‘The Littlest Star’ Shines Again With New Christmas Single By Chuck Whiting

     NASHVILLE — “The Littlest Star” is shining again with the release of a new single by Nashville singer-songwriter Chuck Whiting.

    The classic holiday tune was first recorded by country legend Margo Smith in 2000. It hit several singles charts and continues to be heard every Christmas season on radio and online media platforms.

    “Writers of a dear song sometimes want to release their own versions,” said Whiting, who recorded “The Littlest Star” at Nashville’s Eastside Sound in November 2021. “It’s a wonderful feeling to bring the music and story back to life. I loved working on it again.”

"The Littlest Star" book cover (artwork by Robert Roberg)

    The original “The Littlest Star: a musical story” features an EP with performances by Smith, Grammy-nominated guitarist Denny Jiosa, and Nashville Chamber violinist Conni Ellisor. The hard cover book features original artwork by Smithsonian-exhibited American folk artist Robert Roberg, who also co-wrote the song with Whiting. A play based on the book has been developed for future staging. The book and CD are distributed by Shine Time Records and Books.

    The story centers on The Littlest Star, the tiniest star of all. All of the other stars were dispatched on their missions, but he was left in God’s pocket all alone. Finally, after thousands of years, he was polished up and sent out on the most important mission in the Universe.

'The Littlest Star' video (By Chuck Whiting)

    “It’s a very moving tale that combines fantasy with truth,” Whiting added. “Various books, songs and plays based on the same theme have been released since we first introduced the song and book in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The story is deeply touching and needs to be told.”

    The latest single features performances by violinist/mandolinist Myles Thompson, vocalist/guitarist/studio engineer Angel Pontier, and vocalist Katie Brooks. 

Bethlehem (artwork by Robert Roberg)

    “The Littlest Star (A Christmas Story)” can be heard for free on YouTube and other online media platforms. The song is published by Striking Moon Music (ASCAP).

    Listeners can follow Chuck Whiting on Instagram and Facebook @Chuck.Whiting and @MusicCityArts.

Don't Be Blue (artwork by Robert Roberg)

Lydia Luce Touches Audience as Surprise City Winery Guest During Americana Fest

City Winery, Saturday Evening (Sept. 25)

Americana Music Fest

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE — In preparation for Americana Music Fest, I spend time watching the scheduled artists on YouTube, determining what shows I will take in.  Since there is nothing like live music, most of the time the artists far outshine their YouTube videos.  Tonight I was blown away by the first musician of the evening, Phillip-Michael Scales. 

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Scales returned to Chicago where he honed his skills and developed a following.  A couple of years ago he moved to Nashville where his career began to take off. Oh, did I mention that his uncle encouraged him along the way, reminding him of his blues roots?  It wasn’t until after the death of his uncle, B.B. King, that he began to dig deeper into his legacy.

I loved the honesty and soul searching that went into “When They Put Me in My Grave.” Scales commented, “My mother was the first black female to have her own practice in the state of Michigan, and my grandmother went to college in the 1940s despite not being able to stay or eat on campus. So, the question of how I want to live my life so that my future kids will be better off later is something I think of a lot.”  The lyrics to the chorus are, “I come from sons and daughters of lambs who escaped the slaughter, My bloodline should have stopped with bones and chains in that blue water, What will they say when they put me in my grave?”

He did a cover of “A Day in the Life” that brought first a smile then a shake of the head to many in the audience, as Scales brought new life into a Beatles classic that few have heard covered.  He arranged the bridge a la Chuck Berry rock n’ roll, pure genius!

Phillip-Michael asked a middle-age couple in the crowd if they thought they would be together if they had met 10 years earlier. They said they went to grammar school together… always knew each other.  Scales commented that he thinks about things like that a lot and segued into “O Hallelujah.”  These lyrics say it all: “ Oh, hallelujah… I'm glad we ain't met sooner… 'cause if younger me had met young you… we woulda this up and that's the truth”!”  

During setup for the next act the gentleman across the table asked me if I had ever seen Sue Foley. When I said that I hadn’t, he answered, “You’re in for a real treat.” Foley is a guitar god!  I couldn’t believe the licks I was hearing from this traditional blues guitarist and singer.  Sue was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She started playing at 13 and by 16 was playing professionally. Clifford Antone brought her to Austin in 1990 where she played his club, Antoe’s, and she was signed to his label.  He put her on the road with Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, and Koko Taylor. His philosophy was the younger players learn from hanging out with the older ones.  Highlights for me were “Boogie Real Slow,” “Dallas Man,” and “Hardworking Woman.”

