For Immediate Release
OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY
April 20, 2006

Entertainment at the Luncheon in Honor of the Visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Madam Liu Yongqing

Selections by
NASHVILLE BLUEGRASS BAND

Formed in 1984 to back Minnie Pearl and others, the Nashville Bluegrass Band (NBB) has a repertoire laced with blues and songs from the African-American gospel tradition. They have played with Lyle Lovett and Mary Chapin Carpenter, backed Bernadette Peters and Clint Black, and collaborated with Johnny Cash. NBB has performed in Carnegie Hall with the legendary Fairfield Four and appear frequently on the Grand Ole Opry. They have played all over the world and were the first bluegrass group to perform in the People's Republic of China. Among other accolades, NBB has received two Grammy Awards, two Entertainer of the Year honors from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and four wins as IBMA's Vocal Group of the Year.

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