AVERAGE JOE'S ENTERTAINMENT SETS DATE FOR MONTGOMERY GENTRY ALBUM‏

AVERAGE JOE'S ENTERTAINMENT SETS DATE FOR MONTGOMERY GENTRY ALBUM

Rebels On The Run to Hit Stores October 4, 2011

The past year has seen incredible changes in the personal and professional lives of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry - some positive, some not - and all of those experiences and emotions have been funneled into award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry's seventh studio album. Rebels on the Run, a collection of 11 songs that define where Montgomery Gentry have been and where they're going, will be available from their new label home, the indie powerhouse Average Joe's Entertainment, on October 4, 2011.



"In a lot of ways the past year has been has been nothing but hell," said Eddie Montgomery, whose life was upended with the C-word and D-word late last year. He was blindsided by news of prostate cancer, which was fortunately caught early, promptly treated it and is now in remission. A short time later, his wife filed for divorce. "Man, without T-Roy and my family, this music, our fans and the Man upstairs, I don't know how I would've gotten through it."



"I don't know if we would have made the same album if we hadn't been through everything we've been through in the last year," added Troy. "We've always tried to record songs about things we've lived or seen, but the depth of all of those experiences really comes out in this album."



The biggest career change in the last 10 months was a move from the only label they had ever known, Columbia Records, to one of the most artist-friendly companies, Average Joe's Entertainment.



Average Joe's instructed Eddie, Troy and producer Michael Knox, whose production credits include Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Hank Williams, Jr, Kelly Clarkson and others, to "go in and make some Montgomery Gentry music." Music that harkened back to the songs that initially brought them to the dance.



"They had gotten away from the music that made people fall in love with them in the beginning," said Tom Baldrica, President of Average Joe's Entertainment. "Eddie and Troy know their audience better than anyone, because they are their audience. That made it easy for them figure out what kind of songs they wanted on this album. They have also developed incredible relationships with the best songwriters in the business, which in turn helped them get the absolute best songs."



Eddie and Troy collaborated with Jim Collins, Ira Dean, Wendell Mobley, David Lee Murphy, Rivers Rutherford, and Neil Thrasher on three cuts on the album. Rodney Clawson and Dallas Davidson co-wrote the duo's first single from Rebels on the Run, "Where I Come From," and they turned to friends like Kelly Archer, Greg Bates, Kevin Grantt, Justin Weaver and others for the remaining songs.



The guys are on the road this week with dates in California, Las Vegas and Colorado. As members of the Grand Ole Opry since 2009, they will be back in Nashville to play the storied stage on September 13. They are scheduled to headline the 28th Annual Love Ride motorcycle rally with Jay Leno outside Los Angeles on Sunday, October 23, 2011. For more details, visit www.montgomerygentry.com.

"Colt Ford and Friends" Benefit Raises over $85,000‏

"COLT FORD AND FRIENDS" BENEFIT RAISES OVER $85,000 FOR FALLEN AND INJURED POLICE OFFICERS' FAMILIES

Families of Athens, Georgia Injured Senior Police Officer Tony Howard and Late Senior Police Officer Elmer “Buddy” Christian Honored at Sold-Out Georgia Theatre Event

Athens, Ga. (Wednesday, August 17, 2011) – It was an incredible evening filled with music, camaraderie, and vivacity as country music artist and Athens, Georgia native Colt Ford welcomed friends Rhett Akins, Jason Aldean, Dallas Davidson, Mike Dekle, Edwin McCain, James Otto, and surprise guests Brantley Gilbert, Rachel Farley, and Corey Smith to the recently rebuilt Georgia Theatre stage on Tuesday, August 16 to raise money for the families of fallen Senior Officer Elmer “Buddy” Christian and surviving Senior Officer Tony Howard. The emotionally-charged sold-out event attracted over 200 people to a private reception and silent auction at the Hotel Indigo's Rialto Room for a pre-show celebration before the crowd of 1,100 enjoyed an evening featuring all the artists ‘in the round’ with Ford’s band backing the performances.  Altogether, the evening raised over $85,000 for the families, with monies still being donated in the wake of the performances.

The aptly titled “Colt Ford and Friends” event was conceived after Ford learned of a shooting earlier this year in his community that left his high school friend, Senior Officer Howard, injured and resulted in the death of Senior Officer Christian, leaving both families at a financial disadvantage in the tough economy.  In less than one month, Ford organized the fundraiser and called in friends to help him pay tribute to Christian’s memory. 

Ford shares, "I want to say thank you to all of my friends who helped us have such a special night in my hometown. To all the artists who joined in to perform or who donated items to help raise money, y’all are amazing, and I am thankful to call you all friends.  This could not have happened without y’all.” 

 

Ford received autographed guitars from Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, and Carrie Underwood, as well as an autographed stage shirt from Keith Urban, ticket and meet-and-greet packages from Aldean and Eric Church, Adams Golf clubs, autographed R.E.M. package including limited edition vinyls, autographed merchandise from Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Kid Rock and NASCAR's David Ragan, a 4-day TravAmerica vacation to Cancun from Janice Brockmeyer, a luxury stay in the Hotel Indigo Athens' Presidential Suite, along with many more items.

