Georgia Music Hall of Fame to induct star-studded group of Georgians

ATLANTA – April 3, 2006 – A talented and diverse group of Georgians highlight the 2006 inductees to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The 28th Annual Awards Banquet, to be held Saturday, Sept. 16 in the Thomas B. Murphy Ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, will recognize five artists who have made significant contributions to Georgia's music industry. The banquet is held each year by the Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc. and the Senate Music Industry Committee. 'This year's banquet promises to be one of the most exciting ever because of the amazing lineup of honorees,' said Dr. Bobbie Bailey, chairman of the Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc. 'This annual event allows us to shine the spotlight on our state's wonderful music industry, and the talented and creative people who have made Georgia a hub for music of all types.' Athens-based alternative rock group R.E.M. will be honored in the Group category. R.E.M. was formed in 1980 in Athens by Michael Stipe (vocals), Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar) and Mike Mills (bass). By the early 1990s, the band was one of the world's most popular, respected and influential bands. The band's success cemented Athens' place on the national radar as a hub for alternative music. The 2006 honoree in the Performer category is Gregg Allman. Gregg rose to prominence as the lead singer, organist and songwriter for the Allman Brothers Band, founded in 1969 in Macon. The classic Southern rock band had many chart-topping hits written by Allman, including 'Whipping Post' and 'Midnight Rider.' He also emerged as a solo artist, releasing the critically acclaimed album 'Laid Back,' which launched a solo tour and subsequent live album that was also a success. In the Non-Performer group, Columbus-born Dallas Austin is the 2006 inductee. Austin is an accomplished all-around talent whose resume includes both music and film production. He has worked with a wide variety of artists, from legendary acts such as Aretha Franklin, George Clinton, Michael Jackson and Madonna to today's stars such as Usher, Pink and Gwen Stefani. Austin has produced more than 50 hit singles, and in 2000 captured a GRAMMY® Award for producing the year's top R&B Album, 'Fanmail,' by TLC. In 2002, he produced his first major motion picture, 'Drumline,' shot almost exclusively in Georgia. His latest movie project, 'The ATL,' hit theaters on March 31. Atlanta-based music mogul Jermaine Dupri will be honored in the 2006 Songwriter category. Dupri's accomplishments are almost too numerous to list, though his most impressive achievement may have been producing the best-selling albums of both 2004 and 2005. The 2004 blockbuster album 'Confessions' by Usher sold more than nine million copies and earned the GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary R&B Album. Mariah Carey's comeback classic 'The Emancipation of Mimi' sold more than five million copies, and earned four nominations and three awards at the 48th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. Dupri has produced, written and/or recorded 19 songs that reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. At just 19 years of age, Dupri founded music label So So Def based in Atlanta. In 2005, he took over the reigns of Virgin Records' Urban Music Division and brought So So Def with him to add to Virgin's roster. He has also opened an Atlanta restaurant, Café Dupri, and has teamed with Cartier to design a high-end line of eyewear that gives a portion of sales proceeds to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and City of Refuge. Prolific songwriter Felice Bryant is the 2006 honoree in the Posthumous category. Though she was born in Milwaukee,Bryant settled in Moultrie with her songwriting teammate and husband Boudleaux Bryant, a 1982 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee. The Bryants wrote hits for some of country music's most famous legends, including Little Jimmy Dickens, Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves. However, their success in the country music industry was overshadowed when the team partnered with the Everly Brothers and wrote legendary rock-and-roll hits such as 'Bye Bye Love' and 'Wake Up Little Susie.' The partnership resulted in numerous classics, and a song originally written for the Everly Brothers called 'Raining In My Heart' was eventually recorded by Buddy Holly during his final recording session in 1958. The Bryants' work lives on today, as their classic tune 'Rocky Top' was adopted as the state song of Tennessee in 1982. Felice Bryant died at the age of 77 on April 22, 2003. Tickets are available now for the 28th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Banquet. Tickets to the show include an invitation to the Governor's Reception, an elegant dinner and an evening of great Georgia music and entertainment. Individual seats or tables of ten are available. The prices range from $75 to $100 for individual seats and from $750 to $1,000 for tables. Those interested should call 770.934.0906. The Georgia Music of Hall of Fame is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). GDEcD is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org .