Museum Archives - Page 5 of 20 - The Birthplace of Country Music

1927 Society Concert ft. Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters May 20

May 5, 2022

Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (May 5, 2022) – The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the return of the 1927 Society Concert Series featuring Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters coming to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on May 20. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. EDT with heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Catering by Catherine and drinks included in the price of the ticket. Tickets are now on sale to the public.

The music of Asheville, North Carolina-based outfit Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters is nuanced, bringing insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the band’s country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache or hope.

There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in Platt’s songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her story-telling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person’s life.

Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), Evan Martin (drums/vocals), and Kevin Williams (keys/vocals).

“Platt comes on like some sort of heavenly combination of Kim Richey and Lucinda Williams, using her incisive storytellers’ eye and irresistible way with a country-rock melody to create a jukebox worth of rough-hewn musical gems.” ~ Greenville Journal

The 1927 Society Concert Series is an intimate concert experience set in the “acoustically perfect” performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It’s more than a night of music, it is a very personal event with some of the most renowned roots music artists performing today. Guests are asked to arrive at 6:00 p.m. EDT to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show, which begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The audience will have the opportunity to mingle with the band after the concert, and everything is included in the ticket price. Members of BCM’s 1927 Society are given access to exclusive ticket pre-sales to the series before they go on sale to the public.

Tickets to the 1927 Society Concert Series featuring Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters are $100 and available for purchase online. For tickets and more information about becoming a member of the 1927 Society visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

BCM Museum to Participate in Museums for All for Low-Income Families

May 2, 2022

Bristol, Va.-Tenn. (May 3, 2022) – The Birthplace of Country Music Museum (BCMM) has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits.

The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits visiting the Birthplace of County Music Museum for a minimal fee of $3 per person for up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. This reduced rate is available during BCMM regular operating hours (Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.).

Museums for All invites low-income visitors to feel welcome at cultural institutions with a year-round open-door policy. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 850 museums across the country.

Dr. René Rodgers, Head Curator of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, is excited about more people having the opportunity to experience the museum. BCMM is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

“This is a wonderful program, and we’re happy that we’re part of it,” she said. “We realize it’s not always financially feasible for everyone who would like to visit the museum to do so, and this makes it possible. Now a lot more folks can come to our incredible museum, learn more about the history of the 1927 Bristol Sessions and our role in the development of early commercial country music, and experience a wide range of traveling exhibits.

“Visiting a museum can inspire people of all ages, especially kids. It can help them develop new skills and interests and enrich social connections. We’re certainly hoping to see a lot of people take advantage of this opportunity.”

BCMM opened in 2014 and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. The museum tells the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings, explores how evolving sound technology shaped their success, and highlights how Bristol’s rich music heritage lives on in today’s music.

Through multiple theater experiences, interactive displays, and artifacts – along with various educational programs, music performances, and community events – the exciting story of those recording sessions and their far-reaching influence comes alive. Rotating exhibitions from guest curators and other institutions, including the Smithsonian, are featured in the Special Exhibits Gallery throughout the year. The museum also houses a research collection, including an extensive digital archive.

Museums for All is a national, branded access program that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. It is open to participation by any type of museum – including art, history, natural history/anthropology, and general museums, children’s museums, science centers, planetariums, nature centers, historic houses/sites, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and arboretums.

Museums for All is part of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences. Museums for All helps expand access to museums and raises public awareness about how museums in the U.S. reach their entire communities. More than 850 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

To learn more, please visit Museums4all.org.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant-making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that allow communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM)
The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. With more than 460 members in 50 states and 16 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of children’s museums through convening, sharing, and dissemination. Learn more at www.childrensmuseums.org.

