Heather Berry grew up in Sherando, Virginia, which is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. She got her first experience singing in front of a crowd in her grandfather's church in Waynesboro, Virginia, at age five. Listening to old Carter Family records, Heather learned early to accompany herself with guitar and autoharp. By age 12 she was singing with the Lewis Family and the Country Gentlemen. She formed her first band and recorded her first CD. Saturday, Febraury 18th, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Heather Berry and Tony Mabe Band. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. At 16, Heather recorded a gospel CD that included several songs she had written. Heather has released multiple CDs. She's worked with the Whites, Mac Wiseman, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Wayne Benson, Mike Bub, Chris & Sally Jones, Don Rigsby, Alecia Nugent, the Issacs, and many more notable musicians. Tony Mabe, on banjo and vocals, was born and raised in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. His love for music began at the early age of four when he started playing southern gospel style piano. His instrumental abilities include banjo, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, and piano. He's played for Bobby Atkins and the Countrymen (at age 14) and also with the Jeanette Williams Band. Tony and Heather have been married for several years and now reside in Meadows, North Carolina. For more information, go to www.heatherberrymusic.com There will be several fine musicians backing Heather and Tony. We'll have lots of fiddle tunes for the dancers and some of the finest harmony this side of Heaven. Don't miss Heather Berry and Tony Mabe at the Carter Fold! Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.CarterFamilyFold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.CarterFoldShow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at TheCrookedRoad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday's concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. Tags: Heather BerryTony MabeCarter Family Fold

Clintwood, VA -- The Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center will host Dr. Ralph Stanley's 85th Birthday Dinner and Fund Raiser at Heartwood at 6:00 PM on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in Abingdon, VA. Heartwood is Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway, situated off Interste 81 at exit 14. Come and be with us to celebrate Dr. Stanley's birthday with Dr. Stanley himself. A first-class buffet-style dinner will be served and much more at this once-in-a-lifetime event! Tickets to the dinner are priced at $100 per plate, and guests may purchase them by calling the Museum & Center at 276-926-8550. The Museum & Center presents this special birthday event each year in celebration of Dr. Stanley's life and work. With a career spanning 65 years in the music business, Ralph Stanley has made an indelible mark upon the music industry. From old-time to bluegrass to country to gospel, Dr. Stanley has influenced countless artists and continues to break new ground in the industry. To celebrate his accomplishments, previous events have featured such well-known performers as Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski, Porter Wagoner, Larry Sparks, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Raybon, Judy Marshall, Stella Parton, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Ricky Skaggs and more! This years entertainment to include two time Grammy award winner Jim Lauderdale, The Jeff and Tony Brown Band with Austin and Noah, plus Special Guest Don Rigsby. This annual event also serves as an important fundraiser for the Museum & Center to ensure that regional music will be an important part of our area in the years to come. All proceeds from this dinner will be used to support the Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center's operating and programming needs. No proceeds from the dinner will benefit Dr. Ralph Stanley and family. A portion of the ticket price may be tax-deductible. The Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center is a state-of-the-art music museum that opened its doors in October of 2004. Located on Main St. in Clintwood, VA, the Museum houses exhibits and artifacts from Ralph Stanley's life and career, the Stanley Brothers, and the traditional mountain music of Dickenson County and southwestern Virginia. The Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center also presents a full lineup of programming each year including the Passing the Pick and Bow Program and concerts throughout the year at our local venue, The Jettie Baker Center. For more information or to order tickets, please call the Museum at 276-926-8550 or 276-926-8383. Tags: Don RigsbyDr. Ralph StanleyRalph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center

Banjo player Kevin Decker and his wife Amy are in need of help with a mountain of medical bills following multiple surgeries and an induced coma. Several people are throwing in to help organize this event. The SouthEastern Bluegrass Association (SEBA) is are offering a free 1-year electronic membership (E membership only) to anyone who donates $100 or more to the Deckers. The bands and sound crew are donating their time to this benefit. Johnny's RV Resort in Foley, AL is donating their concert venue for the event. You can help also. After complications from two major surgeries on Nov. 2, 2011, long time Foley resident and banjo player, Kevin Decker has been in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator. After 5 1/2 weeks in intensive care, he awoke on Jan 25th facing a long road to recovery. The family has been left financially devastated. This benefit has been organized by those who know and love The Decker's. Good news is that Kevin may be able to go home soon. It's been a very long and expensive hospital stay. The benefit will feature the Justice Family Band, Delta Reign, High Cotton, Down Home and more. This family has always been ready to drop what they are doing to go anywhere to help others with any need and now they are the ones in need. This benefit is for both Kevin and Amy and has been organized by those who love the Decker's. The benefit will be held Saturdasy, February 18th at At Johnny's Lakeside RV Resort located at 15810 Hwy 59, Foley, Alabama. Music runs from Noon to around 6 PM. Admission is just $10 with children under 12 free. Come for the music and cometo help Kevin and Amy out of medical and financial crisis. A benefit account for Kevin has been established at United Bank, PO Box 1885, Foley, AL 36536 and donations can be made to the account by referencing Kevin Decker. For those interested, a Facebook page with more information titled Prayers for Kevin Decker and has the most current information available.

