This celebration was created to bring together all artists, musicians, country music associations, websites, radio stations and country music fans all over the world, as well as to promote country music worldwide. Come celebrate with us!
In a period of global crisis, Country Music has proved its strength and the international country music markets faced the challenge of a changing economy with reliability, confidence and good country music around the world.
There are many highlights and remarkable festivals, tours and concerts all over the planet, but on this occasion, just to summarize this year, we would like to point out three special events that show us the way to ‘build’ a stage for international country music possibilities.
Once again these events proved to be the best showcase for international country music artists in America. They show how country music is played and lived in other countries and the extraordinary quality and values of artists that deserve a special place of consideration and promotion in shows like these ones.
Many of these original artists play in music markets in which Country Music is a minor style, so they have to work harder and sing “louder” to be heard and respected.
We wish that one day, these showcases could cross borders and be watched in other countries to be really “global” and promote Country Music everywhere.
2. Toby Keith’s World Tour
Toby Keith took Europe by storm. His shows in the Scandinavian countries and Great Britain last November were a complete success, filling venues and making audiences go wild.
He is a top Country Music star in the USA, but let´s face it: in Europe, outside the Country Music fan base, he is not a familiar face.
But it shows us that when you have the right Country Music star for the right market, you can draw many people to the style. Garth Brooks did it some years ago. Gail Davies and the Bellamy Brothers do it every year. Toby Keith has done it now and it can be done again.
3. International Country Music Ambassador Awards
Under the motto “One Day, One World, One Country” these year´s campaign expressed again our support of International Country Music and the people who work and fight for it daily.
In words of Judy Seale: “Country Music has soul. Country Music has so much to tell the world about an attitude, about people with feelings. About men and women that live, love, work, pray and die. Life is a way and Country Music is the way that we choose every day to express that we all belong to a musical community with no borders. That’s why the ICMDay Org. chose the day Sept 17 which is Hank Williams’ birthday, to tell us one simple message that could be a motto for all the people that work in the international Country Music market . That message is One Day, One World, One Country.”
Rodrigo Haddad presented the award to Gail Davies and said: “The members of the ICMDay Organization honor Miss Gail Davies with the award of International Country Music Ambassador of the year 2009 because of her remarkable and long international career as singer, songwriter, producer and female pioneer. In the words of Miss Brenda Lee: “a rare jewel that continues to shine with honesty, energy and inspiration for all the artists that belong to the international country family. “
Gail Davies, the new International Country Music Ambassador said when she picked the award: “It’s a very nice honor and I appreciate it and I think that you know there are a lot of young people coming up today in country music, songwriters that need to pursue their careers in Europe and around the world, in Australia, Japan because we have fans over there and there’s nothing more rewarding than being on stage in Kyoto and having ten thousand people out there singing the lyrics to a song you wrote and realize that you are able to translate to music a feeling that you have to people who speak another language in another part of the world. So it’s really a privilege and I really enjoy touring.”
After that, Judy Seale presented the award to Jeff Walker with these words:
“The members of the organization also honor Jeff Walker with the award of International Country Music Ambassador of the Year 2009 because of his tireless promotion of international Country Music, providing services throughout the world in the areas of video distribution, public relations, marketing and promotion.”
Jeff Walker felt honored with the award and said grateful:
“There’s so many people I could just thank for what, ah, myself personally, what Aristomedia has gotten in the music industry and I’ll be celebrating thirty years with the company It’s truly been really rewarding, really been thankful.”
“I just really appreciate everybody carrying the torch, I believe that Country Music will continue to grow and continue to prosper overseas with the Internet and the ability to download songs all over the world. I think it’s gonna really help spread the gospel of Country Music so thank you all for coming. Thank you for this award, the International Country Music Day Org. What a great honor this is for me.”
The ceremony was held in the popular Second Fiddle Club in Nashville, Tennessee coinciding with the CMA Awards week.
