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NEWS:OPERATION HOMECOMING ANNOUNCES "WELCOME HOME 2006" A Week-Long Tribute Honoring America's Vietnam Veterans to be Held June 11-18, 2006 in Branson, Missouri (Nashville, TN) Operation Homecoming Branson is pleased to announce the partnership with ProFusion Marketing to assist in raising sponsorship dollars for the week-long celebration in honor of our Vietnam Veterans, "WELCOME HOME 2006," slated June 11-18, 2006 in Branson, Missouri. The company signed on with Operation Homecoming Branson two weeks ago to acquire sponsorship partners for the event. ProFusion Marketing specializes in sponsorship generation, marketing programs, and media relations for large entertainment events, fairs, festivals and concert tours including the Arkansas State Fair whose sponsorship revenue has increased by 500% in five years. "We are looking forward to working with the current base of corporate and community sponsors as well as bring more national sponsor partners to the event this year," says ProFusion Marketing President Dan Sawyer. "Our goal is to partner major companies with the event to increase exposure both for the company and the tribute while showing appreciation for the event and its cause." Please contact ProFusion Marketing to inquire how you can get involved in "WELCOME HOME 2006," please call Dan Sawyer at 501-779-2609 or e-mail DanSawyer@comcast.net. For more information on Operation Homecoming Branson and "WELCOME HOME 2006," please visit www.welcomehome2006.org. * * * Operation Homecoming USA, a 501(c)3 corporation was founded in May 2004 by two Missouri veterans to host the "first national Vietnam veterans homecoming". This first time event was sponsored by Ross Perot, Anheuser-Busch, American Airlines, and Coca-Cola, and promoted by Sean Hannity, Fox News, CNN, Jim Bohannon, Tony Orlando, the Oak Ridge Boys, and others to guarantee its success. The week-long event, held in Branson, Missouri in June 2005, brought healing and peace to more than 28,000 Vietnam veterans and their families. Air shows, a national award ceremony, vendors, fireworks, memorial services, the Vietnam Dignity Wall Experience, helicopter rides, a homecoming parade, and a huge Grand Finale featuring national and Branson entertainment made for an unforgettable week. But the clincher for the vets and their families was the reception they received from the patriotic and Christian people of Branson who turned out in the thousands to make sure that these ag ing warriors finally received the respect and appreciation that our nation failed to give them more than 30 years ago. It was truly the "homecoming" they had never received….and it was long overdue. Operation Homecoming Branson is committed to this wonderful project. We understand the "need" for this type of event and the impact that it has on our veterans and our active duty service men and women. It is difficult today with so many special interest groups trying so hard to "restructure" our moral fiber, our code of ethics, our justice system, and our sense of patriotism to do the "right thing". We firmly believe that Welcome Home 2006 "IS" the right thing to do, June 11-18, 2006 "IS" the right time to do it. With the help of entertainers and stars who believe in doing the right thing, Welcome Home 2006 will be a giant success. HANK WILLIAMS JR., KID ROCK, MONTGOMERY GENTRY, BIG & RICH, TWO FOOT FRED, COWBOY TROY & STEVIE WONDER GET THE BLING BLING WITH DIAMOND DAVE MUSIC STARS AND HOLLYWOOD'S ELITE GET THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER "DIAMOND DAVE" TO CRAFT THEIR JEWELS Nashville, TN What does Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, Montgomery Gentry, Stevie Wonder, Big & Rich, Two Foot Fred and Cowboy Troy have in common?? Diamond Dave. Diamond Dave is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and has become the custom jeweler to the stars. "I had made a few pieces for myself and close friends before I made a custom logo charm for Merle Kilgore as a gift. Merle called me a few days later and said, "Hey, Diamond Dave, can you make one for my wife just like mine?" Merle being the man of many words, co-writer of the famous song 'Ring of Fire' and Hank Jr's manager I thought," Wow, I love that name," and have been "Diamond Dave" ever since," says Dave. Over the past several years, Diamond Dave has been crafting custom charms, belt buckles, and rings for top music entertainers and Hollywood friends. If you are riding along the East Coast, be on the look out for that special 14KT gold key for the Orange County Chopper's "Liberty Bike." The unique key was hand-crafted by Diamond Dave and in safe-keeping with Mikey. Or if you riding along the West Coast be on the look out for George Barris "The King of Kustomizer's" Gold Crest and West Coast Customs very own "Q" one of the main Players on the show "Pimp My Ride" will be wearing his own pimped out Logo Charm. contact: http://www.diamond-dave.com TRACY BYRD, HILARY DUFF, MICHAEL BOLTON, GERALDO RIVERA AND MORE WEAR THE 'LOOK' THAT'S HOLLYWOOD HOT!!! ENTERTAINERS JOIN FORCES TO SUPPORT AMERICAN VETERAN