2003 NACMAI Hall of Fame

NACMAI 2003 LEGENDARY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

The North America Country Music Associations, Int'l proudly announces the Inductees of the Sixth Annual NACMAI Hall of Fame for 2003, to be held at the Louise Mandrell Theater at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2003 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

HOWARD AND DAVID BELLAMY Howard and David Bellamy, better known as the Bellamy Brothers, have been making music for all of us to enjoy for over 25 years. All of us remember such songs as "Let Your Love Flow" and "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me." The Bellamy Brothers were the recipient of the CMA's 2002 International Award in recognition of their outstanding achievement and commitment to the International promotion of country music.

FERLIN HUSKY Ferlin Husky has sold over 20 million records, five of which were gold. These records were, "A Dear John Letter" (with Jean Sheppard), "Since You've Gone", "A Fallen Star", and from 1958 to 1994 Billboard voted "Wings of a Dove" the number 5 most popular country song of all time. Over the years Ferlin Husky has had 55 chart records. The multi-talented Mr. Husky has made more than 18 motion pictures and numerous television appearances.

RAZZY BAILEY Razzy Bailey considers among his career milestones the memorable day when three major labels offered him recording deals within a twenty minute of time! In 1966 Razzy wrote a song called, "9,999,999 Tears and in 1976, Dickey Lee recorded it and it exploded to number #1. Thirteen #1 hits and 30 Top 10 hits have permanently etched a place for Razzy in the history of Country music .In the 80's he had six #1 hits, all of them back-to-back from three double-sided releases.

CAROL LEE COOPER Multi-talented Carol Lee Cooper, known for landing "interviews of a lifetime", hosted her own hour long "Nashville Nights With Carol Lee" radio show on WSM for several years. She has held exclusive interviews with such legends as Andy Griffith, Dolly Parton, Gene Autry and a rare two-hours with Garth Brooks. Carol Lee recently produced and directed 14 Country Music artists in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" on the "Grand Ole Opry" stage as TNN cameras filmed. She has performed with such artists as George Strait, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Steve Wariner and George Jones to name a few.

DONNIE SUMNER Donnie Sumner began his professional career in 1960 with his group "The Songsmen" which later became the "The Stamps Trio." In 1970, while with The Stamps, Donnie was awarded both the SESAC Award as "Songwriter of the Year" and a Grammy nomination as "Country Song of the Year" for his song, "The Things That Matter." Later that same year Donnie won the Gospel Music Association's prestigious Dove Award as "Song of the Year" for his song entitled "The Night Before Easter."

DON HELMS It was the beginning of a new era in American music ...the transition from traditional "hillbilly" music to "country and western" music and the forerunner of today's Country music. It was a period known as "The Golden Era of Country Music" and a major contributor was steel guitarist Don Helms.

It is a true honor to have these Legends join the NACMAI Hall of Fame family and we look forward to their induction at the Sixth Annual NACMAI Hall of Fame and Awards Show on March 16, 2003, at the Louise Mandrell Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Additional Press Releases will be forth coming in the very near future.

2003 PIONEER AWARD
HANK GARLAND Hank Garland has been chosen as the 2003 NACMAI Pioneer Award recipient. Over the years Hank has played on the recordings of many of the "greats." In 1949, at the age of sixteen, Hank wrote and recorded the million seller - "Sugarfoot Rag."

Walter Louis Garland was born November 11, 1930, in Cowpens, South Carolina. As a young child, he was inspired by the guitar. At the age of six, his father, Jay Garland, bought Hank's first guitar at a local pawn shop. Hank practiced all the time and even took some lessons from Mr, Jerome Fowler. By the time Hank was in his early teens, he was working with a local country band with his secondhand archtop. While visiting Alexander's Music House, Hank ran into Paul Howard who was sufficiently impressed and offered Hank a job on The Grand Ole Opry®.

At the young age of fourteen, Hank's parents put him on a bus heading for Nashville to meet with Paul Howard. The meeting took place and he played on The Grand Ole Opry® the next night. Hank played a hot boogie instrument that brought the Ryman crowd to it's feet! Hank was immediately hired into Paul Howard's band...The Arkansas Cotton Pickers. Because of the child labor laws, he had to return home until his sixteenth birthday. Hank arrived back in Nashville in November 1946, and was ready to work. With a move to Lloyd Cowboy Copas band, Hank began his first work in the studio. Hank's talents led him to play with Hank Williams, Sr (Pan American Blues). In 1949, at the age of sixteen, Hank wrote and recorded the million seller -- Sugarfoot Rag.

Hank went on to record with many of the "greats." Rock and Roll was sweeping and Hank played on sessions with artists like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Helms and Faron Young. By the 1960's, Hank Garland was in full swing in the Jazz circuit. Hank recorded After The Riot at Newport, Velvet Guitar, Subtle Swing and Jazz Winds From a New Direction. In 1960, Hank purchased a new ecco-fonic echo unit and introduced it on Patsy Cline's I Fall To Pieces. Hank Garland was the most recorded studio musician of his time and was in tremendous demand. Hank kept a careful log book of every record date, time, artist, and of course, the hit song! Hank was in so much demand that it would take pages and pages to list all of his engagements. Hank was invited to do the soundtrack Blue Hawaii recorded by Elvis Presley. Elvis introduced Hank as quote.."Here is the Best Guitarist Anywhere in the Country...Hank Garland." Hank's career ended in a near fatal car accident in late 1961 while he and Elvis were finishing the soundtrack, Follow That Dream. Elvis did not record again until eight years later. Hank's accomplishments rein supreme and dignify everything the NACMAI Pioneer Award represents.

2003 PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD
KIRT WEBSTER
From his offices on 16th, Webster oversees a growing roster of major and developmental clients, a staff of four full time publicists and media advisors, and a small army of interns marshaled for labor intense projects like label product mailings of CDs, press kits blitzes, and general media "slams" as they're lovingly referred to along the corridors of Music Row. "This is PR in the new millennium," noted Webster, on a recent day around the conference table. "We're very concentrated on the 'e-media- - electronic press has virtually replaced hard copy press, as seconds count now in breaking mainstream news."

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