For an award-winning PGA Professional who has worn as many hats as Ken Morton Sr. has over the years, it's only appropriate that they used a 5-gallon cowboy hat to help celebrate his 50th year at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, Calif., on May 20. After striking a chord with his community for five decades, a celebration of golf and music struck another chord with a celebrity pro-am and concert featuring 14 major-label country music acts, including Tracy Lawrence, Josh Gracin and Jake Owen.
While the story really begins 50 years ago with then-Haggin Oaks PGA Head Professional Tom LoPresti hiring an 18-year-old former caddie and club repairman to work in his golf shop. Over the next half-century, Morton would win an unprecedented five national PGA of America awards and have hundreds of PGA members and apprentices work under his wing. The story specific to this event fast-forwards to early in 2007, however. When Morton was asked by his team if there was anything he would like to do to mark the completion of his fifth decade at the facility, he said that he'd like to have a special day combining his two loves: golf and music. When he threw in that he'd like it to all benefit children's charities – The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and Make-A-Wish of Northern California – the mission had been set.
With a committee of volunteers from both charities, Haggin Oaks and Sacramento's leading country radio station KNCI 105.1 FM, the planning began. A date was selected two days after the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nev. With all of the major artists on the West Coast, it was hoped that they might travel the day after the awards ceremony and participate in the event on May 20. When the Sacramento Kings got involved with their coaching staff, a full field of 32 celebrities featuring 14 country music acts was set. Some of the artists who appeared at the event:
Tracy Lawrence: Overall, Lawrence has charted more than 30 singles on the country music charts, including eight No. 1 songs and 14 additional Top 10 hits. He has also released a total of 10 studio albums and four compilations to date. Throughout the 1990s, Lawrence continued to chart several Top Ten hits from all of his albums; in addition, two of his studio albums (1993's Alibis and 1996's Time Marches On) earned Multi-Platinum certification, while 1994's I See It Now was certified platinum. His hit "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" was the No. 1 hit of 2007.
Jack Ingram, Big Machine Records: "Wherever You Are" became Jack's first Top 40, and later his first No. 1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. "Love You," the only other studio track on "Live: Wherever You Are," was also released as a single, peaking at No. 12 on the charts. In late 2006, Ingram released a cover of Hinder's song "Lips of an Angel"; Ingram's cover peaked at No. 16. "Lips of an Angel" was the lead-off single to "This Is It," Ingram's second album for Big Machine
One Flew South, Decca Record Label: The Nashville-based trio's vocal sound fit in perfectly with the progressive thinkers at Decca/Universal Records, in whose New York offices they auditioned. The result was instant signing—both to a recording contract and song publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Jason Michael Carroll: Carroll was recommended to the Arista Nashville label in 2006. That year, his debut single "Alyssa Lies" was released to radio, entering Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Carroll's debut album, Waitin' in the Country, was also released in late 2006; it has been certified gold in the United States for sales of over 500,000. The album's second single, "Livin' Our Love Song," was released in summer 2006, and has also entered Top 10 on the country charts.
Josh Gracin: A former member of the United States Marine Corps, he first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of the Fox Network's "American Idol." After his elimination from the show, Gracin completed his service in the Marine Corps and after his honorable discharge, he signed a record deal with Lyric Street Records. His self-titled debut album was released in 2004; it produced three Top 5 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and was certified gold by the RIAA. A second album, "We Weren't Crazy," followed in 2008, also on Lyric Street. Songs include "I Want To Live", "Nothin To Lose" and "Brass Bed".
David Nail: A brand-new artist off the MCA Nashville label. He's got a new single racing up the charts and has been named by People Magazine as one of the best dressed guys in Nashville. Fathers, lock up your daughters...
Heidi Newfield: An American country music artist known primarily for her role as the lead vocalist of the country music group Trick Pony. She served as that group's lead vocalist alongside backing musicians Ira Dean and Keith Burns from 1996 until December 2006, when she left the group in pursuit of a solo career. In 2007, Newfield began recording a solo studio album Entitled What Am I Waiting For, the album is slated for release in June 2008. Its lead-off single, "Johnny and June," has entered Top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Jake Owen: Signed to RCA Records Nashville in 2006, Owen released his debut album "Startin' with Me" that year. Certified gold in the United States, the album has produced three singles: "Yee Haw," "Startin' with Me" and "Something About a Woman," all of which have entered Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. In addition, Owen has toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Brad Paisley, Little Big Town and Sugarland.
Jimmy Wayne, Big Machine Records: To date, he has recorded one studio album (2003's "Jimmy Wayne") and charted six singles in the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts; his highest-peaking single, "Stay Gone." reached No. 3 on that chart in 2003.
Whiskey Falls: Whiskey Falls released its self-titled debut album on Sept. 25, 2007 on the Midas Records Nashville label; it produced two Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in "Last Train Running" and "Falling Into You."
Crossin' Dixon: Crossin Dixon was signed to Broken Bow Records. Their first single, entitled "Guitar Slinger," was released to radio in July 2007, followed by "Make You Mine" a few months later. To date, they have charted two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Emma Mae Jacobs: A brand-new country artist from Colfax, whose new single is "What If We Fly."
