FACES & PLACES 2011
Special publication of the Franklin County Times
A city that’s proud of the past‌. and building for the future Fine recreational opportunities that include a city swimming pool, tennis courts, ball fields and beautiful parks Highly acclaimed city school system situated on one of the most beautiful campuses in the state Working to provide better services with a new fire station, industrial park with spec building and a renewed effort to revitalize downtown
Contact Russellville City Hall at 256-332-6060 2
FACES & PLACES
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hen looking at the various topics we could have pursued as our theme for Faces and Places 2011, many ideas came to mind. But, the timing was perfect to spotlight only a handful of the talented musicians that our county has produced. The state of Alabama has promoted 2011 as the Year of Music in Alabama. Northwest Alabama has played a tremendously important role in making the state known for its musical heritage. A short drive up U.S. 43 to the Shoals and that musical heritage is undeniable. To our south, in Hackleburg, Sonny James, one of country music’s all-time legends developed his musical talents before taking them to the world. Here, in our own county, country music superstar Tammy Wynette, grew up and left a legacy for all future
Buford Parker
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Kody Madden
Kerry Gilbert FACES & PLACES
Roxy Theater Blaze Bishop
Joseph Baldwin
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18 Brooklyn Hall
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generations of singers. The county has had Grammy nominees, musicians who have performed with some of the greatest performers in history and others who have embarked on their paths to music stardom. Music is a source of pride and our community is no different. Our only regret is that we were not able to feature each and every talented singer, band or instrumentalist that our county has. Time and space limited us to just a handful and we believe all of these are exceptional people and places that our county can boast about. But they certainly are not alone. We hope you all get out to one of the venues featured here or to some other showcase event featuring any number of Franklin County’s talented performers. — Jonathan Willis, Publisher
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Publisher Jonathan Willis Editorial Scot Beard and Kellie Singleton Sales Peggy Hyde and Nicole Pell Composition Karen McAfee www.franklincountytimes.com Circulation Terri Pounders and Thomas Douglas P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653 Press Room Tommy Nichols, Alton Zills, Betty 256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com
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FACES & PLACES
Faces and Places Presents:
Buford Parker
L
ocal musician Buford Parker was born and raised in Franklin County and grew up being influenced by the classic country music sounds that were popular in the area. Parker was just eight years old when his older brother, Freddy, taught him a few chords on the guitar and he quickly fell in love with playing and making music. “We played together all the time at different places after that,” Parker said.“I made my first appearance on TV when I was 12 years old on the Old Red Show in Florence, and I enjoyed every minute.” Parker said he continued to play STORY BY music with his brother, but as he KELLIE SINGLETON got older, Parker formed a band in the early ‘60s called The Shyaways with some of his classmates at Russellville High School. They regularly jammed to classic country tunes and what is referred to today as “the oldies.”The Shyaways played together for several years before disbanding to go their separate ways. “I always loved music. It was just my favorite hobby – my favorite thing to do,” Parker said.“I didn’t really play music very much for about 38 years, but around six years ago, I decided I wanted to start playing again as a hobby.” Parker had been busy with various projects through the years, including his publication,“The Source Magazine,” that focuses on Franklin County history. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t forget about
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his musical roots or the desire he had to share his musical talent with other people. “When I decided to jump back into my music, I started playing and singing at the Little Ryman in Tuscumbia,” Parker said. “Then in 2006, I got with my friend Luke Waldon at B & L Studios in Russellville and decided to record a CD of some old country classics. Some of the people with B & L did the music and I sang.” Among the songs Parker recorded on that first CD were songs by his greatest musical influence – legendary country singer Ray Price. Parker said he enjoys singing Price’s songs and other classic country hits as well as his own original music. “Since that first CD, I’ve recorded four other CDs of mostly my music along with some other songs,” Parker said.“I’ve built up to sing at seven different local places and I’ve also been privileged to sing at Jimmy Driftwood’s Barn in Mountain View, Ark.” Being dedicated to music is not always easy and sometimes the road can get
tough, but Parker said he has people like musician Travis Wammack to fall back on. “Travis has been a great inspiration to me and has really helped me with my music,” Parker said.“I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him.” Parker said he has had several memorable moments during his music career that will stay with him for years to come, one of which being the time he was able to interview his musical muse, Ray Price. “Through my music and through my magazine, I was able to sit down with Ray Price for 45 minutes on his bus,” Parker said.“We talked about music and I gave him some of my new music to listen to. It was a great experience and something I’ll always remember.” Other memorable moments include having the legendary Hank Snow’s steel guitar player, Cayton Roberts, play for him at his appearance at Jimmy Driftwood’s Barn, and opening for Billy Ray Cyrus’s brother, Kebo Cyrus, in Savannah, Tenn. two years ago.
“I’ve enjoyed playing at these different venues out of state but I love when I get to perform for people back home, too,” Parker said.“For the past two years, I’ve been privileged to be an entertainer at “The Pretenders”W. C. Handy Festival event held in Russellville and the entertainer for the Franklin County Farmer’s Extension and the Cattlemen’s Association banquets. I’ve also been an entertainer at the Spruce Pine Festival and the Watermelon Festival, which I’ll be participating in this year as well.” In addition to his many appearances, Parker is also busy promoting his newest album,“Romeo Gambler,” which can be purchased at Good Springs Fish and More in Russellville. “This CD has 10 tracks and has an old country style to it I think people will enjoy,” Parker said.“I hope to keep performing these songs and others for many years to come because I just love people and I love entertaining.”
State Senator Roger Bedford Your Hard Working Senator, Still Working For You!
PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY 256-332-6966 • fax: 256-332-6967 • email: senbedford@aol.com Paid for by Roger Bedford, P.O. Box 370, Russellville, AL 35653
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FACES & PLACES
Faces and Places Presents:
Blaze Bishop
F
or most people the idea of standing on stage in front of several hundred people is a terrifying thought. For Russellville’s Blaze Bishop, she loves large crowds – it is the small crowds that make her nervous. When she performed for a small crowd at a Civitan meeting, she was so nervous she was shaking. “I would rather it be 1,000 people than two people,” Bishop said. It is a good thing Bishop does not mind performing for large crowds because she has had the opportunity to STORY BY sing at Alabama Adventure, the Watermelon SCOT BEARD Festival and even the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame show remains one of Bishop’s favorite performances. “There were a lot of people there, I felt happy about doing it,” Bishop said.“It was a big stage and the sound was great.” She seems very comfortable in front of large crowds and said she rarely feels nervous while performing. Bishop said her nerves have not gotten the better of her when she thinks about going on stage, but does get a little nervous when the person singing ahead of her is performing his or her last song.
FACES & PLACES
She said she is not too worried about making a mistake while singing – unless it is a competition. “It depends on what you do and who you’re in front of,” Bishop said.“If you are competing, you hope the competition doesn’t hear if you mess up.” Bishop, who turns 14 in September, got her start in music about eight years ago when she went to work with her mother and began singing to kids on the playground. Soon her parents were encouraging her to take voice lessons. “We realized she had talent,” said her father, Frank.“She got her voice from her mother and her pitch from me.” Bishop progressed through the lessons and was soon ready to take to the stage. The only problem was that there were not many opportunities for young children to perform so she and her father developed a plan. That plan grew into Entourage, a group of youth talent from across northwest Alabama that has grown to include members from Tennessee and Georgia as well. Entourage first performed at Good Springs and put on a show that impressed the owners. With a mix of country, rock, pop and 70s music, the group earned an open invitation to perform at
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Hospital admissions are usually only for a very limited stay. Patients are frequently discharged before they are fully able to stay by themselves. Stays in our facility covered by Medicare include joint replacements, strokes, and even before generalized weakness related to their hospital stay. The 20-day stay at our facility gives the patient time to regain their strength and independence and helps insure their continued recovery. Medicare or private insurance may cover these short-term stays. If a stay is Medicare covered, the first 20 days are covered in full resulting in no out of pocket expenses for the Patient or their family. If additional therapy is required, Medicare may also cover the 21st thru 100th days, but there is a co-payment during this period that my be paid either thru a supplemental insurance policy or by private funds. The rooms in our facility for short-term admissions have many amenities not found in other facilities in Russellville and even in the Shoals area. Large private rooms, which include telephones, patios with furniture, television, electric beds, tables, chairs for inroom dining, and large bathrooms with showers.
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Good Springs in the future. As word got out about Entourage, the group began to make appearances at several venues throughout northwest Alabama. During this time, Bishop honed her stage skills and became a well-rounded performer. One thing Bishop has tried to do is sing a variety of genres to keep her options open. “I sing country when I have the opportunity and I sing gospel at church,” Bishop said. She is also comfortable singing a pop song or some rock. With that variety of styles, Bishop won a few talent competitions including Franklin County Idol and being a semifinalist in Shoals Idol. She soon caught the attention of Kerry Gilbert and earned an invitation to sing with him, allowing her to gain valuable insight from a seasoned local singer. The performance with Gilbert also helped open other doors for Bishop as new area residents were introduced to her. Last summer she co-headlined a concert with fellow Entourage member Brooklyn Hall. She has even earned an invitation from Mike Jennings to perform on “Nashville Spotlight.” Bishop enjoys singing so much she hopes to make a living doing it someday, but has a back up plan in case that career choice does not work out. “I would like to be a singer, but if I couldn’t do that I want to go to Auburn and learn about criminology,” Bishop said.“I always liked shows like ‘Law & Order’ and growing up with my sister we would get into fights because stuff would come up missing. We had to figure out who to blame.” One thing Bishop has figured out is how to be successful in starting a career. She has gained valuable insight the past eight years and would tell any young performer there are five things to keep in mind. First, when you are on stage you are a different person. If you are shy you have to put it behind you and be the person you want to be. Second, make sure singing is something you want to do. If you do not have that passion and are unhappy, people in the audience can tell. Third, take every opportunity to entertain because you never know who will be in the crowd. Fourth, you should be able to perform the songs you want to perform. The fifth piece of advice might be the most important. “Don’t be afraid to take the spotlight or talk to people you don’t know well,” Bishop said.“They could get you opportunities you might not have gotten by yourself.” Blaze has followed that advice and has progressed far in her short career. She is getting more and more opportunities to perform in front of bigger and bigger audiences, and she couldn’t be happier. She still does not like small audiences, especially when there is only one set of ears listening. “I won’t let my dad listen to me practice,” Bishop said.“He has a lot of suggestions. I can’t do that, I want to do it my way.”
FACES & PLACES
Faces and Places Presents:
Kody Madden
T
eenagers are faced with many difficult decisions. Some are life changing; such as choosing which college to attend and what profession they want to enter, while others really aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things, they just seem really important at the time. But, nonetheless, many decisions can be gut wrenching for some teens. Sixteen year-old Kody Madden faced one of those kinds of choices last year. Madden — whose parents, Jeff and Crista, were both STORY BY state championship winning basJONATHAN WILLS ketball players — made the difficult decision to give up the sport that he had played for many years and the one his father coaches. What could he have been so passionate about that he would be willing to walk away from high school athletics? “Music is the one thing I love doing most,” said Madden, who has won several state and regional singing competitions, including the Shoals Idol contest in 2010. “That is something I’ve done all my life and I can’t see a time when I won’t enjoy that. Playing sports was fun, but I think it kind of started to get in the way of doing what I really love.” With a deep, powerful voice that stretches beyond his years, Madden has become a favorite guest performer
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for many area shows. He performed at the city of Russellville’s Jam on Sloss Lake Fourth of July celebration and has performed at the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council Evening at the Roxy, as well as doing shows in the Shoals area as well. “I just love being on the stage and singing in front of people,” he said. He first performed at the tender of age of five and then began competing with his church, Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church, a year later. Through the years, he has won several district and state honors performing solo and with groups. Twice, including this year, he won the state vocal solo contest as part of the Alabama Free Will Baptist State Association. In July, he competed in the national association’s competition. Though he did not win that competition,
his performance was so good that he was selected to perform with a group of 12 other teens, known as the Youth Evangelistic Team, next summer. They will travel across the country singing, performing and ministering in various churches. This will not be totally new for Madden, who has performed with a similar group known as the Connection Singers traveling and performing across north Alabama for the past three summers. “That has been a really thrilling experience,” said Madden, who has learned to play the guitar and is now taking piano lessons. Music is not something new to the Madden family. Kody’s grandfather, Billy Madden, performed with several rock ‘n roll groups before turning to gospel music and singing with the Believers in Christ and Joy Makers for years.
Watching his son decide to give up sports was not easy, Jeff Madden said. A longtime basketball and football coach at Russellville Middle School, Madden thought he would be traveling to see Kody playing ball most weekends. “Being a coach, it was hard when he decided to give up sports, but as a parent, we love what he does and we stay on the road all the time watching him perform,” Jeff Madden said. “We are very proud of him. He is a good Christian young man and I am grateful for that.” While he mostly performs country and Christian music, Kody Madden said he would also like to begin writing songs as well. He has penned one song that he performs and hopes to do more in the future. “Music is just something that I love and I can’t imagine not doing,” he said.
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Cody Bowen
Joseph Baldwin
Kody Madden
FACES & PLACES
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Faces and Places Presents:
Joseph Baldwin
J
oseph Baldwin was born in Tupelo, Miss., but the only home he has ever really known is in the small Franklin County community of Atwood between Vina and Hodges. As a young boy, Baldwin roamed through the Franklin County countryside and spent time with the horses he loved to ride, but even though he had other interests, there was just something about music that the country boy from Vina couldn’t resist. Baldwin’s first step into the musical world was at STORY BY an early age when he was prompted by his KELLIE SINGLETON mother’s piano playing to take piano lessons himself. “I enjoyed the piano lessons but my classmates really made fun of me for it,” Baldwin said.“Apparently playing the piano wasn’t something ‘the guys’ did, so I finally just quit to stop the heckling.” But before he quit his lessons, Baldwin was able to pick up enough musical training that when he finally got his hands on a guitar, he was able to figure out how to play it on his own. “I just couldn’t get away from the music,” Baldwin said.“The feeling it gave me was like I would just go somewhere else. There wasn’t anything else like it.”
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Even though Baldwin was completely sold out to his music, he didn’t know if he could really make it a career, so in the meantime, Baldwin made his living as a farrier and shoed horses at his home and around the area. “It’s really kind of funny that I have a career as a farrier and as a musician because horses are the reason I started doing anything with my music,” Baldwin said.“I was playing after a rodeo one day and a guy heard me and asked me if I wanted to cut some songs in his studio, and things started falling into place.” Baldwin said the way his career in music “just sort of happened” was a blessing in itself. “I was going to play my music whether I made money at it or not, but I was lucky that people actually liked it and encouraged me to pursue it,” he said. Once he decided to continue down the musical path he poured his time and energy into singing and playing at different venues, like his fairly regular gig at the Rattlesnake Saloon in Colbert County, and for different occasions. “Growing up I listened to anything and everything from Dwight Yocum – who I was a huge fan of – to KISS to Minnie Pearl,” Baldwin said.“I took those influences and made my own kind of
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sound that’s more like easy listening meets country and I think it appeals to a wide range of listeners.” During his steady rise in the music world for the last several years, Baldwin has had several experiences and accomplishments that would make any musician proud including landing a two-year spot at the well-known venue, Tootsies, on Broadway in Nashville and winning the Panhandle Star competition in 2007 in Panama City, Fla., which allowed Baldwin to be the opening act for country singer Jason Aldean. “Those were real highlights in my career, but I could possibly be in the middle of one of my biggest accomplishments yet,” Baldwin said, referring to his spot as a finalist in the Alabama Department of Tourism’s “Songwriter’s Contest,” which is a component of the department’s Year of Music campaign. At the end of June, Baldwin beat out more than 50 other contestants to win the North Alabama Region’s “Songwriter’s Contest” on June 25 with his new song,“I’m Alabama” and became one of four finalists to compete for the title at the end of July. “No matter what happens with this contest, I consider it an accomplishment to have gotten this far,” he said. Even though Baldwin has several accomplishments to be proud of, the journey hasn’t always been easy, which Baldwin said is just the way it goes in the music business. “Several times I’ve had disappointments, but whenever something really bothers me, it always seems like I would see a fan or watch how my music made someone smile and it would just keep me going,” he said.“I just never let it get me down.” Baldwin’s music career is going in many directions but he said he would never forget his Franklin County roots and the people that got him pointed in the right direction in the beginning. “You consider the people in your own county to be your people, and if the people here hadn’t liked my music, I probably wouldn’t have branched out,” he said.“It’s people like my grandparents, Robert and Ava Dean Baldwin and Marvaline Pharr, that I dedicate my music to and no matter what happens, I’m just going to keep on singing.”
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Faces and Places Presents:
Kerry Gilbert
P
eople who have lived in Franklin County for any length of time is familiar with KGB, a band led by Russellville native Kerry Gilbert, that has been performing since 1992. The lineup has changed throughout the years, but Gilbert has remained and has worked to bring wholesome family entertainment to Russellville. “I am blessed to get to do what I do,” Gilbert said.“Music STORY BY makes a difference SCOT BEARD in my life. I vent my feelings through my singing.” Gilbert said the industry has changed quite a bit since he got his start in 1985 with Mountain Breeze. One of the biggest changes is the way Gilbert schedules performances for KGB. In the past Gilbert would spend hours on the telephone making hundreds of calls to book a gig. Now he can get a show for the band without having to speak with another person. “I still use the old methods, but a lot of e-mails get exchanged,” Gilbert said.“Last week I booked a gig through text messaging. Not one phone call, it’s amazing.” Gone are the days when Gilbert had to spend large amounts of money recording and copying demo tapes or printing of 8x10 glossy photos of the band. Thanks to Facebook and the Internet, anybody can have access to photos or KGB’s music. He said fans could even purchase his solo CD without ever having to leave
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their house. Some parts of the industry haven’t changed, however, but that is fine with Gilbert. The technology in the recording studio has gotten better, but the process remains the same. Gilbert and the other members of KGB — Shane Goodson, Mitchell Curtis, Hugh Banks and Randy Kimbrough — were in the studio in late July recording a CD. Gilbert said the process is not as simple as the movies make it appear. “You don’t just go in to sing and walk out,” Gilbert said.“There is a lot of preproduction work like choosing songs. This is going to be an all original album.” He said the band could spend an entire day playing music for only one song and another day working on vocals. Once the recording process has been completed, the engineer could spend up to a day working on each song. Shortly after emerging from the studio, KGB will return to the stage. The second Saturday of every month the band performs at the Roxy Theater. All profits from the show go to the restoration of the theater. During the shows Gilbert invites an opening act to perform, usually a talented local singer such as Blaze Bishop or Brooklyn Hall. He said the Shoals area is known for talented musicians, but Franklin County also boasts quite a bit of talent and he enjoys showcasing it. “I can’t even begin to mention how many talented young singers there are,” Gilbert said.“I want to give them stage time and try to spotlight that young talent.” The Secret Sisters, one of the acts that opened for KGB last year, is currently touring in Europe. Gilbert said he hopes many more of the young opening acts can find that kind of success and people will remember seeing them perform before they became famous. “People can say,‘I saw them at the Roxy in 2011,’” Gilbert said.“It’s like people say,‘I saw Elvis in 1955 in Sheffield.” In addition to giving young talent a place to perform, Gilbert also offers the singers advice on how to be successful in the music industry. With 26 years of experience, Gilbert has valuable insights to offer and he enjoys mentoring the young performers. “They ask me for advice and I’m thankful for that,” Gilbert said. While the young singers might be interested in getting advice on how to get more gigs or how to get into the studio, they might also want to ask Gilbert about how to stay in the music industry for long period of time. With so many bands breaking up after tasting a little success, it seems as though making it in the music industry is tough. Gilbert said the key to surviving is simple. “You have to surround yourself with good people. I have been fortunate enough to be around family people who love God,” Gilbert said.“(The members of KGB) are dear to me. We love each other and respect each other. We are like brothers.”
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Faces and Places Presents:
The Roxy
T
here was a time when folks lined up for blocks outside the Roxy Theater, standing beneath its glowing lights, just waiting for a chance to get inside and see the latest Hollywood production. The historic theater was hailed as a “modern touch of architecture and contractor’s art” when it was STORY BY JONATHAN WILLS built in 1949, providing the city of Russellville and Franklin County with one of the nicest movie theaters in the Southeast. For more than two and a half decades, guests spent weekend after weekend visiting the Roxy, sharing time with friends and taking
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FACES & PLACES
advantage of a type of entertainment not found everywhere. “It was a beautiful place,” said Martin Gault, whose grandfather, Lee Gault, Sr., managed the Roxy from its inception until his death in 1963. “We used to come down here early on Saturday morning and spend all day and wouldn’t leave until late that night,” Gault said. The theater was a popular attraction for moviegoers and many local residents still remember the times they spent there. Frank Bishop, of Russellville, remembers taking his now wife, Linda, to the theater on date nights, but his memories go even further back. “I didn’t ever have money to go to the theater unless they had a fundraiser where you brought canned food to see the movie,” he said. “I remember one time when U.S. Reduction paid our scout troop’s way into the theater to see “Follow Me Boys,” which was a movie about a Boy Scout Troop.” The theater began to see less and less traffic through its doors as televisions
FACES & PLACES
gained popularity. The Roxy remained active off and on until 1976, when it finally showed its final picture. In the years following, the once proud theater sat vacant as weather and decay took its toll. In 1987, Russellville businessman Buddy Rogers donated the building to the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council, who set forth on a fundraising drive to pay for renovations to the theater. “It seemed a shame to let this historic landmark just rot and have to be destroyed,” said Arts and Humanities Council president Susie Malone. The renovation had a personal feel for Malone, whose aunt, Lila Hovater, worked at the theater for many years. “It was personal because I grew up in that theater,” Malone said.“It was a fun time in our lives and that’s a special place for a lot of people.” After the building was donated to the arts council, members began trying to secure funds for renovations. The group raised enough money to put a new roof on the building and civic clubs, including the
Rotary Club, helped buy new seats for the theater. State Sen. Roger Bedford secured funding to replace that heating and cooling unit so the Roxy could be used year-round. Since renovations began more than 20 years ago, the theater has seen a revival of sorts. It now hosts a monthly concert series and special events throughout the year. The arts council also hosts a concert each year as part of the annual W.C. Handy Festival out of Florence. “There is something special about performing in that theater,” said local musician Kerry Gilbert, who performs there the second Saturday of each month. “There is just a different feel to it and it’s very intimate when you are performing. The acoustics are awesome.” Though the historic building no longer shows Hollywood productions as it once did, the arts council’s efforts to revive and restore the building have given county residents something else they can be proud of. It is still a source for great entertainment that future generations of residents can enjoy.
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Faces and Places Presents:
Eddie Martin
R
ussellville native Eddie Martin had no idea he would someday be completely immersed in the music industry when he graduated from Russellville High School in 1983. Even though his love for music began at an early age as he listened to his parents, Glenn and Bobbie, sing STORY BY an harmonize when they would KELLIE SINGLETON drive in their car, Martin didn’t feel the music truly pulling on him until after he graduated high school and entered college. “When I was in high school, I was a writer. I had been a writer for as long as I can remember,” Martin said.“I wasn’t a part of the band or the chorus. I loved music but I didn’t look at it as a career path then.”
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But during his sophomore year at the University of North Alabama, Martin could not deny that we wanted music to be more than just a small part of his life. He quickly changed his major and entered into the college’s commercial music program. “Once I knew I wanted to pursue songwriting and singing, I tried to make sure that I put myself around other songwriters in the business,” Martin said.“I began volunteering at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame when they had their office at Wishbone Studios, and that volunteer job led to a part-time job at the studio itself.” Martin’s willingness to volunteer and do whatever it took to perfect his craft ultimately began to pay off.
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While working at the studio, Martin began to work with his first professional songwriter, Brandon Barnes, and the partnership would last for several years. During this time, Martin started working on his first project – a nine-song “pop and R&B” cassette called “In the Mood to Grove.” “Most of the initial music I worked on was in the pop and R&B vein,” Martin said.“I was hanging out with those kinds of writers back then when R&B was very song-oriented.” Even though Martin got his start in the pop and R&B genre, he describes his musical tastes and influences as being very “eclectic” from Hank Williams to Stevie Wonder to Billy Joel to Ella Fitzgerald. Martin said that right now, however, he is more interested in exploring what he calls “Americana” music, which is how he describes the music on his newest album “Untethered,” which is Martin’s fifth solo album. “Some people think the album has a country feel, and I can see why they would say that,” Martin said.“Most country music today doesn’t sound like the true country
music I was raised on.” And as if a solo album isn’t enough to focus on, Martin is also immersed in his newest project – a trio called The Wildwood Ruminators. “My whole life, I’ve always liked throwing people together in creative situations and trying to make something out of it,” he said.“The collaboration is what I really enjoy.” The Wildwood Ruminators consists of Martin; Russellville-native John Jackson, a guitarist who was part of the pop/punk band Jessica’s Mistake; and Tony Lee, a multi-instrumentalist who was in the local Celtic group Full Moon Ensemble. “We each bring very different musical tastes and influences to the plate,” Martin said.“Our sound is an eclectic style of music which blends various roots-based influences – mainly blues, jazz and folk. We're able to play everything from an allacoustic three-piece to incorporating electric guitars to adding additional players in order to play full-band gigs.” Martin said The Wildwood Ruminators have performed recently at the Helen Keller Festival, the Spirit of Freedom
Festival at McFarland Park, songwriter showcases, various outdoor venues and numerous private events, which Martin said they are available for if contacted. They are also scheduled as the featured act at First Fridays in downtown Florence on October 7. With so many projects over the years, there’s little wonder why Martin has received recognition for his musical talent. In 2005, Martin produced a version of the song “I’m Gone” for a local female artist. The song won the Best of Showcase Series award from the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame National Academy of Popular Music for that year. Martin decided to include his version of the award-winning song on his “Untethered” album, which is available for purchase at Audrey’s Gifts and Home Décor in Russellville, at CDBaby.com or through Martin himself. Music from The Wildwood Ruminators can be purchased from the individual band members, at CDBaby.com, on iTunes or through the group’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thewildwoodruminators.
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Faces and Places Presents:
Brooklyn Hall
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t takes some people years to find something they are passionate about. For Russellville’s Brooklyn Hall, she found her passion at an early age and has been pursuing it ever since. When she was 7-years-old she began singing. One year later she was performing at her church. STORY BY “I got into it because I SCOT BEARD enjoyed it a lot,” Hall said. A member of the audience of a church play heard Hall sing and invited her to perform at the Roxy. She later participated in the Shoals Idol competition. In the years since, Hall has recorded one CD and will soon be heading back into the studio to make another CD. Hall is looking forward to the new recording session and says she is better prepared because she knows what to expect.
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The first time she headed into the studio, the experience was not what she was expecting. The microphone was different than the ones she had used on stage and she was not used to singing while wearing headphones. “It was a new experience and a lot of work,” Hall said.“But the best part was getting the CD.” Hall boasts an impressive resume. In addition to the CDs, Hall has opened for Ronnie McDowell, performed on “Nashville Spotlight,” earned a spot in the All-State show Choir, earned superior ratings at the Thespian Festival and performed at the Roxy and several other venues in Russellville. Hall’s favorite genres of music to perform include country and gospel, but she also enjoys singing the jazzy style songs by Adelle.
Through it all, she has grown as a performer, but says her nerves still get the better of her sometimes. “I got nervous when I first started, but not now,” Hall said.“I do get nervous in front of smaller crowds because you can see everybody looking up at you.” Hall has performed at several venues, but said her best performances were at the Wildhorse, the Hard Rock Café and the Cancer Society event hosted by the fire department. Beginning in January Hall will be performing with Sweet Southern Entertainment and will have the opportunity to perform at large venues in Georgia. During her brief career, Hall has become one of the top young performers in northwest Alabama. She performs with Entourage, a group of young talent that performs throughout the area.
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Hall said being with other singers her age helps relieve some of the stress and is a great way to learn about the business. Of course, the friendships she developed with the various members of Entourage are also special to Hall because it is like a support group for everyone trying to build a career in the music field. “It’s really fun because you are not by yourself and you have people to talk to,” Hall said.“We mostly talk about music.” She is in the right place at the right time to compare notes with young singers. This corner of Alabama has many talented singers who are part of Entourage. Hall said being part of that talent feels great and they are creating a springboard that will allow future singers to launch their careers in Franklin and surrounding counties. Being from Russellville, Hall has also been able to get guidance from seasoned performers like Kerry Gilbert, who has been performing since the 1980s. Hall said she appreciates the help she has gotten from Gilbert, especially the opportunities he has given her to perform and his words of encouragement. Hall has learned from all the people she has performed with and from her own experiences. She said the advice she would offer a young singer is to realize it takes a lot of work and practice to be successful. She also said it is important to warm up your voice before you sing. The biggest piece of advice she can offer, however, is to have a thick skin. “Don’t take things to heart,” Hall said.“There are some mean people out there.”
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Faces and Places Presents:
Cody Bowen
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rowing up, Cody Bowen always enjoyed different kinds of music. But it was just listening to the music, not performing. Shortly after graduating from Russellville High School in 2004, Bowen began dabbling in some writing and singing and has since seen that hobby grow into an almost every weekend job. STORY BY He now performs at various venues around the JONATHAN WILLS Shoals and Southern colleges playing his guitar and singing. Bowen found his interest in music a little later than many do, but once he got started, there has been slowing down. “When I first started I just sang, I couldn’t play any instruments,” he said.“I picked up the guitar pretty easily and I really enjoy playing that.” Bowen recently recorded a new album, one that he expects to be named “North Alabama Line.”
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He describes his music as having a “country edge, but more of an Americana story-telling feel” with a 60s-70s electric guitar sound to it. “I call it alternative country,” he said.“But, when I perform live I do everything from blue grass to rock n’ roll. I have found that it’s better to know a little of a lot of different styles than to just know a lot of a few styles.” Bowen said he plans to release his album to local radio stations and to have it available for downloading rather than producing many CDs. “The ways of releasing music has changed a lot lately and I think having it available for downloading is the way we will go with this album,” he said. Bowen’s style of music has made him a popular choice for performing at college fraternity parties and other smaller venues, such as Frank’s Italian in Tuscumbia and Captain Dave’s restaurant in Haleyville.
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“I played the Hay Fest with Rolling in the Hay at the Workplay Theater in Birmingham and really had a good time there. Those small venues where you are up there by yourself with your guitar in front of the crowd are what I really like.” Though he enjoys his time spent traveling and performing, he said writing music is his true passion. “When I was in the seventh grade, I had a teacher named Ms. Channell, and we had to keep a writing journal everyday,” he said.“I found out then that I like to write. Over the years I have written several songs and I perform them a lot. I would like to have someone else record one of my songs sometime. “I like having something that I created, knowing that my heart, soul and mind was put into it.” He also had rather be performing live than in a studio recording, he said. “The recording is OK, but I had rather be playing live. People are honest in front of you. I just like to perform and have a good time, and that’s what you get in these small intimate venues.” Bowen, who is the son of Johnny Bowen and Jadonna Bowen, and the grandson of Sue and Bobby Bowen and Kay and Sam Cantrell, said he doesn’t know where his musical career will take him, but for the time being he is at home in Franklin County and loving every minute of it. “I am as happy as I can be with everything right now,” he said.“I am just playing and writing my music and we will see where it goes.”
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Faces and Places Presents:
Arts and Entertainment Center
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veryone needs a break from the everyday mundane that tends to plague people in a society that seems to always be on the go. Even rural places like Franklin County can get swept up in the hustle and bustle, but thankfully for residents, the Red Bay Arts and Entertainment Center and the Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts go STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON hand in hand to provide that much-needed escape people need from time to time. The Red Bay Arts and Entertainment Center is nestled into main street in Red Bay and stands proudly as one of the jewels of the Franklin County area.
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Originally a theater and bowling alley several years ago, Community Spirit Bank’s parent company, Independent Bancshares, Inc., took control of the property in the early ‘90s and kept it mainly for storage until two visionaries decided it could be put to better use. In 1994, the current bank president, Billy Bolton, and the executive vice-president, Patricia Nelson, decided to refurbish the building, which was in need of a serious remodel, and turn it into a place the community could use for special functions. In December of 1995, renovations to the Garden Room, Banquet Hall and Theatre were completed and Red Bay acquired a place
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that would become a showpiece in the years to come as groups from across the county used the facility for their special occasions. While the Banquet Hall and Garden Room have both proved to be useful additions, the center’s Theatre draws a crowd from several states who come to watch plays performed by the city’s Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts (BTCPA). Formed in 1996 by a group of citizens dedicated to bringing cultural arts into the community, the BTCPA consists of a board of directors who are committed to bringing community theater to Red Bay. Red Bay businessman Scotty Kennedy has served in just about every capacity with the BTCPA from acting to working on sets to directing and serving as the chairman of the board for several years. Kennedy said he was skeptical when the idea for a community theater first came up, but he’s proud to say that the BTCPA is a flourishing organization today. “The Bay Tree Council performs three plays a year – one in April, one in November and our dinner theater in February,” Kennedy said.“All our plays are well-attended by local residents and out-of-town guests, but our dinner theater in February has gone over so well that we had to add an extra night just for groups who want to come.” Besides providing entertainment for the community, Kennedy said the BTCPA serves an important function by being an outlet for creative people. “Our plays give local people with talent an opportunity to display those talents through acting, directing, hair and make-up or set design,” Kennedy said.“We have a state-ofthe-art facility we are privileged to use and the BTCPA has given over 200 different people from two years old to senior citizens in their 70s a chance to get out on the stage.” Kennedy said the BTCPA has performed mysteries, musicals and dramas, but they discovered their audiences really enjoyed comedies, so that is their main genre to perform. The BTCPA has also produced several well-known plays such as “Tom Sawyer,”“Little Women,”“Cheaper by the Dozen,”“The Odd Couple,” and the Southern favorite “Steel Magnolias.” “Every time we perform, people come through the line after the show and tell us how impressed they are at the facility and the quality of the play,” Kennedy said.“In our world today of television and digital entertainment, our plays are a rare, one-on-one personal experience. And the fact that you can see plays of such a high quality in such a high-quality venue right here in Red Bay is really a gift for this area.” Additional information about the BTCPA and their upcoming performances can be found on their website at www.baytreecouncil.org.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY MUSIC
F O U N D E R S FE S T DA Y September 17, 2011
Bay Tree Park Downtown Red Bay
E v e n t s F o r F o u n d e r s D a y : ❀Beauty Pageant
❀Run/Walk
❀Cypress Cove Farm ❀2nd Annual Fried Pie Contest ❀Arts & Crafts ❀Food ❀Games ❀Antique Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show ❀Festival T-Shirts ❀Red Bay Museum will be open with Strumming Friends making music ❀Red Bay merchants will have sidewalk sales ❀Specials & Door Prizes ❀Outside Entertainment from 9 to 2 ❀Buck Dancing Contest ❀Fiddle Contest
❀G i v e a w a y s f o r : ✿Largest Family ✿Longest Distance Traveled ✿Youngest Person Present ✿Oldest Person Present ❀I n s i d e t h e A r t s & E n t e r t a i n m e n t C e n t e r f r o m 3 t o 5 Music will be provided by: ✿FFA String Band ✿FFA Quartet ✿Allegro Country, with a ✿Quilt Contest ✿Coloring Contest ✿Photo Contest