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News Releases

Award-Winning Grascals Present Check To St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® On Behalf Of Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (MACC)

New Food Line Partners With Entertainers Tp Honor Famed Televission Show

Grascals Fans Win Grand Prize In IBMA's World of Bluegrass Sweepstakes

The Grascals Guest On John Boy & Billy

The Grascals IBMA Entertainers Of The Year

AWARD-WINNING GRASCALS PRESENT CHECK TO ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL® ON BEHALF OF MUSICIANS AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER (MACC)

MEMPHIS, TENN. (February 6, 2008)-Award-winning bluegrass group The Grascals visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on February 4 and presented a check for $ 40,184.60 on behalf of Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (MACC). The check represents the proceeds from the 2007 MACC benefit concert, as well as sales of the the CD, Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer. The Grascals have performed at the benefit concert each year since 2005, and they also contributed a song to the album.

MACC was founded by concert promoter Darrel Adkins and his wife Phyllis in 2000 after their daughter, Mandy, lost her courageous battle with cancer. In 2001, the annual Bluegrass Classic festival promoted by Adkins Productions since 1984 was re-named Musicians Against Childhood Cancer. All of the bluegrass artists who perform at the festival donate their time in an effort to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer was released in 2006 by MACC through Skaggs Family Records. It contains 37 performances by 136 bluegrass artists and musicians, recorded at the MACC benefit concert from 2000-2005. The album was International Bluegrass Music Association's 2006 Album of the Year.

After presenting the check, The Grascals toured the hospital and visited with patients. "We're absolutely blown away by the courage of these kids and their families, and by the incredible research being done here," said Grascals vocalist/guitarist Jamie Johnson. "We're honored to have been a small part of raising funds through MACC, and we're thankful to all the artists who have participated in this project."

About The Grascals

The Grascals' visit to St. Jude came one day after the group won three awards at the 34th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards held in Nashville: Instrumental Group of the Year (for the third consecutive year), Bluegrass Band of the Year (for the second consecutive year) and Mandolin Player of the Year (Danny Roberts' second win in three years). The Grascals are the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainers of the Year, having won the top honor for the second year in a row. They also won 2005 IBMA awards for Emerging Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, for the Harley Allen-penned "Me and John and Paul." Both of their albums on Rounder Records have been nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

The Grascals recently entered into a sponsorship agreement with Mayberry's Finest Brand Foods, a line of 35 Southern-seasoned stews, chilis, vegetables and baking mixes inspired by The Andy Griffith Show. During The Grascals' St. Jude visit, Mayberry's Finest Brand Foods, in keeping with the Mayberry spirit of friendship and generosity, donated some of their southern-seasoned fixings to the Target House, a home away from home for families with children receiving life-saving treatment at the hospital. For more information on The Grascals visit http://www.grascals.com/.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit http://www.stjude.org/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2007

CONTACTS:
Marcela Gomez
Diversity Brands
(615) 231-5920

Chad Gilbert
McNeely Pigott & Fox
(615) 259-4000

NEW FOOD LINE PARTNERS WITH BLUEGRASS ENTERTAINERS TO HONOR FAMED TELEVISION SHOW

NASHVILLE - The nation's most popular bluegrass band is teaming up with a marketing group whose new brand honors one of the country's most beloved television shows.

Mayberry's Finest, a new line of food products featuring 36 Southern-seasoned food items that hearkens back to "The Andy Griffith Show," will team up with The Grascals, 2007 IBMA Entertainer of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year nominees. The band will feature the brand at upcoming tour stops and public appearances.

"Without a doubt, The Grascals are absolutely thrilled to endorse such a great line of products that honor not only a memorable television show, but also what we consider a terrific part of our culture," said Grascals vocalist Terry Eldredge. "Mayberry's Finest offers a wide variety of foods that are similar to the kinds of foods we enjoy eating, and we think others will agree that the products live up to the name."

Mayberry's Finest, under license with "The Andy Griffith Show," managed by CBS Consumer Products, is a product line that includes new baking mix flavors such as peach cobbler, cinnamon toast, chocolate chunk cookie dough and lemon icebox. Canned vegetables offered in the brand will include cream-style corn, collard greens and turnip greens. Beef stew, chili, and chicken and dumplings round out products offered in the meat category.

Food retailers throughout the Southeastern United States, including North Carolina and Tennessee, will offer Mayberry's Finest Brand Foods beginning this fall. The product will also be available online at www.mayberrysfinest.com. Nashville-based Diversity Brands, in partnership with Choice Food of America and Allen Canning, will produce, distribute and market the products.

"The Grascals are terrific partners for our product, and we could not be happier with their enthusiasm as we roll out Mayberry's Finest," said Marcela Gomez, president of Diversity Brands. "Pairing a product influenced by perhaps the greatest television show of all time with one of today's most recognizable bluegrass acts is a perfect fit. They're huge fans of the show and, now, of our products, too."

