News 2015

The January Meeting of the Cannon County Planning Commission is tonight.  The Planning commission have been working in the last few months putting together a zoning regulation plan for Cannon County to present to the Cannon County Commission in the future.  Tonight they’ll take a break from the subject of zoning to discuss the County Road Adoption Procedure, which was a subject brought up during the January meeting of the Cannon County Commission.  Other items on the agenda include a staff report on the Davis Division.  The meeting will be tonight at 6:00 at the Cannon County Courthouse  

4 games remain on the regular season as the District 8-AA basketball schedule continues tonight at Robert A Harris Gymnasium.  The Cannon County Lions hope to revenge their only district loss of the season when York Institute from Jamestown pays a visit.  Cannon lost a thriller in December right before the Christmas Break at York 70-67 in overtime in which fans witnessed 17 lead changes and 9 ties.  The game was marred by foul trouble which played a key factor in York getting the win.  The Cannon County Lionettes will open the evening in a girl’s contest with the Lady Dragons.  The Lionettes are 4-6 in District play  Everything cranks up tonight at 6:00.  WBRY AM-1540/FM96.7 will have the game live on the radio.  You can also check it out on the internet at wbry.com and by WBRY using the Tune In Radio App on your smart phones and tablets.  

East Side School would like toannounce the following honor
students (Principal’s List – All A’s),
Honor Roll (A’s and B’s) and students
with perfect attendance for the second grading period ending December 19:
   Mrs. Lesa Davis’ Kindergarten – Honor Roll:  Lindsay Powers, Lilly Allen, Brody McPeak, Synthia Rogers.  Perfect Attendance: Lilly Allen, Lindsay Powers, Amber Ivanowski.
   Mrs. Paige Holt’s First Grade –   Perfect Attendance:  Malachi Walls, Leah Jones, Gage Nokes.
   Mrs. Karen Cook’s Second Grade – Principal’s List:  Sadey Grizzle, Olivia Moss, Connor Napier.  Honor Roll:  Gavin Wright, Ronn Guinaran, Slade Grizzle, Lexie Simon, Jack Grant. 
   Mrs. Connie Phillips’ Third Grade –Principal’s List:  Jeremy Earls, Devin Grant, Austin Johnson, Emma Muncey, Sadie Prater.  Honor Roll:  Allyson Skimehorn,  Callie Vance.   Perfect Attendance:  Jeremy Earls, Austin Johnson, Sawyer Parton.
   Mrs. Greta Reed’s Fourth Grade –Principal’s List:  Katie Davis.  Honor Roll:  Mykala Barrett.  Perfect Attendance:   Montana Davis, Alden Purdy.   Mrs. Brad Underwood’s Fifth Grade –Principal’s List:  Cathan Cecil, Emma Richardson.  Honor Roll: Braxten Alexander, Morgan Keller, Chloe Pack, Johnnie Pirtle, Katlyn Prater, Dallas Roller.  Perfect Attendance:  Nicholas Adcock, Braxten Alexander.      Mrs. Gay Burger’s Sixth Grade –Principal’s List:   Eli Cantrell.  Honor Roll:  Stella Brown, Hannah Naylor, Emalee Rogers.  Perfect Attendance:  Stella Brown, Hunter Davis, Caden Duke, Hannah Naylor, Sloane Underhill.
       Mrs. Amy Underwood’s SeventhGrade –Principal’s List:  Shawn Matheny, Lacon Parton.  Honor Roll:  Clay Fagan, Austin Grant, Culyer Isenhart, Brent Scott, Jasmine Young.  Perfect Attendance: Clay Fagan, Culyer Isenhart, Lacon Parton, Shawn Matheny.
 
 
 
 
 Mrs. Jackie Burger’s Eighth Grade – Principal’s List:  Katie Gunter, Jory Isenhart, Michelle Stone, Lauren Underwood.  Honor Roll:  Landon Parton, Ryan Russell, Erin Scott.  Perfect Attendance: Katie Gunter, Jory Isenhart, Michelle Stone

The Cannon County Grammar School Basketball End Of Season Tournament begins tonight at Robert A Harris Gymnasium.  The games will be played tonight, semifinals on Thursday with Championship and Consolation games Saturday night.  The Auburntown-Westside Girls game will open the tournament today at 4:00.  It will be followed by the Eastside Tiger-Woodbury Cubs boys game at 5:15.  The final two games of the first round will have a girls matchup of Short Mountain and Eastside at 6:30 with the Short Mountain Boys Auburntown game at 8:00.