Never have 45 minutes gone by more quickly than during the McCray Sisters set.  I was clapping, singing, and lifting my hands right along with them. They are the daughters of Beverly and the late Rev. Sam McCrary of the Fairfield Four gospel quartet.  They kicked off with “When the Spirit Moves You… Dance,” and dance they did!  Next was “Help Me,” a plea for God’s deliverance in time of need.  I couldn’t help but notice that Regina and Alfreda were tearing up now and then.  Regina, while introducing “Amazing Grace,” said wherever you go there are people hurting, people who are down and out, people who are grieving. She told us that everyone on the stage had been to two or three funerals that day. The grief poured out as they praised God during this hymn.  Ann asked us if we were ready to get on the train? As she began the gospel number “Train.”  Regina encouraged us to let go of our problems, as she whisked her hand away from her. This was the hand motion they used on their closing song “Let it Go.”  Caught up in the Spirit, I was surprised when the show was over and they were walking off the stage!

Gospel legend Don Bryant was schedule next.  I was perplexed to see four chairs brought out and then a string quartet entering the stage. A lithe woman walked out with a guitar and said, “I am not the scheduled guest. My name is Lydia Luce. I got a call last night at 10 p.m. asking if I could fill in for a show tonight.  I said yes, and then called four friends and asked if they would join me.” Then she nodded to the string quartet. From the first few bars of the lilting “Like You Do,” I knew this set would be something special. 

Many of Luce’s songs were introspective and sad. Her latest album, “Dark River,” was written after a breakup.  But her banter between songs did not reflect sadness, but a woman determined to happily move on.  I loved the chamber ballad “Sausalito” about a return trip to see an old love, part of her wanting to be in love, but knowing it wasn’t yet time.  Lydia confessed it took her 32 years to admit that she is from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.  She jokingly called it Ft. Liquordale. She grew up surrounded by music. Her mother is the conductor of the Ars Flores symphony.  Luce herself graduated from Berklee College of Music and has a master’s degree in viola performance from UCLA.  She said she was thinking of naming her next album after her homage to childhood, “Florida Girl,” a sweet song that closed her performance.  This show was one of the highlights of Americana Fest for me.  What a great way to end the conference. And what a nice surprise! I’m now planning on seeing Lydia at Musician’s Corner this Friday.

 

Americana Music Fest: Garrison Star, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and The Brother Brothers Rock Nashville

Americana Music Fest

City Winery and Mercy Lounge, Friday (Sept. 24, 2021)

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

 

NASHVILLE — I had heard of Garrison Starr, but I had never heard her sing. What a powerful voice full of soul and raw sincerity. She’s also a great storyteller! 

She told us that she grew up in Mississippi and went to an evangelical high school. But she was tired of hiding her sexuality and decided in the mid-90s she could no longer live in the deep South. So she moved to LA! The first person she saw was a guy with very long hair, wearing a pink bikini, riding a bicycle!  She told herself, “Hey, I’m going to be alright.” She then sang us her love song to LA, “Downtown Hollywood.”

 

Starr said she grew up surrounded by music in the church but felt so much hate and prejudice there. She got to the point where she didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Then a few years ago, she realized she wasn’t going to let them take Gospel away from her. Garrison started writing and co-writing Gospel-influenced songs again. One of the first ones she wrote was “On My Way to Forgiveness.”

 

Starr brought out Chris Pierce to join her on the swamp gospel “Bones.” Teaching us the lyrics to the chorus first and encouraging us to sing along, “Ain't no chain gonna hold you down, Ain't no grave gonna hold you now, Yesterday done came and gone, Ain't it time to bury them bones.”  

She then brought out Sean McConnell, and the three of them harmonized on “The Train that’s Bound for Glory,” a song written for her grandfather. She closed duetting with McConnell on the soaring ballad “Nothing Without You,” which brought everyone to their feet.  

Next up was Beth Nielson Chapman. I knew something good was up when I noticed a full band, two background singers, and a trumpet player coming on the stage at various times to do a sound check. Previously I had only seen Chapman on guitar and keyboard. Tonight was different! She announced that she and the band would be playing as many songs as they could from her upcoming album “Crazy Town.”  The tracks were completed just five days before the pandemic hit Nashville.

