Tag Archive for: Benefits

White House Celebrates Country With Paisley, Krauss; CMA Underwrites 40 W.O. Smith School Students

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W.O. Smith School students

The White House Music Series will celebrate Country Music on July 21 with performances by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and Union Station. Forty students from the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community School of Music will be able to attend the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., concert and educational workshop at the White House, thanks to the Country Music Association underwriting all their travel costs with funds from CMA Music Festival and “Keep the Music Playing,” which supports music education.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was asked to provide an educational component at the workshop, and will send one of the students who participated in its Words & Music educational program during 2008-09, Sal La Rosa, and Gary Michael Smith, the professional songwriter who added a melody to Sal’s lyrics, to the workshop to perform their composition “The Girl in the Hallway.”

The educational workshop will host 120 middle and high school students from across the country. In the evening Paisley and Krauss will perform in the historic East Room before the President – who will make opening remarks – the First Lady, students, White House staff, and Members of Congress.

In addition to the White House event on July 21, the W.O. Smith School student musicians are scheduled to meet U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville), sit in on the House of Representatives while it is in session, and visit monuments on the National Mall.

GAC (Great American Country), which has supported the W.O. Smith School since 2005, will have a video crew on board the student’s bus in addition to taping the performances in the White House East Room for a one-hour news special hosted by Storme Warren, airing exclusively on GAC in early August.

The music series, hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, celebrates the arts and arts education. It launched last month with a focus on Jazz and will continue in the fall with Classical music.

The Country Music Celebration is presented with assistance from The Country Music Association, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and produced by the Grand Ole Opry and Great American Country Television.

Country Stars Align For Ft. Campbell Troops

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101st Airborne Division shoulder sleeve insignia (the "Screaming Eagle").

101st Airborne Division insignia (the "Screaming Eagle")

Carrie Underwood, John Rich, Rodney Atkins and Jake Owen will perform Aug. 14-15 as part of nearby Ft. Campbell’s Week of the Eagles to welcome home troops from overseas deployment. The free event, celebrating the homecoming of the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles,” is open to the public.

Week of the Eagles is held every other year and is usually planned by the Fort Campbell staff, but radio broadcaster Cumulus upped the ante this year by arranging for the superstar performers.

The entire celebration runs Aug. 14-20, with the concerts kicking off the party on Aug. 14-15. Other events include a 10K/5K run, an air show, and a Vietnam veteran tribute.

For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fortcampbellmwr.com.

Updates: Gina Hilburn, Laura Huie, Heather and Bobby Young, Beckett Service

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Pictured from left: Patrick Davis, Gina Hilburn, Harley Allen, Lisa Carver and Marv Green

Pictured from left: Patrick Davis, Gina Hilburn, Harley Allen, Lisa Carver and Marv Green

Songwriters Patrick Davis, Harley Allen, Lisa Carver and Marv Green came together for a recent benefit show to help longtime Warner Music Group employee Gina Hilburn in her fight against cancer. The event took place Friday, June 26 at the Bluebird Café, and raised nearly $4,000 which included contributions from friends and co-workers, ticket sales, auction items and a matching gift contribution from the Roger Jennings Davis Memorial Fund. To make a donation, please send a check to 
Roger J. Davis Memorial Fund, 1708 2st Ave South #101, Nashville TN 37212, and indicate “For Gina.”

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Nashville-based media coach Laura Huie has changed her contact info. She can now be reached at [email protected] or 615-415-2460. Laura is owner and operator of Huie Media, a company that specializes in artist media training. She has worked with artists on major labels including Sony/BMG, Warner Bros. and Lyric Street Records, as well as independent artists. She also continues to work as a television producer/writer for various media outlets and just wrapped working as a segment producer on the fifth season of “Gospel Dream,” which airs on the Gospel Music Channel.

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Heather Young, Director of Radio Marketing for Dierks Bently, and Bobby Young, Director of National Promotion/Republic Nashville, welcomed daughter Addison Lea Young today, July 6. Proud Daddy reports that she was born at 1:52 PM, “with 10 toes, 10 fingers, and 2 beautiful eyes,” weighing 7 lbs. 15 oz.

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Reminder:  The memorial service for famed musician/producer Barry Beckett will be this Sunday, July 12 at 5 PM at the Musicians Hall of Fame.

Toby K., Holly W., Luke B. and Aaron T.

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Holly Williams recently visited E’s Chelsea Lately (pictured here with host Chelsea Handler). She will also perform, interview and sign autographs tomorrow (6/3) at 1:30 PM at the Country Music Hall of Fame, followed by her Grand Ole Opry debut that night.

