Great River Energy salutes John Mellencamp
Three-Month Tour to celebrate Rural ElectrificationElk River, MN (May 17, 1999). - Great River Energy, a Touchstone Energy cooperative, proudly welcomes Grammy Award-winning recording and performing artist John Mellencamp to the Twin Cities. Dubbed “The Rural Electrification Tour,” the three-month tour of areas and outdoor venues will also feature special guests Son Volt.
In launching the tour, Mellencamp explained, “In the thirties, rural electrification brought electricity to farmers and other rural dwellers for the first time in their lives, and along with that electricity came radios and record players: Music! We’re lucky enough that for the last 20 years we’ve had the opportunity to play our own small part in bringing music to people: to entertain them and have a lot of fun in the process.”
Generations ago, friends and neighbors joined together in communities all across America to build their own electric utility to power their lives. As these areas grew, electric cooperatives grew with them. Now, electric co-ops serve 30 million people in 46 states.
“We are thrilled that John Mellencamp is touring the country to celebrate rural electrification,” said Kandace Olsen, manager of communications at Great River Energy, a Touchstone Energy cooperative. “For more than two generations, electric cooperatives across the country have been providing their customers, large and small, with quality, state-of-the-art technology and personalized service at affordable rates. We believe “The Rural Electrification Tour” celebrates the valuable contribution that electric cooperatives have made to their communities.”
Since the release of American Fool in 1982, John Mellencamp has maintained a consistent hold on the charts while his fans have remained loyally steadfast. In addition to his 37 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards, Mellencamp has been nominated for 12 Grammys, most recently in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for “Our Life Is Now,” a track from RIAA-certified gold John Mellencamp.
John Mellencamp will be performing at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, May 26.
Great River Energy is an electric generation and transmission cooperative based in Elk River, Minnesota. The company serves 29-member distribution cooperatives that in turn provide electricity and related services to more than 1.5 million people in Minnesota and part of Wisconsin.
Touchstone Energy® is an alliance of local, consumer-owned utilities across the country committed to providing superior service at affordable rates to all customers, large and small. Touchstone Energy® serves more than 5.6 million households and businesses reaching more than 15 million people in 36 states from coast to coast.