 

When Chapman launched into the upbeat “All Around the World,” I knew I was really in for a special treat. You could feel the energy from the stage. Beth said Keb’ Mo’ called her up one day and said, “I need you over here to help me finish a song. The result was “Put a Woman in Charge,” a fun, yet serious song about the mess that men have made of things. All of the songs were stellar. My favorite was “Welcome to Heaven,” a song she wrote with Kimmie Rhodes and Mindy Smith dedicated to John Prine. Having gone through cancer himself, Prine heard Chapman had been diagnosed.  He gave her a call and said, “I heard you got Cancer.” She said, “Yes.”  He ended up coming over and spending the afternoon with her.  A true friend.

 

After Chapman’s set, I walked over to Cannery Row to hear The Brother Brothers at Mercy Lounge. Identical twins David and Adam Moss are originally from Peoria, Ill., and formerly based in Brooklyn, N.Y. They now live in Nashville. Their sound is timeless, reminding me of the Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel. Their humor brought up memories of the Smother’s Brothers.

 

The brothers, Adam Moss on violin and David Moss on guitar, opened with “Colorado,” a song for a friend who was bound to break his girl’s heart. Their lyrics are simple and fresh, often laced with scenes from nature. Their “Ocean’s Daughter” is a cry for the environment we are destroying.  

David borrowed Adam’s guitar and Adam picked up the cello for the haunting “Banjo Song.” The singer asks the banjo player why he doesn’t play anymore. “It’s just no fun” was the answer, having lost his drive to entertain himself and others. 

David introduced “Frankie,” saying this is a song about real estate. The lyrics are about a bartender talking to a customer about how much has changed since the gentrification of the neighborhood. The old crowd is gone. They couldn’t afford to stay in their homes when the taxes were raised. This reminded me of what is going on in Nashville right now. 

The Moss brothers closed with the mournful Peter Rowan classic “Angel Island” about a gold prospector who leaves his Chinese bride on the island while he is gone for years chasing his dream of becoming rich.  One day he returns to find her gone.  

Looking around the room, I could see the honesty and sincerity of The Brother Brothers was felt by everyone in the room.  I hope to get the chance to see them again, soon!

 

 

Chuck Whiting’s Daily Diary 9-24-21 - Beth Nielsen Chapman

Chuck Whiting’s Daily Diary 9-24-21

The Americana Music Fest: Beth Nielsen Chapman 

 “Only the ones who believe ever see what they dream, ever dream what comes true.” — Beth Nielsen Chapman (I have Alabama roots, so taking in an extraordinary show by Beth Nielsen Chapman was extra special (sorry for the cliché). Beth Nielsen Chapman used her Americana appearance as an opportunity to provide a preview of her upcoming album. Her audience (me among them) was not disappointed. The artist has the uncanny ability to express deeply moving emotion on ballads, then rock fans to energetic ecstasy. Well, that might seem over the top. But I really did have a great time. “My co-writer Keb Mo said I needed a woman on this one,” she told us, launching into the playful and infectious “Put a Woman in Charge.” Beth celebrated the life and contributions of the late John Prine with “Walk in Heaven,” recalling how Prine, a cancer survivor, spent an afternoon with her in 2000 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The former Alabamian walked to a grand piano at the back of the stage to play one of her favorite new songs, “With Time.” There’s a lot more I could write here, but the bass line is that Beth Nielsen Chapman has the chops. The artist is musically gifted in so many ways, and she has excellent taste in material, co-writers, and supporting musicians. Her trumpet player (whose name both she and I forgot) was killer. I was disappointed to hear that her new album will not be released till 2022. Otherwise, I would have bought a CD on my way out. Oh well… something to look forward to. Check out my story to hear clips of a BNC song.) #ChuckWhiting #BethNielsenChapman #Americana #AmericanaFest #Music #CityWinery #LiveShows #Nashville #Tennessee #Festivals #Art #Arts #MusicCityArts 

Follow Chuck Whiting on Instagram or Facebook @Chuck.Whiting or @MusicCityArts

Americana Music Fest Spotlights Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls, Raye Zaragoza, and Keifer Sutherland

Americana Music Fest 2021

 

City Winery, Thursday (Sept. 23)

 

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

 

                  NASHVILLE -- I love harmony, so I was excited to see Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls, who all sing.  With Muller on Keyboards and lead vocals, Missy Soltero on percussion and lead vocals, Martha McDonald on violin, and John Wooley on guitar, we hear a throwback to the California sound of the '60s.  Lots of energy and harmony exude from this band. 

