New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce
Heartland Media vice president of operations and retired WKYT-TV (Lexington, KY) senior vice president of reel property / special projects, Tom Bennett, as the latest recipient of the
Danny R. Ford Distinguished Service Award for his advocacy on behalf of the Museum. From 1989 to 1992,
Bennett oversaw the construction of the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center and village complex, where The Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame is currently located, and under the assignment of WKYT, has served as the broadcast presenter of the Induction Ceremony since its commencement. The award honors those who continually lend their time, talent and resources to the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and local communities. Past recipients include the award's namesake and Kentucky state representative
Danny R. Ford, former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton, daughter of Renfro Valley Barn Dance founder John Lair, Ann Lair Henderson, Kentucky business leader, Warren W. Rosenthal, music duo Halfway to Hazard and their manager, Josh J. Bleidt.
Recognizing their vast charitable contributions surpassing one million dollars to the Bluegrass State, The Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum will also present Halfway to Hazard with a humanitarian award at the 2015 Induction Ceremony. Through various events and fundraisers since 2007, including the annual Crocketsville Charity Concert & Trail Ride, Halfway to Hazard has raised at total of $1,018,608.95 for various Kentucky non-profits and charities including the Buckhorn Children's Center, East Kentucky Tornado Relief, Flood Relief Telethon, Community Foundation,
Trooper Island, Shop with a Cop, Jackson Parks, Knot County Youth Foundation, and others. They have also organized donations of new and gently-used instruments to nine public schools throughout Central and Eastern Kentucky in Estil, Wolfe, Pulaski, Leslie, Rockcastle, Breathitt, Perry and Jackson counties, to aid in improving the quality of music education throughout the regions.
Montgomery Gentry,
Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys, Larry Cordle, Clarence Spalding, Pete Stamper, Doc Hopkins and The Moonglows will make up the 2015 class of Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum inductees. These honorees will join other Kentucky native music professionals to be recognized for their contribution to music in the state of Kentucky and around the world. The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, April 10 at the Lexington Center, Bluegrass Ballroom (430 West Vine Street, Lexington, KY 40507).
For more information on the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum, visit kentuckymusicmuseum.com.
About Halfway to Hazard
Former Mercury Records recording duo Halfway to Hazard proudly hails from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains near Hazard, Kentucky. Having celebrated an ACM nomination for Top Duo of the Year after the release of their debut single, "
Daisy" in 2007, they rose to fame on tours with
Tim McGraw including the Live Your Voice Tour (McGraw and Jason Aldean), and the Soul II Soul Tour (McGraw and Faith Hill). The duo's "Die By My Own Hand," was also featured on McGraw's Emotional Traffic album. Since 2010, the duo has been on a career hiatus, however they come together for a few performances per year, mostly for charity. In 2012, the duo came together in their hometown to raise money for a devastating tornado, which tore apart the area and destroyed many homes and businesses. Over $200,000 was raised for the local community during the telethon. H2H holds an annual charity event, the Crocketsville Charity Concert & Trail Ride. The event boasts performances by Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Randy Houser, Lee Brice,
Keith Anderson and many more. Now in its eighth year, it has raised $575,000 for Kentucky-based charities, with many of the proceeds going towards the Buckhorn Children's Center. This past year, H2H supported the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame with a portion of the proceeds from the event, which was the largest artist donation to date to the Hall of Fame. Chad and
David have been appointed Kentucky Admirals for their charity work, and have received numerous accolades including the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Award, The
William D. Gorman Humanitarian Award, and have even had days named after them by the governor of Kentucky. For more information on Halfway to Hazard, visit halfwaytohazard.com.
About the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
Since its founding in 2002, The Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum exists to to honor native Kentucky music professionals who have made significant contributions to the music industry in Kentucky and around the world, and to be an educational source for anyone desiring to increase their knowledge of Kentucky's rich musical heritage. The Hall of Fame extends the prestigious honor of induction to individuals who made a tremendous impact on the world of music and whose roots are deep in the heart of the great state of Kentucky. The interactive museum, nestled in the heart of Renfro Valley, is home to some of the greatest artifacts in musical history. Kids young and old can take an unforgettable journey through Kentucky's musical past, experiencing new and undying legacies. For more information about the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum, visit kentuckymusicmuseum.com.
