Nashville, Tennessee, –www.woodywright.net Since the SGMA Hall Of Fame induction of the Oak Ridge Boys original tenor Willie Wynn in 2011, many of his friends and family have gathered each year for what they call the WILLIE BASH in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The first two years the “Little Willie” faithful gathered in the Parkway Hampton Inn lobby to sing and celebrate the legend and legacy of the “man with a million friends.” The numbers grew to the point that the third year, over 200 attended the event in a large tent outside the hotel. In 2014, the “Bash” was a featured event at the the Creekside Gospel Music Convention at the Smokey Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge. This year, the event is moving to Nashville, Tennessee and will be held at the Texas Troubadour Theatre near Opryland Hotel.
Singer, songwriter and Good News Music Radio host Woody Wright got his first music business job as bass player for Willie’s popular, post-Oak Ridge Boys group, Willie Wynn & the Tennesseans. Wright has co-ordinated the musical event each year and said, “I volunteered to bring a small sound system and some instruments to the reception so we could sing some songs at the hotel after Willie’s Hall Of Fame induction. Many alumni members of his groups the Tennesseans and Sweetwater, and even some of the Oak Ridge Boys stopped by to wish Willie well. It was so much fun, we decided to try to do it again. This will be the fifth year! It is a great opportunity for us to get back together, celebrate the memories and sing a few songs together. I don’t think any of us ever thought we could have this much fun for this long. Now it is something we all look forward to each year.”
The notion of moving the event to Nashville was to enable more of Willie’s friends, musicians and singers who live in the Nashville area to come and share in the fun. The event has always been a free event, and will be again this year. A new addition is a five dollar suggested contribution to provide a scholarship to the Stamps-Baxter School of Music. Woody Wright said, “The scholarship fund was my idea. I know that Willie gave several of us priceless opportunities in the music business, so to do this for a young person who wants to learn about and pursue a career in Gospel or Country Music seemed more than appropriate.”
Another new and exciting addition to the 2015 WILLIE BASH is the WILLIE AWARDS. Organizers say this will be unlike any award show ever, celebrating the zany and off-the-wall accomplishments and abilities of group members and friends in attendance.
The Fifth Annual Willie Wynn & Friends Willie Bash will be held at 7 PM – Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Texas Troubadour Theatre – 2416 Music Valley Drive – Nashville, Tennessee. Doors open at 6 PM. Admission is free with a suggested $5 donation to the Stamps-Baxter School of Music Scholarship Fund.
More information about Willie Wynn & Friends is available at www.williewynn.com
