"When we heard Patti Page was releasing a new traditional country music CD, we couldn't wait to contact her," says Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Association. "Her incredible hits, like the 'Tennessee Waltz' and 'How Much Is That Doggie In The Window," captivated everyone in the upper Mid-west, and also played a part in making Patti Page 'America's Most Popular Vocalist.'

"When we were finally able to communicate with her, we immediately set in motion the ways and means to induct her into 'America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame.' It's her incredibly gifted voice that she uses so well, to tell simple stories through song, that made her so popular. She captivated America for a very long time, and then when her husband passed away, moved to San Diego, California, where she still makes her home. She has her brand new autobiography out too, a marvelous story of her life, along with the new CD entitled "Best Country Songs." She did indeed pick the best of her 'country' style songs, and completely re-did them, in a much more traditional style of country music. Jackie Gleason used to say, "How sweet it is," when he heard Patti Page sing, and we say it today with her brand new re-introduction to some of America's finest compositions in country music. Her new CD has been reviewed by the Rural Roots Music Commission, and they have unanimously selected her CD as the "Best New Country CD of the Year" award, which she will also receive when she makes the trek to the tall corn-fields of Iowa to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," Everhart added.

We asked Patti about her new CD. "The way music is recorded has changed since my first session over six decades ago, but my goal has not, and that is to sing songs that tell a story and entertain people. When I started this project I wanted to focus on the music that has been the foundaton of my entire career, the traditions of country music."

Patti Page is one of America's true musical icons. In the course of her seven-decade recording career, she has become a living legend by selling more than 100-million records, making her one of the biggest selling female recording artists in history. So why is she debuting here new book and CD in Iowa? We asked Everhart.

"I think Patti has a direct connect with rural folks. They not only love her beautiful voice, they admire her demeanor, her manner, her outlook on life. Growing up in the country is far different than living in a city like Los Angeles or New York, and she recognizes this. Aside from her time spent at the festival she will travel out into the country-side to enjoy an Iowa corn-fed steak dinner at the Golden Pheasant Restaurant. She'll enjoy specially prepared broasted chicken at Lalley's East Side Restaurant, and she'll visit the largest ice cream factory in the world, which is Blue Bunny Ice Cream."

The festival Patti will attend, is in it's 35th year, and is well known throughout Middle-America as the longest-running and largest event devoted to America's rural-roots music in the USA. "We have over 650 performing artists on ten separate sound stages," said Everhart. "We don't allow illicit drugs or alcohol, and we have one stage called "The Church Without Walls" devoted to Gospel music. The other nine stages are full of many different types and styles of rural roots music, everything from ragtime piano to old-time hillbilly. It's an all-acoustic event, meaning we don't have any loud electrified instruments." They also serve rural style home cooking at several locations on the fairgrounds, and according to Everhart, "we'll have free watermelon on Tuesday and free Blue Bunny ice cream on Thursday."

The facility also has approximately 500 electrical hook-ups for RV campers. "It's a great way to spend a week away from the troubles of the world," Everhart added, "and to be able to spend some time with the legendary Patti Page is a dream come true."

As part of CMB's committment to supporting up-and-coming country artists, they assist performers with a wide range of subsidised production services. This includes full music video production such as the clip below by country music artist Ruby Rose Taylor, or the more traditional on-location approach taken in Dave C. Cawthorn's "When Will It Rain?" filmclip. In the digital era, country music artists require more than just demo sound recordings.

The "demo" music video clip has become an important promotional tool and a means of reaching thousands of country music fans worldwide via services such as YouTube®, MySpace®, Facebook® and many other internet based video sharing or social networking websites.