News

See the news coverage of the April 20 Induction Ceremony in The Tennessean and the Nashville City Paper.


MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME PRESENTED BY GIBSON GUITAR INDUCTS FOURTH CLASS

Steven Curtis Chapman, Merle Kilgore, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Wariner, Kirk Whalum and Hank Williams Cemented in Nashville's Music Mile

Nashville, Tenn.- Music City, Inc. today inducted the fourth class to the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Steven Curtis Chapman, Merle Kilgore, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Wariner, Kirk Whalum and Hank Williams Sr. The honorees were recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers in the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. The induction ceremony, sponsored by Great American Country (GAC), was free and open to the public.

The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

"It's a pleasure to honor the accomplishments of this talented class of inductees," said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Each honoree represents the immense talent, creativity and diverse musical styles that have made Nashville, Music City."

Created in the fall of 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame, on Nashville's Music Mile, is a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration. With the induction of this new class of honorees, there will be 24 total stars along the Walk of Fame. A new brochure promoting the Walk of Fame is now available in Visitors Centers, hotels and venues across the city.

Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree's name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, were installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile. The plaques for this class of inductees were inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

Nominations were open to the public and accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.

"The Music City Walk of Fame continues to celebrate the enormous talent which has originated from Nashville over the years," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "It continues to be an honor to be involved with the Walk of Fame program as it continues to grow and recognize the rich tradition and heritage that only Nashville can claim as its own."

The April inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame:

Steven Curtis Chapman
In his iconic musical career, Chapman has won five GRAMMY Awards, most recently in 2005 for his release All Things New. Chapman has sold over 10 million records including two RIAA certified platinum albums and seven RIAA certified gold albums. Along with his Dove and GRAMMY awards, Chapman has won an American Music Award, has recorded 44 No. 1 US radio hits as well as receiving numerous other honors. Chapman has also been awarded 51 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, Chapman has recorded sixteen projects with Sparrow Records. He has performed at the White House and has appeared on: CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CMT, FOX News, Hallmark, E! as well as the CBS Sunday Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, among many others.

On a personal note, in a response to the miracle they saw in their own family through adoption and with a desire to help eliminate the obstacle of finances for families they knew, Chapman and his family established the Shaohannah's Hope ministry in 2000. In 2002, as opportunities to financially assist families ready to adopt far outpaced the Chapman's personal abilities to fund, the ministry began accepting donations to raise further financial grants for willing families. In 2003, Shaohannah's Hope became an official 501c3 non-profit organization. Arriving at a milestone in October 2006, Shaohannah's Hope announced the 1,000th grant awarded. To date, they have impacted over 1600 families with grants and receive approximately 125 adoption assistance applications a month, and with current funding capacity awards 30-40 grants each month with an average amount of $3,000.

Chapman has become a voice for this cause, with fans, and strangers, and has mobilized hundreds of donors giving to the foundation, with a great need for thousands more. His message has impacted others, and a web of influence has been created through the ministry. For more information, please visit www.showhope.org.

Merle Kilgore
Merle Kilgore's illustrious career involved every facet of show business, beginning at age 14 with his first gig carrying Hank Williams Sr.'s guitar at the Louisiana Hayride. He entered professional show business at age 18 as a disc jockey and penned his first million-selling song at age 22. Named one of Billboard magazine's Top 10 songwriters, Kilgore wrote hit after hit, including "Wolverton Mountain," "Ring of Fire" which he co-wrote with June Carter-Cash, "Johnny Reb," and "More and More."

As a performer, Kilgore released multiple Top 10 records including his self-penned "Dear Mama" and "Love Has Made You Beautiful." Kilgore's acting career featured him in box office hits Coal Miners Daughter, Robert Altman's Nashville and Roadie. Kilgore also had the rare opportunity to portray himself in NBC-Telecom's Living Proof, the life story of Hank Williams, Jr.

Kilgore began his management career at Shapiro-Bernstein Music in 1962 and in 1969 became the general manager of Hank Williams Jr.'s music publishing companies. He continued his affiliation with Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises for more than 30 years, serving as Williams personal manager for the last 16 years.

Kilgore served as Vice President of the Country Music Association and as a member of its Board of Directors. He also served as president of both the Nashville Songwriter's Association International and the Nashville Songwriter's Foundation. Kilgore was voted by his peers CMA's first Manager of the Year in 1990 and in 1998 he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band formed in Southern California during the spring of 1966 as a scruffy, young jug-band. Forty-two years later, the quartet (Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden, Bob Carpenter and John McEuen) is still going strong.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's self-titled debut album, released in 1967, included the pop hit "Buy For Me The Rain." But it was their 5th record, 1970's Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy, that would become band's breakthrough project, yielding 3 pop hits including their version of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles." Among the many outstanding tracks on Uncle Charlie was a version of Earl Scruggs' "Randy Lynn Rag." That cut set into motion what would become the Will the Circle be Unbroken album, a veritable summit of talent which included NDGB's heroes: Scruggs, Doc Watson, Merel Travis, Roy Acuff and Mother Maybelle Carter. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Circle... album, a three-LP set, recorded live in the studio in Nashville over six days in 1971, became a landmark event and a multi-platinum success. Circle remains such a significant effort that 30 years later it was one of 50 recordings to be honored and preserved by the Library of Congress.

