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Country Music News

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Wed., April 17)

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Ray Patterson was born in 1926.

Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers recorded their first session for Columbia, also in 1926.

The Stanley Brothers released "Little Maggie" in 1948.

While on tour in Britain, rockabilly singer Eddie Cochran was killed in a car accident in Chippenham, England, in 1960 that seriously injured Gene Vincent. Cochran was 21. The last single released before his death was "Three Steps to Heaven."

Marty Robbins' No.1 single, "Ribbon Of Darkness," debuted on the chart in 1965.

Johnny Cash performed at the White House in 1970 for President Nixon, who asked Cash to play "Okie from Muskogee," "A Boy Named Sue" and "Welfare Cadillac."

Aaron Tippin's "There Ain't Nothing Wrong with the Radio" topped the chart in 1992.

Hank Penny, age 73, died, also in 1992.

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MUSIC AND MORE


'FAN FAIR AFTER HOURS' RETURNS

Fan Fair After Hours will return for 2002 as the party continues with Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt and more.

The Country Music Association added Fan Fair After Hours to last year's Fan Fair to bring attention to the various clubs and restaurants in downtown Nashville during the annual bash. The venues featured artists and local singer/songwriters performing intimate concerts; fan clubs holding their annual parties; and celebrity auctions for charities, among other events. It quickly became one of the highlights of Fan Fair.

Thirteen official Fan Fair After Hours locations have been confirmed thus far: Bailey's Pub & Grille; Graham Central Station; Grand Ole Opry House (for their late-night Superstar Spectacular Show); Hard Rock Cafe; Legends Corner; Ryman Auditorium (for a special "Marty Stuart Late Night Jam"); Seanachie; The Stage on Broadway; Rippy's Smokin' Bar and Grill; Robert's Western World; Tootsie's Orchid Lounge; Wildhorse Saloon; and Wolfy's.

This year's Fan Fair After Hours will include:

-- The Ryman Auditorium hosting a special "Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam" event on June 12 (at 11 p.m.) featuring Stuart, Travis Tritt and Montgomery Gentry, among others.

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-- The Grand Ole Opry House's annual "Grand Ole Opry Superstar Spectacular" on June 13 (11 p.m.-2 a.m.). All proceeds benefit the Opry Trust Fund, which assists members of the Country Music community in need.

-- The Wildhorse Saloon again hosts the "NBC Daytime Fan Fair After Hours Party" with stars from the NBC soap operas "Days of Our Lives" and "Passions." The actors will perform and answer questions from the audience June 15 (beginning at 11 p.m.) following the close of the Adelphia Stadium concert and fireworks.

(Web site: FanFair.com)


DIRT BAND STILL GOING STRONG

It's been 30 years since a mostly West Coast aggregation "invaded" Nashville. When The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came to Music City three decades ago, many locals scoffed. What kind of a future would this thrown-together group have in the world of country music?

Well, as they say, the rest is history.

In its first years in Nashville, the band released "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" -- an ornate, three-album collection of the best songs of "old Nashville." It was a classic compilation of great songs -- in the words of the news provider country.com -- that brought Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Doc Watson and a host of others to a new generation. Now it's being re-released, this time, of course, on CD. There are 42 tracks on the two-CD set -- four more than on the original vinyl records.

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(Thanks to UPI's Dennis Daily)

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