Posts Tagged ‘country’

Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley

Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler To Headline The 3Rd Annual Gift Of Music Benefit Concert

For the third year in the row, the Dustin J. Wells Foundation has organized the Gift of Music benefit Concert with the goal of making financial contributions in behalf of Dustin Wells. The foundation was initially established for this young man who was killed in car accident in 2005. After his death, his family, friends, and other loved ones established the foundation and has partnered with Nashville’s music community—country singers, bands, and other artists—to hold what would be known as the Gift of Music Benefit concert. Since Wells was a lover of country love songs, his family wanted to reach out to the less fortunate through this type of music.

Fortunately, since it began in 2008, the foundation has enjoyed the support of some of the industry’s biggest artists including country singers such as Dolly Parton, Ronnie Dunn, Dierks Bentley, Gunnar Nelson and Kellie Pickler, among others. Thus far, the two previous shows have raised a combined total of $100,000 for the W.O. Smith Music School, which has been the main beneficiary of the previous shows’ proceeds.

For this year, the foundation is set to hold another event, dubbed the 3rd Annual Gift of Music Benefit Concert, at the Wildhorse Saloon, located right in the heart of downtown Nashville. The venue, which has been known to hold concerts for some of the industry’s biggest acts, will host yet another stellar list of artists who are set to perform in February 22. This year’s performers include acts such as Rascal Flatts and Little Big Town, as well as country singers including Kellie Pickler, Jason Michael Carroll, and Keith Anderson. Of course, as with the two previous events, dozens of surprise guests and performers are slated to join the line-up. The proceeds of this year’s benefit concert will still go to the W.O. Smith Music School, which of course, is a well-loved facility that has strived to provide music lessons to Nashville’s underprivileged children for almost a quarter of a century.

When one combines country music and a good cause, fans will line up to show their support for their favorite artists and do so while helping others. This early, fans have already shown their support as it has been reported that regular priced tickets—including the $49 general admission and $75 reserved seating tickets—to the special, one-night only show have already been sold out within 20 minutes even before its official announcement.

For those who wish to catch the show and get their dose of all-time favorite country love songs, you may purchase the $500 VIP tickets that are still available. These VIP package tickets come with guaranteed good seats and dinner at the world famous restaurant and the opportunity to win autographed memorabilia from the artists performing that night.

If you cannot make the trip to the venue, you may still contribute by sending your donations by mail to: The Office of Dennis J. Wells, D.D.S, 105 Powell Court, Suite 101, Brentwood, TN 37027. You may also send your donations through any branch of the First Tennessee. For more information, you may call 615–371-8878 or visit any of the following sites: http://www.dustinsgiftofmusic.com or http://www.wildhorsesaloon.com/.

Dierks Bentley - What Was I Thinkin'

Country Songs

Country Songs

Country Music's Biggest Stars To Gather For The 45Th Acm Awards

It’s a done deal! One country music blog after another have all are once again filled with excited chatter about the latest announcements regarding the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be held on Sunday, April 18th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, its fifth time in eight years it’s been held at Las Vegas. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS at 8:00-11:00 pm (ET).

Twelve-time host, Reba McEntire, herself a recipient of no less that twelve ACM awards, will again grace the awards ceremony, a night typically filled with performances of the previous year’s top country songs. According to Orly Adelson, President of Dick Clark Productions and the Executive Producer of the ACM Awards, McEntire was a logical choice because, "no one does it better than Reba McEntire. She always brings spunk and personality to the show and we are honored to have the queen of country music back to host the Awards for the 12th time."

Since its inception in 1964, the ACM Awards has honored the country music industry’s best musical talents for almost half a century. Previous winners include the music industry’s best and brightest stars- a who’s who of the country music scene for the past years. Its most prestigious award, The Artist of the Decade, has been given to country music heavyweights such as Marty Robbins (1960s), Loretta Lynn (1970s), Alabama (1980s), Garth Brooks (1990s), and George Strait (2000s). Another major award, Entertainer of the Year, have been given to the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrel, Garth Brooks, and Brooks and Dunn, as well as newer artists such as Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, and Carrie Underwood.

As reported in a country music blog, this year, fans also get to vote for the artists who will win in the three Top New Artist Categories. The nominees for this year’s new artist categories are Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson, and Chris Young for Top New Solo Vocalist; Bomshel, Joey + Rory, and Steel Magnolia for Top New Vocal Duo; and Eli Young Band, Gloriana, and The Lost Trailers for Top New Vocal Group.

Some of the artists that have already signed on to perform their hit country songs in what is expected to be a star-studded event include McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts. Another special event which has been announced as part of the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards celebration this year is the all-star concert special, “ACM Presents” brooks and Dunn- The Lat Rodeo,” which will be taped the following night at the same venue. This show will later be aired over on CBS. This comes as a special tribute for Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who together, became the best-selling duo in the history of country music. They will also be feted with the Milestone Award in recognition of their career achievements.

In a statement, Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music, explained why they chose to do the special. "Brooks & Dunn have defined country music for 20 years.” He added, “With this all-star concert tribute, the Academy is honored to recognize Kix and Ronnie for their contributions to the country music industry, fans and to all the artists they have helped get a break in this business."