                  The numbers that grabbed me were “Just Trying to Find My Way” and “This Ain’t Me.”  The former is about trying to get through the craziness of today’s world. Muller said there used to be three major news networks, and they all pretty much said the same thing.  Today we have cable and a ton of networks and they are all saying something different!

 

                  In researching the band, I learned that Pete is a hedge fund manager and quantitative trader with Morgan Stanley. He also graduated with honors from Princeton in math!

 

                  There was a buzz going around about Raye Zaragoza, so I ran upstairs to the lounge to catch her set. I am so glad I did!  Zaragoza’s mother came to America as an adopted immigrant from Japan at 3 years old. Her father grew up in California and is of Mexican and Native American descent.  Raye grew up in New York City in studio apartment.

                  Without an introduction, she walked onto the stage with her guitar and opened with “I’m a Rebel Soul.”  She explained her last album was about identities, so she knew she had to write a song about her mother, and came up with “Change Your Name.”  Raye’s grandmother told her mother this before her mother left Japan.  Before she went on her first big tour, she was nervous. She took that nervous energy and turned it into “Warrior," singing “I don’t want to be nervous anymore, I’m a warrior."

 

                  Zaragoza talked about what it was like to grow up as a brown-skinned girl who looked different from the girls in the magazines, TV and  movies. From this she segued into “American Dream.” I read that Raye’s influences were Carol King, Joni Mitchel, Joan Baez, and Buffy Saint Marie.  She embodies all of them with kindness, poise and grace.

 

                  It was time to go downstairs to hear Kiefer Sutherland, a name familiar to us all.  This was my first time hearing Sutherland sing. He has a pleasing Dylan-type of voice without the rough edges. He accompanied himself on guitar and brought along a pedal steel player and a guitarist who also did background vocals.  Both fine musicians.

                  Kiefer opened with the fun “Tonight’s Rodeo,” followed by “Can’t Stay Away." He spoke of being in the studio recording the latter.  His friends were chiding and asking what girl was the song about. Sutherland didn’t answer.  His friends disappeared, and he was in the control room with his 13-year-old daughter.  She gave him a funny look and told him she knew what it was about. He said, “Okay, what’s it about?”  She answered, “That stupid bar across the street." Sutherland said none of his friends could figure that out, but here my daughter did! 

 

                  Kiefer discovered Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash as an adult.  He said Cash gave prisoners dignity by writing about prison, adding, “The first thing they take away from you in prison is your dignity.  I’ve never been to prison, but I’ve been to jail a few times so I ought to know!” “Shirley Jean” is Sutherland’s homage to Cash about a man in prison.

 

                  He closed the set with a number about one of his tours, saying, “It rained every single day, so I wrote a song about it called 'Chasing the Rain.'  I checked the Weather app to make sure it was still clear outside!"

 

 

Chuck Whiting’s Daily Diary 9-23-21 - Keifer Sutherland Plays Nashville

At City Winery during the 2021 Americana Music Fest… 

“My whole mood or sense can change by virtue of the music that I'm listening to. It really does affect me on a visceral and emotional level.” — Keifer Sutherland (Keifer Sutherland is an entertaining musician and an adept songwriter in the Americana (some say country) genre. And, of course, he’s a proven movie and TV actor. He proved his range beyond acting during an enjoyable performance Thursday night at City Winery in Nashville. Keifer, the son of Canadian acting legend Donald Sutherland, initially made his fame as an actor in a number of movies and the popular Fox drama “24,” for which he won an Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Awards, and two Satellite Awards. And while that notoriety plays into his automatic exposure as a music artist, I found myself impressed by his hook ideas and keen ability to weave reality into meaningful lyrics and stories. He has a passion for songwriting, and it surprisingly shows. He’s the first actor who has impressed me musically in a good while. Accompanied by steel guitar, he took the audience on an emotional journey of grit, love, longing, hurt, forgiveness and healing. Overcoming mistakes served as a central theme for most of the songs he played. He revealed his love and appreciation for Cash and Jennings with “Shirley Jean,” a song about a Death Row inmate’s parting letter to a girlfriend on the eve of his execution. Keifer owned up to his own mistakes with “County Jail Gate,” a tune about his 48-hour stay in the Los Angeles Country Jail on drunken driving charges. The actor showed openness and humility, admitting that he’d made mistakes and believed in forgiveness. Other songs on the Keifer playlist included the forthcoming country/Americana single, “Bloor Street.” “I just heard my song playing on the radio here in Nashville today,” he said to applause. “It’s rare for an artist to ever have that opportunity.” Keifer announced that he will tour the United Kingdom and other European countries after his new album is released in January. One of the reasons I love the Americana Fest is because you never know who you’re going to see or hear. Unlike the more predictable and glitzy, tuxedoed CMA Fest, the AF features music from every rooted walk of life. Keifer Sutherland’s City Winery appearance was laid back and less polished, like a living room strum and tell, which made it even more authentic and enjoyable. It broadened my respect for him as an artist.) #ChuckWhiting #KeiferSutherland #AmericanaFest #Americana #Music #Nashville #Country #Folk #Jazz #Blues #RandB #RootsMusic #LiveShows #CityWinery #NashvilleCityWinery #Art #Arts #MusicCityArts 