PHOTOS:
Gail Davies & Rodrigo Haddad
Judy Seale & Jeff Walker
Rodrigo Haddad, Gail Davies, Mark Moffatt, Jeff Walker & Judy Seale
Tim Holland (Manager of ABC Music Australia), Gail Davies, Jeff Walker, Tim Daly (Producer, Country Music Channel Australia ), Mark Moffatt
Ted Ellis (CMT Canada), Jeff Walker, Michelle Anderson (CMT Canada)
Chris Scruggs (Gail´s son), Gail Davies & Nikos Garavelas (*)
From left to right Maria Petroulia, sterling member CMA Greece, Irene Marinou, marketing manager CMAG, Rodrigo Haddad, Eleni Karamitsou, Magda Riga, President CMAG (*)
All photos of the ICMDAY Awards by Bev Moser, except (*) by Eleni Karamitsou.
Video by Rodrigo Haddad.
We´d like to thank Gail Davies, Jeff Walker, Judy Seale, Rodrigo Haddad, Mark Moffatt, Eleni Karamitsou, Raúl Tejeiro and the Aristomedia team (Ryan Moore and Matt Watkins), for their help, support, collaboration, photos, videos, translations and friendship that made possible the awards ceremony and this article.
The International Country Music Day Organization has announced the results of the international poll launched among the activities for its campaign this year, “One Day, One World, One Country”, to know the best Garth Brooks #1 song.
Until his retirement Garth Brooks was the most influential artist in the 90s -bringing massive audiences to country music-, as well as one of the best and most impressive country music artists in the history of this musical style. His mixture of contemporary country, honky tonk, rock and his great sensitivity as a composer reached fans all over the world. But, which song do his fans think is the best of his #1 songs after all these years?
No doubt, the readers of the International Country Music day web has voted “The Dance” (written by Brooks’ friend, Tony Arata) as the best Garth Brooks´ #1 ever with 34% of the votes, followed by “If Tomorrow Never Comes” with 14% of the votes and “The River”, in third place, with 10% of the cast. Garth Brooks was very well known by his electrifying shows but it seems that after the years his fans prefer his ballads and reflective songs.
Some international country music personalities talked about Garth Brooks and the influence of him in their careers, life and international country music:
“In 1998, Garth came to Brazil for a concert in our biggest rodeo event. I was part of the brazilian crew and I presented him a brazilian soccer team jersey. For our surprise he hid it all the time under his western shirt during the show - just before “Standing Outside the Fire” he showed it and everybody got “wild” at the stadium. That’s a real showman!
For sure Garth was one of guys that made country music even more popular all around the world. And I can tell you by myself how his music impacted my life as a musician and as a man.”
Rodrigo Haddad, International Country Music Ambassador of the year 2008, Brazil.
“´The Dance´ from Garth Brooks is a wonderful song. But all songs from the list are wonderful. It was very difficult to choose just one. All Garth Brooks´ songs are exceptional. This guy is exceptional. He is a living legend, with songs of legend. I just hope he’ll continue to record CD´s and perform on stage for a long time. Garth Brooks is THE Entertainer!.” Florent Dufour, President of the French Association of Country Music, FACM, France.
“One day coming back home in my car an awesome guitar on the radio called my attention and an hypnotizing voice, unknown to me until that moment, intoned a melody that froze my core and woke something up that I had forgotten. That incredible artist was Garth Brooks, and that love was country music. And I´ve never given up since then”. Albert Antolín, Dimelo Country Radio Web radio Coordinator, Spain.
Garth Brooks has come out of retirement for a series of special concerts in the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. Concerts began last December 11, 2009. Tickets are sold out.
The International Country Music Day Organization has named this year´s International Country Music Ambassadors. The honor was bestowed on Gail Davies, singer, songwriter, producer and female pioneer with a long and remarkable international career, and Jeff Walker, CMA Board Member, President of the PR and multimedia company Aristomedia, a well known promoter of international country music.
In the words of Andoni Urkiaga, Coordinator of ICMDAY from Madrid, Spain: “These awards honor not only a model career in international country music but also a visionary way of promoting country music, opening new markets, setting new paths and predicting future tendencies for the rest of the market and the industry with their music, their behaviours or their ideas. I think everyone would have to stop and listen to what these people have to say about international country music”.
