GREAT PERFORMANCES “Chess in Concert”



ROUNDER RECORDS 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Monday, March 8, 8:30-10pm on WGBH 2

Grammy® winning Rounder Records artist Mary Chapin Carpenter joins WGBH LIVE in the studio

ROUNDER RECORDS 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT is a celebration of Rounder’s 40 years in the music industry. Filmed in October 2009 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, it features Grammy® winning Rounder artists Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Béla Fleck and Irma Thomas, along with musical host Minnie Driver and special guests Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas and jazz/R&B pianist Henry Butler. The special also includes select performances from Steve Martin’s show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, from Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s 2008 “Crossroads” special and from Madeleine Peyroux’s 2009 concert in Los Angeles. ROUNDER RECORDS 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT is part of special programming airing in March on WGBH.

Highlights of the concert, filmed in high definition, include Alison Krauss & Union Station’s performance of the song “Restless” from their Grammy®-winning, million-selling album Lonely Runs Both Ways; Mary Chapin Carpenter’s performance of her smash radio hit “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her”; Irma Thomas belting out her R&B chart topper “You Can Have My Husband But Don’t Mess With My Man”; Steve Martin’s performance of songs from his Grammy®-nominated album The Crow; Béla Fleck tearing it up with Jerry Douglas on a song from the early Rounder Fleck recording Double Time; and a rousing grand finale that blends blues, R&B, zydeco, country and bluegrass during a gospel medley of “Angels Watching Over Me,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “Down by the Riverside.”

The artists featured in this PBS special have collectively garnered 53 Grammy® Awards and sold more than 25 million albums. The program’s executive producer and longtime Rounder senior VP, Brad Paul, said, “It is a real thrill to have so many of our amazing artists represented in this show. The musical diversity and artistry is exceptional and rarely seen on TV anymore. Hats off to PBS for their strong commitment to quality television.”

PBS’ VP of Fund Raising Programming, Joe Campbell, adds, “PBS is delighted to present a very special concert event, celebrating 40 years of incredible music with some of the finest musicians working today.  PBS is one of the few places where concerts like this can be seen in their entirety and we’re proud to present these great musicians to our audience.”

Rounder Records was founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy and Bill Nowlin. With only their passionate enthusiasm for American roots music lighting the way, the three Boston area college students cast their lot into the perilous music industry. “Before founding Rounder, we were basically music fans,” says Irwin. “None of us had any record industry experience whatsoever,” echoes co-conspirator Nowlin.

This untested trio has gone the distance: from humble beginnings 40 years ago to winning Album of the Year for Krauss and Plant’s Raising Sand at the 2009 Grammy® Awards. Rounder is now considered one of America’s premier independent record labels, and has emerged as the pre-eminent source for vital, uncompromised music of all genres.

PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.

Underwriters: Public Television Viewers and PBS

Producer: Rounder Records Corporation

Executive producer: Brad Paul

Format: CC Stereo HD

– PBS –

CONTACTS: Amy Gaudreau, Rounder Records, 617-218-4483; agaudreau@

Carla Parisi, 973-563-8204; kidlogic@nj.

Sarah Leach, Rounder Records, 617-218-4480; sleach@

For images and additional up-to-date information on this and other PBS programs, visit PBS PressRoom at pressroom.

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