear. The site indicates that MMJ anticipates releasing their first album on the ATO imprint this coming spring. Interestingly, ATO has dropped from the same artists listing Chris Whitley, who they signed in the spring of 2001. Not much has been heard about Whitley since a July 2001 debacle in which he had to be escorted from the stage, resulting in the immediate removal of him from the lineup of openers during the summer 2001 tour. Presumably, ATO has severed their ties with Whitley. ATO Records was launched in early 2000 by Coran Capshaw, Dave Matthews, Michael McDonald and Chris Tetzeli. Our thanks to Israel Jones for the tip.