Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association to Induct Music Icons Ronnie Dunn, Sonny Curtis and Roger Miller into Hall of Fame at 8th Annual Live Awards Show

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 8^th Annual Texas Heritage Songwriters' Hall of Fame Awards Show will take place March 3^rd, 2013 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin, Texas. Tickets for the star-studded show go on sale today at 10 a.m. CST on ACL-Live.com, and a limited number of seats are available to the public.

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Each year, the Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association (TxHSA) honors songwriters during a live Awards Show and induction ceremony—the Hall of Fame inductees are those who embody and celebrate the unique history and culture of Texas through their songwriting. This year's roster includes legendary artists Ronnie Dunn, Sonny Curtis and Roger Miller.

"My music journey started in Texas, and I'm proud that Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association is bringing me back home to accept this award," said Ronnie Dunn. "It's a privilege to join the hall of fame with other talented artists I consider friends and mentors."

"Starting out in West Texas, my songwriting career was profoundly influenced by those musical beginnings," Sonny Curtis said of his time as lead guitarist with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. "I, like so many other writers and artists, owe a large part of my inspiration to Texas and its musicians."

Honorees Dunn and Curtis will offer a featured performance after accepting their awards. Plus, Jack Ingram will open the show; TxHSA Hall of Famer Larry Gatlin will perform; and country music superstar Toby Keith will deliver a special performance in honor of one of his most loved songwriters of all time, Roger Miller.

"Roger Miller was so intelligent that many of the greats would follow him around just for inspiration, just to hear him talk. He said some of the most famous quotes ever," said Toby Keith. "If you want to hear cleverness, you want to hear wit, and you want to hear charm—you want to hear a 'Class A' songwriter, it's Roger Miller."

This event brings together past Hall of Fame inductees and honors those whose contributions allow Texas songwriters to continue doing what they do best. Every year at the Hall of Fame Awards show, one person is recognized for their support of the songwriting community with The Darrell K Royal Patron Award. This year's recipient is the late Robin Ratliff Shivers, Founder of HAAM, longtime philanthropist and enduring supporter of the music community in Austin.

"This year marks our biggest show yet," says Joe Ables, Executive Producer of the show and owner of The Saxon Pub, a renowned live music venue in Austin. "Some of the biggest names in country music are coming together in celebration of the Lone Star state's extraordinary music, unique history, and distinct heritage."

Sunday's Hall of Fame Awards Show will close out TxHSA's weekend-long Homecoming celebration, which takes place March 2-3, 2013, and is packed with performances from past inductees, Grammy award nominees and recipients, and renowned songwriters and recording artists. 

On Saturday evening, TxHSA will host the Darrell K Royal Songwriters' Homecoming—a VIP/sponsor party at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum—where Chris Stapleton, Scotty Emerick and Mac McAnally will take the stage for an intimate acoustic performance.  

Sponsors of this year's TxHSA Homecoming Weekend include Walmart, Stratus Properties, AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, The Saxon Pub, Texas Monthly Magazine, KOKE-FM, BMI, ASCAP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Beam Global, CultureMap, Texas Music Magazine, BE Music and Entertainment, London Broadcasting, Osborne Advisors, The Salt Lick, Jack and Amy Ingram, Red Fan Communications, the GKW Co. and Strait Music. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, contact Michelle Johnson at [email protected].

About Texas Heritage Songwriters Association:
Founded in 2005 by 6^th-generation Texan Terry Boothe, the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association (TxHSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and celebrating Texas songwriters who have played an important role in defining and interpreting Texas' distinctive culture. Since 2006, TxHSA has been producing an annual public event, the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards Show, which serves as an induction ceremony for that year's honorees. In addition, TxHSA is involved with both the Center for Texas Music History and the Southwestern Writer's Collection at Texas State University in supporting young songwriters and further protecting the State's musical heritage. TxHSA regularly donates a portion of its proceeds to organizations that support Texas musicians and songwriters, including the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). For more information, visit www.TexasHeritageSongwriters.com.

SOURCE Texas Heritage Songwriters Association