Americana, First Amendment Center sponsor on-line auction

Friday, April 23, 2010 – The Americana Music Association announced today a special on-line auction to promote its efforts and those of the First Amendment Center in support of free speech in music.

Auction items include handwritten lyrics from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Charlie Daniels, autographed posters from Dwight Yoakam and Steely Dan; an autographed banjo signed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a guitar on which Michael Martin Murphey wrote the lyrics of him classic Wildfire.

The auctions can be viewed here.

The two organizations joined forces to produce "Freedom Sings," an evening celebrating the power of free speech in music and honoring the career of Carpenter. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 27 at the Newseum in downtown Washington, D.C. Carpenter will receive the "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech in Music Award from the Newseum's First Amendment Center and the Americana Music Association. The award recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech through their music and other efforts. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, Judy Collins, Charlie Daniels and Steve Earle

Former Washington Post journalist and current recording artist Eric Brace along with Rodney Crowell and Judy Collins will also perform at the event.