The faculty and staff of Woodland Elementary School would like to recognize the Honor students of Woodland Elementary for the first nine weeks of the 2014 -2015 school year: Principal’s List
Students on this list have achieved all As on their report card during the nine week grading period.
 Ms. Larna Martindale’s Third Grade: Jenna Bush, Brianna Dykes, Alexia Kennedy, Emily Lopez, Kaia Robinson, and Reese Vance.Mrs. Dawn Witty’s Third Grade: A. J. Armstrong, Mattea Ciramella, Graham Edens, Ethan Hargrove, Shauna Pelham, Ashlan Reed, Jacob Robinson, and George Seybold.Mrs. Beth Northcutt’s Fourth Grade: Shelby Duggin, Tyson Pope, Ethan Powell, and Bryant Robinson.Mrs. Carla Parker’s Fourth Grade: Toby Tucker and Houston Witty.Mrs. Stacie Bryson’s Fifth Grade: Jalin Fann, Natalie Heisey, Maleah Sissom, and Cassidy TaylorMrs. Theresa Bush’s Fifth Grade:Kaylee Armstrong, Nolan Bell, Ava Bond, Rebecca Green, and Chloe Thomas.Mr. Nathan Brazle’s Sixth Grade: Macey Ciramella, Jadyn Davis, Emma Edens, Bradi Mason, and Addison Melton.Mrs. Suzette Sissom’s Sixth Grade: Madison Arnold, Brady Bryson, Zettie Elrod, Cassie George, Shelby Smithson, and Tyler Southworth.Mrs. Mary Jean Cook’s Seventh Grade: Caroline Blanton, Madison Blanton, Lily Brazle, Jessica Kauffman, Rachel Laxton, Austin Powell, and Joel Smith.Mr. Roy Finchum’s Seventh Grade: Blake Bush, Kristin Fann, Kelsie Foster, Abbie Judkins, and Anna Grace Sissom.Mrs. Tracy Hale’s Eighth Grade: Bryson Bell.Mrs. Pamela O’Hara’s Eighth Grade:Kailee Means, Jameson Southworth and Cierra Thomas.
 
 Honor Roll
Students on this list have achieved all As and one B on their report card during the nine week grading period
 Ms. Larna Martindale’s Third Grade: Korbin Bain, Zowee Dillard and Riley McGuire.Mrs. Dawn Witty’s Third Grade:Lacie Arnold, Austin Foster, Gavin Franklin, and Lola Odom.Mrs. Beth Northcutt’s Fourth Grade:Kylie Bratcher and Ella Simmons.Mrs. Carla Parker’s Fourth grade:Connor Rodgers and Rachel Smartt.Mrs. Stacie Bryson’s Fifth Grade: Walker Cawthorn, Karen Lopez, and Michaela Sellars.Mrs. Theresa Bush’s Fifth Grade:Ashley Mooneyham andKooper Nemeth.Mr. Nathan Brazle’s Sixth Grade: Cole Jones.Mrs. Suzette Sissom’s Sixth Grade:Dalton Hale.Mrs. Mary Jean Cook’s Seventh Grade:Kallie Kemp and Kaitlynn Trail.Mr. Roy Finchum’s Seventh Grade: Silas Choateand Jackson Simmons.Mrs. Tracy Hale’s Eighth Grade:Ty St. John.Mrs. Pamela O’Hara’s Eighth Grade:Brady Sissom and Dalton Taylor.
 