In the early 80s, after a few more pop hits, the band returned to Nashville once again and began what would become a highly successful career in mainstream country music. Hits that included "Dance Little Jean," "Workin' Man", "Long Hard Road", "Baby's Got A Hold On Me" and "Fishin' in the Dark" put them at the top of the country charts for over a decade. In 1989, the group revisited the Circle concept, gathering another impressive roster of performers (including Johnny Cash, EmmyLou Harris, Levon Helm, Chet Atkins, Bruce Hornsby, John Hiatt and Roseanne Cash) for sessions that had a pronounced country-gospel feel. Circle II would go on to win three Grammy Awards and the Country Music Association Album of the Year. In 2002 Circle III (with many current artists added to the previous cast) received similar accolades and attention, garnering the International Bluegrass Music Association Recorded Event of the Year award as well as leading to a 2005 Grammy for Country Instrumental Performance (with Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Jerry Douglas and the late Vassar Clements). With a career that spans five decades, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has gone from a hippie jug-band to pioneers of country rock, and their influence is still being felt today.

Steve Wariner
Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and Grand Ole Opry member Steve Wariner has made indelible contributions to the world of country music, starting when he joined Dottie West's band as her bass player at the tender age of 17.

Seven years later, in 1980, after working for Bob Luman and his musical hero, Chet Atkins, Wariner scored his first top-10 hit, "Your Memory," on RCA Records. Over 30 additional top-10 singles would follow, including 14 #1's—songs like "The Weekend," "Small Town Girl," "Some Fools Never Learn," "Tips of My Fingers" and "Where Did I Go Wrong."

Wariner has also written many hit songs recorded by others, including Garth Brooks' "Longneck Bottle" and "You Can't Help Who You Love," Keith Urban's "Where the Blacktop Ends," Clint Black's "Nothin' But The Taillights" and "Been There," and Bryan White's "One Small Miracle." His formidable songwriting skills have earned him 16 BMI Country Awards and 10 BMI Million-Air Awards (for songs receiving over one million on-air plays).

In addition to his songwriting awards, Wariner has won two Grammy Awards - in 1992 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration and in 2000 for Best Country Instrumental. He won the Country Music Association's Single and Song of the Year awards in 1998 for his #1 hit, "Holes in the Floor of Heaven," which was also the Academy of Country Music's Song of the Year in 1999. Wariner has three gold albums to his credit - I Am Ready (Arista), Burnin' the Roadhouse Down and Two Teardrops (Capitol). He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1996. In 2002 he started his own label, SelecTone Records, for which he has released three albums - Steal Another Day, Guitar Christmas and This Real Life.

Known for his humanitarian efforts, Wariner has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, earning the 2006 JDRF Angel Award from the Los Angeles Chapter, and the 2004 JDRF Mike Coleman Award from the Knoxville Chapter. He was also the recipient of the 2002 Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award.

Kirk Whalum
From his beginnings in Memphis, where he played in his father's church choir, Kirk Whalum drew inspiration from the rich musical traditions of that city, including gospel, R&B, blues, and eventually jazz. He received a scholarship to attend music school where he formed a band in 1979. Whalum opened for Bob James in 1984 and impressed him so much that he invited Whalum to play on his album 12. The following year, Whalum signed with Columbia and released his first solo album.

The early '90s brought two more Columbia albums, each of which brought Whalum increasing commercial attention. A duet with James titled "Joined at the Hip" took Whalum's career to a new level with his first Grammy nomination. In 1997, Warner Brothers released Colors and the following year, Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter 1. The '90s also brought Whalum an amazingly diverse series of session and touring jobs, working with artists like Whitney Houston, Babyface, Yolanda Adams, Take 6, Bebe & Cece Winans, Barbra Streisand, Edwin Hawkins, Quincy Jones, Kevin Mahogany, Al Green and Luther Vandross. He worked on a number of film scores, including those for The Prince of Tides, Boyz in the Hood, Grand Canyon, and Cousins. Whitney Houston's hit song "I Will Always Love You," which appeared on the hit movie soundtrack The Bodyguard featured a sax solo by Whalum. And, his 1998 release, For You, spent nearly two years at the top of the Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart and yielded four Top Ten NAC hits.

In 2000, Whalum released a self-produced album, Hymns in the Garden, which earned him a second Grammy nomination. Since 2001, Whalum has released four studio albums, including his second volume of gospel songs The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter 2 and Kirk Whalum Performs the Babyface Songbook released on Rendezvous Music in 2005. Kirk's current release, ROUNDTRIP garnered him his eighth Grammy nomination in 2008. He is currently putting the finishing touches on CHAPTER III of the GOSPEL ACCORDING to JAZZ series. Since 2005, Whalum has hosted Music City's Labor Day jazz festival. He's also served as an ambassador for Music City, telling the world of the city's rich musical heritage and diverse music offerings.

Hank Williams
Hank Williams's legend has long overtaken the rather frail and troubled man who spawned it. Almost singlehandedly, Williams set the agenda for contemporary country songcraft, but his appeal rests as much in the myth that even now surrounds his short life. His is the standard by which success is measured in country music on every level.

