Dottie Rambo Set for Induction Into Kentucky Music Hall of Fame by Big-Screen Icon Lily Tomlin

Dottie Rambo Set for Induction Into Kentucky Music Hall of Fame by Big-Screen Icon Lily Tomlin

ROANOKE, Va., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The stage is set for what promises to be one of the greatest nights that Kentuckians have ever experienced. A gala would not begin to describe the line up.

This is "Kentucky's premier red carpet, black tie event" said, executive director, Robert Lawson in describing the 2006 induction ceremony of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame serves as a prominent and permanent sanctuary of recognition for some of America's most revered musical geniuses. Placed in perspective, The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame is to Kentucky as the Country Music Hall of Fame is to Nashville, Tennessee. The spectrum of the Kentucky Music Hall merges boundaries and is far reaching, as it crosses musical cultures and genres.

The Kentucky Music Hall of fame exists to honor artists and contributors who have achieved significant accolades in every genre of American musical history, not only in Kentucky and The United States, but in Canada and around the world.

Its halls are lined with former inductees who have made consequential strides in advancing the heritage and broadening the audience of music. Past recipients of this prestigious honor have been such recognizable Kentuckians as Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. Hall and "The Coal Miner's Daughter" Loretta Lynn.

Lawson pointed out that this year's esteemed who's who of musical inductees reflects and honors six very different styles of music. Among those represented are jazz, opera, folk, American Art Song and of course, country and southern gospel artists and musicians.

The election of recipients includes Dottie Rambo who is recognized as the undisputed Queen of gospel music and who is possibly the most prolific songwriter of this age. Rambo's gifts have carved her into the annals of music history amid the greatest composers of all time including the likes of Mozart and Beethoven and her beloved fellow gospel songwriter Fanny Crosby. Lawson said, "One thing that helped distinguish Rambo's nomination was the great diversity represented in the letters of recommendation which were received for her. They ranged from a wide spectrum of people, written by everyone from college professors to some of the most affluent musical artists and executives."

Lawson went on to name the other inductees. Country music legends The Judds, Wynonna and Naomi, the mother-daughter duo that rose from obscurity to country music super-stardom in the 1980's and hail from Ashland made the coveted list. John Conlee, also a native Kentuckian and country music legend, is also on the distinguished list of honorees. Sam Bush credited as the founder of the "New Grass Revival," Mary Travers, who made up one-third of the well known recording trio of the 1960's "Peter, Paul and Mary." Louisville born, Lionel Hampton, one of the first jazz giants of the 1930's is named. Todd Duncan, born in Danville, a pioneering figure in American Art Song and the first black performer to join the New York City Opera will be inducted. Last, but certainly not least on the list is John Jacob Niles, Louisville born songwriter, who during his lifetime penned several classical folk songs that he performed right up until the last two years of his life. Lawson quickly hailed Rambo as "One of the all time greatest song-writers to ever live." Lawson went on to say, "Her music has crossed almost every single genre of music including the fact that she has had songs recorded by Elvis Presley who was her friend. Whitney Houston and many others have also performed and recorded Rambo's music for years. It is about time she receives the recognition that she deserves, it is long overdue," said Lawson. In describing Rambo on a personal note Lawson said, "she is an all-around incredible lady." Lawson spoke of the greatness of Rambo and adamantly described it as a great honor not only to have her inducted to The Hall of Fame but also to have her actually be present in person to receive the award. Lawson said that the celebration and ceremony will be taped for television and will be aired throughout the state and around the country later.

A huge highlight of Rambo's induction revolves around the presenter of the award. Veteran award winning actress and good friend Lily Tomlin will do the honors. Tomlin, with two prestigious Tony Awards and six coveted Emmy Awards to her credit rests high on top of the star-studded roster for the evening. Tomlin is admired as one of America's all time greatest funny ladies, not since the likes of Lucille Ball has anyone ever ventured on the side of funny that Tomlin comfortably occupies. Detroit born, Tomlin has roots that run deeply through the winding hills of Kentucky, the Bluegrass capital of the world.

Heartstrings from childhood memories of warm Kentucky summers spent with her family have kept Tomlin linked to Kentucky as she has traveled the world. Academy Award nominated Tomlin has co-starred with such great performers as Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in the ever-funny smash comedy hit 9 to 5.

Tomlin's debut film performance was as Linnea, a gospel singer who was the mother of two deaf children in the movie "Nashville" that first hit the screen in 1975.