AWARDS / VETERANS FOUNDATION INC. Los Angeles, CA / Nashville, TN Who's got the "LOOK" that's Hollywood hot and supports our troops, too? Hilary Duff, Tracy Byrd, Dennis Miller, Michael Bolton and Geraldo Rivera does! Everyone is looking for a meaningful way to show support for our troops and the "LOOK" bracelet is a simple way to express that support daily. "What you are doing over there dwarves any other human endeavor," said Dennis in a recent taped greeting to the troops. An avid supporter of our men and women in uniform, Dennis proudly sports his "LOOK" bracelet. Hand crafted from the finest Italian Moretti glass, this yellow-ribboncolored unisex bracelet, made with silver or gold beads, features the signature "five eye" pattern. "The protective power of the 'eye' will surround the wearer with positive energy and protect them from evil," says, Annette Wright, designer of the "LOOK" bracelet and a military spouse. Wrights partner, Houston attorney W. Robert Brown, a Marine Corps Korean War veteran, says, "This is the perfect way to honor and protect our military heroes!" The Support Our Troops "LOOK" bracelet is featured in Military Spouse Magazine. The bracelet is the new "IT" to wear in support of our troops. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each bracelet benefits Veterans Foundation Incorporated. VFI, a 25-year-old nationally recognized nonprofit, nonpolitical 501(c)(3) organization that raises awareness, volunteerism and support for our active duty, guard and reserve, veteran and retiree service members, military spouses and their families. Other celebrities sporting the "LOOK" in support of our troops include Pauly Shore, Cole Evan Weiss, Kimaya & Monty Seward, Gerald McRaney, and Steve Bridges "The President," to name a few. "LOOK" bracelets available at http://www.avashow.com JANIE FRICKE INTRODUCES "THE JANIE FRICKE COLLECTION" A NEW LINE OF FURNITURE (Nashville, TN) — Janie Fricke: we know her voice from television commercials for everything from United Airlines to Coca Cola to Red Lobster long before a single line in a Johnny Duncan hit catapulted Janie to stardom. She has garnered honors, awards, Grammy nominations, videos, and soundtracks, and has done her share of charity work. Now, Austin Rand Furniture has teamed up with Janie for a new line of furniture: The Janie Fricke Collection. The line includes handmade pillows and throws, chairs, couches and ottomans. They are all made with fabrics from the leading fabric mills and all are American made. The leathers are hand picked uniquely for a distresses or weathered effect. All of the leathers are top grain. The cowhides are imported and hand selected. The Janie Fricke Collection….unique style…distinctive taste… For more information on the furniture line go to http://www.austinranchfurniture.net or contact William Thomas Company at 972.635.2000 CHARLIE DANIELS AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS CONCERT ANNOUNCES LINE-UP Talent to Include Charlie Daniels Band, Lonestar, Phil Vassar, Trace Adkins, and Rodney Atkins (Nashville, TN)--Charlie Daniels along with friends Lonestar, Phil Vassar, Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, and Amber Digby will offer their time and talents to perform at the 9th Annual Christmas For Kids Benefit Concert Monday, November 21st at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN beginning at 7:00 PM. The charity event raises money for the Christmas For Kids organization. Golden circle tickets to the event are available now by visiting www.christmas4kids.org, and general admission tickets will be available at http://www.ticketmaster.com beginning Monday, October 31st. Ticket prices range from $25.50 for general admission to $50 for golden circle seating. "We are thrilled to have Charlie Daniels headlining our concert again this year, and we feel blessed to have all the other amazing artists supporting the children and our organization," says spokeswoman Debbie Lamberson. The Christmas For Kids Organization has been in existence for over twenty years providing special children the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season. Each year, the organization brings the spirit of Christmas to hundreds of children throughout Middle Tennessee allowing them to participate in festive activities organized specifically for them. Events such as the Tour Bus Tour raise money and allow folks to visit the home-away-from-homes of more than fifty stars and celebrities. The Tour Bus Tour will be held on Monday, December 12th at the Hendersonville Wal*Mart from 5:00 9:00PM. The money raised at both events, the concert and Tour Bus Tour, is used to escort children from 30 different schools for a day-long excursion, and this year Christmas For Kids is proud to announce they will also assist Hurricane Katrina evacuees that have relocated to our schools. The day, set for Tuesday, December 13th, consists of a chauffeured trip from their school aboard a country music star's luxury tour bus to a local Wal-Mart where they are accompanied by a volunteer to participate in their own Christmas shopping spree. On the return trip