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PN
PENN'S STORE PRESENTS
2013 KENTUCKY WRITER'S DAY CELEBRATION
Friday April 19, Saturday, April 20,
and Sunday April 21, 2013
Writers/PARTICIPANTS
For a Schedule of the 2013 weekend
events, click here.
You will enjoy
Kentucky Writers' Day at two area locations;
we look forward to your being part of it.
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 Dr. H.
R. Stoneback and the
Elizabeth Madox Roberts Society from New York will be joining us
again this year.
H. R.
Stoneback is Distinguished Professor of English at the
State University of New York. As Honorary President of the Elizabeth
Madox Roberts Society, every year he leads
dozens of students from New York and many other states (including
France!) to Kentucky to study Roberts, one of Kentucky's greatest
writers, and to participate in the annual Roberts Conferences held at
St. Catharine College (and other venues in Springfield and Harrodsburg)
every April since 1999. In addition, Roberts Society members have
participated in the Penn's Store Kentucky Writers Day programs for over
a decade.
Stoneback is the author or
editor of 30 books, roughly half poetry and half literary studies.
Dr. H. R. Stoneback |
KY Writer's Day Show - performances by
Dawn Lane Osborn, and other
Kentucky Writers' Day Songwriters. Dawn is a poet, song writer, and
musician and performs professionally. |
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Special
Guest
Appearance |
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NEWS FLASH!
NEW ADDITION:
The BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKOFF held in January
at the Roby Dome, Marion County High School, Lebanon,
Kentucky held its first "Songwriting Contest". Jeanne Lane,
on behalf of Historic Penn's Store and the 2013 KWD CELEBRATION
presented to the winner a "spot" in the "SONGWRITERS TRIBUTE
SHOWCASE" for the Friday Night line up.
The winner -
DON GAYLORD - Nashville, originally from New York
state. Here's some info on him below.
Guest
Appearance Friday Evening-- Don
Gaylord
Don
Gaylord is an award-winning songwriter and performer from
Kinderhook, NY. He moved to Nashville in February of 2006 on
following the 2002-2003 success of the song “Better Chance” which
was co-written with his friend Jim Dufty and recorded by
independent artist Dave Young. Don has also had his share of
success in his native Northeast with numerous nominations and wins
for awards from the NorthEastCMA as well as radio airplay on
multiple Upstate New York stations and a weekly television show
based in Schenectady, NY.
Don’s writing and performing styles reflect the diversity of his
musical interests that range from Electronica to Delta Blues.
You
can hear Don at
http://www.reverbnation.com/dongaylord
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 Guest Appearance
-- Friday Evening
Obie Slater
From
the cotton fields of the Egypt Plantation in Bentonia,
Mississippi, to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee.
In a
small town located in Central Kentucky, was an old Cinder Block
building, which stood on a back street of a town called
Lebanon. The correct name was Water Street, the nick name
was “Back Street” the old building was the home of
Club
Cherry
where the black folk went to party. Though it is not mentioned
as one of the stops on the well known “Chitlin
Circuit”
it was very much a part of the journey.
Here a
man who was born the son of a Sharecropper, with barely a
fourth grade education, became one of the most recognized men
in the town of Lebanon, Kentucky and in all the surrounding
counties because he was the manager of the famed black night
club called “Club
Cherry”
where entertainers from
Otis Redding
to Count Bassie
played their music long before they became famous.
Reminisce with him as he tells of his journey and the Hall of
Fame Entertainers he booked long before they were Hall of
Famers.
Obie Slater will do a book signing
in the lobby of EMS on Friday Evening, and maybe even answer
some of your questions about Otis Redding, Little Richard, Ike
& Tina and some of the other "greats" many of us remember.
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Guest Appearance
-- Saturday Evening
Terry Wooley
Singer, songwriter, actor, author and the new host of "COUNTRY
JUNCTION" on WDRB - TV, Louisville,
TERRY WOOLEY is an accomplished musician with
over 300 songs and jingles to his credit. He has also
written a book, a movie script and the score for his first full
length motion picture. He is one who not only enjoys the
writing and performing, but is actively involved in the
creation of music behind the scenes. As a producer and an
engineer, along with being a session guitar player, he has
played on or recorded countless albums including 6 of his own.
A great showman and entertainer Terry Wooley has headlined
music venues all across the U.S. A workaholic that spends
every waking moment for the music, and now is the host of his
very own variety TV show,
"COUNTRY JUNCTION". Catch Terry's show
any opportunity you may have. You won't be
disappointed.
" COUNTRY
JUNCTION "
on WBKI - TV
and ION Network, Louisville.
Check your local listings for
dates/times.
Friday night, June 16, 2012, at the Woodstock Festival Art Center
in Woodstock, Alabama, Terry
Wooley performed for an enthusiastic crowd. Terry was there to
promote the movie “Alabama Gator Oil. ” which is based on his
book by the same name. He also wrote the title song and has a
part in the movie which will come out in August 2014 and stars
American Idol winners, Scotty McCrary and Carrie Underwood.
Terry Wooley is a gifted singer, songwriter, actor and author
who brought cheers from the crowd with songs such as “Country
Boy,” , and “Average Joe,” then tears with his moving story of
Haley, for whom he wrote the song “There Is A Cure.” As a
result of his meeting with young cancer victim , Terry now
donates all the proceeds from the sale his merchandise from the
“Terry Wooley Show,” to the “Children’s Miracle Network.” You
can find this and other Wooley charities along with his music
at http://www.terrywooley.com/fr_welcome.cfm.
