Country Music Hall of Fame

Retro Redux: Gentleman Jim Reeves - The Country Music Crooner

2007-02-08T02:14:00.000-08:00

Somehow I find myself again writing an article about a crooner, my fourth over the last few months. (1, 2, 3) Country music singer Jim Reeves is my subject in this session, and calling him a crooner might be a bit of a stretch from the term's normal definition, but it's a pretty accurate description of his singing style. Enormously popular for many years, he was often dismissed by country music purists for using his mellow baritone voice on country-pop ballads rather than singing tunes with a harder-edged traditional style. The only problem with that criticism is that it ignores the simple fact that country music - like rock - has throughout its history consisted of a zillion different styles and sounds. And although Jim's been gone for over forty years (one of many musicians to die by plane crash) he still has plenty of fans who really don't care how you classify his music — they just know they like it.

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Mangalore: Country music enthralls audience at Kalangann - Images

2007-02-06T02:16:00.000-08:00

Mangalore Feb 5: 62nd Mohinyali Manchi was presented at Kalangann on 4th February at 6.30 pm at Noreen and Ronald Mendonca open auditorium. The highlight of the program was Country Songs sung by some of the well known families including Moras family Milagres, Pereira family Bejai, Nazreth family Padil, Ozario family Valencia, Souza family Kordel, Monteiro family Paldane, Lobo family Kulshekar, Peris family Kembar, and Colaco family Bendur. Most of the songs sung were prevailing during the early years before the introduction of 'Nite' form of musical programmes. Music was composed by Sangeeth Guru Joel Pereira while Harry's Century Band added the flavors of country band to the befitting evening. .

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Wilders mix energy, country to make music

2007-02-02T02:15:00.000-08:00

By Michael A. Brothers News-Leader The Wilders take acoustic country and hillbilly music and make it, well, wild again. The Kansas City-based band comes to Springfield to play two shows downtown tonight, first at the High Strung music store followed by a late-night gig at the Bar Next Door. "They are so high-energy and really tight as an ensemble that it really does send goose bumps up your spine," says Dave Harp, who owns the High Strung and whose band the Arkamo Rangers will open for the Wilders at the BND. .

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Singer wants separation from country music

2007-01-31T02:14:00.000-08:00

He is dropping the "Lone Stars" from his name because he doesn't want to be associated with what country music means today. Singer Dale Watson is playing at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Lafayette Brew Co., 622 Main St., Lafayette, with a sound inspired by Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. "Watson plays traditional honky-tonk, the type of country that was around in the late '50s and early '60s, when it was more purely connected to the roots of country music," Richard Fudge, promoter from Friends of Bob, wrote in an e-mail. Dale Watson, who used to be called Dale Watson and His Lone Stars, is developing a new genre of music with his friends called amripolitan. Watson said he's using it as a clean slate because no preconceived notions are attached. He wants amripolitan to mean original music with roots.

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Country Music Dance - 02/03 - 7pm to 10pm

2007-01-29T02:13:00.000-08:00

Ole Corral is a non alcohol, smokefree dance hall with live music from the Country Renagades. Bands starts playing every Saturday night from 7pm til 10pm. Concession is available. Ole Corral is located 6 miles east of Rogersville on hwy 60 & Mockingbird Rd. look for the big red barn. We have central air and heating and lots of fun. So bring your dancing shoe and you will enjoy yourself.Check out our website at www.livebands.net/mike - Admission cost is $3.00 .

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Crosley Country Kitchen Phone II CR92

2007-01-23T02:28:00.000-08:00

Crosley Country Kitchen Phone II This colonial style country kitchen phone is an authentic reproduction of early American heritage. While this beautiful recreation is designed to provide extremely high quality communications, it has all the charm of the faithful original. Originally introduced in the early 1920's, this classic features a crank handle that actually turns. The Crosley Country Kitchen Phone II features touch-tone buttons with a rotary look, complete with speaker and hold/mute functions. The handcrafted wood and veneer cabinet is enhanced with striking brushed bronze-plated hardware. This beauty is as functional as it is fabulous as it includes a pull out storage compartment, volume controls for ringer and receiver and the option to change between tone/pulse. Hand Rubbed Oak Push Button Dial Redial Feature Speaker Phone Brushed Bronze Plated Accents Hold/Mute ETL Listed Manufacturers 90 Day Limited Warranty Dimensions: 12.25"w X 17.5"h X 7"d

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Sumter Native Carving His Niche in Country Music Scene

2007-01-23T02:18:00.000-08:00

(Columbia) - Ask any successful musician out there, and they'll probably tell you it was a long and very difficult journey to the top. But, for one Midlands country singer, the hardest part of the his journey might be behind him. Seven years ago, Lee Brice was one year away from graduating college with a safe, reliable job in his sights. But, it was then, in a move most people would think was crazy, he gave it all up to chase his dream in Nashville. "I had a year to go in Civil Engineering. I met my producer on Spring Break, he said 'Man, your daddy ain't really gonna love this, but I would come here now. Unless you love Civil Engineering, like I can see you love music, you need to come here now," Brice says of his first encounter with his future.

