Born and raised in Nashville, Tenn., McHugh’s songs include “Don’t Happen Twice” for Kenny Chesney, “You Can’t Lose Me” by Faith Hill, “More” by Trace Adkins, “Life Goes On” by Little Texas, “This Is Me” by Randy Travis and “It Won’t Be Over You” by Steve Wariner, just to name a few.

“Parallel is thrilled to have such a talented and accomplished writer on our roster,” said Tim Hunze, managing partner, Parallel Music Publishing. “We expect great things to come from our new relationship with Thom.”

McHugh is no stranger to the music industry. Following his heart, after two years at Western Kentucky University, Thom transferred to the Music Business Program at Nashville’s Belmont University. While there, Thom began studying Engineering and working in the University’s studio. It wasn’t long before Thom landed an internship at MCA Music Publishing where he soon worked his way up to chief engineer of the MCA studio. Engineering by day and writing by night, McHugh discovered his true passion in writing and decided to give it a shot full time.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Tim Hunze and the entire Parallel Entertainment team,” said Thom. “It feels like the perfect fit.”

The 2012 Radio Humanitarian winners are KMOK/Lewiston, Idaho (Small Market), WIVK/Knoxville, Tenn. (Medium Market) and WLHK/Indianapolis, Ind. (Large Market).  As previously announced, the Artist Humanitarian Award winner is Rascal Flatts.  CRS President Mike Culotta and Radio Ink’s Lois Chooljian presented the awards at 10:30 a.m., immediately following the CRS Keynote Address.

Small Market Winner: 106.9 KMOK/Lewiston, Idaho -
Lewiston’s KMOK was instrumental in dozens of local humanitarian efforts in 2011, including National Night Out Against Crime, Pet of the Week, Lewis Clark Animal Shelter’s Dog Swim, Coats for the Cold, Annual Life Safety Day, United Way Day of Caring, Relay for Life, Earth Day, Jackson Baldwin Foundation, Jog for Jugs, Wounded Warriors Project, Cruising to Clarkston and numerous others.

Medium Market Winner: 107.7 WIVK/Knoxville, Tenn. -
WIVK’s contributions to fundraising efforts helped raise a total of more than $12.9 million in 2011.  Campaigns included: the HonorAir Radiothon, Voices from the Front, Coats for the Cold, Stuff the Bus, a Susan G. Komen benefit concert and the Teddy Bear Round Up.  WIVK sponsored dozens of events, such as the “Real Steel” movie premiere, Buddy’s Race Against Cancer, Fantasy of Trees for Children’s Hospital, Great Rubber Duck Race for Boys & Girls’ Club, ADA Step Out Walk, Knoxville Zoo and more.

Large Market Winner: 97.1 WLHK/Indianapolis, Ind. -
Indianapolis’ HANK FM/97.1 continued its avid support for Habitat For Humanity in 2011, building a five bedroom house at the Indiana State Fair in just 15 days.  The station hosted a Santa’s Secret Star benefit concert for the Salvation Army during Christmas, debuted its Christmas Angel program, received national media attention for Cheri’s Chores, partnered with the Indianapolis Colts to host the Big Blue Drive-Through for tornado relief and was instrumental in efforts supporting the victims at the Indiana State Fair tragedy.

Rascal Flatts received the 2012 Artist Humanitarian award for their charitable contributions and humanitarian endeavors throughout their career.   In 2010, the group donated $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center.  They currently serve as celebrity spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization, The Jason Foundation, and have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for the past seven years.

Visit  www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information

Williams, who has 20 gold albums, six platinum albums, 13 chart-topping albums, and 10 No. One singles will perform hits like “A Country Boy Can Survive,” “Dixie on My Mind,” and “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.” In addition, fans can look forward to hearing new material, written within weeks of his 2011 controversial remarks.

