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| CMT Joins Forces with the Oxford American Magazine For the first time in its survivalist history, the Oxford American magazine has a media sponsor. The Southern Music Issue (with Free CD) will benefit from Country Music Television's 83 million household reach. "There's a genius in CMT's diversity, from pure country to classic old time southern music, " said Marc Smirnoff, founder of The Oxford American "A lot of CMT's audience may be hearing about us for the firsttime." The music -- selected by the magazine's staff led by Smirnoff -- traverses genres: old time music, movie soundtracks not available on iTunes, classics and pop gems. "The ultimate party tape is what we go for, " says Smirnoff. "This year, if there's a theme, I'd say it's something I've drawn from the writing of William Faulkner: change or die. And there's nothing that can change you like a song." Highlights include Sam Cooke's songwriting secrets -- insights thatcame to Peter Guralnick after Dream Boogie -- and a renomination by Jack Hitt that Eartha Kitt is the most exciting woman alive. For the first time ever, there are two songs by jazz genius Bob Dorough. An exploration of the controversial topic: "Should celebrities sing?" The answer is a resounding yes in songs from Andy Griffith and Muhammad Ali. For the first time The Oxford American takes the high road with a classical music song from New Orleans great Louis Moreau Gottschalk. And on a grassroots note, two reader-nominated songs made the CD: "I Got Your Ice Cold NuGrape" by the NuGrape Twins and "Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy" by Uncle Dave Macon. The nonprofit quarterly, founded in 1992, now operates out of offices at the University of Central Arkansas. Though it tags itself "The Southern Magazine of Good Writing, " It's also known simply as "the magazine with the great music issue and free CD." Since 1997, the Southern Music Issue is often its best-selling and most collected issue of the year. In years past the Music Issue has beaten the New Yorker and other old guard magazines for nominations and first place at the National Magazine Awards. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |