Blues Trail Gala to be held in Tunica
The Clarion Ledger
May 11, 2009
The third annual Mississippi Grammy gala will be held May 28, this time in Tunica, with performances by such music greats as country artists Charley Pride, Marty Stuart and bluesman Pinetop Perkins.
Also on the roster are R&B icon Dorothy Moore, soul-gospel greats The Williams Brothers, blues singer Eddie Cotton, pianist Eden Brent a nd singer-songwriter Nanette Workman. Brandon Bennett will play tribute to Elvis Presley and Presley’s former sideman, James Burton, also will perform. Actress Joey Lauren Adams and singer-songwriter Paul Overstreet will emcee the evening; Overstreet also will perform.
The gala celebrates the state’s status as a ripe breeding ground for many genres of music, producing many Grammy winners and nominees.
Its first two years, the event known as The Birthplace of America’s Music — Mississippi Celebrates Its Grammy Legacy was held in Jackson.
The gala will be held 7 p.m. May 28 at Bluesville, part of Harrah’s Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Tunica.
“Our two previous Grammy celebrations were wonderful events that gave us the opportunity to reflect on just how significant the contribution of Mississippi artists has been over the years,” Gov. Haley Barbour is quoted in a release. “We're excited to be moving the festivities up to Tunica with a slate of performers whose talent and career successes prove what we’ve been saying all along: “If it's music, it’s Mississippi.'”
General ticket sales, for individual seating, $50 and are on sale through Ticketmaster. To inquire about purchasing a table for 10, contact: Parks MacNabb, pmacnabb@governor. state.ms.us, (601) 454-1370; or D. Craig Ray, cray@mississippi.org, (601) 359-2938.
The event is sponsored by Peavey Electronics and the Mississippi Development Authority. Barbour and his wife, Marsha, will host a pre-event reception where participating performers will receive a Peavey Award.
Proceeds from the gala benefit the Mississippi Blues Commission’s Blues Trail.
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