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Tamworth celebrates country music

2007-01-21T02:17:00.000-08:00

THE main street of Tamworth is jumping with banjos, ballads and buskers as the country music festival kicks off for another year. Hotels, motels, caravan parks and camping grounds are beginning to swell as the expected crowds of more than 50,000 flow into the northern NSW town for the 10-day celebration. Preparations are being made in the city's Bicentennial Park, where Tamworth Mayor James Treloar will tonight raise the flag to officially open the festival, before some of Australia's best country performers put on a free concert. Mr Treloar today predicted this year's festival would be one of the most exciting yet. "Our history would suggest that whenever (the Australia Day) public holiday attaches to a weekend and makes it a long weekend, it will be a record festival every time," he said.

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Country music fans’ help for ‘butterfly’ girl Melissa

2007-01-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

COUNTRY music fans in Bury have brought a huge smile to the face of an eight-year-old girl living with a rare condition which makes her skin as fragile as a butterfly's wing. Melissa Boulton was presented with an iPod and speaker station, £50 of clothes vouchers and £50 worth of arts and craft equipment by members of the Dawnriders Country Music Club in their first donation of 2007. The club, which moved to Bury Bridge Working Men's Club in Lower Woodhill Road two years ago, is a charity organisation which meets every Saturday night to re-enact traditional country and western fun while raising money for a variety of charities and individuals. When they heard Melissa's story, they decided she was the perfect recipient for some late Christmas presents to help her enjoy life a bit more.

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Country Music Twins The Fry Brothers Sign With Hardrush

2007-01-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

Country music is set for a shake up with the announcement today that The Fry Brothers have signed signed with Indie label Hardrush Music. In a deal that includes the commercial release of their debut CD, publishing and touring assistance the twins Roy and Tim Fry are set to add a new dimension to Australian Country Music scene. (PRWEB) January 14, 2007 -- Country music is set for a shake up with the announcement today that The Fry Brothers have signed signed with Indie label Hardrush Music. In a deal that includes the commercial release of their debut CD, the twins Roy and Tim Fry are set to add a new dimension to Australian Country Music scene. Tim and Roy Fry grew up in Hillcrest, Victoria and at the age of six their parents encouraged the boys to develop their natural harmonies and guitar skills.

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Roots label Shanachie ventures into country music

2007-01-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Indie label Shanachie Entertainment, home to world, Celtic, jazz, reggae and blues music, is branching out into the country market. The 30-year-old New Jersey-based company has signed singers David Ball and Daryle Singletary, and country rock band Confederate Railroad. They join a roster that includes Ladysmith Black Mambazo, jazz saxophonist Everette Harp and R&B band Silk. .

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Country music’s women profiled

2007-01-13T02:15:00.000-08:00

Neal, an assistant professor of music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will discuss the evolving role of women in country music. Her research spans from the 1930s and singers such as Patsy Montana to the present day and artists including the Dixie Chicks. In between, Neal will discuss the impact of popular performers such as Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Shania Twain. Neal’s talk will follow a short business meeting. For more information, call 483-7727, ext. 210. .

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County Country Music Hall of Fame meeting to be held

2007-01-11T02:16:00.000-08:00

ZANESVILLE -A meeting of the Muskingum County Country Music Hall of Fame will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Senior Services Building, West Main Street. For information, call 453-4519 or 452-6867. Police turn to federal court for tougher gun sentences CINCINNATI (AP) - Following a record year for homicides, city police say they are relying more on tougher federal sentences to lock up those who carry illegal guns before someone gets shot. .

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Country Music Remains Steady In 2006

2007-01-09T02:20:00.000-08:00

NASHVILLE - Country Music remained steady in 2006 with a modest 0.5% drop in album sales from 2005, according to figures released Jan. 4, 2007, by Nielsen SoundScan. Total all-genre album sales (CD, CS, LP, Digital Albums) for the entire music industry were down 4.9% from 2005. "2006 was a year that really showcased the depth of Country Music's diversity across all areas of our business, from record sales to tours, movies to books and outstanding media coverage," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. Overall the number of Country albums sold in 2006 was 74.9 million down slightly from 75.3 million in 2005. The total number of all-genre albums sold in 2006 was 588.2 million, down from 618.9 million in 2005. Country Music placed five artists in the Top Ten Selling Artists of the year, regardless of genre: Rascal Flatts (No.