home, the children will participate in a Christmas carol sing-along. As an added bonus, Christmas For Kids has also purchased custom Titan starter jackets for each and every child. All proceeds from the Tour Bus Show and the Charlie Daniels Band & Friends Benefit Concert (sponsored in part by 95.5 The Wolf, Sumner Regional Health Systems, Bob Parks Realty, and Wal*Mart)—November 21st--will be donated toward the children's Christmas Shopping. Listing Details: Charlie Daniels Band and Friends Charity Concert For the benefit of Christmas for Kids Monday, November 21 / 7:00PM / Ryman Auditorium / Nashville, TN General admission tickets are available beginning Oct. 31st by visiting Ticket Master, or by calling (615) 255-9600. Golden circle VIP tickets ($50 tickets) are still available by calling Carla Payne at (615) 452-1533 or by visiting http://www.christmas4kids.org. CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE RELEASES EXCLUSIVE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND CD OF PATRIOTIC SONGS 1,000 CDs being donated to American troops stationed overseas LEBANON, Tenn. (October 2005) Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ("Cracker Barrel") has added another exclusive CD to its growing collection of specialty music. Beginning today, fans of the legendary Charlie Daniels Band can purchase and enjoy Country Stars N' Stripes, a collection of the band's patriotic favorites and other well-known songs including "In America" and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." Retailing for $11.99, the exclusive CD is being sold in all 537 Cracker Barrel locations and online at crackerbarrel.com. "Cracker Barrel and the Charlie Daniels Band is a great combination," said Charlie Daniels. "You only have to walk through the Cracker Barrel door to see that they are about as American and patriotic as they come, and so is our new CD." Country Stars N' Stripes strengthens Cracker Barrel's commitment to offering quality music to its guests by featuring a patriotic theme throughout this release. The company's growing collection of specialty music is led by the Alison Krauss & Union Station Home On The Highways CD, which has sold more than 200,000 copies since its May release. Joining the collection later this year will be an exclusive CD by multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans. Due out in December, the Evans release will include previously unreleased versions of her hits "Born To Fly" and "No Matter How Far." Regarding the partnership with Cracker Barrel, Daniels noted the importance of connecting with fans. "Cracker Barrel customers are just the kind of family people we make our records for," said Daniels. "Having our CD available in the Cracker Barrel retail store just makes sense for them and us." To commemorate the release of this CD, Cracker Barrel has donated 1,000 Country Stars N' Stripes CDs to the 101st Airborne Division and Tennessee National Guard. The donated CDs will be placed inside care packages being sent to soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. During a nine-day tour earlier this year, the Charlie Daniels Band performed concerts for more than 15,000 soldiers stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. In addition to nightly concerts, the band performed several "surprise" shows for soldiers they met throughout the tour. Cracker Barrel has sold more than 1.2 million CDs since creating its exclusive music label in 2003. The Cracker Barrel assortment of music also features the Grand Ole Opry? Live Classics series, the American Legends collection, the Heritage Music collection, and the Now Playing CD, which includes nostalgic songs and jingles played inside all Cracker Barrel locations. "This collection continues to establish Cracker Barrel as a leading retailer of specialty music," says Chris Tomasso, vice president of marketing at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. "We're adding titles and artists that catch the attention of our guests. They appreciate the convenience of browsing through our music collection after finishing their meal." About Cracker Barrel Each Cracker Barrel Old Country Store unit is modeled after a 1900-era country store, featuring old photographs, authentic antiques, memorabilia and a real wood burning fireplace with a stone hearth to add a warm cozy touch to the dining room. The restaurant serves up classic comfort foods such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as made-from-scratch biscuits using an old family recipe. The retail store has more than 2,700 gift items including accessories for the home, old-fashioned candies, books on audio, nostalgic items, and children's games and puzzles, including classic favorites such as Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy and Slinky®. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. operates 537 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. 