SATURDAY EVENING in the LOBBY
GUITAR SIGNING for VETERANS
6 PM - 8 PM
Terry Wooley has a guitar he takes with
him when he performs around the country for veterans to sign.
The guitar is being donated to the WOUNDED WARRIORS. Terry
will have the guitar available for signing by veterans in the
lobby of EMS before his performance.
To all VETERANS ...
Come out, meet Terry and sign this special guitar.
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Emcees |
Larry Sanders & BorderLine are
a versatile group of musicians. If you enjoy country
music, (old and new), old rock and roll, some gospel and a
little bit of bluegrass, Larry Sanders and
BorderLine is the of
entertainers for you. They are well known for their
impersonations,
colorful costumes and
comedy routines. If you've
ever been to a Pigeon Forge
or Branson
music show, Larry
Sanders & BorderLine are the
group for you.
They have worked
with Ronnie McDowell and The
Jordaniers, The
Kentucky Headhunters,
International folk singer
Michael Jonathan and
they were the band when Gary
Edwards visited
Kentucky. They have performed on cable and KET. Larry has been
a special guest on the RFDTV broadcast of MidWest Country and Jordan
Leigh Young has appeared
on "The Morning Show" on CBS with Dolly
Parton and has been
Dolly's guest at the Grand
Ole Opry.
Larry Sanders &
BorderLine are known
for their "Tribute to Kentucky", Patriotic and Christmas
concerts.
If you want "Excellence
in Entertainment" for
your next event, contact Larry Sanders & BorderLine.
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Wilma Brown of Danville is a retired English
teacher and librarian. She is also an artists whose portraits
hang in over 300 homes in central Kentucky. In community
involvement, she has been a founding member of several non-profit
arts organizations as well as the owner of a retail store
representing the work of over 100 Kentucky artists. For the
past six years she has been a member of the Board of Directors of
the Kentucky Arts Council. |
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Jim Powell was born and reared in Washington Co. Ky.
He has been involved with music his entire life. He has
been a member of several bands in the area including Wild Roses
and Borderline. He has been an emcee for numerous events
and enjoys entertaining with a touch of comedy. He is a
licensed auctioneer and is never at a loss for words.
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 Chad
M. Horn is an award winning poet and author of three
books. He owns and
operates KENTUCKYLIT, an independent bookstore in Harrodsburg
specializing in Kentucky authors. Chad frequently appears on
WRFL, WHBN, and WHIR radio programs discussing Kentucky
literature, and has taught and lectured on this subject for the
past eight years.
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Hershel McKinley is
probably best known for his many
years on Danville radio stations WKLO, WHIR, and WMGE-FM, as News
Director, public affairs broadcaster and morning air personality.
He is also one of the Main Stage Emcees for the Great American
Brass Band Festival held each June in Danville. In what Hershel
describes as "long ago and far away" he wrote, produced, directed
and appeared in many films for the State of Kentucky in The
Department of Public Information. Hershel has worked in the
Lexington and northern Ohio radio and television markets and is a
graduate of Kent State University.
Born in Southern Kentucky,
Hershel called Danville home for many years, but now lives on a
farm in northern Mercer County with his wife Shirley, who is a
Labor/Delivery RN at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in
Danville. Hershel and Shirley have two married children, Jason and
Mary Beth McKinley, Rachel and Preston Correll and two
grandchildren, Gus and Annie Correll.
Calling himself a lifelong
fledgling novice in creative writing Hershel is a member of
Speaking Out and Nomadic Ink writing groups in Mercer County.
Hershel currently does freelance
voice work and script writing. He has been heard throughout the
South in radio and television commercials, industrial video
voiceovers, audio book readings, and political radio
advertisements. For the last few years he has also been the sound
engineer for the Forkland Festival Bean Supper Play.
He and Shirley, and their
children, have had the opportunity to travel or work in many parts
of the world including East Africa, Central America, England, the
Caribbean, and India.
Photography is a long time hobby
of Hershel's and one of his photos was recently used in an
advertisement on the back cover of a national equine magazine. |
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List of Other Writers and Performers |
Chris Hamilton
is
an award-winning journalist and photographer. Over a span of 23
years, he worked as sports editor,
news editor and, eventually, managing editor of The Lebanon
(Ky.) Enterprise. He is currently executive director of the
Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in Aurora, Ill.
In 2011, Hamilton was named one of Kentucky’s Top 200
Authors and he routinely reads selections from his unpublished
autobiography “Two Inches to the Left” at Kentucky Writers Day
Celebration. |
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John Robinson, photographer
Having spent his early years in the USMC, C. A. Shelley
became a member of the Lexington Fire Department, retiring
after 28 years of service. In 2010 he found his voice in the
arts by writing and co-producing the movie Gone But Not
Forgotten, the Story of the Smoke Eaters, a full length
documentary chronicling the memories and experiences of his
“Firefighter Brothers”.
During the filming
Shelley became so inspired that he began to write. First: A
Collection of Poems, Thoughts & Short Stories about his beloved
Fire Department. Second: Wake up America Its Your
Conscience Calling, 30 poems honoring the struggles that our
military and their families are enduring every moment. Third: A
Spiritual Awakening, 49 poems of inspiration and hope. His
current book: God and Kentucky, a book of love poems about God
in all His glory and Kentucky, its beauty, people and history
with a touch of humor thrown in.
He calls himself a
“Blue-Collar Poet”, with My God guiding this ship, putting His
words in my heart, which I put to paper. I am on a mission and
I have a lot to say, look for me; I’m coming to you down God’s
highway.”
C. A. and his wife Rita reside at Herrington
Lake, Mercer County, Kentucky. |
Darlene Franklin Campbell is an award-winning poet and
novelist from southern Kentucky. She is also a first grade
teacher and visual artist. Her works include I Listened,
Momma, Uncommon Clay, Looking for Pork Chop McQuade
and Touched.
