BAILEY WITH TRIBUTE GARDEN

EARTHMATTERS TENNESSEE TO HONOR

GRAND OLE OPRY'S DEFORD BAILEY

WITH TRIBUTE GARDEN

Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire among Famously

Named Roses in Garden

Nashville, Tenn.' June 15, 2007— EarthMatters Tennessee in association with LifeWorks Foundation is pleased to honor DeFord Bailey, Nashville musician and the first star of the Grand Ole Opry, in the upcoming opening and dedication of the DeFord Bailey Tribute Garden. The garden, located in George W. Carver Food Park at the corner of Lealand (10th Avenue South) and Gale Lane in the Sunnyside Community, will be presented on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 11 a.m. in a special ceremony open to the public.

Appropriately, the garden will house nearly a dozen different varieties of miniature and tea roses named for country music singers and songs including Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Lynn Anderson, Elvis, and songs Ring of Fire, Tennessee Waltz and Rocky Top. The flowers are just a sampling from the Nashville Music Collection, which consists of approximately 20 different varieties of flora including flowers named after Pam Tillis, Minnie Pearl, Amy Grant and Blue Bayou, to name a few. This is the first time the country music roses will ever be housed together in one location but it is not the last appearance these roses will make in the Nashville area. "There is no more fitting a tribute to the man who helped make the Grand Ole Opry a household name than for Nashville to honor DeFord Bailey with a living tribute of a garden populated by flowers named after the singers and songs in country music,"explains Pat Bullard of LifeWorks. Just as DeFord's amazing talent helped bring attention to this community, the community can now bring attention to a man who contributed in making "Music City"what it is today." Members of the Bailey family, biographer and manager Dave Morton, descendants of fellow Opry performers and other special guests whose lives have been touched by Bailey will be on hand for the dedication. Other participants will include representatives from EarthMatters and Lifeworks, special guests and Dr. Louis Mishu (local rosarian and project consultant).

 The Barbara Mandrell Rose--Photo Courtesy of the American Rose Society

DeFord Bailey, often referred to as "The Lost Legend of the Grand Ole Opry," has been called the most influential harmonica player in the first half of the 20th century (PBS). He became a regular on the Grand Ole Opry in 1926, appearing every Saturday on the show and performing until 1941. "Judge" George Hay credited DeFord Bailey as the inspiration for the naming of the Grand Ole Opry and had DeFord play his Pan American Blues as the first tune on the newly named show. In 1928, DeFord Bailey was also in the very first recording session that ever took place in Nashville, Tennessee. However, being an African-American traveling through the South and Midwest with white performers during the heyday of Jim Crow, Bailey faced incredible difficulties in finding places to eat and sleep, frequently having to sleep in the car.

There is controversy as to the reason Bailey was ousted from the Opry. Some say it was due to a controversy over radio clearance rights, and others say it was due to the color of his skin. Nevertheless, Bailey broke boundaries as an African-American musician during times of segregation. Despite his amazing musical talent, he died before his place in American music history was established. After many years of lobbying by friends and fans, Bailey was honored posthumously in November 2005 with an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The public can pre-order roses from the Nashville Music Collection for the 2008 growing season by calling Creekside Garden Center and Landscaping in Belle Meade at (615) 356-2201 or the Gardens of Babylon in downtown Nashville at (615) 244-8949. To volunteer at the garden or to find out more information on the George W. Carver Food Park, call (615) 252-6953 or log on to http://www.carverfoodpark.com/ or http://www.earthmattersnetworks.com/.

About EarthMatters Tennessee: EarthMatters Tennessee's mission is to build healthier communities through G.R.A.C.E (Gardens, Recycling, Action, Composting and Education). The group produces approximately 30,000 pounds of rich organic compost each year through its annual Leaf Lift contest. From this project and year-round, compost is freely distributed and has been the foundation of several community gardens and beautification projects around Nashville. The group is dedicated to 100% chemical pesticide-free/organic growing methods. Director Sizwe Herring won the 2002 Teacher of the Year for Middle Tennessee (TN Environmental Educators Association) and has served on the Governor's Solid Waste Control Board. EarthMatters is seeking sustainable community support and donations to continue its outstanding efforts in and around Nashville. To that end, a community-wide celebration and fundraiser will take place on Sunday, July 1, from 3:00 p.m. "9:00 p.m. at the George W. Carver Food Park. Among the festivities will be music by Marion James & the Queen's Men, Nick Nixon, Aashid Himmons, DeFord Bailey Jr. and the Carlos Bailey Band, as well as a presentation by Frankie Staton, Founder of the Urban Country Showcase. Additionally, there will be games for the children including a Frisbee garden, recycle relay and rake-a-robics. There will also be poetry readings by Navita Gunter, Nabirye Brunson and others, plus tours of the garden and compost areas of the park.

About LifeWorks Foundation: LifeWorks Foundation and its trustees, George and Pat Bullard of Nashville, Tennessee, are committed to assist in bettering our community, the state of Tennessee and our world through partnership, programs and charitable donation. Pat Bullard served two terms on the Belle Meade Plantation board where she created, designed and maintains the esteemed bridal garden. She also received the Quill and Trowel Award from the Garden Writer,s Association for her magazine writing. LifeWorks has supported EarthMatters Tennessee for over a decade.

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For more information contact:

Kaleidoscope Media

(615) 321-3211

Shelly Mullins (shelly@kaleidoscope-media.com)

Kristie Sheppard (kristie@kaleidoscope-media.com)

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