MONTGOMERY GENTRY AND TOM T. HALL HELP KICK OFF COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY ROAD TO FAME COMPETITION
By My Country Space
Delivers First Checks to Eastern KY Schools
Nashville,
TN (February 15, 2012)
–The Country Music
Highway “Road to Fame” competition officially
kicked off at a press conference held earlier today at
the U.S.
23 Country Music Highway Museum in Paintsville,
KY. with the help of the award-winning country
duo Montgomery
Gentryand Country Music Hall of Fame member, “The
Storyteller,” Tom T.
Hall. Road to Fame Developer, Bernard Porter, theCountry Music Highway Committee, Field Representative of U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, Pat Wooton, Paintsville, Ky. Mayor, Bob Porter, and tourism officials and area dignitaries revealed the details of the upcoming competition designed to discover and assist the next generation of talent along the famed Country Music Highway (U.S. Route 23), which has given rise to such famed talent as Dwight Yoakam, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Patty Loveless and many more. For more information about the Country Music Highway and the competition, please visitwww.cmhRoadToFame.com.
Kentucky-raised Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the duo Montgomery Gentry, whose hometown-proud hit “Where I Come From” is currently headed to the top of the music charts, showed support for the Road to Fame competition through an exclusive video message supporting the competition (Click Here to View Video Message).
“That guy that we went to see at the local honky tonks…Man! That was your hero!…local celebrities like Greg Austin, Larry Redmon, Patty Loveless, Bill Monroe, Opry member John Connolly, Keith Whitley and Billy Ray Cyrus.” reminisced Montgomery Gentry. “Charlie Crow that played with Brooks & Dunn, a couple of our buddies that played with the Oak Ridge Boys…there were a lot of musicians as well (not just entertainers, as far as the singing aspect of it) around the Kentucky area that came down here and were able to pick up jobs playing with other artists in Nashville,” stated Eddie Montgomery. “We had a lot of entertainment and a lot of people to go see that we looked up to and chased down to see if we can get up on stage,” added Troy Gentry. “Now, going back home and driving around, it seems like a lot of those opportunities aren’t there anymore. A lot of those clubs moved to line dancing which pushed a lot of those musicians and entertainers and bands out. “ “We support (sic) The Country Music Highway Road to Fame and you should too,” added the duo.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall, who was born and began his career as a singer and songwriter along the Country Music Highway, also showed support through a written message and prerecorded video after previously helping to launch both the Country Music Highway “Road to Fame”competition and “Arts Education Fund” with Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Tour SEKYand committee members from the state capitol on January 31—both initiatives created to increase interest and provide support for aspiring talent and country music heritage in Eastern Kentucky.
Representatives from the Allen Central Middle School and South Floyd Middle School music programs were each presented with checks of $500, marking the first of four Road to Fame Arts Education Funddonations to be made to provide monetary support to struggling music and arts programs in Eastern Kentucky schools.
“The fact that the Road to Fame Arts Education Fund is already supporting music programs in Eastern Kentucky schools, prior to the beginning of the Road to Fame competition, which will generate additional funds, shows great promise for both initiatives,” said Bernard Porter, Road to Fame Developer. “I look forward to seeing what opportunities in the area will arise because both of these programs are being put into place.”
After two weeks of waiting, aspiring artists and country fans were advised that the competition will be open to contestants ages 13-35 who grew up in the 15 counties surrounding U.S. Route 23 (Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Boyd, Greenup, Harlan, Perry, Knott, Magoffin, Morgan, Elliott, Carter and Lewis). Contestants will begin their journey down the Road to Fame competition by entering one of four qualifying rounds (dates, times, and venues listed below):
***Registration will begin two hours prior to the start of each audition.
|
Thursday, March
15, 2012 |
Expo Center
[Ballroom] |
|
Friday, March
16, 2012 |
Mountain Arts
Center[Band Room] |
|
Saturday, March
17, 2012 |
Paramount Arts
Center |
|
Sunday, March
18 |
Sipp
Theater |
The grand prize winner will receive a ‘scholarship’ to participate in a course of career development and coaching under the direction of PCG Nashville, valued at $25,000.00, will act as an ambassador representing the “Country Music Highway” at various events throughout the year and will help promote the2013 Road to Fame competition. Contestants will be judged by Music Row executives Bernard Porter, Molly Smith and Mike Harris with over 50 years collective entertainment experience in career development, creative consulting, and vocal consulting.
Details of the competition and registration information are available online at www.cmhRoadToFame.com.
KENTUCKY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM PREPARES FOR 2011 INDUCTION
By Greg
Eddie Montgomery, Kyle Macy, Tom T. Hall and Dixie
Hall set to participate in ceremony
Lexington, KY– On
April 7, 2011, The Kentucky Hall of Fame & Museum will usher
in the new class of honorees, including Keith Whitley, Patty
Loveless, Steve Wariner, John Michael Montgomery, The Goins
Brothers, Molly O’Day and Larnelle Harris.