Darlene donates
portions of her royalties to aid in the fight against cancer
and to fund efforts aimed at halting mountaintop removal. She
holds an Master’s Degree from Lindsey Wilson College and has
done post grad work at Western Kentucky University. She is
proud of her Appalachian heritage and writes about the region
and its people, not as an outsider looking in with romantic
notions, but as one who has risen up out of the Kentucky soil,
like a tree, with roots going four hundred years deep, touching
long-gone Scotch Irish settlers, Native American bloodlines and
Melungeon legends.
In her spare
time, Darlene is an avid disciple of martial arts and enjoys
spending time with friends, family and nature.
http://www.darlenefranklincampbell.com/chippie
http://www.nochipa.wordpress.com |
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The
Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Society will be part of
the events,
in conjunction with their conference at St. Catherine College in
Springfield.
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 Paula Hill grew up in Danville, where her
father West T. Hill was chairman of the theatre department of
Centre College. He later founded West T. Hill Community
Theatre and gave Paula a great love for writing and all the fine
arts. Paula taught English and Theatre at the University of
Kentucky, Lexington Community College and Centre College. She
designs and leads fine arts tour groups to New York, London and
Tuscany. Her compositions include a chapbook of poetry: By
Heart, writing and directing plays at the West T. Hill
Community Theatre, and writing a business column for The
Advocate-Messenger.
Paula Hill is a retired teacher and lives in Danville.
She recently directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at
The West T. Hill Community Theatre. She has a chapbook
entitled By Heart and is working on a new book of
poetry tentatively entitled Incandescence.
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Homeland
Inspiration Group recording artist Jim Sheldon has earned his
first ever Top 20 hit single this month. His first single to
Christian Country radio – “God Is Looking At My Heart” – jumped
all the way to #20 on the PowerSource Magazine Inspirational
Country Top 100 Chart. “This is such amazing news,”
mentioned Jim Sheldon. “God has really been moving in ways I
never imagined in my ministry. I’m so thankful that a song like
‘God Is Looking at My Heart’ can touch so many lives.”
“God Is Looking at My Heart” is the debut single from
Jim’s recording His Grace. The single was released and
promoted to Christian Country radio through HMG Nashville. Fans
of Christian country and Southern Gospel music can hear the
single by visiting Jim’s website at
http://www.jimsheldonmusic.com . You can also sample Jim’s
music by visiting his Reverb Nation site at
http://www.reverbnation.com/jimsheldon .
In addition,
Jim’s debut music video for his Southern Gospel single “I
Belong to Jesus” has received an overwhelming response on
YouTube and is garnering much media attention for the Christian
Country singer.
The video has
already had an impressive 40,000 views and counting since its
debut on the web just last month.
“The video was
a blast to make, but more importantly, it’s really touching
lives, and people are getting the message behind the song,”
mentioned Jim. “It’s exciting to see God’s hand in all of this
stuff.”
You can view
the video by visiting YouTube at
http://youtu.be/t43KwQMYKcg . The video is also
streaming on the industry’s leading website
AbsolutelyGospel.com.
Jim recently
released his debut recording for Homeland Inspirational Group’s
Christian country label Mont Eagle Records. The album – I
Belong to Jesus – released during the National Quartet
Convention in Louisville, Kentucky this past September. The new
album is also available on iTunes.
For more
information about Jim, visit his website at
www.jimsheldonmusic.com.
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 "Back
Street" from Lebanon, Kentucky, started in the late
1970s with six of the seven original members being cousins.
Today's group consist of Melvin Porter (bass, vocals), George
Brown (lead vocal, guitar, drums bass), Mike Hill (guitar,
bass, drums), Billy Downs (drums, vocals), and Wayne Pollock
(keyboards, drums bass, vocals).
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Brenda Smith Edwards worked for 42 years at the
Advocate-Messenger in Danville, Kentucky before retiring in
2007. She covered
news in Boyle and surrounding counties and began writing
historical and genealogical features for the Sunday Looking Back
page in the early 1980s.
She has written more than 1400 articles and continues as
a contributing writer for the newspaper.
She also helped gather and compile information for seven
books. She gives the
credit for her love of Kentucky history to her former editor,
the late Enos Swain, one of Kentucky’s greatest historians.
Brenda has just compiled
many of her articles into a book named
It’s history from Brenda’s
notebook. Brenda is a native of
Cleveland, Virginia, a small railroad town on the Clinch River.
Her ancestors settled there in Russell County in the
late 1700s. Brenda
came to Kentucky in 1959 after she married L. Harold Edwards of
the Forkland Community.
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 Doris
Purdom was born in the Forkland Community on Black Lick Creek
in 1931 and graduated from Forkland School in 1949. She
serves as Vice-President of the Forkland Community Center , has
been chairman of "Forkland's Old-Fashioned Bean Supper" for 38
years and has performed in most of the 38 dramas. Doris has
been married to her husband Carroll for 59 years, has one daughter
Dianna Barker and one granddaughter Jamie M. Hamblin. Doris,
along with Shirley Sheperson and Darrell Ellis, researched all
cemeteries in the Forkland community and compiled a cemetery book
called The Forgotten Past in 1976. Doris also served
on the Forkland Committee that put together the Forkland History of
families called Forkland Heritage: Its People Past and Present,
1793-1996, Vol. 1 & 2. |
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 Joe Crafa was born and
raised in Brooklyn, New York. He became interested in music of
the thirties and forties while listening to his parents' record
collection and became influenced by the styles of Dick
Haymes, Bing Crosby, and several
other artists of that era. Joe was the lead singer for several
"oldies" groups while living in New York. He played tenor
saxophone and performed at resorts in the Catskill Mountains of
New York state. After marrying he
moved to New Jersy and discontinued
any public performances. He moved to Casey County, Kentucky in
2005 and in 2009 was "drafted" by his friends to help start an
open mic at Uncle Bob's in Stanford,
Kentucky.It was there that he first
heard Leah Clark perform. The two tried an unrehearsed song
together at the open mic, which was
so well received that they decided to form a duet.
