HEARD ON THE GRAPEVINE
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Kris Kristofferson
PHOTO: KEITH GRINER
ANDY REISS
Dierks Bentley
DIERKS BENTLEY AND KRISTIAN BUSH
Local 257 members Dierks Bentley and Kristian Bush joined other artists and musicians for Hope 4 Hope Town, a benefit concert held at the Ryman Sept. 16. The event was organized by songwriter Patrick Davis to raise funds to assist in relief efforts for victims of hurricane Dorian, which caused devastation in the Bahamas earlier in the month. The annual Songwriters in Paradise (SIP) festival was a fixture on the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas for the last eight years. Davis and others with the SIP organization have already raised around $400,000 with a GoFundMe campaign. Money raised from the benefit concert and accompanying auction will especially benefit those on the outer Bahamian Islands who may not be the first to receive government aid. For more information go to Hope4HopeTown.com. 12 THE NASHVILLE MUSICIAN
Guitarist Andy Reiss was honored with the Jazz Heritage Award during Jazzmania Oct. 19. The annual event is a fundraiser for the Nashville Jazz Workshop, and includes performances, dinner, and a silent auction. Reiss has been an important part of the Nashville jazz scene for decades — working sessions, teaching, and performing locally with a variety of ensembles including the Time Jumpers and the Lori Mechem Quartet. He is also a life member of Local 257 and a longtime member of the executive board. The Nashville Jazz Workshop is a nonprofit organization that supports jazz musicians, jazz fans, and the jazz community with classes, public performances and special events.
AFM Local 257 life member Kris Kristofferson received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMA Awards Nov. 13. Dierks Bentley joined Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne for a tribute performance of Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” during the show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Famer won CMA Song of the Year in 1970 for “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” first released by Ray Stevens in 1969, then Johnny Cash in 1970. By 1987 over 450 artists had recorded his tunes, including “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “For the Good Times.” He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy in 1977 for his work in A Star Is Born, which costarred Barbra Streisand. Kristofferson has also won three Grammys and a host of other accolades, including CMT’s Johnny Cash Visionary Award, BMI’s Icon Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004. The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in country music, and achieved international prominence through performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales, and public representation at the highest level. Previous recipients include Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton.
Andy Reiss, Lori Mechem, Roger Spencer (l-r)
