News Release of AMHOF Tommy

[styxfanNH]

News Release of AMHOF Tommy
Current mood: sleepy

..> http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/app ... 05003/1001

Alabama's biggest stars to open city convention center

By Rick Harmon

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Kris Kristofferson, Percy Sledge, Taylor Hicks, Tommy Shaw, and The Commodores will be just part of the musical lineup that will open the new Montgomery Convention Center and Renaissance Hotel and Spa on Feb. 22.

Clarence Carter, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Eddie Floyd, The Thrasher Brothers and Cleveland Eaton will be just some of the performers at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame's 12th Induction Banquet and Awards Show, which will be held in Montgomery for the first time to open the convention center.

Randy Owen of the super group, Alabama, will MC the event, which will also feature Ernie Ashworth, Angela Hacker, Walt Aldridge, and Chris Tompkins.

The musicians being inducted into the hall this year are Grand Ole Opry member Ernie Ashworth, early rock'n'roller Boyd Bennitt, jazz great Cleveland Eaton, well-known songwriter Donnie Fritts and Montgomery native and former Styx and Damn Yankee leader Tommy Shaw.

The Southeast Tourism Society has already designated the event one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for 2008.





http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... v=menu33_3

Convention Center & Hotel Near Completion; Opening Acts Set


Montgomery's new downtown convention center and hotel is just about six months away from completion. Several national acts with Alabama ties will help open the facility.

Inside is thousands of square feet of exhibition space, along with smaller meeting rooms, a banquet room, and an 18-hundred seat performing arts center.

The 12-story hotel will boast 5-star ammenities like a gourmet restaurant and spa.

The Alabama Music Hall of fame is among the first to book the center. It will be the first time Montgomery has hosted the Hall of Fame's induction ceremony, which is held every two years.

Among the Alabama natives scheduled to perform at the event are Percy Sledge, Randy Owen, The Commodores, Clarence Carter, and American Idol Taylor Hicks.

"It's set up like the CMA or Grammy Awards," said Hall of Fame Director David Johnson. "There will be musical performances in between the awards. It's a quality show that features all genres of music."

Alabama's Music Hall of Fame is located in Tuscumbia. It's 2008 inductees will be Tommy Shaw of Montgomery, Cleveland Eaton, Boyd Bennett, Ernie Ashworth and Donnie Fritts. Some of them will also perform.

It all happens February 22nd -- just days after the convention center opens. Tickets will be available on Ticketmaster in early January.

Or to reserve VIP tables in advance, contact The Alabama Music Hall of Fame at 1-800-239-2643 or (256) 381-4417.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20070 ... 50330/1011

Donnie Fritts, who was on the ground floor when the Muscle Shoals music industry was launched nearly 50 years ago, has been selected for induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Fritts, a Florence native who earned fame as a songwriter and music visionary, is one of five people who will make up the 12th hall of fame induction class. The others are Muscle Shoals native Boyd Bennitt, who wrote and sang the first two teenage rock 'n' roll hits; Huntsville native Ernie Ashworth, who was a country music songwriter; Fairfield native Cleveland Eaton, a renowned jazz bassist and composer; and Montgomery native Tommy Shaw, who played guitar with the group Styx.

The formal announcement of the inductees will be made today in Montgomery. The event, which will include performances from numerous individuals and groups with Alabama ties, will be Feb. 22 at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa convention center. The induction banquet will mark the grand opening of the convention center in Montgomery.

"This global event will be a fantastic grand opening," said David Johnson, executive director of the music hall of fame in Tuscumbia.

Fritts, who built his music and acting career on his words, said he was speechless when he received a letter a couple of weeks ago notifying him of the selection. He was still struggling Tuesday to find the appropriate words to describe his thoughts.

"I just don't know what to say," he said. "Thinking about being in there with Hank Williams, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Nat King Cole and others ... Man, that's just amazing. It's just a great honor. I'm just really, really proud."

Fritts said he's not sure what criteria is used in selecting hall of fame inductees, but he figures longevity is part of the equation. Fritts, who will turn 65 in November, has spent 50 years in the business.

He began playing drums for local bands when he was 15 and helped put together the first recording studio in the Shoals, which was above City Drug Store in Florence. That was the start of what later became known as the "Hit Recording Capital of the World."

Fritts later wrote songs that were performed by Charlie Rich, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings and others,

He also appeared in several movies, namely "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," "Convoy" and "A Star is Born."

"I've always taken great pleasure in being involved from the beginning of the Muscle Shoals music," Fritts said. "Right before I turned 15, Tom Stafford, who was manager of the Princess Theater downtown, and I talked about things we wanted to do. From those conversations and with a lot of other people, we started a studio above the drug store. And it snowballed from there.

"I just wanted to get involved in the business. I was 15 and didn't know any better. In those days, we were just kids and learned as we went along. They were great times, though."

For Fritts, his career took off when he accepted a job with a Nashville publishing company where he spent much of his time, especially during the late 1960s, writing songs. He hooked up with Kristofferson, who "was changing the whole outlook of country music."

"Working with Kris, Waylon, Johnny Cash and those people during that time was an honor," Fritts said. "It evolved into one of the greatest periods in Nashville history."

The annual induction ceremony has been a huge success, largely as a result of the inductees and entertainment that is lined up.

This year, artists scheduled to perform are Randy Owen, Kristofferson, Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, The Commodores, The Thrasher Brothers, Cleveland Eaton and Clarence Carter.

Also expected to appear is 2006 "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks, of Birmingham, and 2007 "Nashville Star" winner Angela Hacker, of Muscle Shoals.

Hacker also will receive the America's Music Award. Other Shoals natives who will receive contemporary awards during the banquet are Chris Tompkins, of Muscle Shoals (Songwriters Award) and John Briggs of Killen (Music Industry Award).

[bugsymalone]

Congrats to Tommy. I would love to attend to see......Taylor!


Bugsy

[Barbara]

I wonder if this event will get broadcast anywhere?