Posted on 06/06/2004 3:33:36 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
Some in Nashville's music industry are getting political. A group called Music Row Democrats invited former attorney general Janet Reno to Nashville. They hope to have an impact on the race for the White House.
Democrats in Nashville's music industry have banded together and are getting involved in the election. They call themselves Music Row Democrats. On Friday, they met to see former Attorney General Janet Reno.
She was introduced by her sister, and she spoke to several hundred at the Belcourt Theater. Earlier she attended a fund raiser for Music Row Democrats.
Several executives on Music Row started the organization last year. It came after the Dixie Chicks had been blasted for anti-war statements and many felt the country music industry was all Republican.
“We were a little frustrated about the perception of our industry and its leanings and we called together 25 people for a meeting last December,” said Bob Titley, co-founder of the Music Row Democrats.
The group now has more than 1,000 members - most in the country music industry. They are getting national attention and raising money for John Kerry.
“I am so encouraged by grass roots efforts like this by people coming together to their voice be heard to say we are concerned about the direction this country is going and we want to do something about it,” said Janet Reno.
The group is even organizing a Kerry-oke night with stars like Emmy Lou Harris to raise money.
“For that to happen in Music City where everyone is saying that the music industry is republican is pretty exciting for us democrats,” added Titley.
It's the kind of thing Democrats did not have when Al Gore ran four years ago. They think the Janet Reno is just the first of many national speakers they'll get to Nashville.
Music Row Democrats have also been featured in several national publications and on the BBC.
I hope we'll see some names, so I can avoid buying their cds.
Dang, missed an excellent opportunity to Freep! Can't win them all.
Poney-tailed vampires living off of other people's talent are regarded as being lower than snake's bellies by most of us here in Nashville.
I'm sure the Ditsy Chicks will show up there.
She should go to a rap concert. Her head bobs naturally with the beats.
Yeah, where are the names? I figure on Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson but where are the others? Are they afraid of coming public...or do they even exist?
I hope someone will post the names of everyone involved with this Music Row Democrat fiasco, so we can all boycott their records. Nothing speaks like low sales!
Welcome To The Music Row Democrats Online -
"The MUSIC ROW DEMOCRATS organization was formed in December 2003 by a group of Nashville music industry leaders who were fed up with feeling as if they had to apologize for being Democrats, particularly when they knew that Republican policies were negatively affecting the lives of the working class people who make up much of the audience for their music. Since that initial meeting, the group has grown to include more than 800 members who are working to create an effective vehicle for the Democratic voice."
A message to our Independent friends:
"We welcome those who consider themselves politically independent, and encourage them to participate in this organization. The Republican Party now controls all branches of government and is abusing that influence to the detriment of the people. The founders of our nation had the wisdom to establish a separation of powers intended to insulate its citizens from just this sort of disparity. Rarely has this nation allowed one party to so long dominate its governance. We believe that rectifying this political imbalance is of utmost importance in the coming election. And we ask the independents in the community to join us in that cause."
But the national press corpse calims they are independent and unbiased ....
Except they are vigorously promoting ANYBODY who supports Kerry, and ignoring ANYBODY who criticizes him.
I would figure Reno to be more into hosting Christian Barbeques.
Cute headline-wish; I'd thunk it.
Nashville is to singers what L.A. is to actors: first you catch a bus then you wear out your sneakers, then you become a busboy, then you wear out your sneakers and finally you skulk, barefoot, back home and get a real job.
There were some posted in a message on the message board. EmmyLou Harris, of course was on there. I saw Hal Ketchum is performing at one of these and was disappointed. Can't remember the rest.
I found these names listed as performing, also. $5 cover charge and $1 margaritas. lol I recognize a few and hate to see their names but.... The rest, I have never heard of.
Bekka Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett, Lynn Anderson
Emmylou Harris, Allison Moorer, Rodney Crowell, Matraca Berg, Dennis Matkosky
Desmond Child, Maura O'Connell, Mandy Barnett
Pam Tillis, Raul Malo, Nanci Griffith, Hal Ketchum, James House
With some of these I hate to hear that they have become traitors since I enjoyed their music.
But I guess life goes that way, the albums I have of them will join the ones I used to have by the Dixie Chicks, in the garbage can.
You said "Titley". Heh-heh, heh heh heh.
Didnt say it, am innocent...
Just read it in the original post and danged fell out of the chair laughing.
Kinda like Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue"
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