Speaker Series: The Kazoo’s Place in History and Music March 8

March 3, 2022

Bristol, Va.-Tenn. (March 3, 2022) – Kazoos are often thought of as a quirky little noise maker that requires little skill to play and is considered by some to be the opposite of a “respectable” musical instrument. However, peculiar as it may be, the kazoo’s backstory has serious origins in Africa with its predecessor, the horn-mirliton. On Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. EST, Scott Paulson, exhibits and events coordinator at the University of California San Diego library, is joining us for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s Speaker Series where he will explore some surprising kazoo history and trivia about this misunderstood instrument.

“Scott’s talk for our monthly speaker series program is going to be really fun and informative,” says Head Curator Rene Rodgers. “Not only will attendees learn about the kazoo’s history, including its connections to country music, but they’ll also get the chance to hear the way this instrument can be used for sound effects and enjoy a show-and-tell examination of various kazoo types, amongst other surprises!”

Scott Paulson has spent more than four decades at UC San Diego, first as a student of music and linguistics, and today as the exhibits and events coordinator for the campus’ iconic Geisel Library. He has been part of the library’s special events around National Kazoo Day for the past few years. Starting off from a challenge to use “serious library tools to investigate a light, playful topic,” the library’s “kazoo salute” has included exhibits, live kazoo performances, and the commissioning of original kazoo music.

In addition to covering the history of the instrument, Paulson will survey the greatest forgotten kazoo solos of all time and explore a Bristol Sessions kazoo connection during the online event.

There will be no in-person option for this Speaker Series event as Paulson leads the conversation from his home in California, via Zoom. There is no cost to join the museum’s Speaker Series online, but you must pre-register online to join the event. Visit the Events page here to RSVP and for more information.

GRAMMY Winner Mike Farris Returns to Bristol Jan. 29

January 10, 2022

Bristol, Tenn./Va. (January 10, 2022) – GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Mike Farris returns to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on January 29, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. ET as part of the 1927 Society Concert Series.

Presented by the Birthplace of Country Music (BCM), the 1927 Society Concert Series offers more than great live music – it’s an all-inclusive, catered event with drinks and an intimate concert experience where fans are given the opportunity to connect with the artists both on and off the stage.

“Mike Farris is a magnificent performer and has one of the most unique voices in Americana,” said BCM Executive Director of Advancement Leah Ross. “Whether he’s performing for large crowds at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion or playing to an intimate crowd at the museum, he puts on a thrilling show. We’re excited to host him back in Bristol for the 1927 Society Concert Series – a series that really allows fans to interact with the artist on a personal level.”

In addition to an incredible GRAMMY win for 2015’s Shine for All the People (Best Roots Gospel Album), Farris earned a GMA Dove Award in 2010 (Traditional Gospel Album of the Year) for his album SHOUT! Live. In 2018 the artist made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, following performances on Austin City Limits and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 16th Annual American Music Masters Concert honoring Aretha Franklin. In November of last year Mike Farris was honored by the state of Tennessee and his hometown, the city of Winchester, with a Tennessee Music Pathways marker in the artist’s name near the city’s square.

During his solo career, Farris has crossed between rock, blues, soul and gospel to bring a current sensibility to traditional Southern music. In April 1991 he started a band with guitarist Rick White. Their name, Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, was adapted from a Gary Larson cartoon. Signed by Atlantic Records, their first self-titled album was released in 1994. The band toured consistently, starring alongside the Allman Brothers band, the Dave Matthews Band, Meat Loaf and Sheryl Crow. Two albums on Capricorn Records followed in 1996 and 1998, supported by arena tours with Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.

Farris left the group to explore different genres of music. He eventually took the advice of his manager, Rose McGathy, to base his career around his love of traditional Southern music. Overcoming addiction issues led Farris to embrace Christianity. As a solo artist, he has performed at major festivals including Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bonnaroo, MerleFest, South by Southwest and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. His career remains firmly rooted in the core styles of Southern music. Farris has also drawn on his personal narrative to work with addiction recovery programs, helping at-risk kids and young adults. His focus is to encourage kids to discover their personal direction and build their lives around it.