Nashville, TN -- Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Sonny Curtis will take a seat at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Saturday, February 25, as the latest subject of the quarterly programming series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters. The 1:30 p.m. in-depth interview and performance, held in the Museum's Ford Theater, is included with museum admission and free to museum members. The program will be streamed live at www.CountryMusicHallOfFame.org The 90-minute program, hosted by Museum Editor Michael Gray, will include recordings, photos and film clips from the museum's collection and marks the Poets and Prophets series' fifth anniversary. Immediately following, Curtis will sign autographs in the Museum Store. (Visit the museum's website for signing details.) Curtis has written a host of country and rock & roll hits in his 50-plus year career. Among them are "I Fought the Law," "Rock Around with Ollie Vee," "Walk Right Back," "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," "More Than I Can Say" and the theme for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Love Is All Around." Sonny Curtis was born on May 9, 1937, near Meadow, Texas. He grew up performing with his brothers in talent shows and on radio stations across Northwest Texas. Listening to bluegrass artists Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, Curtis taught himself to play the fiddle and the guitar. In his teens, Curtis performed with fellow West Texans Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings. When Holly recorded his first Nashville sessions for Decca Records in 1956, Curtis played lead guitar as a member of Holly's pre-Crickets band, Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes. In addition to "Blue Days, Black Nights" and "Midnight Shift," the band cut Curtis' "Rock Around with Ollie Vee." Later that year, Curtis left Holly's band to play with Slim Whitman and other country artists. In 1957, Webb Pierce took Curtis' "Someday" to #12 on the Billboard country chart. Shortly before Holly perished in a 1959 plane crash, Curtis joined the Crickets. After Holly's death, Curtis toured with the band--first as a guitarist and later as the lead vocalist. He and band mate Jerry Allison wrote the Bobby Vee hit "More Than I Can Say" in 1960. The song also was a major pop hit for Leo Sayer in 1980. After a 1960 tour of England with the Everly Brothers, Curtis was drafted and reported for basic training at Fort Ord in California. While on a weekend pass in February 1961, Curtis played his song "Walk Right Back" for the Everlys. They took the song to #11on the pop charts, and it became a million-seller. In 1978, Anne Murray took the song to the Top Five in the country market. When Curtis returned from his 17-month tour of France, he rejoined the Crickets and while working with the band he also released a string of recordings as a solo artist for Dimension Records, Imperial and Viva Records. In 1966, the Bobby Fuller Four reached the Top 10 with "I Fought the Law." The song became one of Curtis' biggest hits. It has been recorded by diverse artists including the Clash, Kris Kristofferson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Roy Orbison and Hank Williams Jr. In the late 1960s, Curtis began composing for advertising campaigns, writing jingles for Buick, Continental Airlines, McDonald's, Olympia Beer, Yamaha and many other companies. As the decade came to a close, Curtis received an offer to write a theme song for a new sitcom about a Midwestern girl who strikes out on her own in the big city and gets a job in a newsroom. The result was The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Love Is All Around," which Curtis wrote and recorded in 1970. Curtis moved to Nashville in 1976. He signed with Elektra and released songs such as "The Cowboy Singer," Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "The Real Buddy Holly Story"--his reaction to The Buddy Holly Story, a film starring Gary Busey. The late 1980s brought Curtis another big hit in the #1 "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" by Keith Whitley, co-written with Ron Hellard. The Country Music Association honored it as its 1989 Single of the Year. In the early 1990s, Curtis again got the opportunity to write a TV theme song--this time for Evening Shade. Curtis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991. Five of his songs--"I Fought the Law," "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," "More Than I Can Say," "The Straight Life" and "Walk Right Back"--are certified by BMI for airplay of one million or more. After a 10-year absence, Curtis rejoined the Crickets in 1994 and continues to perform with them. The Poets and Prophets series honors songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music history. Previous Poets and Prophets honorees include Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock, Wayne Carson, Jerry Chesnut, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Jerry Foster, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, John D. Loudermilk, Bob McDill, Roger Murrah, Dan Penn, Curly Putman, Don Schlitz, Whitey Shafer, Jeffrey Steele, Norro Wilson and Craig Wiseman. The Poets and Prophets series is made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum's mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the museum's Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®. More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.CountryMusicHallOfFame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001. Tags: Poet and ProphetSonny Curtis

Saturday, February 11th, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Tim White and the VW Boys. Performing with Tim will be some of the finest bluegrass musicians in the region. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. A longtime supporter of the musical traditions of Appalachia, Tim White settled in east Tennessee in 1974, where he pursued his dream of being an artist, sign painter, and banjo picker. Tim's music has gained a strong following throughout the Appalachian region, and he's fronted several bands over the past two decades - including Troublesome Hollow, the Beagles, and the VW Boys. While he is well-respected for his musical skills, Tim is arguably best known as host of the PBS television concert series, Song of the Mountains. This popular program features bluegrass, old time, Celtic, gospel, and Americana music. Tim's interest of recognizing, preserving, and perpetuating the historic music of the area led him to organize the Appalachian Cultural Music Association. Tim currently serves as ACMA president. The ACMA helps to support the Mountain Music Museum, which Tim helped found, in 1999. The museum is dedicated to preserving the musical heritage of the southern Appalachians. In addition, Tim produces one of the most popular bluegrass radio programs in the region, The Bluegrass Show, on WAXM (FM 93.5), which airs every Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm as well as a nationally syndicated radio show. Come join us at the Carter Family Fold for some of the best bluegrass music the region has to offer. Tim & the VW Boys will be doing bluegrass, gospel, and lots of dance tunes - a little something foreveryone. Load up your family and friends and get ready for an evening of unforgettable music and fun! Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.CarterFamilyFold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.CarterFoldShow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at TheCrookedRoad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday's concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. Tags: VW BoysCarter Family Fold