Both, Gail Davies and Jeff Walker were extremely humble when they learnt about the Award. Gail Davies, that was touring in Sweden by that time, said: “What a nice surprise!. I am very honored that you have chosen me as the 2009 International Country Music Ambassador”. Jeff Walker, from his Aristomedia office in Nashville, said: “I am thrilled to receive this award. It is very satisfying to me that the Country music genre is steadily growing globally.” .
Over the past few days, ICMDAY.org has received several notes from artists and industry personalities congratulating this year’s International Country Music Ambassadors on their awards.
Gail Davies: A rare jewel that continues to shine.
Top country artists like Dolly Parton, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Brenda Lee and Suzy Bogguss, most of them long-term Gail Davies friends and collaborators, have spoken extensively about the honor that she has received and her valuable contribution spreading country music internationally:
“Gail Davies. Who better to be an International Country Music Ambassador? Everybody in the world loves her, especially in my world. She is one of the most talented and wonderful people I know. I will always love her”. - Dolly Parton
“I love to see Gail Davies as International Country Music Ambassador. She is one of the most talented people I know”. - George Jones
“I have been a fan of Gail Davies for over 30 years. There is no denying the talent of that woman on every level, writing, singing and producing.” - Emmylou Harris
“Gail Davies is a rare jewel that continues to shine. She has woven into the tapestry of our musical world some of the best singing and songwriting I have ever heard. I am proud to be her contemporary, but even more proud to be her friend.” - Brenda Lee
“I was moved by Gail Davies the first time my ears were vibrated by her voice! I remember it was before I moved to Nashville. I was living in a small town in Illinois and a few of us would get together on Wednesday nights to hear what new music our buddy, Randy would buy in Chicago. We’d listen and get all heavy about the stuff, often dissecting an artist and the production. When we heard her debut album, “impeccable” was all we could say. The songs, her honest performance, that amazing, energetic and raw voice. I always used to cry when I would hear someone that I aspired to be like. Gail received buckets of tears and I believe she was the inspiration for me to move to Nashville. As I got more into her music, it was clear that see that she and a few brave pioneers had conquered the “Don’t you worry your pretty little head” syndrome and I wanted to be there, too!” - Suzy Bogguss
Jeff Walker: A tireless promoter of international Country Music
Some of the most popular personalities in the Country Music Industry emphasize unanimously the professional values and the contributions of Jeff Walker to International Country Music:
“If there is a stronger supporter of Country Music internationally than Jeff Walker, I haven’t met him. During my years with CMA, I watched Jeff emerge as Country’s most passionate and persistent global advocate. His love and devotion to Country’s cause around the world has been without financial reward to Jeff. In fact, most of his efforts have been at his own expense. Everyone who works with Country Music internationally has certainly benefited from Jeff’s unwavering belief in its universal appeal. I can’t imagine anyone more deserving of this award than my friend Jeff Walker.” - Ed Benson (former Executive Director/President of the CMA)
“Jeff Walker has been a tireless promoter of country music everywhere, but especially beyond the shores of the US. To many, country music is measured internationally in terms of units or tickets. To Jeff, it’s always been about connecting fans with the music, and he’s given immeasurable amounts of his time and personal resources to expose country music to the world. To him, it’s about the music and the people who make it. Jeff’s has probably maxxed out twenty passports, and country music is much better off because of it.”- Paul Allen (former Executive Director of the Country Radio Broadcasters, CRB)
“Jeff Walker is a believer and a doer! He epitomizes dedication to connecting and sharing Country Musics Talented people with each other and the world! Congratulations to you my loyal friend, you are truly deserving of this prestigious International Country Music Ambassador Award.” - Lane Brody (recording artist)
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jeff Walker in the international marketplace for more than a decade. Jeff’s entertainment conglomerate “Aristo Media” has been instrumental in providing services throughout the world in the areas of video distribution, public relations, marketing and promotion, internet services and consulting. Jeff has been the driving force behind the Country Music Association’s support of country music in the global marketplace. He is extremely deserving of the ICMDAY International Award.” -Judy Seale(President of JSI, Inc and 2008 International Country Music Ambassador)
“All of us at The Consortium were thrilled to learn that Jeff’s being honored. I’ve had the distinct pleasure to have known, and worked with, Jeff the past twenty years. Not only does Jeff continue to work circles around the best of his peers…he does so with his incomparable, infectious positive attitude. Jeff is country music’s international ambassador extraordinaire. So many artists, worldwide, have benefitted from his tireless endeavors and belief that the country music genre is viable wherever music lovers reside. We’re all proud to call Jeff Walker our true friend.” Mike Martinovich(The Consortium)
Two extensive interviews with this year’s International Country Music Ambassadors will be published on the website of the International Country Music Day Organization.
