Americana Music Association and Free Speech in Music - good for them!!!

April 23, 2010, Nashville, TN: The Americana Music Association announced today a special on-line Auction to promote its efforts, and those of the First Amendment Center, in support of Free Speech in Music. Some of the items featured in the auction included handwritten lyrics from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Charlie Daniels, Autographed posters from Dwight Yoakam and Steely Dan; an autographed banjo signed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a guitar on which Michael Martin Murphey wrote the lyrics of him classic “Wildfire.” To View the items visit www.americanamusicauction.com.

The two not for profit organizations have joined forces to produce “Freedom Sings,” an evening celebrating the power of free speech in music and honoring the career of Mary Chapin Carpenter. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 27 at the Newseum in downtown Washington.DC. Carpenter will receive the “Spirit of Americana” Free Speech in Music Award from the Newseum’s First Amendment Center and the Americana Music Association. The award recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech through their music and other efforts. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, Judy Collins, Charlie Daniels and Steve Earle

Former Washington Post journalist and current recording artist Eric Brace along with Legendary artists Rodney Crowell and Judy Collins will also perform at the event.

To view the artwork and bid online go to www.americanamusicauction.com

About the Organizations
The Americana Music Association is a professional non-profit trade organization whose mission is to promote awareness, provide a forum, and advocate for the creative and economic vitality of the Americana music genre. The Association produces a weekly radio chart and events throughout the year including the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference which will take place September 8-11, 2010 in Nashville, TN. Americana Music Festival and Conference Registrations are now available by calling the Americana Music Association office at (615) 386-6936 or through the store at www.americanamusic.org.

The First Amendment Center, with offices at the Newseum and Vanderbilt University, works to build support for First Amendment freedoms through education, information and entertainment. www.firstamendmentcenter.org

The Newseum – a 250,000-square-foot museum of news – offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Its nonpartisan mission is to champion the First Amendment as the cornerstone of democracy.
For more information on the Newseum go to www.newseum.com