The guitars were a part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Bristol Sessions, as they traveled to each venue during the ten-day, three state celebration this summer. They were signed by many of the artists who performed during the celebration, as well as other country legends, including members of the Grand Ole Opry.

Starting today, interested individuals can make bids for the guitars on-line at www.ebay.com [1] A different guitar will be placed on-line each week, with the last auction ending on November 24. The guitars may also be viewed in person at the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum, located in the Bristol Mall, Interstate 81, Exit 1. Each winning bidder will also receive a commemorative poster, signed by all of the artists who performed during the celebration, copies of promotional materials, including a CD recording of “Where it All Began” by Mac Wiseman and Wiley J. Smith, and a letter of authenticity.

“We want to give people who love this region’s music a chance to own a piece of history,” commented Tim White, chairman of the 75th anniversary celebration. “These guitars were purchased brand new and have never been played. They have been signed and were on display as this past summer as a part of our celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions.”

The three guitars are a Martin HP D41, HD 28 LSV, and a D18GE. Among the artists who signed the guitars were: Bill Carlisle, Carlene Carter, Joe Carter, Janette Carter, June Carter Cash, Carol Lee Cooper, Charlie Daniels, Little Jimmy Dickens, Doyle Lawson, Little Roy Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Jim McReynolds, Ralph Peer, II, Pinmonkey, Earl Scruggs, Jean Shepard, Roni Stoneman, Patsy Stoneman, Marty Stuart, Eddie Stubbs, Charlie Walker, Billy Walker, Steve Wariner, and Buck White.

(Note a complete listing of the specifications and signers for each guitar is include at the end of this press release.)

White commented that while most of the signers participated in the ten-day celebration, many had personal ties to the original Bristol Sessions. “Jim McReynolds grandfather, Charlie, recorded at those sessions with the Bull Mountain Moonshiners.” The guitars were also signed by the direct descants of the Carter, Stoneman, and Peer Families, he added.

In August 1927, Ralph Peer, a record producer from Victor Talking Machine Company, traveled to the mountains of Appalachia to record traditional music for commercial sale. Artists throughout the mountain empire traveled to Peer’s make-shift recording in downtown Bristol TN/VA, as he recorded seventy-six performances by nineteen different groups, including the first recordings of the Carter Family, the “First Family of Country Music,” and Jimmie Rodgers, the “Father of Country Music.” The success of Peer’s recordings marked the beginnings of commercial country music, and it is for these reasons that Congress declared Bristol, TN-VA and the surrounding region, the “Birthplace of Country Music” in 1998.

Seventy-five years to the date that Ralph Peer set up a makeshift warehouse in downtown Bristol to record musicians from Southern Appalachia, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance kicked-off a ten-day celebration of those historic Bristol Sessions with a concert on July 25, 2002 at the Paramount Theater, just one block from the site of Peer’s recording sessions. For the next ten days, concluding with 28th annual Carter Family Memorial Music Center Festival, the Birthplace of Country Music alliance held a series of performances featuring a wide variety of musical styles at venues, both large and small, throughout the region. This celebration gained national and international media attention.

Bill Hartley, Executive Director for the BCMA, noted the 75th anniversary celebration has produced a tremendous amount of interest in the Bristol Sessions, the Carter Family, and the region’s musical heritage. “The interest has continued long after the celebration. Visitors to our museum and website are up and stories keep appearing in a variety of media about this region and its musical heritage.” He added that a considerable amount of interest exists overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom (UK). “I’m not really sure why the British are so interested, but there has been a lot of media attention coming out of England.” He noted that a film crew from the BBC was recently in Bristol to film a re-creation of the Bristol Sessions for an upcoming documentary on the roots of Country and Bluegrass music.

Hartley added that the BCMA decided to put the guitars on e-Bay to help capitalize on this increased attention and interest. “Millions of people across the world view e-Bay each day. This give us another opportunity to let them know about our organization and the work we are doing to help preserve and promote the musical and cultural heritage of our region.” He added that with by placing these items in such a prominent forum, will also increase awareness about the organization and its mission. “We can only reach so many people through mailings or individually, but there are people across the world with a passion for this music who would be interested in these items and the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance.”