The International Country Music Day Organization, among the activities for its new campaign this year, One Day, One World, One Country, launches an international poll to choose the best number one song by Garth Brooks, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Garth Brooks´ self-titled debut album in 1989.
Garth Brooks was the most influential artist in the 90s -bringing massive audiences to our genre-, as well as one of the best and most impressive country music artists in the history of this musical style. His mixture of contemporary country, honky tonk, rock and his great sensitivity as a composer, reached fans all over the world.
Since the release of “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, his first Number 1 hit in 1989, this native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, broke almost every single record in the industry, being the first country music artist to go multi-Platinum and, later on being awarded a Diamond Record for sales of over 10 million records sold of the same album. Giving massive concerts like never before, and selling more than 123 million records in the USA alone, he became the best-selling recording artist in the history of recorded entertainment.
But Garth Brooks was also very successful in Europe: in the UK, Ireland, Spain and in every place where he played abroad, he contributed to spread the flame of country music and his deep mark can still be felt in every single country fan all over the world..
Today the International Country Music Day Organisation (icmday.org), invites you to choose your favourite Garth Brooks Number 1 hit from his list of 19 songs which reached that coveted position.
The winning song of this international country music poll will be named 2009 International Country Music Day Song of the Year. Previous winners include “Crazy” by Willie Nelson and “I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash.
The International Country Music Day is celebrated every year on September 17, honouring the birth of the late great Hank Williams, one of country music’s greatest legends.
Sixteen prominent international Country artists will convene in Music City to participate in a series of global Country Music events, beginning June 8 in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
The event, hosted by Country artist Jace Everett, will feature a total of eight artists from Australia, Ireland, U.K., Canada and New Zealand, including Australia’s “Telstra Road to Tamworth” winner, Peter McWhirter.
The annual AristoMedia Global Showcase will be held Tuesday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at The Second Fiddle. Former Mavericks bassist and Digital Rodeo Director of Industry Relations Robert Reynolds will host the event.
“The chance for these artists to travel and perform here is not only an exciting opportunity for the artists, but for the city of Nashville and the entire international Country Music movement as well,” says AristoMedia President Jeff Walker.
Saturday, March 14, 2009, 20:30
Theater “Louiza”, Nea Elvetia, Vyronas
The show is dedicated to the outstanding performer Garth Brooks who succeeded to move New Country Music at the top.
His concerts have been always overbooked . The sales of his albums have reached the peak, this way
surpassing legendary, on international grounds, artists.
During this show we will follow Garth’s eminent course right from the beginning until today. This will be an audiovisual journey into the world of an artist who is still writing a history in music.
Special Guest: Nikos Georgas
NIKOS GARAVELAS PRESENTS CYPRUS
“ ELVIS PRESLEY !
THE VOICE OF 20th CENTURY”
APRIL 11 at the Amphitheater of St. Raphael in Limassol, Nikos Garavelas organizes a special presentation, a tribute to the “King” of Rock’n Roll, Elvis.
Nikos will show us, via a documentary video, the life, the brilliant presence, the seismic music course , the dramatic moments, the absolute loneliness of success and the end of Elvis Presley.
1ST COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 17th, at the Garden Theater of the Municipality of Limassol and with the collaboration of the Municipality, Nikos organizes the 1st Country Music Festival in Limassol.
