This afternoon, Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson will head to the Senate chambers, where he'll be honored with a joint resolution honoring his career in music and his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Anderson, who remains an Opry star and an in-demand Music Row songwriter (try to find anyone else who's had songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, James Brown, Dean Martin and Lawrence Welk), joined the Opry in July of 1961. His first song as a member was "Po Folks," a Top 10 country hit, and he doesn't recall a flood of press or notoriety concerning his induction.
"They didn't make a big deal out of it back then," he says. "There was no hoopla or anything."
Fifty years later, there's more hoopla, and today there'll be a resolution with the word "whereas" appearing 17 times, followed by a "be it resolved" statement congratulating Anderson on his contribution to country music and to the state.
Best of all? No partisan bickering.
— PETER COOPER
Friends gather to benefit songwriter Todd Cerney
Grammy-nominated Nashville songwriter Todd Cerney, who has penned hits including Restless Heart's "I'll Still Be Loving You" and Steve Holy's "Good Morning Beautiful," was recently diagnosed with stage four melanoma.
Today, a bevy of musical friends — including Restless Heart, Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, Bo Bice and many others — will play The Todd Cerney Benefit Concert at Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall (1530 Demonbreun Street).
Admission for the 6:30 p.m. event is $15 at the door, with proceeds going to help defray Cerney's medical costs. Attendees can also bid for items — including Cerney's handwritten, autographed lyric sheets — in a silent auction.
The show is intended as a celebration of his impact as a Nashville writer (his songs have been recorded by Cheap Trick, Aretha Franklin, Levon Helm and many others). Fans and friends may also go to a Regions Bank branch and contribute directly to the "Friends of Todd Cerney" account.
— PETER COOPER
'Ella' opens at TPAC Tuesday
A musical celebrating jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald's life and music runs at TPAC's James K. Polk Theater Tuesday through Sunday.
Tina Fabrique plays Fitzgerald in the musical, Ella, which includes versions of hits such as "A Tisket, A Tasket" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me."
Showtimes vary, depending on date; tickets range from $35-$60, available at the TPAC box office (505 Deaderick St.), www.tpac.org or 615–782-4040.
— PETER COOPER
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