Azalea Festival announces Grand Marshal, Headliner Concert

The Azalea Festival Committee announced today Sargeant Kim Munley will be this year’s Parade Grand Marshal – and the country music band Montgomery Gentry will headline the concert program.

Munley is a Carolina Beach native and made headlines last year when she helped take down the Fort Hood shooter.

Here’s more information from an Azalea Festival News Release:

Montgomery Gentry’s journey into the front ranks of American music has been one of the most gratifying sagas of the past decade. Their road to gold and platinum albums, CMA and ACM awards, a Grammy nomination and highly successful tours has been paved with musical integrity and with an abiding respect for the people and the genre they represent.

“We’ve never sold out to anybody,” says Eddie Montgomery, whose soul-stirring baritone and 19th century outlaw look have become iconic among country’s rowdier fans. “What you see is what you get”.

“We’ve always been consistent with choosing songs that deal with the working class, songs people can identify with,” adds Troy Gentry, whose piercing tenor and classic good looks provide the perfect counterpoint.

Now in their 10th year on the national stage, Montgomery Gentry can look back on one of the country’s most impressive legacies. They have released more than 20 charted singles, with anthems like “My Town” and “Hell Yeah” becoming indelible parts of the honky-tonk landscape. They have hit the top of the singles charts three times with “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of” and 2007’s multi-week chart-topper “Lucky Man”. And now, with the release Back When I Knew It All, they have taken the next big step forward.

Their hits came with regularity, Eddie and Troy were named the CMA’s Duo of the Year in 2000, and received that year’s American Music Award for Favorite New Artist – Country, the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Group or Duo and the 2000 and 2001 Radio and Record’s Readers’ Poll award for Top Country Duo. The duo performed for well over a million fans, both as headliners and as part of Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” tours in 2002 and 2003, and the Brooks and Dunn “Neon Circus and Wild West Show” in 2001.

Their place as honky-tonk ambassadors has long since been established. They were part of the Rolling Stone 40th anniversary issue, they were an integral part of Farm Aid and Country in the Rockies, and they joined forces with May Angelou after the release of “Some People Change”.

Their humanitarian efforts are another example of that place where life, art and community come together in a meaningful way. And through it all, they remain one with their fans.

CONCERT TICKET INFORMATION
Event: Date: Price:
Montgomery Gentry Friday, April 9th, at 8:00pm $45.00

How to Order Tickets:

• Order online at www.ncazaleafestival.org to purchase and print tickets beginning Saturday, February 6th at 10:00 a.m.

• Tickets also available at the Azalea Festival office beginning Monday, February 8th and continuing Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm.
North Carolina Azalea Festival Office
5725 Oleander Drive, Suite B7
Wilmington, NC 28403

* For the best possible seating…go online to purchase tickets.

PARADE MARSHALL
The 63rd NC Azalea Festival is proud to announce this year’s Parade Marshall is Sgt. Kimberly Munley.
Kimberly is one of the two police officers accredited for stopping the gunman in the Fort Hood Massacre on November 5, 2009. She was injured in the process and was shot three times, which left her with life-threatening injuries from which she survived.

Kimberly was born in Wilmington and was raised in Carolina Beach. She graduated from John T. Hoggard High School in 1993 and began college at Cape Fear Community College for her associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. In 1999, Kimberly completed Basic Law Enforcement Training and began her career in law enforcement.

Kimberly spent the next 11 years working as a UNCW undercover vice/narcotics agent, a Wrightsville Beach uniformed patrol officer and beach patrol officer, a Special Police Officer for New Hanover County Regional Medical Center, a Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist Soldier in the United States Army and a federal police officer serving on the Special Reaction Team for the Fort Hood Police Department in Fort Hood, Texas.

Kimberly is a certified instructor by the Texas Engineering Extension Service law enforcement branch. She holds certifications and instructor certifications in many fields of law enforcement.

Kimberly is married to SSG Matthew Munley and they have two daughters, Jayden and Hope.

Military
The 63rd North Carolina Azalea Festival is proud to give special recognition to the men and women of our armed forces and their families for the sacrifices they make while protecting this country and our freedom. Our military and their families will be honored at events throughout the Festival.. More information will be provided at a later date.

The elected 2010 Officers are:
Erica Mearns, President – Realtor/Broker with Intracoastal Realty;
Hank Estep, President-Elect – Principal with Griffin Estep Benefit Group, Inc.;
Dr. Charles Kays, Vice President – Wilmington Plastic Surgery;
Donna Cameron, Treasurer – City President, Sun Trust Bank;
Stephen Coble, Assistant Treasurer – Attorney/Coble Law Firm, PC
Liz Carroll, Secretary – Owner, Driftwood Interiors, Design and Fine Home Furnishings
Alison Baringer continues as the festival Office Manager.

The mission of the North Carolina Azalea Festival is to be nationally recognized as a showcase for our community’s rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture through recreational, educational and family-oriented events. The Festival encourages volunteerism and civic participation as it contributes to the region’s economy and promotes the unique qualities of Wilmington’s river-to-the-sea community.

Since its inception in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has blossomed into an extended-weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people annually and economically generates over $5,000,000.00 for the local economy. The 2010 North Carolina Azalea Festival is a non-profit 501 (c) civic organization.

The major sponsors include Progress Energy, Velocity Solutions, Inc., Wachovia Bank…A Wells Fargo Company and Hilton Wilmington Riverside.