Franklin, TN -- Williamson SOCIAL Magazine, Williamson County, Tennessee's premier publication focusing on life, events and living in and around Williamson County and the Nashville area, has added a new staff member. Shari Lacy joins the magazine as the new Managing Editor. As a longtime writer and publicist, Lacy brings her vast experience to Williamson SOCIAL, handling numerous aspects of the magazine including working with all photographers and contributing to editorial as well as assignment based essays. Publisher Rob Youngblood says, "I am thrilled to have Shari as the newest member of the SOCIAL team. Her background and professionalism combined with her knowledge and love of Williamson County are a perfect fit for the magazine. As SOCIAL continues to grow in 2012, Shari will be a huge part of that growth and one of the main reasons that our magazine will continue to get bigger and better." As owner of Williamson County based PR company GoodStuff PR (GoodStuff Public Relations), Lacy will continue with her GSPR Co. client base as well as managing the magazine's needs alongside Youngblood. She's spent years working with numerous media outlets on different stories and projects for her clients. She has also worked as a freelance writer for multiple publications including Readers Digest, Nashville Parent Magazine, Bluegrass Now Magazine, Southern Exposure Magazine and more. Lacy will oversee numerous aspects of the magazine and her artistic eye, editorial experience, and promotional background are a perfect combination to help take Williamson SOCIAL into the future. Prior to opening the doors of her own company, Lacy worked as the Marketing/PR Director for the International Bluegrass Music Association and was Director of Publicity for Nashville based Compass Records prior to her years with IBMA. She began her editorial/promotional career with the Anchorage Daily News in Anchorage, AK. If you would like to contact Williamson SOCIAL or send information about your upcoming event, please send Lacy an email at shari@williamsonsocial.com The February issue of the magazine hits stands and area locations later this week. Williamson SOCIAL was formed in 2010 by Publisher Rob Youngblood with a desire to spotlight one of the most unique counties in the country - Williamson County, Tennessee. SOCIAL can be found at 20-30 primary, "high traffic" locations in Williamson County such as Belk, Cool Springs Galleria, Boxwood Bistro, The Factory at Franklin, Harris Teeter Stores, The Heritage Foundation, Puckett's, Williamson Medical Center and Whole Foods Market. SOCIAL is also available at an additional 10-20 secondary locations in WC and Green Hills and via the web at www.WilliamsonSocial.com Tags: Shari LacyGoodStuff PR

Event slated for Wednesday, September 12th through Saturday, September 15th, at many premiere venues in Nashville, Tennessee. To all artists looking to apply for a showcase at the Americana Music Festival; great news! Submissions are now open! Applications for this year’s event will be accepted through Saturday, March 31st. Applicants have two submission options: 1. For non-members or those preferring to submit electronically, we’re also very happy to announce that we will be accepting online submissions exclusively through our friends at Sonicbids. If you’re not already a Sonicbids member, as part of our partnership with Sonicbids, your application to 13th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will also come with a two-week free trial of Sonicbids membership. This membership allows you to connect with promoters in your area and/or overseas as well as promote your events to fans with tools from ArtistData (now part of Sonicbids). To check out more info on the event, benefits on submitting through Sonicbids and how to submit your act, click here. 2. If you are a member of the Americana Music Association, you may submit your materials directly to the Americana office via mail. All submissions must include the application form. For complete details, please click here. If you are not currently a member of the Americana Music Association, we welcome you to join us. JOIN NOW. All applicants will be notified by Friday, June 29th, 2012 as to whether or not they’ve been selected for this year’s event. The 13th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference is proud to return to the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, 623 Union Street, Nashville, TN (tel 615-259-2000). The Sheraton is offering a special rate of $169 per night for single or double occupancy. To take advantage of this great rate, click here. Register now for the 13th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference! Dates are set for September 12th – September 15th 2012 in Nashville, TN. Described by Southern Living Magazine as Nashville's "Best Music Festival," the Americana Music Association is offering, for a limited time, a SUPER registration rate, available at $300 for AMA members and $400 for non-members. Offer Expires April 30. Tags: Americana Music Festival & ConferenceAmericanaFest

Review by Joe Ross North Carolinan brothers Josh (guitar) and Wayne (bass) have been singing and playing bluegrass for over forty years. They called themselves The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys in the early 1970s. From 1975 until they formed their own band about 1991, they worked with legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild. During the late-1990s and 2000s, The Crowe Brothers released some stellar albums on the Copper Creek, King and Gusto labels. Associated with the Rural Rhythm record label since 2008 when they put out their Brothers 'n' Harmony album, The Crowe Brothers continue to display remarkable powerful music in fine brother duet fashion. Their second CD on that label shows that they're still able to present a sound that is both traditional and contemporary. They find good songs from decent songwriters, and Josh even contributes three self-penned compositions (I Knew It Wasn't You, Grandma's Little Boardside Cabin, The Winds are Blowing in Maggie Valley). His songs wistfully tell of love, winsome thoughts, and carefree life in Maggie Valley. It's an old style of bluegrass, but it has a unique contemporary and spiritually-tinged flair. The instrumental accompaniment is first-rate with experienced veterans Steve Sutton (banjo), Brian Blaylock (mandolin on 9 cuts, lead guitar), Steve Thomas (fiddle, mandolin), Ashby Frank (mandolin on 3 cuts), Randy Kohrs (Dobro). The charm of two brothers singing together with sincerity and honesty is what we've come to expect in unassuming, leisurely songs like Steve Watts' "If It Takes More Than Love to Hold You." The lively barn-burner "I'm Going Back to Old Virginia" shows another side of The Crowes. Strangely, the CD jacket does not provide songwriter or publisher credits for that song, as well as "Southern Moon." The former was originally recorded on the classic Josh Crowe & David McLaughlin 1994 album, and I'm informed that it was written by McLaughlin. And, of course, the latter is a snappy Delmore Brothers classic, complete with a short yodel to bring it home. All in all, everything fits very nicely on this harmonious album. Rural Rhythm RUR-1087, www.ruralrhythm.com and www.crowebrothers.com Tags: Crowe BrothersRural RhythmJoe RossReview