Tomlin originally planned to become a physician but grew to love theatre so much while studying at Wayne State University that she soon traded in her microscope for a microphone. She was honored in Washington D.C. in 2003 with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Award. Tomlin with her long list of successes, honors and awards considers inducting Rambo into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame as one of the greatest honors she has experienced. Tomlin said, "Dottie sang at my mother's funeral in July. She came and did a blessing while my mom was still living and was in bed. She and my mom prayed together; my mom was very devoted. Dottie has just been a real blessing in our lives, just such a sweet presence. I just get such a kick out of her, she is so soulful and she has had such an extraordinary career." Tomlin spoke of how longtime family friend Michael Langston, had told her of an event he attended in Nashville recently and how the gospel singers who had attended were noticeably in awe of Rambo. According to Tomlin, Langston said one of the attendees said, 'Dottie, it has taken my whole career to write four songs, and you have written 2,500.' Tomlin laughed as she recounted her friend's story and said, "Dottie is incredible and she is still writing. She has been such a precious part of our lives," Tomlin said. (Referring to Rambo's past health issues.) Tomlin expounded on her admiration for Rambo, noting that several of Rambo's songs are favorites of hers. The songs Rambo sang at the funeral of Tomlin's mother, "Sheltered in the Arms of God" and "Mama's Teaching Angels to Sing" are two mentioned by Tomlin as personal to her. Tomlin, as well as many others, stated that it is difficult to select a favorite song penned by Rambo because there are so many great ones to choose from. She added, "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need 'is another great song.'" When comparing the gift of songwriting to the gift that Tomlin obviously has for writing comedy Tomlin said, "I write a great deal of my own material, but I can't say I'm as prolific as Dottie. Dottie is inspired, it just flows out of her." Tomlin said, of her friends Dolly Parton and Dottie Rambo, "they are both very similar in that they both have a great sense of humor and that they are both totally down to earth and easy to be with. They both have a little twinkle in their eye. I think they are both similar in personality and in an inner way." Tomlin said, that her Uncle Wallace had that mystical charm that seems to come from Appalachian folk, something that is indescribable -- a kind of inner laughter that keeps a twinkle in their eye. Tomlin said through tears that she is a very spiritual person and that she hopes that everything she does reaches out to people in a helping way. It is easy to see why Tomlin and Rambo are good friends and why Tomlin was an obvious choice to bestow this coming honor on Rambo. Both ladies share a genuine, humble and child like faith in the goodness of people and the hope that what they are contributing to the world through their work is making a difference in the lives of others.

Laughter has been called medicine in Biblical and secular terms. Depending on how you view it, the good-hearted soulful laughter that Tomlin has generated in her 30- plus year career may have been the healing of many a heavy heart. There is no doubt a great link exists between the healing virtue of Tomlin's laughter and Rambo's tears.

Rambo shunned by her father as a 12-year-old child because of her deep faith and her unshakeable commitment to Jesus Christ has lived more than her share of heartache. She has often shared how she suffered devastating, life changing grief, as she walked down a winding country road to a bus ride that would begin a journey that would take her gift to the world. Although Rambo's mother walked with her, crying each step of the way on that seven-mile journey of winding Kentucky, dirt road, she could not heal the pain of rejection little "Joyce Reba Lutrell" suffered that day. Nor could she begin to ease the pain Rambo would come to suffer. A pain that Rambo would eventually come to accept as a part of the price she would ultimately pay for her unwavering commitment to Christ and her determination to use her gifts to glorify him and him alone. Bitter-tears summoned by the pain of rejection suffered at the hands of one father would incredibly become a catalyst for sure adoption by another father. A heavenly father! This little girl from Kentucky would fall gently into the arms of a lifelong relationship with he whom would become her most treasured friend. The Jesus of whom she had been so deeply wounded to defend, would become more than just an object of her faith. He would become the means by which she would forever be "Sheltered in the Arms of God." Figuratively and literally Rambo embarked on a path of dust and gold that would serve to blow sand in her eyes creating the tears that would become the wealth of her well-penned soul. She recently said, "I quit counting my songs after I reached 2,500." Rambo was given her initial break into the big-time by Governor Jimmy Davis who signed her to a songwriting deal. From there she hit the ground running and has never slowed down. The bolting five-octave voice of Sandi Patti brought life to Rambo's "We Shall Behold Him" and carved a place for Patti in gospel music history. "I go to the Rock" originally thought to "Rock - Roll" for gospel music became forever etched on the halls of Billboard Magazine's all time best selling gospel album when it made the cut for the soundtrack on "The Preacher's Wife." The soundtrack was recorded by none other than the convincing voice of Whitney Houston. Rambo was nominated for a Dove award last year as she and longtime friend Dolly Parton debuted "Stand by the River" an upbeat mover and shaker song that you can't sit down on.

Full-circle, arrives the talent, the triumph and the national treasure of all that is Dottie Rambo. Lily Tomlin will present the award to Rambo, as she is inducted into the Hall of Fame on Feb. 23, during a public ceremony in Lexington. The event is open to fans but seating is limited and anyone wishing to attend should reserve seats now, and may do so by visiting www.kentuckymusicmuseum.com.

Rambo's heartache turned out to be a catalyst. It would birth the songs that would change the lives of millions of people and in doing so would leave an indelible fingerprint of who God is, by Dottie Rambo, on the world. Rambo is a foremost authority on living lyrics. Every song has a story and every story paints a picture. Springing forth from the bluegrass and green hills and "Down on the Creek-banks." From that first fateful song, given on that Kentucky creek-bank, Rambo's faith and her gifts took her from Kentucky to the world and now they bring her back to the coveted "Kentucky Music Hall of Fame." The journey is truly remarkable and no doubt, "It's been grand touring with the travelin' man."

Contact:

Larry Ferguson, 615-269-4517

Source: R.E.A.

CONTACT: Larry Ferguson of R.E.A., +1-615-269-4517

Web site: http://www.dottierambo.net/
http://www.kentuckymusicmuseum.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Written by Rheda Dolinger; edited by Beth Lykins. Rheda Dolinger is a professional writer and writes for Media General News Service serving exclusively for The Smyth County News and Messenger. She also designed developed and abridged Rambo's work Pen of the Psalmist.

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