FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Reid, Elite Racing
800/311-1255
Kim Dettwiller, Elite Racing
615/330-5656
Phil Vassar Returns as Headliner for
Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon Post-Race Concert
Nashville Star finalists to open show
NASHVILLE, Tenn., (March 14, 2006) - Arista recording artist Phil Vassar
returns as the post-race concert headliner for the seventh annual Country
Music Marathon™ & ½ Marathon, event organizer Elite Racing announced. The
opening act will feature the three – yet to be selected – finalists from
the hit television program Nashville Star in their first concert
performance outside the set of the show. Vassar is actually one of the
judges on Nashville Star, so he is actively involved with selecting his own
opening act.
Vassar enjoyed the energy of the audience so much when he performed at the
2005 Country Music Marathon concert that he asked race organizers for a
repeat performance in 2006.
"If you saw the concert last year, you know why we were intrigued by the
prospect of having Phil back on our stage," said the event’s general
manager, Adam Zocks. "He puts so much life into his show and the crowd
responds. Elite Racing has never used the same artist at a concert two
years in a row, but we feel all of the ingredients are right and our
audience will be treated to another great performance."
On returning to headline the show, Vassar adds, "I play over 120 shows a
year and am on the road a lot more than that. There are shows that stand
out in your mind. This was one of them. It is hard to explain, but the
energy and the reaction from the crowd was so rewarding, I really wanted to
come back and see if I can even give them more this year."
When the doors open for the April 29 concert, three finalists will have
been chosen from the current season of Nashville Star. These three artists
will open for Vassar, treating fans of the television show to a rare
concert appearance before one is crowned the next Nashville Star.
The concert, presented by Great American Country (GAC), will take
place at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville at 7:00
p.m., Saturday, April 29, 2006, culminates a weekend of running
and music featuring over 23,000 marathoners and half-marathoners with
more than 50 live bands staged along each mile of the 26.2 and 13.1-mile
courses.
Tickets for the concert will be sold to the public for $20.00 and will go
on sale Thursday, March 23, 2006. Tickets can be purchased through
TicketMaster charge-by-phone at 615/255-9600 or at www.ticketmaster.com or
through the Arena Box Office.
The Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon starts at West End
Avenue near Centennial Park, winds through the downtown area and
finishes at The Coliseum. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo held at the
Nashville Convention Center is open to the public and is expected to
attract 35,000 attendees.
For more information and to register for the Country Music Marathon & ½
Marathon visit www.cmmarathon.com, or call 615/742-1660.
Phil Vassar/Greatest Hits, Volume 1
"Age does change us, and it’s a good thing that it does…I can’t believe how
far I’ve come," sings Phil Vassar in "Twenty One," a new song written and
recorded for his new album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1. Those words—and that
song—may be the cornerstone of Phil’s new CD, a career-spanning
collection of 15 songs that paints a complete portrait of Phil
Vassar, the artist—singer, songwriter, entertainer…father, son, guy next
door.
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