 | Live remote broadcast with WIVK at the new Chapman Wal-Mart Supercenter in Knoxville, TN
April 9, 2004
It was a great day for a birthday party at the Chapman Highway Wal-Mart Supercenter April 9th. Country music singer Con Hunley and popular WIVK radio personality Gunner celebrated Con's "Sweet Memories" birthday with a live remote radio broadcast on April 9th from the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Listen to a sound clip with Gunner. |
 | Hundreds of fans and friends turned out to give Con Hunley birthday greetings and to pick up a copy of his new CD, "Sweet Memories." |
 | Gunner interviews Con live on the air. Con and WIVK go back a long way. Hunley says, "WIVK helped launch my career and has always been a great supporter. They were instrumental in helping me get my first big record deal with Warner Brothers. It's wonderful to have the backing of such an influential country radio station."
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 | The line to meet Hunley moved slowly as fans posed for pictures with Con and asked him to autograph CD's, t-shirts, photographs, old 45 records, guitars and more. |
 | Older fans reminisced with Hunley about the good old days at the Corner and the Village Barn, while new fans enthused about the songs on "Sweet Memories." |
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Lunch and birthday cake was served up in the Wal-Mart deli with three special "Sweet Memories" cakes prepared by the Wal-Mart bakery. The birthday cakes were decorated with birthday messages, song titles and a photo of the "Sweet Memories" CD. |
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One of the cakes read "Thanks WIVK and Gunner for bringing Con to Wal-Mart." Fellow IMMI recording artist Madonna Tassi called from Toronto, Canada to wish Hunley a happy birthday and sang to him live on the air. |
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This cake features some song titles from the "Sweet Memories" CD. "Over Getting Older" is a takeoff of the first song on the CD, "Over Getting Over You." |
 | Hunley stayed to chat and autograph items until every fan had their turn with him. "It is really gratifying to know that people still enjoy my music," said Hunley. |
 | Brother Steve brings Con a birthday gift of fine cigars. Con will enjoy sharing them with his golf buddies. |
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Con enjoys talking with his Cowboy Pal Gunner. Gunner and Con are old friends.
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Con Hunley and Ernestine Purkey. Ernestine is the former proprietor of the Corner Lounge, which was the "Home of Con Hunley" for several years.
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 | Some of the IMMI Records crew was on hand to help with the event. |
 | Con was happy to pose for photos with fans young and old. This young fella may be a country music star himself some day.
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 | Gunner posed with fans and signed almost as many autographs as Con!
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 | Con receives a birthday bouquet from a young fan, Alex Ladd. |
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Con enjoys talking with fans. "Meeting fans and hearing what they think about the CD is really encouraging to me," he says. |
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Con's little sister Ruthie stops by to offer birthday greetings. |
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These young fans couldn't wait to wear their new Con Hunley-WIVK t-shirts. |
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Gunner with Con's sister Ruthie, who is a great singer herself. Ruthie performs regularly at the Classic Country Theatre in Pigeon Forge, and also does shows with brothers Tim and Kenny Hunley as the Hunley Brothers with Sister Ruth. The trio provided background vocals on "Sweet Memories" and usually sings backup for Con's local appearances. |
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Gunner says, "Can you believe these everyday low prices, Con?" |
The IMMI team was out in force for Con's "Sweet Memories" birthday party at Wal-Mart. |