Performers: George Gakis & The Troublemakers
Andreas Gomozias & The Country Gentlemen
It was about time that an event like that would be presented to Cyprus. The audience will experience the unique feeling of the Country Music Festivals , a cultural event that for 7 consecutive years is acknowledged by the audience throughout Greece and Europe and which consist a “must” for the Greek cultural events.
GREECE
7th COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
THE GRASCALS
In September 12th , fans of the institution of Country Music Festivals,
From all over Greece and Europe, set a date in Athens, Greece.
Nikos Garavelas presents , a country - bluegrass band THE GRASCALS!
The GRASCALS is one of the most famous bands of Country and Bluegrass Music. You will attend their show at the Theater of Vrahon Melina Merkouri during the 7th Country Music Festival organized by Nikos Garavelas.
Terry Eldredge-guitar, Jamie Johnson-guitar, Terry Smith-bass, Danny Roberts-mandolin, Kristin Scott Benson-banjo, Jeremy Abshire-fiddle. These are the GRASCALS.
The group recorded their first album in 2004. Their long collaboration with the “diva” of Country Music, Dolly Parton, gave their listeners the opportunity to acknowledge them. Then they collaborated with Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley, Patty Loveless, Mac Wiseman, J.D. Crowe, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Steve Wariner, Vince Gill, The Jordanaires and many others. They became well-known from the very beginning. In 2005 they were nominated from the International Bluegrass Music Association as Emerging Artist of the Year while all the following years they have won the most significant title for an artist “Entertainer of the Year”.
Their music style is unique and their presence on stage is excellent., thus justifying the bestowal of all the awards which they have gained till now, while they are considered as one of the most promising new groups. Their recent album “Keep on Walking” is no 1 in the charts of this month National Bluegrass Survey Top 15 Bluegrass Album Chart. At the same time the single “Sad Wind Sigh” is in #3 and “Choices” in #17 at the Top 30 Bluegrass Songs Chart.
This is the group, the unique Bluegrass artists, that Nikos Garavelas has chosen to present to the public in September the 12th . An outstanding musical event dedicated to the fans of Country Music Festivals!
Back in September 2008, the International Country Music Organization announced their first International Country Music Ambassadors, Judy Seale and Rodrigo Haddad. This announcement met with a warm welcome in the industry, the media, the fans, and numerous country music associations worldwide.
ICMDAY has the reputation of being a transnational organization, and therefore, the awards were presented in two different countries, Argentina and the United States. In late September, Brazilian singer Rodrigo Haddad was very surprised when he received his award on stage at the San Pedro Country Music Festival organized by one of our founding members, Gustavo Laurino, of Country2.com. Haddad was delighted and proud to receive an award that recognizes his important efforts in spreading country music internationally with a smile, a great deal of talent, and a gentlemanly cowboy attitude.
A complete clip of Haddad’s show at the San Pedro Country Music Festival, Argentina, organized by Gustavo Laurino (Country2.com)
Cowboy Anton, one of the finest and youngest classic country music experts in Nashville, and his fiancée and radio co-host, Cowgirl Erin, interviewed Judy Seale at the end of October on their radio show Music City USA on station WRVU Nashville. Seale has been an acclaimed international manager for many years and is well acquainted with the European and Asian country music markets. Seale was very surprised to receive an award that rewards the tenacity and the vision of a very special businesswoman who has devoted her life to bringing country music to fans and military troops overseas.
Judy Seale with her award and flanked by Cowboy Anton and Cowgirl Erin after the interview on WRVU Nashville’s “Music City USA.”
Judy proudly shows her International Country Music Ambassador award.
A few weeks later, Rodrigo Haddad was also interviewed on Music City USA, during his yearly visit to Nashville to attend the CMA Awards.
Rodrigo Haddad, talks about his award during an interview on the show “Inside Music Row,”
This year we will name our new International Country Music Ambassadors, but we will keep the names of Seale and Haddad in our hearts, as they become a part of our International Country Music Ambassadors Hall of Fame. Many thanks for promoting country music and making so many people happy with your excellent work!
