Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
Behind the Scenes at CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade
June 4, 2008
Broadway was a block away and the sound of the crowd was a distant murmur. In the Sommet Center garage, though, on this early afternoon of Wednesday, June 4, all you could hear was the mounting roar of Chevy vehicles – Tahoes, Silverados, classic and newer Corvettes – as drivers switched ignitions on and revved their engines.
These were the cars and trucks that would carry the stars past their fans in the CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade. They filled the first ramped level, each one backed into its parking space; seen from below, near the front entrance, their parking lights gleamed through the shaded light like red eyes on sleek beasts.
Some of these vehicles had special significance, such as the Chevy Tahoe owned by Dale Earnhart Jr., which would be displayed throughout the Festival in the Chevy Sports Zone and awarded later in 2008 to the winner of a lottery whose proceeds would benefit charitable interests of the Dale Jr. Foundation. (Details are available at www.thedalejrfoundation.org.)
Most had special meaning to individuals, especially the approximately 10 volunteered by the Nashville Corvette Club. These beautiful convertibles, being polished lovingly by their owners, became fixtures in the Parade several years ago, when Chevy invited the club's 250 members to take part in this annual procession.
For these classic car aficionados, though, the fun only begins with this event. "Our club volunteers to work the conessions at LP Field," said Ron Jarrell, President, Nashville Corvette Club. "We're there every night of the Festival, manning the stands and selling hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and beer. That way, we're able to give $20,000 back to the community too."
At 1:59 PM, word was passed back for participants to get ready to roll. Further up in the garage, the brass players of the Antioch High School Marching Band and Drill Team began warming up as well as the Overton High School Drumline, the Chevy Youth Baseball Club checked its bags full of baseballs to toss to spectators, the Middle Tennessee Boy Scouts of America picked up its banners, escorts picked up banners identifying Deborah Allen, Katie Armiger, Jeff Cook of Alabama, Erika Jo, Crystal Gayle, LoCash Cowboys, Jason Meadows, Mountain Heart, Michael Martin Murphey, One Flew South, Phil Stacey, Rhonda Towns, Whiskey Falls, Chris Young and other celebrity passengers including Championship Bull Riding riders, NASCAR drivers.
Meanwhile, out on Sixth Avenue, the Wrangler George Strait Silverado, Rodney Atkins Carl Black Silverado, Luke Bryan Carl Black Silverado and others were lined up and the sole float of the parade underwent its last moments of preparation.
"We should have put rocks in our 'rocks,'" said Jenny Myhr, Program Manager, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, watching as the papier-mâché boulders, arranged amidst hay bales around a campfire depiction, wobbled slightly in the breeze.
Still, the 75 Girl Scouts assembled for the Parade were more excited the worried. Gathered from 39 mid-state counties, they wore uniforms or cookie costumes and carried bags of cookies to distribute along the Parade route. Some would walk, some would ride and all were invited to attend Festival events and attractions, including their own tent at the McDonald's – Dr Pepper Family Zone.
"The girls walked in the Parade last year, but [CMA CEO] Tammy Genovese thought it would be a good idea for us to get more involved this year," said Myhr. "So through a series of meetings, we ended up having our first float as well as tickets to the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field shows, which CMA graciously provided."
Further ahead, near the Broadway intersection at Sixth Avenue, the Parade's Grand Marshal, James Otto, ambled up to a silver-blue 'Vette, which seemed extraordinarily compact next to the singer's towering frame. For several minutes he treated fans to autographs and posed for photos until the signal was given to start moving. Then, at 2:08 PM, a mounted color guard led the way, and as Otto's ride turned slowly down Broadway and the buzz of the crowd soared into a chorus of cheers and applause, the Parade was on its way.
-- Bob Doerschuk