Leah Bugg Clark, born and
raised in Stanford, Kentucky, developed a love for music at an
early age, learning to play the guitar and sing at the age of
thirteen. She grew up playing music and singing in church, using
praise and worship music as the foundation of her musical
ability. She later branched out and began singing at coffee shops
and open mics, and started writing
her own music. Leah's writing influences
include Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, and Melissa Etheridge.
She is frequently compared to sixties and seventies folk music
icons like Joan Biaz and Judy
Collins. Leah's melodic song writing and stunning vocals can be
described as dream-like and haunting.
Although they came from such different musical and geographical
backgrounds, the similarity in style and vocal quality was
immediately evident. They have been described as having a "magic
blend" that captures their audiences.
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Dooley-Miller
Band is:
Joel
Miller from Irvine, KY now living in Frankfort with his
wife of 39 years. He says that performing his songs is very
difficult for him. “I am so close to the subject that the
feelings that motivated me to make up the song come back when I
perform it.” Steve Dooley from Conway, KY,
is the southern rock influence of Dooley Miller.
Jennifer Gwinn from Frankfort, KY. She is a
nurse who has been gigging since age 12. Mark Dedman
from Berea, KY percussionist.
Wayne
Westerfield, a bank vice-president and a veteran drummer
who play all types of music.
Wendell Butler
from Frankfort, KY is a retired state employee who played all
types of music regularly throughout the central KY area during
the late 1980s and then walked away. Thirteen years later
at the the urging of a friend, he returneded to music as a
member of a contemporary Christian group. With the
passion turned back on, and a mere decade later, Dooley Miller
came knocking.
Lisa Buchanan from
Frankfort, KY. A state employee, originally from Western
KY, has been playing music in the public arena since the age of
14. She played throughout the tri-state area during the
'80s and early '90s. She stepped out of public gigs for
several years while raising her daughter. She says, "I am
thrilled to be back doing what my whole heart loves to do."
Three of Joel's songs …
AMY’S SONG- Remember when your children were small and
a Band-Aid (with a hug) could fix just about any injury? Adult
children have painful problems that can’t be fixed so easily.
MOMMA PLAYED GUITAR
– Before arthritis stopped the
music, my Mother could play any song she wanted……but only in
the key of “C”. I was told I had to learn how to play “Wildwood
Flower” on the guitar before I could get one. (Don’t go near
the water until you learn how to swim.) Joel’s Mom taught him
how and Joel’s Dad brought a new guitar to him from Northern
Kentucky in a caboose on an L&N coal train.
OLD GATE ON THE HILL-
Family reunions and gatherings were at my Great-Grandparents
farm in the Sand Hill area of Estill County. The gate was on
the top of a rise about ¼ mile from
the house and could be clearly seen from the front porch. As
family members got out of the car to open the gate the folks on
the porch could see their arrival and would wave a greeting. Do
you think heaven is like that? |
 Richard Moore - Artisan, Craftsman, Musician / Songwriter presently
resides in Ashville, North Carolina. His grandfather gets the
credit for teaching him to play guitar and Johnny Cash for the
inspiration to start writing songs at the age of fifteen. Being
reared in a military family, he gathered influences from all over
the country; mainly the southeast. Moore was introduced to Penn's
Store when he accompanied buddy and Hall of Fame inductee Billy Edd
Wheeler at the 2007 "GREAT OUTHOUSE BLOWOUT". |
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Ed McClanahan is a native of Brookville,
Kentucky. A graduate of Miami University in Ohio and the
University
 of Kentucky, he has taught English and creative
writing
at Oregon State University, Stanford University, the
University of Montana, the University of Kentucky and Northern
Kentucky University. His books include The Natural
Man (a novel), Famous People I Have Known, A Congress
of Wonders, and
My Vita, If You Will. McClanahan
is now working on a novel, The Return of the Son of Needmore.
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Glenn D. Metzger has been
performing music for most of his
65 years, beginning with church
choirs from age six. After taking up violin at ten and guitar
at twelve, he played folk and rock and roll through his teen years
and early twenties while continuing to study classical music and majoring in music in college. A long hiatus to
attend to tend to family duties was followed by a return to performing.
Now, along with his solo work he plays with the string band The
Well Wishers and the song writer's collective Tingo. |
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Just
One is a Gospel R&B
Praise band that God brought together in 2009. The members of
Just One sha re a common joy for music that is encouraging,
uplifting and points their audience to the Lord. Musical
influences include R & B, Gospel, and Contemporary Praise.
Just One’s song lineup includes old favorites such as “Lean on Me”
and “Oh Happy Day” as well as many original songs. Located in
central Kentucky, Just One welcomes all opportunities to share the
Gospel in song.
Members of Just One are: Barry Harmon (keyboard & vocals), Patsy Harmon
(rhythm guitar), Renita Gray (lead vocal), Robert Coulter (bass
guitar), Cammie Coulter (background vocals), Ronnie Readnour (drums
& background vocals), Trish Claunch (background vocals) and Gerald
“Shotgun” Wethington (sound technician). If you would like to book Just One in concert for your worship service or
event, contact Trish at 859-940-9192, via e-mail at
JustOne156@gmail.com or
message on Facebook at
www.Facebook.com/JustOneBand.
