Senator
Fred Thompson - R Tennessee
Mr.
THOMPSON:
Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge and
honor an event that has long been a source of great civic pride for
many of us in Tennessee: the Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree and Crafts
Festival.
A
spectacular 2-day event held annually over the Fourth of July holiday,
the Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree is dedicated to the furtherance and
preservation of old-time Appalachian country music, dance, and
authentic Appalachian art and culture. The jamboree and I go a long
way back, and yet I never cease to be amazed by the hospitality, the
fellowship, the crafts, and, of course, the outstanding music.
This
past Fourth of July weekend marked the 26th anniversary of the
jamboree. It all began back on July 1, 1972, when musicians from 16
states delighted an audience of 8,000 people. While that in itself was
quite an accomplishment, the event's founders were not content to stop
there. By comparison, this year's event drew a record crowd of 125,000
and featured more than 600 contestants from 42 States and 4 foreign
countries. More than 300 artisans and craftsmen were on hand to sell
and display authentic pioneer and contemporary Appalachian crafts.
These
days, the Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree is broadcast on television
worldwide and has been featured in National Geographic Traveler,
Southern Living, and several other national publications. The Jamboree
has been named one of the top 100 tourist events in North America,
according to a list compiled by the American Bus Association. The
event was selected as a `Top 20 Tourist Favorite' by the Southeast
Tourism Society, which includes the States of Tennessee, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Alabama, and Virginia. Earlier this year, the Tennessee General
Assembly passed a resolution designating the Smithville Fiddlers'
Jamboree and Crafts Festival as the official jamboree and crafts
festival of the State of Tennessee.
Without
a doubt, knowledge of the Smithville Jamboree's accomplished
musicians, inspiring music, skilled artisans, and authentic crafts has
now reached the four corners of the globe, and I applaud the
organizers, committees, volunteers, and the people of Smithville and
DeKalb County, TN, for their unique and substantial contribution to
the rich tradition of Appalachian art and culture.