Born in rural southern Alabama, Hank formed the first of his Drifting Cowboys bands in 1938 and the second, more successful, following the war. He quickly became the biggest hillbilly music star in Montgomery. In 1946, Hank signed with the famed Acuff-Rose publishing company and landed a recording contract with MGM the next year. His first MGM release, "Move It on Over," was a hit in the fall of 1947.

In 1948, Hank moved to Shreveport, La. to appear on a new radio jamboree, the Louisiana Hayride. In Shreveport, Hank began performing "Lovesick Blues," a show tune that dated back to 1922. It reached #1 in May 1949, and stayed there 16 weeks. The success of "Lovesick Blues" and its follow-up, "Wedding Bells," convinced the Grand Ole Opry that Hank should be hired. Hank moved to Nashville in June 1949 and swiftly became one of the biggest stars in country music. Increasingly, he decided to perform his own songs, and, after the success of his own "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" in the spring of 1950, virtually all of his hits were his own compositions.

He was one of the most successful touring acts in country music. Every one of his records charted. His songs began finding a wider market than his own recordings of them ever could. Starting with "Honky Tonkin'" in 1949, his songs had been covered for the pop market, but it was not until Tony Bennett covered "Cold, Cold Heart" in 1951 that he began to be recognized as an important popular songwriter.

In six short years, Hank Williams lodged almost 40 chart hits, including the country chart toppers "Lovesick Blues," "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," "Why Don't You Love Me," "Moanin' the Blues," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya" and "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." Williams was the first artist elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, a tribute indicative of his impact.

About the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVB's website at www.visitmusiccity.com.

About Gibson Guitar
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson's HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Gibson Baldwin Music Education, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's website at www.gibson.com or www.gibson.com/press.

About Great American Country
Great American Country is America's main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence. In addition to country music videos, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 44 million households and online at www.GACTV.com.

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MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME PRESENTED BY GIBSON GUITAR ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES

Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero, Vince Gill, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Killen, and Barbara Mandrell
to be Honored November 5 on Nashville's Music Mile

Nashville, Tenn. - October 11, 2007 - Music City, Inc. today announced the third class of inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero, Vince Gill, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Killen and Barbara Mandrell. The six honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Monday, Nov. 5, beginning at 3 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. The induction ceremony, which is sponsored by Great American Country (GAC), is free and open to the public.

The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

"This class of inductees showcases the immense talent, creativity and diverse musical styles that make Nashville, Music City," said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Each honoree has left an indelible mark on our city's musical heritage and music worldwide. It is a privilege to pay tribute to their great success."

Created in the fall of 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame, on Nashville's Music Mile, will be a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration. With the induction of this new class of honorees, there will be 18 total stars along the Walk of Fame. A new brochure promoting the Walk of Fame is now available in Visitors Centers, hotels and venues across the city.

Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree's name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile, the roughly one-mile stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th Avenue South to the Buddy Killen Circle at 16th Avenue South. The plaques for this class of inductees will be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

Nominations were open to the public and accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame selection committee.

"This outstanding third panel of inductees showcases enormous talent which has its roots in our great city, Nashville," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "We are honored to sponsor the Music City Walk of Fame and look forward to celebrating Nashville's rich musical heritage for many years to come."

The November 5th inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame:

Rodney Crowell
Although many of his songs became hits for other singers, Rodney Crowell was the first to record nearly all of them. His highly influential records have spawned dozens of classic country songs.

The Houston, Texas native became a musician in his father's band at the young age of eleven. He made the move to Nashville in August of 1972 with his college roommate and in 1977, Crowell formed his own group, The Cherry Bombs which included music greats Vince Gill and Tony Brown. In 1978 he released his first album.

A Grammy Award winner, ASCAP Lifetime Achievement award recipient and member of the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame, Rodney Crowell has left an indelible mark on Nashville's music scene. He began his professional career as a musician playing guitar for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band." As a songwriter he has penned hits for Tim McGraw, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yokam, Keith Urban, Patty Loveless, Crystal Gayle, Lee Ann Womak, Waylon Jennings, Bob Seger and the Oak Ridge Boys, just to name a few. As a producer, Crowell produced the first five studio albums for Rosanne Cash and has produced other artists such as Guy Clark, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Chely Wright and others. As an artist he has recorded 11 solo records and garnered eight Top 10 singles, five of which were No. 1 songs all from his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt.

Bob DiPiero
For the past 20 years Bob DiPiero has helped define the best that is Music Row. He has been a musical ambassador and bridge-builder having written with legendary performers of all genres including Neil Diamond, Carole King, Johnny Van Zant and Delbert McClinton, among many others.

DiPiero's list of songs cuts a varied and impressive swath through modern country and speaks volumes about his versatility. Although his first cut, Reba McEntire's "I Can See Forever In Your Eyes," climbed into the country top 20, The Oak Ridge Boys' "American Made" put his name on the music map. Not only did the song win numerous awards, but it was also used in major ad campaigns for Miller beer and the Baby Ruth candy bar. Through the years he has crafted 14 No. 1 hits recorded by country giants including Vince Gill, Faith Hill, George Strait, Montgomery Gentry, Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt, Martina McBride and others.

