Come hear some of the best country, gospel and bluegrass music in the USA, Canada and New Zealand. There will be competition of aspiring artists from North, East, South, West United States, Canada and New Zealand starting Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am until 10:00 pm each day and all of this is free to the general public at the Country Tonite Theater.
On Friday, March 14, 2008, the NACMAI Educational Program will be held at the Comfort Inn-Apple Valley. The seminar will consist of Jerry Galvin, NACMAI 2008 Producer of the Year, discussing “Producing a record and what you should know;” Kenny Dean, 2004 NACMAI Hall of Fame member, will speak on “Television and how to get on the Show;” Bob Climer, Radio Host, will instruct us on “How to get your music played on the radio.” Tickets are Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) to attend all of these presentations. Seating is limited, so you will want to get your ticket early. Tickets will be available at the registration desk located in the lobby of the Country Tonite Theatre.
NACMAI 2008 Hall of Fame Show will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 8:00 pm at the Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. This will be a special show with performances by the following: 2008 NACMAI Hall of Fame Inductee; James Monroe, who served his apprenticeship as a Bluegrass Boy with his famous father, Bill Monroe, known as the Father of Bluegrass. In 1971, James formed the Midnight Ramblers and has made his own mark in bluegrass music with his own style of singing. His guitar playing is a style that he designed to fit his voice and music. A gifted songwriter, he has self written many of his own classics, including “Girl of My Dreams,’ Midnight Blues,” Sweet Lucy,” “Tennessee Sunday” and “Snowing in Dixie.” The 2008 Producer of the Year, Billy Galvin, was in Nashville in 1972 picking and singing in the lounge of Roger Miller’s King of the Road Hotel, writing and recording before moving behind the cameras in Television. Twenty-four 2 hour TV Specials, two daily shows (“Music City Tonight” with Crook & Chase and “Country Standard Time). Also during this time, Billy co-produced, co-wrote and booked all of the talent on the Music City News Awards Show for 18 years, and did the same with the Music City News Songwriters Award Show. It was in the course of this show that he created the Roger Miller Songwriting Award presented the first time to Kris Kristofferson for his incredible contribution to Country Music. In 1998, Billy created, wrote and produced the George Jones Show, a weekly series on The Nashville Network for two year for his own company, Billy Galvin Productions, Inc. There is only one T. Graham Brown, and he will be inducted into the 2008 NACMAI Hall of Fame. His "T-Ness" and that uniqueness have made him one of the most enduringly popular singers performing today. He is a journeyman and songwriter whose blue-eyed soul sound defies musical boundaries. He has penned several hit country songs and has garnered ten Top-Ten hits, a CMA Award and a long list of national radio and television ads. His first single release, "I Tell It Like It Used To Be" stymied country radio but they played it anyway and it became a hit. He followed it with "Hell And High Water," "Come As You Were" and "Darlene." All became huge country hits and T. Graham Brown and his incredible band, affectionately known as the Rack Of Spam, hit the road and haven't looked back since. He was nominated for Country Music Association Awards in 1987, 1989 and1990 and won in 1992 for the Vocal Event of the Year with George Jones and others on "I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair." In 1998, T. Graham Brown's single "Wine Into Water" not only inspired the lives of countless individuals but went all the way to the top of the Christian Country Music chart and was awarded the number one independent music video of the year. The NACMAI Hall of Fame Show will be hosted by Kevin Wilson of the Country Tonite Theatre and the Country Tonite performers will honor us with an early viewing of their 2008 Show. Tickets for this event are $18 for those above six years of age and above, those six years of age and under are free. Call 1-800-792-4308 for ticket information as the Show is reserved seating.
The NACMAI Hall of Fame and Awards Show will be Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 1:00 pm at the Country Tonite Theatre. This show will include the induction into the 2008 NACMAI Hall of Fame, Songwriter & Artist, Hank Cochran. On any given day, in one of Nashville’s myriad recording studios, there’s likely to be an artist recording a song written by the legendary Hank Cochran. And that’s been the case for the past six decades, as hundreds have mined the massive Hank Cochran catalog for award-winning gems such as “I Fall To Pieces,” “She’ Got You,” “Make The World Go Away,” “A Little Bitty Tear,” “The Chair,” just to name a few. Hank has been honored with 39 BMI Performance Awards in both Pop and Country categories. The 2008 Publisher of the Year Award will be awarded to Paul Richey. Paul has published such songs as: “Lucille” by Kenny Rogers, “Two Story House” and “Southern California” by George Jones & Tammy Wynette, “Come With Me” by Waylon Jennings and “Blanket On The Ground” by Billie Jo Spears. 2008 Legendary Gospel Radio Personality of the Year Award will be given to Ronnie Betts. Since 1995, he has hosted the ‘Sunday Morning Gospel Jubilee,’ a four-and-a-half hours of Southern Gospel music. Ronnie also hosts the ‘Gospel Heritage Video Show’ which is seen twice on Sundays on many cable stations. There will also be performances by some NACMAI affiliated state members. Tickets for this event are $30 per person and may be purchased at the Country Tonite Theatre. Call 1-800-792-4308 for more ticket information as the show is reserved seating only.