From: Robert Everhart
[ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com]
Sent: 02 August 2012 02:55
Subject: RURAL ROOTS MUSIC
COMMISSION 'PICKS' MARY CHANNER PAUL & JAY KELLY OF NEBRASKA FOR
COUNTRY-HARMONY CD OF THE YEAR" AWARD
RURAL ROOTS MUSIC COMMISSION 'PICK'S' MARY CHANNER PAUL AND JAY KELLY OF NEBRASKA FOR BEST COUNTRY-HARMONY "CD OF THE YEAR" AWARD
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Prepared by Bob Phillips, Public Relations Director, National Traditional Country Music Association, Inc.
P O 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020 - 712-762-4363 - ruralcountrymusic_at_gmail_dot_com
CONTACTS FOLLOW STORY - PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE FROM STORY SUBJECT
LeMars, Iowa....."When the 'Rural Roots Music Commission' was organized in 1980, we had no idea we would be able to expand the purpose, or the interest, into such a large arena of music appreciation." Bob Everhart is President of the National Traditional Country Music Association. "We started what might be called our 'music protection' society in 1975, which eventually became the NTCMA. We quickly realized that the very slow process of placing recognition and honor on those that have made a lasting impression on country music, was leaving a huge amount of worthwhile contributors without recognition. That was the beginning of the Rural Roots Music Commission. We also had to find a way to distinguish what we do, so we began labeling the musical genre 'rural country,' so as not to be confused with present day country music," Everhart said. "Only a handful of those that have made significant contributions to this particular kind of music, were being honored. We decided to seek out recording artists, performers, instrumentalists, songwriters, producers, promoters, even media specialists, that have been successful in 'rural country music' by making annual awards at the convention and festival promoted by the National Traditional Country Music Association. And, we decided to do this on several different levels of interest, Local, Statewide, Regional, National, and International. In other words, we were, and are, dedicated to finding the very best participants in all areas of this genre of music."
Everhart went on to say, "We honor contributors to 'rural country' music in two ways now. Some are inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame which is located in the Pioneer Music Museum in Anita, Iowa. Others, especially those active in 'recording' rural country music, receive recognition from the Rural Roots Music Commission. The latter process requires a review of CDs recorded and made available to the public, each year prior to the festival which takes place August 27-September 2nd, 2012, at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa. CD's received are reviewed in Tradition Magazine, the house organ of the NTCMA, and then forwarded to the Rural Roots Music Commission who decide the awards to be made."
"There are a number of categories for these honors," added Everhart. "We are extremely pleased to announce that Mary Channer Paul of Belgrade, Nebraska, and Jay Kelly of Atkinson, Nebraska, have been selected to receive the "Best Country-Hrmony CD of the Year" award, for their CD "Once More". They will receive the honor on Sunday, September 2, at 5:20pm on the Sunday Concert Show, Main Stage, LeMars, Iowa, Plymouth County Fairgrounds. The festival runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 2." Everhart went on to add, "The Rural Roots Music Commission is anxious to recognize recorded musical presentations that might not 'fit' the standard 'traditional' boxes and cubby holes. Mary Channer Paul and Jay Kelly one of theoe artists. Their music, unlike Nashville today, still retains the ingredients that make a successful 'country' song. Like many aspiring country music artists, both Mary and Jay started playing and performing country music at a young age. Listening to the Grand Ole Opry and the Louisiana Hayride prompted them to get involved with not only playing the music, but writing it as well. Both artists have a 'sandhills of Nebraska' background, and have been performing together for a number of years."
The festival-convention they will attend, has been going for 37 years. "We will have well over 600 country music performers at this event throughout the week," said Bob Everhart. "We have 'ten' sound stages running for seven days to accomodate them. 9am-midnight every day for seven days seems like a huge production, and it is. Getting everyone to the proper stage at the proper time can be a scheduling nightmare, however the end result is an absolutely unbelievable gathering of like-minded fans and participants who like their country music to be 'rural' in nature. That means it's 'real' country music. We call it like it is...and it's 'rural' country, the real-deal. We're also very pleased we are able to provide a clean non-alcoholic non-drug venue for the fans of this music to come to. The Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa, is large, and level. Huge air conditioned buildings for shows, as well as outdoor stages. Great country cookin' and some of the best Iowa Tailgater-Toby corn-fed beef steaks anyone is likely to ever eat. LeMars is also home of Bluebunny Ice Cream, the largest ice cream manufacturer in the world, so we combine all the 'best' of everything. Country music, country food, and country ice cream. You just can't beat a deal like that, not at the prices we charge. General admission is $15 per day per person, a seven-day gate pass is just $65 per person. This includes everything, all ten stages, and all celebrities. This year Lynn Anderson, Ed Bruce, Terry Smith, Charlie McCoy, Michael Martin Murphey and well over 600 pickers, singers, players, musicians, and performing artists. We have excellent RV camping facilities, with 30-amp hook-ups at $13 a day (no reservations). A Tipi Village in an old ghost town setting is a great place for 'jammers' to gather, and throw in five old time dances in the Dance Hall, and it's a pretty good deal for the dollar. Workshops, contests, open stages, even the front porch of an old log cabin becomes focal points of entertainment interest, done much the way it was done when homesteaders started settling Iowa. We keep telling folks, don't put all your money in your gas tank to drive a thousand miles to see one show, come home, be with us, and see a thousand shows."
More information about the NTCMA and the Rural Roots Music Commission, the Pioneer Music Museum, and the annual festival of Agricultural Arts, Crafts, and Rural Lifestyle is available at their website at http://www.ntcma.net
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CONTACTS:
Bob Everhart, P O Box 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020 - 712-762-4363 - bobeverhart_at_yahoo_dot_com
Mary Channer Paul, Rt 1 Box 23, Belgrade, Ne 68623
Jay Kelly, Box 594, Atkinson, Ne 68713 jdk_at_telebeep_dot_com 402-925-2196
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PLEASE If you do not want to receive these press releases about old-time music in Mid-America ....please.... simply write 'remove' in the subject line and return to us. Don't forget our 37th Annual National Old-Time Music Fest, Aug 27-Sept 2, 2012, LeMars, Iowa, AND the Rural Roots Music Gathering Oct 5-6-7, 2012 in Fremont, Nebraska. Our website is at http://www.ntcma.net THANK YOU!