The 1st Nashville Connection Heroes Salute took place March 15-18, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency in beautiful downtown Greenville, SC. It brought forth a group of prominent Nashville music professionals together with prominent Upstate South Carolina music professionals to critique and instruct the Southeast’s most promising up and coming singers, songwriters, and bands. Workshops were taught, ranging from vocal technique to recording/engineering to the legality of the music business. A benefit was held to honor Wounded Warriors and to give Gold Star Mothers the opportunity to go to Iraq where their children have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. The event also included a competition for singers and songwriters as well as a concert headlined by country superstar Craig Morgan and Recording Artist Barry Michael.
See What They Had to Say
“. . .a hugely successful gathering of musical artists and industry professionals. . .exciting collaborations taking place . . . Greenville and the surrounding area is becoming a launching pad for artists and I’m excited to be a part of this community and movement.” David S. Wyatt, Esq. Entertainment, Business and Sports Attorney, workshop presenter
“. . . great opportunity to meet and network with Industry Professionals and develop new friendships. . . great measurement tool to compete with talented people and analyze my performances! I would like to thank JB Productions and Future for the chance for me to take it to the next level!” Jeremy McCall, 1st runner up, singing
“In just 6 hours of workshops, we were given insight into all facets of the music industry. . . not to mention the networking opportunities by having all of these resources in one building! I will be there again in 2012. . .I suggest you are too!” Brian Green, workshop participant
“. . .stories from the Gold Star Moms made for some of the most touching moments I’ve ever witnessed. . . hopeful sounds of new Nashville stars and Craig Morgan made for a powerful night in honor of all of those who have sacrificed for our country. . . look forward to helping more stories of those who often are forgotten come to life so that they will always be remembered.” Daniel Howell, Production Manager
COMPETITION WINNERS
Erin Justice (1st, singing)
. . . just a simple girl from a small town who fell in love with music by singing a lullaby with her Dad. A girl that follows her dreams and is doing what she does best. A girl whose story is just beginning. . . Check out the video of Erin performing her winning song “Maryanne” at The Nashville Connection 2011!
Visit Erin at www.erinjustice.com or www.facebook.com/ErinJusticeMusic.
Austin Webb (1st, songwriting)
Sit back and listen to Austin Webb’s music and you’ll hear his scratchy, but warm voice, perky guitar, and heartfelt, evocative lyrics. . . dramatic, sweeping songs that stay with the listener long after the record stops spinning or the stage lights are extinguished. . .
Visit Austin at www.austinwebbmusic or www.facebook.com/austinwebbpage.
RUNNERS UP
Jeremy McCall (2nd, singing)
Kristine Mitchum (2nd, songwriting)
Paul Walter (3rd, singing)
Andrea Daly (3rd, songwriting)
Stereo Reform (1st, band)
GALA PERFORMERS
Barry Michael (Stockbridge Records Recording Artist)
A down-home, Southern charmer with a signature deep, twangy-in-all-the right-spots voice, Atlanta native Barry Michael gained national recognition with his song “Heroes and Angels.” The song, written for a WWII fundraiser, led to a full-blown tour performing at national conventions, military bases, government ceremonies, private events and radio and television shows. Barry joined forces with Health Net, Inc. in August 2010 to honor and support service members, Veterans and their families. Check out this video of Barry singing “Heroes and Angels” at The Nashville Connection 2011! Visit Barry’s website at www.barrymichaelmusic.com.
Craig Morgan (Chart Topping Country Artist)
With fourteen Top Ten hits including, “Redneck Yacht Club,” ”Almost Home,” and “That’s What I Love About Sunday”, Craig Morgan has been a mainstay on the charts. As a performer, he’s entertained countless fans in every corner of the globe, yet he is still humble, hopeful, and hungry to continue making his mark in country music. Craig has served nearly two decades of service to our U.S. military prior to his music career and has remained an enthusiastic supporter, traveling into some of the most dangerous places on earth to entertain our troops. Check out this video of Craig getting a little help on “My Kind of Woman” from a admiring fan at The Nashville Connection 2011! Craig’s official website is www.craigmorgan.com.
CELEBRITY PRESENTERS 2011 
Canaan Smith (Mercury Records Recording Artist, ASCAP Songwriter)
Canaan Smith is getting the chance of a lifetime to live out his dream of writing, performing, and making music. He gained recognition as a contestant on CBS’ 15th season of the Amazing Race and went on to write the hit song, “Runaway” for the country group Love and Theft. The song garnered him a nomination for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year in Music Row Magazine. He has also received the Most Played Song of the Year Award at the 2010 ASCAP Awards in Nashville. He recently signed to Mercury Records and his first radio single, “We Got Us”, will be released January 9, 2012. He has opened for such acts as Sugarland and Dierks Bentley. Check out this video of Canaan and Dave Brooks at The Nashville Connection 2011 press conference! Find more at www.canaansmith.com or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/canaansmithmusic.
Erika Grace Powell (Miss South Carolina USA 2012, Miss South Carolina 2005)
Erika Grace Powell is a Vocal Performance graduate of Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina with broad musical interests including opera, classical crossover, musical theater, and pop. Erika was crowned Miss South Carolina 2005 and advanced to the 2006 Miss America Pageant, where she won the Bernie Wayne overall talent award and placed as a top ten finalist. Erika won The Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions for the District of South Carolina and competed at Spivey Hall in Atlanta, GA as part of the Regional competition in 2009. Miss Powell was both the state and regional winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition for South Carolina and Southeast five different times. She made her solo debut at The Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City in 2010 and Erika was most recently seen in The New York Philharmonic’s 2011 production of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen. Residing in New York City the last three years, Erika has continued to develop her career and further her pursuits of acting for film, television, and modeling. Erika has been spotted on television shows and in commercials for Kohl’s, Lowe’s, and many others. This year, Erika was thrilled with the opportunity to partner with platinum-selling singer/songwriter, Edwin McCain and music producer/engineer, Noel Golden of Golden Music and Entertainment 29 on her first Classical Crossover CD project, available on iTunes and Amazon. Visit Erika at www.ErikaGracePowell.com or become a Facebook fan on www.facebook.com/OfficialErikaGracePowell. Check out this video of Erika singing the “Star Spangled Banner” at last year’s opening.