Patriotic Musicians
Neil Peart
Drummer and chief lyricist for the dynamic rock band Rush, Neil Peart first discovered libertarian ideas through the works of Ayn Rand. Rush's 1976 album, 2112, was inspired by Rand's novel "Anthem," and in the liner notes Peart declares his admiration for "the genius of Ayn Rand." Rush's last 16 albums have gone either gold or platinum, and the band has been a top live attraction since their first album in 1974. Peart is one of the most highly-praised drummers in rock music today. Rush's songs often reflect a strong libertarian and individualist slant. Their best-known song, "Tom Sawyer," celebrates individual freedom. Among the lyrics: "His mind is not for rent/To any god or government." Neil is a supporter of Artists Against Racism.
Pete Nice
Brooklyn native 3rd Bass rapper Pete Nice counts himself as one of the most hip-hop members of the Republican Party.
Emilio Navaira
Emilio Navaira, along with his brother Raul, were one of the hottest Tejano/Country Duo's of the 90's, earning numerous awards, achievements and top record sales. Emilio, who grew up in San Antonio, Texas, dreamed of becoming a singer since he was a small child. At the young age of four, he received his first guitar. Emilio has earned over twenty Tejano Music Awards, including Album of the Year six times, Male Entertainer of the Year five times, and Humanitarian of the Year.
Lee Greenwood
Lee's career stands as a shining example of the American success story. From his humble beginnings on a farm near Sacramento, California, Lee has taken his natural talent and achieved worldwide recognition in the entertainment business with a career so far spanning three decades. Only two years after the release of his debut album, he won the coveted Country Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year award. He won the same award again, as well as a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance the following year. Continuing his streak, Greenwood won the 1984 ACM Male Vocalist of the Year award. His first three albums achieved gold status, and his Greatest Hits quickly went platinum. In 1985, a less publicized facet of his talent was recognized when the CMA awarded him Song of the Year honors for penning both the words and music to "God Bless The USA." After the Gulf War in 1991, Lee was one of the most in-demand performers. Because of his support for the military and veterans during that time, Lee would often play two and sometimes three shows per day, traveling to and from in private jets. The staying power of this dynamic performer throughout fifteen successful touring years remains evident in every Lee Greenwood show. Thirty albums, numerous TV appearances, and hundreds of radio interviews are all vehicles through which this tireless performer maintains his visibility with the public. His celebrity tours with the United Services Organization (USO) are one of the many high-profile charity organizations to which this humanitarian donates his time. Since the tragedies of September 11, Lee has seen his signature hit "God Bless The U.S.A." take on yet another life. Since the attack on America, air-play has increased ten fold, skyrocketing "God Bless The U.S.A." back into the top 20 of the Billboard country airplay chart, and sending Lee's 1992 album "American Patriot" to the top of the sales charts. The album was certified gold in October 2001 & platinum in December 2001.
Sara Evans
While growing up poor in rural Missouri, Evans performed with her family's band -- at the age of four -- and even recorded in Nashville several years later. She eventually married and moved to Oregon in 1992, but continued to perform, as Sara Evans & North Santiam. The group opened for Willie Nelson and Tim McGraw, among others, but Evans eventually returned to Nashville to re-make her career. After her debut album Three Chords & the Truth was released in July 1997, Evans earned a special honor by being hand-picked by George Jones to open a special show in Nashville. No Place That Far followed a year later, and in 1999 she resurfaced with Girls Night Out; Born to Fly was issued the next year. Sara's Husband, Craig Schelske is a Republican candidate for congress from Oregon.
Sara and Craig with President Bush
Ann-Margret
Born in Sweden but adopted by America, she is the consummate entertainer. One of the world's most glamorous and versatile superstars, she has twice been nominated for an Academy Award, won five Golden Globe Awards, and received five Emmy nominations. She draws sell-out crowds in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Radio City Music Hall and is a three-time winner of the "Female Star of the Year" award given by the United Motion Picture Association.