BCM’s Friends of 1927 Society Concert Series is a unique concert experience where fans have the opportunity to interact with performers in a relaxed setting. Pre-show hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages are included in the ticket price, and after the performance fans have the opportunity to mingle with the artist.

Tickets to the 1927 Society Concert featuring Mike Farris are on sale now to the public for $100. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for attendees to enjoy drinks and catering prior to the concert. Ticket holders must be 21+ with a valid driver’s license to consume alcohol. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m.

In order to continue to offer concerts in the museum’s intimate performance theater, audience members, staff, musicians, and artists in attendance will be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours for entry.

For tickets and more information, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

BCM Museum Honored at TAM

April 6, 2021

Bristol, Tenn./VA (April 6, 2021) -The Birthplace of Country Music Museum was a recipient of five (5) Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) awards at the recent TAM conference held virtually last month. The TAM Awards of Excellence were presented to museums across the state for exceptional projects, programs and events held during 2020.

The TAM Awards recognize the work and accomplishments of cultural institutions in a number of categories from exhibits and educational programs to social media and publications. Among those given, two awards went to initiatives created in direct response to the pandemic: Museum from Home, the museum’s educational online resources portal, and the Birthplace of Country Music’s Infectious Disease Prevention and Safety Plan. Tennessee Association of Museums Conference
“Despite being closed for several months during the pandemic last year, our organization kept working,” said Leah Ross, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music (BCM), the parent nonprofit of the museum, the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, and WBCM Radio Bristol. “We couldn’t have visitors in the museum at that time, so museum staff developed online programming so we could stay connected to the community – and we continue to build on that platform. They also put a lot of planning and time into developing the health and safety protocols needed to open our doors to visitors again and to ensure public confidence. We are very proud of our team and their hard work. Our staff continues to exceed expectations at every turn.” Below is a list of BCM Awards of Excellence along with categories:

Museum from Home Educational Online Resources
(Educational Programming)
Birthplace of Country Music Infectious Disease & Safety Plan
(Special Recognition)
Museum Talk with Rene & Scotty Radio Show
(Digital Media, Podcast)
Volunteer Newsletter
(Publication/Newsletter)
Summer Apostol, Assistant Museum Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
(Emerging Museum Professional)

TAM awards are voted on by a committee consisting of representatives from museums and institutions across the state and based on whether the nomination fits the organization’s mission; the quality of the program, exhibit, event, promotional campaign, etc.; how it engaged the community and audience; and the project’s impact, both internally and externally. TAM recognizes the projects and accomplishments achieved at museums, historic sites and cultural institutions across the state during the previous year.

For more information about the Tennessee Association of Museums and the TAM Awards, visit TNMuseums.org.

Hard Rock Special Exhibit

October 1, 2020

Bristol, Va./Tenn. (October 1, 2020) – The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and Hard Rock International have partnered up to bring several priceless items from Hard Rock’s vast collection of authentic country music memorabilia to Historic Downtown Bristol for inclusion in a new special exhibit. The items will be on display in this exhibit now through March 28, 2021.

“Hard Rock is proud to share such iconic pieces from our memorabilia collection with the Bristol community,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “Our commitment to preserve music history from the world’s greatest entertainers is part of our company’s DNA since we were founded nearly 50 years ago.”

Hard Rock items highlighted at the museum from classic country stars include costume pieces worn by Loretta Lynn and the Queen of Appalachia herself, Dolly Parton, and well-loved instruments owned by the likes of Roy Acuff, Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings, along with the iconic red-white-and-blue acoustic guitar belonging to Buck Owens. Items by a few modern country artists are also featured in the exhibit, including Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood. As a tip of the hat to the region, Kenny Chesney’s Takamine G501s acoustic guitar is included in the collection; Chesney is among the first alumni of East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies program to achieve fame. He also recorded his first demo at Classic Recording Studio in Downtown Bristol.