Hank Jr.’s tour will visit the following cities:
3/03/12 – St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
3/04/12 – Plant City, FL – Florida Strawberry Festival
4/06/12 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum (w/ 38 Special)
4/07/12 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre (w/ 38 Special)
4/13/12 – Duluth, GA – The Arena at Gwinnett Center (w/ 38 Special and Jamey Johnson)
4/14/12 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Civic Center Coliseum (w/ 38 Special and Jamey Johnson)
4/27/12 – Southaven, MS – Landers Center (w/ Josh Thompson and Jamey Johnson)
5/11/12 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center (w/ 38 Special and Jamey Johnson)
5/12/12 – Dayton, OH – Nutter Center (w/ 38 Special and Jamey Johnson)
5/18/12 – Bossier City, LA – Centurylink Center (w/ 38 Special and Jamey Johnson)
5/19/12 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena (w/ Jamey Johnson)
7/27/12 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Frontier Days (w/ Chris Young)
8/04/12 – Davenport, IA – Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds
8/16/12 – Louisville, KY – Kentucky State Fair, Freedom Hall (w/ George Thorogood)
8/17/12 – Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fair, Grandstand (w/ George Thorogood)
8/18/12 – Sedalia, MO – Missouri State Fairground (w/ George Thorogood)

Ticket information, on-sale dates, and fan club promotions will be available at www.hankjr.com.

Tonight, the group will bring their OWN THE NIGHT 2012 WORLD TOUR sponsored by GAC to Nashville, where more than 1,200 Country Radio Seminar attendees were invited to the sold-out show.  The tour continues this weekend with sold out shows in Detroit, MI and Evansville, IN.  For a full list of tour dates and more information, visit www.ladyantebellum.com

Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Dan Hill was quick to recognize Berry’s vocal prowess and showmanship, calling Berry: “Simply amazing!” This is no small gesture from a man who has worked closely with such artists as Celine Dion, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, to name but a few. Event organizer Tan Sri Jojo, echoed that sentiment calling Berry’s voice and performance “Fantastic!”

“What an incredible evening,” Jay exclaimed. “It was a thrill to perform at such an important event and an honor to share the stage with Dan. To top it all off, this was for a cause that I truly believe in. It just doesn’t get any better than that.”

Berry’s meteoric rise from unknown singer 10 months ago to sharing the stage with Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Dan Hill, speaks volumes about his talent. In less than a year, Berry has had three # 1 singles from his debut CD, Keepsake, and toured the world to SRO crowds. “This past year has been an amazing journey,” relates Berry. “I feel truly blessed to have my work embraced and recognized by my peers.”

For more information on Jay Scott Berry, visit him at his new website www.jsbmusic.com

This year’s study compiled data from a national survey of more than 1,000 Country fans ages 18-54.  According to Edison Research, which conducted the study and presented the findings at CRS, 65 percent of Country fans qualified as “non-P1” listeners.  Edison Research also performed and included in-depth video interviews with fans as part of its presentation.

Among the study’s key findings were:

- Local, live DJs are instrumental in the difference between radio and other music outlets like Pandora or Spotify.

- Both P1s and non-P1s are generally equally as enthusiastic about DJs and half of both groups say that DJs are a prime reason that AM/FM radio is better than internet radio.

- Non-P1s are more than twice as likely to have begun listening to Country music “in the last few years.”

- One in six non-P1s say that Country music from the 1960s and 70s is their favorite.

- Ninety percent of non-P1s feel that Country music makes a positive contribution to America.  Four in five say that Country lyrics often express how they feel.

- Non P1s are more likely to go to church on a weekly basis than P1 listeners.

- Eighty-six percent of non-P1s perceive that Country music is becoming more popular.

- Non-P1s are much more likely to be aware of Pandora, iHeart or Spotify and much less likely to listen frequently to the radio.

“Country music remains a very healthy format and is actually becoming more popular, but one of the main points that I think this year’s survey drives home is that Country radio could do a better job at understanding and identifying its non-P1 listeners,” says Edison Research Co-founder and President Larry Rosin. “While it is understandable that P1 listeners should be a priority, the importance of the other 65 percent or so of your total audience cannot be underestimated.  Our data also suggest that live, local DJs are one of the big advantages that radio has over internet and satellite outlets, and should be acknowledged as such.”

The full CRS 2012 Country Radio research study is now available online at: www.EdisonResearch.com

“They make the most eco-friendly CD packaging on earth,” says Ann Claire, whose Honkytonk Princess was released February 21 on Prosody Records. “I am extremely proud to be associated with Sunlyte in the manufacturing of my CDs. The trays are made from recycled bottles, the packaging is made of recycled paper and natural inks, and they look gorgeous. Fans and retailers comment on the superior quality of the materials and how lightweight and economical each unit is.”

