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WKNO-TV (Memphis) to broadcast 2011 Johnny Cash Music Festival special Sept. 2

08/31/2012

JONESBORO — The long-awaited Public Broadcasting System (PBS) television special featuring the 2011 inaugural Johnny Cash Music Festival, filmed at Arkansas State University’s Convocation Center, will premiere Sunday, Sept. 2, on WKNO-Memphis. The 90-minute TV special begins at 7 p.m. and runs through 8:30 p.m. on WKNO-Memphis (Channel 10).

The television show, entitled “The Johnny Cash Music Festival Celebrates Legendary Man in Black,” captured the musical benefit held August 4, 2011 to restore Johnny Cash’s boyhood home and includes performances by Cash’s children Rosanne Cash and John Carter Cash as well as siblings Tommy Cash and Joanne Cash Yates. Other performers were Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, Dailey and Vincent, Gary Morris, Rodney Crowell and Bill Miller.

“We expect the television show will be watched by thousands of viewers and will forever cement a bond between Johnny Cash, his family, and Arkansas State University,” said Christy Valentine, executive director of Marketing and Communications at ASU. “The 2011 event kicked off the fundraising drive to raise monies for the restoration of Johnny Cash’s childhood home in Dyess. Through ticket sales and special sponsorships, the concert sold out and brought in over $300,000. We’re very excited about the upcoming second festival.”

The second Johnny Cash Music Festival will be held, Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, once again at the ASU Convocation Center, 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. The talent includes Dierks Bentley, The Civil Wars, Willie Nelson, and Rosanne Cash.

Tickets for the second Johnny Cash Music Festival are on sale at ASU’s Central Box Office at the red entrance of the Convocation Center and online at www.tickets.astate.edu. Tickets can also be purchased by logging onto the official website of the Johnny Cash Music Festival, www.johnnycashmusicfest.com. Call to purchase tickets toll-free at 1-888-278-3267 or locally at 870-972-2781.