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Discussion of Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America

2007-01-07T02:21:00.000-08:00

Nashville, TN Davis-Kidd is proud to host a discussion and signing of Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America at Davis-Kidd Booksellers on Thursday, January 18, at 6:00 p.m. Included in the event are editors Paul Kingsbury and Alanna Nash, US pictures editor F. Lynne Bachleda, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Senior Director for Museum Programs Jay Orr and cover design and chapter artwork artist Jim Sherraden of Hatch Show Print. Will the Circle Be Unbroken is a treasure trove of Americana. It features hundreds of images that chart the history and development of the music, from its genesis in folk traditions, through the emergence of recordings and radio, and continuing with the formation of the Nashville and Bakersfield scenes and up to the present with modern country music.

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Nine Great Country Tunes (For Non-Country Music Fans)

2007-01-05T02:20:00.000-08:00

Country music is the biggest selling music genre, and music stations are some of the most profitable. Despite that, there are a lot of people who claim they can't imagine ever listening to country music. If you fall into that category, then take this list of nine tunes as a reason to reconsider your opinion. The following songs are all technically "country," but are in the end just fabulous pop-rock songs. Here is the list, in no particular order: .

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Country Music Songwriter Dennis Linde Dies

2007-01-03T02:23:00.000-08:00

Singer/songwriter Dennis Linde, who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks, has died. He was 63. Linde died on Friday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. Linde penned "Burning Love" for Presley, "Callin' Baton Rouge" for Brooks and "Goodbye Earl" for the Dixie Chicks. He also wrote songs for Alan Jackson, Mark Chestnutt and Sammy Kershaw after he had his own career as a recording artist. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001 and was named songwriter of the year by the Nashville Songwriters Association in 1993 and BMI in 1994. (This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network) .

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Country Music Sales Top 2006

2007-01-01T02:17:00.000-08:00

Even with Keith Urban going into rehab and Sara Evans getting a divorce, 2006 was still a banner year for country music. The latest figures say country music sales are up 7% compared to a 9% decline in music sales overall. So far this year, country music has moved almost 60 million units compared to about 56 million last year. Rascal Flatts is not only the country's top selling act, but the trio is also the top selling musical act overall. Copyright... .

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Bentley has hit the ground running in country music

2006-12-30T02:18:00.000-08:00

Let's just say that Dierks Bentley has had a good past few months. His fourth CD, "Long Trip Alone," was released and debuted in the top spot on Billboard's country albums chart. Its first single, "Every Mile a Memory," is a major country hit. Bentley performed the song on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" and "Today," and did the same at the 2006 Country Music Awards, where he was a nominee for male vocalist of the year. The critics, not always big country boosters, have praised Bentley's latest: "An enormously likable and fat-free CD," said The New York Times. "A consistently top-notch album," said USA Today. "A fresh, cliche-free sound," said The Associated Press. LONG WAY TO GO "I really don't feel like I've made it yet," Bentley, 30, said in December.

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Urban tops Aussie country music charts

2006-12-28T02:19:00.000-08:00

New Zealand-born Urban has shown no signs of damage from fresh rumours he cheated on Nicole Kidman prior to their marriage and has topped the charts for the seventh week in a row. Urban, or Mr Nicole Kidman as he is better known, will see out the year in top position - in the charts at least. It's been a topsy-turvy year for the celebrated country music artist, who followed up a fairytale wedding to Kidman in June with a long stint in rehab. While Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing is at number one, his earlier album Be Here has shown remarkable longevity and is in fourth position, more than two years since its release. The Dixie Chicks, who won the gong for the longest stint at number one this year, will finish 2006 at number two, while John Williamson's The Platinum Collection rounds out the top three.

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Investors are Pouring Millions of Dollars Into Nashville's Country ...

2006-12-26T02:20:00.000-08:00

Nashville, New York, Hollywood - With over $13 billion dollars spent on an ever increasing music market last year, and the stock market at its highest level in history, investors have poured over $3 trillion dollars in the entertainment industry. Country music continues to lead the markets with investors finding more and more acts at younger ages to put their money into. The number of country music listeners has grown in major metropolitan areas during this past year from 21% to 26% according to the Country Music Association. Country music leads all other genres of music and has since 1992 (fourteen years). Sales revenues from country music have quadrupled since 2000, far surpassing the average of a 10% per year increase over the past seven years. According to Pollstar Magazine, this year marks the first time in history that seven country music artists are found in the top money making tours world wide, all in the top 25 money makers were Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill and Toby Keith's tour.