10 Armed Services YMCA Announced Country Music Star Aaron Tippin as National SpokespersonTippin urges support of troops and military families during Military Family Month Washington, DC The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) announced that Billboard Country music star Aaron Tippin will be serving as the organization's national spokesperson. The announcement was made during an event for military families and supporters at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where Tippin helped to kick off ASYMCA's 10th annual Military Family Month. Formally established by ASYMCA in 1996, Military Family Month is a time to demonstrate the nation's support for and commitment to the families of military personnel. "With so many troops currently deployed overseas, it is more important than ever for Americans to show their support for our troops and their families," said Tippin. "I'm proud to be working with the Armed Services YMCA, an organization that has been enriching the quality of life of enlisted service members and their families for over 140 years." The defense community widely recognizes that healthy military families contribute substantially to the success of service members and the entire military, both in peace and in war. ASYMCA offers essential programs to junior enlisted personnel and their families, such as childcare, hospital assistance, spouse support services, food services, computer training classes, health and wellness services, and holiday meals, among many others. In 2004, the ASYMCA served more than 433,340 military family participants. During the event at Ft. Campbell, Tippin met with the families of the 101st Airborne Division, which is currently deployed in the Middle East. In speaking with the families, Tippin also highlighted the many ways Americans can support military families during Military Family Month and year-round, including donating to the ASYMCA/Woman's Day magazine second annual holiday toy drive to provide toys and holiday meals to benefit military families in need. To donate, please visit http://www.asymca.org or call 800-597-1260. "As the holiday season draws near, I urge all Americans to show their support for the military and their families by donating money or time to the Armed Services YMCA," continued Tippin. "Together I hope we can make a lot of military families' lives brighter." Tippin first worked with the Armed Services YMCA as an artist on Patriotic Country™ 2, a CD of popular patriotic country songs released earlier this year by Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group to raise awareness for ASYMCA. The CD is available online at http://www.patrioticcountry2.com, where individuals can also participate in the "Send a CD to a Soldier" program by purchasing a copy of the CD to be included in care packages that ASYMCA will send to active duty troops overseas. About ASYMCA COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME ® AND MUSEUM TO HONOR PREMIER BALLADEER RAY PRICE WITH BIOGRAPHICAL EXHIBIT Ray Price: The Cherokee Cowboy to Open in August 2006 NASHVILLE, Tenn., October, 2005 The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will pay tribute to American music architect Ray Price with an exhibit, tentatively titled Ray Price: The Cherokee Cowboy, opening in the Museum's East Gallery in August 2006 and running through June 2007. Price, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, will celebrate his 80th birthday on January 12, 2006. "Ray Price is a man of singular and enduring artistic vision whose role as an architect and savior of country music is too little appreciated," said Museum Director Kyle Young. "The 'Ray Price beat' is elemental. Without it, country music would certainly be incomplete. He is a central figure in the 20th Century history of American popular music." Following a tour of duty in the U. S. Marines during World War II, Price aimed for a veterinary career and enrolled at North Texas Agricultural College. Supplementing his formal education with a little nightlife singing in a local establishment, and with encouragement from Dallas recording entrepreneur Jim Beck, the young Texan made his first record, "Jealous Lies," for the Bullet label in January1950. His singing on Dallas radio programs earned the notice of Troy Martin, an executive at the powerful publishing house Peer-Southern Music, who guided him to a contract with Columbia Records in 1951. His first Columbia release, "If You're Ever Lonely, Darling," written by his chart-topping label mate Lefty Frizzell, didn't make any money and failed to chart. In the fall of 195l, Hank Williams took Price with him on tour and wrote a song, "Weary Blues (From Waiting)," which he gave to his new pal to record. The song did well enough to garner Price an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry in January 1952. When Price moved to Nashville the same year, he and Williams roomed together. Williams let Price use his band, the Drifting Cowboys, which is part of the reason Price's recordings sounded so much like Williams' for a few years. However, Price wasn't just any Hank Williams sound alike. Blessed with a drop-dead tenor voice and an eagle eye for great songs, the balladeer delivered two Top Five country hits for Columbia in 1952: "Talk to Your Heart" and "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," (which