INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2000

EDITOR : BOBBIE J. PATTERSON PUBLISHER: SCARLETT GREMARD

Chris LeDoux Needs Liver Transplant

Chris LeDoux has been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Chotangitis (also known as PSC). This slow developing disease of the liver also affected football legend, Walter Peyton. The only cure is a liver transplant, if an acceptable donor can be found. The liver is an organ which will grow back to its normal size, if a large piece of it is removed. Because of this, a donor does not have to be deceased. Chris will continue to perform until a donor is found or until his failing health stops him.

Ronnie Milsap Has New Grandson

Ronnie’s son Todd and wife Yogi have given Ronnie his first biological grandson. The child weighed over 9 pounds. At press time, no name had been chosen.

Vince Gill’s Ex-Wife Plans Wedding Later This Month

In addition to reviving Sweethearts of The Rodeo with her sister Kristine Arnold and recording a new album, Janis Gill plans to marry later this month, in Hawaii. The name of her husband to be has not been released. Do you suppose the alimony payments will stop?

Nashville’s 8^th. Annual King Eagle Show Was The Best Yet

The entertainment was great. There was an electrical charge in the air as artists from Stardust, Millennium, Foxfire, KMA, Greenback, and a dozen other labels went on stage. It was as if a friendly competition had broken out between the artists both signed and unsigned. Each artist seemed to be reaching deep down into their country souls and hitting each other and the crowd with all they had to offer. So many artists received standing ovations I wondered why the crowd didn’t become physically tired from standing, cheering, and applauding. Several unsigned artists were offered contracts. Among those who were signed was one of the best and most unusual singers I have seen in many years. Imagine a black cowboy singer who can nail you to the wall with his intense delivery of a hard country song. Now, imagine he is from the Bronx and you have J. W. Lance. A black cowboy from the Bronx who blew the crowd away with his talent and style. Several labels competed for him, but Millennium Records of Nashville walked away with ink on the contract. Imagine a 5’ 11" 140 pound bombshell of a female country singer. Imagine her in skin tight black leather cut low in the front. Picture her strutting her stuff across the stage, while whipsawing the audience from happy to sad with a series of driving tempo songs followed by a heartbreaking country ballad only to launch directly into a sassy song to every man in the house with lines such as, "I’ll go out and earn the living, I won’t mind a bit but if you ain’t bringing home the bacon you’d better be frying it." If you can picture that in your mind, you can see Selina standing tall and proud, strutting across the stage, sexy hot talented, driving every man in the place a little crazy and loving every minute of it. Even her husband was breathing a little hard when she ended her show. Imagine a tall willowly 17 year old blond beauty named Brook M’Lee from Lawrenceville, TN, who stole every heart in the place. Imagine a rough looking cowboy from Nebraska named Jessie Harris, who sang so well he even surprised himself. Imagine three black gospel groups from Chicago singing foot stomping gospel in the finest tradition of black gospel music. Imagine one large lady part Cherokee and part Afro-American. Picture her looking like Sofie Tucker and singing country blues the way Aretha Franklin might on a good day. Remember how George Jones brought a lump to your throat with, "Grand Tour"? When she hit the line, "Oh he left me without mercy " tears streamed down her cheeks and mine. That was Foxfire Recording artist, Sister June Williams. Think about another Foxfire artist a small young lady named Tiffany Renee’ from Houston, TX. 98 pounds of pure energy and talent exploding onto the stage with, "Proud Mary". I was once so impressed with Tina Turner, I didn’t think anybody would ever top her version. Tiffany Renee’ blew her away. Picture a tall slender silver haired handsome man with a velvet smooth delivery reminding you of a cross between Jim Reeves and Ray Price. He’s holding every lady’s heart in his hand as he sings about love gone bad. He’s Rubin Everidge, from Ithaca, NY. Think about Stardust Record’s number one touring group, The Kim Anthony Band going on stage behind all that talent and forcing the crowd to their feet for yet another standing ovation. Stop for a moment and think Latino beauty. Think about an olive skinned lady with long black hair flowing around her shoulders, dark eyes like deep jungle pools in the moonlight. She’s singing, "I Picked A Rose", in Spanish and romance fills the clear cool evening air. When the crowd caught their breath, they knew they had been carried to another world by KMA recording artist, Nancy Raven. They looked around hesitantly as if they didn’t really want to return to reality. Those are just a few of the highlights of the three days long 8^th. Annual King Eagle event. No wonder the governor of Tennessee issued an official proclamation calling this the most important independent music event in the history of Nashville.

3 Great Days! 5 Or More Stages With Open Microphones!! Show The Nashville Music Industry What You Have To Offer!

Perform On Every Stage Everyday! No Stage Fees! Country! Gospel! Bluegrass! Western Swing!

100 Free Booth Spaces Available! Promote Your Company! Sell Your Music! Sell Your T-Shirts!

Meet Important People! Record Labels! Disc Jockeys! Reporters! Producers! Promoters! Press Agents! Booking Agents!

Why? Because It’s Fun For The Entire Family And You Just Might Be Discovered! Where? Music City U. S. A. Nashville, TN.

If All You Want Is A Chance To Be Seen And Heard By The Nashville Music Industry, All You Need To Do Is Go To As Many Of The Stages As You Wish And Sign Up. Each Stage Will Have A Book. You Just Sign Up And Take Your Turn. Play . Nashville Record Companies Big & Small Are Looking For New Talent. A Lot Of Them Will Have Talent Scouts At The Festival. If They See You On Stage And Like What They See, You Could Be Signed To A Recording Contract.