“It was exciting to get to see some of Hard Rock’s memoriabilia collection up close, and we were thrilled to find several objects that fit in so well with our new special exhibit,” said Dr. René Rodgers, Head Curator at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. “We are delighted for the opportunity to work with Hard Rock, and we think our museum visitors will enjoy it as much as we do.”

A Selection of Hard Rock’s Country Music Memorabilia is on display as part of Honky Tonk: Portraits of Country Music, 1972-1981, a special exhibit of photographs by filmmaker, educator and author Henry Horenstein. Honky Tonk is a candid, affectionate glimpse into the real country music scene as it was performed and lived—a parade through the early years of future great performers like Dolly Parton and established legends like Mother Maybelle Carter.

For more information about the collection, museum visiting hours, the special exhibit, and more, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. For more information about Hard Rock International, visit Hardrock.com.

Honky Tonk Special Exhibit

September 29, 2020

Bristol, Va./Tenn. (September 29, 2020) – The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee has unveiled Honky Tonk: Portraits of Country Music, 1972-1981, its latest special exhibit on display through March 28, 2021.

“Henry Horenstein’s images capture performers like Dolly Parton, Doc Watson, Loretta Lynn, and Del McCoury, along with a host of iconic country and bluegrass stars throughout their careers,” said Dr. Rene Rodgers, the museum’s Head Curator. “With this exhibit, he explores the concept of honky tonk through the artists who made the music, the fans who followed them, and the venues that brought them to the stage.”

Honky Tonk is a collection of photographs taken by renowned photographer, filmmaker, teacher, and author Henry Horenstein, who once shot album covers for bluegrass label Rounder Records. Horenstein kept his camera handy in his off-time, capturing images from the honky tonk scene of the 1970s at locations ranging from family music parks and festivals to Nashivlle’s Tootsies Orchid Lounge and the Grand Ole Opry. Horenstein’s lively portraits of the honky tonk community preserve the scene where musicians and fans, cowboys and townies all converged to step out, strum, and strut their stuff.

Horenstein’s work is collected and exhibited internationally, and he has published over 30 books including several monographs of his own work such as Histories, Show, Honky Tonk, Animalia, Humans, Racing Days, Close Relations, and others. He also authored Black & White Photography, Digital Photography, and Beyond Basic Photography, used by hundreds of thousands of learning institutions as textbooks. His Shoot What You Love serves as both a memoir and personal history of photography over the past 50 years.

In recent years Horenstein has been making films: Preacher, Murray, Spoke, Partners, and Blitto Underground, which will premiere in 2021. He is a professor of photography at Rhode Island School of Design and lives in Boston.

A supplementary display related to honky tonk music, including A Selection of Hard Rock’s Country Music Memorabilia and several objects sourced from local collectors and other museums, will be included with the exhibit. Other programming related to the Honky Tonk special exhibit will be introduced at a later date.

Click here for more events at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

BCM Earns Healthy Business Certification During Pandemic

August 11, 2020

Bristol, Va./Tenn. (August 11, 2020) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) has achieved Healthy Business Certification from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, certifying that both its business office and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum has a disease prevention plan in place that meets guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace health and pandemic response.

“Our first priority is to provide a safe environment for our visitors, volunteers, and staff,” said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. “This certification helped us to refine our current guidelines and create a stronger plan that will help us combat illness in the workplace while providing a healthier environment for guests at the museum. Many of these practices will carry on past the pandemic.”

When BCM was forced to close the Birthplace of Country Music Museum back in March due to COVID-19, the organization immediately went to work developing a health safety plan in preparations for the day of reopening. The state of Virginia gave the green light to reopen the museum in June, and the museum proceeded with full implementation of set plans.

In July the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce hosted the Health Business Certification training provided by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and invited BCM to take part. BCM attended the training, and though the class helped participants with the development of a safety plan, the nonprofit submitted its own, previously written plan. The plan was reviewed and accepted by the state with no further action needed.

