VINCE GILL, EMMYLOU HARRIS, ETHERIDGE, YOAKAM PERFORM OLD FASHIONED GUITAR PULL FOR COUNTRY HALL

The Country Music Hall of Fame brought together legendary musicians for a good old fashioned guitar pull for a great cause.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum held their “All for the Hall” benefit at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Ca on October 1st and the event showcased a once in a life time opportunity to see Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Melissa Etheridge and friends performing together in a good old fashioned guitar pull. The Museum launced their “All for the Hall” fundraising campaign in 2005 as a way to address their need for long term financial security which will significantly benefit the preservation of one of America’s greatest musical treasures, the country music genre.

Artisan News caught up with Emmylou Harris to get her thoughts on why it was so important to be a part of the The Country Hall of Fame’s”All for the Hall” benefit.

“Well you know it’s really important for me to be apart of this event because the Hall of Fame is like a treasure trove you know. They gather up…all the music is there and you can find just about any recording. It’s a permanent home for instruments like Mother Maybelle’s guitar which is kind of where Country music got started. The people that work there and take care of there instruments and archivists and all this, they are just keeping a great treasure alive. And also because I was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and I’m still kind of stunned by it, but I’m so honored. So it’s an honor for me to be here and be a living part of the museum and sing some music.”

Vince Gill also talked about the influence the West Coast has had on Country music’s storied history.

“I’m a lifetime lover of this music. I think more than anything what’s going to happen tonight is a way for people out here on the West coast to realize the impact that the West coast side of Country music had a major impact on Country music and it’s history. Some of the best records that were ever made were made out here on the West coast. Emmylou was a big part of that in creating so much awareness for people that may not have been Country music. There’s like I said a rich history from the West coast and that’s why we wanted to come out here and do a fund rasier for The Country Music Hall of Fame.”

The night, which was hosted by Chris Isaak, offered fans a rare opportunity to see these legendary singer-songwriters interact in a “guitar pull,” where they accompanied one another on stage while they took turns swapping songs, stories and personal recollections without any prior rehearsals. The guitar pull originated in the homes of Nashville songwriters who gathered to try out new compositions for their peers and Nashville’s most storied guitar pulls were hosted by Johnny and June Carter Cash. Emmy Lou Harris also talked about the legendary guitar pull.

“Oh a guitar pull. Ok! A guitar pull is a group of songwriters that get around informally, it probably started after the bars closed one night in Nashville and it’s been going on for years. People, songwriters playing each other their songs. There’s a great tradition of camraderie among musicians and songwriters I think in music in general but especially in Country music. It’s always very informal. No one really knows what anybody is going to do. There are absolutely no rehearsals and every event is different.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to the preservation of country music and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. Through exhibits, publications and programs, the Museum teaches its audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.