Harper
Anderson
Groce
Sowell
Wikstrom
Williams
Blankenship
Wells
Truman
Stalnaker
Haddox
Doug & Shelley Harper
The first time they sang together, their voices came together like two old friends.
Two teenaged children and three albums later, they still perform all over the central
Appalachian region in a variety of scenes, which include coffeehouses, festivals
and numerous singer/songwriter venues – no plans to slow down any time soon! If
you’re looking for mainstream status quo, look elsewhere. “Hybrid Folk” is a term
coined to describe their writing style and play list. The catalogue consists primarily
of insightful original tunes along with material carefully selected for it’s redeeming
value. Songs are delivered by Doug’s passionate vocal style, complemented by
Shelley’s velvety croon, on an innovative and solid foundation of acoustic guitar.
Audiences come away from performances warmed, amused and inspired.
Recording projects include “Scrapbook”, “Travelogue” and “Seasons”. Variety is
the operative word for each of these unique “hybrids”. Contact Hybrid Folk
Publishing (304) 255-7869 dharp@charter.net
Colleen Anderson
Colleen has recorded two collections of original songs: Fabulous Realities (1991)
and Going Over Home (2001). For booking information contact Colleen at
motherwit@newwave.net.
Larry Groce
Artistic director and co-producer of Mountain Stage® Larry Groce has had a
life in music. Larry has recorded 22 albums including 6 platinum albums for Walt
Disney Records. He’s been nominated for a Grammy Award, written and
performed the top ten hit song Junk Food Junkie and has appeared on the Tonight
Show, American Bandstand, the Nashville Network, The Disney Channel and
many other national television shows. He has performed across the USA as well
as in England, France, Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, Greece and Russia. Mountain
Stage® has featured more than 1700 of the world’s finest musicians in live
performance. A weekly two-hour program produced by West Virginia Public
Broadcasting, Mountain Stage® blends intelligent contemporary voices with
time-honored traditions. "Making music the right way is what’s important to us,"
says host Larry. You can hear Mountain Stage here on VOA Music Mix every
weekend. Check in with Larry at his website: www.mountainstage.org
Ron Sowell
Best known for his role as the musical director of the internationally acclaimed
public radio show, Mountain Stage, Ron Sowell is also a dynamic singer-
songwriter, guitarist, performer and producer.
After graduation from college he loaded up his battered Dodge and hit the road
playing clubs and coffee houses. Four years later, on a brief visit to the beautiful
hills of West Virginia, he felt "so right" that he unloaded his car and put down roots.
There he formed two eclectic and critically acclaimed bands, "The Putnam County
Pickers" and "Stark Raven." He recorded four albums, clocked thousands of miles
and performed across the United States, Greenland, Iceland, Germany, Greece,
Turkey, Crete and Ethiopia.
At the same time Ron joined a fledgling local radio show called Mountain Stage as
the resident guitar player, eventually becoming the music director. Mountain Stage
is now heard each week on 120 public radio stations nationwide and worldwide
via Voice of America. On the show he has played with hundreds of performers,
such as Sarah McLachian, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Kathy Mattea and the
legends Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Rambling Jack Elliott and Odetta.
In 1992 he released his first solo CD, Oil and Water, featuring ten original
compositions. The songs range from the absurdly humorous to the socially
conscious. His story songs have been compared to John Gurka and Nancy Griffith,
and his voice to James Taylor.
As a performer he has the gift to make a thousand people in a concert hall feel like
they are sitting in his living room. He's engaging and funny and plays great guitar
and harmonica. Whether making you laugh or cry, sing or dance, Ron Sowell
exudes sincerity and grace rarely found in such an accomplished entertainer.
Kari Blankenship
In June 1996, Kari Anne Stafford (Blankenship) of Point Pleasant was crowned
Miss West Virginia. Kari's vocal performance won her the prestigious Bert Parks
Talent Award at the 1996 Miss American pageant. She continues public singing
both locally and nationally and is featured as an actress in regional commercials.
Leonard Stalnaker
Leonard Stalnaker is a Lewis County native whose music career began at age
10. Leonard is currently a music therapy specialist at the William R. Sharpe
Hospital in Weston, West Virginia. Leonard can be reached for weekend booking
at NARDNAKER@AOL.COM
Jon Wikstrom
Jon spent ten years in Nashville honing his songwriting craft, but eclecticism is the
hallmark of his work. While he co-wrote the title song for Wires & Wood, a soaring
"high lonesome" bluegrass piece, and cut his teeth writing country songs, his true
voice as a writer is in intimate, soulful jazz and pop. Jon performed his
composition Feel Your Love with jazz piano virtuoso Bob Thompson on American
Public Radio's Mountain Stage, and was recently a Main Stage performer at the
Mountain Stage NewSong Festival. Born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia,
Jon was especially pleased to have his folk/singer style tribute to the Mountain
State, I Can't Ever Leave, included on Castelle Records' 2001 release Kindred
Spirits - Songs of West Virginia.
