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.
News Category: Special Projects
Tennessee Ernie Ford’s 100th Birthday Celebration
January 29, 2019
Bristol to Honor Its Favorite Son
Bristol, Tenn./Va. (January 29, 2019) – February 13, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s birthday, and his hometown – Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia – has come together to celebrate that milestone with a variety of events and activities, including a musical performance, a conversation with Ford’s son Buck, a special church service, show screenings, a commemorative stamp, a musical performance, and birthday cake!
“Tennessee Ernie Ford played a truly significant role in entertainment history, impacting the industry but also other performers and the audiences who loved him,” says Birthplace of Country Music Museum Head Curator Dr. Rene Rodgers. “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Centennial Celebration Committee, led by Don Ashley, has come together to bring a host of celebratory events and activities to Bristol to mark his 100th birthday, and we hope the community will come out to celebrate with us!”
Born in Bristol, Ernest Jennings Ford was known by many names throughout his life: “Ernest” by his mother, “Ernie” by his relatives, friends, and neighbors, and “The Ol’ Pea-Picker” as a public stage name during the 1950s, based on his catchphrase “Bless your pea-pickin’ hearts.” But he was most well known as “Tennessee Ernie Ford” – a tribute to his Tennessee home and heritage.
Ford’s career spanned radio, recording, and television, resulting in three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and numerous other awards and honors, including a Grammy and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His song “Sixteen Tons,” a particular favorite of fans and music historians, was an unexpected hit on the pop charts in 1955 and a defining moment in his career. With Ford snapping his fingers and a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement by Ford’s music director, Jack Fascinato, “Sixteen Tons” spent ten weeks at number one on the country charts and seven weeks at number one on the pop charts. In an interview in 1990, Ford noted that this record had sold over twenty million copies, and in 1998 his version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2015 it was honored by being included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
A special website has been set up at ErnieFord100.com where all the events for the birthday celebration are listed, in addition to a link where folks may RSVP to the Buck Ford and Sid Oakley event at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Tennessee Ernie Ford 100th Birthday Celebration Events:
February 1 – 28
Tennessee Ernie Ford Display of Memorabilia & Artifacts
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Museum Hours and Admission Prices Apply
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum will have several objects, photographs, and items of memorabilia on loan from Tennessee Ernie Ford Enterprises or the museum’s collection on display during the entire month of February. This display will supplement the section of the permanent exhibit focused on Ford’s life and career, which includes a short film.
Sunday, February 10
Special Tennessee Ernie Ford Church Service
11:00 a.m. – noon
Anderson Street United Methodist Church
954 Anderson Street, Bristol, TN
Free admission
Anderson Street United Methodist Church, which Tennessee Ernie Ford and his parents attended for many years, will conduct a special service, followed by a tour of their historical archives room including their Tennessee Ernie Ford collection.
Sunday, February 10
Tennessee Ernie Ford Birthplace Tours
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
1223 Anderson Street, Bristol, TN
Free admission
The Bristol Historical Association’s Tennessee Ernie Ford Birthplace on Anderson Street will be open for visitor tours.
Tuesday, February 12
A Conversation with Buck Ford and Sid Oakley
7:00 p.m.
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Free admission, but must RSVP at ErnieFord100.com.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and the Bristol Historical Association will co-host an informal conversation in the museum’s Performance Theater between Ernie’s older son, Buck, and long-time Ford family friend Sid Oakley. Ford family home movies will also be screened.
Wednesday, February 13
Tennessee Ernie Ford Commemorative Stamp
Bristol Post Office
111 6th Street, Bristol, TN
On Wednesday, February 13, the Tennessee Ernie Ford Commemorative Stamps can be taken to the Post Office on 6th Street in Bristol, TN for a special cancellation. Stamps can be purchased from Don Ashley. Each sheet has 20 stamps with .50 cent denomination; starting January 27th the postal rate goes to .55 cents for a letter and thus an additional .05 cent stamp will be needed. Don has plenty of .05 cent American Music stamps that will go with the .50 cent Ernie stamp to make up the new rate. Sheets are $21.00 per sheet; these can be purchased by contacting Don on 276-669-3245 or 423-914-0489 or by emailing him at dwa7@bvu.net.
Wednesday, February 13
Tennessee Ernie Ford 100th Birthday Celebration
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Paramount Bristol
518 State Street, Bristol, TN
Free Event
The Paramount will host an afternoon of Tennessee Ernie Ford music and film screenings prior to serving birthday cake; Ford’s son Buck will be there to introduce the screenings and talk to the audience about his dad’s life and legacy. Cake is courtesy of Food City.
Thursday, February 14
Radio Bristol’s Farm & Fun Time ft. Rachel Baiman, Beth Snapp
7:00 p.m.
Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $30
During Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time on Thursday, February 14,the “Heirloom Recipe” segment will be presented by Buck Ford, based on a Tennessee Ernie Ford favorite. Farm and Fun Time house band Bill and the Belles will also perform a few Tennessee Ernie Ford numbers during the show. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Events page.
RTE 23 Music Festival Lineup Announced
May 2, 2018
Norton, VA (May 1, 2018) — It’s the fifth anniversary of the RTE 23 Music Festival and the Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) will once again bring this amazing event to the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVa-Wise) in Wise, Virginia on Saturday, August 25, 2018 from 5:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m. The New Respects, Cordovas, and Young Mister are on the roster for RTE 23 and each act will perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival—the perfect opportunity to preview these amazing bands before their performances in September. RTE 23 Music Festival is free and open to the public of all ages.
“This year, we approached the line up a little differently,” said Dave Stallard, BCM Music Committee Chairman and RTE 23 organizer. “Typically, our headliner is a band that doesn’t play Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September. We were just so excited about The New Respects, though, that we bent our own rule and decided to make RTE 23 a showcase for three Bristol Rhythm bands. The New Respects are going to blow people away.”
Featured in Rolling Stone among its “10 New Artists You need to Know,” The New Respects are quickly turning heads and gaining unprecedented popularity. The band’s standout single “Trouble” garnered over 2 million streams and received sync placements with Fox Sports, ESPN, and TNT. The group meshes rock, soul, and pop music with overlays of acoustic tones. Comprised of twins Zandy and Lexi Fitzgerald, brother Darius and their cousin Jasmine Mullen, the Nashville-based group is a true family affair, evidencing the undeniable soul and music legacy that flows through the roots of their family tree. The band has been busy touring with Robert Randolph, O.A.R., and NEEDTOBREATHE, and making appearances at key festivals including Hangout, Bumbershoot, and Rock the Ranch.
Cordovas were touted in Rolling Stone‘s “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” and follow the tradition of 1970s Southern and country rock greats the Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead, and The Band. Based in Nashville, the group has a sound based in harmony, song, and musicianship. The band spent the past winter writing and demoing songs for their latest album produced by Grammy nominee Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids.
“Cordovas really remind me of Crosby, Stills & Nash,” added Stallard. “Their live show is fantastic and their harmonies are on point.”
Young Mister is songwriter Steven Fiore. As a songwriter, Fiore has spent years building a fan base along both coasts, touring with the likes of Jump Little Children and Howie Day, and regularly performed as a guest vocalist for actor Jeff Goldblum’s (The Fly, Jurassic Park) jazz band in Los Angeles. After eight years as a stable songwriter for Universal Music Publishing Group, Fiore’s own performances have a radio-ready, soft-rock vibe and features lyrics young romantics wish had been written just for them.
“Booking Young Mister was a bit of a departure for us,” Stallard commented. “We have never had a singer-songwriter duo before, but his songs are powerful. That is going to be an awesome set.”
There will be lots of food and beverage options on hand at the festival—including regional wines and beers. Vendors include Foodie Fiction, Brain Freeze Shaved Ice, PureWood Firebrick Oven Pizza, Smoke-N-Pig Stillhouse BBQ, Dough & Joe, Lincoln Road Cold Brew Coffee, and The Shack.
“It’s hard to believe that we have been at this for five years now. We are incredibly appreciative of the sponsors who help us make this happen, UVa-Wise for hosting the festival, and all of the fans who come out and listen to the music. Our goal is simple; put on the best music festival in Wise County every year. With the bands, food, and drink we offer, we think we do that.”
The RTE 23 Music Festival is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Wise, Virginia business community. Please help us return the love by supporting our sponsors: Jeremy O’Quinn Law Office, Dr. William C. Horne, Jr. DDS, Crutchfield, Cavalier Pharmacy, Cavalier Comics, Iron Works Cycling, Powell Valley National Bank, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, The Inn at Wise, Wise County Tourism, Edward Jones-Office of James Lawson, Laidback Planners, Stone Mountain Guns, Brent Fleming Law Office, Sykes.
BCM Hosts MOMH: Terry Baucum’s Dukes of Drive
April 27, 2018
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly hosts Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive as part of The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming!
One night, two shows! That’s right, you’ll have two opportunities to see the band on Monday, June 11, 2018; the first show is at 7:00 p.m. and the second performance is 9:00 p.m.
Monroe, North Carolina native Terry Baucom has enjoyed a career in music that started in 1970 with Charlie Moore and continued over the years as a founding member of ground breaking bands like Boone Creek (with Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas), Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out, and more. Winner of the 2013 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year for the single “What’ll I Do,” Baucom and his Dukes of Drive are a must-see.
Tickets to the event are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under, click here to purchase.
Mountains of Music Homecoming takes place June 8-16 at a number of concert venues along The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Music Heritage Trail. For a full roster of performances, click here.