Ted Nugent
Ted is a member of the NRA and has been on the Board of Directors since 1995. Ted has also founded his own hunting group "Ted Nugent Sportsmen of America. Ted has recorded 29 albums which have sold over 30 million copies. Ted is the editor and publisher of Adventure Outdoors Magazine and is the author of several books. Ted was honored on the floor of the U.S. senate in 1994. Ted was named Michigan Conservationist of the Year in 1999. Ted has served as a Michigan County Sheriff's Deputy since 1978.
Larry Gatlin
Over 40 years ago, Larry, Steve, and Rudy Gatlin started singing in their hometown of Abilene, Texas, and from there went on to make music history. Over the course of a four-decade career that has taken the Gatlin brothers from dusty Texas stages to White House performances, from Broadway to Grammy Awards to the top of the country charts, there has been one unifying element, music. There's no harmony quite as pure as family harmony. Gatlin harmonies spin with high and light precision and their music bleeds and screams of love and a lot of living. Beginning in 1993, Larry spent part of four successive Christmas holidays entertaining military personnel via USO tours. Those treks took him literally around the world, making stops in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia and Japan. In '94, Larry's trip to Haiti made him the first American entertainer to travel for the USO to visit troops on that island.
Martina McBride
The breathtaking soprano of Martina McBride is one of the greatest vocal instruments in contemporary popular music. That she applies it to songs of uncommon integrity makes its impact all the more thrilling.
Jimmie Vaughan
Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Jimmie Vaughan is far more than just one of the greatest and most respected guitarists in the world of popular music. As Guitar Player magazine notes, "He is a virtual deity--a living legend." Jimmie's web site includes not only a US flag, but also links to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
Marie Osmond
Marie was first thrust into the spotlight in 1963 on "The Andy Williams Show" when the host placed the three-year old on his lap and introduced her as "the youngest Osmond Brother". Marie began to make a name for herself at 13 years of age when she exploded onto the music charts (#1 country/#5 pop) with "Paper Roses", marking the first time in country music history that a female artist debuted with a #1 record. Marie earned a gold record and Grammy nominations for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best New Artist. Marie released In My Little Corner Of The World (1974) and Who's Sorry Now (1975), the title track of which went Top 40. Among the many TV guest appearances she made, one featured a duet of "I'm Leaving It All Up To You" and a guest hosting role with brother, Donny. That, in turn, led to their weekly television variety series "The Donny & Marie Show" (1976-81). In 1979, Marie starred in the Christmas Classic TV movie "The Gift Of Love" with James Woods and Timothy Bottoms. Marie would later co-host the television series "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" (1985) and lend her voice-over and singing talents to children's videos such as "The Velveteen Rabbit" (1985), "Rose-Petal Place: Real Friends" (1987), "Buster and Chauncey's Silent Night" (1998) and "O'Christmas Tree" (1998). Marie returned to recording country music with There's No Stopping Your Heart (1985) which featured two #1 country hits: the title track and "Meet Me In Montana", a duet with Dan Seals which won the CMA's Vocal Duo of the Year award. I Only Wanted You (1986) earned her a CMA Vocal Duo of the Year nomination, this time with Paul Davis for the #1 country hit "You're Still New To Me". Two other albums followed, All In Love (1988) and Steppin' Stone (1989), as did a 1989 nomination by the Academy of Country Music as Top Female Vocalist. For many years, she toured "Marie Osmond's The Magic Of Christmas" show in major venues across the United States during the holidays. She continued her acting career performing the lead role of Maria in the national touring company of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "The Sound Of Music" in 1994-95 (reprising her role on a Southeast Asia tour in the summer of 1997) and in the 1995 television sitcom "Maybe This Time" with Betty White. In 1997, she made her Broadway debut as Anna in Rodgers & Hammerstein's "The King & I", opening to rave reviews. In the spring of 1998, she headlined the national touring production in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Marie co-founded, with John Schneider, the Children's Miracle Network, a project of The Osmond Foundation. The largest annual broadcast in fund-raising history, it has raised in excess of 1.8 billion dollars since 1983, 100% of which has stayed in the local area in which it was raised for medical treatment, research and assistance, benefitting children's hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1989, the Country Music Foundation presented Marie with the prestigious Roy Acuff Award in recognition of her efforts on behalf of children.