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LeRoy Butler To Serve As Honorary Captain Sunday; Country Music ...

2006-12-17T02:18:00.000-08:00

Former Packers defensive back LeRoy Butler, a member of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship team, will serve as honorary captain for Sunday's game against the Lions. As part of the organization's season-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Super Bowl win, General Manager Ted Thompson has invited members of the 1996 team to serve as honorary captains for each of the Packers' home games. Prior to Sunday's game, from 10:15 to 11 a.m., Butler will be visiting with fans on the Associated Bank Club Level, an area accessible to game attendees with private box or club seat tickets, as guest of the 'Alumni Meet and Greet.' On Saturday, country music singer and Milwaukee native K.C. Williams will sign copies of his single, "Ol' Santa Claus Dun Got A Taste of Lambeau," at the Packers Pro Shop from 10:30 a.m.

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From Sinatra to punk to alt-country, music to gift-givers' ears

2006-12-15T02:18:00.000-08:00

Shopping at the holidays for the music geek in your life is incredibly easy. A gift certificate for Amazon.com or iTunes is not only thoughtful, it puts the power of choice in the giftee's hands. You can treat loved ones to their favorite album of the year without even knowing what it is! However, if you want to have a physical thing to put under the tree, you might need some help. Here are some suggestions that can please music fans of all sorts. MUSIC "Legends of Country: Classic Hits of the '50s, '60s & '70s" This three-CD box set, culled from the PBS concert special of the same name, includes 57 stone classics, 49 of which went to No. 1 on the country chart.

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Canadian Country Music Awards coming to Winnipeg in 2008

2006-12-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

Winnipeg can add another music awards show to its growing roster: The Canadian Country Music Awards will touch down in the city in two years. The CCMA announced Tuesday that Winnipeg will host the awards in September 2008 at the MTS Centre. More than 1,000 musicians and country music industry professionals will descend on the city for workshops, parties and the awards gala itself. At the CCMA awards gala in Saint John in September, George Canyon reacts after winning Male Artist of the Year honours, while Carolyn Dawn Johnson, the top female artist, looks on. (Jacques Boissinot/CP) Winnipeg hosted the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards on Nov. 3, and the Western Canada Music Awards on Oct. 22. It also played host to the Juno Awards in 2005. Canadian Country Music Association chair Heather Ostertag said Tuesday that her members chose the city in part because it is developing a great track record for hosting major events.

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CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WINNIPEG AS HOST CITY ...

2006-12-09T02:19:00.000-08:00

[ClickPress, Wed Dec 06 2006] The Canadian Country Music Association has announced Winnipeg as host city for the 2008 Canadian Country Music Week and Awards, to be held September 5-8, 2008. This marks the third time Winnipeg will host Canada's largest country music event. The Chair of the Canadian Country Music Association, Heather Ostertag, officially announced the awarding of Country Music Week 2008 to the City of Winnipeg, acknowledging that more than two decades had passed since the event was last held in that city (1986). Ostertag added, "The Canadian Country Music Association is very pleased to return to Winnipeg and the Board of Directors invites both the community and our industry to join in and help make this a wonderful celebration and a wonderful opportunity for Canada's talent." Music is integrated into the fabric of Winnipeg and Manitoba, and shapes the heartland of Canada's musical tradition.

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Local novelist offers an iPod directory of country music

2006-12-07T02:19:00.000-08:00

The technological leap from scratchy vinyl records to digital MP3 files might be huge, but for local author Alice Randall, country music lends itself to the iPod, where decades' worth of recorded music can be mixed and matched at will. Randall, who moved to Nashville in 1983 to be a songwriter and wound up becoming a best-selling novelist, has published a new book, My Country Roots: The Ultimate MP3 Guide to America's Original Outsider Music. The compact, accessible volume offers readers a guided tour through country music, filtered through her distinctly literary sensibilities. .

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Sounds of country music coming to the Ford Amphitheatre

2006-12-05T02:27:00.000-08:00

TAMPA - Alan Jackson with Little Big Town and The Wreckers will bring the sound of country music to the Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. Alan Jackson is often referred to as the standard bearer of traditional country music. Since 1989 he has sold more than 45 million albums and had 31 number one songs, 21 of which were his own compositions. He has won upwards of 95 Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Grammy, ASCAP, American Music, Billboard and other industry awards and has the record for the most Country Music Association nominations. The year 2001 brought an enormous hit in "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," a poignant attempt to make sense of the aftermath of September 11; rush-released after an awards-show premiere, the song rocketed to the top of the country charts and also became his first single to crack the pop Top 30.

