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INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER MAY 2000 Uncle Sam Wants You? GraceLand Entertainment, P. O. Box 290123, Nashville, TN 37229 plans a series of tours to military bases in Europe. Selected entertainers will travel by military transport, sleep in military housing, and eat with the enlisted personnel. A weekly stipend will be paid. Bands, singers, and dancers are needed. Auditions will be scheduled in several American cities. You may start the selection process by sending a press kit to GraceLand Entertainment at the above address. Your press kit should include a recording, a photograph, and a brief summary of your entertainment experience. Sound and light people must be able to double as entertainers. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. B. M. I. Affiliated Music Publisher Announces Open Door Policy Jessica Culpepper Music, P. O. Box 271656, Nashville, TN 37227 has an open door policy. Writers are asked to limit submissions to no more than three songs. They are currently reviewing any style of Country music, Christian Country, and Country Gospel. Allow up to six weeks for reply. Freddie Hart To Appear At King Eagle Festival The 8th Annual King Eagle Awards Show & Festival has been extended to three days. This is the event that the Governor of Tennessee signed an official proclamation declaring it to be the largest and most important independent music event in the history of Nashville. It will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the last three days of September. Freddie Hart, member of the Country Music Hall Of Fame, will do a 12 song concert Saturday evening. The entire event is designed to encourage networking. It allows you to meet songwriters, recording artists, record producers, promoters, managers, disc jockeys, etc. and get personally acquainted. Tickets for the entire three day event are only $100 and include a dinner on Friday and a breakfast on Saturday. For more information, call Jeniffer Foxx at 615-329-2618. Best Of Texas Awards Moved To Beaumont The third annual Best Of Texas Awards Show has been moved to Beaumont. After several out of state and overseas entertainers and companies complained about poor treatment by the owner of the original venue, it was decided to move the event to a larger and friendlier venue, in Beaumont. For more information, contact Colonel Bill Foster at 409-892-5118 Ambassador Charlie To Be Inducted Into The Traditional C. M. A. Hall Of Fame Many of you are aware of the six day festival conducted by the Traditional Country Music Association in Avoca, Iowa. The event draws hundreds of entertainers and thousands of fans to its eight open mikes and old time friendliness each year. The event runs the entire week of Labor Day and draws both singers and fans from California, New York, Florida, and points in between. Each year, they honor a carefully chosen few people, by inducting them into their Hall Of Fame. Unlike many organizations, they have an actual building housing their Hall Of Fame. This year, they will honor the legendary promoter, Ambassador Charlie. For information on performing or attending this great event, call Bob Everhart at 712-762-4363. Millennium Records Signs First Two Recording Artists In a recent newsletter, we told you Millennium Records was looking for singers who could sell CDs. A few of you took action and sent press kits to the company's new head of A&R, Ambassador Charlie. They have signed their first two recording artists and albums are in the works. Selina Salmon of Ripley, TN and Rubin Everidge of Ithaca, NY have both been signed to 12-song album deals. Production has already started and the company expects to release songs before the last week of September. Both of these talented singers will be showcased at the King Eagle Festival. The company is still looking for another 5 female and 5 male singers. If you snooze, you lose. Get your press kits in the mail ASAP. Mail them to: Ambassador Charlie, Vice President of A&R, Millennium Records, 50 Music Square West, Suite 305 B, Nashville, TN 37203. Six Disc Jockeys Inducted Into Country Radio Broadcasters Hall Of Fame Dave Donahue (KFDI), Bob Grayson (WFYR), the late Lee Moore (WWVA), Smokey Stover ( Houston Area Radio), Romeo Sullivan (WKNZ), and Johnny Western (KFDI) were inducted. More information is available at www.crb.org Garth Brooks And John Williams Inducted Into The Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame Garth Brooks needs no introduction. John Williams is a movie music composer. Other inductees will be announced later. Want Your Favorite Singer's Photo On Your Checks? Several Country singers have reached agreement with a check printing company. More details are available at www.fanchecks.com Dutch DJ To Receive Kitty Wells/Johnny Wright Humanitarian Award Well known Dutch Country Music DJ, Rein Wortelboer, has been selected to receive the Kitty Wells/ Johnny Wright Humanitarian Award. The award goes to someone involved in Country Music who has made a significant contribution to humanity. Rein's years of dedication to many hospital and children related charities has earned him this high honor. The award will be presented at the King Eagle event, this September. He hosts several country, bluegrass, and gospel radio programs and he plays non-major label music. Send your notes of congratulations and your music to: Rein Wortelboer, Akelei 10, 5803 CA Venray, Holland. He will also distribute your CDs to Dutch and Belgium Disc Jockeys. Contact him for details. Jo Dee Messina Engaged The singing bombshell accepted a five carat diamond engagement ring from her tour manager. His name is Don Muzquiz and tour managers must be paid very well. The date has not been set. Independent Record Company Hits Number 1 On Several Major Charts For the first time in 15 years a non-major label record has hit the number one spot on several major charts. The Dreamcatcher label's song, "Buy Me a Rose", by 61 years old Kenny Rogers broke the curse. They also set a new record by having the oldest singer to ever reach the number one spot. The record was held by Hank Snow. He was 59 years old when "Hello Love" went number one. Ever Dream Of Marrying Trisha Yearwood? Now is the time to make your big move. She told "Country Weekly" magazine she like to get married again and start a family. She's looking for husband number 3, boys. Willie Nelson To Headline Newport Festival The Newport Festival will be held August 4th, 5th, and 6th, in Rhode Island. The headliners will be Willie Nelson, Shaun Colvin, Natalie Merchant, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Their will be two stages this year. Contact Ticket Master for details. Ain't Success Grand? A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 17 year-old Leanne Rimes. Her mother, who divorced her father after money started pouring in, has filed the suit against Leanne's father and her former co-manager. The suit alleges they defrauded Leanne of $7, 000, 000. Their lawyers say Leanne is being used by her angry mother to get at her father. Got a teenager you'd like to turn into a star? Tim McGraw And Faith Hill Plan A Duet Album He told Associated Press, "Next year it may pop up, or in a couple of years it might pop up. But it's definitely something that we want to do in the future." I wouldn't touch that line with a 10 foot pole! Tim grew up as Tim Smith. When he found out his biological father was baseball great, Tug McGraw, he changed his last name. The Major Label CMA Has Led The Parade, While Country Went Pop Just ask any of the major labels' CMA executives and they're likely to tell you they saved Country Music, because nobody likes that hillbilly stuff any more. They moved Country Music uptown, where the fans are! Wilkesboro, NC isn't near a metropolitan area. They don't have a major airport. April 27th they only drew 62,000 people to MerleFest with Americana ( real country) and Bluegrass music. Last year, the major labels' CMA drew 20,000 to Nashville's FanFair. |