would later become a #l pop hit for Perry Como). He returned to the Top Five again in March 1954 with "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)." Though "I'll Be There" continued to shadow Hank and Lefty, Price was clearly showing signs of his own musical coming of age. With his recording of "Release Me," a 1954 Top Ten, Price further framed his soon-to-be-signature sound by adding session musicians like guitarist Grady Martin to a core group of Drifting Cowboys, embroidering his usual honky-tonk style with threads of western swing In 1956, as Price began to enjoy success with his personally branded honky-tonk, rockabilly cats like Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins were suddenly jitterbugging past superstars like Eddy Arnold and Red Foley to dominate the upper echelons of the country music charts and to preside over what looked to be the death of traditional country music. Some country stars began to emulate the rockabilly sound, but Price had already learned the limitations of imitation. Instead, when he and his band, the Cherokee Cowboys, entered the studio in March 1956 to cut "Crazy Arms," they created a new sound, incorporating both an acoustic and an electric bass to lay down a 4/4, dance-friendly shuffle rhythm that worked like an Evinrude behind Price's imposing tenor and harmonized choruses. The sound became known as "the Ray Price beat," and it catapulted honky-tonk high enough and far enough to land and endure in the 21st century. "Crazy Arms" neatly knocked Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" off its #l aerie and remained in the top slot for twenty weeks. Fledgling honky-tonker Price was now a fully feathered star, who helped give wing to the careers of others. At various times, the Cherokee Cowboys included Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck (known then as Donnie Young), Johnny Bush, Jimmy Day and Buddy Emmons, among others. He championed talented songwriters like Bill Anderson, Harlan Howard, Hank Cochran, Roger Miller, Mel Tillis, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Price's 1959 Top Five recording of Howard's "Heartaches by the Number" helped establish the young writer's professional credentials, while his 1958 #l hit-and-runner "City Lights" did the same for Anderson. "City Lights," which memorializes the alienation of countless rural southerners who abandoned dirt farms for factory work in the industrial states in the '50s, is a clear example of the special way country records document American history. By the early '60s, Price was edging toward a more polished, uptown sound, which reached full flower with his acutely emotional 1967 interpretation of the Irish standard "Danny Boy." The recording found its way to the country Top Ten, but many disc jockeys rejected it as a pop-oriented "sell-out." Done with a full orchestra, the song alienated many Price fans, but it won him new devotees as well. Price returned to the top of the country chart in 1970 with Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times." The song also went to #11 on the pop chart, and was Kristofferson's first #1 country hit. "For the Good Times" modernized country lyrics for a new generation and united Price's early fans with new ones. The recording merited recognition as the Academy of Country Music's l970 Single and Song of the Year and won a 1970 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. The For the Good Times album, on Columbia, garnered the ACM's Album of the Year accolade. In 1971, the Country Music Association voted Price's I Won't Mention It Again Album of the Year. The title song followed "For the Good Times" to the top of the country chart. Between 1952 and 1989, Price scored a whopping 108 chart hits including eight chart-toppers and two dozen Top Five classics. Price's recordings for various labels since the 1970s have included the critically acclaimed Time in 2002 and Run That by Me One More Time, a collection of duets with Willie Nelson, in 2003. In 2003, the Academy of Country Music presented the versatile singer with the Pioneer Award. Price's membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame is deserved recognition for a man who has used remarkable resources of talent, will and taste for the betterment of the genre. Well before his recordings evolved from the barroom to the showroom, the versatile Price was making music that borrowed from jazz, blues, pop and rock. His innovative honky-tonk beat, designed for roadhouses located a long way from church, and the often-criticized strings that helped to carry his story songs heavenward, attracted new audiences to country music and have become staples of modern country. His hits helped draw pop stars to the song catalogs represented by Nashville publishers, and his recording career is synonymous with the rise of Nashville as a recording center. Many of those he helped along the way, including his longtime producer Don Law, are now themselves members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Like his voice and his ear for powerful songs, his skill as a bandleader and his will to make music the Ray Noble Price way is undiminished. Price still regards Nashville and its music industry as a key part of his career. He continues to travel here to record, valuing the players who live here and the studios available here. Earlier this year, Price told CMT.com columnist Chet Flippo that he wanted to be remembered as "the best damn singer ever." Ray Price: The Cherokee Cowboy will be another step in that direction. 