Ricky Skaggs
2001 marked Ricky's 30th year as a professional musician, and this eight-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. Known affectionately today as bluegrass music's official ambassador, Ricky has brought the genre to greater levels of popularity in the past six years than the father of bluegrass music - legendary Bill Monroe - could ever have imagined. With five consecutive Grammy nominated classics behind him, all from his self-owned record company, Skaggs Family Records--1998's Bluegrass Rules!, 1999's Ancient Tones, and 2000's Soldier of the Cross and Big Mon: The Songs of Bill Monroe, and 2001's History of the Future—bluegrass music is undoubtedly in good hands, with the masterful Ricky Skaggs at the helm.
Loretta Lynn
To millions of people worldwide, she is country music. Since the 1960s, Loretta Lynn has been one of country's modern pillars, a woman whose rise from hardscrabble poverty to the heights of fame remains the quintessential success story. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, she has long been considered a legend, someone whose talent, perseverance, and personality continue to embody all the best that is country music. Loretta's autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter, became a #1 New York Times best-seller and then a critically acclaimed movie. Loretta was named one of the ten most admired women in the world by the Ladies Home Journal. She was the first country entertainer ever to appear on the cover of Newsweek. Her A&E Live By Request special was their fourth highest-rated ever. She has sung with both Conway Twitty and Luciano Pavarotti, and she has received an honorary doctor of arts degree from the University of Kentucky. Loretta has released 70 albums, 17 of which went to #1, and has had 80 chart hits, including 55 top ten singles and 27 #1 singles. Her legacy of hits includes Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (with Lovin' On Your Mind), Fist City, You're Lookin' At Country, One's On The Way, Hey Loretta, The Pill, and She's Got You. She has won more awards than any female artist in country music history--21 CMA, ACM, and Grammy awards to date, along with a host of others. She was the first woman ever named Entertainer of the Year by both the CMA and the ACM.
John Popper
John's vocals and harmonica give Blues Traveler their distinctive sound. John played The Star-Spangled Banner on the harmonica at Florida Governor Jeb Bush's inauguration. Popper, describing himself as "a Libertarian who is a Republican when pushed," said it was likely the first time the national anthem had been played on a harmonica at an inauguration. Freedom loving firearm owners will particularly enjoy "Business as Usual from the Straight on Till Morning CD."
Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento, America's undisputed king of weird and way-out music, has been a libertarian for years, and has dee-jayed parties at Libertarian Party national conventions. Dr. Demento is host of the appropriately-named "The Dr. Demento Show," a weekly syndicated radio show that has aired for over 25 years. Dr. Demento has described his show as "Mad music and crazy comedy from out of the archives and off the wall. Rare records and outrageous tapes from yesterday, today, and tomorrow." Dr. Demento (aka Baret Eugene Hansen, aka Barry) graduated from Oregon's Reed College in 1963, but went back for a master's in folk music. While in college Barry Hansen began reviewing records for Rolling Stone Magazine. The good doctor supposedly got his name when Barry was playing "Transfusion" by Nervous Norvus on the radio one day, and someone said, "You've gotta be demented to play that!" Shortly thereafter, the DJ before him announced, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's... Dr. Demento!" A star was born. The Dr. Demento Show is heard on 200 stations in the U.S. and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.
Linda Davis
The complete entertainer is the only way to accurately define the colorful career of Grammy winner Linda Davis. She has built a reputation as a world-class entertainer and is considered one of the best female vocalists in the business by some of her most well known peers. CMA and TNN Music City News awards flank her Grammy to prove that they're not alone in their opinions.
