APRIL NOMINATED FOR 3 NASHVILLE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS!

BEST R&B SOLO FEMALE ARTIST
BEST R&B PERFORMER
ARTIST OF THE YEAR

April is also scheduled to perform at the awards ceremony which will be held at Limelight in
Nashville Sunday August 29th. Tickets are available for the event.

[The New Normal Please] Nashville Flipside R&B Showcase

Billed as "An Urban Alternative to the Norm," Nashville Flipside is part of a larger trend in the city that finds
local urban artists, often with live bands in tow, making moves in this city's more mainstream rock clubs.
This, by the way, is a very awesome trend- anything that can be done to stem the tide of soulless,
sweater-wearing indie rock that's consuming the city's live scene is good by us. Featuring a four-way bill
that's as diverse as it is engaging, Nashville Flipside has you covered if you're looking for more flavor than
you'll find on your typical Friday. We can't honestly decide which artist we want to see most- April Rucker
belts 'em like a good R&B singer should, Lo Carter's retro-soul is insanely seuctive, Murfreesborean Mike
Hicks' gospel-soul is entrancing and Danny Salazar's Latin roots-pop is sublime. Frankly, this is a trend we
really like.

Nashville Scene- Critic's Pick, Sean L. Maloney

Check out April's article on Examiner.com

October 7, 2009 (Nashville, TN): Taylor Swift was the big winner at the Nashville Music Awards tonight,
collecting three trophies during a reception at the Cannery Ballroom. The 19-year old Big Machine
recording artist was named Artist of the Year and Songwriter/Artist of the Year, with her album Fearless
earning Country Album of the Year honors.

Presented by Leadership Music in partnership with music festival and conference Next Big Nashville
(NBN),the Nashville Music Awards were established to recognize outstanding contributions in all genres
of music and to celebrate the diversity and quality of artists and music professionals who call Nashville
their home.

After a welcome from Mayor Karl Dean, Leadership Music executive director Kira Florita and board
member Robert K. Oermann, winners were announced in 19 categories by NMA nominating committee
co-chairs Jason Moon Wilkins, Director and Owner of Next Big Nashville, Tracy Gershon and Oermann.

New Artist of the Year honors went to Lady Antebellum, with Brooke Waggoner claiming the Next Big
Nashville Award for best emerging artist and Jack White named top instrumentalist.

Liz Rose was voted Songwriter of the Year on the strength of recent cuts by artists such as Jewel,
Jypsi and frequent co-writer Taylor Swift. “The Time of My Life,” written by Regie Hamm and sung by
“American Idol” winner David Cook, was named Song of the Year.

In addition to Swift’s Country album victory, genre album winners were the Steeldrivers (Bluegrass),
Sarah Siskind (Americana), April Rucker (Urban), Jars of Clay (Gospel/Contemporary Christian),
Take 6 (Jazz/Blues) and Kings of Leon (Pop/Rock).

The Made in Music City award for a Nashville recording made by a non-resident went to Elvis Costello’s
Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded at Sound Emporium Studio.

Landmark Digital Services, LLC was recognized as Innovator of the Year for its BlueArrow Audio
Recognition.

The evening’s final honor, the Heritage Award, was given by the Leadership Music Board of Directors to
the Fisk Jubilee Singers; FJS musical director Paul Kwami accepted.

"Here I Stand" has been nominated for "Urban Recording of the Year" in the Nashville Music Awards!

Revived in a partnership with Next Big Nashville (NBN) and Leadership Music, Inc. (LM),
the Nashville Music Awards (NMA), were first produced by LM from 1995 through 2000. The NMAs recognize
outstanding contributions in all genres of music. The 2009 Nashville Music Award winners will be announced
at a reception on the first evening of NBN, Wednesday, October 7 at the Cannery Ballroom (Time TBA)
followed by a special NBN Opening Night Showcase.

