Since opening its doors in 2006, The Musicians Hall of Fame has become known as the preeminent home of honor for some of the music industry's most influential players. Talented musicians can play one guitar lick that can make a song forever memorable, play a piano riff on a song intro like you've never heard, or create a drum solo that takes the song to a whole new level. Behind the scenes magic has been and continues to be made by musicians and now their talents have been placed in the spotlight with the Musicians Hall of Fame annual induction ceremonies taking place each year.

Show tickets are on sale now through the Schermerhorn Symphony Center's box office by calling 615-687-6400 and via their website at www.NashvilleSymphony.org. Tickets prices start at $50.00. Additional guests are being added daily.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum opened to the public June 9, 2006 and is the only one in the world. It honors great musicians of all genres regardless of instrument played and whether they are unknown to the general public or have a following of millions. The museum consists of many historic instruments played on countless famous recordings from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, all of the Beatles individually, to Hank Sr., George Jones and Garth Brooks. The complex also houses a school of music and performance hall. Visit www.MusiciansHallOfFame.com for more information.

2009 Musicians Hall of Fame Inductees:

CHET ATKINS (MUSICIAN)
As a guitarist, musician, producer, record label executive, and mentor, Chet Atkins, was one of the most influential musical pioneers of the last half century. His contributions were pivotal in helping young musicians everywhere. Atkins picking style elevated him in the minds of others and brought him admirers both within and outside of the country music scene, both nationally and internationally. Over the course of his career, he produced records for a variety of artists including Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith, Waylon Jennings, and others. He is well known as the co-creator, along with Owen Bradley, of the "Nashville Sound," that expanded the appeal of Country music to adult pop audiences.

BILLY COX (MUSICIAN)
West Virginia born bass guitarist and local Nashville musician, Billy Cox, is best known for his longtime musical relationship with Jimi Hendrix. Meeting in the early 1960's, while both were in the army at Ft. Campbell, KY, they formed a relationship that would last until Hendrix' passing. They would form, The King Kasuals, in Nashville, TN and when invited to go with Jimi to England to start what would become the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cox had to decline because as he put it, 'I only had three strings on my bass and not enough money to purchase a bus ticket to New York." Cox would again reunite with his former bandmate in 1969, to play bass in the experimental psychedelic/rock band, Band of Gypsys, as well as taking the stage with Hendrix in 1969, at the legendary Woodstock Festival, forty years ago this coming August.

DICK DALE (MUSICIAN)
Guitar innovator and stylist, Dick Dale, was one of the most influential musicians in the creation of the California surf sounds of the 1960's. From his stage work to his appearance in the beach movies of the early 60's with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Dale made his mark on the guitar. His work with Leo Fender, changed the way guitar amplifiers and speakers were not only used, but also the way they were built. Fender recreated the guitar amplifier in order to meet the demands and power of his playing. His stage presence influenced the name of such amplifiers as "The Fender Showman," appropriately named after Leo Fender witnessed Dale jumping from the amplifier to the floor and sliding on his knees on stage.

CHARLIE DANIELS (MUSICIAN)
Grammy Award winning, Grand Ole Opry member, singer, fiddler, guitarist, songwriter, and country musician, Charlie Daniels, has been performing the music he loves since the 1950's. From his early days as a Nashville studio musician that included playing on Bob Dylan albums, and recordings from Leonard Cohen, Al Kooper, Marty Robbins, to becoming a number one hit songwriter with his platinum selling "Devil Went Down To Georgia," to gaining status as one of the most beloved figures in country music, Daniels continues touring and packing houses, as well as giving of his time, energy, and talents performing tirelessly for men and women in uniform, all over the world, who love his honest mixture of country and southern rock influences, along with originality, that has lasted for over five decades.

VICTOR FELDMAN (MUSICIAN)
Known as a "musician's musician," Victor Feldman saw his early years as a child prodigy and master of such instruments as piano, percussion, organ, tympani, synthesizer, vibes and marimba, turned professional when he sat in at the age of 10 with Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band. His flexibility throughout his career as a musician, composer and singer, brought him opportunities to play and perform with everyone from Miles Davis to Steely Dan. He recorded on many occasions with fellow Musicians Hall of Fame inductees, The Wrecking Crew, and sadly passed away in 1987 at the age of 53.

FRED FOSTER (PRODUCER HONOR)
American songwriter, record producer, and founder of Monument Records, Fred Foster, is credited with single handedly starting the Monument Record Company and with the development of Rock and Roll legend Roy Orbison'S major hits, including "Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," "Crying," "Blue Bayou," and many more. Foster played a significant role in Dolly Parton's early career, as wel as being instrumental in the signing of a young Kris Kristofferson, with whom he co-wrote "Me and Bobby McGee." Foster remains active as a producer, most recently producing Willie Nelson's 2006 Grammy nominated "You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker," and Nelson's collaboration with Merle Haggard and Ray Price, "Last of the Breed," in 2007.

PAUL RISER (ARRANGER AWARD)
Grammy award winning arranger, Paul Riser, is known as the most prolific arranger from Motown's golden years. Riser progressed through his career from early musician to the arranger for Motown's legendary Grammy winning studio musicians, The Funk Brothers. With hit after hit, decade after decade, Riser was instrumental in putting Motown at the top of the musical sound of the 60's and 70's. Among Riser's biggest hits as an arranger are, "My Girl" and "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" (Temptations), Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "My Cherie Amour," (Stevie Wonder), "Tears of a Clown," (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) and many more, as well as arranging and co-writing "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted," by Jimmy Ruffin, older brother of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin.

TOTO (MUSICIANS)
American rock band, TOTO, founded in 1977 by some of the most popular and experience session players of the era, became a rock phenomenon with great commercial success in the late 70's/early 80's. Original musicians, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate, David Paich, Steve Lukather, and Mike Porcaro, were known for their technical skill in the studio, as well as a musical style that combined elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard rock, R&B, and jazz. Their broad array of styles appealed to a variety of listeners. The band release 17 albums and has sold over 30 million records to date. Although drummer Jeff Porcaro passed away in 1992, the remaining members have continued performing their hits as well as progressing their individual careers as studio musicians.

Nomination Process
Inductees are nominated nationally by the Musicians Union who has a membership of over 90,000 as well as a stellar list of other music industry professionals. Past inductees include: Booker T. & The MG's, The Crickers, Duane Eddy, Al Kooper, The Memphis Horns, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Billy Sherrill, The Nashville A-Team, The Blue Moon Boys, The Funk Brothers, The Memphis Boys, The Tennessee Two, and The Wrecking Crew.

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