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Familiar, new faces to headline annual Jimmie Rodgers Festival |
| Name: |
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Jim Myrick |
| Date Posted: |
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Feb 5, 08 - 5:33 PM |
| Email: |
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myrick52@hotmail.com |
| web site |
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http://www.tisba.net |
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Familiar, new faces to headline annual Jimmie Rodgers Festival
By Ida Brown / senior staff writer
Meridian, Mississippi
— A local favorite returns and an award-winning Canadian country music band will make their debut at the 2008 Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival.Back by popular demand will be Horizon Group of the Year winners Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, who will kick off the annual festival with a concert on April 3 at the MSU Riley Center."We are stepping out into deep water this time and bringing a big country act in – one of the bigger acts we've done in the past and which has sold out every time," said Richard Ferguson, concert chairman. This will be the Ernie Haase & Signature Sound's third consecutive appearance at the Rodgers Festival. According to Ferguson, Haase, who is a Bill Gaither artist, makes limited appearances without the Gaither Music Group."He only does particular dates and in certain areas of the country," he said. "This year, in Meridian, will be the only time that Ernie Haase & Signature Sound will be in concert alone in Mississippi. So that's a big plus for us."The group burst onto the gospel music scene just a few short years ago. Haase – a 10-year veteran of one of the greatest quartets in gospel music, The Cathedrals – upon launching his own quartet, wanted to create a team that was all 21st century in image and attitude, yet whose stage performance and musical material borrowed literally from the great quartets of the 1950s. Since their inception, the group has garnered numerous honors and awards.On April 26, the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation will present in concert the popular Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. Nominated for their first Grammy this year for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for their song "Moments," Emerson Drive will be coming to Meridian to perform after the CMT Awards in Nashville on April 14.Opening for Emerson Drive will be Mississippi Chris Sharp and the Jangalang Band and the adult and youth talent show winners.Another highlight of the annual festival will be the Jimmie Rodgers Talent Contest. A popular tradition of the festival, the competition will be held April 26, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at a new location – the studio of the MSU Riley Center."That's going to be quite a thrill for our youth and adult participants to be able to perform inside and to have the luxury of not having to worry about whether it's hot or cold or rainy," said Betty Lou Jones, foundation president. In previous years, the talent show has been an outdoor event, held at Highland Park.The youth competition is for ages 3-14 in the following age groups: 3-6, 7-11 and 12-15. The adult competition will be for ages 16 and older and will begin immediately after the youth competition ends. Winners will receive tickets, prize money and the opportunity to open for Emerson Drive.Since 1953, the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival has been a longstanding tradition for East Mississippi and West Alabama."It is known as the stage of legends and is designed to pay tribute to the Father of Country Music, who was born in Meridian, lived here and is buried here," said Jones. "Festival organizers have as their goal to perpetuate the rich musical heritage of Jimmie Rodgers and his contributions to the development of American music and its art forms of country, rock and roll, blues and gospel music."
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