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John Robinson, photographer
Gregg
Neikirk
and Adam Neikirk
are songwriters from Danville who currently live in Westfield,
Massachusetts. Gregg Neikirk is
professor of English at Westfield State University, where he
teaches literature and writing, including a popular Songwriting
course. Adam
Neikirk will soon enter graduate
school in an MFA program where he will use his jazz guitar
skills to help write poetry, among other things. Adam, who has
a B.A. in Jazz Studies, has also been a teacher in the
Songwriting classes at WSU. |
Steven Gray from Campbellsville, Kentucky, writes poetry
and short children's stories and also composes and writes music. He is a singer and a craftsman. |
|
 Yolantha
Harrison-Pace, award winning author, playwright and
poet,referenced
as America's Top 100 Literary African American Divas, Poet of the
Year, Humanitarian Author of the Year, Adjunct Reporter for
University of Southern California's Institute of Genetic Medicine
Art Museum, Guest Columnist Advocate Messenger, On-Line
Arts and Education Reporter for Examiner, Guest Poet for
THE CAN FACTORY of Mohnesee, Germany.
Ambassador to Haiti for Arise and Shine
the Light Ministries.
|
Maurice Manning was a Guggenheim fellow for
2011-2012. His
fourth book of poetry,
The Common Man, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in
2011. Manning teaches in the MFA Program for Writers at
Warren Wilson College and at Transylvania University in
Lexington. Most
recently Manning received the Lee Smith Award from Lincoln
Memorial University.
His next book, The
Gone and the Going Away, will be published in the spring of
2013. |
BE SQUARE began
as a duo with Becci Loomer and Bob Stang sharing
vocal, bass, and guitar duties. They
soon added Jonathan Clark on drums. This
exciting trio brings a modern sound to traditional and classic
songs. BE
SQUARE plays the
music we all love: country, rock, folk and R & B. They
keep it simple and keep it fun. Get
ready to smile and tap your foot; BE
SQUARE is in the
house!
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Dixie Bertram
has been teaching language arts for 21 years in Lincoln County,
Kentucky. She always had a great personal love for writing, and
since becoming a teacher, has an even greater love for teaching
others to write. Dixie began writing stories at a very young age. A
high school poetry class opened the door to another genre. Bertram
has written plays for church, which she also directed and produced,
and has also written sermon skits and personal narratives.
Dixie Bertram presently teaches at Lincoln County Middle
School; lives in Stanford, Kentucky where she has resided most of
her life, has two daughters and two granddaughters. |
|
Regina
Noel-Wethington was reared in Dry Creek, Kentucky. She
graduated from Casey County High School at the top of her class in
Choir and Music Theory. Her love for singing and writing
began at an early age. She began writing songs at age 14.
While in high school she pursued her love of music by singing in a
gospel group and also in church. In a later move to Indiana,
Wethington continued her musical interests in writing and by
singing with a soft rock band for 2 years. Upon return to
Kentucky she sang with Jerry Chapman and the Young Country Band.
Her published poems include "Peace of Mind" and "Life".
Regina is married to Ernest R. Wethington, a Kentucky native,
and has 4 beautiful children who also carry Mom's love of music,
one son-in-law now serving in Afghanistan and one
adorable grandson. Regina Wethington resides in Summersville,
Kentucky.
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"RAPTURE" - Classic Rock &
Christian Rock
Lead Guitarist Lynnwood
Peavler is 13
years old and his brother, drummer/vocalist,
Bowman
Peavler is 11. Both have been playing music
since the age of 5 and 6. They are homeschooled and live
in Harrodsburg, Ky. These brothers have performed at
charity events, Natasha's of
Lexington, the Kentucky State Fair, Ralph Long State Park of
Lexington, Burgin Fall Festival, and Battle of the Bands of
Eddie Montgomery Steakhouse.
They have been with the
Lexington Music Academy for 3 years.
Both are members of
the Lexington's Bethel Harvest Church Adult Praise and Worship
Band, & Youth Band ReFuse.
On bass guitar is Joanah Loomer, age 14.
She has played guitar 7 years and is no stranger to music.
She plays music with her church and has been rockin with
RAPTURE for over a year. On rhythm guitar is Olivia
Raygoza, age 15. She had played guitar for 6 years.
She like 80s music and heavy-metal Christian and this is her
second gig with Rapture.
|
 Tony Cooper is
an Award winning songwriter who splits his time between his
native Casey County, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee writing
songs and playing music any time he can. While he likes
many types and genres of music, his favorites are the old time
tearjerkers. |
Barry
Morrison,born March 20, 1949, in Red River Gorge,
Kentucky, is an American country music singer-songwriter. This
multi-talented artist is largely identified with the country rock/americana
genre(s) of music, and is best know for
his 1970's cult-classic "S nakey Hollow
Stud"; a song released on the RCM Records label which charted on
the Independent Country Music Charts at number one. Based on this
initial success, Morrison received a 1971 first round nomination
for Country Male Vocalist of the Year. In the
interveining years, several other of
Morrison's releases have entered into a top five chart position,
with "There Ain't No Country" being the
only other of his songs to reach number one. The
offer to record his music on his own terms for
a Nashville-based label lead Morrison back to recording and
performing in 2007. Given the opportunity, he took a bare bones
approach to recording the highly acclaimed roots music album; "A
Cold Wild Wind". That year saw him touring solo throughout the
central and southeastern United States in support of the album
release. In 2009, Morrison recorded outstanding cover versions of
"Folsom Prison Blues" and "Good Hearted Woman" in preparation for
headlining and promoting the 2010 Walk the Line-Good Hearted Woman
Tour. In April 2012, Morrison returns to the studio to record more
original material. He'll be backed by an outstanding studio
ensemble featuring bassist Paul Martin, better known as "The
Apostle", the
Americana Music Association 2006 Instrumentalist of
the Year Kenny Vaughn and dobro
virtuoso Matt DeSpain. Morrison writes
and performs music his devotees can relate to on a gut level. His
songs have a build and release to them that make them memorable
because he performs them with raw emotion and with feelings bound
together by his well-crafted lyrics and melodies that "sing".