Holly Williams recently visited E’s "Chelsea Lately" (pictured here with host Chelsea Handler). Williams will also perform, interview and sign autographs tomorrow (6/3) at 1:30 PM at the Country Music Hall of Fame, followed by her Grand Ole Opry debut that night.

Toby Keith‘s sixth annual golf and music fundraising weekend to benefit Ally’s House raised more than a half-million dollars to help children with cancer and their families in Keith’s native Oklahoma. The $550,000 raised brings the to-date total to nearly $3 million. The dinner, music and auction saw several big ticket items drawing huge bids. A dinner party for 20 with Keith earned $32,500. The Alaskan Adventure with Deadliest Catch boat captain Sig Hansen brought in $13,000, and a Costa Rica getaway to the Four Seasons drew a $19,000 bid. More than 40 sports and music celebrities were in attendance, including Keith’s Beer For My Horses co-star and co-writer Rodney Carrington, and baseball player Roger Clemens.
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Luke Bryan hosted Yahoo! Music’s first Country Music Wednesdays on Twitter last night. Fans were able to watch the conversation by adding twitter.com/lukebryanonline and twitter.com/yahoo_music to their “follow” list. Bryan also debuted the video for his current single “Do I” on Amazon this week, where fans can watch the video, buy the single, and pre-order his Capitol Nashville album Doin’ My Thing, which will be released Oct. 6. Bryan is on the road all summer on his Miller Lite sponsored tour.
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Aaron Tippin has launched a line of nutritional supplements called Aaron Tippin Nutrition (ATN). In his mid 20s the singer was a competitive bodybuilder and he’s been a fitness buff ever since, which led to him starting what he describes as this new “way-of-life” program.

Artists Celebrate Summer on Field and Water

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Photo: Randi Radcliff

Carrie Underwood at the Celebrity Softball Challenge. Photo: Randi Radcliff

Last month’s Nashville Celebrity Softball Challenge, held each year in conjunction with CMA Music Festival, raised over $100,000 for City of Hope’s research, treatment and education for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The Grand Ole Opry team defeated the After Midnite team. Stepping up to the plate to help the charity were notable Nashvillians and country music celebrities including Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Jake Owen and many more.

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The 6th Annual Vince Gill and Amy Grant Golf Classic will be held Aug. 3-4 in Aspen, with proceeds benefiting the charity Challenge Aspen. As part of the gala and golf tournament, Gill and Grant will headline an evening of  cocktails, auctions, dinner and a concert, and the following day will join event co-host and golf legend Fred Funk on the links at the Aspen Golf and Tennis Club. Challenge Aspen provides year-round recreational, cultural and competitive experiences for anyone with a disability.

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(L-R): Tennessee Titan's head coach Jeff Fisher and Carter's Chord's Becky, Emily and Joanna Robertson

(L-R): Tennessee Titan's head coach Jeff Fisher and Carter's Chord's Becky, Emily and Joanna Robertson

Show Dog Nashville’s Carter’s Chord recently sang the national anthem at the 2009 Jeff Fisher & Friends Charity Softball Game at Greer Stadium to benefit the Nashville Children’s Alliance, Mercy Ministries, Soles4Souls, Catch-A-Dream and several other local charities.

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You don’t need a ticket, you just need a boat to see Alan Jackson rock Lake Martin, Alabama on July 25. He will headline SeaRay’s Aquapalooza Signature Event on the lake where he and his family often spend time on their boat. AquaPalooza is a series of on-water celebrations held during the last two weekends in July at more than 100 locations around the world. Each gathering features family activities such as live entertainment, games, giveaways and more. Organizers expect the fourth annual World’s Largest Boating Party will break the record of 12,000 boats and 56,000 attendees set last year.

Little Big Town Raises Over $50,000 For TJ Martell

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(L-R): Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet and Karen Fairchild, event sponsor Richard Lyons of Roberts and Lyons GM, and LBT’s Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook

Members of Little Big Town hosted their third “Ride For A Cure” on Sunday, June 14, to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation. This year’s event was a huge success and raised $52,000 for cancer research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The T.J. Martell Foundation supports leukemia, cancer and AIDS research at six top hospitals in the United States.

“We have seen this event double in size every year and we are so grateful for all the artists and fans support. We want to see a cure and we believe TJ Martell has the means and the resources to make that happen in our lifetime. I had the chance to talk to a guy who was riding his brother’s bike on Sunday. His brother had passed from cancer two years prior and he was there to ride in his honor. That’s the kind of story that fuels this event,” states band member Karen Fairchild.

Presented by Roberts and Lyons, the event featured a motorcycle ride from the Harley-Davidson of Cool Springs to the Harley-Davidson of Columbia, a barbecue lunch provided by Applebee’s and a post ride performance by Little Big Town and friends.

