NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country hitmaker and Virginia native Phil Vassar was honored by his home state during a performance at The Birchmere, being inducted into the Virginia Musical Hall of Fame.
“It’s a real honor,” Vassar said. “Virginia’s my home and my heritage. It starts where you come from, and I think that’s such a part of your music and what you are and who you are.”
Vassar joins an impressive list of previous inductees including June Carter Cash, Pearl Bailey, Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, Bruce Hornsby, The Statler Brothers, Ralph Stanley and most recently Jimmy Fortune.
The Williamsburg-based Virginia Musical Museum will host the induction ceremony to the Virginia Musical Hall of Fame later this year. The museum, founded by Virginia Musical Hall of Fame administrators Buddy and Peggy Parker, has a large collection of career pieces, costumes and personal items from notable musical artists who originated from Virginia, and will include a permanent exhibit on Vassar.
The piano-pounding hitmaker makes regular contributions to charities in Virginia. Vassar has raised more than $700,000 in the past nine years for The Miller Home of Lynchburg through acoustic concerts and charity golf tournaments.
Vassar, who has headlined Christmas tours since 2009, will hit the road this Christmas with Lonestar for “The Not So Silent Night Tour.” To celebrate, Vassar and Lonestar are releasing their Christmas single, “Not So Silent Night,” on Nov. 2 with a music video to follow. In true holiday spirit, the fan-favorite acts will support The Salvation Army with their tour and single release. For dates and tickets, visit PhilVassar.com.
For more information on Phil Vassar, visit PhilVassar.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
“THE NOT SO SILENT NIGHT TOUR” DATES:
Nov. 30 IP Casino – Biloxi, Miss.
Dec. 2 Wildhorse Saloon – Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 5 Potowatomi – Milwaukee, Wis.
Dec. 6 Potowatomi – Milwaukee, Wis.
Dec. 7 The Englert Theatre – Iowa City, Iowa
Dec. 8 Grand Falls Casino Resort – Larchwood, Iowa
Dec. 14 Memorial Hall – Plymouth, Mass.
Dec. 15 Memorial Auditorium – Lowell, Mass.
Dec. 16 Santander PAC – Reading, Penn.
Dec. 19 Peoples Bank Theatre – Marietta, Ohio
Dec. 20 Westbury Theater – Westbury, N.Y.
Dec. 21 Palace Theatre – Canton, Ohio
Dec. 22 Weinberg Center – Frederick, Md.
ABOUT PHIL VASSAR:
Country music hitmaker Phil Vassar is a piano-pounding powerhouse on stage who taps into his audiences via social media for song requests throughout his more than 135 shows a year. Phil’s reign of signature songs include 10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits, including Carlene, Just Another Day in Paradise, Six-Pack Summer, When I Love You; and many more. Vassar was racking up hits on the radio long before he even began his own recording career that has seen the release of six albums, two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year trophies, ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist and sold-out shows across the country. Vassar’s songwriting career blossomed in the mid-’90s when he landed a publishing contract with EMI and penned hits for Collin Raye (Little Red Rodeo), Alan Jackson (Right on the Money), Tim McGraw (For a Little While), Jo Dee Messina (Bye Bye, Alright), and Blackhawk (Postmarked Birmingham). He signed a record deal of his own with Arista in 1998 and was named ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1999. Vassar continues to churn out incisive, soulful lyrics and infectious melodies that capture the heart and soul in the unique and special way that
only he can.
RECOMMENDED TWEET:
.@PhilVassar inducted into #VirginiaMusicalHallofFame during a concert @TheBirchmere
