Billings, Montana, resident T.J. Casey wins RRMC's "Country-Western CD of the Year" Award
LeMars, Iowa.....An authentic cowboy from Billings, Montana, will take home the prestigious RRMC "Country-Western CD of the Year" Award this year, it has just been announced by the Rural Roots Music Commission. The award goes to T.J. Casey, a long time cowboy singer, poet, songwriter, performer, and recording artist. The name of the CD is "Pure "D" Cowboy."
According to the Rural Roots Music Commission president, Sheila Everhart, "We have been nuturing upper midwest traditional and old-time music for over 35 years now, through the Commission, and through our annual fund raising festival in LeMars, Iowa. Our goal is to preserve the music of our settlers, homesteaders, and pioneers, and we were very happy to find a musical project as definitive as this project by T.J. Casey. His career has spanned an incredible amount of experience and adventure in the cowboy and country-western field of music.
The award will be made at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass, and Folk Music Festival, August 31-September 6, 2009, at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa. The festival, a fundraiser for the National Traditional Country Music Assn., is held annually the week just before Labor Day, and has ten sound stages operating from 9am to midnight, every day for seven days to accomodate the many acoustic and old-time musicians that attend. According to Bob Everhart, Festival Director, "There are well over 600 performing artists at this event, and they come from around the world. We even have 32 musicians and dancers coming from Greece this year to share their rural music. That's not counting the international aspect of artists coming from Canada, Korea, England, Holland, New Zealand, Australia, Georgia, Slovakia, and Ireland. It's amazing that all these foreign performers are so adept at America's traditional and rural country music."
There is other activity as well, going on during the 7-day event. Workshops are available to beginners through accomplished musicians. There are six nights of old-time dances. There are 'showcases' for aspiring performers. "We had one act last year that landed a $1,000 40-minute gig. We think that's pretty good," says Everhart. There's also a large "Corps of Discovery Tipi Village" with emphasis on Native American music and life style, and there's also over 35 contests for amateur performers in as many categories. "We like the Band Scramble" says Everhart, "there are just so many really great musicians, a lot of them get involved, simply playing with strangers, because the music is simple, it is heartfelt, it is sincere, and it is honest. That's quite a bit different than the music we are force-fed on radio these days. We even have one stage dedicated and devoted to Christian Gospel music only."
Celebrities show up for induction into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. According to Everhart, "We were so pleased to learn that Patti Page may be with us this year. She is the lady who recorded "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" and "The Tennessee Waltz." She's 81 years old now, lives in San Diego, and has a new book out as well as a new CD, so we're anxious to meet and get to know such an accomplished country music artist. Also on tap this year, Terry Smith from Nashville, Tenn., who wrote the song "Far Side Banks of Jordan" for Johnny and June Carter Cash. Valarie Smith, from Bell Buckle, Nashville, the leader of Liberty Pike Bluegrass Band is also on tap for awards. Jim Ed Brown has been on the list for induction into the Hall of Fame for several years, and even Warren Buffet has been nominated. He plays a mean ukelele. One of the really nice things we get to do this year is proclaim Clayton McMichen "Fiddler of the Century." His daughter Jaunita McMichen will be at the festival to accept for her dad, and she will be bringing along Slim Bryant, the guitar player for McMichen. Mr. Bryant is 100 years old this year, still plays and teaches guitar. He is one of the only living musicians that performed with Jimmie Rodgers."
The CD, T.J. Casey recorded, was auditioned by Tradition Magazine to glowing reviews. He will receive the award at the annual convention of the RRMC on Saturday, September 5, at 4:30pm on the Main Stage, where he will also be performing.
There is RV camping with electric hook-ups available at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds at $12 per day with electricity, $8 per day without, and six full-menu food stands on the grounds. The main stage area is air conditioned, with nine other stages functioning at the same time. Admission is $15 per day for adults; $12 per day if over age 70; under 18 is free. There is a 7-day pass available for $55 without further discounts.
More information is available at 712-762-4363, or e-mailing bobeverhart@yahoo.com. Website is: http://www.orgsites.com/ia/oldtimemusic
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