From Balsam Range’s team
Press release
Nashville, TENN — Among the most sought after and valued awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina is The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is presented to outstanding North Carolinians who have a proven record of service to the state. The members of multi-award winning band, Balsam Range, [were] named to the Order during their Friday, Oct. 2 performance at the Raleigh Convention Center.
All residents of Haywood County, NC, the members of Balsam Range comprise the IBMA’s 2014 Entertainer of Year and Vocal Group of the year winning band.
Membership in The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is within the sole discretion of the sitting Governor of North Carolina, currently Pat McCrory. The process for nominating and evaluating candidates is very stringent, solidifying the reputation of the honor among the most prestigious awards presented to civilians by the Governor of North Carolina.
Buddy Melton, Darren Nicholson, Marc Pruett, Caleb Smith and Tim Surrett of Balsam Range will see their names forever enshrined in the Honor Roll among those of other outstanding North Carolinians who have been accepted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, including: Maya Angelou, Dale Earnhardt, John Hope Franklin, Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Michael Jordan, Ronnie Milsap, Hugh Morton, Gaylord Perry, Richard Petty, Earl Scruggs, General Henry Hugh Shelton, Randy Travis, Arthel L. “Doc” Watson, Harry Belafonte, Rod Carew, Shirley Chisolm, Gerald R. Ford, John Glenn, Coretta Scott King, Itzak Perlman, Gary Player, Sidney Poitier, Colin Powell, William H. Rehnquist, Kenny Rogers, The Blue Angels, Tennessee Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and many more.
Additionally, it was recently announced that Marc Pruett is among eight recipients of this year’s North Carolina Heritage Awards.
The award, a program of the North Carolina Arts Council, honors traditional artists in the state.To obtain more information on The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, click here or call 919-814-2046.
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