As I sit here at my desk on the coldest day in Kentucky's history, I am wondering how everyone else is coping with this weather. Kentucky has been officially declared a disaster area, and the expressways are officially closed. This is a time when people with cold hands and warm hearts band together to help one another survive. But Cabin Fever is setting in.
The first day of Winter Storm '94, I was out at 5:00 a.m. shoveling snow for three hours. Our area had 18" of snow. A newly fallen snow is a beautiful work of nature — a painting of a cold, quiet kindred spirit I get lost in.
My telephone source has been out, and attempts to get in touch with local artists and bands have been unsuccessful. I'm lost without my country contacts.
A big "Yah-hoo" goes out to all the people who helped clear the parking lot of Southwest Christian Church in below-zero weather to transport three-year-old Michelle Schmitt to Omaha for a liver transplant. A lot of people, including country bands and country venues, have worked on fundraisers to help her in this life-threatening situation. She's in serious but stable condition at this time. Hang in there, Michelle!
The 23rd International Fan Fair registration will be held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, June 6-12, 1994. Hurry, hurry, hurry! The $80 charge includes 30 hours of stage shows, fiddling championships, picture and autograph session, two delicious lunches, tickets for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Opryland USA and the Ryman Auditorium, plus free parking.
The Fan Fair phone number is 615-889-7503, and the address is: Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, 161 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219.
For hotel information call 615-259-4700. Call 615-889-6611 for tickets to Music City Tonight.
John Anderson, Mark Chesnutt, and Little Texas are featured on the new episode of Country Music Spotlight, a new weekly series on the Family Channel Episodes.
The biggest country rebel these days is going to be touring with Joe Diffie (the 71st member of the Grand Ole Opry): the one and only Lee Roy Parnell. What a ticket.
The male sweetheart of country music is on his way to Coyote's. Southern gentleman Charlie Daniels will be there on Feb. 10. Buy your tickets now.
The new movie "8 Seconds," a story about the life of the late Lane Frost (champion bull rider), will be released in February. Frost was killed in the arena a few years ago at the Cheyenne Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The movie star Luke Perry, from 90210, is playing Lane Frost. John Anderson recorded a song titled "Burning Up the Road," and it will appear on the movie sound track. Anderson also sang "Heartache Tonight" on the multi-artist Giant Records release Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles. He does a fantastic job on this piece of music. Congratulations!
Loretta Lynn and Mooney have just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary.
Get ready for the WAMZ St. Jude's Radiothon in February. Call and make your pledge; it will give you a warm tickle feeling in your heart.
Information about The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest can be had by writing: The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, P.O. Box 121855, Nashville, TN 37212; or by calling 1-800-799-3838.
This is the second year for this contest. Chris Austin was a friend of mine. A member of Reba McEntire's Band, he was killed in a plane crash in 1991. Chris was a songwriter and recording artist for Warner Brothers. He was a sweetheart with a big heart whose songs tugged at your heartstrings. His friends and family miss him very much.
The proceeds from the contest go toward a music scholarship endowment in Austin's name at the Wilkes Community College, host site for the Merle Watson Festival, April 28-May 2 in Wilkesboro, N.C.
If you have any local news to pass on to our readers, write to me at this address: Jan Winders, Louisville Music News, 7326 Supremus Drive, Louisville, KY 40214.