He has received three dozen BMI Country and Million-.Air honors; CMA's Triple Play Award in 1995 and 1996. "Song of the Year" for "Worlds Apart" at the Country Radio Music awards in 1997 and Songwriter of the Year awards in 1998 at the Nashville music Awards and in 2000 from Sony/ATV Nashville. He is also a recent inductee to the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame.

Vince Gill
Born in Norman, Okla., Vince Gill enjoyed acclaim in the bluegrass and pop worlds before actively pursuing a career in mainstream country during the '80s.

In 1975 Gill joined the Bluegrass Alliance and moved to Kentucky. His brief stint there also allowed him to play in Ricky Skaggs' bluegrass band, Boone Creek. In 1976, Gill moved to Los Angeles where he eventually became the lead singer in the country-rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979. After a few years he returned to sideman work in the Cherry Bombs, backing Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash. During their tenure in the Cherry Bombs, Gill and keyboardist Tony Brown began a friendship that led to Gill being signed to both the RCA and MCA labels.

A move to Nashville in 1984 coincided with Gill's recording contract after Brown, an RCA executive, signed him to the label. Gill's output at RCA resulted in three Top 10 singles. However, Gill's early singles didn't propel him to immediate stardom.

After leaving the RCA roster, Gill moved to MCA, where Brown was then a producer and label executive. His 1989 debut album for MCA, When I Call Your Name, sold 1 million copies and his breakthrough at radio came with the title track. It went on to win single of the year honors at the CMA Awards. Gill's subsequent albums in the '90s were huge hits providing a string of No. 1 singles including "I Still Believe in You," "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away," "The Heart Won't Lie," "One More Last Chance" and "Tryin' to Get Over You."

Gill has sold more than 22 million albums. He has earned 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1993 and 1994. He is tied with George Strait for having won the most CMA Male Vocalist Awards (five), and is currently second only to Brooks and Dunn for accumulating the most CMA Awards in history. Gill is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and has received 18 Grammy Awards to date, the most of any male Country artist. Besides being known for his talent as a performer, musician and songwriter, Gill is regarded as one of country music's best known humanitarians, participating in hundreds of charitable events throughout his career.

Last month The Country Music Association announced that Gill will become one the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame.

Jimi Hendrix
Perhaps no other rock-and-roll artist has been as original or as influential in such a short span of time as Jimi Hendrix, and Nashville was where he spent important formative years.

Hendrix moved to Nashville in 1962 after completing military service at nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was in Music City that he honed his stage craft and began performing professionally on a regular basis. Hendrix and army friend Billy Cox formed the band The King Kasuals which served as the house band at the Club Del Morocco on Nashville's Jefferson Street. During his time in the city he was mentored by local R&B guitarists such as Johnny Jones and George Yates and also made his first-ever television appearance in 1965 on Night Train, produced at WLAC-TV in Nashville.

In addition to clubs on Jefferson Street, Hendrix and Cox were also regular players in Printers Alley, located in the heart of downtown Nashville. For three years, he made a living on the Chitlin Circuit, performing in black-oriented venues throughout the South with both the King Kasuals and in backing bands for various soul, R&B and blues musicians.

Hendrix left Nashville and headed for New York City and eventually moved onto London. After initial success in England he achieved worldwide fame following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival.

In 1992 Hendrix was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated in 1994. In 2006, his debut album, Are You Experienced, was inducted into the United States National Recording Preservation Board's National Recording Registry. Rolling Stone named Hendrix No. 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time in 2003.

Buddy Killen
One of the music industries most diversified and enduring founders, Buddy Killen has literally left his fingerprints on every facet of the business - creatively touching its entire spectrum while making his mark as a musician, song-plugger, songwriter, publisher and record producer.

Killen began his career by playing bass for two comedians which soon led to road show tours with such artists as Hank Williams, Sr., Jim Reeves, Ray Price and Eddy Arnold among others. After Opry manager Jack Stapp took notice of Killen's work ethic he offered him a job pitching songs for a new publishing company called Tree. In the beginning, neither of them knew what a music publishing company was all about, but by the time they had their first international hit, "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis, they had turned the corner to solid gold success. Killen's keen eye for talent brought such songwriters to the Tree family as Bill Anderson, Roger Miller, Harlan Howard, Bobby Braddock, Dolly Parton and countless others.

In 1959 the Tree family of writers were doing so well that one week they owned 7 out of the Top 10 hits on the country charts. In 1964 the company had its first million dollar year. Eleven successful years later Killen was named President. In 1980, when Stapp passed away, Killen purchased sole ownership of Tree and continued to nurture its growth as Chief Executive Officer, until 1989 when he sold the company to CBS (now Sony/ATV) and began building what has become the Killen Music Group.

Today, the Killen Music Group (KMG) publishes music recorded by the multi-platinum sensation OutKast, as well as songs recorded by many country artists including Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Patty Loveless, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Rascal Flatts, as well as many gospel artists.

Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell is a true star in the very best sense of the word. Born on Christmas Day in 1948, Barbara learned to read music before she could read words. Over the years, she added steel guitar, alto saxophone, bass, banjo, mandolin, and Dobro to her arsenal of instruments. At age 11, her father took her to a music trade show in Chicago where she performed and caught the attention of legendary country guitarist, "Uncle" Joe Maphis and became a regular cast member on the "Town Hall Party" TV show in California. At age 13, her first touring dates were with The Johnny Cash Show, which included Cash, Patsy Cline, George Jones and June Carter. Mandrell signed with CBS Records in 1969, debuting with Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long," and unveiling her trademark blue-eyed soul style that was an instant hit with radio stations. In 1972 she fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Her first No. 1 hit, "Midnight Oil," came in 1973.

