Jewel, Vince Gill at NYC Guitar Pull

9/25/2007 Stephen L. Betts New York City’s Nokia Theatre Times Square will be the setting for songs and storytelling, when a traditional Nashville guitar pull with a twist hits the Big Apple. All For the Hall New York, emceed by actor-director-novelist Ethan Hawke, and featuring confirmed participants Vince Gill, Patty Griffin, Jewel and Trisha Yearwood, is scheduled for October 10, 2007. The gala event, which includes a live auction, will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The Museum launched All for the Hall, its first-ever non-bricks-and-mortar fundraising campaign, in 2005, led in the artist community by Country Music Hall of Fame member-elect Vince Gill, who is serving his sixth consecutive term as president of the institution’s Board of Officers and Trustees. Nashville’s guitar-pull tradition originated as show-and-tell camaraderie in the living rooms of the city’s resident songwriters. It’s a time-honored country music tradition, in which, as Johnny Cash once said, “Everybody kinda sits around and chips in with whatever they do best, whether it’s playing, singing or telling a story.” The All for the Hall New York guitar pull will introduce some unannounced fifth songwriters to present one song each at several points during the evening. Additionally, to illustrate common roots and traditions, the producers have invited songwriters more closely identified with musical genres other than mainstream country. All for the Hall New York patrons are offered tables for ten at the $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 levels. Individual tickets are available at $l,000 per seat. The evening includes a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and the guitar pull. Among the auction items are a getaway on a private tropical island, a 2008 Ford Shelby GT Mustang and celebrity cruises.