Raúl Tejeiro is one of the most eminent journalists in the world of American Music in South America, an activity which he combines with his job as a language teacher and as an actor. Tejeiro is also a movie buff, a jazz expert, keen on film soundtracks, blues, rockabilly. Without any doubt, a complete and singular character indeed, whose biggest passion is, however, Country Music, being his record collection the most comprehensive one in Uruguay.
As one of the pioneers introducing this musical genre in South America, he is director and host of Top Country Hits, a radio show which is on the air on many radio stations in Uruguay and also in Mexico and which can be downloaded from http://www.topcountryhits.net/
In February 2005, Tejeiro cofounded the Country Music Association of Uruguay (Asociación de Musica Country de Uruguay . AMCU) and has been its president since then.
1st International Country Music Festival of Uruguay. On the stage: Honky Tonk Blues (a Honky Tonk & Rockabilly band)
Since AMCU is about to hold Uruguay’s second annual Country Music festival in December, ICMDAY interviewed Raúl Tejeiro recently.
ICMDAY: How did you first become interested in country music?
Raúl Tejeiro: It all started way back in the late 70s when I was a teenager and while all my friends were into disco music, I would listen to jazz and blues. I did like the Bee Gees and ABBA, but what I really loved was Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzerald. Until one day I heard on the radio some songs that changed my life. I thought they were “cowboy songs”, or at least, the kind of music that you could hear in films like “Smokey & the Bandit”. Songs like “Coward of the County,” “Eastbound & Down” or “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”. They were so full of energy! I didn’t know what Country Music was, so I started reading, buying Lps, collecting newspaper clippings with all the info I could get.
ICMDAY: So this started a long time ago, but why didyou switch one day from being a fan to having your own Country Music radio show, Top Country Hits?
Raúl Tejeiro: The next goal I set myself was going to the USA, more specifically to Nashville, so I applied for a scholarship and there I went. I lived in the USA in 1991 and 1992 –perhaps some of the best years for Country Music- and I travelled around the US, visiting very rich cities, musically speaking, such as Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Chicago, New York and many others, getting more and more material and getting in contact with local artists. Eventually, when I came back to Uruguay, I went on teaching English –which is what I do for a living- and I also continued acting in theatre. When you are an actor, you work with your voice, your diction, your feelings. Some friends suggested that I should have a show on the radio because I knew a lot about the music and I had the material and the voice. I knocked on some doors and eventually, Top Country Hits saw the light of day.
Raúl Tejeiro
ICMDAY: What kind of music do you play on your show?
Raúl Tejeiro: Basically, music I like. I don’t play songs based on sales or rankings. I play everything from pure, raw, honky tonk music to country pop material. There are some artists that no matter how famous they are in the US, I don’t play their songs much, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, being two examples. They’re not exactly my cup of tea, too pop to my taste, but I have played their music anyway because I found something I liked. My heart belongs to good old honky tonk music and rockabilly.
ICMDAY: Do you think the music produced in Nashville at the moment is being accepted overseas?
Raúl Tejeiro: It all depends on how the music is marketed and labeled. In the 70s, artists like Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were huge in places like Japan but they were marketed as “pop” or “easy listening” artists, not “country”. Country is the genre that most people associate the US with, and since that country is not very much liked around the world, this music also suffers this prejudice.
Also, Country Music has changed a lot: artists like Rascal Flatts or Urban wouldn’t have been considered country 30 years ago and now they top the charts. Creedence and the Eagles were not considered country in the past, and they are more country-sounding that many of today’s top artists.
ICMDAY: With the advent of new technology, Top Country Hits, made in Uruguay, can be listened to all over the world, especially in Spanish-speaking countries, on your website…
RAÚL TEJEIRO: Yes, that’s right and it’s amazing. That’s the good side of globalization. I receive requests from listeners from many countries and many artists who send me their music, then find it curious, different and even funny to hear information about them in Spanish. They don’t understand a word, only their names!
Hickory Wind. Bluegrass on the 1st International Country Music Festival of Uruguay, 2007
ICMDAY: You also write articles, many of which have very original titles (“Book me, Sargeant” or “Cowboy Freud?”). What do you want to convey in your articles?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: I want people to learn about Country Music, but I also want them to enjoy what they read. I could write very dense, detailed articles that only some scholars might enjoy, but the regular reader may find boring. I need to write articles which are interesting, informative and fun. I want people to say “hey! I’d like to listen to some of those artists!” after they have finished reading one of my articles.