Barbara's music career, spanning nearly four decades, earned her over 75 major awards, including two consecutive CMA Entertainer of the Year awards (1980 & 1981, making her the first artist ever to win two years in a row), CMA Female Vocalist of the Year (1979 and 1981), ACM Top Female Country Music Vocalist (1980 and 1986), NARAS Grammy Award for the Best Inspirational Performance (1983), Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance (1984), Dove Award for Gospel Album of the Year (1983) and nine People's Choice Awards (1983-1987).

She is one of only six artists to have received the "Triple Crown" by winning all three of the most coveted awards, Top New Female, Top Female and Entertainer of the Year. Her NBC variety show, "Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters" drew nearly 40 million viewers weekly and introduced a nation to country music. Her autobiography, "Get to the Heart: My Story" debuted on The New York Times Best Sellers list and remained there for six months. In the year 2000, the Academy of Country Music honored Barbara with their most prestigious award, The Pioneer Award. Her illustrious career was nothing short of stellar and is still making an impact on country music today.

Last year, country music greats Randy Owen of Alabama, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson, Shelby Lynne, Dierks Bentley, Terri Clark, LeAnn Rimes, Blaine Larsen, and CeCe Winans came together to honor Barbara with the BNA album, "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell." GAC also aired several specials surrounding the album release, further bringing attention to the remarkable career of this living legend.


About the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVB's website at www.visitmusiccity.com.

About Gibson Guitar
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson's HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Gibson Baldwin Music Education, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's website at www.gibson.com or www.gibson.com/press

About Great American Country
Great American Country is America's main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence. In addition to country music videos, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 44 million households and online at www.GACTV.com.




MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME PRESENTED BY GIBSON GUITAR
ANNOUNCES SECOND CLASS OF INDUCTEES

The Crickets, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Wynonna Judd, Frances Preston and Michael W. Smith
to be Honored April 22 on Nashville's Music Mile

Nashville, Tenn. - March 27, 2007 - Music City, Inc. announced today the names of the second class of inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: The Crickets, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Wynonna Judd, Frances Preston and Michael W. Smith. The six honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, April 22, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. The public is invited to attend the induction ceremony, which is sponsored by Great American Country (GAC).

The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar, sponsor GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

"This class of inductees continues to showcase the diversity of the music that thrives in this city," said Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Each honoree has left an indelible mark on music worldwide and on our city's musical heritage. We're privileged to pay homage to their great success."

The April 22nd inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame are:

The Crickets
In a career that has spanned nearly five decades, and with millions of records sold, The Crickets are unquestionably "The American Rock and Roll Band." The group was formed in 1957 in Lubbock, Texas by Buddy Holly, J. I. Allison, Niki Sullivan and Joe B. Mauldin. After Sullivan and Holly left the group, Sonny Curtis joined to form the ever-popular trio. Their hits "That'll Be The Day," "Peggy Sue," "Maybe Baby" and "I Fought The Law" are rock classics considered by many to be primary lessons in how rock music should be written and played. In the mid '70s, the three moved to Tennessee where they continued their long association with Waylon Jennings and began touring and recording with him. Their latest release, The Crickets and Their Buddies, was partly recorded in Nashville and features Eric Clapton, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings and John Prine, to name a few. This induction is a fitting tribute to a band who literally defined rock and roll music, and who today, after 50 years, continues to set the standard of excellence by which it should be judged.

Emmylou Harris
Twelve-time Grammy Award winner and Billboard Century Award recipient, Emmylou Harris has been admired since her major label debut in 1975 with "Pieces of the Sky" for her talent as a musician and singer. But it was with her 2000 album, "Red Dirt Girl," that she revealed her gift for songwriting. Continuing the trend with her September 2003 album, "Stumble Into Grace," Emmylou wrote ten of the album's eleven tracks. Though Emmylou is the most admired and influential woman in contemporary country music, her scope extends far beyond it. She has recorded with such diverse artists as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Ryan Adams, Beck, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Tammy Wynette, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Roy Orbison, The Band, Willie Nelson and George Jones. With her crystalline voice and her restless creative spirit, Emmylou has been a part of many musical genres over the years, from bluegrass and traditional folk to contemporary folk and rock. Fittingly, Billboard magazine called Harris a "truly venturesome, genre-transcending pathfinder," A longtime social activist, Harris has lent her voice to many causes. She is active in cultural preservation issues, notably the Country Music Foundation and the Grand Ole Opry. As an animal rights activist, a dog foster mother running a rescue facility (Bonaparte's Retreat) and the owner of several dogs and cats, Emmylou also supports her local humane shelters, the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Association and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Since 1997 she has been the most visible spokesperson for the Concerts for a Landmine Free World, drawing public attention and notable musical artists to the cause.

