NEWS IN BRIEF Big Kenny Delivering School Supplies to Sudan Fri. October 19.2007 6:59 PM EDT
Kenny Alphin of Big & Rich and his wife, Christiev, traveled this week from Nashville to Akon, Sudan, to bring medical and school supplies, musical instruments and clothing to the Kunyuk School for Girls. In April, Alphin donated $50,000 to a charity that assists and protects women in Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of people have died from violence, malnutrition and disease as a result of the Sudanese government militia's campaign against rebels in Darfur. Since donating the portion of the royalties he received from writing the Tim McGraw hit, "Last Dollar (Fly Away)," enrollment at the school has increased from 250 to 1,000. Alphin chartered a cargo plane to transport 25 crates of supplies to Sudan. He and singer-songwriter Damien Horne will perform for the children. "Whether they are abused across the street or across an ocean, all people deserve freedom and basic human rights," said Alphin, who is paying all expenses for the trip. "I would spend every nickel I could get my hands on to help these people. It is the worst humanitarian crisis on our earth, and it is time we did something to stop it." Porter Wagoner Remains Hospitalized Fri. October 19.2007 6:59 PM EDT Country Music Hall of Fame member Porter Wagoner remained hospitalized Friday (Oct. 19) for treatment of an undisclosed illness. The 80-year-old singer-songwriter has been listed in serious condition since being admitted to a Nashville-area hospital on Monday (Oct. 15). Members of Wagoner's family have declined to comment on the specifics of his illness but have asked for prayers from his friends and fans. After suffering a near-fatal stomach aneurysm in 2006, he later recorded a new album, Wagonmaster, released earlier this year. He promoted the project by traveling to Hollywood in February to open a concert for Neko Case. In July, he opened the White Stripes' concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. He is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Alison Krauss, Robert Plant Tape CMT Crossroads Fri. October 19.2007 6:09 PM EDT In addition to songs from their new album, Raising Sand, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant performed Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" during a Thursday night (Oct. 18) taping of CMT Crossroads at a venue in Lebanon, Tenn. Plant was a founding member and lead vocalist of the legendary British rock band. Raising Sand, to be released Tuesday (Oct. 23) by Rounder Records, was produced in Nashville and Los Angeles by T Bone Burnett. An air date for the Krauss-Plant Crossroads episode has not been announced. Bluegrass Mainstay Clarence "Tater" Tate Dies Fri. October 19.2007 6:09 PM EDT Funeral services will be held Saturday (Oct. 20) in Jonesborough, Tenn., for Clarence "Tater" Tate, a former fiddler and bassist in Bill Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys. Tate, 76, died Wednesday (Oct. 17) at his home in Jonesborough following a battle with lung cancer. The multi-instrumentalist also toured and recorded with Lester Flatt, Jimmy Martin, Carl Story, Mac Wiseman, Wilma Lee Cooper, Red Smiley and others. Tate appears on Patty Loveless' bluegrass album, Mountain Soul, released in 2001. He taught fiddle in the bluegrass, old time and country music program at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Kay --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