Nashville, TN (February 1, 2012) – Will the circle be unbroken? If "Country's Family Reunion" has anything to do with documenting the stories and songs of country music's legendary family, it will remain firmly and enjoyably intact. Since 1997, Gabriel Communications has been bringing artists together into one room to reunite and reminisce about their careers, perform signature songs and share stories while the cameras roll. The result has been pure magic, leading to popular TV airings and successful DVD sales leaving country fans clamoring for more. RFD-TV (America's Most Important Rural Network) will air a new "Country's Family Reunion" show each Friday and Saturday in February beginning with the popular "Salute to the Kornfield," featuring the beloved cast members from the long-running television show HEE HAW and The Nashville Edition, Mike Snider, Gene Watson and Roy Clark. Portions of "Getting' Together," featuring performances by Moe Bandy, Linda Davis, Dailey and Vincent, Gene Watson, Joey + Rory, Neal McCoy, Jean Shepard, Johnny Lee, T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Larry Gatlin, Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, will close out the stellar February line up: "Salute to the Kornfield" with The Nashville Edition, Mike Snider, Gene Watson and Roy Clark: Fri., Feb. 3 at 7 P.M. CST Sat. Feb. 4 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST "Gettin' Together" with Moe Bandy, Linda Davis, Dailey and Vincent and Gene Watson: Fri., Feb. 10 at 7 P.M. CST Sat. Feb. 11 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST "Gettin' Together" with Joey + Rory, Neal McCoy, Jean Shepard (with commentary by Larry Butler), Johnny Lee and T. Graham Brown: Fri., Feb. 17 at 7 P.M. CST Sat. Feb. 18 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST "Gettin' Together" with The Whites, Larry Gatlin, Roy Clark, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius and Dailey & Vincent: Fri., Feb. 10 at 7 P.M. CST Sat. Feb. 11 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST Check local listings for exact air times. "Country's Family Reunion Salute to the Kornfield" and "Country's Family Reunion Getting' Together" are both available for purchase in their entirety at www.cfrvideos.com or by calling 1-800-820-5405. Started in 1996 as the idea of long-time disc jockey, Larry Black, Gabriel Communications specializes in "Reunion Videos." The success of this television and DVD series spurred the creation of more than a dozen more projects featuring hundreds of songs and stories as well as Country's Family Reunion News, a monthly newspaper which highlights the music of yesteryear, as well as a weekly format spin-off television show on RFD-TV called "Larry's Country Diner." Gabrielle Communications has additionally applied the Reunion concept to sports and created videos involving the legends of stock car racing and collegiate football teams. For more information on Country's Family Reunion products, please visit: www.cfrvideos.com . You can find all music reunion products under the Country's Family Reunion portion of this web site.Salute to the Kornfield Tags: Country's Family Reunion Salute to the KornfieldRFD-TV

Dalton, GA -- The return of the Woodsongs Coffeehouse Dalton Chapter last Saturday night drew a full house including a record number of season ticket holders to the historic Dalton Freight Depot. The regionally acclaimed benefit concert series features emerging and established performers of Americana, Country, and Bluegrass music. The series continues on Saturday February 25th and will feature Nashville songwriter Jerry Salley. Jerry is the 2003 SESAC Country Music Songwriter of the year. Jerry is a past winner of the Dove Award and has received 6 Dove nominations. He has over 14 million records sold world-wide including (7) #1 Country songs in Australia, appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, Regis and Kathy Lee, NBC's Today and The Grand Ole Opry. The February concert will also feature the highly acclaimed international band Tiller's Folly from Vancouver BC Canada. Tiller's Folly performs high energy roots, Celtic and Bluegrass music. The proceeds from the concert benefit Providence Ministries Rescue Mission. Concert organizer Paul Byrum said "our goal is to raise awareness of Providence Ministries efforts to expand their men's shelter. Providence is in desperately need as their current facility is at full capacity". The concert series is sponsored in part by the Dalton Downtown Development Authority (DDDA) and the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Performances will begin at 7:00 PM with doors opening at 6:00PM. Individual tickets are $15.00 for Adults and $8.00 for Students and will be available at the door. Reserved table seating is available at a discounted price for the remaining two shows and can be purchased on-line for $35 each or $100 for a family of four. Season tickets also include a logo coffee mug with unlimited hot beverage refills during each show. Opportunities remain for underwriting sponsors. Visit WoodsongsDalton.com for tickets or more information. p Tags: Woodsongs CoffeehouseDalton Freight Depot

Frankfort, KY (January 31, 2012) – Today, Governor Steve Beshear, Country Music Highway committee members, TourSEKY members and Country Music Hall of Fame Member Tom T. Hall announced the launch of two new initiatives surrounding the legendary highway (U.S. Route 23), now referred to as the "Country Music Highway." This stretch of road, which winds along the Eastern corridor of Kentucky, has given rise to a remarkable number of country artists including Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Gary Stewart, Patty Loveless, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Rebecca Lynn Howard and many more. The announcement made at the State Capital introduced the "Country Music Highway Road to Fame" talent competition which will allow the discovery of the next generation of talented artists from the area, as well as the development of a charitable organization, the "Country Music Highway Arts Education Fund" which will support music programs in Kentucky schools and aid children in discovering a passion for music without utilizing state education funds. "I am certain that Governor Beshear will agree with me when I say how proud we are to honor the rich musical heritage springing from the State of Kentucky," said Jeff Crowe, President and CEO of Tour SEKY. "Our youth is teeming with musical talent and I am excited to see the impact the program will have upon them." The "Country Music Highway Road to Fame" competition, set to begin in mid-March, will tap Eastern Kentucky's musical roots to find the next generation of talent. The winner of the 2012 "Road to Fame" competition will receive a scholarship to participate in career development and coaching under the direction of PCG Nashville valued at $25,000, an acoustic guitar and a plaque recognizing their achievement. The contest will be open to aspiring artists 13-35 years of age from the 15 counties that border the Country Music Highway (US Route 23). Details of the contest will be released on the "Country Music Highway Road to Fame" website. Potential contestants and interested parties should visit www.cmhroadtofame.com and register to receive announcements as they are made. "I'm really excited about the competition because it will show that some of the best talent can be found in the hills of Eastern Kentucky," said Country Music Hall of Fame Member Tom T. Hall about the talent residing in his home area of Kentucky. "The Country Music Highway means so much to me. I grew up in that special part of Kentucky, as did so many of my friends who have also been fortunate enough to find careers in country music. And now the Country Music Highway folks have launched a great project they're calling "The Road to Fame," said Naomi Judd in an earlier statement. "Keeping music alive on stage and in schools is close to my heart. I encourage everyone to get behind this project. Please join me in supporting the "Road to Fame" and the difference it will make in the lives of our friends and neighbors." These initiatives announced today are already receiving support from corporate sponsors. The first to come on board are the Gibson Foundation, Crawdad's Classics Gourmet Flavorings, PCG Nashville, Vietti Chili, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, TourSEKY, and Ray, Foley and Hensley Accounting. For more information, contact: www.cmhroadtofame.com. About the Country Music Highway: On March 1, 1994, a bill sponsored by State Representative Hubert Collins was passed and US Route 23 in Eastern Kentucky became "The Country Music Highway" to recognize the famous Country music stars that came from the region. In 2002, the Country Music Highway was also recognized as a National Scenic Byway. The 144-mile stretch of highway runs north and south along the eastern part of the state through the lush hills and valleys of Appalachia. Click for more information: www.CountryMusicHighway.com. About the "Road to Fame" Competition: Auditions, qualifying rounds, semi-finals and the grand final will be held at venues along the Country Music Highway. To be eligible to enter, contestants must be between the ages of 13 and 35 and prove residency in the counties of Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Boyd, Greenup, Harlan, Petty, Knott, Magoffin, Morgan, Elliott, Carter, and Lewis. Full contest rules, contest dates and venues will be announced, along with updates at www.CMHRoadToFame.com. About PCG Nashville: PCG Nashville is recognized as one of America's leading career development organizations, working with new and emerging artist, and customizing programs to accommodate an artist's creative and professional growth. Programs include: career guidance and mentoring, strategic planning, styling, branding and marketing, entertainment relations and ethics, media training, live performance coaching, vocal evaluation and training, instrument lessons, songwriting and creative direction, studio preparation and more. Click for more information: pcgnashville.com. About Murray State Digital Media Services: Digital Media Services is a multimedia production facility and in-house advertising agency at Murray State University. We utilize a full-time professional staff and some of the best electronic media students in the region through a partnership with the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. Click for more information: www.murraystate.edu/ems/index.html.a target= Tags: Tom T. HallCountry Music HighwayRicky Skaggs