(Text and photos Copyright 2021 By Chuck Whiting)

Follow me on Instagram @Chuck.Whiting or @MusicCityArts 

Americana Fest — M.E.M. Presents: The Pure Memphis Happy Hour at InDo

Thursday (Sept. 23), 4-7pm.  

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE — Happy Hour kicked off with Mama Honey, a rock, punk blues band rooted in the ‘60s hard rock tradition.  If you love that era of rock, you will LOVE Mama Honey!  Tamar Love on guitar and lead vocals, Fields Falcone on bass, and David McNinch on drums will rock you to heaven.  A highlight for me was the gritty “Tell Me You Want Me.”

Southern Avenue came on next, named after a street in Memphis, a five-piece blues and soul band.  Group leader Guitarist Ori Naftaly, an Israeli, moved to Memphis in 2013.  He met lead singer dynamo Tierinii Jackson, who introduced him to her sister, drummer Tikyra.  And the nucleus of the band was formed later adding Jeremy Powell on keyboards and Evan Sarver on bass. 

This band will blow you away!  Great harmonies and superb musicians who will not disappoint!  My favorites were “My Hearts Got to Have It,” the crowd pleaser “Don’t Give Up,” and the slow-burning “We’re Gonna Make it.” (my favorite!)

Jeremy Stanfill grew up listening to the greats on Stax Records. His dad was part of the Memphis garage band movement. Jeremy started his first band at age 8.  At 14 he formed Crippled Nation, which was touted to be the next big thing out of Memphis. Later he formed the promising Streetside Symphony. But fame always seemed to elude him.  His lyrics lean towards missed opportunity, heartbreak, and self doubt.  But, I saw a lot of smiles around the room when he played “My Shoes.”

After Stanfill, I headed over to City Winery to get a good seat for the evening show.

You can follow Music City Arts on Instagram and Facebook @MusicCityArts. 

Chuck Whiting's Daily Diary 9-22-21 - Why I Love The Americana Music Fest

Chuck Whiting's Daily Diary:

 

Why I love the Americana Music Fest

 

Sept. 22, 2021

 

 

“There are always generic terms like 'Americana', but there are no boundaries as to where it can go.” — Robert Plant (Americana music — American roots music — comes from all kinds of people… Black, White, Latin, country, urban, Southern, Western, farmer, teacher, student, truck driver, Uber driver, preacher, choir leader, mechanic, waitress, artist, gay, straight, male, female, mother, father, low income, middle class, eccentric, eclectic, you name it … That’s what makes it authentic. Americana music and accompanied down-to-earth stories creep into your bones and rev up your soul. You might hear rhythm and blues, country, jazz and/or a combination of all three… or perhaps something else. Whatever it is, you’ll yearn to groove. Of all the events in Nashville, the Americana Music Fest is my favorite. It kicked off Wednesday night with a number of touching moments at the annual Americana Awards Show at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Highlights included a humble acceptance speech by the legendary blues artist Keb Mo (Lifetime Achievement Award), a performance of “Highwomen” by the trio the Highwomen, a performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers (Legacy Americana Award), and a hilarious homage to The Mavericks by producer Tony Brown (Trailblazer Award). Brandi Carlile, who won Artist of the Year, awed the crowd with several breathtaking performances. The show reserved special moments to remember some of the artists we lost during the past year, including Nancy Griffith, Tom T. Hall, and John Prine. Special guests included Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, who closed the show with a duet. It was an outstanding kickoff for what looks to be another unforgettable festival. The pandemic be damned (although all safety measures taken.) I plan to share a few highlights with photos each day.) #ChuckWhiting #RobertPlant #AmericanaMusicFestival #AmericanaMusic #Americana #Music #RootsMusic #Country #Blues #Jazz #RandB #Soul #Latin #Nashville #MusicCityArts #BrandiCarlile #Highwomen #FiskJubileeSingers #KebMo #EmmylouHarris #RodneyCrowell #AmericanaFest 