John Hiatt
John Hiatt wrote his first top-40 hit, "Sure As I'm Sitting Here," while working as a songwriter for Tree-Music Publishing in Nashville. The song was covered by Three Dog Night, and in 1974 the band took the song to No. 16 on the Billboard chart. Since then, Hiatt's songs have been recorded by a number of artists including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet and Roseanne Cash, to name a few. Hiatt has released 18 studio albums and two live albums, and he has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards. His 1987 hit "Have a Little Faith in Me" brought him national attention and was covered by several artists, with the most notable versions being recorded by Jewel, Mandy Moore and Joe Cocker. Hiatt has written and recorded duets with respected vocalists like Bonnie Raitt ("Thing Called Love"), Emmylou Harris ("Icy Blue Heart"), Roseanne Cash ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Suzy Boggus ("Drive South") and B.B. King & Eric Clapton ("Riding with the King"). A musician's musician, Hiatt has proven to everyone that he has what it takes to be an all-around great singer/songwriter.

Wynonna Judd
As a child, Wynonna has said that her primary source of entertainment was listening to country music on the radio; so it naturally followed that after receiving a guitar as a gift, she began playing and singing harmonies with her mom, Naomi. In 1979, the family moved to Nashville to try their luck in the music business, and in 1983, Naomi and Wynonna landed a contract with RCA. The rest, as they say, is history. Within just six short years, the Judds sold more than 20 million records worldwide. They also won over 60 industry awards including five Grammys, nine Country Music Association Awards and eight Billboard Music Awards. In 1992, Wynonna signed her first solo record deal, and with classics like "Mama He's Crazy," "I Know Where I'm Going," "No One Else on Earth" and "Grandpa," she has gone on to enjoy 20 No. 1 hits throughout her career. A world-renowned singer and entertainer, Wynonna has been awarded Top Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music, and as a solo artist, has accumulated sales totals in excess of 10 million units.

Frances W. Preston
Frances W. Preston has come a long way since her position as receptionist at WSM radio station, which she left in 1958 to open a southern regional office of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) in Nashville. There Preston issued performing rights licenses for songwriters and music publishers, and she quickly led BMI to a position of preeminence in the south. In 1964, the year the BMI building opened on Music Row, Preston became a Vice President. Quickly moving up the ranks, she served as President and CEO of BMI from 1986 to 2004, during which time the company's revenue more than tripled to over $673 million. Under her leadership, BMI enjoyed a consistent record of increasing revenues and royalty distributions to its more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. She has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the NARAS Heroes Award from the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy, the President's Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the President's Award from the National Music Publishers' Association, and the City of Hope "Spirit of Life" Award. She has twice received a Humanitarian Award from the International Achievement in Arts Awards in New York.

Michael W. Smith
Starting out as a songwriter and keyboard player for Amy Grant, Smith has since enjoyed 31 No. 1 hits, three Grammys, an American Music Award, five platinum records, 16 gold records and 40 GMA Dove Awards. With record sales numbering more than 15 million throughout his career, Smith is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In 2006, he received an official White House appointment to serve as Vice Chair to the President's Council for Service and Civic Participation. Smith believes in affecting culture by getting involved and giving of yourself. He serves through his church New River Fellowship in Franklin, TN, and through the work of Rocketown, a teen club, coffee house and skate park which he founded in downtown Nashville whose mission is to foster vital relationships between disenfranchised adolescents and Christian mentors. He recently released his 19th studio album for Reunion Records titled Stand.

Created in the fall of 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame on Nashville's Music Mile will be a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.

Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree's name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile, the roughly one-mile stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th Avenue South to the Music Row Roundabout at 16th Avenue South. The plaques for this class of inductees will be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

Nominations, open to the public, were accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame selection committee, who chose the final six.

"The outstanding second panel of inductees showcases the enormous talent which has its roots in Nashville, the world's true Music City," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "Gibson Guitar is honored to sponsor the Music City Walk of Fame, an extraordinary project which will give tourists and residents another reason to celebrate Nashville's rich musical heritage for many years to come."

About the Music City Walk of Fame
The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau's 501(c)(3) foundation; Sandra Fulton, chair. The Music City Walk of Fame is produced with the support of Gibson Guitar, Great American Country, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

Nomination forms are currently being accepted for future honorees, with the next induction ceremony set for November 2007. For more information, including submission guidelines and forms, please go to www.visitmusiccity.com/walkoffame.

About the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVB's website at www.visitmusiccity.com.

About Gibson Guitar
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson's HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steingberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Baldwin, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's website at www.gibson.com.

About Great American Country
Great American Country is America's main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence. In addition to country music videos, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 44 million households and online at www.GACTV.com.

# # #

The Promise of Nashville, where the music is inspired, created, recorded and performed, is to provide the ultimate musical entertainment experience, celebrated throughout our diverse cultural and entertainment offerings, and presented in an authentic, unique, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere.

 

MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME PRESENTED BY GIBSON GUITAR
ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL INDUCTEES

Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Roy Orbison,
Songwriters Boudleaux & Felice Bryant
and Maestro Kenneth D. Schermerhorn
To Be Honored November 5 on Nashville’s Music Mile

Nashville, Tenn. – October 16, 2006 – Music City, Inc. announced today the names of the inaugural inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame presented by (founding sponsor) Gibson Guitar: Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap and the Fisk Jubilee Singers with posthumous recipients the songwriters Boudleaux & Felice Bryant, Roy Orbison and Maestro Kenneth D. Schermerhorn. The six honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, November 5, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. The public is invited to attend the induction ceremony, which is sponsored by Great American Country (GAC).