Carolina Rain: The first act on Equity Music Group, an independent record label owned by country music artist Clint Black. To date, Carolina Rain has released one studio album (2006's "Weather the Storm") and has charted four singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart including "Isn't She."
While the story really begins 50 years ago with then-Haggin Oaks PGA Head Professional Tom LoPresti hiring an 18-year-old former caddie and club repairman to work in his golf shop. Over the next half-century, Morton would win an unprecedented five national PGA of America awards and have hundreds of PGA members and apprentices work under his wing. The story specific to this event fast-forwards to early in 2007, however. When Morton was asked by his team if there was anything he would like to do to mark the completion of his fifth decade at the facility, he said that he'd like to have a special day combining his two loves: golf and music. When he threw in that he'd like it to all benefit children's charities – The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and Make-A-Wish of Northern California – the mission had been set.
With a committee of volunteers from both charities, Haggin Oaks and Sacramento's leading country radio station KNCI 105.1 FM, the planning began. A date was selected two days after the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nev. With all of the major artists on the West Coast, it was hoped that they might travel the day after the awards ceremony and participate in the event on May 20. When the Sacramento Kings got involved with their coaching staff, a full field of 32 celebrities featuring 14 country music acts was set. Some of the artists who appeared at the event:Tracy Lawrence: Overall, Lawrence has charted more than 30 singles on the country music charts, including eight No. 1 songs and 14 additional Top 10 hits. He has also released a total of 10 studio albums and four compilations to date. Throughout the 1990s, Lawrence continued to chart several Top Ten hits from all of his albums; in addition, two of his studio albums (1993's Alibis and 1996's Time Marches On) earned Multi-Platinum certification, while 1994's I See It Now was certified platinum. His hit "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" was the No. 1 hit of 2007.
Jack Ingram, Big Machine Records: "Wherever You Are" became Jack's first Top 40, and later his first No. 1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. "Love You," the only other studio track on "Live: Wherever You Are," was also released as a single, peaking at No. 12 on the charts. In late 2006, Ingram released a cover of Hinder's song "Lips of an Angel"; Ingram's cover peaked at No. 16. "Lips of an Angel" was the lead-off single to "This Is It," Ingram's second album for Big Machine
One Flew South, Decca Record Label: The Nashville-based trio's vocal sound fit in perfectly with the progressive thinkers at Decca/Universal Records, in whose New York offices they auditioned. The result was instant signing—both to a recording contract and song publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Jason Michael Carroll: Carroll was recommended to the Arista Nashville label in 2006. That year, his debut single "Alyssa Lies" was released to radio, entering Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Carroll's debut album, Waitin' in the Country, was also released in late 2006; it has been certified gold in the United States for sales of over 500,000. The album's second single, "Livin' Our Love Song," was released in summer 2006, and has also entered Top 10 on the country charts.
Josh Gracin: A former member of the United States Marine Corps, he first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of the Fox Network's "American Idol." After his elimination from the show, Gracin completed his service in the Marine Corps and after his honorable discharge, he signed a record deal with Lyric Street Records. His self-titled debut album was released in 2004; it produced three Top 5 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and was certified gold by the RIAA. A second album, "We Weren't Crazy," followed in 2008, also on Lyric Street. Songs include "I Want To Live", "Nothin To Lose" and "Brass Bed".
David Nail: A brand-new artist off the MCA Nashville label. He's got a new single racing up the charts and has been named by People Magazine as one of the best dressed guys in Nashville. Fathers, lock up your daughters...
Heidi Newfield: An American country music artist known primarily for her role as the lead vocalist of the country music group Trick Pony. She served as that group's lead vocalist alongside backing musicians Ira Dean and Keith Burns from 1996 until December 2006, when she left the group in pursuit of a solo career. In 2007, Newfield began recording a solo studio album Entitled What Am I Waiting For, the album is slated for release in June 2008. Its lead-off single, "Johnny and June," has entered Top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Jake Owen: Signed to RCA Records Nashville in 2006, Owen released his debut album "Startin' with Me" that year. Certified gold in the United States, the album has produced three singles: "Yee Haw," "Startin' with Me" and "Something About a Woman," all of which have entered Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. In addition, Owen has toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Brad Paisley, Little Big Town and Sugarland.
Jimmy Wayne, Big Machine Records: To date, he has recorded one studio album (2003's "Jimmy Wayne") and charted six singles in the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts; his highest-peaking single, "Stay Gone." reached No. 3 on that chart in 2003.
Whiskey Falls: Whiskey Falls released its self-titled debut album on Sept. 25, 2007 on the Midas Records Nashville label; it produced two Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in "Last Train Running" and "Falling Into You."
Crossin' Dixon: Crossin Dixon was signed to Broken Bow Records. Their first single, entitled "Guitar Slinger," was released to radio in July 2007, followed by "Make You Mine" a few months later. To date, they have charted two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Emma Mae Jacobs: A brand-new country artist from Colfax, whose new single is "What If We Fly."
Carolina Rain: The first act on Equity Music Group, an independent record label owned by country music artist Clint Black. To date, Carolina Rain has released one studio album (2006's "Weather the Storm") and has charted four singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart including "Isn't She."
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