Bell Buckle, TN -- SPBGMA award nominee Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike are scheduled to perform at the McReynolds Memorial Concert with Del McCoury, McReynolds Tradition, The Whites, Jessie McReynolds, Retro Sisters, Stetson & Cia...Tonight, Thursday, February 2, 2012. The benefit will take place at the Texas Troubadour Theater, in Nashville, Tennessee, tonight, February 2, 2012. The theater will host the 12th Annual McReynolds Memorial Concert, all proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of Keith McReynolds. The Texas Troubadour is located at 2416 Music Valley Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. Others performing include The Del McCoury Band, Stetson & Cia, Jesse McReynolds, The Told Heart sisters, The Whites, Retro & Smiling, Mike Scott and The McReynolds Tradition. The even will be emceed by Nashville's Eddie Stubbs and Justin Bradford. Valerie has been recording a Roots and Country album that covers a wide range of styles. This is a work of leisure and love and plans are for a Fall release to honor her Roots and Americana community. Many hot names are involved in the creation of this project and the title has not yet been released. More to come in future news Valerie's passion remains in finishing her fun vision of her love for bluegrass through the project "Blame It On The Bluegrass, Volume 2, she will soon have a website just for this piece. The International Bluegrass Museum will always be something that she continues to respect and want to be a part of! There will be several versions of this project with many guest stars and it will become an annual event not just a project. Speaking of the highly successful, charted project, "Blame It On The Bluegrass", Valerie has been included in the nominees for "Traditional Female Vocalist of 2012" for SPGMA, to learn more about the awards show and the nominees, visit, www.spbgma.com/level2/natnom2012.html . If Valerie should receive the reward, she unfortunately will not be attending this year's events due to her recording schedule in Florida. Tags: Valerie SmithLiberty PikeMcReynolds Benefit

Delivering a blend of vocal harmony and acoustic music like no other. New River was born from a love of bluegrass music, and the desire to share the love of Jesus Christ. We hope you will take a moment and enjoy the bluegrass gospel experience you will find with New River as they embark on a new label with a new album. New River Bluegrass consists of Barry Long on Banjo and Dobro and singing baritone and lead. Mike Johnson handles the Rhythm Guitar and sings tenor and lead vocals. Fiddle is in the hands of Chuck Price who also sings baritone and lead while Dwayne Brown handles the Bass and share lead vocals. You'll find Mike Mullins on the Mandolin and his voice singing bass and lead. Andy Smith plays Lead Guitar and also share lead vocals. The band's newest release, Heart On The Run is their debut release on Crossroads' new Pisgah Ridge label which is expected to be released later this month. Pisgah Ridge, is a new label for special projects and for promising up-and-coming Bluegrass groups. Pisgah Ridge will offer an award-winning studio production team, professional marketing and radio promotion, and worldwide music distribution. This announcement follows the recent successes of Crossroads' premiere Bluegrass label, Mountain Home Music Company. Mountain Home artists recently spent multiple months at the #1 position on Bluegrass Unlimited's monthly song and album charts. Mountain Home artists also took home seven awards, including "Song of the Year," "Instrumental Group of the Year," and "Emerging Artist of the Year," at the 22nd Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards. Tim Surrett of Balsam Range will act as A&R Consultant for Pisgah Ridge. "I'm very excited about Pisgah Ridge," he said. "With the popularity of Mountain Home, we saw the need to have a label home for promising Bluegrass bands to grow their music and expand their fan base. Mountain Home's strength in this industry will help open doors for emerging artists on the Pisgah Ridge label. I also look forward to producing these artists whenever possible. God has blessed us richly in the Bluegrass Gospel arena, and I'm proud to be working with Crossroads in delivering great music to a wider audience." Tags: New River BluegrassCrossroadsPisgah Ridge

The Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music invite you to join them for an evening of great music with Mike Compton and Joe Newberry Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m. The concert will take place at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 420 Willa Road, Newark, Delaware 19711. Traditional music veterans Mike Compton and Joe Newberry love to play together -- and it shows. Although they live far apart, their music makes them seem like they are next-door neighbors. And audiences around the world agree. Mandolinist extraordinaire Mike Compton grew up in Mississippi, where he was exposed to music at an early age. A prolific composer, he has made a powerful mark in the old-time and bluegrass music worlds, including a fertile association with John Hartford in the Hartford String Band, as a long-time member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and with rock legend Elvis Costello. The multiple Grammy Award-winner treasures his memories of a friendship with his mentor, Bill Monroe. Joe Newberry is a Missouri native and North Carolina transplant who has played music most of his life. Best known for his powerful and innovative banjo playing, he is a prizewinning guitarist, fiddler, and singer as well. In addition to his work with Mike Compton, Joe makes music with the string band Big Medicine, and with old-time music stalwarts Bill Hicks, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. He writes songs that show up on the Bluegrass charts, does solo and studio work, and teaches and performs at festivals at home and abroad. Joe and Mike are also members of the Jumpsteady Boys, a band they formed with friends Bruce Molsky and Rafe Stefanini that is taking the traditional music world by storm. For more info: www.mikecompton.net or www.myspace.com/joenewberry Tickets: Public $17; Seniors $14; BFOTM Members $12; Ages 17 & under FREE! More info: concerts@brandywinefriends.org, www.brandywinefriends.org, or (302) 321-6466 Tags: Mike ComptonJoe NewberryBrandywine Friends of Old Time Music

Charlie Sizemore is featured on the cover of the February 2012 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine that includes a rare interview with the acclaimed, singer-songwriter. Sizemore uncharacteristically opens up about his music, his career as a lawyer, his hit album Heartache Looking for a Home, and single "No Lawyers in Heaven." Heartache Looking for a Home reached #1 on Cashbox Magazine's Top 20 Bluegrass Albums last summer, was chosen in Bluegrass Today's Top 10 Albums of 2011, and spent numerous months on SiriusXM Radio's Bluegrass Junction's Most Played Albums chart. "No Lawyers In Heaven," spent two consecutive months at #1 on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine's Top 30 Songs chart (Oct-Nov '11), #1 on Bluegrass Music Profiles Magazine's Top 30 Hot Singles chart (Jul '11), and reached #1 on Power Source Magazine's Top 35 Albums chart (Oct '11). CMT.com says Sizemore "possesses one of the finest, most unaffected bluegrass voices I've come across," and his fans certainly agree. There are numerous favorites on this hot album including the popular "Red Wicked Wine" with special guest, Ralph Stanley that certainly brings back memories of Sizemore's days with the Clinch Mountain Boys. Other fan choices include "Ashley Judd" along with title track, "Heartache Looking for a Home" that has spent numerous months on SiriusXM Radio's Bluegrass Junction Most Played Tracks. The Charlie Sizemore Band is now on tour and includes the talents of: Charlie Sizemore (lead vocals, guitar); Danny Barnes (mandolin, vocals); Charles Fields (bass); Josh McMurray (banjo, vocals); and Paul Kramer (fiddle and vocals). For more information on the Charlie Sizemore Band, please visit their website or check out NPR's Mountain Stage to hear the band's recent performance. Tags: Charlie SizemoreBluegrass Unlimited

Award-winning Irish songwriter and bluegrass music artist, Niall Toner, is pleased to announce the new single, "Tomorrow," is now available to radio stations on Airplay Direct. The song is from his upcoming album, Onwards and Upwards, set for release on Pinecastle Records in the fall of 2012 in conjunction with The Niall Toner Band's U.S. tour. "I admire the way Niall's deep affinity for bluegrass and American country music blends seamlessly with his Irish sensibilities. It makes him a uniquely appealing artist, and Pinecastle is lucky to have him," said Pete Wernick (Dr. Banjo). The Niall Toner Band is an acoustic Irish bluegrass band with Celtic influences that have three albums to their credit. The perform at festivals and venues in Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. Their diverse repertoire ranges from contemporary up-tempo songs, to inspirational gospel-style numbers, as well as tributes to Bill Monroe like "The Master's Resting Place" and "Bill Monroe's Mandolin." Niall's most recent U.S. album release was THE SOUNDS OF THE BLACKSTAIRS MOUNTAINS, features his tribute song to the Father of Bluegrass, "William Smith Monroe," that is still receiving extensive airplay on bluegrass radio. Niall's composition credits include songs recorded by artists like Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones), The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Albert Lee, Special Consensus, Keith Sewell, The Swanson Family and more. In 2003, Niall was nominated for a Global Artist Award by the Country Music Association. For more information on The Niall Toner Band please visits www.NiallTonerBand.com Tags: Niall TonerPinecastleOnwards and Upwards

Big Sky, MT -- From the mountains to the sky, everything in Big Sky, MT is Big. Big Sky Resort's 6th annual Big Sky Big Grass bluegrass music festival is no exception. The three-day music extravaganza will run February 17th- 19th and feature artists and bands from all over the country including bluegrass music Grammy-winner Sam Bush. The Big Sky Big Grass festival's main event is the Bluegrass Ball featuring The Travelin' McCourys, the Emmit Nershi Band and very special guest Sam Bush on Friday, February 17th in the Missouri Ballroom. Greensky Bluegrass, Head for the Hills, Hot Buttered Rum, Holler n' Pine, Bluebird Sky, Kevin Fabozzi and Friends, and Benyaro will also play throughout the weekend. Buy tickets to individual shows ($15 -$30), a $65 Festival Pass for access to a selection of shows, or a $95 Live Big Weekend Pass, giving access to every show at the festival. Food, libations, and merchandise will be available. Sam Bush (Playing the Bluegrass Ball in the Missouri Ballroom, Friday 7:00pm) - Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist Sam Bush is alternately known as the King of Telluride and the King of Newgrass. He's been honored by the Americana Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association. Emmitt-Nershi Band (Playing The Bluegrass Ball in the Missouri Ballroom, Friday 7:00pm, Whiskey Jacks Saturday 10:30pm, and Talus room Sunday 7:00pm) - As linchpins of two legendary jam-bands (Drew with Leftover Salmon, Bill with the String Cheese Incident), Drew Emmitt and Bill Nershi exemplify the forward- thinking modern bluegrass musician. The Travelin' McCourys (Playing the Bluegrass Ball, Missouri Ballroom, Friday 7:00pm, and Talus Room, Saturday, 7:00pm) - The sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo continue their father's legacy. Greensky Bluegrass (Playing Whiskey Jack's Saturday 3:00pm, Whiskey Jack's Sunday 9:00pm). What makes Greensky different than Bluegrass? Poignant rural ballads about real people? Dobro tone that Jerry (Douglas or Garcia) would love? Distortion Pedals? Grit and attitude from a whiskey soaked card game? Indeed, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Head For the Hills (Playing Whiskey Jack's Friday 10:30pm, Whiskey Jack's Saturday 9:00pm). Rooted in bluegrass tradition, Head for the Hills is a vibrant mixture of homegrown compositions, traditional harmonies, and an innovative approach to improvisation. Hot Buttered Rum (Whiskey Jack's Sunday 10:30pm.) The “high altitude bluegrass” era captured on their first studio album found the band enjoying success at Bonnaroo, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and sharing the stage with Phil Lesh and Bela Fleck. Tickets can be reserved by calling 406-995-8077. For more information and great lodging packages that include hotel, lift tickets and venue admission, check out www.BigSkyResort.com Tags: Big Sky Big GrassSam BushThe Travelin McCourysGreensky Bluegrass

