New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ RCA Records) - Kenny Chesney, the biggest ticket seller of the 21st century in any genre, may have written a big hit record about the way songs indelibly stamp moments and memories called 'I Go Back,' but now the 4-straight Academy of Country
Music and 3-time and reigning Country
Music Association Entertainer of the Year is going to let a few lucky fans do just that - go back to the places where Chesney's musical destiny was forged - by joining the legendary
Eric Clapton and rocker Jon
Bon Jovi as part of the MasterCard Priceless.com
Roots of Rock Sweepstakes.
'Being a part of this contest with two artist I've listened to coming up gives me a way to put a few fans right up at the beginning of my journey,' says the high energy singer/songwriter. 'And even the ones who don't win can learn a whole lot about where this music comes from by going to Priceless.com and taking a virtual tour of my early years chasing this dream.'
MasterCard's Roots of Rock Sweepstakes allows cardholders to register to win a trip to Chesney's Nashville , Bon Jovi's New York and Clapton's London to see the significant stops of their early career. In addition, the winner and three guests will be treated to an intimate performance in each artist's hometown.
Just as importantly, though, fans of the soft-spoken Chesney can learn a lot more about the almost reserved musician at the priceless.com website, where they can also register for their chance to see Chesney in a very intimate setting, as well as tour the milestone locations of his first years in Nashville .
'Consumers passion for their music is unmatched,' says Amy Fuller, Group Executive, Americas Marketing MasterCard Worldwide. 'Music is something consumers love to experience. With Roots of Rock, we've created an unparalleled music experience with three of the world's most popular artists, providing consumers with an intimate perspective on these icons that few fans will ever have.'
'It was an honor to be considered with this company,' says the man who notched his 14th No 1 with the plaintive 'Better As A Memory' last week. 'At this level, it's hard to bring people into your music on this kind of level. But whether you go to the website, where there's exclusive photos and videos to obviously winning the sweepstakes and experiencing the Nashville I came to, that will put you not just inside the songs, but inside how the dream happened.'
With his Poets & Pirates Tour, sponsored by Corona Extra, hitting the halfway point this weekend at Nashville's LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans Field on July 5, it has certainly been an exciting ride filled with football stadiums, world class athletes, iconic rockers ranging from Sammy Hagar to Steve Miller and more tail-gaiting than the SEC at the height of their season. What happens next is anybody's guess, but with MasterCard helping the man who co-produced Willie Nelson and duetted with George Strait , putting down roots just got a whole lot easier.