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Crow turning to country music

2006-12-03T02:19:00.000-08:00

London, Dec 3 (IANS) Grammy winning singer Sheryl Crow is turning to country music and says she will record an album describing the personal problems she fought over the past few years.Crow has just overcome breast cancer and now lives close to the country music capital Nashville. Apart from her illness, she will also mention her broken relationship with cyclist champion Lance Armstrong in the album, reported contactmusic.com.She explains: "I'm going to produce myself again and I'm working on an old-school country record. A lot of the stuff I've written like 'If it makes you happy', are just country songs, so I'm in that world of trying to strip it down and make something that feels honest and steeped in American influence. I had a lot of things happen to me in the last five years that I feel compelled to write about." .

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Major country music fest planned after Coachella

2006-11-27T02:21:00.000-08:00

INDIO - The promoters who made the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival the biggest tourist weekend of the year are planning to follow it with a festival featuring some of country music's heavy hitters. Paul Tollett of Goldenvoice announced Monday he's planning a yet-to-be-named country music festival May 5-6 at the Empire Polo Club. As reported on thedesertsun.com, it will follow the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival April 28-29 at the Indio polo club with a lineup as significant to country music as the Coachella is to alt-rock, hip-hop and electronica. It will feature artists including Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, EmmyLou Harris, Earl Scruggs, Nickel Creek, Garrison Keillor and Riders in the Sky. Tollett said more country stars are in negotiation to be added.

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Dierks Bentley is country music's hottest young up-and-comer

2006-11-25T02:19:00.000-08:00

Dierks Bentley called nearly 2 1/2 hours late, so he apologized and left his cell-phone number on the message machine. A country star giving his cell number to a newspaper reporter? That seems as likely as the Dixie Chicks getting a White House dinner invitation. But Bentley is the kind of guy who'll sometimes help his crew set up before a show, or pack up at the end of the night. The kind of guy who'll play a club gig after an arena show. His take-care-of-business dedication and hard-working, fan-pleasing approach are among the reasons why music-business insiders say Bentley is country music's next big headline attraction. Carrie Underwood has sold more albums. So has Sugarland. But they can't match Bentley's record as a road warrior. In the past two years, he's traveled 250,000 miles and played more than 350 shows including stadium concerts as opening act for Kenny Chesney.

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Country Music in American Culture to be offered at Rio spring ...

2006-11-23T02:15:00.000-08:00

RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- Ivan Tribe, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert on county music, will teach a special course on Country Music in American Culture during the spring semester at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College. Tribe has taught at Rio Grande since 1976 and has written several books on country and bluegrass music, in addition to historical books on other topics such as the history of Rio Grande. Tribe has also contributed articles on country music to numerous books and magazines and has helped several of his former students also get their work published in history books and magazines. .

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Athletics: Country Music 1/2 Marathon Expected to Sell Out in 2007

2006-11-21T02:15:00.000-08:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 14, 2006) - After 2006 brought a record breaking field of runners and walkers to the Country Music Marathon & Marathon, race organizers have announced a cap on registration for the half marathon in 2007. The field will be limited to 18,000 participants in the 13.1-mile race that is set for April 28, 2007, and organizers expect the half marathon to sell out. There is no cap on registration for the full 26.2-mile marathon. The increasing popularity of the half marathon nationwide, and especially in Nashville, has resulted in significant growth for the Country Music Marathon each year as it has become one of the nation's premier races at that distance. While the marathon celebrates its eighth running this year, the half was added six years ago. That first year saw fewer than 7,000 participants in the half and by 2006 the number surged to almost 17,000.

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Music Feature: Singer George Jones - a country legend

2006-11-19T02:16:00.000-08:00

For a man who's known professionally as "The Possum," the classic country singer George Jones seems pretty lively these days. In August, the man behind "The Race Is On," "White Lightning" and the sublime "He Stopped Loving Her Today" celebrated his 75th birthday with a star-studded tribute concert at the Grand Ole Opry in which his classic hits were interpreted by Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. On his own Bandit Records label, he's recently released a collaboration with old pal Merle Haggard, called "Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones: Kickin' Out the Footlights ... Again." And he's also recorded the title track to "God's Country," an album that finds current country stars, including Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker and Pam Tillis, singing classic Jones hits.