As a vocalist, Jon has sung numerous radio jingles, worked as a harmony singer
on Mountain Stage with Tracy Nelson, Julie Adams and Larry Groce, and added
his voice to commercials for the West Virginia Lottery. He greatly enjoyed singing
with Julie Adams on "legal comedy" artist Bob Noone's last two parody albums,
Wingtips Optional and Chicken Suit For The Lawyer's Soul. Jon also appeared as
a guest vocalist on the latest record from Julie Adams and The Rhino Boys, I Don't
Mind Walking.
Jon and Ron Sowell (Musical Director of Mountain Stage) are again teaming up in
the studio to produce Jon's first cd, which is slated for a 2005 release. Jon lives in
Baltimore.
Michael Wells
Michael is a Logan County songwriter. He was recently selected to showcase his
original songs at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville
Don Lee Williams
Singer-songwriter Don L. Williams hails from Charleston WV where he performs
his original music with the Don L. Williams Band. His song writing incorporates
influences from both rock and folk music woven together in an accessible, yet
uniquely personal style. The band has just released a new self titled EP that is
available now.
Jan Haddox
A life-long resident of West Virginia. Jan is a retired educator. He is also a
songwriter, cartoonist, woodcarver and musician. Jan can be reached at
janhaddox@dragonsbbs.com
Jim Truman
Jim is a singer,songwriter,guitarist and former stand-up comedian, who is a native
of Morgantown, West Virginia. He began to play guitar during his college days in
the early 1970s, incorporated music into his act as a professional comedian in the
1980s and launched into the "restaurant-coffeehouse" scene in the 1990s.
Jim's has a strong voice and is a very versatile guitarist, who plays with a unique
touch and in various open-tunings. His favorite styles include folk, pre-war Delta
slide, blues, classic-country and acoustic rock. His original songs are mostly
humorous and his parody "Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun" is always well
received. His act features improvisational exchanges with the audience. Like the
squirrels, Jim just wants to have fun! He collects vintage stringed instruments and
typically uses a 1934 National Steel resonator guitar and a 1932 Gibson L-OO on
stage.
In addition to shows in night clubs and ski resorts, his comedy pursuit landed him
jobs on stage as an opening act for many musicians including: Steven Stills, Leon
Redbone, Leon Russell and Edgar Winter; as well as with Jay Leno, Roseanne,
Jerry Seinfeld and numerous other well known comics. During this time, Jim
enjoyed living in the mountains near Boulder, Colorado. He has now returned to
the "Hills of West Virginia".
G. Michael Ross (Songwriter)
G. Michael Ross is a musician/songwriter originally from Dunbar, now living in
Charleston. He is a graduate Marshall University and currently works in advertising.
Al Smith (Songwriter)
After living in West Virginia for most of his life, Al Smith recently moved to Raleigh,
N.C., where he continues to write songs. A song from his release of "All This &
That" in the mid 1990's earned a Certificate of Achievement from Billboard
Magazine. Al Smith can be contacted at alviscsmith@worldnet.att.net.
Frank Ceravalo (Photographer)
Frank Ceravalo has over 10,000 images in stock that can be used for your custom
printing or publication needs. My work has been used in magazines such as
Wonderful West Virginia, Blue Ridge Country, Country, WV Outdoors, & National
Geographic Adventure. They are also regularly used in Brochures, Posters,
Greeting cards, Calendars, etc.
In addition to the wide range of West Virginia nature, wildlife, & landscapes
images, I also have images from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, the Smokey
Mountains, Outer Banks, Yellowstone, Germany, Italy, & Japan.
Betty Rivard (Photographer)
Betty Rivard began taking photographs as a young girl. She grew up in Detroit
and San Francisco, but rural West Virginia has been her home for most of her life.
As she neared retirement from a career as a social worker and planner for the
state, she began to carry a camera with her wherever she went. She also served
an apprenticeship with a master photographer.
Betty loves to use fine art landscape photography to show the beauty and
individuality of everyday scenes in West Virginia. Her dream is that by celebrating
these scenes the state can value and preserve its history and culture and protect
its surroundings.
The West Virginia Commission on the Arts and the Division of Culture and History
have given generous support for Betty's work through the 2004 Fellowship
in Photography and several grants. She provided the photographs of historic
school buildings for the 2005 State Historic Preservation Calendar.
Betty's photographs have been shown in museums and galleries across the state.
Through her business, West Virginia Homeplace, she sells post cards, note
cards, reprints, and original black and white darkroom photographs in a number of
retail outlets. She also promotes group shows that include other West Virginia
landscape photographers and she is planning an exhibit of historic photographs of
the 1930s and 40s from the Library of Congress American Memory Project
Collection. For further information please call 304-364-8972 or email
bettyrivard@yahoo.com.
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