 2009 FINAL NOMINEES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon
Alison Krauss
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Jack White

BEST NEW ARTIST
Mat Kearney
Lady Antebellum
Erin McCarley
SafetySuit
The SteelDrivers

SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Climb” Miley Cyrus
Writers: Jessi Alexander / Jon Mabe
“Decode” Paramore
Writers: Josh Farro / Hayley Williams / Taylor York
“Give Me Your Eyes” Brandon Heath
Writer: Brandon Heath / Jason Ingram
“I Run to You” Lady Antebellum
Writers: Dave Haywood / Charles Kelley / Hillary Scott / Tom Douglas
“In Color” Jamey Johnson
Writers: Jamey Johnson / Lee Thomas Miller / James Otto
“The Motions” Matthew West
Writer: Jason Houser / San Mizell / Matthew West
“Old Enough” The Raconteurs
Writers: Brendan Benson / Jack White III
“Sex on Fire” Kings of Leon
Writers: The Followills (Caleb, Nathan, Jared, Matthew)
“The Time of My Life” David Cook
Writer: Regie Hamm
“White Horse” Taylor Swift
Writers: Taylor Swift / Liz Rose

NEXT BIG NASHVILLE AWARD (Emerging Artists)
AutoVaughn
Madi Diaz
Mikky Ekko
Those Darlins
Brooke Waggoner

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brett James
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Bobby Pinson
Liz Rose

SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon (Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill)
Jamey Johnson
Dolly Parton
Taylor Swift
Matthew West

POSTER / ALBUM ARTWORK / PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Dave Barnes Me + You + The World
Leeland Opposite Way
Roy Orbison The Soul Of Rock And Roll Boxed Set
Joel Rugé On The Blue
Third Day Revelation

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Bela Fleck
Edgar Meyer
Jeff Taylor
Steve Wariner
Jack White

MUSIC VIDEO / FILM OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean “She’s Country” – Directed by Wes Edwards
Justin Townes Earle “Midnight At The Movies” – Directed by Ryan Newman
Jars Of Clay “Two Hands” – Directed by Eric Welch
Rascal Flatts “Here Comes Goodbye” – Directed by Shaun Silva
John Rich “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” – Directed by Deaton-Flanigan

MADE IN MUSIC CITY AWARD (for a recording made in Nashville by a non-Nashville artist)
Joan Baez, The Day After Tomorrow
Steve Earle – producer, Sound Emporium studio/Room and Board studio
Cage the Elephant, Cage the Elephant
Jay Joyce – producer, Tragedy & Da House studios
Elvis Costello, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
T Bone Burnett – producer, Sound Emporium studio
John Oates, 1,000 Miles of Life
John Oates & Jed Leiber – producers; Ronnie’s Place studio
Trivium, Shogun
Nick Raskulinecz – producer, Sound Kitchen studio

BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dale Ann Bradley, Don’t Turn Your Back, Compass Records
Dailey & Vincent, Brothers from Different Mothers, Rounder Records
The Grascals, Keep on Walkin’, Rounder Records
The Infamous Stringdusters, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sugar Hill Records
The Steeldrivers, The Steeldrivers, Rounder Records

COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Eric Church, Carolina, Capitol Nashville Records
Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song, Mercury Records
Brad Paisley, American Saturday Night, Arista Records
Taylor Swift, Fearless, Big Machine Records
Lee Ann Womack, Call Me Crazy, MCA Nashville Records

AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Justin Townes Earle, Midnight at the Movies, Bloodshot Records
Chuck Mead, Journeyman’s Wager, Grassy Knoll Records
Buddy & Julie Miller, Written in Chalk, New West Records
Sarah Siskind, Say It Louder, Request/Thirty Tigers Records
Todd Snider, The Excitement Plan, Yep Roc Records

URBAN RECORDING OF THE YEAR
All-Star, Starlito’s Way, Grind Hard Records
William Davenport, William Davenport (EP), Self Released
FUTURE, Sci Fly Project (EP), Clean Cut Recordings
Kloud9, Enjoy the Ride, Shanachie Entertainment
April Rucker, Here I Stand, One Staj Music Group

GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Francesca Battistelli, My Paper Heart, Fervent Records
Ashley Cleveland, God Don’t Never Change, Koch Records/E1 Entertainment
Brandon Heath, What If We, Reunion Records
Jars of Clay, The Long Fall Back To Earth, Gray Matters/Essential Records
RED, Innocence & Instinct, Essential Records

JAZZ / BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Pat Coil Sextet, Bird House, Liberty Hill Records
Jonell Mosser, Trust Yourself, Better Angels Records
Jason Ricci & New Blood, Done with the Devil, Eclecto Groove Records
Take 6, The Standard, Heads Up Records (Telarc)
Victor Wooten, Palmystery, Heads Up Records (Telarc)

POP / ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Gabe Dixon Band, The Gabe Dixon Band, Fantasy
The Features, Some Kind of Salvation, 429 Records/Bug
Kings of Leon, Only By The Night, RCA
Erin McCarley, Love, Save the Empty, Universal Republic
The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely, Third Man/Warner Bros.
 

