Strait Moves Up “Twang” Release Date

                            
 
George Strait’s “Living For The Night,” the first single from his upcoming album Twang, hit the Top 15 mark in just three weeks making it one of the fastest rising singles of his career. The song, written by Strait, his son Bubba Strait and legendary songwriter Dean Dillon sits at #15 this week on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. With the debut single racing up the charts, MCA has moved the street date of his 38th album up to August 11th.

From www.americanamusic.org

BUDDY MILLER & JIM LAUDERDALE ARE BACK

BANDLEADER & HOST RETURN FOR 2009 AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS

NASHVILLE, May 14, 2009: Renowned artists Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller will return to helm the 2009 AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS show, scheduled for Thursday, September 17^th at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Lauderdale will host and Miller will lead the house band for the 8^th annual Honors & Awards ceremony, which celebrates winners in six member-voted "best of the year" categories and bestows Lifetime Achievement Awards on several honored guests.

Just five months into 2009, Buddy Miller is already enjoying a fantastic year. At the Grammys on February 8^th, the legendary guitarist performed with award winners Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, having toured with them as part of T-Bone Burnett’s Raising Sand band. Named Artist of the Decade by No Depression magazine and Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Music Association in 2007 and 2008, his new album with wife Julie Miller, Written In Chalk--featuring guests Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin--was released to critical acclaim in March on New West Records.

Multi-faceted performer and A-list songwriter Jim Lauderdale is savoring his role as one of Americana’s most beloved and highly visible artists. Having won a Grammy for his album The Bluegrass Diaries, Lauderdale recently released Could We Get Any Closer? following last  year’s critically acclaimed Honey Songs.  Named Americana’s first Artist of the Year in 2002, Lauderdale enters his seventh year hosting the Americana Honors & Awards.

The list of 2009 nominees will be announced May 20 at a Membership gathering at BMI in Nashville, TN.

From September 16^th-19^th, 2009, the 10^th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, and bring a stellar lineup of musical showcases each evening. Conference registrations currently at the early bird discount rate of $300 for members and $400 for non-members are available at the Americana Music Online Store: With your registration, you have access to all daytime and evening events, priority admission to evening showcases and a ticket to the critically acclaimed Americana Honors and Awards show, presented by the Gibson Foundation.  Individual tickets for Americana Honors & Awards are $55 and are also available at the Americana Store.

click here to register or purchase tickets

The Renaissance Nashville serves as our official hotel. Major sponsors include BMI, First Amendment Center, The Gibson Foundation and SESAC.

About The Americana Music Association: The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre.

For press information, please contact:

National Coverage - MSO: Mitch Schneider, Todd Brodginski and Lyndie Wenner

mschneider@msopr.com 

toddb@msopr.com 

lwenner@msopr.com

Festival and Conference - Jayne Rogovin-The Jayne Gang

jrogovin@bellsouth.net

Tennessee Rep Announces Benefit Concert:

Two-Time Grammy Winner Jim Lauderdale Headlines All-Star Cast Lending Their Voices in Support of Nashville's Premiere Theatre Company

Event Schedule:

Jim Lauderdale and Friends:  A Benefit Concert for Tennessee Rep

Sponsored by GrandVista Music

Hosted by “Doyle and Debbie”

Featuring Adam Hood, Greta Gaines and Special Guest Shelean Newman

Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 PM – 12:00 Midnight

Doors open at 6:00 PM             

Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row, Nashville, TN  37203

Tickets:  Minimum donation of $15 at the door (cash only).  Proceeds benefit Tennessee Repertory Theatre.

Nashville, TN—Nashville area musicians will lend their voices in support of live professional theatre via a benefit concert for Tennessee Repertory Theatre.  “Jim Lauderdale and Friends:  A Benefit Concert for Tennessee Rep” will take place on Wednesday, April 15 at Mercy Lounge in Nashville and is sponsored by Grand Vista Music.  

"I have had some of my most memorable musical moments on stage with the Tennessee Repertory Theatre,” says Paul Carrol Binkley.  “Now, as president of GrandVista, I am thrilled to bring other resources to bear in support of this treasured organization."

Two-time Grammy winner, gifted actor, a brilliant musician Jim Lauderdale headlines the event, which is being promoted by Billy Block.  “Doyle and Debbie” from the iconic tribute to Music City The Doyle and Debbie Show host the evening’s festivities.  A full list of performers and scheduled performance times is as follows:

·         7:00 PM                Shelean Newman

·         8:00 PM                Adam Hood

·         9:00 PM                Jim Lauderdale

·         10:00 PM              Greta Gaines

GrandVista recording artist Shelean Newman, who will make a special appearance, has a long history with Tennessee Rep.

"Tennessee Rep has been a part of my life since I was in high school,” says Newman.  “As a matter of fact, it was a production of The Glass Menagerie that I saw on a field trip that was my official "ah-ha" moment. I had known that I wanted to do musical theatre for a couple of years but hadn't really given straight acting a thought....until I saw that show. I set my sights for, one day, performing on that stage with that company.

“Little did I know then that I would spend roughly twenty years having the extreme privilege of working professionally with Tennessee Rep,” Newman continues.  “It is an institution that has been responsible for bringing together some of the most brilliant, creative minds that have then moved on to create more of the country's finest theatre, art, and music.

In addition to the concert, a silent auction will be held featuring items such as a custom blouse worn by June Carter Cash, cookbooks signed by Barbara Mandrell, and other music industry memorabilia. 

Since 1985, Tennessee Repertory Theatre has been a critically acclaimed regional theatre, creating the highest quality professional productions and by serving as a prime cultural, educational, and economic resource within the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities.  Tennessee Rep produces work that is designed, built, and rehearsed in Nashville by highly skilled actors, designers, directors, and technicians.  A non-profit organization, Tennessee Rep is committed to consistently delivering thought-provoking theatre each year.  For more information on the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, please visit www.tennesseerep.org.

GrandVista believes in the power of music, and that's why the company creates music for all the different seasons of life. The songs are intended for people who make thoughtful decisions about what they listen to and who desire more than just entertainment and the company was founded to create music that will become new standards for the industry --or music with meaning, originality, and staying power. In bringing this to you, we demand the best performances possible. GrandVista Music uses award-winning musicians and producers, state-of-the- art digital recording technology, and experienced recording engineers. The company’s goal is simply to be a brand that you can trust to create music that you will enjoy year after year and says "Make Time for Music" for all.  For more information on GrandVista Music, please visit www.grandvistamusic.com.

#     #     #

Please contact Pat Patrick at pat@tennesseerep.org to schedule interviews related to this event.