 

Writing and original photos (montage) by Chuck Whiting (Copyright 2021)

 

Chuck Whiting is a writer, songwriter, photographer and educator.

 

You can follow Chuck on Instagram @Chuck.Whiting or @MusicCityArts

Brandi Carlile Wins Artist of the Year, Wows Crowd at Americana Honors & Awards Show

 

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

 

                  NASHVILLE -- The 20th annual Americana Honors & Awards Show took place at the Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday (Sept. 22).  The top award, Artist of the Year, went to Brandi Carlile.

 

                  Accepting the award she said, “To be artist of the year after a year like we have all had as a community, there’s a weight to it, I know it’s profound. I don't take it for granted because it was hard to be an artist this year -- a year full of love and loss and debilitating empathy. People died, and people were born, and we were just trying to love each other."

 

                  Carlile also won this award in 2019.  She performed the poignant  “Right On Time” from her upcoming album, "In These Silent Days."

 

                  Tributes in song were given to those that left us in the last year.  The house band with Aaron Lee Tasjan on lead vocals rendered  “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin'” in memory of Rolling Stone’s drummer Charlie Watts.  Aoife O’Donovan and Joe Henry performed “Gulf Coast Highway” in honor of Nanci Griffith.  Buddy Miller gave a fitting tribute to Tom T. Hall with “How I got to Memphis.” The show closed with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell performing “Let it Be Me” and “Bye Bye Love,” remembering Don Everly.

 

 

                  Song of the Year was awarded to John Prine for “I’ve Seen Everything.” It was accepted by his wife Fiona and their three sons.  Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, and Margo Price gave a stunning rendition of this, the last original song Prine recorded.

 

                  Charlie Crockett won for Emerging Artist, humbly commenting that he’s made 10 albums, but he’s only now being recognized.  His performance of the rootsy “Are We Lonesome Yet” is sure to win over new fans.

 

                  The Legacy of Americana Award, presented in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music, went to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.  They were joined by the soulful Leon Timbo singing the hand-clapping, foot-stomping gospel number “I Believe."

 

                  One of the cultural roots influences was the Mavericks giving a stunning Spanish performance of “La Sitiera,” backed by a string quartet, horns and accordion. 

 

                  One of the evening’s highlights was the lovely Valerie June singing “Call Me a Fool” backed by Stax legendary artist Carla Thomas.  Thomas picked up the Americana Inspiration Award and sang one of her early hits, “Baby." Carla has worked tirelessly with Artists In The Schools, a youth-focused non-profit along with being an inspiration to many.

 

                  Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, summed up the evening best saying, “Given today’s uncertain times, there is no greater assurance that the power of music brings people together to uplift their spirits when they need it the most. I’m beyond proud of our artists and community for reminding me again why this is my favorite night of the year, every year.”

 

                  Follow Music City Arts on Instagram and Facebook @MusicCityArts.

 

Earth Mama Builds Bridges and Brings Healing With ‘LovingKindness’

         INDEPENDENCE, Va. — Joyce Rouse is bringing "LovingKindness" to an aching, disconnected world with a new easy listening interfaith album for Christian, Buddhist, Jewish and indigenous peoples.

 

         Earth Mama’s 11-song effort, “LovingKindness,” comes at a crucial time when Americans are working for racial justice and peoples of the world are facing one of the most serious pandemics in recent times.

 

         “These songs are all part of the deepening of my own spiritual journey,” says Rouse, who began writing and recording songs for the project in 2015. “The origins of their words spring from the ancient wisdom of many faith traditions. Those traditions all spring from the ever-folding Universe visible in the light of sky.”

 

         The uplifting, soothing and diverse collection of gentle recordings include 10 original songs with lyrical contributions from Scottish poet Ann Palmer. Christian church-goers will recognize a breathtaking version of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Others will be deeply touched by songs that reflect the universal concepts of many of the world’s religious traditions.