Wayne Newton
Wayne's heartfelt patriotism has mirrored his enduring career in entertainment. He has entertained troops in Vietnam, in Lebanon after the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks, and most recently in the Persian Gulf. (The US Defense Department gave Wayne its highest civilian award for being the only America entertainer to perform in all three spots. At the invitation of President Ronald Reagan, Wayne drew 350,000 people to the rain-soaked grounds of the Washington Monument for the July 4th concert. He also has a penchant for helping others. He is highly visible as a contributor of time, energy and talent to telethons and fund-raisers for various causes. He serves on the board of many charitable and philanthropic organizations, including the National Association for Missing and Abused Children. All of this--the wide appeal, the longevity, the patriotism, the selfless service--has made Wayne Newton a favorite of his many fans. He is one of the most widely acclaimed and honored entertainers in history. Wayne has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, some of which include, "Medal for Distinguished Public Service," the "Jimmie E. Howard Award," "Founders Award of St. Jude's Hospital," the VFW Hall of Fame Award," the "Humanitarian Award of the American Cancer Society's Cancer Research Center and the "American Legion's Exceptional Citizen Award." He has also been awarded the National Jaycees' Ten Outstanding Young Men of America. There is also a Wayne Newton star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica first developed and nurtured her talent in the local Baptist church, where her father also works as the congregation's youth minister. While at church camp, at the age of 13, Jessica sang Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and an arrangement of "Amazing Grace". One of the camp's visitors, a gentleman who was launching a gospel record label saw great promise and profits in her voice. Jessica began to tour with Christian youth conferences with tunes like "True Love Waits", sometimes entertaining audiences of 20,000 people. Jessica's father, who is a psychologist, manages her career, and her mother designs her wardrobe and assists in the business affairs.
Jessica aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in 2002.
Pat Boone
Pat graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University. Pat had a long string of successful movies including "State Fair", "Journey To The Center Of The Earth", "April Love", "The Cross And The Switchblade", "The Greatest Story Ever Told", and many more. As an author Pat's first book - Twixt Twelve and Twenty - became the number one nonfiction best seller for two years. From 1955 to 1962, Pat registered 54 hit singles. For four consecutive years, 1955 to 1959, he was never off the pop charts. Pat has served as chairman of the Advisory Board at Pepperdine University. Pat served as National Spokesman for the March of Dimes, National Association of the Blind and other worthy charities; that all came into sharp focus when he was asked to be the entertainment chairman and host of the National Easter Seal telethon. Pat served in this capacity for 18 years - raising over 600 million dollars to help handicapped and disabled kids and adults. Pat, his wife and son-in-law Dan O'Neill, initiated a grassroots volunteer organization, originally called "Save The Refugee", in response to the Cambodian refugee crisis, which was reported frequently on network news in the mid 70's. Eventually, "Save The Refugee" metamorphosed into "Mercy Corps", one of the world's most respected humanitarian relief organizations, currently operating in over 22 countries and responsible for delivering over 550 million dollars in food and services to date. With Doug Wead, adviser to several presidents, Pat helped start the annual Washington Charity Dinner, a major political/social/humanitarian event on the Washington, D.C. calendar. This major event has resulted in millions of dollars in humanitarian aid donations. Yearly, for over 20 years, Pat has hosted the golf tournaments benefiting Koinonia Foster Parents program Sacramento, Bethel School and Orphanage in Chattanooga, as well as other worthy charities including Easter Seal tournaments in various parts of the country, including Baltimore, Phoenix and Seattle.
