Merle Haggard and Shelia Shipley Biddy to be Honored at CRB, Inc. ® Hall of Fame Event

Nov 4, 2008 Merle Haggard and Shelia Shipley Biddy to be Honored at CRB, Inc. ® Hall of Fame Event

Merle Haggard and Shelia Shipley Biddy will be honored by the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. at the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Haggard will receive the Career Achievement Award, while Shipley Biddy will be presented with the President's Award.   The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and country radio. "What can I add to the long list of accomplishments that Merle Haggard has had during his illustrious career in country music?" said CRB President Becky Brenner. "Not only has he been a great friend to country radio, he's also recognized worldwide as one of the true ambassadors of the country genre."   Widely regarded as the working man's country singer, Merle Haggard became a genuine superstar in 1966, recording three Top Ten hits, including "Swinging Doors," "The Bottle Let Me Down" and "The Fugitive." That same year he was voted the Top Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards. The following year he began a streak of 37 straight Top Ten hits, including 23 number one singles. He has released more than 65 albums since 1963 and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2006 Grammys. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Haggard is generally regarded as one of the originators of "the Bakersfield Sound" along with Buck Owens.  His most recent effort, the critically acclaimed The Bluegrass Sessions, was released in late 2007. He has been out on the road touring for much of 2008.   The Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. President's Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the marketing, production, growth and development of the Country Radio Seminar and the multiple services that Country Radio Broadcasters provides to the country radio and music communities. "Over the years many people have contributed to the growth and development of the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Of those, one of the true standouts is Shelia Shipley Biddy, whose service to the Board and Agenda Committee of this organization has lasted well over a decade," says Brenner. "It is certainly a pleasure for me as President to recognize her with this prestigious award." "When I received the call from R. J. Curtis informing me of the board's decision to present me with the President's Award, I was overwhelmed with emotion and had to take a moment to compose myself," says Shipley Biddy. "Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. is an organization I have been honored to serve and one that allows me to serve the two sides of the industry I love most - music and radio. Some of my fondest memories and learning experiences are tied to events that took place at CRS." Shelia Shipley Biddy is President of Stringtown Records and oversees the label's day-to-day operations, including marketing, artist development and promotion.  She works as an artist manager at Hallmark Direction Company overseeing the careers of Trent Willmon and Ray Scott. She has also held positions at Vivaton Records (Executive Vice President of National Promotion and Artist Development), Shipley Biddy Entertainment (President/CEO) and Decca Records (Senior Vice President and General Manager - the first woman to head a major label in Nashville), where she introduced artists such as Lee Ann Womack, Gary Allan and Rhett Akins to country audiences worldwide. Prior to her appointment at Decca, she served as Senior Vice President of National Promotion for MCA Records. During a ten-year period, the label saw more than 125 number one singles from artists such as Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Mark Chesnutt, Tracy Byrd, The Mavericks, Wynonna, and David Lee Murphy. Tickets are available for the event, which will be held at the Renaissance Hotel Ballroom. Tickets are $85 with CRS registration. Single tickets may be purchased for $a105, while sponsored tables are $2100. Proceeds go to the DJ and Radio Hall of Fame. To purchase tickets, please contact the Country Radio Broadcasters at 615-327-4487 or visit www.crb.org.