The Healthy Business Certification course helps businesses and organizations become familiar with standards and regulations that OSHA, the CDC, and WHO have set in place to make sure all employees function in a healthy workplace environment. Objectives include understanding the purpose of infectious disease prevention, recognizing potential hazards, identifying key components of an Infectious Disease Plan, and the development and implementation of an Infectious Disease Plan.

“We received tremendous feedback on the operational and safety plans our staff developed earlier this year, and we were thrilled to learn that the guidelines and practices we already had in place met the high standards of certification,” said Ross.

The certification will be up for renewal in July 2021.

BCM Counting on Heroes and Raffle This Fall

August 4, 2020

Bristol, Va./Tenn. (August 3, 2020) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) has experienced its share of obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit was forced to close the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for nearly three months between March and June at the onset of social distancing, and last month BCM announced the cancellation of its 20th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, which was originally slated for September.

“Despite the obstacles and lost income, BCM is determined to come back leaner and stronger as an organization, but we are asking for help,” said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. “We are determined to stay positive and keep working toward solutions, and that means directing our focus on fundraising.”

The Bristol Sessions Super Raffle and the 2020 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Heroes campaign are two ways you can support BCM, and each offers some pretty sweet incentives for pitching in. With the purchase of a $100 Super Raffle ticket, you get two chances to win up to $250,000 in cash and prizes. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold, which increases your chances of walking away with up to $25,000 in cash, a 2020 Toyota Takoma, a 7-Day all-inclusive trip to Jamaica, and much, much more. Most of these big prizes were obtained from local businesses in partnership with BCM, and proceeds will help the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s recovery efforts. Visit BristolSessionsSuperRaffle.org to purchase tickets and see the long list of impressive prizes. The drawing will be held Sunday, September 13, 2020; ticket holders do not have to be present to win.

The 2020 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Heroes campaign is calling on the community to donate $75 or more to the Festival Recovery Fund to help recoup losses from this year’s cancelled event. Donors will be listed as 2020 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Heroes on a permanent display in the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, receive a Special Edition 20th anniversary poster signed by the artist, a discount on tickets for 2021, and more. Donations of over $250 will receive all of the above, a one-year membership to the organization’s 1927 Society, and other festival merchandise. All donations are tax-deductible, and 2020 tickets may be “donated” back to BCM to receive incentives. Visit BristolRhythmHero.com for more details.

Every effort is being made to contact ticket purchasers for the cancelled 2020 festival, but it is essential that each buyer fill out the intent form at BristolRhythm.com to let BCM know how they would like to transfer their tickets. New wristbands will need to be issued to those folks for 2021 if they wish to carry them over to next year. The 20th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival has been rescheduled for September 10-12, 2021 in Historic Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee.

Now that the Birthplace of Country Music Museum has re-opened, BCM is taking every measure to protect the health and safety of guests, volunteers, and staff. Masks are required by everyone in the museum, and guests are issued hand-sanitizer and sterilized styluses for use on the touchscreen exhibits. Heightened cleaning practices and social distancing are also part of the daily routine, with no more than 100 people allowed in the building at one time and tours spaced apart for safety. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to their visit at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Additionally, the special exhibit Real Folk: Passing on Trades & Traditions through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program has been extended through August 30 for anyone who may have missed it. The exhibit explores all forms of Virginia’s expressive culture – from those found in the Appalachian hills and at the Chesapeake shore to new immigrant traditions brought to the state – including letterpress printing, mandolin making, African-American gospel singing, quilting, old-time banjo playing, Mexican folk dancing, classical Iranian and Persian music, country ham curing, and more.

The museum also offers a variety of virtual experiences and resources, including exhibit-focused videos, our Student Activity Center with lots of fun activities for children, Radio Bristol Book Club, the “Listen While I Tell” BCM blog, and more, online at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org/bcm-at-home. And on Tuesday, August 18, 3:30-5:00pm the museum will be hosting a virtual volunteer training via Zoom. Those interested in participating in this training should contact volunteercoordinator@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.