As a country artist, Ann Claire knows the importance of being good, doing good, and spreading good values. “I write and perform music that comes from a legacy of people who understood the meaning of real life and community,” she explains. “It’s a culture of good values and a strong commitment to do the right thing. So it makes sense to me to have my products support the community by being safe, responsible, and carbon-free.”

For Ann Claire, being mindful of the environment is second nature. She recycles diligently, buys her fruits and vegetables from local farmers only, gets her pets from shelters instead of breeders or pet stores, and knows the power of the pooper scooper. “Being environmentally conscious isn’t an option anymore, for anyone. It’s something we need to hold ourselves and others accountable for. We’re in an economic and social situation worldwide where we need to work together as a group, regardless of our political or personal differences, to cherish the resources we have available to us and make them available to those in the developing world and for future generations in our own country,” she adds.

Meanwhile, she is in the middle of a residency tour at Nashville’s Taps & Tapas, which is sponsored by OneHope Wine, and is gearing up for spring tour dates, including a March 31 show at Mozambique in Laguna Beach, California. More dates will be announced shortly.

Of her debut album, the artist says, “Honkytonk Princess is the true story of my life over the past five years. It’s a pretty even mix of up-tempo fun songs that celebrate life and love, and songs from the heart that reflect what I have been through, and the faith and passion, that it takes to lay it all down on the line for what you believe in, while there is still time and you have the chance.”

For more information visit http://www.princessannclaire.com

Click above to view photos from the event

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) today announced the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees at a press conference held at The Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta, GA, which was streamed live at HearItFirst. Nominees were announced by GRAMMY nominated R&B artist Montell Jordan, known for his iconic hit “This is How We Do It,” BET “Lift Every Voice” host CoCo Brother, Daytime EMMY nominated comedian Chonda Pierce, and World Heavyweight Champion wrestler AJ Styles.

Atlanta will host the Dove Awards for a second time at the Fox Theatre on April 19, 2012, following a sold-out show in 2011 hosted by Sherri Shepherd which aired on the Gospel Music Channel and garnered 1.5 million viewers.

The Dove Awards have featured performances and appearances by some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports, including Whitney Houston, Tim Tebow, Sherri Shepherd and Kathie Lee Gifford. It has showcased many of the nation’s leading Christian music artists, including Amy Grant, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns, Mary Mary, Third Day and more.

“The GMA is excited to again honor the artists, songwriters and creative individuals in our community through the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards” said Jackie Patillo, GMA’s Executive Director.  “This event not only celebrates great work, but provides a platform to further our mission of exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music.”

The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees include:

Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris August
Chris Tomlin
Jason Crabb
Kirk Franklin
Steven Curtis Chapman

Female Vocalist of the Year:
Francesca Battistelli
Kari Jobe
Laura Story
Mandisa
Natalie Grant

Group of the Year:
Casting Crowns
David Crowder*Band
Gaither Vocal Band
NEEDTOBREATHE
The Isaacs

For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org

Click above to view photos from the event

The nominations for the 43rd Annual Gospel Music Dove Awards were announced at a press conference in downtown Atlanta.  Announcing the nominations were Gospel music artists Montell Jordan and Jaime-Grace, World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion AJ Styles and Comedian Chonda Pierce.  Hosting the event was Jackie Patillo, Executive Director of the Gospel Music Association.  Music News Nashville was on hand to capture the event in photos.

Imagine that you’re the president of a large record company. One of your most successful Country artists approaches you with the concept of making a bluegrass album. You’re pretty confident the album has little or no chance of radio airplay and that your artist could be talking about a year and a half or two off the charts, but he’s passionate and committed and willing to take the risk. What do you say?

If you’re Capitol Nashville’s CEO and President Mike Dungan and the artist is Dierks Bentley, you say “yes.” That’s the position Dungan found himself in two years ago when Bentley pleaded for the chance to cut Up on the Ridge, a bluegrass venture that would align him with some of the finest musicians of the genre. Although two singles were eventually released and the album received widespread critical acclaim (including two CMA and three Grammy Award nominations), it also effectively stemmed the tide of consecutive chart-topping successes Bentley had been enjoying at Country radio. But when the singer put out “Am I the Only One” in March 2011— his first Country single since Up on the Ridge — it instantly sandblasted a trail straight to No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart, securely reestablishing Bentley as a force to be reckoned with.