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. The Ford Division of the Ford Motor Co. is a Founding Partner of the $37 million Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, which opened on May 17, 2001. More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com or by calling (615) 416-2001. JOHN CONLEE NOMINATED FOR COUNTRY WEEKLY'S READERS' CHOICE AWARDS(Nashville, TN) Country music legend John Conlee has been nominated for Country Weekly's Readers' Choice Awards in the category of Favorite Patriotic Song for "They Also Serve." Results of the annual awards, voted by readers, will be unveiled in the December 19th issue of Country Weekly. Conlee, who is a military father, released his first video in twenty years as a tribute to the family and friends of those serving the US in the armed forces. Conlee's son, Johnny, completed Marine boot camp last year. The song portrays a unique look into the lives of the families and friends affected by the current US military action. The message in "They Also Serve" is timeless. CHARLIE DANIELS BAND AND FRIENDS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS(Nashville, TN)--Charlie Daniels and friends Phil Vassar and Lonestar will offer their time and talents to perform at the 9th Annual Christmas For Kids Benefit Concert Monday, November 21st at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN beginning at 7:00 PM. The charity event raises money for the Christmas For Kids organization. Tickets to the event are available by visiting www.christmas4kids.org, and more incredible names will be added to the special evening's lineup as the event approaches. The Christmas For Kids Organization has been in existence for over twenty years providing special children the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season. Each year, the organization brings the spirit of Christmas to hundreds of children throughout Middle Tennessee allowing them to participate in festive activities organized specifically for them. Events such as the Tour Bus Tour raise money and allow folks to visit the home-away-from-homes of more than fifty stars and celebrities at the Hendersonville Wal*Mart from 5:00 9:00PM. The date for the Tour Bus Tour will be announced soon. The money raised at both events, the concert and Tour Bus Tour, is used to escort children from 25 different schools for a day-long excursion. The day consists of a chauffeured trip from their school aboard a country music star's luxury tour bus to a local Wal-Mart where they are accompanied by a volunteer to participate in their own Christmas shopping spree. On the return trip home, the children will participate in a Christmas carol sing-along. All proceeds from the Tour Bus Show and the Charlie Daniels Band & Friends Benefit Concert (sponsored in part by 95.5 The Wolf)—November 21st--will be donated toward the children's Christmas Shopping. Listing Details: Charlie Daniels Band and Friends Charity Concert For the benefit of Christmas for Kids Monday, November 21 / 7:00PM / Ryman Auditorium / Nashville, TN Tickets are available by visiting www.christmas4kids.org, Ticket Master, or by calling (615) 255-9600. Golden circle VIP tickets available October 1st by calling (615) 453-2434 or e-mailing Debbie@christmas4kids.org. CHRIS LEDOUX SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED ON BEHALF OF AFFILIATED FOODS MIDWEST COUNTRY STAMPEDE FESTIVAL(Nashville, TN) The Affiliated Foods Midwest Country Stampede festival held annually in Manhattan, Kansas has awarded its first ever scholarship in honor of the legendary Chris LeDoux to the Casper College Foundation, ear-marked for the rodeo scholarship fund in the amount of $5,000. The donation, matched by the State of Wyoming, will be awarded to one rodeo athlete annually. LeDoux himself attended Casper College on a rodeo scholarship. "Chris holds a special place in our heart. He lived his life with a passion for excellence, yet did it without losing touch with his fans and the people he worked with. We were honored to call him our friend and we will miss him greatly," stated festival President Wayne Rouse. "And we were thrilled to learn that our memorial to Chris will be matched by the State of Wyoming." The festival honored LeDoux in June 2005 with a performance by his son Ned and country singer Dustin Evans. The performance was so inspiring and received huge support in the local community fueling the need for such a scholarship program. The 11th Annual 2006 Affiliated Foods Midwest Country Stamped is expected to draw over 140,000 fans to Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, Kansas next June 22-25, 2006. Tickets go on sale September 1st, 2005 and may be purchased by calling the Stampede office at (785) 539-2222 or (800) 795-8091. For additional information, please visit http://www.countrystampede.com. |