Morrison's edgy, Cash-like, baritone delivery clinches the deal.
His songs are a reflection of his life. When he sings to us, we
believe him. The Barry Morrison discography chronicles the very
powerful musical output of a consummate singer-songwriter. The
lyrics from one of his songs proclaims, "I'm a hundred miles of bad
road, I'm a bridge washed out". Luckily, he found the way around it
all. The 2012 Kentucky Writers Day Celebration welcomes him to our
stage. |
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Andy Rice, a native of Pulaski County, Kentucky currently
resides in Boyle County with his wife Jane. Andy's musical
inspiration comes from his uncle, who would bring his guitar to
family gatherings and perform for the family. Andy's mother
Geneva Rice was also an inspiration as she also played the guitar
and sang. Andy has written two songs, "Which Way to Pray" and
"Slipped and Fell in Love". Andy also played guitar and sang
solo in a country band named "Andy and the Dandy's" in the early
1980s. In the '80s and '90s he played with "The Kings Mt.
Bluegrass Boys." |
Call
it traditional acoustic blues bluegrass alternative country with
regular original words, and sometimes long words, too, put to a
melody, and sung with a drawl. Influenced primarily by old
songwriters and blues singers, Aaron Raitiere has been
writing and performing original songs since his childhood in
Kentucky. His swampy songs and soulful voice are a pleasure to
even the most critical ear.
Aaron's new solo CD "Kissin' Machine" is complete. Hear songs at
www.myspace.com and buy the
album at www.cdbaby.com. |
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Singer-Songwriter, Recording
Artist, and Actress, Sarah Elizabeth Burkey, has performed
in 18 countries but
has
called Kentucky home all her life. Sarah plays 11 instruments and
her work appears on 15 albums. Sarah Elizabeth
is to Kentucky what
Fats Domino was to New Orleans. Fats epitomized the sound of the
Crescent City in his time, equally giving an honorable nod to his
musical ancestry while carrying the torch on to his generation.
Sarah does this too, in our context and in our
time. Her sound is
deeply rooted in the Kentucky hills, with a voice sweeter than a
honeysuckle vine in spring and old as the current of the Ohio
River.
Sarah Elizabeth Burkey was born
and raised on Rural Route 4, Kevil, Kentucky. Her unique musical
and literary compositions are born of this rich history. Sarah's
work has been published in books and literary journals in the US
and Europe.
The non-fiction book
Western Kentucky: Lost & Forgotten, Found & Remembered
by Sarah Elizabeth and Ron Whitehead, a travel book unlike any
other, is a must read! Inspired by hiking 325 miles for 19 days
across Kentucky forests, fields, backroads & railroads, it is the
companion book to Sarah's album
When The Redbuds Bloom.
Sarah Elizabeth was the keynote
speaker and featured performer at Ohio University's
8th Annual
Women of Appalachia Conference in 2006. Sarah plays the lead in the
independent feature film Red Velvet Cake, filmed entirely in
Kentucky. This film has not yet been released.
Sarah recorded her latest album
DON'T DIE YET immediately upon returning from the Sacred
Black Hills of South Dakota where she spent a great deal of time on
the Sioux Reservation with the International Council of 13
Indigenous Grandmothers. Grammy Nominated Musician, Tony Redhouse
accompanies Sarah on this album with Native American flute and drum
plus many other instruments from indigenous cultures of the world.
Sarah Elizabeth's songwriting drips
with passion and a sacred
appreciation of life.
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Mike Hill and Gordon Webb
Gordon Webb, a native of Eastern Kentucky and
West Virginia, has spent most of his adult life in
Elizabethtown and now resides in Lebanon.
He picked up the guitar in his teenage years after a
football injury put a damper on his
mobility for several
months. Being the
9th of 10 children, and a teenager in the '60's, his musical
influence was rock and roll and popular music of the 50's and
60's. This is the
style he has stayed with.
Although he does not write original music, he sometimes
likes to alter the lyrics of rock and roll to spiritual wording
and perform in his church (as in Sister Act).
Gordon also performs covers in small venues with his friends
Mike Hill (bass) and Ricky Cox (drums) calling themselves The
Fogies (no 'Old' included but inferred.)
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The 3 members of
FIGURE 8 Rock Band,
Levi Smock - Ryan Sanders - Jakob
Duncan are
all
students at Mercer County Senior High. Formed in November 2011, the
band plays predominantly original songs. They recorded their first
CD in February 2011. At the 2012 SONGWRITERS TRIBUTE SHOWCASE they
will perform all original songs.
To learn more about
FIGURE 8
check
facebook.com/figure8.band or Email
Figure.f8.gmail.com
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Christina
Lovin is the
author of the poetry collections What We Burned for Warmth and
Little Fires. A two-time Pushcart nominee and
multi-award winner, her writing has appeared in numerous journals
and anthologies. Southern Women Writers named her a
multi-award winner; her writing has appeared in numerous journals
and anthologies. Southern Women Writers named in numerous journals
and anthologies. Southern Women Writers named
Lovin 2007 Emerging Poet. She has served as
Writer-in-Residence at Devil’s Tower National Monument and the H.J.
Andrews Experimental Forest in Central Oregon. In 2010, she was
named inaugural Writer-in-Residence at Connemara, the North
Carolina home of the late poet Carl Sandburg, with whom she shares
her home town of Galesburg, Illinois.
Lovin has been a resident fellow at Virginia Center for the Creative
Arts, Vermont Studio Center, Prairie Center of the Arts,
Orcas Island
Artsmith Residency at Kangaroo House, and Footpaths House to
Creativity in the Azores. Her work has been supported with grants
from Elizabeth George Foundation, Kentucky Foundation for Women,
and Kentucky Arts Council. She resides with four dogs in a rural
central Kentucky, where she teaches English and creative writing at
Eastern Kentucky University.
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"H. R. Stoneback--known
as "Stoney"
in the music world--is a part-time
singer-songwriter, a
full-time writer and professor.
He is the subject
of Jerry Jeff
Walker's hit song "Stoney."
Well-known in the 1960s,
especially in singer-songwriter circles in New Orleans and
Nashville, he
performed throughout Asia, Europe, and North
America for four decades as
half of the singing duo "Stoney
& Sparrow" (with his late wife). Over
the years, "Stoney
& Sparrow" released four albums that included many of
the
hundreds of songs he has written.
(One album, "Oh,
China!" was
recorded and
released in 1984 in China, where it was a best-seller.)" |
Jude Lally is a poet with a purpose.
He writes and recites his message, initially one of
hope, inspiration and enlightenment regarding his life with a
rare and degenerative neuromuscular condition called
Friedrich’s ataxia.
It impairs his speech, coordination and motor skills. “It’s
tough to be taken seriously as a writer when you don’t
write,” he jokes.
Jude lives in Lexington, Kentucky and earned a Business degree
from the University of Kentucky but for him the only business
booming was poetry.
Now, his writing covers a wide range of topics: family, travel,
romance, nature and, of course, his impairment.
He fulfills creative, expressive and therapeutic needs
by often invoking tears and smiles simultaneously. |
 Nancy
Wilson’s background is in social work. She was
employed by the American Red Cross and served for a year with
the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Viet Nam. She
also worked for the New York City Department for Social Services
in the South Bronx . She is retired from the Kentucky
Department for Social Services.
She has been writing for the past
five years to fulfill a lifelong ambition. She and her
husband Howard, an artist, released a Published in Heaven book
in 2010 titled breaking out. Another book of
Nancy’s called the color red is me, published by
Finishing Line Press, will be released in March, 2013.
Her poems have been accepted for publication in various
magazines and publications throughout the United States and
abroad including Struggle, Pearl Editions, and Levure
Litteraire. One of her poems recently won second
place in the New Southerner literary magazine.
She and her husband make their home
in Louisville, Kentucky. Besides writing, she enjoys
traveling and entertaining family and friends.
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|
 Just
Us --- James
Young has been playing music for 7 years. He started
playing classical piano and soon moved to guitar and
mandolin. James first performed playing worship music at his
church and continues to do so today along with several other
music ministry projects. He just recently released a
small ambient guitar EP entitled “Every Breath Closer” and
plans on releasing more music from this genre in the future.
James is 17 and is graduating high school in the Spring. He
plans on studying Modern Music Ministry with an emphasis in
guitar at Visible Music College
in Memphis, Tennessee. James enjoys all types of music
from bluegrass to hard core to ambient. However, he finds his
musical home in folk and acoustic music. Rachel
Young has been playing music and singing for 11 years.
She studied classical piano for 9 years, guitar for 7 years,
and recently started playing mandolin. Rachel enjoys playing
different types of music and plays guitar for the worship team
at her church. She performed with the Lexington Children
Singers for 7 years and during that time had the privilege of
singing at the Kennedy Center in
Washington,
DC. She is currently attending Eastern Kentucky University,
majoring in nursing.
Joel Kurcab started his journey
with music at the age of eleven when he started playing
classical violin. He soon followed his four older brothers and
picked up guitar. There he found his love of music performance
in the freedom of expression that comes with this truly
versatile instrument. Joel has been singing his whole
life and sang at his first show at the age of fourteen when he
and his brother opened up for a local band. Joel loves all
kinds of music but his heart truly lies with the independent
folk and rock movement. He hopes to someday go into fulltime
music performance. In the fall he will be attending the
Liberty
University
Music
Performance
College
on full tuition scholarship.
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Paul Stansbury is a retired city manager who lives in
Danville, Kentucky.
Nowadays he enjoys the time he can devote to writing.
He frequently reads his
work
for the public, has published poetry in Kentucky Monthly, and
written for the Advocate Messenger.
Most recently, two of his short stories were selected to
appear in an upcoming horror anthology to be published by the
Apocryphile Press. |
"The greatest gift of my life was when David brought me back to
the land of my ancestors and introduced me to the best-kept
secret in the universe – the uniqueness of Kentucky,” so says
Eulalie C. ('Lalie) Dick, author, grandmother,
farmer, and only two-legged resident of Plum Lick Farms in
Bourbon County.
For 14 years as a
writer for Kentucky Farm Bureau’s
All Around Kentucky,
'Lalie sought out Kentucky women and penned their exceptional
stories, and during this time assisted her husband, David,
author, retired CBS News correspondent, educator and newspaper
publisher, in forming Plum Lick Publishing, Inc. In 1992, the
couple launched David’s first book,
The View from Plum Lick, now an evergreen in Kentucky literature.
After this came 12 more books, all of which were lauded in
extraordinary reviews and embellished with illustrations by
talented Kentucky artist, Jackie Larkins. Rivers
of Kentucky, Kentucky: A State of Mind, and
Home Sweet Kentucky
were co-authored by the couple, and David wrote and 'Lalie
produced Outhouse Blues,
The Quiet Kentuckians, A Conversation with Peter P. Pence,
Follow the Storm: A Long Way Home, A Journal for Lalie: Living
Through Prostate Cancer, The Scourges of Heaven, Peace at the
Center, Let There be Light: The Story of Rural Elictrification
in Kentucky, and
Jesse Stuart: The Heritage. Since David’s death in 2010,
'Lalie has remained on the farm and at the helm of Plum Lick
Publishing which continues to provide Kentuckians (and those
who wish they were) with the couple’s unique style of
works that celebrate the beauty of Kentucky and her people.
www.plumlickpublishing.com
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Carolyn
Crabtree is a former mathematics
and English teacher
who now spends her spare time doing history and genealogy
research. Over the last 30 years she has written many
Bible Studies and devotionals and has helped compile history
books for the Forkland Community Center. |
 Ruth
Ann Johnson Fogle is a native of
Marion County, Kentucky. She was born in Riley and raised in
Lebanon. She now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ruth Ann is a
Conference lecturer, motivational speaker, Dramatist, Christian
Comedian and a new author. She writes for the Lebanon Enterprise's
"Faith Page", lectures and performs for the Marion County School
System. She travels throughout the United States, performing her
solo performances inspiring, lifting spirits with her comedy and
teaching Black History in an unforgettable manner. She recently
performed for the Marion County Annual Women of Color Black History
Event, with a play she wrote, "No Slaves at the Table." Her
venues consist of Churches, schools, theatres, AARP,
Retirement/Nursing Homes, hospitals and prisons. Where ever she
goes smiles and an uplifted heart follows. She states it all
started with the book, about an old Kentucky woman who says she is
115 years old, who is stubborn, outspoken, sanctified and has lived
long enough to "know how it was, now she
is telling it like it is." The book entitled "I
Ain't Changing My Clothes", other works
include inspirational CD's, "Seven Past Midnight:, "Just Talking
About Jesus", "Can You Be A Sister, If it's not your night in the
tent" and last but not least the DVD, "The Storm Is Coming" filmed
in Lebanon, Riley and Gravel Switch, KY. To reach her, view her
web site
http://www.ruthannfogle.com. |
Paula Sparrow
will once again be bringing her "Creature
Comforts" to Kentucky Writers Day. She recently published her first
book, Kentucky Living's Creature Comforts, a compilation of her
columns on animal rescue. The first book of its kind, Creature
Comforts covers the state of Kentucky, visiting animal rescues,
shelters, and sanctuaries, reporting on the people of Kentucky who
have devoted their lives to saving animals: dogs, cats, wildlife,
primates, and even elephants. The book was nominated for the 2010
Media Advocacy Award from Pet Groups United. This year, Paula will
be discussing the intended-as well as unintended-results of "the
power of the written word." Paula, as usual, will be
bringing stories she's written on animal rescue.
When she published an essay about adopting a pet instead of
buying one, she was surprised at the reaction her words got.
Her topic this year will be "The Intended-and
Unintended-Effects of a Writer's Words. |
Eric “Rick” Lee is a native of Chicago,
Illinois. A second generation soldier, Rick was commissioned as
an officer after completing Army ROTC at the University of
Alabama. He subsequently served eight years with the 101st
Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and the 3rd
Armored Division in Germany. Rick’s awards include the Bronze
Star, Army Commendation, Southwest Asia and National Defense
Medals as well as the Parachutist and Air Assault Badges.
A veteran of the Gulf War, he is an affiliate of the 761st
Tank Battalion & Allied Veteran’s Association as well as a
member of the Central Kentucky World War II Roundtable. He
holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a
Masters degree from Murray State University. Rick’s father
served in both World War II and the Korean War.
Rick has worked in the civilian arena
in various management and technical positions. He is privileged
to be the father of four children and has been married to his
wife Mary for 28 years. He
is author of the book Tribute to Valor and Courage. The nonfiction work chronicles the
lives of several veterans of World War II and the former last
known living American veteran from World War I.
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 Michael
J Denis of Parksville, KY, originally from Westbrook,
Maine, graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1968
with a B.S. in Education with a concentration in history, and
did advanced graduate work at USM and the University of Maine
campuses at Farmington and Orono, and is currently taking two
courses at Western Kentucky University (Kentucky History and
The African American Experience). He taught middle school
history for 39 years in Oakland, Maine, as well as numerous
adult education courses for 25 years. He retired in 2007,
selling the snow blower and moving to Kentucky.
He is one of the charter members, current vice
president, and webmaster of the Oakland (Maine) Area Historical
Society, and is the current president of the Boyle County
Genealogical Association. He has been a genealogist since
1966, and has a deep interest in family and local
history, both in Maine and Kentucky. He is also a member
of the Kentucky Historical Society, and a contributing member
of the African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky. He
also maintains a website, Salt River Genealogy and History, at
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kyboyle2/Index.htm.
His daughter, Maureen, lives in his father's former home
in Westbrook, Maine, with her husband and two children, Gannon
and Garnet.
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Promotional Materials paid for
by the
Harrodsburg/Mercer County Tourist Commission
Karen Hackett, Executive Director
|
Bright Leaf Golf Resort
will give a 10% discount for anyone attending the Penn's Store
Kentucky Writers Day Event.
Click here for their web site link |
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