SONGWRITERS AND ARTISTS COVER COUNTRY THROWBACKS AT THE BASEMENT EAST
L to R: Morris Light & Sound’s, Alexa Simpson; YEP Director of Alumni & Executive Relations, MaryAnn Keen; YEP Executive Director, Amelia Varni; Show Headliner, William Michael Morgan; Country Artist, Luke Pell; YEP Director of Alumni & Executive Relations, MaryAnn Keen; Photo: Jason Myers Photography
Nashville, TN - April 11, 2018: Music industry organization, Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) entertained a full house at The Basement East with a setlist of classic country songs from the ‘90s. Held at The Basement East, the YEP Rewind Strait ‘90s Show raised over $ for the Opry Trust Fund, whose mission is to help those in the country music industry when they need it the most, offering financial assistance during their time of need.
Artist Brinley Addington hosted a lineup of Nashville songwriters and performers including: Ryan Beaver who kicked off the show with George Strait’s “Write This Down,” headliner William Michael Morgan covering Tracy Lawrence’s “Paint Me A Birmingham” (Tracy Lawrence) and Kree Harrison singing “Strawberry Wine” and “One Way Ticket”. Additionally, Brett Tyler, Jameson Rogers and Brandon Lay harmonized for Blackhawk’s, “Goodbye Says It All”. House band Orangotwang with the Dixie Dames, appropriately covered “Wide Open Spaces” by the Dixie Chicks.
L to R: Noelle LaRae of Neon Moon; YEP Exec. Director, Amelia Varni; Artist, Maggie Rose; Photo: Jason Myers Photography
Other show highlights included Brinley Addington’s performance of “Trouble,” Lainey Wilson’s spirited take on “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery, Greylon James’ cover of Tracy Byrd’s “Watermelon Crawl,” and Luke Pell’s performance of David Lee Murphy’s “Dust On The Bottle.” Maggie Rose closed out the show with none other than the Shania Twain’s powerhouse anthem,“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
Additional guests included duos Seaforth and Neon Moon, Emily Ann Roberts, Sarah Allison Turner, Ross Cooper, Greylan James, Kimberly Kelly, Randall King, Hannah Dasher and Erin Enderlin.
L to R: YEP Director of Finances, Mandelyn Monchick; YEP Exec. Director, Amelia Varni; YEP Director of Public Relations, Libby Oellerich; YEP Director of Community Engagement, Rachel Knight Zola; YEP Director of Education, Caroline Melby; YEP Director of Alumni & Executive Relations, MaryAnn Keen; Photo: Jason Myers Photography
About YEP:
The Young Entertainment Professionals network creates a platform for the entertainment industry to thrive in a supportive and creative environment for the betterment of its members as well as the industry as a whole through networking events, showcases, mentorship and educational development.
About our show sponsor, Morris Light and Sound:
Morris Light & Sound was formed by outfitting tours for country supergroup Alabama. In 1993 they began working with Kenny Chesney, who has won nine “Entertainer of the Year” awards while he’s been on their roster. Over the past 25 years, Morris Light & Sound has grown into one of the premier audio and lighting providers, partnering with clients such as Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen and Montgomery Gentry—just to name a few. In 2013 they added our integration division, which focuses on creating fixed systems for a wide variety of clients, including healthcare facilities, corporations and houses of worship. Collectively, they service a wide variety of clients, including tours, live events, healthcare facilities and corporate events.
About the Opry Trust Fund:
Often referred to as the home of country music, the Grand Ole Opry provides artists with the opportunity to perform with their mentors, to sit down with a fellow artist and share stories that only artists can relate to, and to walk backstage and feel like they're at home. This feeling of family is why, on the Opry's 40th Birthday in 1965, Opry management decided to start the Opry Trust Fund whose mission is to help those in the country music industry when they need it the most, offering financial assistance during their time of need.
For more information contact:
Libby Oellerich at 706.836.0260 | libby@nashvillesongwriters.com
Video: Cooper Smith