The Del McCoury Band's bluegrass music tribute to Bill Monroe, Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe, was released on CD January 31, 2012 just in time for the Grammy Awards. The album was previously released digitally and on vinyl in September 2011 and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Bluegrass Album" in December. September 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of Bill Monroe's birth, and not surprisingly, there have already been plenty of tributes to the Father of Bluegrass Music, with more still to come. But when listeners turn to Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe--what they hear won't be the result of a carefully crafted campaign, but the result of a decision that was as spontaneous as it was inevitable because, for Del McCoury, Bill Monroe's legacy isn't just a matter of history, but something that's as immediate and personal as the guitar he picks up every time he gets ready to play. To celebrate this release, McCoury Music is proud to offer an autographed copy of Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe for a limited time for just $12.99. Click here to order: DEL MCCOURY BAND STORE "I had done songs of his on different albums I made through the years," says McCoury, who served a life-changing year with Monroe's Blue Grass Boys from 1963 to early 1964. "But I'd never really thought about doing a whole album until the day we were flying home from the Grammy awards and by the time we got to Nashville, I'd made a pretty good list of what I wanted to do. I didn't want to do a lot of things that everybody had already done; I wanted to do somethings that weren't real popular but were really good. Some were songs I'd never heard him sing, some were songs that he'd sing on a show and some were songs that he sang on the record, but he made me learn the lead. And I wanted to do them in the same keys he did, because if you change that, you just don't have the same sound he had on them." The result is a set that perfectly captures the essence of Bill Monroe's music - and does it in a way that stands head and shoulders above the crowd. Tags: Del McCoury BandBill Monroe 100th BirthdayOld Memories: The Songs Of Bill Monroe

