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Sonny Simmons, 32 years in the music
business, beginning with Gospel music and later on adding a country
division in his organization, as well as production and tour
management, has blazed the trail few men can lay acclaim to.
Starting at an early age with his dad as choir director in churches,
graduating from high school and promoting at the same time.
An Associate Member of L.A.F.F.
for many years, Sonny was named a Lifetime Director of the
Association by the Board of Directors and continues to give valuable
input to the Association's membership. His Showcases annually
feature the top stars -- both present and future -- of country music
and have included such acts as The Fox Brothers, The Blackwood
singers(formerly the Blackwood Brothers), & J.D. Sumner and the
Stamps Quartet.
Sonny was one of the original
organizers of the Gospel Music Association, a six-term President of
the Nashville Association of Talent Directors, and is a life-time
member of the Country Music Association. In addition to these
organizations, he is a member of the International Country Music
Buyers Association, the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, the
International Association of Fairs & Expos and the Showmen's League
of America.
A Shriner for 33 years, Sonny, in
conjunction with his Century II Production Company, donates his
services to the Waycross, GA Shrine Club for a Gospel Benefit
Concert benefiting the Shriner's crippled Children/Burn Division in
Greenville, SC. In 18 years, the attendance at the event has topped
20,000 and over $100,000 is raised each year!
His Nashville-based agency, Century
II Promotions, was the first to spear-head a nationwide 57-city,
two-year tour with a corporate sponsor in 1983-84. The tour featured
Alabama, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Juice Newton and The Thrasher
Brothers. As a result of this highly successful venture, Century II
is referred to as innovators of this type of promotion. |