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Country Music Plays A Big Part In The Movie "Come Early Morning"

2006-11-17T02:18:00.000-08:00

Joey Lauren Adams, a native Arkansan, is the writer and director of the film. You may remember her as the star of the movie "Chasing Amy." She also played Adam Sandler's girlfriend in "Big Daddy." Adams says she grew up listening to Willie Nelson and the older country music. She says today's country is "too corporate." She says artists are more concerned about selling their music at Target and Wal-Mart than anything else. Adams says it wasn't easy getting music for the movie since she didn't have a lot of money, but she did get songs from some big named artists including Merle Haggard, Don Williams and Willie Nelson. .

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COUNTRY MUSIC'S TOP STARS CAME OUT FOR THE 54th ANNUAL BMI COUNTRY ...

2006-11-11T02:33:00.000-08:00

Adrenaline Nation Entertainment, Inc. (OTC: Other ADNL.PK - News), which produces Adrenaline Nation TV, the leading channel for cutting edge independent music TV, innovative short films, motor sports, and adrenaline sports for the highly coveted 18-49 demographic, interviewed many of country music's top stars from the red carpet of the BMI country awards, held in Nashville Saturday, November 4. BMI is the oldest country awards program, saluting the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most performed country songs on U.S. radio and television. ANTV Show Host, Michelle Wargo, interviewed such luminaries as Mark James, who wrote Suspicious Minds for Elvis Presley and You are Always on My Mind for Willie Nelson; Larry Henley, who wrote Wind Beneath My Wings for Bette Midler as well as numerous other songs; Steve Cropper, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and former lead guitar player with the Blues Brothers who wrote Dock of the Bay, Midnight Hour, Knock on Wood; Kris Kristofferson, writer of For The Good Times, Why Me Lord, Help Me Make It Through the Night, Me & Bobby McGee; recording artist, Andy Griggs; Randy Owens, lead singer for Alabama; Jeffrey Steele, who won the Songwriter of the Year Award; and also Dale Morris, one of Nashville's most successful managers, who manages Kenny Chesny, Gretchen Wilson, Alabama, and Big & Rich.

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Country Stars Defend Faith Hill's Reaction at Country Music Awards

2006-11-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

Several country stars are rallying to the defense of singer Faith Hill, following her controversial on-camera antics during Monday night's Country Music Awards. As fellow nominee Carrie Underwood was announced as the winner of the Female Vocalist Of The Year award, Hill looked at the camera and said, "What?" and turned away. Hill said in a statement on Tuesday that she had been joking. Hill's close friend Martina McBride says, "She just didn't think it would come off the way that people are perceiving that it came off. It didn't translate across the television in the way in which she meant it." Sara Evans says, "I was in the dressing room with Faith after the category was announced... She was not upset that Carrie had won and in fact was very happy for her." Kenny Chesney adds, "To think Faith would be disrespectful in that way is a joke, which is what it was in the first place, a joke." Underwood's publicist Jessie Schmidt said that she was not upset about the joke and that everything was cleared up in a congratulatory phone call.

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Music World Remembers Country Legend

2006-11-09T02:37:00.000-08:00

Music legend Buddy Killen died earlier this month from liver and pancreatic cancer and Tuesday, the country music world mourned the loss of the publisher and industry pioneer. People from all ends of the music industry were at the Ryman Auditorium Tuesday to pay their respects to Killen, one of country music's most influential movers and shakers. Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel was the first of thousands of hits for Killen's famous publishing company, Tree International. John Jay Hooker, a friend of Killen’s, remembered him saying, "He was a songwriter, a musician, a publisher; he was a man of enormous talents." ... .

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Tri-State Concert Association announces lineup for 2007 country ...

2006-11-05T02:15:00.000-08:00

CUMBERLAND - Tri-State Concert Association's country music division recently announced that another "spectacular country music extravaganza" will be held in 2007, according to Cindy Hook, coordinator of country music concerts for the organization.Steve Fairchild will bring his rendition of Garth Brooks back to the stage at Allegany High School with some of his "friends" from tribute artist show circuits. Fairchild has developed, specifically for Cumberland, the country music show "Men of Country," featuring tributes to country superstars Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Toby Keith, Vince Gill, and, of course Garth Brooks. Also performing will be Late Night Rodeo, Alan Jackson tribute artist Doug Brewin's band from New Jersey."Steve asked the audience at the last show what they wanted to see.