REVIEWS:Bullseye Records "It Was 40 Years Ago Today..." is an amazing tribute CD that is a must have for any true Beatles fan. I don't care if you have every single tune The Beatles ever recorded. If you don't have this release in your collection...your collection isn't complete. This two disc set features 50 songs that cover a wide variety of Beatles material. It's not just the famous tunes that everyone on the planet knows by heart either. You're treated to some lesser known songs as well. I actually started writing a track by track review of this disc. But, it was taking up too much of my time because almost every song on this album is worth listening to. Everybody did a great job taking a classic...or not so classic...song and making it their own. Some of my personal favorites include Alison Solo's rockin' version of "Paperback Writer," Stacey Wheal's beautiful piano version of "Here, There & Everywhere," Andrew Gold's version of "Lady Madonna," which is almost a carbon copy of the original. Two versions of "Eleanor Rigby" are featured here. The First Time provides a rock version while Al Kooper gives it a blues treatment. Not sure if I'm callin' this one right or not. But, Frank Soda's version of "I Feel Fine" comes off like a rockin' country song. The best version of "Helter Skelter" that I ever heard was performed by Motley Crue on the "Shout At The Devil" album. The second best version is featured here, performed by Popdudes. I'd describe The Deal's version of "Eight Days A Week" as punk meets Metallica and Dave Rave's version of "Here Comes The Sun" is just as good as the original. There's a lot of great material on this release that I haven't talked about. The songs I just mentioned, most of which can be found on the first disc, are just the tip of the iceburg. We're probably talking about a two hour listening experience here. On top of that, there's a little bit of information on each song and how it came together. My only complaint is the fact that there's no individual artist information. Any time you feature a collection of material, be it a tribute album or a compilation release, you should always include contact information for the individual artist. I think that's very important. Make a note of it. One other thing I'd like to mention is...I don't know if the disc I have was messed up or if it was meant to be this way, but, The Dexter's version of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," which closes out the first disc, cuts off after 59 seconds. Mistake or not, that wasn't good. Other than that, there's not much else to say. It's a great album and, like I said before, it's a must have for any true Beatles fan. So, if you haven't picked this one up yet, your collection isn't complete. Don't you think you owe it to yourself to complete your collection? Denise Barbarita "Chaos & Congeniality" is Denise Barbarita's follow up to 2002's "Beauty Lied." On this, her 2nd release, she goes deep within her soul to offer up this collection of material. To label her music might seem simple at first. To call her a singer/songwriter would be the easy description because, at the core, that's exactly what she is. I've had the pleasure of seeing her perform a number of times and, sad to say, it's always been in a singer/songwriter setting where it's just her and an acoustic guitar. She has the ability to reach deep down into her soul to offer up a song or two that will reach out and touch her audience. On this release, all one has to do is listen to "Hold On" to understand what I'm talking about. It's a beautiful song and I do enjoy this side of Denise Barbarita. However, there's a little rock 'n' roll in her heart and when she wanders over into that genre, well, it's simply explosive. I haven't been able to see that side of her in a live setting yet and that's a major disappointment for me because I know she can crank out some seriously crankin' tunes. A good example of what I'm talkin' about is the song "Happy Happy," which is a straight up rock 'n' roll song...with an edge. This is, without a doubt, my favorite track on the album. Skip down to track number five and you'll be treated to another rockin' tune, "Hush Hush" and, when you get to the end of the album, you'll hear what's probably her heaviest song to date, "The Last Breakdown." It's heavy in a classic rock sort of way. Great song. I could see drinkin' a beer to this one. At seven minutes in length, I could probably down two of 'em before the song is over. On some of the other tunes, the ones that are more, shall we say...mellow...she has a nice, soothing voice that easily draws you in and holds your attention. I could probably go on forever about how good her music is. I still wouldn't be able to do it justice though. You need to hear her music for yourself in order to really appreciate what she has to offer and, hopefully, you'll give this release a chance. http://www.myshytune.com |
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