Events

Phil Vassar grew up just over an hour from Martinsville Speedway, so when he takes the stage for Celebration 2009 on July 3, it will be a homecoming of sorts.

Martinsville Speedway officials announced Wednesday that the award-winning singer-song writer Vassar will be the headlining artist for Celebration 2009, the all-free community event held annually at the historic track.

Vassar, a Lynchburg native, has two gold albums and more than a dozen Billboard top-10 singles to his credit as a singer. He’s also scored many accolades as a songwriter, including No. 1 hits for Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson and Jo Dee Messina.

“We are really fortunate to be able to bring Phil Vassar to Celebration 2009. He’s an incredible entertainer,” said Martinsville Speedway president W. Clay Campbell. “I think it’s going to be a memorable night for all of us.”

Celebration 2009 will kick off when children’s carnival rides open at 5 p.m. FATZ, a classic country-rock band from the Martinsville-Henry County area, will open the musical part of the event at 7 p.m. Vassar will hit the stage at about 8:30 p.m. The area’s largest fireworks show will cap the evening at roughly 10 p.m.

As always, Celebration 2009 is free to the public, thanks to public and private support throughout the Martinsville and Henry County area.

“Despite the current tough economic environment, the community support of Celebration 2009 has been outstanding,” said Jeb Bassett, Vice-President of Bassett Furniture Industries who took over fund-raising efforts for Celebration this year. “With the support of many of last year’s sponsors and the addition of a few new sponsors, our fundraising requirements have been met.”

Vassar, whose stage show is marked by powerful piano playing and a high-energy performance, toiled in Nashville for many years before achieving success, first as a songwriter, then as a performer.

In 1999 he was the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the year. A year later he was Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of the Year. He was ASCAP’s Country Artist and Songwriter of the year in 2001 and was named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Artist in 2002.

Vassar’s self-titled debut album in 2000 provided his big break-through. The album’s first single, “Carlene,” raced into the Top 5. The follow-up single, “Just Another Day In Paradise, was Vassar’s first No. 1 hit as a singer. Three weeks later a song Vassar had written, “The Next Thirty Years,” hit No. 1 for Tim McGraw. Vassar hit No. 1 as a performer again with “In A Real Love” in 2004.

Other big hits for Vassar include “Six-Pack Summer,” “That’s When I Love You,” “American Child,” “Last Day of My Life,” “Love Is A Beautiful Thing” and “I Would.” His latest album, “Prayer of a Common Man,” released in 2008, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard country chart and No. 10 on Billboard’s overall top 200 album chart.

The children’s rides will open at 5 p.m. and remain open throughout the evening, closing at 11:30. Rides for children include Willie the Whale, Animal Bounce, Spin-the-Apple, Slide, Go-Gator, Tempest, Cliff Hanger, Swinger, Obstacle Course and The Train.

Sponsors for Celebration 2009 included Allstate Insurance, American of Martinsville, Bassett Furniture, Bassett Office Supply, BB&T, Blue Ridge Aquaculture, Boxley Material Company, Carter Bank and Trust, City of Martinsville, Collinsville Printing, Commonwealth Laminating, Cool Knobs and Pulls, Frith Construction, Henry County, Henry County Baptist Association, Hooker Furniture, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation, Masterbrand Cabinets, Memorial Hospital, Millard’s Machinery, Nelson Automotive, Oak Level Finishing, Ridgeway Concrete, Shenandoah Furniture, Smith River Bank, Southwest Virginia Gas, Stanley Furniture, Star Tek, Steve Martin Trenching, Stone Dynamics Tacoma, Inc., The Dutch Inn, The Lester Group, Tarheel Paper and Supply Company, TR Properties, Virginia Mirror, West Windows and Zenith Logistics.

This will be the 11^th Celebration at Martinsville Speedway. Other artists performing over the years include Confederate Railroad, Montgomery Gentry, Charlie Daniels, Aaron Tippin, Tracy Byrd, Trick Pony, Trace Atkins, Blake Shelton, Diamond Rio and Tracey Lawrence.