Great news for fans of WBCM Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time variety show! BCM has announced that the popular program has been syndicated on UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina and East Tennessee PBS, reaching 100 counties and 13 million households across the state of North Carolina and 30 counties in parts of Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.

“We are thrilled to see Farm and Fun Time expand and reach new audiences,” said Radio Bristol producer and show host Kris Truelsen. “Since the launch of this program five years ago, we had a distant goal of syndicating it. To see that dream become a reality is truly remarkable. So much love and hard work has gone into creating Farm and Fun Time; it feels great to see people respond so positively to what our team has built. We expect more growth and are setting our sights on national syndication.”

Farm and Fun Time joined the programming lineup at Blue Ridge PBS in Roanoke, Virginia back in April. Combined, Farm and Fun Time potentially reaches nearly 20 million viewers in a parts of a five-state coverage area. Farm and Fun Time can still be accessed live online at ListenRadioBristol.org and viewed on the station’s Facebook Live once a month. Check online for local listings in your market; Farm and Fun Time will air on UNC-TV in North Carolina at 9:00 p.m. EST on Saturday evenings.

Congratulations are also in order for Radio Bristol’s Kris Truelsen on his recent nomination for the Momentum Award for Industry Involvement from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which recognizes both musicians and bluegrass industry professionals who are making significant contributions to or are having a significant influence upon bluegrass music.

Tune in to WBCM’s Radio Bristol Book Club on August 27 at 11:00 a.m. and explore The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: A Memoir of Friendship, Community, and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book by author Wendy Welch.The book chronicles the true-life journey of Welch and her husband amid their escape from a toxic work environment to a struggling mining town where they opened their own bookstore. Customers like Bob the Mad Irishman and The Lady Who Liked Romances stop by the shop looking for the kind of interactive wisdom Kindles don’t spark, and they find friendship, community, and the uncommon pleasure of a good book in good company. The book club discussion will be followed with an interview with the author. The broadcast and archived shows can be accessed at ListenRadioBristol.org.

For a complete list of events and a comprehensive look at everything the Birthplace of Country Music has to offer, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

ETSU Gospel Choir in Concert at the Museum

April 10, 2019

Companion Programming for “I Have a Voice” Special Exhibit April 28

Bristol, Tenn./Va. (April 10, 2019) – The Birthplace of Country Music is proud to announce that an ensemble from the East Tennessee State University Gospel Choir will appear in concert at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. in the Performance Theater. The concert is companion programming to I Have A Voice: Tennessee’s African American Musical Heritage, a special exhibit on loan from the Tennessee State Museum; the exhibit will be on display at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum through April 30.

“The I Have a Voice exhibit highlights the many important contributions made by African American Tennesseans’ to American music, and beyond,” says Head Curator Rene Rodgers. “Gospel is one of the genres that has been significantly shaped and strengthened by those contributions. We are thrilled that the ETSU Gospel Choir will be at the museum on the 28th – it is going to be a wonderful opportunity to experience the power and inspiration of that music through their performance.”

The ETSU Gospel Choir was founded in 1975 from humble roots with only 12 members. Today, the choir averages 50 singers and continues to grow with members representing a wide array of nationalities and cultures. The advisor of the choir is Mrs. Laura Terry and is led under the direction of Mr. Jimmy Young. Over the years, the choir has participated in the National Baptist Student Union (BSU) where they have been successful at some point with a first, second and third place finish at this fellowship competition. The main purpose of the choir is to provide a source of inspiration to the community and its members through ministry and praise. This is done at local churches and civic organizations, as well as universities throughout East Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Tickets to the ETSU Gospel Choir performance at the museum are $5; entrance to the I Have a Voice special exhibit is free to ticket holders. Special thanks to Wells Fargo for their support of I Have a Voice and its related programming.

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