As Dungan describes it now, it was as if Bentley had never been gone. “A lot of people said, ‘That’s really courageous for you and for Dierks to do this,’” said the label chief. “And sure, it’s always a concern when you lay off like that. But we always felt that it would just be a question of coming back with strong music. When you come back with something strong, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been off.”

“Am I the Only One” resonated with Bentley’s Country fans. But adding another wrinkle to the decidedly not-by-the-rulebook scenario was timing. The single was originally intended to be the first track from a Bentley follow-up Country CD produced by Jon Randall Stewart from Up on the Ridge. Since the album was nearly finished, Capitol strategically timed “Am I the Only One” to coincide with the album’s anticipated street date in 2011. But Bentley felt the album wasn’t ready and asked for more time. With label approval, the artist returned to the drawing board — and back to the same team of producers and musicians who had worked closely with him over nine years of Country successes. With Brett Beavers and producer and former engineer Luke Wooten at the helm, the project began to take on a more characteristic mainstream shape. Some songs were retained (such as “Am I the Only One” and “Home,” both produced by Stewart). Other songs were scrapped and replaced.

From a marketing point of view, the delay could have been costly. But Capitol decided to trust Bentley’s solid fan base and popularity at radio and released “Am I the Only One” in the spring of 2011 without an album waiting in the wings. The gambit paid off with Bentley’s first No. 1 hit since 2009 and bought needed time for the artist to fashion Home.

“This record reflects this time in my life,” Bentley explained. “It’s about my family, something I never had in the past. I’m married now, I’m a father. My records have always been a snapshot of my life. It’s never been about putting my voice with a great song and trying to make a hit, as much as where I am in my life and hoping that my fans can laugh with me or party with me or get serious with me.”

Believing the instrumentation, arrangements and song choices mirror a more matured perspective on his part, Bentley describes the record as having the power and the punch of modern Country though rich in traditional acoustic instruments, including Dobro and mandolin. Said Wooten, who has known the artist for more than a decade, “I think the bluegrass album really made Dierks step up his game in terms of his guitar playing. He matured so much lyrically and musically, and I think he gained a much-deserved credibility for his musicianship.”

Dungan put it a slightly different way. “Dierks launched his career as a fun guy. But he’s developed into a much more serious artist. I think he got tired of singing the same kind of fun ‘frat boy’ themes. This record is a nice balance between the fun Dierks and the more sublime artistic side of him that’s who he is now.”

Another twist is that Bentley spent more time writing songs for this album than for any other album he’s made yet ended up including more outside material on the finished CD. (Six cuts are Bentley co-writes, six are by other songwriters.) The shift in balance was intentional. “I can’t imagine how many thousands of outside songs I listened to and my producers listened to,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I really wanted this album to be a collection of the best songs I could find. I have a lot of friends in the songwriting community, and this was definitely a conscious attempt on our part to find great songs.”

“This is the first time Dierks has cut this many outside songs,” added Wooten. “It was a long year for him, because he put a lot of heart and soul into it. When you’re as prolific a songwriter as Dierks, it’s probably a difficult thing to do, but I think he felt like he wanted to do something different on this record. And that’s typical Dierks. He’s always trying to find new ground. When you listen to this album, it definitely is a Dierks Bentley record, but musically he goes to places he’s not gone before.”

Nothing exemplifies this better than the album’s title cut, “Home,” which Bentley wrote with co-producer Brett Beavers and Dan Wilson. From the moment it was released in October 2011, the song struck a deeply rooted chord with Country fans, showing all indications of becoming a bona fide signature record for its artist. “When we were tracking that one, you could just tell the musicians, every one of them, knew it was something special,” said Wooten. “I remember it was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon when we started working on it, and it was so obvious that everyone could feel that there was something really powerful happening with that song.”