 Merit List
Students on this list have achieved all As and Bs on their report card with no Cs during the nine week grading period.
 Ms. Larna Martindale’s Third Grade:Carson Farrar, Gaven Fly-Franks, Destiny Hiles, Tucker Horsley, and Lucio Lowery.Mrs. Dawn Witty’s Third Grade: Austin Bush, Autumn Casteel, and Chloe Cobb.Mrs. Beth Northcutt’s Fourth Grade: Emma Crabtree, Jasmine Edmondson, Nicholaus Pelham, Junior Strawser and Konnor Williams.Mrs. Carla Parker’s Fourth Grade:Hannah Bowman, Brady Davis, Rose Davis, Brody Morris, and Taylor Ross.Mrs. Stacie Bryson’s Fifth Grade: Hailey Bowman, Parker Cawthorn, Charles Powell, Jadyn Romines, Maci Sellars, Kayelyse Strawser, and Ellianna Young.Mrs. Theresa Bush’s Fifth Grade:Cynthia Davenport, Stacey Hoel, and Alex Ruth.Mr. Nathan Brazle’s Sixth Grade:Jaden Abercrombie, Dalton Coppinger, Hunter Owen, and Shelby Reed.Mrs. Suzette Sissom’s Sixth Grade: Hunter Davis and Naomi Nelson.Mrs. Mary Jean Cook’s Seventh Grade:Damian England and Zoe Witty.Mr. Roy Finchum’s Seventh Grade:Brent Hastings,Sadie Jones, and Rebekah Kavouklis.Mrs. Tracy Hale’s Eighth Grade:Breanna Anderson and Madison Lowe.Mrs. Pamela O’Hara’s Eighth Grade:Ethan Castillo, Jacob Raines and Branden Schwartz.
 Perfect Attendance
Students on this list were present every day of the grading period with no tardies or leave earlies.
 Mrs. Julie Hackney’s First Grade:Claire Hargrove, Alex Harper, Riley Miller, Kendra Murphy, Brooklyn Parker, and Adlen Sissom.Mrs. Amber Phillips’s Second Grade:Jesse Campbell, Alexys Gamberella, and Thomas McGee.Mrs. Maria Vickers’s Second Grade: Garrett Crawford, Abbi Davis, and McKenzie Merritt.Ms. Larna Martindale’s Third Grade: Korbin Bain and Jenna Bush.Mrs. Dawn Witty’s Third Grade: A. J. Armstrong and Brianna Bowman.Mrs. Beth Northcutt’s Fourth Grade: Ella Simmons.Mrs. Carla Parker’s Fourth Grade:Hannah Bowman, Brody Morris, Connor Rodgers, and Taylor Ross.Mrs. Stacie Bryson’s Fifth Grade:Hailey Bowman, Kolby Duke, Jalin Fann, and Maylia Walton.Mrs. Theresa Bush’s Fifth Grade: Ava Bond, Cynthia Davenport, Jackson Farrar, Mikie Lowery, Ashley Mooneyham, and Chloe Thomas.Mr. Nathan Brazle’s Sixth Grade: Autumn S. Young.Mrs. Suzette Sissom’s Sixth Grade: Hunter Davis, Maria Funes, Cassie George, Wesley George, Dalton Hale, Austin Harper, Shelby Smithson, Kayden Walton and Autumn M. Young.Mrs. Mary Jean Cook’s Seventh Grade:Lily Brazle, Seth Brown, Bailey Markum, Dalton Mears, and Joe Overcast.Mr. Roy Finchum’s Seventh Grade:Hayden Cobb, Kelsie Foster, Trinaty Muse, and Jackson Simmons.Mrs. Tracy Hale’s Eighth Grade:Garett Alexander, Bryson Bell, Emily Keaton, Madison Lowe, Joe Mitchell, Etta Scott, and Ty St. John.Mrs. Pamela O’Hara’s Eighth Grade:Kaleb Althaus, Brady Sissom, Corey Smith, and Cierra Thomas.
 
