Nashville, Tenn. (Top40 Charts/ Webster & Associates) The Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce Kentucky natives Halfway to Hazard (Chad Warrix and
David Tolliver) and manager Josh J. Bleidt as the latest recipients of the
Danny R. Ford Distinguished Service Award. The award honors those who continually give back to the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Past honorees include
Danny R. Ford, the award's namesake and Kentucky state representative, former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton, Ann Lair Henderson, daughter of Renfro Valley Barn Dance founder John Lair, and Warren W. Rosenthal.
The Kentucky Headhunters, Exile, Skeeter Davis, The Hilltoppers, Old Joe Clark, Emory &
Linda Martin and
Steven Curtis Chapman will make up the 2013 class of Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum inductees. These artists will join other Kentucky native music professionals to be honored for their contribution to music in the state of Kentucky and around the world. The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, April 12 at the Lexington Center Bluegrass Ballroom (430 West Vine Street, Lexington, KY 40507).Tickets for this prestigious induction ceremony are currently on sale. For more information please visit https://www.kentuckymusicmuseum.com/.
About Halfway to Hazard:
Former Mercury Records recording artist Halfway to Hazard toured with
Tim McGraw on two different tours. Live Your Voice with McGraw and
Jason Aldean and Soul II Soul with McGraw and Faith Hill. The duo was nominated for ACM Top Duo of the Year after releasing their first single "
Daisy" in April of 2007. H2H has been on a break since 2010; however, the duo comes together for a few performances per year, mostly for charity. In 2012 H2H's "Die by my own Hand" was featured on Tim McGraw's Emotional Traffic Record. Also in 2012, the duo came together in their hometown to raise money for a devastatingtornado which tore apart the area. Over $200,000 was raised during their telethon. H2H holds an annual charity event, Crockettsville Concert & Trail Ride. The event boasts performances by Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Randy Houser, Lee Brice,
Keith Anderson and many more. The event, now in its fifth year, 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. H2H have received numerous accolades including the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Award, The
William D. Gorman Humanitarian Award and the governor has named days after them.
About Josh J. Bleidt:
Josh's first taste of the music industry came when he ran a production and marketing company with industry veterans Marc Oswald, manager of Big & Rich,
Gretchen Wilson and others, and singer, songwriter and host Gary Chapman. Through Josh's dealings with these musicians, he felt a strong need to help bridge the gap of what these artists needed when it came to a charitable partner. He formed Concerts 4 A Cause in 2008 as a result. Halfway to Hazard was the first group on board to support the cause and the rest is history. Josh not only manages Chad's solo career and Halfway to Hazard, but also manages pro bowl honor kicker Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans and works with UFC
Superstar Rich Franklin. He also serves his Alma Mater on the EKU International Alumni Association Board and his college fraternity's
National Council/Board of Directors. Josh has taken on a consultant role with the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and is helping coordinate a possible HOF tour, developing new and innovative programing in conjunction with the HOF and is continuing to work on their already successful Stars over Appalachia program. Josh has also taken it upon himself to secure the items for the silent auction you will see at the induction to help raise additional funds for the HOF.
About the Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
The Kentucky
Music Hall of Fame and Museum exists both 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 music.
