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.
NACMAI 2009 Hall of Fame Concert will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at 7:30 pm at the Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. There will be a special show with performances by newly inducted NACMAI Hall of Fame members; Linda Davis, Grammy Award winning artist, with over 20 years of experience in the music business. A determined teen from east Texas with big dreams and a desire to make them come true, (singing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry was at the top of the list) packed up an old black diesel Delta �88 with a U-Haul in tow and headed to Nashville in 1982. To make ends meet, Davis took a job as a receptionist at a recording studio and sang demos for local songwriters. Labeled a �song stylist�, Davis� unique ability to interpret a song soon made her one of the most sought after session singers in Nashville. It was around 1989, that Reba McEntire was listening to songs for her next album that she heard this special voice. McEntire loved Davis� music so much that she invited her to become a featured entertainer on tour with her. Their mutual respect led them into the studio together where they recorded a duet entitled �Does He Love You� that went on to become a #1 hit and earn both artist several awards including a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration. The NACMAI is also proud to announce that newly inducted Angela Hacker will be performing. Angela is the 2007 winner of Nashville Star on the USA Network which earned her a record contract with Warner Brothers Nashville Record label. It was Angela�s performance of �Strawberry Wine� that brought the judges to tears on the show. Also performing will be newly inducted Zac Hacker, Angela�s brother, who was runner-up in the 2007 Nashville Star national competition. Zac not only performs but is known for his songwriting. Zac has a personal goal to influence people with his song lyrics, to take a negative and turn it into a positive.
As always, we will be privileged to be one of the first to see the new 2009 Country Tonite Performers. They will be putting on a short review of their new 2009 Show. This is always an exciting performance full of engery, dancing, and song.
Tickets for this special event are $18 for those above six (6) years of age and above, those six (6) years of age and under are free. It is reserved seating so you will want to get your tickets early. Tickets may be ordered at the Country Tonite Theater. Call 1-800-792-4308 for ticket information. This is an event that you will not want to miss. The theatre will be vacated prior to this event and you will only be able to get into the lobby for this special event with a ticket. What a special night this will be!
You are urged to be present on Saturday night for the Special NACMAI Twelfth Anniversary Hall of Fame Concert.
NACMAI 2009 Awards & Hall of Fame Show will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009, at 1:00 pm at the Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. There will be a special show with performances by newly inducted NACMAI Hall of Fame members; Bobby Randall is one of the most talented, trusted, and respected names in the Country Music Industry. In the late seventies, he co-founded the country-rock band that would become Sawyer Brown. Through 1992, Bobby was lead-guitarist for Sawyer Brown and was also one of the vocalist. During his long tenure with Sawyer Brown, the band churned out hit after hit and was awarded the coveted CMA Horizon Award in 1985. Following his career with Sawyer Brown, Bobby hosted two popular Nashville Network TV Show �You Can Be A Star� and �Wildhorse Saloon.�
Also to be inducted and perform is Sherrill Neilson, best known as �The Voice.�. Sherrill first organized the group "VOICE" in the 1970's. According to Felton Jarvis, Elvis� producer, Sherrill was Elvis� favorite singer. In 1977, Elvis and Sherrill�s duet, �Softly As I Leave You� was nominated for a Grammy as duet of the year. Sherrill stayed with Elvis� until Elvis� death in 1977. Voice was the group that opened all of the Elvis Presley Shows...with the Gospel spiritual "In my father's house." Elvis named the group "VOICE" after a Christian periodical that he had read. since Sherrill's remarriage to Brenda, he has recreated "VOICE." "VOICE" consists of Sherrill & Brenda Nielsen & Dale Ellison. Elvis may have left the building, but his "VOICE" is still here.
Tickets for this event are $30. It is reserved seating so you will want to get your tickets early. Tickets may be ordered at the Country Tonite Theater. Call 1-800-792-4308 for ticket information. If you are a contestant, this is your time to be present for the announcement of winners and presentation of awards. This is YOUR special time and what a special time this will be!
Grammy award winning recording artist LINDA DAVIS will be offering three hour group closed door sessions on Stage Performance 101. This is not a vocal coaching, nor is it a choreography session. With her years of experience on stage, Ms. Davis has an eye for laying out the overall well-rounded techniques that set a professional apart from an aspiring artist, and in helping as artist find their �comfort zone� on stage. �My objective is to allow the artist to be an individual, to always be themselves, not say what I say or move across the stage like I would move across the stage, � she explains.
�Sometimes we just need to see new ideas in action and then we can make them our own. The repetition of our work together (homework/rehearsal at home in front of the mirror) is the key to each artist having a boast in confidence once they walk on stage at their event and know that their show will be better for having made the effort with S/P 101.�
There is a 12 student maximum per group closed door session and a 7 student minimum per group closed door session at a cost of $100 per student. Each student will sing for Ms. Davis (and the others) and she will give them specific directions and pointers that will apply and serve them for the rest of their careers!! Each student should bring 3 tracks to pick from: 1 ballad & 2 up-tempo songs (clear tracks with NO vocals, bgv�s are acceptable, but NO lead vocals). Original songs are fine as long as the tempos are as listed above; however, the student is to bring a cover song in their bag of tricks.>br>
This will be a closed session, it will be necessary that those who are interested in attending to contact their State Association President for registration innformation, no later than March 5th. The cost of this Special Three Hour Session is $100 per person. Money orders and/or cashiers checks should be made out to Linda Davis. Attendance will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis, so get your name in as soon as possible.
The NACMAI will be holding Educational Seminars on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at 10:00 am at the Comfort Inn - Apple Valley on the Parkway in Sevierville, Tennessee. The seminars will be moderated by Darlene Coutu and are as follows with a $25 admission charge for both seminars. Registration forms may be picked up at the NACMAI Registration table at the Country Tonite Theatre.
Larry Ferguson will be presenting a seminar on �Managing, Promoting and Booking.� After promoting several successful concerts with the legendary Dottie Rambo the two developed a friendship. Ferguson began booking most of Rambo's tour dates during the late 90's before relocating to Nashville, TN to become the singer/songwriter's full time personal manager. In 2002 Ferguson served as co-creator and associate producer of the concert tribute "We Shall Behold Him". The show hosted by country music icon Barbara Mandrell was nominated for an NRB award and featured Dolly Parton, Larry Gatlin, Vestal Goodman, Crystal Gayle and many others performing a tribute to the music of Dottie Rambo. Woodland Gospel Publishing (a division of Woodland Press) of Chapmanville, WV, has released of Ferguson's first literary offering "Driving Ms. Dottie". The book is being described as a delightful collection of short stories from life on the road with the Queen of Gospel Music.
Jess McEntire also known as �The Other McEntire� sings traditional country with an edge to it. He�s written with some of the best writers in the business. Jess is involved in �Projectroute66.com.� Jess has been named �Man On A Mission� for his relentless strife to keep part of our country�s heritage alive, Route 66. Jess was a major factor in the Route 66 competition held at the ranch of Loretta Lynn last year. He will be conducting a seminar on �What To Look For In A Producer.� This should be a �must� for all Young aspiring artists.
Tickets for both seminars are $25 per person. This will get you into both seminars. Exact time will be announced later. You may sign up for these seminars at the Registration desk at the Country Tonite Theater. There is a limit of 50 seats, so get your reservations in early. This is an educational opportunity that you will not want to miss.