Nashville, TN (September 5, 2008)… It all started with a TV interview in ’06 when Kix Brooks was discussing his passion for nostalgic performance cars. Brooks stated that the very first modification he made was to install a set of Cherry Bomb® mufflers on his project car. Randal Martin worked in the music industry for years designing album covers and knew how to reach Brooks, and since Cherry Bomb is a Martin & Company client, contact was made. Cherry Bomb gave both Kix and Ronnie one of their custom designed leather Cherry Bomb jackets since they gave the company such a good plug on national TV.
During the pre-race Brooks & Dunn concert at the 2008 Daytona 500, Kix Brooks performed wearing the Cherry Bomb jacket. Afterward Cherry Bomb owner, Kenneth Banks, sent a note of thanks to the mega-star. Brooks responded by saying, “Just thought in a hot car environment like Daytona, this was the ONLY jacket to wear.”
“Now that a Cherry Bomb/Kix Brooks rapport had been developed, it just seemed like a natural progression to see if we could leverage that to perpetuate our industry as a whole”, said Zan Martin, president of Martin & Company. “My husband Randal, co owner of the agency, is an award winning artist both within and outside the automotive industry. He has created realistic graphite illustrations of many country icons, so we know the enthusiasm they create. With Brooks’ approval to create one of him in the Cherry Bomb jacket, we are excited to donate this one-of-a-kind original illustration to the 2008 SEMA Silent Auction. With proceeds going to college students interested in entering the automotive aftermarket, this helps keep our industry alive.”
The artwork is now complete, and has been signed by both the artist, and Kix Brooks. The beginning bid will be $1000.
About The SEMA Silent Auction
The SEMA Show Silent Auction has become a “don’t miss” feature of the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Presented by the SEMA Young Executive’s Network, the SEMA Show Silent Auction features collectibles of all kinds, autographed memorabilia, rare items, industry product and more. All proceeds from the auction go to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to future, current and even past students that are pursuing a career in the automotive industry. The SEMA Show Silent Auction is open during show hours and is located on the sky bridge above the South Hall lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
About Martin & Company
Martin & Company is currently celebrating its 15th year of operation. As a full service agency that specializes in the automotive aftermarket, the company has represented clients that serve as a who’s who of manufacturers known to have shaped the landscape of the industry. Regardless of the company or its size, Martin & Company finds a way to meet their needs and budgets, and put them on the map in both consumer and trade affiliations.
About Randal Martin
Nationally acclaimed artist Randal Martin has received awards and accolades for his artwork across numerous genres. His greatest honor was being selected to carve a bluebird ornament for the White House Christmas tree. Other notable achievements include an album cover painting for The Charlie Daniels Band “Road Dogs” album, and the cover illustration for a Merle Haggard Christmas album. He was commissioned to carve a red-tailed hawk carving for country music artist/TV actor Billy Ray Cyrus, and to create an original illustration of country music great Earl Scruggs’ likeness on a series of “The Earl” banjos for Gibson Bluegrass Guitars. In addition, an intricate hummingbird carving was purchased and presented to the vice-president of Nippon Telephone and Telegraph Company (NTT), the single largest corporation in Japan in 2006.
###
The logos/Images shown below are available for press use only. Click on the thumbnail(s) below to retrieve the high res version(s). If you have questions or comments concerning these images, please contact Martin & Company at 615/876-1822.
PRESS RELEASE SPECIFIC IMAGES:
Kix Brooks Illustration
Randal Martin & Kix Brooks with Illustration
Kix Brooks at the 2008 Daytona 500 Pre-Race Concert
(Photo Courtesy of HHP Images, 2008)
GENERAL IMAGES:
Martin & Company Advertising
