Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Thursday, Sept. 27) Advertisement A southern mail train crashed, inspiring "The Wreck of the Old 97" in 1903 The National Life & Accident Insurance Company bought the Ryman Auditorium for $200,000 and renamed it the Grand Ole Opry House in 1963 Connie Smith made her chart debut with "Once A Day" in 1964 "Rodeo" by Garth Brooks topped the charts in 1991 TIM MCGRAW'S SWAMPSTOCK Grammy winning superstar Tim McGraw returns home to northeast Louisiana to host his 8th Annual Celebrity Softball Challenge and Concert -- Swampstock 2001. The all-star event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Tim McGraw Sports Complex in Rayville, La. Proceeds from the event will benefit Rayville's Dixie League Baseball, the Steve Colvin Memorial Scholarship Fund, and other deserving youth causes in the immediate area. Advertisement Participating in this year's concert event will be McGraw and Faith Hill along with Martina McBride, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and the Warren Brothers. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre will participate in the softball game. Gates will open at 11 a.m. for a 12:30 p.m. softball game and the concert will follow. Ticket prices are $15 in advance and $25 at the gate, with children 6 and under admitted free. Tickets go on sale Monday, Oct. 1. A silent auction will be held on site day of show and will feature items signed by sports celebrities and country music stars. Swampstock began in 1994 as a way for McGraw to give back to his hometown community. As a child he played baseball and knows the importance of having a positive experience on the field and this is why McGraw has chosen to direct funds from Swampstock to Rayville's Dixie League. Over the years Swampstock has grown considerably but one thing that has not changed is his base goal -- which is to help develop a quality Little League program for the children of the Rayville community and to provide a college scholarship fund for area students. Advertisement Swampstock 2001 is sponsored in part by Coca-Cola. RED CROSS BENEFIT Los Angeles musicians, actors, writers and dancers are holding an unplugged benefit concert/variety show titled Acoustic Americans Benefit for The Red Cross. Proceeds will go to the families of Sept. 11 victims. The event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. at The Renberg Theater at The Village in Los Angeles. Artists confirmed to participate include Days of Our Lives cast members Joely Fisher and Connie Stevens, Carl Anderson (JC Superstar), Ed Begley Jr., Charles Durning, Rob Schneider (Saturday Night Live), Jane Anderson (writer of "How To Make An American Quilt"), Jacqui & Bill Landrum (choreographers of "O' Brother Where Art Thou") and Kelly Moneymaker ("Expose"). Celebrities are volunteering their time to sing, play an instrument, dance, read a story or poem or to be announcers for the event. Artists who can not attend are asked to donate items for the auction. STRAIT'S NEW RUN George Strait will release his 28th album titled "The Road Less Traveled" on the eve of the CMA Awards, Nov. 6. The first single, "Run," is now on radio and described by his label, MCA, as a little different for George. Advertisement The new album contains a few more songs that are just a little different from the norm that will help take Strait to another level up in his career. Strait fans will not be disappointed as the album is still hard core George Strait. MUSIC CITY TRIVIA: Q. What artist recorded the personal statement song, "Wine Into Water," in 1998? A. T. Graham Brown, who is returning to the Opry stage on Sept. 28. COMING TO THE OPRY STAGE: Sept. 28: Alan Jackson, Mark Chesnutt, T. Graham Brown, Michelle Wright Oct. 5: Rhonda Vincent, Carolyn Dawn Johnson (debut), Diamond Rio Oct. 6: Rhonda Vincent, Carolyn Dawn Johnson (debut), Ray Price Oct. 12: Grand Ole Opry 76th Birthday - Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Travis Tritt Oct. 13: Grand Ole Opry 76th Birthday - Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley Oct. 19: Marty Stuart Oct. 20: Allison Moorer Oct. 26: Confederate Railroad (debut), Charley Pride, Gail Davies w/the Jordanaires Oct. 27: Charley Pride, Gail Davies w/the Jordanaires Nov. 10: Trace Adkins, Clint Black Advertisement Nov. 30: Joe Diffie Dec. 1: Joe Diffie Dec. 15: Tracy Lawrence For Opry tickets, log on to www.opry.com or call (615) 889-3060 or TicketMaster at (615) 255-9600. **Artists and schedule subject to change (Written by Dan Rogers in Nashville and edited by UPI. If you have questions about the Music City Report, contact Dan at [email protected])