The 2009 Role Models have been announced and April will be walking the catwalk once again in the 6th
Annual Fashion for EveryBODY fashion show hosted by recording artists Emily West and Dean Brody at
The Commodore Ballroom!

 

Save the date September 26th for an evening of cocktails and couture benefiting the Eating Disorders
Coalition of Tennessee. EDCT was founded in 2002 to educated people in Tennesse communities about
eating disorders, with the hope that this education will lead to prevention. As a 501c3 non-profit organization,
EDCT strives to provide help, hope, and support to all who are impacted by disordered eating.

"The entertainment industry can be a rough place for a plus-size woman. There are many pressures to
conform to what some people want you to be. It is refreshing to know there is an organization in our
community that continually celebrates the beauty in all of us. EDCT's Fashion for EveryBODY is an amazing
event sending a message we all need to hear and see." -April Rucker
 

 

 April in Serendipity, 2008 Fashion for EveryBODY

          

The long-awaited debut EP Here I Stand is scheduled to be released April 12th! April will celebrate her birthday
with the release of this new project and a show you don't want to miss. Here's what April had to say about the
journey to create her first solo project...

    
"I’d wrapped up this project a while ago. People kept asking me, 'When is your project coming out?' I expected
to release fall 2007, but it just wasn't time. As any artist releasing their first CD well knows, this is a process
that is difficult to rush. I'm still at this very moment discovering who I am as a singer, songwriter...as an a
rtist in general. I now feel it's time. I worked with a talented team in Nashville One Staj Music Group. I
think there's a little something to satisfy every R&B enthusiast. You'll find soft lulling songs like the title track,
a little taste of bass-thumping Hip-Hop in I Don't Want U (featuring artist Sleep), and a funky tune called “Stop”.
Here I Stand is intended to reflect a period of my first real experiences with love and various relationships before
discovering it. It's definitely a personal record and each song embodies a tone of seriousness. I'm so anxious
to finally get my baby out there to share with the world. I hope that it's received in a positive light that people can
relate to in their own lives and personal stories. I myself love to listen to other artist and go, 'Me too!' I hope that
someone out there listens to my music and is comforted by the fact that they're not the only one experiencing
what they're experiencing."

April will be one of the featured artist at Not Just Country's new event "Poetry & Music"
September 19th. Come out and enjoy spoken word and musical guests for the evening.

It’s official, the hit TV show Extreme Makeover Home Edition airing on Sundays 8PM EST on ABC is going
to be in Charlotte the week of July 28th and Damien Horne will be there helping the family!

Join us on Wednesday July 30th from 7:30pm to 10pm for a Night of Great Food and Incredible Entertainment
at the Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall (4400 Sharon Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211), as we present MuzikMafia
performer and Hickory Native Damien Horne as he performs songs from his hit album 'Somebody’s Hero'.

Admission is Free and all concession proceeds will benefit the family being helped by Extreme Makeover
Home Edition.

Check out Charlotte news station WSOC TV for more details! wsoctv.zipscene.com/events/view/487261

The "Miss Jackie Wilson Birthday Bash" due to take place Thursday, July 31, 2008
at The Place (Nashville, TN) has been postponed. Stay tuned for the new date...

youtube.com/watch

2008 Walk MS is part of a national fundraising campaign benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
More than 700 communities across the United States will join together this spring to raise funds for the more
than 400,000 Americans living with the everyday challenges of Multiple Sclerosis. The monies raised through
the MS Walk fund countless programs, services, and research for those living with the disease. This year
Nashville's walk will take place at Edwin Warner Park April 19th.  I know first hand the affects of this disease
as both my mother and brother are living with MS. Click on the logo to visit the National MS Society's site for
more information on how you can play a part!