 A.R.R.R.O.W. Club
Students on this list have exhibited the characteristic of a Warrior: each student has had good Attendance; each students has been Ready, Respectful, and Responsible; and have exhibited Outstanding behavior of a Warrior.
 Mrs. Melisha Simmons’s Kindergarten: Chloe Adcock, Tuff Alford, Izabella Allmon, Brooklyn Bevelacqua, Abigail Cook, Colton (Gibson) Gater, Edward Heath, Weston Lovett, Ava Martin, Jacob Miller, David Mooney, Brandyn Murphy, Marlee Owen, Aubrey Phillips, Katelynn Smyth, Rylee Tucker, and Audrey Williams.Mrs. MaryBeth Young’s Kindergarten:Sara Austin, Waylon Crawford, Haley Frame, Nathan Frazier, Amber Heisey, Alexander Lyle, James McGee, Braeleigh Parker, Emily Parker, Braydon Scott, Baylee Sissom, Conner Smith, Lane Southworth, Kail Spray, and Alex Williamson.Mrs. Julie Hackney’s First Grade:Madilyne England, Jaysie Hackney, Claire Hargrove, Alex Harper, Carson Henderson, Samuel Holloway, Kyle Judkins, Kenneth Kennedy, Kyleigh Lowery, Gabby Marcum, Allie Melton, Marshall Miller, Riley Miller, Kendra Murphy, Jadon Newport, Brooklyn Parker, Anna Phillips, Alex Powers, Carson Powell, Addison Reed, Ava Roberts, Mylee Schwartz, Adlen Sissom, Brett Smithson, and Andrew Stratton.Mrs. Alice Whittle’s First Grade:Matthew Austin, Layla Barrett, Jordyn Beaty, Brooklyn Bowman, Ziya Dillard, Haylee Foulk, Natalie Frazier, Jag Gamberella, Carlie Gannon, Josh Johnson, Makenna Luttrell, Cayden Onate, Christian Perez, Holly Robinson, Aiden Smith, Landon Smith, Brayden Smithson, Taylor Strawser, Braylynn Taylor, Jaylynn Taylor, Paul Tune, and Eli Vassar.Mrs. Amber Phillips’s Second Grade: Lia Bedwell, Jesse Campbell, Rihanna Edmondson, Ethan England, Katie Beth Fann, Kaige Ferrell, Madison Foster, Alexis Gamberella, Foster Kemp, Kattie Lack, Mason Lowe, Thomas McGee, Estacy Monzalvo, Landyn Murphy, Brennon Parker, Liliana pope, Kassandra Smyth, and Kathryn Trail.Mrs. Maria Vickers’s Second Grade:Brooklyn Batson, Candon Choate, Garrett Crawford, Abbi Davis, Boone Elrod, Kaylie Hill, Bennett Kauffman, Lakelyn Kilpatrick, McKenzie Merritt, Jacob Smith, Kylea Sullivan, Julia Warren, Georgia Wells, Connor Williamson, Cadence Witty, and Izabell Young.Ms. Larna Martindale’s Third Grade: Chris Alfaro, Jenna Bush, Zowee Dillard, Brianna Dykes, Carson Farrar, Gaven Fly-Franks, Katherin Garcia, Virginia Hernandez, Destiny Hiles, Logan Inge, Alexia Kennedy, Emily Lopez, Lucio Lowery, Riley McGuire, Cassidy McTaggart, Kaia Robinson, and Reese Vance.Mrs. Dawn Witty’s Third Grade: A. J. Armstrong, Lacie Arnold, Brianna Bowman, Austin Bush, Autumn Casteel, Mattea Ciramella, Chloe Cobb, Luke Cook, Graham Edens, Austin Foster, Gavin Franklin, Ethan Hargrove, Daigon Jacobs, Alexis McClure, Aubrianna McKee, Lola Odom, Shauna Pelham, Ashlan Reed, Jacob Robinson, George Seybold, and Waylon Southworth.Mrs. Beth Northcutt’s Fourth Grade: Kylie Bratcher, Emma Crabtree, Shelby Duggin, Jonathan Fann, Hanna Foster, Hannah Jo Foulk, Konnor Lorance, D. J. Moore, Nicholaus Pelham, Tyson Pope, Ethan Powell, Bryant Robinson, Ella Simmons, Kelley Strawser, Jr., and Kelton Wilkes.Mrs. Carla Parker’s Fourth Grade: Hannah Bowman, Anita Chittaphong, Brady Davis, Rose Davis, Gage Harper, Jadon Henderson, Josh Mingle, Brody Morris, Cassie Ramsey, Connor Rodgers, Taylor Ross, Rachel Smartt, Branson Smithson, Toby Tucker, and Houston Witty.Mrs. Stacie Bryson’s Fifth Grade:Hunter Althaus, Hailey Bowman, Carter Cawthorn, Parker Cawthorn, Walker Cawthorn, Lane Crawford, Kolby Duke, Jalin Fann, Natalie Heisey, Karen Lopez, Charles Powell, Dillion Pyron, Maci Sellars, Michaela Sellars, Maleah Sissom, Kayelyse Strawser, Cassidy Taylor, Dylan Taylor, and Ellianna Young.Mrs. Theresa Bush’s Fifth Grade: Kaylee Armstrong, Nolan Bell, Ava Bond, Cynthia Davenport, Karli Davenport, Anthony Garcia, Tabitha Goodwin, Rebecca Green, Stacey Hoel, Emma Grace Hughes, Alicia Miles, Ashley Mooneyham, Kooper Nemeth, Braxton Parker, Alex Ruth, and Chloe Thomas.Mr. Nathan Brazle’s Sixth Grade:Jaden Abercrombie, Zachary Basham, Summer Casteel, Macey Ciramella, Dalton Coppinger, Austin Davis, Jadyn Davis, Emma Edens, Cheyanne Lanphere, Bradi Mason, Kelsi Mears, Addison Melton, Hunter Owen, Lori Pittard, Shelby Reed, Kaleb Ryan, and Autumn S. Young.Mrs. Suzette Sissom’s Sixth Grade: Linsey Arnold, Madison Arnold, Lexi Browning, Brady Bryson, Jasmine Bush, Brady Davenport, Jack Davis, Hunter Davis, Zettie Elrod, Eric Estrada, Maria Funes, Cassie George, Dalton Hale, Austin Harper, Naomi Nelson, Shelby Smithson, Tyler Southworth, Kayden Walton, and Autumn M. Young.Mrs. Mary Jean Cook’s Seventh Grade: Caroline Blanton, Madison Blanton, Lily Brazle, Seth Brown, Wyatt Crawford, Damian England, Remington James, Jessica Kauffman, Kallie Kemp, Rachel Laxton, Bailey Markum, Dalton Mears, Addison Miller, Joe Overcast, Austin Powell, McKenna Powell, Derrin Reeder, Joel Smith, Samantha Strait, Kaitlynn Trail, and Zoe Witty.Mr. Roy Finchum’s Seventh Grade: Jordan Bean, Rockwell Bond, Abigail Buchanan, Blake Bush, Christopher Cancino, Silas Choate, Hayden Cobb, Blake Davis, Kristin Fann, Kelsie Foster, Jesse Frazier, Brent Hastings, Sadie Jones, Abbie Judkins, Kaleigh Lamb, Jessica McCrory, Trinaty Muse, Jackson Simmons, Anna Grace Sissom, and Jayda Smith.Mrs. Tracy Hale’s Eighth Grade: Breanna Anderson, Bryson Bell, Dalton Farrar, Sydney Hudson, Emily Keaton, Isaiah Lamb, Kyle Laxton, Madison Lowe, Holly Markum, Joe Mitchell, Blake Reed, James Roberts, Etta Scott, Andrew Smith, and Tyler Vickers.Mrs. Pamela O’Hara’s Eighth Grade: Ashlynn Atnip, Ethan Castillo, Nick Fisk, Kailee Means, Macy Miller, Jacob Raines, Ryan Reed, James Romines, Branden Schwartz, Brady Sissom, Jameson Southworth, Amy Spry, Dalton Taylor, Cierra Thomas,and Austin Underwood.