Connie Stevens
Connie's international reputation has made its mark in show business history, having performed for 4 U.S. Presidents at the White House and the Kennedy Center, and her dedication overseas for the U.S. Military in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf as one of Veterans Across America's all time favorites. Connie continues to headline in Las Vegas and continues to perform in live concerts in Atlantic City, New York, Los Angeles, and every other major concert venue worldwide. Connie's first documentary film, "A Healing", shot in Vietnam has won 4 film festival awards dedicated to the women and the young warriors of Vietnam. She produced, directed, and edited with proceeds going to many Veteran charities. It is this tireless work and support to others that brought Connie the coveted 1991 'Lady of Humanities" award from Shriners Hospital and "Humanitarian of the Year" by the Sons of Italy in Washington.
Joe Bonsall
Joe has been traveling the roads of America with the legendary country music group, The Oak Ridge Boys, for the past 30 years. In that time he has been honored with 6 Grammy Awards, 1 Double Platinum Single for the Song "Elvira", 14 Gold Albums, 4 Platinum Albums, and 1 Double Platinum Album. Joe is the author of G.I. Joe & Lillie, a story about his father and mother and WWII.
Statler Brothers
The Statler Brothers are America's #1 award-winning country music group. The Statler Brother show was #1 on TNN for seven seasons. A 1996 National Harris Poll conducted to name America's favorite singers found The Statler Brothers to be number two in the nation, right behind Frank Sinatra.
Gary Chapman
Gary came to early fame with "My Father's Eyes," made popular by Amy Grant. Gary has also had songs recorded by T.G. Sheppard, Kenny Rogers and other country artists.
Fred Vail
Fred Vail's accomplishments in the music and entertainment industry are legendary. A 43 year veteran of the broadcasting and recording communities, Vail began his career in 1957, at age 12, working as a teen news announcer and radio station "gopher," becoming a disc jockey at 15 and country music program director and DJ at 17. Vail, a member of the Country Music Association since 1961, served five years on the Advisory Committee of the Canadian Country Music Association, is a Life Member of the Republican National Committee, a past Vice President of the Nashville Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a former Governor of NARAS and serves in several capacities for the Association for Independent Music. Vail is the recipient of numerous honors, including fifteen gold and platinum awards.
Red Steagall
Red Steagall has always been a cowboy, at least in his heart and mind. While growing up in West Texas he learned the skill and Cow savvy of the men who worked the range as well as their songs. Although Red is best known for his wonderful Texas Swing dance music and such songs as "Here We Go Again", "Freckles Brown", and "Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills Music", he is revered by cowboys for the quiet times they have spent with him around remote campfires as he chronicles the West in story and song. In 1991, the Texas State Legislature named Red Steagall the "Official Cowboy Poet of Texas". The 35 year entertainment career of Red Steagall has spanned the globe from the Middle East to South America and from Canada to the Far East. As a songwriter, Red has had over 200 of his compositions recorded. He has produced 26 consecutive records on the national charts and released 20 albums. Red has performed an average of 200 days per year over the past 35 years, including over 100 major rodeos and fairs, as well as countless private and corporate parties.
Lonestar
Lonestar is the reigning ACM top vocal group, and has two wins in other categories and four additional nominations under their belt. Their music has also garnered five Grammy nominations, multiple awards and nominations from the Country Music Association and American Music Awards and album sales in excess of 7 million units to date. Recently Lonestar was given the distinct honor as Country Radio Broadcasters' Artist Humanitarian of the Year for their continual heroic efforts around the nation. This award was, in particular, a special recognition for their contributions to the American Red Cross. They are members of the first ever National Celebrity Cabinet and were ambassadors at the respite center at ground zero following the tragedy of 9/11. In early 2003, the band flew to Crested Butte, Colo., for the annual Country in the Rockies benefit. Proceeds from this week-long event go toward the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. Among the activities Lonestar participated in was the Celebrity Bartender Happy Hour which raised more than $50,000. Aside from the countless hours spent and thousands of dollars raised by the members of Lonestar, one of the most wide-reaching messages they have used to help others has been their music. Their six-week No. 1 hit, "I'm Already There," has become an anthem for military men and women all around the world. The band's fan club has received thousands of e-mails and letters from armed forces personnel stating how this song has helped their families cope with being apart while our nation faces conflict around the world. This response caught the attention of national morning television shows where the band got a chance to tell the amazing story and perform the song that inspired it all.