ICMDAY: Would you like to write a book on Country Music? Have you got any plans?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: It has crossed my mind once or twice. I think Spanish speakers who like Country Music but don’t have a good command of English, still deserve a good book on Country Music, written in their mother tongue. There are some, but you may believe it not, they have included a lot of wrong information and mistakes. I can’t believe why anyone would go through the trouble of writing a book without taking the necessary time to check all the information included.
Raúl Tejeiro hosting Top Country Hits
ICMDAY: Is it difficult to have a Country Music Association miles away from the US? Why did you decide to do so?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: Quoting Charlie Daniels: “Nashville is Country and we’re Country. But we’re a whole lot more than Nashville”. The US is the home of Country Music, but this music now belongs to the rest of the world. There are artists who don’t speak English but sing in English anyway, and there are those who sing Country Music in their own language, from Spanish to Japanese. There are Country Music artists and fans all over the world. Check out the web and you’ll find lots of Country Music associations all over the world, but you won’t find many jazz, reggae or blues associations. There’s something about people who like Country Music which is kind of gregarious! We founded our association because we felt it would help the genre grow and become more popular. That’s our goal.
ICMDAY: And from creating an association you are now organising a festival, among other activities. Tell us more about that.
RAÚL TEJEIRO: Once I was in a park and there was a Celtic Music festival…and they only had three bands!! So I said “hey, we have more than three Country Music bands! We could also have our festival!” And that’s how the ball started rolling. We also sponsor other activies such as concerts, meetings, etc.and we have our website with information in Spanish.
Madera (Alt Country Group), playing at the International Country Music Festival of Uruguay, 2007.
ICMDAY: What are you planning for this year?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: We are having our 2nd International Country Music Festival in Uruguay in December in one our city’s most beautiful areas. We’re going to have Uruguayan bands playing everything from Western Swing to Honky Tonk, from Bluegrass to Rockabilly. And we also have some special guests from Argentina.
And then we’re going to kick off 2009 with a tribute concert remembering Elvis Presley. Top Country Hits is going to celebrate its 100th show on the web and our website is going to get better and better. We’re planning to visit schools to give talks –in Spanish and in English- on the History of Country Music and the Birth of Rock’n’Roll. And of course, we’re also going to have a special celebration on the International Country Music Day, with a tribute to the legendary Hank Williams.
ICMDAY: Tell us about the Country Music scene in Uruguay, please.
RAÚL TEJEIRO: Country Music used to be very popular in the 70s, thanks to country pop artists such as Kenny Rogers,John Denver, Anne Murray, Eddie Rabbitt,Juice Newton and many others. Their songs were constantly played on the radio. But then, when our country regained democracy after a long dictatorship. there was the need to be more patriotic, therefore there was an explosion of Uruguayan music in Spanish, which buried all the music in English played on the radio.
Now, our association is trying to help Country Music find its way back!
ICMDAY: And Latin or Hispanic Country Music in general?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: There are very good artists who play their own music, many of them in their own language and they also write their own songs. But there’s a large number of artists who only cover hit songs made famous in the US by US artists.
One of the AMCU events in Montevideo, Uruguay
ICMDAY: What are your future plans as an association?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: We want more Country Music on radio stations, more CM concerts. And we have started making contacts in order to have some kind of Latin Country Music Association which may include all the associations that already exist plus those about to be born.
ICMDAY: Which are your all-time favourite artists?
ICMDAY: The Internacional Country Music Day has been spreading the message all over the world in recent years. Which challenges are still around the corner?
RAÚL TEJEIRO: We need to show the US that the rest of the world –that’s us!- is a market that they have vaguely explored. Paraphrasing “Star Trek,” they need to boldly go where no Country Music artist has gone before!.” They need to invest money on promotion, marketing and all that jazz. If Kenny Rogers came to Uruguay, he would go back home with truckloads of money. Well, he actually doesn’t need it!
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