Governor Bill Haslam has declared this week as School Board Appreciation Week in Tennessee.  This week helps build awareness and understanding of the vital functions our locally elected boards of education play in our community.  Cannon County is joining public school districts from across the state to celebrate School Board Appreciation Week and honor local board members for their commitment to Cannon County and its children. “Our school system is the backbone of our community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child” Director Barbara Parker said “They spend countless hours studying the issues and regulations and make the tough decisions when called upon to ensure the type of accountability people expect”
Director Parker said the key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by creating a vision for what the community wants the school district to be and for making student achievement the top priority.  Establishing standards for what students will be expected to learn and be able to do.  Ensuring progress is measured to be sure the district’s goals are achieved and students are learning at expected levels.   Being accountable for their decisions and actions by continually tracking and reporting results.  Creating a safe orderly climate where students can learn and teachers can teach.  Forming partnerships with others in the community to solve common problems and focusing attention on the need for continuous improvement by questioning, refining and revising issues related to student achievement.
“Our local school board give the Cannon County citizens a voice in the education decision making process” Parker said.  “Their contribution is a year round committment.”
The current Board of Education members are Bruce Daniel, Chairman Randy Gannon, Nathan Sanders, Frank Walkup and Shelley Walkup.

The Arts Center of Cannon County presents a one day only special production of Ponder Anew: A World War II Warrior’s Story Carol Ponder and Robert Kiefer, long-time Nashville theater favorites, perform this play with music. Adapted from the WWII memoir of Carol’s father, Lt. Herschel D. Ponder – a fighter pilot who flew P-47 Thunderbolts in Europe – this moving production evokes the essence of war and warriors: their victories, sacrifices, loyalty and the sweet pain of coming home. In his memoir, Lt. Ponder wrote of his fears, his joys, and his struggle to remain human during and after an inhumane war. By turns warm, funny, tragic and poignant, Ponder Anew premiered as part of The Hermitage Artists’ Retreat Series at the Historic Asolo Theater in Sarasota, Florida and has been presented in over 30 venues in five states, including The Monteagle Assembly, TN and Middle Tennessee State University. After WWII, Lt. Ponder lived with PTSD and other challenges; however, he found joy in creating a rich life for himself and his family. In 1989, after 45 years, he finally found real relief in writing his memoir. His words of war and peace, with songs from the era and the North Carolina mountains, are a powerful stimulus that inspires combat survivors and their friends and families to open up about their own experiences. Praised by members of the military, their families, and psychologists, Ponder Anew helps audiences understand what we ask of those in our Armed Forces – and profoundly thanks those men and women for their service.
Carol and Robert have been theater and music professionals for over 40 years. Carol is an award-winning singer of Americana and, like her father, is a consummate storyteller. An accomplished actor and director, Robert specializes in creating one-person shows.  Carol and Robert are delighted to be working together to perform this powerful and valuable work of art.
The production will take place Sunday at 2:00 at the Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy Woodbury.  For more information or to purchase tickets call the Arts Center Box Office at 563-2787 or online at artscenterofcc.com
 

