40th Annual IFCO Fun Fest Show Full of Surprises

40th Annual IFCO Fun Fest Show Full of Surprises
Submitted By Lisa Wysocky
Jun 15, 2007

NASHVILLE The 40th annual IFCO (the International Fan Club Organization) Fun Fest held Monday, June 4th at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee was full of surprises.

David McCormick of the Ernest Tubb Record Shops/Midnite Jamboree/Texas Troubadour Theatre surprised IFCO show presidents Loudilla, Loretta and Kay Johnson at the beginning of the show with a special award in honor of the show's 40th anniversary.

Later in the show, a visibly moved Porter Wagoner accepted the IFCO Tex Ritter Award, in honor of his life-long contribution to country music, the music community, and fans everywhere.

IFCO staff also surprised the Johnsons with an honorary Tex Ritter Award, for their significant contributions over 40 years in bring country music and country stars to the fans.

Crowd pleasing performances were turned in by Joe Diffie, Trick Pony, Aaron Tippin, Chris Young, Ty Herndon, Gary Mule Deer, Billy Yates, Lady Antebellum, Carly Goodwin, John Stone, and Todd Fritsch. Two Foot Fred got the crowd revved up, bandleader Joe Bob Barnhill ably handled a variety of artists and songs, and host Robert K. Oermann once again did a msterful job.

The 2007 IFCO FunFest Show benefitted Nashville's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt (http://www.vanderbiltchildrens.com/). The hospital was created to give children a place to hope and heal. The focus is on research, education and advocacy, which allows the hospital to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art care delivered in a nurturing, family-centered environment. A silent-auction
consisting of donated items from major country stars and others raised almost $5,000 for the hospital.

IFCO is an international regulatory body, and is widely regarded as the foremost authority on setting-up and operating fan clubs. Founded in 1967 by Loudilla, Loretta and Kay Johnson, they have since established IFCO as a respected force in the entertainment industry, a clearing house for fan clubs, and consumer watchdog for the fans.

For more information, please point your browser to http://www.ifco.org