The French Country Music Association was created on the french Riviera in November of 1994.
The goal : " To promote country music in France on a national basis and to spread news of activities, publicity, and events which may or may not have any relationship with the Country Music Association (USA) in Nashville, Tennessee, and other CMAs through the world ". (French "Journal Officiel" dated 21-12-1994 ).
Jean A. Guilhermet, President / Gerard Vanderborck, Vice-President
Why the french Riviera ? Because this marvelous
sunny area is the melting pot of renown musical events such as the MIDEM, MIPTV
and MIPCOM in Cannes, the World Music Awards in Monaco,
and the two famous Jazz Festivals in Nice and in Juan-les-Pins.
Then CMA (France) along with APCM-PACA (the french riviera country dance association)
has decided to launch an annual International Festival of Country Music
in July. The same month in which the franco-american celebration is held on
the riviera, including U.S. Navy ships which anchor in the french harbours for
the traditional " 4th of July " celebration, and honoring at the
same time the Admiral de Grasse, Yorktown hero and dear friend of George Washington,
whose native castle in Bar-sur-Loup is only ten minutes from Cannes.