Heather Berry Sings Tom T. into Hall of Fame

Berry Brings Hall Of Fame Crowd To It’s Feet
(From Staunton Virginia’s News Leader, www.newsleader.com)

NASHVILLE — Heather Berry and her husband, Tony Mabe, arrived on the red carpet of the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday afternoon, where one of her mentors had arrived about an hour before. Tom T. Hall and his wife, Dixie, were there for his induction into the hall, and Berry and Mabe to honor them with song.

Singing since her childhood in Augusta County, this up-and-coming bluegrass star was discovered by Miss Dixie three years ago. It is only natural that she would play a role and perform in Hall's hall of fame induction ceremony. "I am really, really honored to be here," Berry said. "It's long overdue."

In an auditorium crammed with some of the biggest names in country music, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Sonny James, Little Jimmie Dickens, Bobby Bare and Brenda Lee, Berry's performance brought the first standing ovation of the night.

Hall's career spanned several decades, and his repertoire of often humorous but always telling ballads cemented his fame. In retirement, he and Miss Dixie made a point to find young talent and nurture it.

"She is just one of the most charming, honest young singers," Hall said. "When she married Tony, they came by the house and were singing together. I said, 'This is a beautiful thing.'"

Berry's latest CD, "Before Bluegrass" was released earlier this year. "They're getting great reviews," Hall said. Dixie said she developed an eye and an ear for young talent through many years of interviewing musicians with Music City News.

She knew that Berry had the natural talent and honesty to make it in the competitive music field.

"She's Mother Maybelle Carter all over again," she said. "It's uncanny. She even talks like Mother Maybelle."

Sharing the stage during the induction ceremony with Hall are the Statler Brothers. As a Waynesboro native, it's not surprising that Berry grew up listening to Statler harmonies.

"I've been listening to them since I was a little girl," she said. "And of course I recorded a duo with Jimmy Fortune. This is a wonderful night."

Bobby Karl Works The Medallion Ceremony
Chapter 285 (from Music Row Magazine, www.musicrow.com)
It’s music that brings us together.

That simple maxim was never more true than at the Medallion Ceremony celebrating the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Staged at the Hall on Sunday evening (6/29), the event was a banquet of melody.

As usual, the program began with a hymn. Vince Gill, Amy Grant and The Jordanaires turned in an arrangement of “Rock of Ages” that was simmering with soul.

“Friends and neighbors, where else but in Nashville can you find magic like that? Amen!” exclaimed host Kyle Young.

In saluting inductee Tom T. Hall, bluegrass singer Michelle Nixon offered a lively and feisty take on “Harper Valley P.T.A.” Bobby Bare eased into a heartfelt “That’s How I Got to Memphis.” Then North Carolinians Heather Berry & Tony Mabe drew a standing ovation for Hall’s Carter Family-styled Appalachian tune “Can You Hear Me Now.” The duo’s simple guitar-autoharp accompaniment and inventive vocal-harmony interplay were simply stunning.

Then Ralph Emery inducted Hall into the Hall.

“This induction tonight is very personal to me,” said Emery. “I have no siblings, so Tom fills the role of my brother...He has stayed the course and kept the faith.”

“Three weeks from now, I’ll be out on the farm feeding the chickens and hauling corn, and I will think of 500 witty and profound things to say about this evening,” said Hall in his acceptance speech. “And there won’t be anyone around to hear them.”

The laconic, dryly humorous Hall drew the evening’s second standing ovation when he performed “(Old Dogs-Children and) Watermelon Wine” accompanied by Jelly Roll Johnson on harmonica.

Full Article from Music Row Magazine