The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc, the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar, sponsor GAC, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

“This debut class of inductees powerfully illustrates the diversity of the music that calls Music City home,” said Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Each honoree wields a unique influence through achievements that have ultimately entertained and inspired audiences all over the world. We’re privileged to acknowledge these creators and celebrate their legacies.”

The 2006 inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame are:

Reba McEntire – The leading lady of country music for over 20 years has fashioned a career that is the picture of longevity and consistency. Her stellar recording efforts have included 33 #1 songs, 30 albums with sales of 50 million, countless shows and performances and a slew of awards, including multiple honors from the American Music Awards, the Grammys and the Country Music Association (among them CMA Entertainer of the Year). While her catalog is filled with songs that incorporate classic country attitudes and emotions, she is unmatched in her selection of socially conscious material. Reba McEntire is also highly regarded as an actress, enjoying acclaim for performances on Broadway and in her self-titled WB sitcom, plus feature films, videos and network television specials.
Ronnie Milsap – The pre-eminent country soul singer of his generation, he provided country music with one of its most important voices as the genre was moving beyond its rural roots into the mainstream of modern entertainment. Even as he mastered classical piano as a young boy, his heart belonged to hardcore country and rhythm-and-blues. Eventually, he forged his myriad of influences into a cosmopolitan style of country music that helped revolutionize Nashville. His track record speaks loud and clear: 40 # 1 singles, over 25 million records sold, seven Grammy Awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards, and eight Country Music Association Awards. Together, they underscore Ronnie Milsap’s position as one of the best-loved and most enduring artists in country music history.
Boudleaux & Felice Bryant – This husband and wife are generally considered the first writers to move to Nashville to make their living solely as songwriters, relocating in 1950. The diversity and quantity of the Bryants’ catalog is staggering, with 800 unique songs recorded by thousands of artists. They wrote some of the most enduring songs of the 1950s and 1960s, including many of the Everly Brothers’ biggest hits (“Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream” and “Love Hurts”) as well as the Tennessee anthem “Rocky Top.” Among their many honors are membership in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Boudleaux Bryant died in 1987, Felice Bryant in 2003.
Fisk Jubilee Singers – Since their founding in 1871, the young men and women of this a capella ensemble – students of Fisk University in Nashville – have served as cultural ambassadors, transcending time and race through their stirring performances. The nine original Jubilee Singers introduced ‘slave songs’ to the world via landmark tours in the US and abroad, and were instrumental in preserving this unique American musical tradition known today as Negro spirituals, songs that became cornerstones of the next century’s music. Presenting a new public image for African-American music, they broke racial barriers in the late 19th century as they entertained American presidents and European royalty. The Fisk Jubilee Singers, currently numbering 20 members, are celebrating their 135 th anniversary this year.
Roy Orbison – A founding father of rock and roll, he became one of the most distinctive voices in popular music with his four-octave range and lyrically sophisticated, rhythmically advanced songs. One of the original Sun Records artists alongside Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, he moved to Nashville in 1960 and signed with Monument Records. Over four decades he created the soundtrack for millions of lives with songs like "Only The Lonely,” "Running Scared,” "Crying" "Oh Pretty Woman,” "Handle With Care" and "You Got It.” He enjoyed incredible success all over the world: tour mates included Patsy Cline and the Beach Boys, among others, as well as opening acts the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In tribute to his wide-ranging influence are multiple Grammy Awards and memberships in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. When Roy Orbison died in 1988, he had two albums in the top 5, one with the Traveling Wilburys and a solo effort.

Maestro Kenneth D. Schermerhorn – The Nashville Symphony’s music director and conductor led the orchestra to national and international prominence during a remarkable 22-year tenure. A professional musician by the age of 14, he studied with, and served as assistant to, Leonard Bernstein, leading to positions with orchestras and performance companies around the world. Maestro Schermerhorn joined the Nashville Symphony in 1983; under his leadership, the Symphony recorded Grammy-nominated CDs that broke international sales records and undertook its first East Coast tour, which culminated in a stunning debut at Carnegie Hall in 2000. The NSO recently dedicated the world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center in his honor. Maestro Schermerhorn died in 2005.

Created earlier this year, the Music City Walk of Fame on Nashville’s Music Mile will be a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.

Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree’s name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile, the roughly one-mile stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th Avenue South to the Music Row Roundabout at 16th Avenue South. The first plaques will be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

Nominations, open to the public, were accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame selection committee, who chose the final six.

“The outstanding display of talent with these inaugural inductees is a perfect example of why Nashville is known as Music City,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “Gibson Guitar is proud to sponsor the Music City Walk of Fame and hope that everyone who visits Nashville has a chance to experience the great history and tradition it will exemplify for many years to come.”

About the Music City Walk of Fame
The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s 501(c)(3) foundation; Sandra Fulton, chair. The Music City Walk of Fame is produced with the support of Gibson Guitar, Great American Country, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

Nomination forms are currently being accepted for future honorees, with the next induction ceremony set for April 2007. For more information, including submission guidelines and forms, please go to www.visitmusiccity.com/walkoffame.