The official 2015 Tennessee Transportation Map is now available for travelers. This year’s map contains new information to assist motorists, and features a special cover to commemorate the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s centennial.  The 2015 map contains historical photographs that look back at the development of Tennessee’s highway system over the last 100 years. It also highlights State Route 1, the first cross-state highway built by the state of Tennessee.Other new additions to this year’s map include the new Welcome Center on Interstate 26 in Sullivan County and Rocky Top in Anderson County, which was formerly known as Lake City. The map also indicates the widening of several state highways, such as SR 99 in Lewis County, SR 30 in McMinn County, and a new Exit 1 on SR 22 in Obion County. 
The 2015 state map can also be downloaded from the TDOT web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/maps.htm.
Pre-printed maps may be ordered from TDOT online at www.tn.gov/tdot/MapOrder/maporder.htm or by mailing a request to: 
Tennessee Department of Transportation
505 Deaderick Street
James K. Polk Building, Suite 900
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1402
 
Individuals may request up to five free maps. Organizations and schools may order up to one hundred maps for their use. 
The Official 2015 Tennessee Transportation Map is a joint effort between TDOT and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for December was 6.6 percent, two-tenths of one percentage point lower than the November revised rate of 6.8 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for December was 5.6 percent, also falling two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month.Economic Summary·         Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.7 percent to 6.6 percent while the national rate declined from 6.7 percent to 5.6 percent.
·         Total nonfarm employment increased 12,500 jobs from November to December. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, manufacturing, and mining/logging/construction.
·         Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 66,200 jobs. The largest increases occurred in professional/business services, trade/transportation/utilities, and mining/logging/construction.
 

Music journalist Barry Mazor will focus on Ralph Peer’s pioneering role in bringing the recording, marketing and publishing of blues, jazz, country, gospel and Latin music to the world in a special Monday, Jan. 26, lecture at MTSU’s Center for Popular Music. The free public discussion is set for 4:30 p.m. in Room 160 of the College of Education Building on the MTSU campus. A searchable campus map of MTSU, complete with parking details, is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking14-15.
Mazor’s newest book, “Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music,” is the first biography of the adventurous A&R man for Victor Records who discovered Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family at the famed “Bristol sessions” in East Tennessee in 1927.
Peer, who later founded the world’s largest independent music publishing firm known today as PeerMusic, also played a role in recording Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues,” which first popularized the blues in 1920.
He helped bring Latin American music to the forefront during World War II and revolutionized popular music in the postwar era by pushing regional music to the nation and publishing million-sellers recorded by artists ranging from Bing Crosby to Buddy Holly.
Mazor, who also is the author of “Meeting Jimmie Rodgers: How America’s Original Roots Music Hero Changed the Pop Sounds of a Century,” is a longtime music, media and business journalist.
He has written for the Wall Street Journal and No Depression magazine, and his writing also has appeared in the Oxford American, The Washington Post, the Village Voice, Nashville Scene, American Songwriter and the Journal of Country Music.
American roots music is a specialty of MTSU’s Center for Popular Music, which was established in 1985 by the Tennessee Board of Regents as one of 16 Centers of Excellence across the TBR system. It’s devoted to the study and scholarship of popular music in America, and its staff maintains a unique archive of research materials that spans shaped-note songbooks to hip-hop mash-ups in a collection stretching from the early 18th century to the present.
The Center for Popular Music also develops and sponsors programs in American vernacular music and regularly presents special concerts, lectures and events for the campus community.
For more information on the Jan. 26 lecture at MTSU, email the Center for Popular Music at popular.music@mtsu.edu.