Despite the somewhat unorthodox chain of events — how many other albums have their first single released nearly 12 months before the CD comes out? — Capitol’s Dungan is gladly taking a carpe diem marketing approach. “First of all, we’re blessed with the fact that we’ll have had two hit songs on this record by the time the album hit (Feb. 7). That was not intentional, but we’re certainly working it to our advantage. Once we all got the shared vision of what Dierks was trying to do and understood that the album wasn’t going to be ready by the time we went through the life of the first single, we knew we weren’t going to be able to capitalize on momentum. So it became more a question of, ‘OK, now it’s going to be like a bonus. Now the album can have a sticker on it saying, ’Featuring the Hits!’ It’s not the first time in history that it’s been done this way. We’re going to lean heavily on the fact that there’s already value in this package.”

Home won’t disappoint die-hard fans of the artist’s lighthearted feel-good approach, with songs like “Diamonds Make Babies” (written by Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton and Lee Thomas Miller),“Tip It on Back” (Tully Kennedy, Ross Copperman and Jon Nite) and “Am I the Only One” (Beavers, Randall and Bentley). Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town shares a duet with Bentley on “When You Gonna Come Around,” by Jamie Hartford and Gary Nicholson. Noting that “Little Big Town is so talented it’s ridiculous,” Bentley invited Fairchild to join him on the track; two days later they were in the studio together recording the tune. There’s even a strong family connection on this album: Bentley’s 3½-year-old daughter Evalyn makes an unheralded appearance singing with her daddy on “Thinking of You” (Beavers and Bentley), a bonus hidden track at the end of Home.

Bentley’s producers planned the child’s brief duet as a surprise birthday present for Bentley who was in Washington, D.C., that day, performing at the White House. “It’s the last song on the CD, the CD is called Home, and the last word sung is ‘home’ when Evie says, ‘Dada’s home.’ You know, we’re up there onstage trying to kill every night and there’s so much energy, but this song talks about the other 22 hours off the stage, the pain of missing someone. There’s no pain like missing a kid. I thought, ‘Am I really going to go there, put my kid on a record?’ But it’s true and honest and personal. Looking back on this album down the road, the years will go by, but I’ll always have this moment to remind me.”

With upcoming tours in Canada and Australia, and spring and summer festivals across the United States, Bentley is gearing up for what may be his biggest year. Country fans and radio are welcoming him back with open arms, and he’s got the full support of his record company.

“This is an artist that from day one we’ve been in love with,” said Dungan. “We want to be in his life for a long time to come.”

That feeling is mutual. “I’ve still got a lot to accomplish as a songwriter and as a musician, but I’m taking things one step at a time,” summed up Bentley. “I really like how my life is going now. I wouldn’t do anything differently. I’m really looking forward to 2012.”

On the Web: www.Dierks.com

© 2012 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

Forged with an iron will and a heart of gold, Virginia’s own Mike Birch is carrying the banner of classic country and proving himself as one of the genre’s latest up and coming stars. As a dreamer and a music lover, this talented singer possesses a charm like no other, utilizing his innate country sensibilities to pen memorable, catchy songs which stay with the listener long after the record stops spinning. Now fresh off the debut of his first album, Believe, Birch is ready to take on the world with his group of country music veterans.

From his life as a deputy sheriff to teaching criminal justice in Virginia, Birch always remained true to his teenage dreams, never forgetting his desire to entertain and thrill people with his singing. Beginning with popular cover tracks and a few songs from Roy Orbison or Chris Isaak, he continued to hone his voice to the razor sharp edge we hear on Believe.

Influenced by artists such as Charlie Rich, Vince Gill and Blake Shelton, this former karaoke bar star has broken out of the local community with the release of his debut LP, which is already garnering attention from music critics throughout the scene.

“Believe is a strong release for Birch and his ensemble. The songs are well written and creatively performed, and the vocals have a very personal quality to them that helps them stand out among the crowded modern country scene,” said Matthew Warnock in a recent review of the album.

Jam packed with 14 songs which hail directly from the roots of classic country but occasionally straddle the line between pop and rock, Believe features a host of local musicians from the Georgia area. The came together at Flatbottom Underground Studios in Canton, GA, and features John Ervin as the producer. Between Birch’s powerful leading vocal tone and the combined talent of 14 other artists who appear throughout the record, the group generates a unique homegrown feel which is rarely seen in contemporary country.