Travis Tritt
When they talk about music getting in your blood, I understand exactly what they're talking about, because that is me," says Travis with a laugh. "And really, I feel that that's pretty much what I was put here on earth to do. Tritt's popularity is broad enough that one hardly need recite the details of his career; his story's been told more than once on national cable and broadcast TV. Born in Marietta, Georgia, he grew up with a love for music, singing in a gospel youth choir, and playing in bluegrass, rock and country bands as a teenager. Encouraged to pursue a music career by a friend who had once given up his own dreams, he struggled through most of the 1980s before signing a major label deal, releasing his first Top 10 single, "Country Club" in 1989. By the time he won the CMA's Horizon Award for 1991, he had been married and divorced twice, and he was beginning to be known as a fiery entertainer with a talent for finding or writing perfect vehicles for his explosive injection of rhythm & blues and southern rock influences into a framework built on country traditions.
Gene Simmons
Gene is better known as the lead singer for the rock band Kiss than for his previous career as an elementary school teacher. Few people also know that Gene speaks five languages and does not smoke, drink, or use drugs.
"If you don't have the guts to stand up to injustice, where ever it exists (and that means stopping the Germans, the Japanese and the Italians in WW I and WW II ... or the Albanian Serbs in Bosnia ... or the tragedies that keep on occurring in Africa ... or even the Viet Nam War ... Panama ... North Korea ... the list goes on and on) ... One thing in common with all these events: America. America didn't stay and 'conquer' any of these countries."
"(I'm) ashamed to be surrounded by people calling themselves Liberal who are, in my opinion, spitting on the graves of brave American soldiers who gave their life to fight a war that wasn't theirs ... in a country they've never been to ... simply to liberate the people therein."
Read Gene Simmons Kisses Off Anti-war Crowd in The Left Coast Report.
Michael Moriarty
The award-winning actor and pianist-composer advocates libertarian goals. He condemns the federal government as an emerging police state, citing Waco and Ruby Ridge as examples, and he supports drug legalization. Moriarty is an Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe award winning actor, as well as a classical and jazz pianist with three CDs released.
Read The individualist party: Michael Moriarty's vision
Bruce Willis
Bruce was born in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany and grew up in Penns Grove, New Jersey. Bruce attended Montclair State College in Montclair, NJ. Bruce's recording of "Respect Yourself" reached #5 in January of 1987. Bruce was named Man of the Year by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals. In addition to acting, Bruce is a producer, a writer, and a composer.
Poker Face
Poker Face has been dubbed the leading truth/freedom band in the nation. Through the use of various multi-media sources, this 4-piece band has made it their mission to expose the lies & scandals coming out of our nation's Capitol. The information contained within the Sex,Lies and Politiks disc is an in-depth look into the conspiracies and cover-ups committed by a government that serves the agendas of money hungry elitists, hell bent on world domination. Not to mention that there is some kick-ass tunes on the most recent music.