 

         Music lovers, faith leaders, and others can download or order the “LovingKindness” album at www.EarthMama.org, www.Amazon.com, and a host of other online retailers. The project was recorded at Nashville’s County Q, with session performances by guitarist Rob Matson, keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Catherine Marx, percussionist Paul Scholten, bassist Kyle Scholten, harmonicist Richard Rouse, and background vocalists Dee Moeller, Lisa Silver and Kim Parent. Rouse contributes lead vocals and acoustic piano. 

 

 

         “This is music created for feeding the heart and soul — a spiritual journey,” Rouse adds. “The songs were written and recorded to reach the listener with integrity, joy and beauty.”

 

         Like her other music and stage projects, Earth Mama is using “LovingKindness” to help heal planet Earth one song at a time. But in this case, it’s a wonderful vehicle for spiritual growth, building bridges between cultures, and bringing healing during a very fragile time in the planet’s history.

 

         The title track, “LovingKindness,” was inspired by an ancient Buddhist prayer.

 

         “I began with a version from Joyce Rupp’s Boundless Compassion program, which I reworded some and adapted to fit a musical form,” the artist continues. “I also was inspired over the years from interpretations by Fr. Richard Rohr and others.”

 

         Gently, Rouse sings, “May I abide in Lovingkindness… May I (you/we) be free from suffering… May I receive what I need… May I be at peace…”

 

         One listener, Spiritual Director Cindy Chicoine of Iowa, says she returned to the track again and again. “I feel the energy of the blessing beyond the structure of the words. This is a living word prayer. It seems to come alive in the mouth and ear, emanating beyond and beyond and beyond, the sound vibration reaching all. I easily trust its power.”

 

         Rouse says she has walked many different labyrinths in North America. Her song, “Labyrinth,” reflects her sense of hope and joy during those walks.

 

         “The labyrinth is an ancient art form for contemplation and meditation,” Earth Mama notes. “The photo of the beach labyrinth on the CD inner sleeve was taken by Scottie Pritchard, whose family labyrinth is listed on the World Labyrinth website at www.labyrinth locator.com.”

 

         “Life is like a Labyrinth spiraled on the ground,” Rouse sings in a lovely, down-to-earth, reassuring manner. “Circling to find new lessons each time around… A Circle! Ever widening the circle!… Spiral! Expanding compassion in a spiral!… Call it LOVE… Just call it LOVE… The Universe is unfathomable love…”

 

 

 

         The Rev. Laura M. George of The Oracle Institute proclaims: “The ‘Labyrinth’ song is amazing! This is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It truly brought tears to my eyes.”

 

         Part of the album centers on helping build bridges between peoples on local, regional, national and international levels. Rouse calls her song, “One Stone,” a musical “palate cleanser” between courses.

 

         “It is a reminder that instead of walls, we would be wise to build bridges,” Earth Mama says in a delicate tone. “Each stone of kindness brings us closer to fixing a rough patch or relationship.”

 

         Other heartfelt songs or musical prayers on the album are ideal for spirituality centers, classrooms, personal meditation, yoga, and healing work. They include other originals such as “All In All,” “The Great Vision,” “Breathing Beauty,” “Children of the World,” “Welcome Angels,” and “What Is Mine to Do?” The track “Blissed” was written and recorded in memory of Karen Hirschowitz Engel, a noted Nashville artist who passed away in 2016.

 

         Author Joyce Rupp sums up praise for Earth Mama’s “LovingKindness” CD this way: “Our planet and people are so in need of this compassionate energy. Joyce Rouse’s meaningful messages and comforting melodies encourage our hearts. Her songs remind us to believe in love and to keep hope alive.”

Daughter of Baseball Legend Henry Kimbro Expresses Appreciation After Major League Baseball Elevates Negro Leaguers to Major League Status

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 2021) -- Author/educator Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton said she "felt like a kid at Christmas" after Major League Baseball announced it was correcting a longtime oversight in the game's history by elevating the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1948 to major-league status.

            The MLB December announcement honored approximately 3,400 Black and Latino players from seven district leagues who were barred from joining the segregated National and American leagues. Newly classified Major Leaguers include Nashville baseball legends such as James "Junior" Gilliam (Baltimore Elite Giants); Harriet's father Henry Kimbro (Nashville/Baltimore Elite Giants); Bruce Franklin "Buddy" Petway (Leland Giants); and Norman "Turkey" Stearnes (Nashville Elite Giants/Detroit Stars).

