RELEASED: Sept. 15, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Some of the top names in country music are coming to the Centre College campus. Dolly Parton, the Charlie Daniels Band and Vince Gill will each headline shows at the College's Norton Center for the Arts this fall.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25 (note revised date, previously scheduled for Sept. 17), Dolly Parton will grace the Newlin Hall stage. Parton is quite simply one of the most talented and recognizable people alive. One of 12 children, Parton rose from her impoverished roots in Locust Ridge, Tenn. to a spot on the Grand Ole Opry by the age of 12. After that, she made her mark in virtually every entertainment medium. Many of her songs such as "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," "To Daddy," "Kentucky Gambler" and "I Will Always Love You" are considered classics. She is a widely admired songwriter (the author of more than 3,000 songs!), a hugely successful recording and performing artist, a television and film star, and bestselling author. One of the few performers for whom the adjective "legendary" is not pro forma politeness, Parton was awarded the Living Legend medal by the U.S. Library of Congress on April 14, 2004, for her contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States.


The Charlie Daniels Band appears Thursday, October 27. Daniels and his group serve up a uniquely southern concoction of country, rock, boogie and blues. A native of Wilmington, N.C., Daniels started his musical career in the late 1950s, and he has been recording and performing steadily ever since. As one of Nashville's top session fiddlers in the 1960s, he appeared on albums by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr and Leonard Cohen. In 1973 he scored a novelty hit with "Uneasy Rider" and in 1979 his signature song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," became a No. 1 country hit, crossing over to the No. 3 spot on the pop charts, and won a Grammy. In his 35 years of recording he has sold over 18 million records. In 1998 he received a Pioneer Award at the Academy of Country Music's awards ceremony.




Vince Gill, the Ambassador of Country Music, comes to the Norton Center Monday, Nov. 21. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Gill played with Rodney Crowell's band and was lead singer of Pure Prairie League before going solo in the 1980s and recording a string of smash hits. In the early 80s he played in the New South, a legendary bluegrass band headquarted in Lexington, Kentucky, that included J.D. Crowe, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and—at one time—Keith Whitley. His high, pure tenor voice and unerring sense of harmony have made him a favorite duet recording partner for dozens of fellow artists. He has won virtually ever award from the Country Music Association possible, including Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. The winner of 14 Grammys and more CMAs than any performer in history, Gill has sold over 22 million records. A regular on the Grand Ole Opry, Gill is currently the president of the CMA, and has been the host of the CMA's awards show since 1992.

The Southern Nights series is presented in cooperation with First Southern National Bank. For ticket info call toll free 877-HIT-SHOW (448-7469).

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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