Also appearing on the album is renowned fiddle and mandolin player Tim Passmore, who has played with stars such as Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Lynard Skynard, Trisha Yearwood and many more. Savannah, GA performing artist Kyle Shiver lent a hand with writing the title track for Believe, as well as the ballad “Rest of Her Life.”

The work is just beginning for Birch though, as he’s already started assembling his full-time band for performances this summer around the Northern Virginia area. Believe is currently available from major digital retailers such as iTunes or Amazon, and fans can listen to streaming audio, view photos and stay updated on all of the latest news at his official website, Facebook, or MySpace page.

For more, visit www.mikebirchcountry.com

Carole King is one of the primary architects of the singer-songwriter movement of the early 1970s, thanks in large part to the hugely influential body of work she had already established by the time she released her first solo album. King wrote hit songs for other artists for nearly a decade before stepping into the spotlight with her landmark 1971 release Tapestry, which received a Diamond Award from the RIAA for sales of more than 10 million units in the U.S., with more than 25 million units sold worldwide.

These subsequent releases brim with the unprecedented honesty and intimacy of the singer-songwriter era and helped solidify her status as one of the most successful and revered female songwriter in pop music history.

Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King (1980)
Next to Tapestry, which was released nearly a decade earlier, Pearls is considered one of King’s finest recordings. Just as the title suggests, it’s a retrospective of classic songs written by the powerhouse creative team of King and former husband Gerry Goffin. Included among the ten tracks are many of the songs that put other artists on the map before King launched her solo career: “The Loco-Motion” (Little Eva, Grand Funk Railroad), “One Fine Day” (The Chiffons, Rita Coolidge), “Chains” (The Beatles), “Hey Girl” (Bobby Vee, The Righteous Brothers, Donnie Osmond, George Benson), and more.

Simple Things (1977)
Simple Things marked King’s transition from Epic Records to the Capitol label, and also introduced songwriter/husband Rick Evers as her collaborative partner (the marital and creative partnership was short lived, as Evers died within a year after the release of the ten-song set). The King-Evers songwriting is fleshed out by King’s six-piece band, Navarro: guitarists Rob McEntee and Mark Hallman, bassist Rob Galloway, drummer Michael Wooten, percussionist Miguel Rivera, and flutist/saxophonist/clarinetist Richard Hardy.

Welcome Home (1978)
Welcome Home is an eclectic and exploratory outing, with songs ranging from the Beatle-esque (“Venusian Diamond”) to the dance beat (“Disco Tech”). But the album is also marked by tragedy. It’s King’s second recording to showcase the collaborative songwriting partnership with her husband Rick Evers, who died in the months between the completion of the recording sessions in January 1978 and the release in May (Evers appears prominently in the album photos). Welcome Home — with backing by her band Navarro — provides a snapshot of an artist willing to take risks by stepping beyond preconceptions to embrace a range of styles.

Touch the Sky (1979)
Touch the Sky was recorded in Austin, Texas, with a team of musicians that included some members of Navarro — Hallman, Hardy, and Rivera — along with musicians from Jerry Jeff Walker’s band. King plays acoustic guitar on “Walk With Me” and “Passing of the Days,” and acoustic piano on “Time Gone By,” “Crazy,” and “You Still Want Her.” The result of this diverse collection of musicianship is a unique blend of folk and country, all of which is held together by King’s deft songcraft.

The schools that will benefit from the shows are Bethesda University,Pacifica University and Southern Nevada College, which will also be the host of the event. Several of the bands on the Sunset Island Music roster will be playing and the are Heralds of the Sword, TrapKey and Mahal. There will also be a celebrity softball game with active and retired major league baseball players. The Date s are February 10 and 11, 2012.

Sunset Island Music also announced that it will be holding a song writing contest for someone to write a ‘theme’ song that will be used for its Sunset Island Music Radio and TV Shows. The song must rock and contain the name of the company – Sunset Island Music – in the lyrics. There will be a prize package that includes a mixing, editing and mastering package for a 4 song EP, with a value of $1,500, from our friends at 1st Creative Solutions (www.1stcreativesolutions.co.uk). Songs MUST be submitted by March 1st, 2012.