THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509060162
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The first round in the local version of the True Value/Jimmy Dean Country Showdown, featuring performers from Franklin, Suffolk, North Carolina and Maryland, will be held Sunday.
WLQM Radio is sponsoring this element of the world's largest country music talent contest and radio promotion, which involves thousands of artists and more than 400 radio stations.
The competitors begin their trip of hope on the local level. The winner gets into the regional finals. Next are the state finals, then the national competition, in which the winner winds up with a big smile, $50,000 and a major label recording contract.
Locally, this is how it works, according to Johnny Hart, general sales and promotions manager:
``We have 29 - more than most stations. They're from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. An elimination to whittle this group down to the top 10 will be held at the Sports Emporium in Franklin, Sunday,'' he said. ``Those top 10 will perform at the Isle of Wight County Fair, Sept. 15.''
All but one of the participants are solo performers. Holeshot will be the backup band.
The local competition will precede a concert by top-40 country star David Lee Murphy.
The winner then goes to the Virginia State Fair, Sept. 27, to compete against finalists from seven other stations in the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware area. That precedes a Sawyer Brown concert.
The top performer there gets $1,000 and an Oct. 7 visit to the Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling for the Northeast competition which will be broadcast on WWVA-AM as part of ``Jamboree USA.''
The final step is the nationally televised finals to be held Nov. 11 at Disney World with accommodations at the Polynesian Resort.
The television show will be syndicated and carried by independent stations across the country in March or April.
The True Value/Jimmy Dean Country Showdown is 14 years old, but this is the first time it has been held in southeast Virginia and, obviously, the first sponsorship by WLQM. ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
What: The True Value/Jimmy Dean Country Showdown.
When: Sunday at 4 p.m., Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Sunday at Sports Emporium, Armory Drive in Franklin and
Sept. 15 at the Isle of Wight County Fair, Va. 258, Isle of Wight
Courthouse between Windsor and Smithfield.
Details: David Lee Murphy and Sawyer Brown will provide the name
entertainment at, respectively, the county fair and the state fair.
Children are invited at both locations.
Admission: free.
Information: Call 1-800-575-1017 or 562-3135.
by CNB