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GAC HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER STORME WARREN RECEIVES 2007 CMA MEDIA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD |
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Written by Shawnee Penkacik
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NASHVILLE - Television veteran Storme Warren, host and co-Executive Producer of "Country Music Across America" on Great American Country (GAC), received the 2007 CMA Media Achievement Award on the Red Carpet prior to the 2007 CMA Awards, CMA announced today.
Warren was in the midst of producing "Country Music Across America's" coverage of the star-studded event when CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese surprised him with the news that he was the recipient of the CMA Media Achievement Award.
"Shocked doesn't begin to express my emotions," said Warren. "I've always just felt lucky to have the opportunity to get close to the Country Music community. Now to be honored for doing something I absolutely love.yep, I'm stunned. Very blessed but stunned. CMA helped raise me in this business and they've been very patient parents."
The CMA Media Achievement Award was established to recognize outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to Country Music. Print and Internet journalists, columnists, authors, editors, syndicated radio reporters, television writers, producers and bookers are eligible to win this award.
CMA member publicists nominate media candidates for consideration. The top five nominees are collected and sent to the publicist panel for a second round of voting. The overall winner is presented to the CMA Executive Committee for approval.
"Storme is very deserving of this honor," said Genovese. "He routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty and has built meaningful relationships with our artists and publicists. He has a personality that puts everyone at ease, but he is also a thought-provoking and prepared interviewer."
Growing up in Tulsa, Okla., Warren began his career in radio, answering request lines and pulling music for the disc jockeys at Tulsa radio station KELI in return for free albums and concert tickets. When his family relocated to Southern California, Warren continued his radio career with part-time positions at KCAQ/Oxnard and later at Country Music station KCZN/Ventura and KQLE/Hollywood.
Following high school, Warren enrolled at California State University Northridge, where he worked as a freelancer for CNN. He later joined CNN Los Angeles full-time as a camera operator and quickly worked his way up the ranks, becoming a segment producer for the entertainment news show "Showbiz Today." Warren then moved to Nashville, where he worked as a segment producer and on-camera talent for Jim Owens & Associates, a long-time producer of Country Music-related programming for TNN.
In 2002, Warren teamed with veteran Country artist managers Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Hartley and Nashville television producer Greg Travis to found Different Drummer Productions, LLC, and partnered with GAC to produce "Country Music Across America." The program, which premiered on GAC in November 2003, delivers a weekly digest of artist profiles and Country Music news worldwide. As on-air host, Warren enjoys introducing emerging talent to his viewers and maintaining the show's fresh, personal appeal that has resonated so well with its growing national and international fan base. This month, the show is celebrating its fourth anniversary and 100th episode.
Warren lives in Nashville with wife, television producer Allison Warren and their two sons. He is an active steward in the Nashville community, serving as board member for the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research.
Past winners of the CMA Media Achievement Award include:
1982 Jack Hurst
1983 Neil Hickey
1984 Dolly Carlisle
1985 Red O'Donnell
1986 No Award
1987 Dave Zimmerman
1988 Bob Oermann
1989 Bob Claypool
1990 Dick Heard
1991 No Award
1992 Mark McEwen
1993 Lynn Lester
1994 Judy Massa
1995 Clay Smith
1996 Tisi Aylward
1997 Jay Orr
1998 Chet Flippo
1999 Hazel Smith
2000 Neil Pond
2001 Harry Chapman
2002 Jim Patterson
2003 Denise Quan
2004 Alanna Nash
2005 Mark Bracco
2006 Donna Hughes
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