 

The evening held several special moments with one of the most memorable being Aldean, Ford, and Gilbert’s performance of the No. 1 hit (penned by Ford and Gilbert), “Dirt Road Anthem.”  Ford reminisced saying, “The first time we ever did this song was me and Brantley right here [on the Georgia Theatre stage],” before turning to Aldean and sharing, “but thank you for taking this song to No. 1 for us!”

Aldean chimed in, “I want to thank these two guys right here for writing this song.  It was a hit before I ever recorded it, so thank you both.”  The rendition opened with Aldean performing the first verse, followed by Ford and Gilbert's unique adaptation of the song’s second and third verses.

The evening closed after nearly three hours of music with Ford thanking the crowd for their extraordinary support.  “A very special ‘thank you’ to all fans that came out to show and have been praying for the families and this community...I love y’all so much.”  

Ford will present a check to NobleHeroes, a nonprofit organization created to assist the honorable men and women of public safety in America, on Monday, August 22 in Athens, Georgia with all the proceeds from the silent auction, tickets, and donations going to the families.  To make a donation online, please visit www.nobleheroes.org.

For additional images from the evening, please stay tuned to ColtFord.com. 

The Band Perry Joined Red Ross & Green County Relief Center Yesterday, Touring Devastated Areas of Hometown

THE BAND PERRY JOINED THE RED CROSS & THE GREENE COUNTY RELIEF CENTER YESTERDAY 

TO TOUR DEVASTATED AREAS OF THEIR HOMETOWN

Yesterday, Greeneville's own Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry (The Band Perry) joined both the Greene County Chapter of the Red Cross and the Greene County Disaster Relief/Donation Center to assist in relief efforts, offer solace to those who have been hardest hit and express gratitude for the first responders and community volunteers for their round-the-clock efforts.

The break-through country band, on the Republic Nashville label, is a family trio who call Greeneville, TN home. Their current touring schedule on Tim McGraw's Emotional Traffic Tour has allowed them little time to return home since the storms devastated so many in the Greeneville area. That fact has weighed heavily on their minds over the past weeks.

"Nothing is more important to us than family, community and service to others," said Kimberly Perry. "We have been anxious to visit our neighbors and help as much as we can. We hope that we helped to raise awareness of the needs in the area and we're very happy that we could publicly thank and acknowledge the tireless efforts of all the local disaster relief workers."

The Greene County Red Cross has undertaken a non-stop schedule of providing needed items to those affected. In Tennessee, since April 27, the Red Cross has served almost 40,000 meals; and more than 26,200 snacks; and delivered about 1500 comfort kits. Additionally, over 5,000 meals have been served by the staff at The Oaks Retreat center over the last week. On Monday The Band Perry joined the Red Cross in these distribution efforts.

The Band Perry next traveled to The Greene County Disaster Relief/Donation Center/Command Center, on the campus of the Free Will Baptist Family Ministries. This location has served as the official site for the disaster relief center in the Camp Creek Community. While there, Kimberly, Neil and Reid spoke to the media with their thoughts on the day and the urgency of the continued need for help. They highlighted what goods and services are currently needed (listed below).

Due to the massive destruction from the F3 Tornado that hit the area, Free Will Baptist Family Ministries and many emergency responders, volunteers, supporters, and rescue units answered the call in the community by providing shelter, food and water to those in need after the massive storm.  Family Ministries plans to continue its efforts in helping friends, family, and neighbors in the surrounding communities during this time of need.

FWBF MINISTRIES has an ongoing need for the following items:

•       Gatorade, vitamin water

•       Easy to open canned foods

•       Cleaning supplies - mops, buckets, brooms, dust pans, disinfectant cleaner, baking soda

•       Building supplies – hammers, nails, tacks, saws, screwdrivers,

•       Rakes, Shovels, wheel barrels, flashlights, batteries, candles,

•       Small appliances – small microwaves, small coffee pots

•       Animal food

•       Towels, disposable Wipes

•       Paper goods (paper plates, plastic eating utensils, paper towels, toilet paper)

•       Trash bags, zip lock bags, sandwich bags

•       Totes

•       NOT NEEDED: CLOTHES, FURNITURE OR WATER

**Badly needed monetary donations made payable to Greene County Disaster Relief, mail to FWBFM 90 Stanley Lane, Greeneville TN  37743

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

How to get Red Cross help: Call 1-800-REDCROSS (733-2767)

How you can help: Red Cross services are provided free to people affected by disasters - and it is possible only because of the generosity of the donors who support the Red Cross every day. Financial contributions to American Red Cross Disaster Relief allow us to provide immediate assistance to victims of more than 70,000 disasters each year. You can help people affected by the tornadoes in Tennessee, across the country and around the world by visiting RedCross.org, texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Please send donations to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013.

ABOUT THE GREENE COUNTY DISASTER RELIEF COMMAND CENTER: Free Will Baptist Family Ministries, headquartered in Greeneville, TN, has been providing unconditional love and support to young people and their families since 1939 through residential group homes and The Hope Center Crisis Pregnancy/Resource Center, extending to The Laurels Retirement and Assisted Living Center and The Oaks Retreat Center, as well as Governor’s Bend Retirement and Assisted Living Center under construction in Erwin, Tennessee, expected to open in March 2012.

For more information about the Red Cross visit www.redcross.org

For more information about relief efforts visit www.fwbfm.com

For more information about The Band Perry visit www.thebandperry.com