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"SPRUCE PINE" Press Release
"TRIBUTE TO HANK WILLIAMS" CD TRACKS IN TOP TEN "BEFORE" RELEASED
"HANK IS STILL ALIVE!", the message read.
Last week DENNIS SCHUT, Czech Republic bandleader of MULIT-AWARD WINNING GROUP, "SPRUCE PINE", sent an email to A.W. Blake's office with the last sentence reading "HANK IS STILL ALIVE!". Little did she expect the "sparkling" news the rest of the message bore. (A.W. Blake is Director of BIBB PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTIONS/ DISTRIBUTORS located near the small town of West Blocton in Central Alabama, USA.)
Wednesday, February 18, 2004, was the release date of yet another "TRIBUTE TO HANK WILLIAMS" CD ALBUM. So what is all the fuss about this one?
Oh nothing really, just something very seldom heard of happening in the Music Industry. This "TRIBUTE TO HANK WILLIAMS" album wasn't even out -- wasn't even released when it began experiencing a taste of the album in the "TOP TEN" in the group's European homeland, the Czech Republic.
YES, that's what the rest of the message from DENNIS SCHUT said. DENNIS is organizer and leader of the band of Country/Bluegrass players known as "SPRUCE PINE." Members of "SPRUCE PINE" besides Dennis Schut (guitar, mandolin and lead vocals) are his older son, Ralph Schut (lead &tenor vocals, acoustic &electric guitars, mandolin, banjo and dobro) younger son of Dennis, Christopher Schut (lead vocals, acoustic bass and electric guitar) Peter Meciar (Pedal Steel Guitar) and special guest on the album, Josef Malina (fiddle). "SPRUCE PINE" has experienced fame and success throughout Europe since its conception in 1977.
Today, at 52 years of age, DENNIS SCHUT (who grew up on Hank Williams music) and his "SPRUCE PINE" band are making history in their homeland; and we suspect soon -- WORLDWIDE, as this new release gets more and more airplay.
RALPH SCHUT gave a master copy of their new album, "Spruce Pine - a Bluegrass/Country Tribute to Hank Williams," to a DJ at a Regional radio station in the Czech Republic for the upcoming "Presentation Show" and Release Party this month. Along with Regional press coverage, within the first two days of airplay with announcements of the show, requests for songs from the "unreleased" album were pouring in, driving the requested tracks into the "TOP TEN" or "HITPARADE" as it is called in the Czech Republic. That is no MINOR feat, anywhere in the world! Congratulations, DENNIS SCHUT and "SPRUCE PINE."
Released on that same album as a "bonus track" was a song submitted to DENNIS SCHUT by a "Hank" fan of the past 50 years, Robert Ackerman of Palmer, Alaska. Originally from New Jersey and retired from the Air Force with songwriting as a hobby, this will make the third out of six songs composed by Mr. Ackerman to be recorded on "tribute" to "Hank" albums in recent times. Two other songs, titled "WE CAN'T BE MARRIED" (If You Don't Like Ole Hank) and "NOBODY HAD A HEART" (Like Hank Did) were recorded on DUSTIN HUNT'S "Tribute to Hank" album "The Man, The Music, The Legend."
Robert Ackerman was introduced to "SPRUCE PINE" through Bibb Promotional and began making arrangements to have DENNIS SCHUT take a look at one of his songs, even though time was running out for release date on the album. Back into the studio for this additional "bonus" track titled "HANK'S OLD SCRATCHED RECORD." The track was recorded for demo this past December in the publisher's own home. The publisher, JIM MURPHY, also sings the song on the track. JIM, by coincidence is a member of the Country/Bluegrass band known as the "Pine Barons." JIM MURPHY'S "Tribute to Hank" album recently went into the Hall of Fame for "Hank Williams Tribute" songs.
DENNIS SCHUT said that the track could not have been more perfect for the new "SPRUCE PINE" album. Besides JIM MURPHY'S wonderful voice, the unique thing about the demo being cut in JIM'S home was that it had a "scratchy old sound". It makes you feel as though you were back in time, hearing something from "out of the shadows of the past". He just had to record it "AS IS".
While we're passing them out, congrats also go to Anne Walker Blake, Director of Bibb Promotional. Mrs. Blake was privileged to have written the sleeve liner notes for "Spruce Pine's" new CD booklet and contributed to the project's release. Bibb Promotional will be distributors of the group's album, which can be ordered online by going to:
www.BibbPromotional.shoppingcartsplus.com
or emailing bibbpromotional@cs.com
Bibb Promotional Productions is very involved with producing and promoting the new feature instigated on Saturday, February 7, 2004, at "THE HANK WILLIAMS MUSEUM" in Montgomery, Alabama. That evening saw the "first" production of "Professional" musical performances from the Museum's new "MUSIC HALL PAVILION." Bibb Promotional is hoping to be able to have DENNIS SCHUT AND "SPRUCE PINE" perform at the HW MUSEUM in a future show.
Please be sure to visit "SPRUCE PINE" at their home website. There you will find more information on this talented group and other of their great albums available for your enjoyment at the following link:
http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/9125/index.html
Copies of "Spruce Pine - a Bluegrass/Country Tribute to Hank Williams" album will be donated to the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery. Proceeds from those donated albums will go toward support for the HW Museum.
Talk about your small world, DENNIS SCHUT just happens to be the owner of HANK WILLIAMS JR.'S old Martin D-35-S guitar. The guitar was special made for HANK JR. and was once on display in HIS museum. If he made it to the photographer's in time, the photo of DENNIS on the back cover of the album will be made holding that same guitar. DENNIS treasures that finely crafted piece of wood and strings. All the more so with the letter he received from HANK JR. along with a signed photo of him holding the guitar. The letter expressed how much HANK had enjoyed playing that guitar during those years he used it.
Autographed photos of the band will be sent to the Hank Williams Fan Club/Museum in Georgiana, Alabama. Also, with special appreciation, autographed photos of the band will be sent to Cecil Jackson (Museum Curator) and Beth Birtley (Museum Director/Manager) to place on display in the Hank Williams Museum lobby alongside other great country music entertainers of today and the past. Those who have visited and/or contributed to this mainstay that has given so many a "nostalgic walk down memory lane" by the music path many of us were introduced to at birth and grew up on. A "path" cut by Hank Williams Sr. who's music has influenced the "historical world of music" from one culture to another in all classes of music known. Please visit the HANK WILLIAMS MUSEUM website at: www.hank50.com
Article submitted by:
A.W. Blake, Director
Bibb Promotional Production/Distributors
4864 Vance Road
West Blocton, Alabama 35184
205-939-7491
Email: annewalkerblake@cs.com
Email: bibbpromotional@cs.com
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