Toby Keith
Toby worked in the oil industry and played defensive end with the Oklahoma City Drillers United States Football League (USFL) team. In 1984, he turned to music full time, playing the honky-tonk circuit in Oklahoma and Texas with the band Easy Money. Toby's 1993 debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," went to No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart, and his self-titled debut album was certified platinum. He released a second album, Boomtown, in 1994. The gold-selling collection produced the No. 1 hit "Who's That Man" and the Top 5 hit "You Ain't Much Fun." The platinum-selling Blue Moon followed in 1996, featuring introspective tunes like "Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine on You" and "Me Too." Releasing Dream Walkin' in 1997, the bittersweet ballad, "When We Were in Love," went to No. 2, as did a cover version of rocker Sting's divorce ode "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying." The duet earned the unlikely pair a Grammy nomination, and Sting joined Toby for a performance on the 1997 CMA Awards telecast. The double-platinum success of How Do You Like Me Now?! earned Toby some long-awaited award nominations. Toby won two Academy of Country Music awards in 2000, for male vocalist and album. In 2001, he won his first CMA award, for male vocalist. His 2001 album, Pull My Chain, produced three No. 1 hits, "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight," "I Wanna Talk About Me" and "My List." Toby was also nominated for six Academy of Country Music awards in 2001. The events of 9/11 prompted Keith to write "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," a song about his father's patriotism that pulled no punches. As the lead single from the 2002 album Unleashed, the song peaked at No. 1 over the Independence Day weekend. The 2002 album Unleashed sold 3 million copies, due to the feisty 'Who's Your Daddy?", the hugely popular Willie Nelson duet "Beer for My Horses" and relentless touring. He also joined Nelson, one of Keith's heroes, at Farm Aid 2002 in Pittsburgh.
Johnny Ramone
Johnny dropped his job as a construction worker in 1974 and held down stage right for 22 years as the guitarist for the most influential rock band of the last 30 years. The Ramones fertilized the punk-rock scene first in their hometown of New York City, then in England. Eventually — who knew? — that sound would form the chassis for what the corporate rock industry later dubbed "alternative" and, eventually, infiltrated top 40. He was a rebel in a rebel's world, though. Johnny Ramone was a fiercely Republican-voting, NRA-supporting musician in a milieu that is remarkable for its embrace of all things left. Johnny went worldwide public with his partisanship in 2002, when the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the microphone to give props to the people who made it all possible, he offered his own version of a Michael Moore moment. "God bless President Bush, and God bless America," he said, clad in his trademark T-shirt, ripped blue jeans and leather jacket. "I said that to counter those other speeches at the other awards," Mr. Ramone says in a phone interview. "Republicans let this happen over and over, and there is never anyone to stick up for them. They spend too much time defending themselves."
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd has remained the definitive Southern rock band for more than thirty years. The music of Lynyrd Skynyrd fuses the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious, Southern image and a hard rock swagger.
Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels has been making music for more than fifty years. He's mastered rock and roll, bluegrass and jazz, swirled them all together and created his own unique sound. Charlie is the Big Daddy of Southern Country Rock; a musical pioneer whose influence on country music remains strong decades after he first came on the scene. He's won Country Music Association and Grammy Awards throughout his long career. Gold and platinum records line the walls of his den at home. The list of accomplishments go on and on and while music historians will certainly provide a detailed analysis of Daniels' work, the artist himself offers this simple assessment of his career. "Basically I'm an entertainer," he says. "I want my music to entertain people."
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black was born in Long Branch, N.J., on Feb. 4, 1962, but raised in Houston. He dropped out of high school to play music, supporting himself with day jobs as ironworker and fishing guide. After building a local reputation, he was brought to the attention of RCA Records, which signed him to a recording contract in 1987. Starting with his first single, "A Better Man," in 1989, Black scored four straight No. 1s. That same year, he won the Country Music Association's Horizon Award and the following year, its male vocalist of the year prize. In 1991, he joined the Grand Ole Opry, married actress Lisa Hartman and scored two more No. 1 hits, "Loving Blind" and "Where Are You Now." The Clint Black Foundation has established a fund to benefit the families of soldiers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Clint Black is providing all the necessary administrative costs to make sure 100% of the proceeds will go to the families. Black's other humanitarian efforts include his work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA Harvest Food Drive, Operation Heartland and a national shoe drive that resulted in the donation of more than 55,000 pairs of shoes for less fortunate individuals. He has been presented with the Artist Humanitarian Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters and the AXA Liberty Bowl 2002 Outstanding Achievement Award for his charitable work.
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