Seminars Will Be Conducted By Successful Professionals Such As, Singers, Record Promoters, Studio Musicians, Booking Agents, Record Producers and Audio Engineers. No Seminar Registration Fees Are Required! Seminar Space Is Somewhat Limited And Advance Registration Is Advised.

100 Free Booth Spaces Will Be Available. You Will Need To Bring Your Own Tent Or Canopy, Table, Chairs, And Etc. Please Limit The Size Of Your Tent Or Canopy To No Larger Than 12’X15’. Please Be Prepared To Keep Your Booth Area Clean & Attractive. Booth Space Will Be Available On A 1^st. Come 1^st. Served Basis. All Booths Must Be Set Up, The Afternoon Before The Festival Starts And Must Be Torn Down Closing Night.

If You Want To Compete For Some Of The Valuable Prizes, Which Have Already Been Pledged, There Will Be Several Contests, You May Enter. Contests Will Be Held On A Special Stage And Will Be Judged, By Professional Music Industry People, From Across The Nation.

Entry Forms Will Be Available At The Festival. An Entry Fee Of $5 Per Contest Is Required.

Foxfire Records (Nashville) Southern Star Records (Texas) , KMA Records (Nashville) , Stardust Records (Nashville) , Greenback Records (Louisiana) , , Millennium Records( Nashville) , The I. C. M. A. (Nashville) , And Others Too Numerous Too Mention.

Advance Purchase Tickets Only $20 Per Day! Advance 3 Day Tickets Just $50 $30 Per Day At The Gate Children Under 12 $10 Per Day.

If You Are An Officer Of Any State Or Regional Country Music Association Or Organization Or Own A Record Label, Artist Promotion Company, Karaoke Company, Musical Instrument Company, Etc. And Would Like To Be Involved In This Festival

Faron Young Inducted Into The Country Music Hall Of Fame

Faron was one of the many colorful people who once populated Nashville’s Music Row. Most fans remember his many hit songs which have became country standards among them was, "Hello Walls". People who were here in the business remember him for his hard drinking and soft heart. He was always ready to share a drink or lend a hand. He started the "Country Music News" magazine and helped a lot of people get a start. Many stories have been told about Faron’s kindness and generosity but here are a few I like best. An unknown songwriter who was sitting at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. He had written a song on a bar napkin and spotted Faron having a beer. He showed Faron the song and told him he needed $600. For that small amount of money he was willing to sell all rights to the song he had just written. Faron paid him, but when the song became a hit he gave Willie Nelson back the rights to "Hello Walls". A young singer named Donnie Lytle was down on his luck and needed a job. He wasn’t much of a bass player but Faron’s soft heart caused him to give Donnie a job playing bass in his band. Donnie never went back to Ohio. Instead; he stayed in Nashville and eventually changed his name to Johnny Paycheck. When George Jones was strung out on booze and other chemicals he missed so many concerts, he became known as "No Show Jones". Most of the Nashville establishment decided George was a lost cause and his career nearly ended. I remember seeing him on the third floor of the Young Executive Building going into Faron’s office. Later that day, Faron hired Jennifer Foxx to promote George’s new record, "He Stopped Loving Her Today". Roger Miller was working at a Nashville hotel as a bellboy. He had knocked on almost every door in town without any success, until Faron Young gave him a chance. Anywhere real country music people gather stories about Faron Young are sure to be told. It’s way past time, he was inducted into the Hall Of Fame. It only took the establishment 30 years to do the right thing.

Lee Ann Womack To Perform At The Nobel Peace Prize Awards Presentation

The concert will be held in Oslo, Norway December 11^th. She will be backed by the Norwegian Symphony Orchestra. She will sing, "I Hope You Can Dance".

The Mayor Of Nashville Joined The Governor Of Tennessee, In Proclaiming October As Grand Ole Opry Month

Mayor Bill Purcell and Governor Don Sundquist gave the Grand Ole Opry a special 75^th. birthday present. The radio show celebrates 75 continuous years, this month.

This Month In History

WSM-AM radio signed on the air, in 1925. In Dublin, Texas in 1938, Johnny Duncan was born. B. W. Stevenson, who had the original recording of, "My Maria" was born in 1949. "The Judds’ Greatest Hits" went gold just two months after its release. Vince Gill won two more CMA Awards, in 1994. This took his total to 13.

Lonestar State CMA Festival Moved To Beaumont

Two short years after its creation, The LSSCMA has outgrown its original location. The 2^nd. Annual Best Of Texas Awards drew a standing room only crowd. This year’s event will draw even larger crowds as the word of this great event continues to spread throughout the world of country music. Last year’s event was filmed for Danish television and their filming crew is returning this year. A larger and nicer venue has been obtained, in Beaumont. This event is scheduled for the last week of October. For complete details call Colonel Wild Bill Foster at; 409-892-5118.

Nebraska Country Music Foundation Has 20^th. Annual Festival

The 20^th. Annual Nebraska Country Music Festival will be held at the Adams Country Fairgrounds, in Hastings, NE. The dates are October 15^th through the 21^st. Founded by Barbara and Doc Dantes, the organization is now led by Colonel Wanda Hecht. For complete details call; Admiral Dorothy Shaw 402-224-3301.

14^th. Annual Convention of Country Music Organizations Of America To Be Held In Las Vegas

Executive Director, Suzi Cantu has formally announced the date of their American Eagle Awards Show. It will be at the Showboat Casino October 22^nd. Several days of competition and activities lead into the awards show. For complete details call; Suzi Cantu at 707-553-9140.

(This Month’s Newsletter Sponsored By Ambassador Charlie Ray’s Nashville Music Festival)