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CJ giving away 2 Country Music Awards tickets

2006-11-03T02:30:00.000-08:00

The Courier-Journal will give away two pairs of tickets to attend the Country Music Association Awards next week at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. Visit www.courier-journal.com/music before midnight, Thursday night, Nov. 2, to enter the contest. We will conduct a random draw among all legitimate entries and announce the winner on Friday. Winners must pick up their tickets at The Courier-Journal by the end of the business day on Friday. The contest is for tickets only; transportation and lodging is at the winners expense. The tickets, courtesy of ABC Television, have a retail value of $350 per ticket and are hard-to-get "gold level" tickets. The CMA Awards will be broadcast live from 8-11 p.m.

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Country Music Reader 2007 is Available Now

2006-10-30T02:20:00.000-08:00

Randy Rudder, a member of the ICMC family, has recently published Country Music Reader 2007. The Country Music Reader 2007 is available at www.countrymusicreader.com, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Opry gift shops and Barnes and Noble stores for just $13.00. This year's edition contains a foreword by Rosanne Cash and articles on everyone from Mac Wiseman, Earl Scruggs, and Del McCoury to Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, and Carrie Underwood. Happy reading! The new 'roots' music anthology for the true bluegrass and country music fan is now available. Editor Randy Rudder has compiled the best writing on country and bluegrass from top publications like No Depression, Performing Songwriter, Country Weekly, Bluegrass Unlimited, Time Magazine and many more. Whether you enjoy reading about the legends, rising new stars -- or even the songwriters -- Country Music Reader 2007 has something for you to enjoy.

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Country music star Dolly to tour UK

2006-10-26T03:13:00.000-07:00

For the first time since the Seventies, the country music legend will play an extended tour of Europe, with 18 shows in eight countries. Dolly, whose hits include 9 To 5, Jolene and I Will Always Love You, reaches the UK in March next year, including a night at Wembley. She said: "I have loved performing since I was big enough to wrestle my little brothers and sisters into sitting long enough for me to sing my latest musical masterpiece. "I just hope ya'll will come out and see this little girl from the hills of Tennessee walk out there on that big ole stage and make her dreams come true." Dolly, who has written over 3,000 songs, promised fans new sets, costumes and music. Tickets go on sale on Friday. .

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'It's a valentine to country music'

2006-10-25T02:33:00.000-07:00

In Year of the Horse, the 1997 documentary about the rock'n'roll band Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Young articulates in a reflective moment one of the seemingly essential aesthetic principles of his music - that with Crazy Horse, he was trying to get "closer to the source". What does he mean by this? What is the source? And what does it mean to get closer to it? In the context of that blunt object known as Crazy Horse, Young seemed to mean: stripping down, turning up, not bothering to rehearse too much, and when the drummer finished counting four, beginning to wail. As he says to the crowd in one song featured in the documentary: "It's all one song!" .

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Cassar-Daley scoops country music award

2006-10-25T02:25:00.000-07:00

It is the fourth time the singer has been awarded the top honour at the Country Music Association of Australia's annual Achiever Awards. The association's awards differ from the annual Golden Guitars, which are held in January, in that they are industry-voted by members of the Country Music Association. About 1,000 members voted for the awards which were handed out in Sydney on Monday night. Multi ARIA winner Kasey Chambers secured the award for most broadcast country music artist for the fourth year in a row. Nash Chambers and John Williamson won producer of the year while Felicity Urquhart was voted independent entertainer of the year. Monday night's awards were hosted by television weather presenter Tim Bailey with a host of Australia's country music entertainers on hand.

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Country Music Star Sara Evans' Allegations Regarding Reputed ...

2006-10-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, TN (Berke, Berke & Berke on behalf of Alison Clinton) - In response to what Ronnie Berke describes as irresponsible and inexplicable allegations by country music star Sara Evans, Alison Clinton has categorically rejected the sad, unlawful and despicable attempt by Evans to assign part of the blame for her broken marriage on an alleged affair with Evans' husband Craig Schelske. Prior to Evans' false accusations she had been a contestant on ABC's hit show Dancing With The Stars. And prior to the accusations Clinton had long-considered Evans a dear friend, as well as an employer. Evans even served as Clinton's matron of honor at her July 1st wedding. Clinton has hired Ronnie Berke, Past President of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, to prosecute her interests.

