AMERICA'S HOTTEST ACCORDIONISTS VIE FOR TITLE

AMERICA'S HOTTEST ACCORDIONISTS VIE FOR TITLE

BRANSON, Mo. (Wireless Flash) -- Talk about a squeeze play: five of America's best accordion players will soon gather in Branson, Missouri, to vie for the title of "America's Hottest Accordionist." The contest, which will take place next Thursday (Mar. 25) at the Lawrence Welk Resort, is designed to find accordion players who can make the instrument hip again. According to contest judge Dan Lennon -- the brother of the Lennon Sisters -- more than 150 aspiring accordion artists entered the contest including a Harley-riding biker from Minnesota and a male hippie from Springfield, Missouri, who wore a dirndl skirt. The five accordion finalists include a woman who wowed judges by playing a Sheryl Crow tune and another woman who played cajun versions of Edith Piaf songs while wearing black evening gloves. The top accordion player will be declared "America's Hottest Accordionist" will win a chance to play onstage at the Welk Resort's annual polka festival in June.

CONTACT: Dan Lennon, ***1/2; Arrange with Carrie Leum; Milwaukee, WI; (414) 571-1193