USO'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SET TO FEATURE COUNTRY MU

[Scully]

USO'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SET TO FEATURE COUNTRY MUSIC'S JOHN ANDERSON AND ERICA NICOLE SEPTEMBER 9-11

Three-Day Event Streamed Online and on Armed Forces Network
Attachment Deleted

The USO is celebrating its 75th Anniversary September 9-11, with heartfelt performances from country music icon John Anderson and Reviver Entertainment Group recording artist Erica Nicole. The artists are teaming up during the 6th Annual Clayton Country Jam, which will also be streamed live via livestream.com and can be viewed HERE. All online proceeds from the event, which will be held at the Thousand Island Winery, will go directly to the USO.

In addition to John Anderson and Erica Nicole’s performances, other artists lending their voice through video messages in support of the USO, on the 15th anniversary of 9/11, will include Big & Rich, Sam Hunt, Lee Brice, Colt Ford and Trailer Choir (watch here).

The three-day comedy and country music festival takes place September 9-11. The dates are in conjunction with the 15th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and will honor our nation’s first responders and service members. Don’t miss as Anderson performs his biggest hits, along with songs from his critically-acclaimed album Goldmine, which includes the infectious military tribute, “Freedom Isn’t Free.”

A portion of the Clayton Country Jam will be broadcast live on the American Forces Network to an estimated 500,000 troops. The satellite feed is transmitted to 174 territories on U.S. Military installations located on U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate compounds overseas and more than 140 U.S. Naval Ships at sea operating outside U.S. territorial waters.

In addition to the broadcast, the Clayton Country Jam will be streamed online through livestream.com and Steve Weed Productions, where 100% of all online donations generated from viewers will go directly to the USO, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening America’s military by connecting them to their family, home and country throughout their service.

“Through the magic of the Internet we are able to broadcast worldwide, pay tribute to the service members and first responders, and raise money for the USO while watching John Anderson belt out some beautiful songs. Even the darkest of dark clouds have silver linings. On a date marked with tragedy we still can do positive things for so many. Past Clayton Country Jams have raised funds for local charities such as TI Youth Hockey, Clayton Youth Commission, Clayton Food Pantry, and the TI Select Vocal Ensemble. Now we get a chance to give to an organization that serves worldwide. A great thing to do as we remember the tragic events." said "Mac" MacFarlane, founder of the Clayton Country Jam.

About John Anderson:
Raised in Apopka, Fla., Anderson was exposed to both rock and traditional country growing up and, as incendiary rock outfits like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lynyrd Skynyrd honed their chops around him, learned to love (and play) both types of music. But Anderson resisted the call of rock 'n roll, electing rather to pursue his country music dreams. It was the traditional country ballads that lured him in and changes music history, songs like Porter Waggoner's "Green, Green Grass of Home."

Anderson moved to Nashville in 1972, working construction by day (including as a roofer at the Grand Ole Opry House) and playing the honky-tonks at night. He signed to Warner Bros. in 1977, and notching his first major hit in 1980 with Billy Jo Shaver's "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)." Other hits, including the classic "Wild and Blue" in 1982, solidified his status as a powerful new voice in country music. "Swingin'," written by Anderson and Lionel Delmore, blew the roof off a year later, exploding to No.1 on the Billboard Country chart, propelling Anderson to the CMA Horizon Award, and becoming one of the most enduring hits in the country canon.

Anderson plowed through the ebbs and flows of country music (and the country music business) throughout the '80s, and in the early 1990s engineered one of the greatest "comeback" runs (he never really left) in the history of the genre. Seminole Wind, released on BNA, produced hit singles in "Straight Tequila Night," "When It Comes To You," "Money in the Bank," and the stirring title cut. The latter would have never been released had Anderson not stuck to his guns, a familiar refrain throughout his career as the artist has wound his way through virtually all of Nashville's major labels.

Learn more at johnanderson.com

About Erica Nicole:
Erica Nicole's first two Country Radio hits ("I Listen To My Bad Girl," "It's Comin' Down") broke the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart's Top 20, and propelled the Georgia native to national prominence in the process. Nicole’s third hit, “I’m Making Mine” went Top 10 on MusicRow Country Breakout Chart making her the first Independent Country female artist to conquer 3 consecutive Top 20 Records. Inspired by classic Country icons George Strait, Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline, Erica Nicole channels the magnetism of a more unusual musical influence - Tina Turner - during her live shows. This talented entertainer brings high-energy, laser-like focus and rafter-raising vocals to the stage night after night to her ever-expanding fan base. She's opened for superstars Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley, headlined her own shows, and sung the National Anthem at Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox) and CitiField (NY Mets). Fans of this engaging singer/songwriter know they're in for a no-holds-barred, swing for the fences performance every time the blonde bombshell steps into the spotlight. Erica Nicole was named 2015 “MusicRow CountryBreakout Independent Artist of the Year.” She recently signed a deal with Reviver Label Services, and will begin visiting radio stations nationwide.

Learn more at ericanicolemusic.com.