Funny Penis Country Song

Confederate Railroad

Confederate Railroad

Confederate State Notes

Perhaps the most interesting portrait to appear on Confederate money is that of John E. Ward. His portrait was on a $10 bill in 1861. The irony is, although a native of Georgia and a holder of high offices, he was not in favor of secession. In fact, Mr. Ward left the South partly because he did not support the Confederate cause.

From the beginning of the Civil War, both the Union and Confederate governments resorted to paper money to finance their efforts. They did not want to restrict themselves to the hard money, i.e., gold and silver coin that was the predominate issue before the war. Paper money up to this point consisted of notes issued by private banks, state and local governments, railroads, and merchants. Nearly all these notes were printed by specialty bank note printers located in the North, mainly in New York.

Having all the printers located in the Union gave newly appointed Confederate Treasury Secretary Christopher Memminger a unique problem. He couldn't do business with the enemy yet he didnt have the equipment or the expertise in South.

At first, he hired some lithographers (duplicators) in Richmond to print Confederate notes. Southern bankers who were accustomed to handling beautiful, steel-engraved bank notes, immediately protested when they saw the poorly produced lithographic bills. These notes were easy-to-counterfeit and printed on cheap paper. Embarrassed by the criticism, Memminger, a banker by profession, pursued another idea.

Memminger secretly persuaded two New York expert engravers (William Leggett and Edward Keating) to move to Richmond and set up shop. He then ordered a supply of critically needed $5 and $10 bills. In wanting to expedite the process, the engravers didnt have time to engrave new steel plates from scratch. With Memmingers permission they decided to modify an existing plate provided by the Mechanics Savings Bank of Savannah, Georgia. Leggett and Keating replaced the old lettering with Confederate language and left intact the original pictures and vignettes. Leggett and Edwards quickly printed 20,333 $5 and $10 bills.

Collectors soon showed up after the war assembling complete sets of the Confederate notes and begin to ask, who was that man on the 1861 $10 bill? "That man" was mistakenly identified as Williamson S. Oldham, a Confederate senator from Texas. This was the accepted truth until 1915 when a researcher found a portrait of Oldham and it had no likeness to the picture on the $10 note.

Ads were placed in newspapers and other publications and circulated to millions of readers all through the South in an attempt to name the individual on the note. Flyers were printed showing a picture of the $10 bill and sent to patriotic organizations, libraries, historical societies, postmasters, and to the 1916 reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. A reward was even offered to anyone who could correctly identify the man. As a result, many names were submitted. Laughably, at least three people in the South said it was Abraham Lincoln.

At long last a $10 bill issued in 1855 by the "Mechanics Savings Bank" of Savannah, Georgia appeared. It revealed a curious fact that the design of the Bank note had been set aside and duplicated by the Confederacy. This narrowed the search and placed the burden to solve the mystery squarely on the shoulders of the city of Savannah.

Further research found a story in "The Savannah Morning News" of Saturday, December 2, 1854, on the opening of the Mechanics Savings Bank of Savannah. It described the banks "beautifully designed and executed" bank notes that sported a portrait of a well-known Savannah political figure, John E. Ward. Ward had been a founding partner of the bank, mayor of Savannah, President of the Georgia State Senate, Minister to Russia and soon-to-be president of the 1856 Democratic National Convention (which nominated James Buchanan for president).

Mr. Ward left the South partly because he was not in sympathy with the cause of the Confederacy. He moved to New York City and established a successful law practice. He became practically a stranger to the South and never went back to Savannah to live. It is with great irony his likeness was, in ignorance placed on a Treasury note of the government he did not recognize.

Confederate Railroad - Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind (Music Video)

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

How can i best imitate Dolly Parton's voice?

For a school project i have to be her and using their accent makes up a lot of the grade. i was wondering if anyone had any techniques to best mimick her voice. Thank you
hilarious, really.

I can think of other things that would be more noticable and would make everyone forget about Dolly's voice.

Dolly Parton - I will always love you

Karaoke Country

Karaoke Country

Karaoke: Where Did it Start & Where is it Going?

Karaoke starts its journey to popularity in Japan around 1970. During this time singing and dancing was the only form of adult entertainment. A Japanese singer, Daisuke Inoue, was asked by many to record his songs and release copies so they could sing along. Inoue made a tape recorder that would play one song when money was deposited, making the first "sing-along" machine. First regarded as a boring fad, it soon became a very popular pasttime that showed up in restaurants and hotels. The first karaoke bars, as we know them, were called Karaoke Box. Inoue was awarded the gag Ig Nobel Peace Prize for inventing Karaoke and "thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."

Karaoke's popularity quickly spread to other countries including the United States, where it took the art of karaoke singing to another level. Of course cassettes have been long replaced with CDs and DVDs. Technological advances have provided better equipment used for karaoke and the spread of venues such as bars and clubs have also increased its popularity.

Karaoke is now moving in a whole new direction. We are all aware of American Idol, which has been many times called a "glorified karaoke competition," but there are other venues for those looking to succeed in their karaoke endeavors. With growing interest, the Karaoke World Championships has been in existence since 2003 with 29 countries in participation.

Super CDGs are starting to replace the old versions. With these, manufacturers are able to place hundreds or thousands of songs on one disc. However, you will need a special player. Hopefully, they may start to come personalized with the songs you want. Even better are the MP3+Gs that allow karaoke fun with no discs, and no hassle.

Long Haired Country Boy (karaoke)