/CMA/ Nashville, TN -- By Deborah Evans PriceIt's been more than five decades since a 23-year-old Bill Anderson became the youngest writer to earn BMI's Country Songwriter of the Year honor – a record until 20-year-old Taylor Swift's win in 2010. Since then, he's received numerous accolades, including two CMA Song of the Year trophies in a three-year span. In November, he was honored by Bear Family Records' release of a four-CD anthology, Bill Anderson: The First 10 Years, 1956-1966. And he's seen a lot of changes on Music Row. "One of the biggest changes is the proliferation of co-writing," he said. "When I came to Nashville, there were not that many of us writing songs for a living. Most of us wrote by ourselves. Back in those days, we were so restricted to who we could write with because they wouldn't split copyrights. Lord knows ASCAP wouldn't split things with BMI and vice versa, so you had to write with people in your own camp. Those walls have come down. Now we can write with anybody and everybody will split copyrights. It has opened up a whole world of freedom for songwriting." Anderson's ability to adapt has allowed him to flourish in today's collaborative climate. His credits include Kenny Chesney's "A Lot of Things Different," which he wrote with Dean Dillon; the Mark Wills hit "Wish You Were Here" (Anderson, Skip Ewing and Debbie Moore); and The Oak Ridge Boys' "Jonah, Job and Moses" (Anderson and Tia Sillers), which won a Gospel Music Association Dove Award. Anderson won CMA Song of the year honors in 2005 for the Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby" (Anderson and Jon Randall) and again in 2007 for George Strait's "Give It Away" (Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson). "He still writes a lot of great songs and he also still works very hard," said Anderson's longtime fan and frequent collaborator Brad Paisley. "A lot of people have an era when they write great. For a decade or two they're on fire and can do no wrong, then for whatever reason perspective changes and they don't write like they used to — or maybe they do write like they used to but meanwhile styles and tastes change. Those things don't apply to Bill. He has the ability to write whatever needs to be recorded in that era. If you think about the hits that he's had over the last few years, they are important and current sounding and, at the same time, they sound like Bill Anderson songs. He's changed just enough to pull off that sort of thing. It's really inspiring." Though his distinctive vocal style earned him the nickname "Whispering Bill" and his stage skills keep him on the road year after year, at his core Bill Anderson is first and foremost a songwriter. In fact, his most recent album is simply and aptly titled Songwriter, on TWI Records. Born in Columbia, S.C., Anderson grew up around Atlanta. As a child, he was fascinated with music and began writing songs when he was 9. "I subscribed to Country Song Roundup magazine," he remembered. "I got all those song lyrics every month, and the first thing I would look at was who the writers were. I formed little pictures of people of the names I kept seeing over and over, and I would look at who the publishers were." Hank Williams was an early influence. "The reason I became such a big fan was that Hank Williams wrote most of his songs and that really appealed to me," Anderson said. "I figured that this guy writes and he sings it, so this must be him. This must be who he is. I sensed an honesty in that music, and that was very influential to me. "I've always loved to write," continued Anderson, who began his career as a sportswriter. "I did some work for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and for some weekly papers around Atlanta, but when I got to the University of Georgia and met a couple of guitar pickers over there, that focus shifted to music and I started seriously to write songs." Anderson wrote the classic "City Lights" when he was just 19 years old and then moved to Nashville after Ray Price turned the song into a hit. Signed to Decca Records, Anderson created more successful titles, including "Po' Folks," "Mama Sang a Song," "Tips of My Fingers," "Eight by Ten" (written with Walter Haynes) and his signature song, "Still." Eventually, after a hiatus from songwriting, Anderson started working with a new group of collaborators and creating hit songs for a new generation. He credits Steve Wariner for providing the motivation that spurred a new chapter in his career when Wariner recorded "Tips of My Fingers" in 1992 and took the song to No. 1. "That knocked down the wall and opened up my mind," he said. "I was still shy because I thought ‘This is a whole new generation of writers and publishers and record people. I don't know these people and they don't know me.'" A mutual friend encouraged him to call Vince Gill, but Anderson was hesitant. "I said, ‘Vince doesn't even know who I am,'" he recalled. "I was wrong. I called him and got his Code-A-Phone (answering machine) and he answered (on his outgoing message) impersonating me; he says, ‘This is Whispering Gill.' That gave me a little more confidence. We got together and wrote two songs. He ended up recording both of them. One was a No. 1 record: ‘Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn).'" As he began collaborating more frequently, Anderson had to adjust his way of thinking. "One of the first things I had to do was totally put my ego aside as a writer because I had written most everything by myself," he said. "I had done very, very little co-writing. When I started thinking seriously about getting back into music again, I realized that music had changed. Chord structures and melodies were more complicated, so I knew that I needed help. I knew that I couldn't write songs for today's market totally by myself. I needed input from people who were out there doing it, so I just checked my ego at the door. Vince was the first person I wrote with. I had felt like I was there to learn from him. The answers were the same, but somebody changed the questions." Since then, Anderson has paired with many of Music Row's top writers and built an enviable catalog of hits. "I love writing with the young writers who have their perspective on it but who are open to listening to my perspective as well," he explained. "That is the best of both worlds. Lyrics have always been my strength, even though I have written a ton of melodies. But most of the young writers today are more sophisticated in writing melodies than I am. Melodies today are a little more pop-influenced and R&B-influenced, so I embrace what other writers bring in that regard." Anderson had taken note of other aspects of songwriting that have also changed. "Today the first thing they want is an uptempo song with a positive message. Country Music kind of had the image of being a negative music, and in a lot of ways it was. It is much more positive music today, and as a result I think it appeals to a larger audience." Ironically, one of Anderson's biggest hits flies in the face of that observation. The Dixie Chicks had a hold on "Whiskey Lullaby" when Brad Paisley put a secondary hold on it. "We did not write that song as a duet," Anderson said. "But Brad had the vision and foresight to picture it as a duet and then had the good sense to ask Alison Krauss to sing it with him." Jamey Johnson is another one of Anderson's favorite younger singer/songwriters. "He is a genius," he declared. "I love writing with Jamey. He is so creative and one of the fastest writers I have ever worked with. I love him as a person. He has a deep sense of tradition and respects what has come before him, but he wants to take it to a new place and a new audience. That is exactly what our business needs." When it comes to securing cuts, Anderson prefers letting his publisher do the pitching. He spent several years with Moss Rose Publishing and is currently signed to Sony/ATV Tree, but during his early days in Nashville, he was with Buddy Killen's Tree Publishing. "Buddy was more than a publisher," Anderson said. "He was a mentor. There may have been more of that in the early days, probably because the whole scene was so much smaller. It wasn't like Buddy had 50 or 60 writers over there, like some companies do today. There were probably less than half a dozen of us. Buddy could afford the time to do a lot of pitching. He was very close to the artists, particularly Jim Reeves. I had four Jim Reeves cuts, and I can credit every one of those to Buddy being out there pitching." One constant in Anderson's lengthy career has been his relationship with BMI, which he joined in 1958 and never left. "He shows up every day and competes with the best of the best," said Jody Williams, VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, BMI. "He knows the nuances floating in the air of the songwriting community. He's current." He's also timeless. "Bill writes songs that become legends," Williams continued. "He's a legendary recording artist and songwriter, still creating more than 50 years after the beginning of his career, and his contributions remain relevant. He's a mentor and friend to countless singers and songwriters, and his energy level rivals that of a 25-year-old. That's an icon." Iconic, timeless and apparently ageless as well, Anderson embarks in February with Nashville songwriter Bob DiPiero and artist/songwriter Clint Black to the United Kingdom and Ireland, on the first international performances of the CMA Songwriters Series, an in-the-round concert featuring many of Music City's top writers. On the Web: www.BillAnderson.com © 2012 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc. Tags: Bill AndersonCMA CloseupEducation

Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction's Kyle Cantrell will feature music from Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice on the popular show Track By Track this week beginning on Wednesday, February 1st at 11:00am EST. During the program, Kyle will host an in-depth interview with Junior Sisk and play each track from the band's latest Rebel Records CD, The Heart Of A Song. The Heart Of A Song has been gaining a tremendous amount of attention and is #2 on Bluegrass Music Profiles Top 10 CDs chart (January 2012), #3 on the Bluegrass Today Monthly Chart (January 2012) and is currently #3 on Bluegrass Unlimited's Top 10 CDs (February 2012). The highly popular single, "A Far Cry From Lester And Earl", has held tight to its #1 spot on the Bluegrass Music Profiles Top 30 Hot Singles chart in both December and January, is #1 on this week's Bluegrass Today Singles chart and is also the #2 single on Bluegrass Unlimited's Top 30 for February. Penned by Junior Sisk, Tim Massey and Rick Pardue, "A Far Cry From Lester And Earl" has really resonated with the band's audiences all over the country. Track By Track with Kyle Cantrell featuring Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice will air Wednesday, February 1st at 11:00am EST, Thursday, February 2nd at 9:00pm EST, and Sunday, February 5th at 11:00am EST. Bluegrass Junction's Track by Track can be heard on Sirius 61 and XM 14. For more information, visit www.siriusxm.com/bluegrassjunction and for more information on Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, visit www.JuniorSisk.us Tags: Kyle CantrellJunior Sisk and Ramblers ChoiceBluegrass Junction