            "When the announcement from Major League Baseball came on Dec. 16, I received so many texts and calls," said Harriet, who recently celebrated the release of a new book honoring Nashville's Black baseball legends. "I felt like a kid at Christmas who was so excited about the present. What a great present to be given to all of the families of those Negro Leaguers."

            Harriet's book, "Home Plate: Henry Kimbro and Other Negro Leaguers of Nashville, Tennessee," honors the memories of 18 Black baseball heroes who called Nashville their home.

            "Finally, my father and so many other Negro Leaguers who labored for the love of their sport, when half of the population in the country didn't even know they existed, was the final victory for injustice," she added. "The recent movement and recognition of this generation that stood up for the Black Lives Matter issues shined a light on the question of why injustice. This issue covered several areas of concern, and because professional sport is a venue that is highly visible in that regard, I think Major League Baseball gave the right answer to the injustice question at the right time."

            The reclassification of Negro Leaguers came after "Home Plate" was released on Dec. 5. A virtual event also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Negro Baseball League. To watch a recording of the event, visit https://youtu.be/IZhONpi7wxA.

            "My goal is to first nurture a partnership with a group to see if we can get 'Home Plate' donated to every middle and high school library in the Metro-Davidson County School System," said Harriet, who recently retired as an associate professor at Tennessee State University. "This is the only book that provides the history of Negro League baseball for Nashville."

Black baseball legend Henry Kimbro (from the book "Home Plate")

            Harriet added that she and other descendants of Nashville's Black baseball heroes are organizing an educational program to honor their legacies.

            According to the History Channel, the league was launched in 1920, with Black baseball enjoying periods of success in the early 1920s and again after the Great Depression. The Nashville White Sox/Nashville Elite Giants, which were members of the Southern Negro League, made history by introducing some of the greatest baseball players of all time. The integration of major league baseball began with Jackie Robinson in 1947. After that, there was a slow but irreversible influx of talent to the majors, with the remaining Negro League teams generally folding by the 1960s.

             Also featured in Harriet's book (and re-classified as Major Leaguers) are the late baseball legends Robert "James" Abernathy, Daniel Black, William "Soo" Bridgeforth, Sidney Bunch, Elliot Coleman, Wesley "Doc" Dennis, Edward Lee "Lefty" Derrick, Edward Martin, Clinton "Butch" McCord, Taylor Smith, Thomas "Tom" Wilson, and Jim Zapp.

            The book features a foreword by Henry Kimbro's great-granddaughter (Harriet's great-niece) Jada Scott, and a chapter titled "My Adventures with Grandpa" that documents the unforgettable experiences of Harriet's son, Patrick Hamilton. A photo in "Home Plate" shows Harriet's great-niece, Brooklyn Scruggs, visiting the street sign of Junior Gilliam Way in front of the Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium with her dog Blossom.

            The author's book includes information about Vernon and Henyene Green, the husband-and-wife owners of the Nashville Elite Giants (later the Baltimore Elite Giants). Henyene became the first woman in Nashville to become a team owner after her husband's death. Under her leadership, the Baltimore Elite Giants won the 1949 League Championship.

            The author has included a special "Scavenger Hunt" chapter to provide a free, fun and educational activity in Nashville for children of all ages. Readers can win prizes by finding three Negro League landmarks and e-mailing their photos to HenryKimbro14@gmail.com.

            Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton served as an associate professor for Tennessee State University in Nashville until her retirement in 2020. During her athletic career, she served as head coach in various sports and athletic director of Fisk University. She also has served as a professor for Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The author also chaired the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Committee and served on the ABA-USA Committee that selected the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal Women's Basketball Team. In 2016, she received the Robert Peterson Recognition Award for her book, "Daddy's Scrapbook: Henry Kimbro of the Negro Baseball League, A Daughter's Perspective." She also has received awards from the Women's Sports Foundation; the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (the Dr. Nell C. Jackson Award); Fisk University (Women of Prominence Award); and the Temple University League for Entrepreneurial Women (Hall of Fame inductee). She was inducted into the Fisk University Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

             "Home Plate," which retails for $12, is available exclusively at www.Amazon.com. For more information, contact Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton at HenryKimbro14@gmail.com. To learn more about Nashville's important role in Negro League baseball, visit www.Facebook.com/HenryKimbro or www.Twitter.com/KimbroNlb.