Country Boosts Morale With Spirit of America

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(L-R): Major General Gregg Martin, Rosenthal, Daniels and Command Sgt. Major Corbly.

(L-R): Major General Gregg Martin, Rosenthal, Daniels and Command Sgt. Major Corbly.

On June 14, Charlie Daniels helped the U.S. Army celebrate its 231st birthday at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., with a performance courtesy of the Spirit of America Tour. A standing-room-only crowd of 3,000 soldiers enjoyed a 90-minute set from the entertainer. Founder of the Spirit of America Tour, Robert Rosenthal, was honored during the concert for bringing more than 110 shows to military bases in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001. Thousands of military personnel and their families have been treated to private, full production shows at no cost to them through Rosenthal’s organization.

Spirit of America also recently took Neal McCoy to the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago to entertain 3,000 recruits. The servicemen and women sang along with his hits such as “Wink” and “The Shake.”
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Get Out For A Good Cause This Week

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mhThe Miller Harris Foundation Benefit Concert is tonight, Wed., June 24 at the Bluebird Cafe. Two shows featuring some of Nashville’s favorite songwriters will benefit the organization which helps children with asthma. The 6 PM in-the-round welcomes Kim Williams, Amanda Williams, Roxie Dean, and Brice Long; followed by the 9 PM show with Keith Stegall, Jim McBride, Wynn Varble and David Lee. For reservations go to www.bluebirdcafe.com or call (615) 383-1461.

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The 3rd Annual Alex LeVasseur Memorial Skate & Music Festival will be Sun., June 28 from 2-9 PM. The free, family-friendly event will be at Jim Warren Park in Franklin. There will be skate demos, live music, local food vendors, airbrush tattoos, game booths, silent auction items and giveaways, and much more. Performers this year include Jeffrey Steele, LoCash Cowboys, Ricky Young & Red White Blue, and Pearl Heart. Money raised will go to the Alex LeVasseur Fund and the Memorial Scholarship Program, which works in conjunction with Sixth Avenue skate park in Nashville to help overlooked and underprivileged youth by creating programs to keep them motivated in school and life through skating. LeVasseur is the late son of Steele, and the event was founded in his memory.
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A benefit for the NSAI legislative fund will be held tomorrow night, Thurs., June 25, at the Bluebird Cafe. The 9 PM set features hitmakers Karen Staley (“Let’s Go To Vegas,” Faith Hill; “The Keeper Of The Stars,” Tracy Byrd); Danny Mark Wells (“These Days,” Rascal Flatts; “Check Yes Or No,” George Strait), and friends. For reservations go to www.bluebirdcafe.com or call (615) 383-1461.

Nashville in Napa

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napa1Producer Frank Rogers is spearheading a new charity called NOTES that will fund programs that bring music, art and literacy to school age children. He co-founded the initiative with Debi Cali of Baldacci Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, CA.

Tickets for the first fundraiser, Nashville in Napa, go on sale today. The event will take place Sat., Aug. 1 at the caves at the Baldacci Family Vineyards in the Stags Leap District of the Napa Valley. Only 200 tickets are available for the intimate evening which will feature songwriters and winemakers highlighting the similarities between their trades.

Several Music City songsmiths, including Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall will perform, and guests will enjoy food and wine by Napa chefs and winemakers who will discuss the process behind their creations.

Ticket prices and more information at www.NashvilleInNapa.com.

String of Events Benefit Darryl Worley Foundation

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dwDarryl Worley is hosting a series of fundraisers for his namesake charitable foundation, with the second event scheduled for July 13 at the Bumpus Harley-Davidson dealership in Murfreesboro. For “Hitmakers & Harleys” Worley will be joined by Walt Aldridge (Heartland’s “I Loved Her First,” Ronnie Milsap’s “No Getting’ Over Me”), Jim “Moose” Brown (“It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, and co-producer of Worley’s new album) and Steve Leslie, who has at least 20 Worley cuts, as well as ones by numerous other artists.

Last month’s “Hitmakers on the Harbor” on Pickwick Lake raised over $12,000. Following Murfreesboro, the next event is scheduled at Bumpus Harley-Davidson’s Jackson, TN location on July 21. The final event will be Darryl’s Tennessee River Run on Thurs., Sept. 10.

The Darryl Worley Foundation, Inc. helps serve the needs of the people of Hardin and McNairy Counties in West Tennessee and the surrounding areas. It has supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Ayers Children’s Medical Center, Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Worley is currently touring in support of his latest single, “Sounds Like Life To Me,” from his new Stroudavarious Records album, Sounds Like Life. Details on all events can be found at www.darrylworley.com.