About Diversity Brands, LLC
Founded in March 2006, Diversity Brands has positioned itself as a brand-driven marketing entity with a food-manufacturing platform via its partner, Choice Food of America. Diversity Brands takes well-loved brands and expands their potential through niche marketing and innovation. For more information about Diversity Brands, visit www.diversitybrands.net or call (615) 231-5920. For a complete list of Mayberry's Finest products, visit www.mayberrysfinest.com.

About CBS Consumer Products
CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles. Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.CBS.com.

About The Grascals
The Grascals are the International Bluegrass Music Association's reigning Entertainers of the Year, earning the top honor only one year after being named Emerging Artist of the Year and winning Song of the Year for "Me and John and Paul." The group of six former sidemen has earned GRAMMY(r) nominations for both of their critically acclaimed albums for Rounder Records - The Grascals and Long List of Heartaches, both of which they produced. Long List of Heartaches features guest performances by George Jones, Dierks Bentley, Steve Wariner and the Jordanaires. The Grascals were the special guests on Dolly Parton's last two North American tours. They have also made numerous guest performances at the Grand Ole Opry and on Opry Live. For more information, visit www.grascals.com.

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Grascals Fans Win Grand Prize In IBMA's World of Bluegrass Sweepstakes

For one die-hard Grascals fan, persistence really does pay off. Angie Campbell of Westfield, Illinois, is this year's winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass Sweepstakes. Fans enter the contest through participating artists' Web sites in the hope of winning the grand prize--a trip for two to the IBMA Awards show and Fan Fest, including two VIP tickets to the awards show, two 3-day tickets to Fan Fest, three nights' hotel accommodations, IBMA merchandise, and a travel stipend.

Campbell visited The Grascals' Web site and entered repeatedly, hoping to win the trip for her son, Alex, an 11-year-old fiddle player who is a devoted Grascals fan. When she was notified that she had won, Campbell sent an email to the band saying, "It will be a priceless trip for a young boy who dreams of being a fiddler. I truly think it will change his life, being surrounded by people who love the music he loves. He will be able to realize how he does have the ability to do anything if he sets his mind to it."

The Grascals donated their prize package of tickets and hotel accommodations to the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro to be auctioned to raise funds for the museum, and it brought in $ 1,000. The band also donated the $500 travel stipend to the Ernie Thacker Trust Fund, set up to cover Thacker's medical bills as he recovers from a serious automobile accident in April 2006. The Grascals will perform at the 18th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards show on October 4, where they are nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year. They will perform at Fan Fest on Friday, October 5.

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The Grascals Guest On John Boy & Billy

Rounder recording group The Grascals were in-studio guests on the nationally syndicated John Boy & Billy Big Show today. The Grammy®-nominated bluegrass group joined the Big Show's Mayberry Days celebration, singing the praises (literally) of The Andy Griffith Show and reminiscing with some of the actors who appeared on the beloved series— Betty Lynn ("Thelma Lou"), James Best ("Jim Lindsey"), Maggie Peterson ("Charlene Darling"), and Jackie Joseph ("Sweet Romena"). Grascals Terry Eldredge and Terry Smith, devoted Andy Griffith Show rerun watchers and self-professed Mayberry trivia experts, also matched wits with on-air contestants as they participated in the Big Show's Dollywood Squares game.

The Grascals have just begun a partnership with Mayberry's Finest, a new brand featuring more than 36 Southern-seasoned food items reminiscent of Aunt Bee's country cooking. Assorted baking mixes, canned vegetables, meats and gravies will be offered by food retailers throughout the Southeastern United States, including North Carolina, beginning this fall. The product line, under license with The Andy Griffith Show and managed by CBS Consumer Products, will also be available online at www.mayberrysfinest.com. Following their appearance on the Big Show, The Grascals recorded an interview with Cindy Baucom for her nationally syndicated Knee Deep in Bluegrass radio show, which is distributed to more than 70 radio markets weekly by the John Boy & Billy Network.

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The Grascals IBMA Entertainers Of The Year

Rounder recording group The Grascals earned their second consecutive Entertainer of the Year award at the 18th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, held at the Grand Ole Opry House last night (10/4).

"This is even sweeter the second time around, if that's possible," said Grascals vocalist and guitarist Jamie Johnson. "We're out here doing what we love every day. Thank you all very much." Johnson also acknowledged each of the other nominees in the category— Cherryholmes, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Del McCoury Band and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage—as well as Ricky Skaggs and the Osborne Brothers. Several of The Grascals worked for the legendary duo, and Sonny Osborne presented the Entertainer of the Year award.

"We wouldn't be doing what we do if it weren't for the Osborne Brothers," said Johnson.

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