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Blackwoods Celebrate 80th Anniversary of the Original Blackwood Brothers

Special Shows All Week Long During NQC!

Pigeon Forge, TN – The Blackwoods Morning Variety Show will be presenting an 80thAnniversary Tribute to the Original Blackwood Brothers Quartet, the week of Sept. 23-28 at the Smoky Mountain Opry.

The Quartet began their career in Choctaw Co., Miss., in 1934. The original members were Roy, Doyle, James, and Roy’s son, R.W. Blackwood Sr. They recorded over 200 albums and sold over 50 million records. They won eight Grammy Awards, four Dove Awards, and were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Hall of Fame, The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1954, R.W. Blackwood Sr., Bill Lyles and Johnny Ogburn died in a plane crash. R.W. Blackwood Jr., the son of R.W. Blackwood Sr., and his wife, Donna, now continue to carry on the legacy of the Blackwoods.

Each day of the Blackwood’s Anniversary Tribute Week will feature different guests. Schedule is as follows: Willie Wynn and Sue Dodge on Tuesday, Sept. 23; Charles Yates and Ann Downing on Thursday, Sept. 25; Jeff Stice, “Mr. Music Man” on Friday, Sept. 26; Kenna Turner Weston Saturday Sept. 27; and Tony Gore, on Sunday, Sept. 28. Special guest for the entire week will be Terry Blackwood (son of Doyle Blackwood, original co-founder of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet). On Wednesday, Country music star, Billy Dean and band will make a special appearance. R.W. and Donna are especially proud as their son, Robbie, is Dean’s drummer.

“R.W. and I and our group, The Blackwood Singers, are so excited to have everyone join us as we celebrate the 80thanniversary of the Original Blackwood Brother’s Quartet,” said Donna Blackwood. “We want to share this special anniversary with all of our fans and family by presenting a different show daily. We are thrilled to have these other gospel music legends join us. R. W. Blackwood said, “You will hear the songs the Blackwood Brothers made famous and share mornings of great music.”

R.W. and Donna Blackwood have been performing with The Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group since 2003 and in Pigeon Forge since 2001. They have entertained hundreds of thousands of fans with their gospel show.

Although most people associate The Blackwood name with outstanding gospel music, they have an award winning country music background as well. The dynamic Blackwoods Morning Variety Show is a mixture of country, pop, patriotic and gospel harmonious sounds that showcase the talents of Jonathan Lee Kunkle, Brad Smith, and the newest members of the group, Tana Lonon Rogers and Brian Norris in addition to the Blackwoods.

“Our production has a selection of country favorite songs sung as a tribute to the country stars that R. W. and I have worked with,” said Donna Blackwood. “In addition, the show has some Blackwood audience favorites that Blackwood fans expect to hear every show such as ‘Boondocks,’ ‘Turn Your Radio On,’ ‘Put a Your Hand in the Hand and ‘Still Feelin’ Fine.’” Each show is topped off with their stirring Patriotic Medley with special tributes to all veterans

They invite audiences to take a trip down memory lane to when the Blackwood Singers had songs on the charts. R. W. Blackwood said, “We have had six country hits in the top 100 Billboard and Cashbox Magazine Music Charts. We are performing some of our more popular country hits and yet not forgetting our gospel roots.”

The Blackwoods Morning Variety Show is open six days-a-week at 10 a.m. (preshow starts at 9:30 a.m.) at The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater (The show is closed on Monday). Adult tickets are normally $29.95, plus tax. Children 11 and under are $9.95, plus tax.

To honor all NQC attendees and anyone wishing to attend the shows, the theater is offering special ticket prices for $14.95 plus tax per ticket or $49.95 plus tax for a ticket that is good for all six shows all week long. Tickets are available by calling (865) 908-SHOW (7469). Groups of 20 or more qualify for group rates, available by calling 1-866-492-6972. The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater is located at 2046 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. For more information about the show, visit www.smokymtnopry.com/shows/blackwoods-morning-variety-show or call 1-800-768-1170 or(865) 428-7469 (SHOW).

The show is part of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group that includes: “The Comedy Barn®;” “The Smoky Mountain Opry;” “The Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show;” Happy Days Diner; Chef’s Catering and www.SeePigeonForge.com.