BCM Museum Gets $100k Gift from Bank of Tennessee‏

At a press conference  in the atrium of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum today,  a $100,000 gift by Bank of Tennessee was presented to the museum.

Bank of Tennessee CEO, Roy Harmon, and Bank of Tennessee Market President, David Wagner, presented the check to BCM Executive Director, Leah Ross, during the conference.

“This commitment to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is another wonderful example of Bank of Tennessee’s investment in the communities where they do business,” Ross stated. “We are so grateful for their continued support over the years and look forward to the future they are helping us create.” Bank of Tennessee has been a valued supporter of BCM for many years, having sponsored a number of BCM events including Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and Friends of 1927 concerts. The Birthplace of Country Music  Museum will open its doors in August of this year. “Bank of Tennessee has been a supporter of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion for nearly a decade,” Bank of Tennessee Market President David Wagner said. “When we toured the museum and saw the impact the Birthplace of Country Music Museum would have on our region, we knew we wanted to further our commitment.” There are also other opportunities for individuals, groups, and organizations to contribute to the Birthplace of Country Music. “Hey, let the music play…” Name Your Seat in the Birthplace of Country Music Museum: You don’t have to be a musician to leave your signature on the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. BCM invites contributors to “let the music play” as they kick off the museum’s “Name Your Seat” fundraising campaign. Contributors will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase seats in the museum’s 100-seat Performance Theater and 64-seat Orientation Theater for $1,000 each. Your seat in the spotlight can be named for family members, loved ones, organizations or employees. A personalized engraved plaque will adorn the arm of each dedicated seat. The museum’s Performance Theater is an intimate, inviting space designed with state-of-the-art acoustics and live recording and broadcasting capabilities. Throughout the year, the theater will play host to live music performances and an array of special events such as classes, lectures, and films. The Orientation Theater will introduce visitors to the Bristol Sessions – how they began, what they did, and how they continue to impact generations young and old, near and far –

through a film produced by Washington, DC-based, Academy Award-winning media team Hillmann & Carr.  Upon exiting the Orientation Theater, visitors will be ready to engage with the museum’s exhibits. Anyone wishing to "Name Your Seat" can visit www.BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org to download our brochure. *Note: A seat naming opportunity does not guarantee the reservation of the seat for performances. Ticket purchases are handled separately. Bank of Tennessee’s Story: Like many other successful companies, Bank of Tennessee and Carter County Bank, a division of Bank of Tennessee, came from humble beginnings. But even when you Start Small, Think Big. with visionary leadership, knowledgeable employees, and good investment decisions, success will be the result. Bank of Tennessee opened in 1974 in Kingsport, Tennessee with one branch on the corner of Center Street. Now, forty years later, Bank of Tennessee’s presence now includes locations in Bristol, Johnson City, Jonesborough, Gray, Erwin, and Middle Tennessee. In January 2013, Carter County Bank and Bank of Tennessee joined together to form one financial institution. Combining two strong financial institutions meant they could remain competitive in pricing and technology offerings. Bank of Tennessee is genuinely a locally owned and operated company with 98% of the ownership and 100% of business decisions made here. That means Bank of Tennessee understands the challenges and opportunities our communities face. Birthplace of Country Music: Birthplace of Country Music is a non-profit organization established to enhance Bristol’s role in the birth and development of country music through the Birthplace of Country Music Museum (open August 2014), the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival (September 19-21, 2014), and educational outreach and programming. For more information about BCM, visit: www.BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org. or e-mail info@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.