Asleep at the Wheel, Sara Evans, Lyle Lovett, Neal McCoy and Clay Walker led the entertainment at the 2005 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball Jan. 19 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Neal McCoy kicked things off with “The Boys Are Back in Town.”
The Black Tie & Boots Ball is presented by The Texas State Society, which was founded in 1904 as a bi-partisan social organization designed to foster a fraternal spirit among Texans who find themselves transplanted to the nationís capital.
Celebrating the centennial founding of the Society this year, the Texas State Societyís legendary Black Tie & Boots is one of the hottest events in town during inaugural week. Top entertainers in Western swing music, the hit band Asleep at the Wheel has earned six Grammy awards since forming 30 years ago. The band has collaborated with many country music greats including George Strait and the Dixie Chicks. They are the comforting sound of home to Texans worldwide.
With number one hits such as ìBorn to Fly,î ìI Could Not Ask For Moreî and more recently ìRestless,î Sara Evans is known for her distinctive country sound and was the most nominated artist at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards. She has toured with superstars Alan Jackson, George Strait and participated in the 2001 ìGirls Night Outî tour with Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Carolyn Dawn and Jamie OíNeal.
Texas-born singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett is one of the most revered musicians of his time and continues to be a popular draw with Texans throughout the country. Over the course of his career, he has won four Grammy Awards including Best Country Album, Best Country Duo/Group with Vocal, Best Pop Vocal Collaboration and Best Country Male Vocal.
Voted by his fans as The Nashville Networkís (TNN) Entertainer of The Year two years in a row (1998 & 1999), Neal McCoyís honky tonk has brought him a string of hit albums. Mr. McCoy, who recently returned from his eighth USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour, was recently presented with a book entitled American Eagle featuring an engraved plaque on its cover commending him for his service to Veterans.
A relative newcomer to the country music scene, Clay Walker, has already racked up four platinum and two gold albums that sold a combined eight million copies. Among Walkerís 11 No. 1 singles are ìLive Until I Die,î ìThis Woman And This Man,î ìThen Whatî and the most recent ìChain of Love.î
source: Texas State Society
photo by By Eric Draper : White House
updated January 20, 2005
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