My Heart Will Always Be in Carolina is a local favorite television show that discovers the fascinating people, places and things found in eastern North Carolina. They decided to start the new 2011 season highlighting the NC Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis. Below is an interview with Eddie Ray and Ken Mann of My Heart Will Always Be In Carolina.
April 20, 2011
For Immediate Release
The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame has announced the names of this year’s inductees. The 2011 Induction Ceremony will take place October 13th in Kannapolis.
Performing Artists
Billy “Crash” Craddock , Country/Rockabilly recording legend, Greensboro
Anthony Dean Griffey, Grammy award winning tenor, High Point
Maceo Parker, Jazz/Funk sax player & James Brown sideman, Kinston
Ben Folds, songwriter/alternative rock musician, judge on NBC’s “Sing Off,” Winston-Salem
Michael English, Contemporary Christian recording artist, Wallace
Performing Artist (Deceased)
Clyde Moody, Blue Grass, singer/songwriter/musician
Non-Performing Artists
Billy Edd Wheeler, songwriter/playwright/author, Swannanoa
John D. Loudermilk, songwriter, Durham
The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, October 13, 2011 in the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building in Kannapolis, NC. The evening will include a reception, dinner and induction ceremony with a variety of entertainment. Tickets go on sale September 1st at the
museum and online.
For more information contact:
Eddie Ray
Operations Director/Vice Chair
704-932-2320 (Museum)
703-346-6241 (Mobile)
info@northcarolinamusichalloffame.org
Bill Kopald
Chairman
(336) 299-2520 (Office)
(336) 337-2521 (Mobile)
bkokpald@bellsouth.net
For Immediate Release
The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame announces this year’s induction ceremony will be open to the public. It will be held Thursday, October 7, 2010 in the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building in Kannapolis, NC. The evening will include a reception with the inductees, dinner and induction ceremony with a variety of entertainment.
Most of the inductees and/or their families will attend. Several artists are expected to perform. Tickets are available on the Hall of Fame web site northcarolinamusichalloffame.org or by calling the museum at (704) 934-2320. The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and weekends by appointment/reservation.
Media note: if you plan to attend the ceremony, please call Eddie Ray at the museum. All of his information is below.
This year’s inductees include:
Performing Artists
Maurice Williams, Recording artist, Charlotte
Andy Griffith, Gospel recording artist/actor/writer, Mt. Airy/Wilmington
Donna Fargo, Country recording artist/composer Mt. Airy
Arthur Smith, Country composer/performer/producer, Charlotte
George Hamilton IV, Country recording artist, Winston-Salem
Doc Watson, Country/Bluegrass vocalist/musician, Deep Gap/N. Wilkesboro
Curly Seckler, Bluegrass Bluegrass vocalist/musician, China Grove
Dr. Billy Taylor, jazz pianist/composer/educator Greenville
Shirley Caesar, Gospel recording artist, Durham
Performing Artist (Deceased)
Don Gibson, Country recording artist/composer, Shelby
Les Brown, Big Band leader, Durham
Oliver, (William Oliver Swofford), Recording artist, N. Wilkesboro
Non-Performing Artists
Don Schlitz, Composer/guitarist/soloist, Durham
For more information contact:
Eddie Ray
Operations Director/Vice Chair
704-934-2320 (Museum)
703-346-6241 (Mobil)
info@northcarolinamusichalloffame.org
Bill Kopald
Chairman
(336) 299-2520 (Office)
(336) 337-2521 (Mobile)
bkokpald@bellsouth.net
For Immediate Release
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame 2010 Inductions
The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame has announced the names of this year’s inductees. The
ceremony will take place October 7 in Kannapolis.
Performing Artists
Maurice Williams, Recording artist, Charlotte
Andy Griffith, Gospel recording artist, Mt. Airy/Wilmington
Donna Fargo, Country recording artist, Mt. Airy
Arthur Smith, Country composer, performer, producer, Charlotte
George Hamilton IV, Country recording artist, Winston-Salem
Doc Watson, Country/Bluegrass vocalist, musician, Deep Gap/N. Wilkesboro
Curly Seckler, Bluegrass vocalist and musician, China Grove
Dr. Billy Taylor, jazz pianist, composer, Greenville
Shirley Caesar, Gospel recording artist, Durham
Performing Artist (Deceased)
Don Gibson, Country recording artist & composer, Shelby
Les Brown, Big Band leader, Durham
Oliver, (William Oliver Swofford), Recording artist, N. Wilkesboro
Non-Performing Artists
Don Schlitz, Composer, guitarist and soloist, Durham
The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, October 7, 2010 in the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building in Kannapolis, NC and will be open to the public. The evening will include a reception, dinner and induction ceremony with a variety of entertainment. Tickets go on sale September 1st at the museum.
For more information contact:
Eddie Ray
Operations Director/Vice Chair
704-932-2320 (Museum)
703-346-6241 (Mobile)
eray(at)northcarolinamusichalloffame.org
Bill Kopald
Chairman
(336) 299-2520 (Office)
(336) 337-2521 (Mobile)
bkopald@southbell.net
Below is a North Carolina National Public Radio WUNC Interview with Eddie Ray, Operations Director and Vice Chairman of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors. The show host Frank Stasio and Mr. Ray share the story of the museum and the people it recognizes like music legends Charlie Daniels to Thelonius Monk and James Taylor.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum Open To Public
Kannapolis, NC–August 25, 2009–It’s taken almost a decade, but the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum has finally opened its doors in Kannapolis, North Carolina and the response has been astounding.
Located in what was once the old jail in historic the Cannon Village, the museum is now home to a growing collection of memorabilia and memories from some of North Carolina’s finest musicians, songwriters and entertainers ranging from Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane to Andy Griffith, Randy Travis and Chairmen of the Board.
The renovation of the old building was a two year labor of love funded by the Curb Family Foundation and overseen personally by Mike Curb. A former Lieutenant and acting Governor of California and owner of a successful music empire, Curb, credits his start in the business to Eddie Ray, who is on board as Operations Director of the museum.
Ray, a music pioneer and native of Franklin, North Carolina, has enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the entertainment business. He will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame this year.
Bill Kopald, Chairman of the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, says the museum is a testament to determination and perseverance, “The need has been here for a long time and it’s wonderful to finally have a home to showcase memorabilia and give people the opportunity to learn about some of the incredible musicians that hail from North Carolina, the purpose of the museum is to entertain and educate”.
The museum is open free to the public from 10:00 am to Noon and 1:00 to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday and on weekends by appointment. The facility can also be rented for private parties and receptions. A complete list of the 2009 inductees will be announced next month.
For additional information contact:
Eddie Ray Operation
Director/Vice Chairman NC Music Hall of Fame
704-934-2320
eray(at)northcarolinamusichalloffame.org
Liz Cavanaugh
NC Music Hall of Fame
615-963-9316
lcavanaugh@curb.com