Meet TSCPA Member: John Dorris, Sr., CPA
For TSCPA Life member John Dorris, Sr., CPA, a last-minute decision to major in accounting opened the door to a career in the music industry. “I was going to major in math in college, but I changed my major on registration day at Tennessee Tech to accounting,” he recalls. Over the years, Dorris has worked with some of the most successful names in country music, and today, he still runs his artist management company, the Hallmark Direction Company. “Somebody asked me one time, ‘John, why do you still do this? You’ve not been in active practice since the late ‘60s.’ I said, ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to go to work for a living again someday.’”
Early Years
Dorris was born on a farm in Robertson County, Tennessee, near White House. He grew up working on the farm and playing sports in high school. He naturally excelled in his math courses, which almost put him on a completely different path. “My principal had urged me to be a math major, so I’d be a teacher.” But during his bookkeeping class at East Robertson High School, Dorris discovered his love for accounting.
Career Mentor
After graduating from Tennessee Technological University, Dorris went to work with Price Waterhouse, and he went directly into the tax department. “I started there in January 1966, and my major mentor there was Charlie Cannon. He was the manager in charge of the tax department at Price Waterhouse.” Cannon’s encouragement helped young Dorris persevere in obtaining his CPA certification in 1968.
Making Music
One of Dorris’ clients, the LIN Broadcasting Corporation, offered him a position to head up their tax department. “LIN Broadcasting was a label that had radio stations, TV stations. But shortly after, Saturday Evening Post magazine bought control of it, and they moved headquarters to New York.” Through a banking connection, he received an offer from one of Nashville’s most successful independent record labels and publishing houses, Monument Records. “They offered me the position of vice president of business affairs. I started there in January of 1970. We had such acts as Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Roy Orbison and Larry Gatlin from the Gatlin Brothers.”
Starting His Own Company
Through his position at Monument Records, Dorris’ connections in the music industry began to grow – including a key connection to renowned music publisher and manager William G. “Bill” Hall. “When Bill passed away, I was asked if I would consider starting a management company to handle Don Williams, the singer. I agreed! On Oct. 15, 1983, I started the Hallmark Direction Company.”
The Hallmark Direction Company has managed big names such The Whites, John Michael Montgomery, Montgomery Gentry, Doug Stone and Blake Shelton. “I still have The Whites and John Michael Montgomery, and we’re starting to work with some new acts that we haven’t been able to break yet.”
Dorris has served on the Academy of Country Music’s Board of Directors for over 20 years and served as treasurer for over 10 years. He received the Mae Boren Axton Award in 2010 for his work. He is a member of the ACM, CMA, NARAS, the AICPA and TSCPA.
In 2017, Dorris teamed up with Mike Kraski to form New Vision Artist Management, which operates separately from Hallmark Direction Company.
Family Time
Outside of work, Dorris is a true family man. “I like to spend most of my time with my family. I’ve been married 61 years to my high school sweetheart. We have three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”
This article was originally published in the January/February 2024 Tennessee CPA Journal.