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For him, country is more than music

2006-10-25T02:07:00.000-07:00

It's a rare day off for rock's renaissance man, Jon Langford. Yet even standing inside the bucolic Chicago Botanic Garden on a splendid Columbus Day, surveying the flowers and his children, the Mekons cofounder, painter, author, and activist is fired up, his tongue sharp as a razor. ``Look at the state of country music," he says by phone, wading in to one of his favorite topics. ``There's no cheating songs, no killing songs, no drinking songs anymore. The Nashville mainstream's turned it into fantasy music. It's like a sausage factory, and it refers to a world that I don't think really exists. It's a world that the Republicans wish existed: all-white Bible Belt, shiny cowboy hat world, small-town patriotism. I always thought country music was about realism, about approaching the world head on, and that's why we were punk rockers who were attracted to it." Art-schooled punk rockers from Leeds, England, no less.

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Nashville Cat Don Helms to Visit Country Music Hall of Fame and ...

2006-10-25T02:05:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's quarterly program series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Session Players returns on Saturday, November 11, with a salute to legendary steel guitarist Don Helms. The 2:00 p.m. program, which will be held in the Museum's Ford Theater, is included with Museum admission and is free to Museum members. As a member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys, Don Helms achieved legendary status as one of the most important sidemen in country music. The sound of Helms' precise yet bluesy steel guitar on "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Cold, Cold Heart," "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" and numerous other Hank Williams hits helped usher in a honky-tonk sound that would define country music for years to come.

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Win an Insiders Pass to the Country Music Awards!

2006-10-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

Some people dream of attending a live awards show and mixing with their favorite celebrities, actors and artists at the event and at the hottest after parties. The Biography Channel, television's home of some of the world's most fascinating people, gives one lucky country fan a chance to live out their dream with this year's Insiders Pass to the CMA Awards Sweepstakes. Running through October 29, 2006, The Insiders Pass to the CMA Awards Sweepstakes, gives one lucky viewer the chance to go behind the scenes at the Country Music Awards. The grand prize winner will be flown, with a guest, to Nashville to accompany rising country music group Blue County to the parties and events surrounding the CMA Awards, as well as the ceremony itself. The official prize package includes roundtrip airfare, 3 nights accommodation, ground transportation and admission for 2 to the 2006 CMA Awards.

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Country music singer Pake McEntire to appear at Cowboys and ...

2006-10-25T01:48:00.000-07:00

The Dickinson State University Rodeo Council proudly presents popular country music singer and fiddle player Pake McEntire as the highlight performer at this years Cowboys and Candlelight fundraiser and auction. The event will be held Friday, Nov. 17 at the Days Inn in Dickinson. McEntire is a former PCA recording artist who has toured the United States and Canada since the 1980s, landing three top twenty hits on Billboards Country Charts: Saving My Love For You, Every Night and Bad Love. He and his sisters, Reba and Susie, became The Singing McEntires in the 1970s and recorded their first hit single, The Ballard of John McEntire, about their grandpap. He has performed with entertainers such as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and many others. He has made numerous television appearances on Hee Haw, Nashville Now, Inside Fame, A&E Biography and the Tommy Hunter Show in Canada.

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Rising Country Music Star Carly Goodwin Nominated in Two ...

2006-10-25T01:47:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 24, 2006 -- B. Jolley Productions, an entertainment production and talent management company, today announced that country music sensation Carly Goodwin is nominated for two awards at the 2006 Los Angeles Music Awards. Goodwin's hit duet with country music legend Willie Nelson -- a remake of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" -- is up for Best Single of the Year and earned Goodwin worldwide recognition and a European Country Music Award nomination earlier this year. Goodwin's heartfelt ballad, "Baby Come Back Home," which connected and inspired fans around the world, is up for Best Female Single of the Year. .

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Local recording artist to highlight 'Country Music Day' in ...

2006-10-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

"Country Music Day" will feature local recording artist and drummer Lee Ann Noel on Saturday at the Sumter County Fairgrounds, 7684 County Road 471,Bushnell. The daylong event also will feature The Point Blank Band, the New River Band, John Dixon, Jerry Byrd, Golf Brooks, David Peddicord, line dancers and more. Other activities include prizes, dancing and contests. .

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John Rich tops ASCAP Country Music Awards

2006-10-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Singer John Rich was honored at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awards ceremony as country music artist of the year. During the Monday ceremony in Nashville, Rich performed alongside fellow country music singer John Anderson before accepting his award as ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year for songs such as "Hicktown" and "Big Time," an ASCAP news release said. Also at the 44th version of the popular awards show, Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson shared the honor of having their song "Jesus, Take the Wheel" being named the ASCAP song of the year. James also shared Songwriter of the Year honors at Monday's ceremony with Rivers Rutherford, who was recognized for musical works such as "When I Get Where I'm Going." For its eighth time in the ceremony's history, Sony/ATV Music Publishing took home the event's Publisher of the Year award for its 15 award-winning songs.

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