Details Announced For The 24th Annual International Country Music Conference

(Nashville, Tennessee April 22, 2007) - Details have been announced for the 24th Annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) by co-Chairs Don Cusic and James Akenson. The seminar will provide an informative and entertaining mix of educational panels and discussions of great historical interest to fans of Country Music. The conference will be held in the Massey Board Room at Belmont University, May 24th-26th, 2007.

ICMC will kick-off on Thursday, May 24th at 2:00 pm. Over the course of the day, there will be eight panels including: "Mountain Religion in the Music of Ralph Stanley," "The Songs, The Stories, The Changes: Songwriting in Nashville: 1958-2001," and "Teaching the Vietnam War: Aussie Country Music and the Battle of Long Van." The day will conclude with a keynote presentation entitled "A 50th Anniversary Special: RCA Studio B" and will feature legendary guitarist Harold Bradley.

Friday's panels will begin around 8:30 a.m.. Highlights of the morning are "He Left His Religion In The Country: Urbanism vs. That Old Religion" and "The Bill Monroe I Knew: As Told By Mac Wiseman." The afternoon will also include the "50th Anniversary Analysis of Music Row, RCA Studio B, and the Evolution of Music City" with panelists Eddy Arnold, Don Cusic, Charlie Lamb, Robert Oermann, and John Rumble. During Friday's luncheon, award recipients will be recognized for The Best Book on Country Music, Lifetime Achievement in linking books with Country Music, and The Charlie Lamb Execellence in Country Music Journalism Awards. After the luncheon, there will be five panels which will conclude at 4:30 p.m.

On Saturday May 27th, there will be a special panel on "The Hayloft Gang," a PBS documentary with a companion volume about the WLS Barn Dance. The WLS Barn Dance debuted in 1924 and was one of the most popular and longest running programs on radio. The National Barn Dance produced many country music stars including Gene Autry and Red Foley. The Barn Dance's influence on country music was second only to the Grand Ole Opry. A keynote speech entitled, "WSM: From Air to Page" given by noted music journalist Craig Havighurst will take place during Saturday's luncheon. The day will finish out with more notable panels and discussions.

The registration for conference is $90. Price includes breakfast and lunch on Friday and Saturday. Registration deadline is May 15th. Please send registration information to James E. Akenson, Box 5042, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505 or email him at jakenson@tntech.edu.

Jeff Walker - AristoMedia - 615.269.7071 - jwalker@aristomedia.com
Don Cusic - Belmont University - 615.460.5438 - cusicd@mail.belmont.edu