PRESS RELEASE
BELL BUCKLE, TENN. — Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin of the legendary Louvin Brothers is fighting pancreatic cancer.
In an effort to help defray Louvin’s astronomical medical costs, the Bell Buckle Banquet Hall in historic Bell Buckle, Tenn., is hosting a benefit concert and auction Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 from noon to 9 p.m.  The event will be hosted by Louvin and Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike.
“Charlie Louvin is a significant treasure to American music and a dear friend,” said Smith. “His music has brightened the lives of so many of us. It’s an honor to be able to give something back.”
Confirmed performers include: Ed Bruce, writer of the hit song “Mama’s, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and the actor who played the sheriff on the popular TV program Maverick; and Indiana bluegrass music legends the Wildwood Valley Boys. The complete schedule will be announced soon at BellBuckleBanquetHall.com.
The auction will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and will be conducted by Jerry Shelton, Johnny Foster and Tom Waynick from Shelton Auction & Realty of Shelbyville, Tenn. Louvin has donated a guitar and autographed posters to the auction.
Thanks to the following businesses for donating items to the auction: From Shelbyville: Kincaid’s; Celebration Travel; Christopher Equipment; Discount Arts and Frames; Shelbyville Record Shop; Barr’s; Hoover Paint; Smith Country Ham; New Covenant Bookstore; Badcock’s; Victory Nissan; Heritage Jewelers; J. Jordan Boutique; Haynes Lumber; and First Community Bank. From Wartrace, Tenn.: Gallagher Guitars. From Manchester, Tenn.: Hoover’s Jewelers; Smoots Flowers & Gifts; Home Depot; Russell Stover Candies and Foothills Crafts. From Bell Buckle, Tenn.: Vera’s Pearls; The Cat’s Meow; and Phillips General Store.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Dan Hays and the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) of Nashville, Tenn., for donating two VIP packages to next year’s IBMA awards show at the Ryman Auditorium and two VIP passes to the IBMA FanFest, which is held annually at the Nashville Convention Center.
More items are being added to the auction daily. To donate, call Martha Akers of the Bell Buckle Banquet Hall at (931) 389-0223.
Tickets are $10 and available at the world-famous Bell Buckle Cafe in Bell Buckle, Tenn., or by calling the Bell Buckle Banquet Hall at (931) 389-0223.
Food will be available for sale from the the world-famous Bell Buckle Cafe in downtown Bell Buckle, Tenn., with all proceeds going to the Louvin family.
Seven-time IBMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” Rhonda Vincent is hosting a silent auction on her website, with all proceeds going to the Louvin family. Items include a Martin guitar signed by Vincent as well as autographed posters and Martha White memorabilia as well as an autographed copy of Vincent’s brand new album Taken.
The Louvin Brothers (Charlie and Ira) had a string of country hits throughout the 1950s and early ’60s including “When I Stop Dreamin’, “I Don’t Believe You Met My Baby,” and “My Baby’s Gone.” Their music heavily influenced such groups as the Everly Brothers, the Byrds and even the Beatles.
After Ira’s tragic death in an auto accident, Charlie Louvin continued on in his solo career until the present day, regularly hosting the Grand Ole Opry and the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree on WSM 650 AM as well as touring throughout the country and around the world.
The Louvin Brothers are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.