The NACMAI was honored with a very special performance by Larry Cordle on Sunday, March 12, 2000, at the GOVERNOR'S PALACE THEATER in Sevierville, Tennessee, at the North America Country Music Associations Int'l Hall of Fame and Award Show. Larry performed the song "MURDER ON MUSIC ROW." This is the title of Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time's new album released on Shell Point Records based in Nashville. The albums title song is a bit of family criticism - RARE IN NASHVILLE - in which Cordle, mourns that "drums and rock and roll guitars" have killed good ol' country music. Cordle stops short of naming country stars who have crossed over to pop and rock; instead he chalks up the stampede to the lure of "the almighty dollar" and "the lust for worldwide fame." "Nobody saw him running from 16th avenue," Cordle sings of the titular killer, alluding, ironically to Nashville's famed Music Row (taken from People Magazine). In a more interesting turn of events, George Strait and Alan Jackson, two of country's biggest and most traditionally -- based stars, recently covered "Murder on Music Row" as a duet for Strait's new album. Larry is a hit songwriter and award-winning artist. All total Cordle's songs have been on over 44 million records sold including three number one hits. Some of his hits include Ricky Skaggs' "Highway 40 Blues" and Diamond Rio's "Mama Don't Forget to Pray For Me".
Lending her special talent to the NACMAI Hall of Fame and Awards Show was Margo Smith. This gracious lady, who had many songs in the Top Ten Charts such as "There I Said It Again", "Paper Lovin'," "Don't Break The Heart That Loves You," "It Only Hurts For A Little While," and "Little Things Mean A Lot," honored us with a performance of some of her songs. Known as "The Tennessee Yodeler", Ms. Smith was be one of the Inductees in the 2000 NACMAI Hall of Fame. The Legends in Country Music such as Ms. Smith are the ones who paved the road and opened the doors for not only the stars of today but the stars of the future. It is a privilege for the NACMAI to pay homage to these great Legends of Country Music.
Also appearing on the NACMAI Hall of Fame and Awards Show was Marvell of the Country Cavaleers. Marvell had success with Mercy in the 60's and the million seller "Love Can Make You Happy." Mercy was at #2, Elvis at #5 (In The Ghetto), Sinatra at #7 (My Way) and the Beatles at #1 (Get Back). The Country Cavaleers had several chart records in Cash Box, Record World and Billboard. They have made appearances on Ralph Emery, Wilburn Brothers plus many other TV shows and have toured with Conway & Loretta, Dolly Parton, Jack Green. Tom T Hall and many of the Grand Ole Opry Stars.