STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Ricochet to headline entertainment

By Kevin Stockham

For The Madison Press

The London Strawberry Festival has signed multi-award winning, country music group, Ricochet, to headline the entertainment schedule on the main stage on Friday, June 21.

In 1996 the members of country super group Ricochet watched their debut single, “What Do I Know,” rise to the Top 5 earning the band the honor of the highest charting debut single of the year. The follow up single release, “Daddy’s Money” became an immediate across the board hit, rising to No. 1 on the Radio & Records Country Singles Chart, the Gavin Country Singles Chart and the Billboard Country Singles Chart (where it stayed No. 1 for two consecutive weeks). The band’s distinctive musical style and intricate harmonies earned them the recognition as one of the most popular vocal groups in country music, a mantle they still wear today.

Now, more than 15 years later, “The Hardest Working Band in Country Music” is still going strong.

The band continues to create great country music, sung with the distinctive harmonies that are their hallmark. They log thousands of miles on the road each year thrilling audiences of all ages across the United States and abroad.

• Ricochet’s debut single, “What Do I Know” was the highest charting debut single of 1996 rising to No. 3 in R&R and No. 5 in Billboard. The follow up release, “Daddy’s Money” was No. 1 in R&R, Billboard, Gavin and Country Network. Overall, Ricochet has charted 12 country music “Top 40” hits.

• Recognized as one of country music’s hardest working groups, Ricochet has performed thousands of shows over the past 15-plus years. Ricochet will perform over 100 shows in North America this year.

• Ricochet is the only the only country artist to ever chart our “National Anthem” and is in constant demand to perform it live. They have performed the anthem for our men and women in uniform, at NASCAR Sprint Cup events, at Major League Baseball events, at National Football League events, at National Hockey League events, at PBR and PRCA Professional Rodeo events and others national events.

• In addition to eight nationally broadcast, high rotation music videos, Ricochet has made repeated national network television appearances including The Tonight Show, Prime Time Country, The Grand Ole Opry, Crook & Chase, The CMA Awards, The ACM Awards, The CCMA Awards, Speed and many others.

• Ricochet has headlined two USO tours: Operation Season’s Greetings 2000 to Japan and Korea, and Operation Season’s Greetings 2001 which took the group to Spain, Sicily, Germany, Macedonia, Turkey, and Portugal to perform for the men and women of our Armed Services.

• In 2009, 2010 and 2011, Ricochet performed in Washington, D.C. at the annual ceremony to present the Grateful Nation Award, established in 2003, to six young heroes chosen from each of the five branches of the U.S. military and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The award, presented by JINSA, recognizes these young service men and women for having distinguished themselves through superior conduct in the War on Terrorism.

Local country favorite the “Posse Band” will open for Ricochet and fire up the music at 6 p.m.

Main entertainment for 2012

Thursday, June 21

11:30 a.m. — Modeling contest, main stage

6 p.m. — Mr. & Miss Shortcake contest, main stage

6:30 p.m. — Royalty contests, main stage

Friday, June 22

6 p.m. — The Posse Band, main stage

7:30 p.m. — Kiddie Tractor Pull, Advantage Bank

9 p.m. — Ricochet, main stage

Saturday, June 23

9 a.m. — Cobra Car Show, courthouse square