Country Music Stars Step Up to the Plate

Country Music Stars Step Up to the Plate

The Tug McGraw Foundation's first major fundraising gala will feature performances by country artists - The Warren Brothers, Tim McGraw's Dancehall Doctors and Hot Apple Pie

GLENSIDE, Pa., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The late Tug McGraw, the spirited relief pitcher for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, was known by baseball fans as much for his entertaining antics on the mound as he was for his devotion to helping others off the field. Before McGraw died from a brain tumor in 2004, his wish was to create a foundation that would help others battling brain tumors, as well as young athletes pursue both their academic and athletic dreams. (More than 300,000 people in the United States live annually with brain cancer.) And so with the great devotion of his friends and colleagues, the Tug McGraw Foundation was established to make sure his wish in life would carry on long after his death.

On Monday, November 14, at Gotham Hall in New York, country music stars will come together to pay tribute to McGraw's legacy and raise money that will enable the Tug McGraw Foundation to continue its important mission. The featured performers include the Warren Brothers, Tim McGraw's Dancehall Doctors, and Hot Apple Pie. (Tim McGraw, Tug's son, is the Honorary Chairman of the Gala and the Foundation and will attend the event.)

Presented by CMT, the Inaugural Ya Gotta Believe Gala will feature sports analyst and commentator Bob Costas as Emcee. Special awards will be presented to baseball legend Rusty Staub, and George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, who will accept the award on behalf of the company. Serving as gala chairpersons are Brian Philips, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CMT; Van Toffler, President, MTV Networks Group; and Jeff Wilpon, Chief Operating Officer, The New York Mets.

"Tug would have been so thrilled to be part of this event, and his spirit will be with us on November 14 as we celebrate his life and legacy," said Laurie L. Hawkins, president of the Tug McGraw Foundation. "The Foundation has already provided 20 scholarships to young athletes, and given grants for medical research. We want to thank everyone who will be lending their artistic talents for what we believe will be a moving and heartfelt tribute to Tug's life's work."

The highlight of the Gala will be a performance by Tim McGraw's Dancehall Doctors, his longtime band that has collaborated with him on the albums Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors and Live Like You Were Dying. Tug was a frequent guest at Tim's concerts, where he developed special friendships with band members Dean Brown, David Dunkley, Denny Hemingson, John Marcus, Bill Mason, Jeff McMahon, Bob Minner, and Darran Smith.

"I know my dad would get a real kick out of all the attention," said McGraw. "We're very proud of the work his foundation is doing, and are looking forward to a great event, but most importantly, giving hope to everyone suffering with the devastating effects of a brain tumor."

The Warren Brothers -- Brett and Brad -- are known by country music fans for their own entertaining ways on the stage and off. The popular duo have risen from behind the scenes in country music to a more prominent, public role with the success of their CMT reality show "Barely Famous: The Warren Brothers." The Tampa, Florida natives are known for their top-notch songwriting skills, with their music recorded by artists such as Faith Hill, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Zant and Tim McGraw. Their recently released album "Barely Famous Hits" also plays off the catchphrase and is their best-selling record to date.

Hot Apple Pie consists of four distinguished musicians, including proven hit singer-songwriter Brady Seals, who handles lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica and accordion; Mark "Sparky" Matejka (vocals, guitar and banjo); Keith Horne (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar and steel guitar) and Trey Landry (drums, percussion, accordion). Together, they have an astonishingly full and diverse sound and their musicianship is first-rate. Hot Apple Pie's strong vocal harmonies coupled with their instrumental talent are nothing less than pure entertainment! They have been winning over audiences all across the country since exploding on the music scene with their hip-hop/country debut single, "Hillbillies." This single propelled sales of their self-titled debut album that entered the Top Country Albums charts at No. 6, making it the highest starting rank by a new country group in the Nielsen Sound Scan era.

Hot Apple Pie has just released their second single, "We're Makin' Up." Filled with thick three-part harmony, the song showcases the group's boundless energy on the upbeat track. A new video for the single was filmed at New York's world famous Power Station Recording Studio and will debut on CMT and GAC in mid-October.

Funds raised at the Gala will support McGraw's vision for the 501 (c) (3) organization, which he founded in 2003 before he lost the battle with brain cancer. Its mission is to improve the quality-of-life for people who survive brain tumors though the funding of pioneering neuro-oncology research at institutions around the United States. The Foundation also awards scholarships through its UbiquiTel Diamond 45 Scholarship Program to college students who demonstrate Tug's "Ya Gotta Believe" legacy, and develops programs to raise public awareness about the disease (UbiquiTel Diamond 45 Scholarships will be awarded in 2006 thanks to a generous grant from the Sprint PCS affiliate).

CMT, America's No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 77.8 million households in the United States. Go to country music's biggest web site at http://www.cmt.com/.

A 6:30 PM reception will be followed by dinner and entertainment beginning at 7:30 PM. Gotham Hall is located at 1356 Broadway in New York City. Tickets are available for the Gala and can be purchased online at http://www.tugmcgraw.com/ or by calling the Foundation benefit office at 212-786-6185. Email inquiries should be directed to YGBGala@cmevents.net.

Source: Tug McGraw Foundation

CONTACT: Laurie Hawkins, Tug McGraw Foundation, +1-215-885-5355, or +1-267-664-2710; or Dava Guerin, Guerin Public Relations, Inc., +1-215-914-2040, or cell, +1-215-262-0740, for Tug McGraw Foundation

Web site: http://www.tugmcgraw.com/ http://www.cmt.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Coverage is invited. Interviews with artists and awardees and others are available by request. Credentials will be required and can be obtained by providing name number, address, telephone number, media outlet, Social Security number, and birth date. Requests must be on official letterhead and must be sent (to be received) no later than November 8 to guerinpr@aol.com.

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