Presentation Text: 22nd Annual IFCO Tex Ritter Award

Five years ago, he was the Hillbilly Crusader--with hair, embarking on a one-man mission to install elements of classic country music into a new modern style. Today, he is widely recognized as one of the leading-edge indicators for country music and is one of the most in-demand personalities in the industry.

The Marty Party showcases perfectly Marty's unique style of music--a combination of all that is good and fun from country's past, present and future--and is the hottest show in country music today.

The Marty Party is more than a show, of course. It's a state of mind--a state of music built around Marty's wide-ranging talents as a singer, writing and musician. Talents that have earned him two Grammys, a Country Music Association award and a gold album.

In 1995, he's hosting four Marty Party specials on TNN. He co-hosted the TNN Music City News Country Awards in June, hosted the first British Country Music Awards in England in March, made his first solo appearance in Europe in April as part of the New American Music Tour, and will perform in Japan on the Country Gold Festival in October. He was both Music Director and performer on two CBS-TV specials last year--the Best of Country and The Roots of Country Music: Nashville Celebrates the Ryman.

The Great Escape, leading mid-South record and comic book store chain, has joined Marty in opening The Great Escape/Marty Party Headquarters in Music City's historic Second Avenue district. Marvel Entertainment Group, the world's leading publisher of comic books, has announced a new book titled Marty Stuart Bookshelf Edition with advance copies offered to members of his international fan club. An accomplished photographer, too, there are plans to publish a coffee table book using just some of the photos he's taken everywhere he goes.

A professional musician and veteran of the road since he went to work playing mandolin for Lester Flatt's bluegrass band at the age of 13, the Marty Party is not winding down by any means. As Marty puts it, he's "just looking for a bigger party.....preferably platinum!"

Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present the 1995 IFCO Tex Ritter Award to Marty Stuart.