All-Star Performers For Leadership Music Gala

Martina McBride, Ronnie Milsap, and Little Big Town will perform at the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award gala dinner honoring the Country Music Association. McBride will also host the Tuesday, May 17 event at the Renaissance Hotel downtown, and noted Nashville musician Steve Gibson will lead the house band.

The CMA will be recognized that night for exemplary leadership in country music. The organization promotes the genre through the annual CMA Awards, CMA Music Festival, and CMA Songwriter Series across the country. It focuses on the community by funding music in public schools, and last year gave a substantial donation to flood relief efforts. The CMA also encourages continuing education in the music industry through its online educational series and championing of Leadership Music.

In coming weeks more performers will be added to the gala’s musical salute being produced by Robert Deaton. Honorary Chairs for the 2011 event are Phran and Joe Galante, and June and Bill Denny.

Individual patron tickets start at $200 each for LM alumni. Tables of 10 are also available. Proceeds from the evening benefit Leadership Music, an educational 501(c)(3) organization.

Reservations to attend the invitation-only fundraiser must be made by May 1. For more information, contact the Leadership Music office at LM@leadershipmusic.org or (615) 770-7090.

The Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award, named for the first executive director of Leadership Music, was created in 2004 “to recognize music industry leaders who exemplify the highest quality of leadership and leading by example.” The CMA joins previous honorees Tony Brown (2004), Gerry House (2005), Emmylou Harris (2006), Frances W. Preston (2007), The Bradley Family:  Owen, Harold, Jerry, Connie and Patsy (2008), Jim Foglesong, Allen Reynolds and Garth Brooks (2009), and Fred Foster, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson (2010).