Presenters confirmed for the ceremony include Eddie
Montgomery, set to induct his brother John Michael Montgomery,
Kyle Macy (former UK basketball great) who will be
inducting Steve Wariner, and Tom T. Hall and Dixie
Hall who will induct The Goins Brothers. Additional presenters
will be confirmed in the coming weeks.The 2011 Induction Ceremony
will be held in the Lexington Center Bluegrass Ballroom in
Lexington, Kentucky on April 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on
sale now at the Hall of Fame. For more information about the
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum call 1-877-356-3263 or
visit www.KYMusicHallofFame.com
“This year’s inductees include some of the
most recognizable music artists in the world,” says Lawson of the
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. “The ceremony taking place in April
2011 will feature performances by this year’s class as well as some
of this state’s greatest music achievers.”
The 2011 Kentucky Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony is
sponsored by RockCastle Regional Hospital and UK Health
Care.
About Patty Loveless:
To date, Patty Loveless has issued eight Gold Record
albums, four of which have gone on to Platinum status. The
singer is also noted for such chart-topping hits as “Timber
I’m Falling in Love,” “Chains,” “Blame it on Your Heart,” “You
Can Feel Bad” and “Lonely Too Long,” as well as such enduring fan
favorites as “I Try to Think About Elvis,” “How Can I Help You
Say Goodbye,” “I’m That Kind of Girl” and “You Don’t Even Know
Who I Am.” Her 2008 album, Sleepless Nights, was nominated
for a Grammy award and she most recently released Mountain Soul
II, both on Saguaro Road Records.
About John Michael Montgomery:
With a musical career that spans twelve albums and a greatest
hits package, John Michael Montgomery’s overwhelming contribution
to the country music format includes hits such as “I Swear,” “Be
My Baby Tonight,” “I Can Love You Like That,” “Sold (the Grundy
County Auction Incident)” and “Life’s A Dance,” among many
others. He’s earned 15 number one singles, sold over 15
million albums and received numerous industry and fan-voted
awards, including three Grammy nominations, three CMA Awards,
five ACM Awards and an American Music Award.
About Steve Wariner:
Award-winning recording artist, songwriter and
guitarist Steve Wariner has charted over 30 top-10
singles, including 14 #1 hits, since beginning his recording
career in 1977. In 2010 he won the Grammy® Award
for Best Country Instrumental Performance with “Producer’s
Medley” from Steve Wariner, c.g.p., My Tribute to
Chet Atkins. This is the fourth Grammy Award Wariner has
received, and his first as a solo performer and
producer. He won in 1992 for Best Country
Collaboration with Vocals, and in 2000 and 2009 for Best Country
Instrumental Performance. In 1998 Wariner won the Country
Music Association’s Single and Song of the Year awards for his #1
hit, “Holes in the Floor of Heaven,” which was also the Academy
of Country Music’s Song of the Year in 1999. He joined
the Grand Ole Opry in 1996. As a songwriter he has
earned 16 BMI Country Awards and 15 BMI Million-Air Awards (for
songs receiving over one million on-air plays). He was
inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in 2008 and the
National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in 2009. He started his
own label, SelecTone Records, in 2003.
About Keith Whitley:
Whitley's brief career in mainstream country music lasted from
1984 till his death in 1989, but he continues to influence an
entire generation of singers and songwriters. He charted nineteen
singles on the Billboard country charts, including five
consecutive Number Ones: "Don't Close Your Eyes", "When You Say
Nothing at All", "I'm No Stranger to the Rain", "I Wonder Do You
Think of Me" and "It Ain't Nothin'" (the last two
posthumously).
About The Goins Brothers:
After the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers disbanded in 1963, Ray and
Melvin performed together as The Goins Brothers until Ray’s heart
attack in 1994 slowed him down. Ray retired in 1997, while Melvin
continued as Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain. Ray would share
the stage with his brother on occasion, mostly close to home in
eastern Kentucky Melvin Goins and Ray Goins, The Goins Brothers,
have been playing mountain string music for 50 years. The music
became known as "bluegrass" about the time they started playing
professionally. Ray passed away in 2007.
About Molly O’Day:
O’Day was an American country music vocalist who had some degree
of fame and commercial success in the late 1940s. Despite her
short recording career, 5 years, she became a legend in her own
lifetime.
About Larnelle Harris:
Larnelle Harris was born in 1947 and hailed from Danville,
Kentucky, where his 30-plus years of ministry, garnered 18
albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards. His
career as a Gospel singer, songwriter, and recording artist has
landed several number one songs on the Inspirational Music
charts.
Previous Inductees include:
2008 Class: Crystal Gayle, Dwight Yoakam, Florence Henderson,
Norro Wilson, Les McCann.
2006 Class: Sam Bush, John Conlee, Todd Duncan, Lionel Hampton,
Naomi & Wynonna Judd, John Jacob Niles, Dottie Rambo, &
Mary Travers.
2004 Class: Ricky Skaggs, J.D. Crowe, Billy Vaughn, Howard &
Vestal Goodman, Coon Creek Girls, Jerry Chesnut, & Boots
Randolph.
2002 Class: Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn, Osborne Brothers, Everly
Brothers, Merle Travis, Bradley Kincaid, Red Foley, Tom T. Hall,
John Lair, Jean Ritchie, Grandpa Jones, & Rosemary
Clooney.
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