The 1924 Goodpasture Motors Building, thanks to a gift from Steve Johnson of Johnson & Associates, will soon house the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center Bristol, VA-TN (Sept. 2, 2004) At a press conference this morning, officials from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA) announced the donation by prominent Bristol businessman Mr. Steve Johnson of Johnson and Associates, of the building and land at 520 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Virginia, to the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. This landmark 24,000 square-foot structure - located on the south east corner of the intersection of Cumberland and Moore Streets -- will become the future home of the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center, housing the organization's museum, as well as serving as a

The 24,000 square-foot structure was built in 1924 as the Goodpasture Motors Building and formerly housed a number of businesses including the American Automobile Association, and most recently the Palace Barber Shop, Union Shoe Repair, and Tate's News Stand. Constructed of reinforced concrete with muted multi-colored glazed brick exterior walls, the building is listed as a contributing structure to the Bristol Downtown Historic District. The building is directly across the street from Bud Walling Memorial Park and is located conveniently near the heart of downtown Bristol within easy walking distance of the new Bristol Library, the Paramount Center for the Arts, the 1902 Bristol Train Station, the Post Office, the "Birth of Country Music" mural at the Downtown Center, both City Halls, and other downtown businesses, attractions, and amenities.

After organizing the Appalachian musical portion of the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the BCMA revisited its mission statement and made the determination that its next step was to find an adequate permanent home for the organization in order to further fulfill its mission. Through grants provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts Traditional Arts Growth Fund, museum consultants were retained to assist in determining a plan of action and to aid in the complex process of implementing the plan.

Bill Hartley, BCMA Executive Director, gestures toward the new building as he addresses local government officials, arts organization representatives, and donor Steve Johnson "As far back as 1971 with the dedication of the monument on State Street near the site of the Bristol Sessions, this community has recognized the need for a country music museum downtown. Today, we take the first step in fulfilling that long-standing goal," noted BCMA Executive Director Bill Hartley. As a result of this plan of action, BCMA representatives met with Mr. Johnson who immediately recognized the need of the organization for a permanent home and the sizable benefit of the BCMA establishing its home in downtown Bristol. "By his generous donation, Steve Johnson has made the leap of faith necessary for the BCMA to begin planning and fund-raising for the new Cultural Heritage Center. We are extremely appreciative of Mr. Johnson's generous gift. This is about community pride in our culture and our heritage - who we are as a people and how others will see us," Hartley continued, "As we move forward, we welcome the support of the community, other organizations, and individuals within the region to make this Cultural Heritage Center a reality." According to BCMA President Greg Wallace, "Our studies show tThe BCMA wishes to note the fortuitous timing of the gift since until now, it was the only major venue out of seven designated along "The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail" that did not have its own permanent home. "The Crooked Road" is a major tourism/economic development initiative signed into law by Virginia Governor Mark Warner in May 2004 that establishes a route from Ferrum in the east, through nine counties, to Clintwood in the west. The route connects seven designated musical hotspots along the route including the BCMA Museum in Bristol. Bristol's prime location as a hub city along an interstate highway, and close proximity to another Crooked Road venue -- the Carter Fold in Scott County -- makes it important as a feeder for tourists both entering and leaving the Crooked Road via I-81, and the BCMA plans to capitalize on that strategic advantage. "Ralph Peer and Ernest Stoneman chose Bristol as a location for the recording sessions in 1927 because of its excellent location as a regional hub," says Hartley, "and with the advent of the interstate highway system that is even more so today. The BCMA Cultural Heritage Center will serve as a major regional attraction for tourists traveling on both the interstate and along the Crooked Road."

BCMA President Greg Wallace: "The future is bright."Nancy Baker DeFriece, chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission, announces a Technical Assistance Grant will be awarded to the BCMA while Steve Johnson and Bristol, TN mayor Jim Messimer look on At the press conference, Nancy Baker DeFriece, Chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission, announced that the Tennessee Arts Commission will award the BCMA a $5000 technical assistance grant to assist in the planning phase of the Cultural Center. "We are very humbled by the support and encouragement we are receiving from every corner, even at this nascent stage of the project. Everyone we have talked with is very excited. As an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, we have the potential to make this a world-class Cultural Heritage Center, and in doing so, we are helping make Bristol a year-round tourist destination," said Hartley. Steve Johnson, donor of the building to the BCMA, tells the gathering he thinks the organization's move downtown "just makes sense", while BCMA Director Bill Hartley and President Greg Wallace listen "This just makes sense," said Steve Johnson, donor of the building and land. "This is where they should be, and I'm happy to help them achieve that. The potential for this center as a tipping-point for downtown, the community, and the region is enormous. I'm proud that I can help them get this started, and I hope that others who are able to help will follow my lead. This is a good organization - their hearts are in the right place - and I wish them all the success in the world." The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA), based in Bristol, TN/VA, was formed on April 7, 1994 and established as a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation in 1996, and is dedicated to calling attention to the crucial role played by artists from East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and the southern Appalachian region in country, bluegrass, and other musical and cultural avenues which have been nurtured by this region. Steve Johnson (right) of Johnson & Associates presents BCMA president Greg Wallace the deed to the property at 520 Cumberland Street which will house the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center