FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calling all Texas heritage music mavens, old west aficionados, cowboy poet enthusiasts and fans of the late Jimmie Rodgers -- Kerrville's Louise Hays Park will be THE place to be on September 28th for The Texas Heritage Living History Day, the only event of its type in central Texas.

Now in it's sixth year, The Texas Heritage Living History Day is an all day 'interactive' educational program that helps children and adults learn and understand the varied cultures of Texas and its traditions through music and storytelling. The event will be similar to last year's event -- beginning at 9 a.m. and ending around 3 p.m. More than forty performers will be scattered throughout the park, along with teepees, chuck wagons, longhorn steers, Hill Country-area museum exhibits and nature conservancy demonstrators.

Rounding out the day's events will be the stories and songs of Jimmie Rodgers, as performed by noted local actor Tony Navarra. Rodgers, regarded as the "Father of Country Music," resided in Kerrville during the last years of his life and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Texas Heritage Living History Day is held each September to commemorate Rodgers' birthday. "Many people are still finding out for the first time that Jimmie Rodgers used to live in Kerrville," noted Dr. Kathleen Hudson, Executive Director of the event's producer, the Texas Heritage Music Foundation. She added, "Not only is this an excellent opportunity to learn about Rodgers' musical legacy, it is also a great way to learn about the musical legacy of Texas and the Hill Country."

Attendance for last year's Living History Day was estimated at 1200 people. "This year, we are expecting even more," Hudson says, "this is our sixth year producing this, and according to the post-event evaluation forms that we sent out to everyone last year, the response was just incredible. And so, we are pretty excited around here about this one."

Educational packets will be made available for attending teachers and their students, without charge. And thanks to generous underwriting from local foundations and business sponsorships, the event is open to the general public and is free.

For more information, call the THMF offices at (830) 367-3750, or contact the foundation at www.texasheritagemusic.org.

See Confirmed Performers and Sponsors for 2001.