ALAN AMONG INDUCTEES FOR MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME

Music City Walk of Fame presented by Gibson Guitar

Announces Inductees For November 2011 Class

Seven Honorees Earn Stars on Nashville’s Music Mile

Nashville, Tenn. – Music City, Inc. today announced the newest inductees into the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar: Kix Brooks, Alan Jackson, Manuel, Dr. Bobby Jones, Dottie Rambo, Les Paul and Dan Miller. The honorees will be recognized officially with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, November 6, beginning at 12:00 p.m. in Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. The induction ceremony, which is sponsored by Great American Country (GAC), is free and open to the public.

The induction of this class will bring the total number of stars along the Walk of Fame to 58. The Music City Walk of Fame, located on Nashville’s Music Mile, is a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.

Permanent sidewalk medallions with each honoree’s name displayed in a star-and-guitar design will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile. The plaques for this class of inductees will be inlaid in Walk of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4^th and 5^th Avenues South.

“Each of these inductees into the Walk of Fame has definitely left their creative mark on Music City in their own unique way,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It is the creative collaboration shown by these talented individuals that make Nashville, Music City.”

The program’s newest partner, Durango, sponsors two stars annually and has added a charitable component to the program, celebrating former Inductees to the Walk of Fame.  Many of the past inductees has autographed and decorated a pair of Durango boots, which will be auctioned online during December.  All proceeds will benefit the Music City Inc. Foundation to sustain and grow the Walk of Fame event.  The decorated boots will also be on display to the public during the month of November at the Visitor Information Center located in Bridgestone Arena.  Go to visitmusiccity.com for the online auction.

“Our partnership with the Walk of Fame is a natural extension of our existing synergy with country music and Nashville,” said Amber Vanwy, Marketing Manager for Durango.  “The auction and display allows us to support this wonderful event while also honoring those who have contributed to the music industry in Nashville, and we’re thrilled at the opportunity to be involved.”   

The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with the support of presenting sponsor Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, Durango, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

Nominations were open to the public and were accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive.  Application forms were reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.

Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson is one of today’s most prolific and award-winning songwriters.  The Georgia native has written or co-written 24 of his 35 #1 songs, including “Remember When”, “Where I Come From,” “Chattahoochee” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning”.  His songs have also proven hits for other artists, including Randy Travis and Clay Walker. Jackson has been named Songwriter/Artist of the Year by NSAI and ASCAP numerous times and was inducted into the elite Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October.

Jackson is one of the most honored country music singer-songwriters in the last 20 years.  He is a Grand Ole Opry member and three-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year with a total of 16 CMA Awards, 17 ACM Awards and two Grammys to his credit.  He has released 19 albums, topped the country charts 35 times and has scored more than 50 Top-10 hits while amassing over 60 million total record sales. Jackson has called Nashville home for more than 25 years.