About the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVB’s website at www.visitmusiccity.com.

About Gibson Guitar
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steingberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Baldwin, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com.

About Great American Country
Great American Country is America’s main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence. In addition to country music videos, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 44 million households and online at www.GACTV.com.

# # #

The Promise of Nashville, where the music is inspired, created, recorded and performed, is to provide the ultimate musical entertainment experience, celebrated throughout our diverse cultural and entertainment offerings, and presented in an authentic, unique, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere.

————————————————————————————————————————————————


Photo L-R

Butch Spyridon (Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau ), Pam Tillis, Sam Bush, Henry Juszkiewicz (Chairman and CEO, Gibson Guitar), Earl Scruggs, Mayor Bill Purcell, Megan Mullins, Steve Cropper, Sandra Fulton (Music City, Inc) and Gunnar Nelson

Photo Credit: Sandy Campbell
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Nashville Announces Music City Walk of Fame Project Honoring
Musical Heritage of the City
 
Gibson Guitar Named Founding Sponsor of Permanent Induction Project
 
Nashville, Tenn. - August 10, 2006 - The City of Nashville today announced the creation of a Music City Walk of Fame and unveiled the exclusive design for induction plaques. The announcement took place at Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun Street between 4 th and 5 th Avenues South, which will serve the location of the first plaques of the Music City Walk of Fame. The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau Foundation (Music City, Inc). The Music City Walk of Fame is being produced with the support of Gibson Guitar, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

The Music City Walk of Fame will feature permanent sidewalk medallions with each honoree’s name. The inductions will be open to all singers, musicians, songwriters, producers and music industry executives/contributors who have played a significant role in preserving the musical heritage that is Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.
 
Inductees will be announced throughout the year and honored at a special ceremony with the permanent platinum-and-granite, star-and-guitar plaque. The Music City Walk of Fame will begin at Hall of Fame Park and proceed down the newly named Music Mile (from Schermerhorn Symphony Center to Music Row on Demonbreun Street). The first induction announcement is planned for November 2006 which will coincide with CMA Music Week prior to the 40 th Anniversary of the CMA Awards.
 
“The Music City Walk of Fame strongly reinforces the tie between our city and Music Row,” Mayor Bill Purcell said. “The induction ceremony this November will be one of the key events of Celebrate Nashville as we focus on the special role this industry plays in Music City.”
 
The Music City Walk of Fame is the first project of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s newly formed 501 C-3 charitable foundation Music City, Inc. The foundation was established to further the education, research and training for Nashville’s hospitality industry and to produce events and projects in association with the City of Nashville.
 
“This initiative may be one of the most important efforts we have ever undertaken,” said Butch Spyridon, President, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Music City Walk of Fame reinforces the music brand, creates a new attraction, illustrates the diversity of the music in Music City and is the first building block in the development of the Music Mile. All of that collectively makes this project extremely important.”   
 
Music City, Inc. has established an anonymous committee for the Walk of Fame project.
Each inductee of the Music City Walk of Fame must be nominated via the nominations process and then voted on by the committee, made up of various members of the entertainment and music community. The official nomination period will begin August 10 with the announcement and a sponsorship fee of $7,500 is required. The money will be used to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame. Nomination of an individual or group does not guarantee induction. Those nominees not selected the first year will automatically roll over for a second review the following year. If it is not approved in the second year, nominees must be resubmitted.
 
Nomination forms with all guidelines can be found on-line at
www.visitmusiccity.com/walkoffame or picked up in one of the Nashville Visitor Information Centers, located in the arena tower at Fifth Avenue and Broadway, or at the Fourth Avenue and Commerce Street location. Inductions will take place one to three times a year as deemed appropriate by the committee and the Foundation Board.
 
Sponsors supporting a nomination must submit a photo, a bio and the nominee’s qualifications as well as a list of contributions to the community and civic-oriented participation. Applications can be made by anyone, including a fan, as long as the celebrity or his/her management is in agreement with the nomination. If there is no letter of agreement included from the celebrity or his/her representative, the committee will not accept the application. For nominations of deceased individuals there is a two-year waiting period after death. The Committee does not necessarily select posthumous honorees each year.
 
Gibson Guitar, the world’s premiere musical instrument manufacturer headquartered in Nashville, is the presenting sponsor of the Music City Walk of Fame, funding the launch and marketing campaigns.
 
“Gibson Guitar has played an integral role in so many musicians’ lives for over 100 years. It was only fitting that we support such an exciting initiative which will help to preserve the history and tradition of the great music originating from this great city,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO Gibson Guitar. “We hope the many people who visit Nashville every year enjoy seeing their favorite stars represented on the Music City Walk of Fame. Hollywood may have the Hollywood Walk of Fame but ours will be the only one that truly sings.”
 
In addition to the new inductees, all honorees of the Walkway of the Stars from the former Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will be recognized with a commemorative marker on the Music City Walk of Fame.
 
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination.
 
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The Promise of Nashville, where the music is inspired, created, recorded and performed, is to provide the ultimate musical entertainment experience, celebrated throughout our diverse cultural and entertainment offerings, and presented in an authentic, unique, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere.