Brighten the Corner Where You Are

A Spring Music Series in conjuction with the New Harmonies Exhibit
March 16 - April, 27, 2008
Former W. LaFollette Elementary School, 250 W. Beech Street, LaFollette, TN

During the New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music touring
exhibition from the Smithsonian Institute and the Campbell County Roots Music companion exhibit, a music series entitled Brighten the Corner Where You Are, six live musical performances will be held in March and April at the exhibit venue on Sunday afternoons beginning at 3:15 p.m.

March 16, 2008, 3:15 p.m.
Maggie Longmire: Folk singer, blues rocker, song writer
A roots music writer of songs with evoking lyrics and haunting melodies, Longmire, born and raised in LaFollette (Campbell County), TN has a powerful alto voice that spans blues and country styles. Her songs are drawn from her roots and recall a history of the region, with some songs emphasizing Campbell County. Her compact disc titled “Grandaughters - An Americana Opera” (preceded by “Teachers and Travelers“, which received the Knoxville Metro Pulse Best Album of the year award) unfolds in eleven original songs inspired by the people, times, and places in Campbell County; titles include Cove Lake Picnic, Campbell County Girls, L&N Lullaby, Grandma Mary Lou & Me, and Old Tipple Road. In addition to performing solo, she often teams with the acoustic band, Free Soil Farm, and with The Lonesome Coyotes, a honky-tonk swing band with whom she has performed for over 20 years.

March 30, 2008, 3:15 p.m.
Terry Hill and Band
Offering bluegrass and gospel music.

April 6, 2008, 3:15 p.m.
James “Sparky” Rucker and Rhonda Rucker: Songs and stories from the American tradition
Sparky grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and began playing guitar at age eleven. He was active in the Civil Rights Movement, playing freedom songs at rallies, marches, and sit-ins, alongside other folksingers such as Guy Carawan and Pete Seeger. He accompanies himself on guitar, banjo, and spoons, and has released twelve recordings. Rhonda plays blues harmonica, piano, and banjo, adds vocal harmonies and has appeared on six recordings with her husband. Their 1991 release, Treasures and Tears, was nominated for the W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording. Sparky and Rhonda performed with the late Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, who grew up in LaFollette in the 1920s and was the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, and the Tennessee Governor's Folk Heritage Award. The Rucker’s performing credits include the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago Cultural Center, plus major folk festivals including Philadelphia, Smithsonian, Piccolo Spoletto (South Carolina), Vancouver, Winnipeg, Clearwater, Walnut Valley, Gürten-Bern (Switzerland), the International Children's Festival at Wolf-Trap Farm Park and the Louie Bluie Festival in Campbell County, TN. They reside in Maryville, TN.

April 13, 2008, 3:15 p.m.
Dave MacKenzie and Adie Grey: Folk, Blues and Contemporary Southern Roots Music
Grey and MacKenzie are each highly accomplished artists. Together, this husband and wife team bring their multiple talents to collaboration in contemporary Southern roots music. Adie Grey, a vocalist, songwriter and musician has released critically acclaimed CDs. Two of her most recent CDs are titled, Brand New Old Time Music and Grandpa’s Advice. Her musical career began at the age of five when she sang a demo tune written by her grandfather for a television show. The tune was for the Bugs Bunny Show and can still be heard today on Cartoon Network. During her career, Grey lent her talents to country, blues, R&B, jazz, and choir music. Additionally, she is a talented dulcimer musician and guitarist. Dave MacKenzie’s recent CD release is titled, Solo.  He performed his first professional gig at the age of 13 during which he sang one of his own original songs. An award winning blues artist, MacKenzie’s distinguished career includes live concerts, club appearances, and European tours. He has also distinguished himself as a television music producer for commercials, a session musician, and an independent film score writer. MacKenzie currently participates in school programs and conducts demonstrations and lectures at the Country Music Hall of Fame on the history of metal-bodied dobros and early roots recordings. The couple resides in Nashville, where Grey finds inspiration for her songwriting from the South’s roots music of blues, bluegrass, gospel and folk. 

April 20, 2008, 3:15 p.m.
Christie Burns and Butch
Hammer Dulcimer and Mountain Dulcimer

April 27, 3:15 p.m.
Terry Kinakin: Bluegrass, Swing and Southern Roots Music
Kinakin is a consummate performer with his natural musical talents and fun loving personality. A songwriter, musician and vocalist, he entertains audiences, young and old, on acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin and unexpected instruments like the ukulele. A student of Dixieland, bluegrass, folk, swing, pop, jazz and blues, he blends and defines the entire repertoire of the South’s roots music. A native of Canada, Kinakin brings a unique perspective of the South’s music to his exciting performances. His latest recording is titled, Neither Here Nor There which fuses a bit of the ‘swing’ of the past with a touch of the ‘jazzy’ future in his original songs. Kinakin currently lives and performs in the Nashville area where he receives high critical reviews from both the music world and the public.

The musical performances are made possible in part by an Arts Build Communities grant awarded by the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and the Tennessee Arts Commission and funded by the State of Tennessee General Assembly.

New Harmonies is a Museum on Main Street exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services funded by the U.S. Congress and brought to you by Humanities Tennessee and the Tennessee Community History program. New Harmonies is hosted locally by the Campbell Culture Coalition and the Campbell County Historical Society.