Jerry Lee Lewis and Junior Brown to be Honored at The 4th Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards

Courtesy: Shock Ink

​Austin, TX - (Press Release) The 2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards special award recipients include music legend Jerry Lee Lewis (Master Award) and Junior Brown (Keeper of the Key Award) to be honored at Austin's historic Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 8 p.m., during the 4th Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards co-hosted by Austin's own roots music mavens Ray Benson and Dale Watson. Tickets are available at  austintheatre.org, the Paramount Theatre box office, and by phone at (512) 474-1221.

"We are cramming more music into less time, which means more meat on the bone entertainment-wise. Alongside some past performers and new nominees slated to perform, Keeper of the Key Award recipient Junior Brown will be in attendance and perform. This will be a natural progression and upward motivational show that will keep Ameripolitan Music as a genre growing and talked about for years to come," states Dale Watson.

Artists slated to perform at this year's ceremony include Junior Brown, Johnny Bush, Leona Williams, Bonnie Montgomery, Jake Penrod, Carolyn Martin, Marti Brom, Jessie Dayton, Rosie Flores, James Intveld, Jason Roberts, Charlie Thompson, Lance Lipinksy, Wayne Hancock, Ray Benson, Dale Watson and other special guests. Sirius XM's  Dallas Wayne  will again jump into the announcer's seat.

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Dale Watson explains why the Ameripolitan Music Awards chose to honor Junior Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis this year, "Jerry Lee Lewis embodies Ameripolitan Music. He is a founder of the Rockabilly piano, Honky Tonk singing and Outlaw attitude while consistently giving a nod to Western Swing in his shows. He is a major part of the very roots of what Ameripolitan represents. He took his influences from gospel, blues, and country and created his own style. A style best described today as Ameripolitan. It's a great validation as an awards show and new genre to have a true legend to believe and accept this award."

Watson continues, moving to Junior Brown, "Junior Brown is the epitome of an extension of the roots of music. His influence of the greatest steel guitarists, like Lloyd Green, and original vocal stylist like Ernest Tubb gel seamlessly in every song he sings making Junior Brown the perfect example of the natural progression of a modern artist influenced by major roots artist. Bringing new music with prominent roots influence to new generations is what makes Junior Brown an important and very influential artist worthy of the Ameripolitan award for Keeper of the Key."

The fan votes have been tallied and winners will be announced live during the 4th Annual Ameripolitan Music Awards on Wednesday, February 15, 2017. Tickets start at $45 and are available now at www.austintheatre.org, the Paramount Theatre box office, and by phone at (512) 474-1221.

Join the party before the awards and experience Ameripolitan music at the Ameripolitan Music Showcases beginning Thursday, February 9P Pat The Highball running through Tuesday, February 14 culminating with the Awards on February 15. Venues include The Highball, Rattle Inn, Luckenbach, TX, ABGB, The White Horse, The Mean Eyed Cat, Craft Pride, C-Boys and more. For the official showcase schedule and full line-up visit here.
For more information on the Ameripolitan categories, updates and breaking news, please visit Ameripolitan.com as well as the Ameripolitan Awards social networks on TWITTER and FACEBOOK.

Sponsors: The event is made possible by the generous sponsorship of presenting sponsor, Tito's Handmade Vodka and additional sponsors Lone Star Beer, Franklin Barbecue, Nikko's Worldwide Chauffer Services and Fender.

About Jerry Lee Lewis:  Jerry Lee Lewis is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and pianist, often known by his nickname, the Killer. Born in 1935 to Mamie and Elmo Lewis of Ferriday, Louisiana. He is an architect of great stylings such as Rock n' Roll and Rockabilly, but also a commander of Country music and the Blues. In November of '56 Jerry Lee made his way to Memphis, Tennessee where he would join Sun Records and launch hit records with "Crazy Arms", "Whole Lotta Shakin", and "Great Balls of Fire". Jerry Lee, along with his friends, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Carl Perkins would be known as the Million Dollar Quartet and there is not any part of music that their influences haven't touched.

About Junior Brown:  Junior Brown is an American guitarist and singer. He has released nine studio albums in his career, and has charted twice on the Billboard country singles charts. Brown's signature instrument is the "guit-steel" double neck guitar, a hybrid of electric guitar and lap steel guitar.

About Ameripolitan Music Awards:  The Ameripolitan Music Awards, a 501(c)3, was created under the leadership of Texas Honky Tonk legend, Dale Watson, to acknowledge the exceptional creativity and dedication of roots artists whose work does not readily conform to the tastes of today's "Country", or other music genres and organizations. Ameripolitan Music LLC and The Ameripolitan Music Awards were founded to benefit and acknowledge these artists. It also provides fans with a means of finding these artists and their music.

The Ameripolitan Music Awards acknowledges those Ameripolitan artists whose music honors tradition while demonstrating exceptional originality, creativity, and musicianship. Through their work, Ameripolitan music is now being defined. The Awards also acknowledge Ameripolitan DJs and venues that promote these artists and their music along with honoring a living legend who has kept the tradition alive through their music and perseverance.

About Ameripolitan:  Ameripolitan is a new music genre with prominent roots influence. It is broken into four related subcategories: Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly and Outlaw. Artists and bands can fall into one or more of these categories. Musical and lyrical creativity is critical but to be considered Ameripolitan music, it must retain some of these traditional elements as well.