1/10/2008 Stephen L. Betts Several members of the Nashville Muzik Mafia who were expected to perform at the finale concert at this year's Sam Phillips Music Celebration in Florence, Ala., failed to appear. Gretchen Wilson, John Rich, and Cowboy Troy were no-shows at a concert designed to be the culmination of four days of events honoring Florence native Sam Phillips, the music pioneer who died in 2003 at age 80. Big Kenny, the other half of Big and Rich, performed even though he was not originally scheduled to appear. Muzik Mafia members Shannon Lawson, Jon Nicholson and James Otto, and others opened the show. Nick Martin, general manager of Big River Broadcasting, which organized the concert, told the North Alabama Times Daily: “The first two nights were incredible. The main event was scheduled to be just that, the crown jewel. It didn't happen.” Bob McKenzie, an attorney for the radio station that organized the event, says, “They had a signed, executed contract. On its face, it's breach of contract.” Big River owner Jerry Phillips, Sam Phillips' youngest son, praised the performances of the Muzik Mafia members who appeared on the show and performed a nearly three-hour set. A local spokesperson for Gretchen Wilson told The Tennessean, “It really was just a mix-up as far as the booking.”
