ACM Honors Announced

My congratulations go out to ALL the award winners, but please notice "GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – J.T. Corenflos" in the list of musicians.  J.T. does all the recording work for me in Nashville.  He's a great guy to work with and easily, one of the most talented and creative musicians I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

Congratulations JT!  CM

The Academy of Country Music’s ACM Honors winners will be feted at an event held on Sept. 10 in Nashville. This year’s honorees are:

Keith Whitley and The Judds, recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. This award honors individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre. Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award include Alabama, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills and Dwight Yoakam, among others.

Jason Aldean, recipient of the Crystal Milestone Award. This award is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Award include Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Taylor Swift.

Blake Shelton has been chosen to receive the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music. Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award include Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson and George Strait.

Lady Antebellum has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Alan Jackson, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, among others.

Tommy Wiggins has been chosen as the recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music. Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Gayle Holcomb, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed and David Young.

Guy Clark and Hank Williams have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music. Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz and Cindy Walker.

Additional ACM Honors awards include:

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

CASINO OF THE YEAR – Red Rock Casino & Resort – Las Vegas
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR – Joe’s Bar – Chicago
VENUE OF THE YEAR – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR – Jerry Hufford – Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar

MBI (MUSICIAN, BANDLEADER, INSTRUMENTALIST) AWARDS:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jay Joyce
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Chuck Ainlay
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jimmie Lee Sloas
PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Matt Chamberlain
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Aubrey Haynie
GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – J.T. Corenflos
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Michael Rojas
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ilya Toshinsky
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Mike Johnson

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD:

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Dallas Davidson

Kenny Chesney back in Washington

Chance McKinney and CrossWire have been goin', goin', goin' and this week is no exception.  Coming off a week of shows in Oregon, the CMCW boys head back to Washington for a run at some good weather and great shows.  Yes, we're fully aware that Kenny Chesney will be in town on Friday Night at the Tacoma Dome and yes, we know we have a show scheduled for that night as well.  Hmmm, Kenny Chesney or Chance McKinney n' CrossWire... Kenny Chesney or Chance McKinney n' CrossWire?  As you ponder which you'd choose why not make it easy and just do both?! Thursday Night (7/21):  Let us get you geared up just a little Northeast of the Tacoma Dome in Kent, WA at the "Thursdays at the Lake" Concert Series in Meridian Park.

July 21 - Chance McKinney & Crosswire CMT Award Winner, Chance McKinney was recently dubbed CMT’s #1 “unsigned” Country Artist in the Nation. He has opened for acts such as Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, and Brooks n’ Dunn. This up and coming band’s “Industrialized Country” is a blend of country, rock, metal and soul. Thursdays at the Lake, 7:00 - 8:30pm, Lake Meridian Park, 14800 SE 272nd Street artist's website           video

http://www.ci.kent.wa.us/content.aspx?id=2972

Friday Night (7/22):  Kenny Chesney Night!  However, in case you don't have tickets OR Tacoma is just too far to drive we'll be at the beautiful Tulalip Casino Resort with south Puget Sound's own Robbie Walden opening at 8pm.  We'll be your Kenny Chesney Alternate... or, possibly your Kenny Chesney Chaser!  Come on by the Casino on your way back from the Kenny Chesney concert and let us finish off the night for you.  If you look at it that way, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker are opening up the night and Chance McKinney n' CrossWire are closin' it out!

The biggest benefit to the CMCW show at the Tulalip... is that the Tulalip is pickin' up the bill.  No cover charge.  This claim cannot also be made about the Kenny Chesney concert.  Last we saw, tickets we're goin' for $375 each in the front floor section on stubhub.  So, if you're lookin' for a good "after party" for Kenny or you're runnin' low on scratch... we've got you covered.

http://www.tulalipcasino.com/events.aspx

Saturday Night (7/23):  IF, somehow, you haven't manage your "country fix" after Thursday AND Friday then the HARD ROCK CAFE in downtown Seattle, WA welcomes Chance McKinney n' CrossWire back to the stage.  It ain't easy breakin' country into new venues... especially when the title of the place is "hard rock", but we're doin' our best.  Bring a group downtown and leave a little redneck mark on Seattle's premier "live" music venue!  The better the boys do, the more likely the HRC will have 'em back to the most centralized meeting spot for all the Puget Sound country fans.

Hard Rock Cafe Seattle

Chance McKinney 'n CrossWire

Saturday, Jul 23, 2011 10:00 PM PDT (9:00 PM Doors) Hard Rock Cafe - Seattle, Seattle, WA 21 years and over

Venue Directions

CMCW to Headline at The Auburn Avenue Theater

CMT Award Winner, Chance McKinney was recently dubbed CMT's #1 "Unsigned" Country Artist in the Nation. A native Montanan who migrated to the West Coast has been wowing audiences in the Pacific Northwest for the past 5 years. Having opened for acts such as Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride and many more. He's been hard at work making "Industrialized Country" a household phrase. Teamed up with longtime drummer Brian Bujacich and newly partnered with guitar "super duo", Paul Schille and Rey Neyens, they form Chance McKinney n' CrossWire.

2010 marked a new era for Chance and the boys. They've recently recorded a World Famous CMT Studio 330 Session and signed on for tour dates with Dwight Yoakam, Joe Nichols, Blake Shelton, Creedence Clearwater, .38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd and most recently... Jamie O'Neal and Grand Funk Railroad. Chance McKinney n' CrossWire are riding the wave of momentum and bringing their special blend of country/rock/metal/soul to your neck of the woods. Welcome to Chance McKinney n' CrossWire's Industrialized Country.

2011 already promises to be a great year for CMCW.  Early shows in January with John Rich (Big n' Rich) and Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), along with Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Sunny Sweeney, Phil Vassar, Steve Azar and country music legend Alan Jackson throughout the summer makes this another exciting year for the guys.  Let's do our best to welcome them to the southern tip of Seattle in the city of Auburn on May 14th!

TICKETS: $17 or $15 student/senior. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/158270

Pendleton BOUND N DOWN

In preparation for the Summer of 2011, the boys of Chance McKinney n' CrossWire head for Pendleton, OR (home of the Pendleton Roundup) to play the WildHorse.  They'll be there for a two night stint (April 15th and 16th) touchin' base with South Eastern WA and the North Eastern corner of OR.  For more details, check out http://www.wildhorseresort.com/entertainment/entertainment.html 

Stay tuned for a wild n' crazy summer...  The boys continue booking shows up and down the west coast.  With names like John Rich, Sebastian Bach, Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Sunny Sweeney, Phil Vassar, Steve Azar and Alan Jackson.  Get signed up on the email list at http://www.ChanceMcKinneyandCrossWire.com or join us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chance-McKinney/160688966444 to keep up on the boys' latest happenings.

ACM Awards - April 4th, 2011

For those of you who are interested, we compiled a list so it was easy to keep of the ACM Winners for this year.  Enjoy! ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR • Jason Aldean • Toby Keith • Miranda Lambert • Brad Paisley • Taylor Swift • Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR • Miranda Lambert • Reba McEntire • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Lee Ann Womack

TOP MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR • Jason Aldean • Brad Paisley • Blake Shelton • George Strait • Keith Urban

TOP VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR • the JaneDear girls • Joey + Rory • Montgomery Gentry • Steel Magnolia • Sugarland

TOP VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR • Lady Antebellum • Little Big Town • Randy Rogers Band • The Band Perry • Zac Brown Band

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] (TIE) • Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA) Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney • Need You Now – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville) Produced by:  Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley • The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson (Mercury) Produced by: Arlis Albritton, Dave Cobb, The Kent Hardly Playboys • Speak Now – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records) Produced by: Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift • Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley (Capitol Records Nashville) Produced by: Jon Randall Stewart • You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic) Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] (TIE) • A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin (Mercury) Produced by: Carson Chamberlain • As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic) Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall • If I Die Young – The Band Perry (Republic Nashville) Produced by: Paul Worley • Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice (Curb Records) Produced by: Lee Brice, Doug Johnson • The Boys Of Fall – Kenny Chesney (BNA) Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney • The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville) Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

TOP NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR • Eric Church • The Band Perry

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)] • A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin Composers:  Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble Publishers:   A Sling And A Prayer Music (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Music (ASCAP), Don Poythress Songs (ASCAP), Precious Flour Music (BMI), Universal Music-MGB Songs (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) • As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson Composers: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette Publishers: Angelika Music (BMI), Weimerhound Publishing (BMI) • If I Die Young – The Band Perry Composer:  Kimberly Perry Publishers:  Pearlfeather Publishing (BMI), Rio Bravo Music, Inc. (BMI) • Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice Composers:  Tim James, Doug Johnson Publishers:  Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sweet Radical Music (BMI), T-Bird’s Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) • The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert Composers:  Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin Publishers:  Built On Rock (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tomdouglasmusic (BMI)

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award) • As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic) Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall • Blue Sky – Emily West Featuring Keith Urban (Capitol Records Nashville) Produced by: Mark Bright • Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville) Produced by:  John Carter Cash, Patsy Lynn Russell • Cold Beer – Colt Ford Featuring Jamey Johnson (Average Joes) Produced by:  Shannon Houchins, Adrian Young • Good To Be Me – Uncle Kracker Featuring Kid Rock (Top Dog/ Atlantic / Bigger Picture) Produced by: Kid Rock

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award) • Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton Featuring Trace Adkins Producer:  Randy Brewer Director: Roman White • Only Prettier – Miranda Lambert Producer: Trent Hardville Director: Trey Fanjoy •  Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland Producer: Tony McGarry Director: Declan Whitebloom • The Boys Of Fall – Kenny Chesney Producer:  Don Lepore Director: Shaun Silva • The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert Producer:  Trent Hardville Director:  Trey Fanjoy

TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Previously Announced) • Eric Church • Easton Corbin • Randy Houser

TOP NEW VOCAL DUO or GROUP OF THE YEAR (Previously Announced) • the JaneDear girls • Steel Magnolia • The Band Perry