Monday, August 31, 2015

19th Annual Benefit for St. Jude Update!!

Saturday, September 12, 2015
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Singers and Songwriters Benefit
for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Location:
10871 County Line Rd #B, Madison, AL 35758
(256) 325-3779

Singers/Songwriters for St Jude was started in 1996 by Del McGee in an effort to help children effected by childhood cancer. Come enjoy a terrific show with some terrific talent. You won't be disappointed in the performances. We ask you to donate generously to this cause. All donations go directly to St. Jude. The songwriters donate their time and talent for this worthy cause. The link to make tax free donations on line is HERE. Donations may also be made at the event or mailing to Stem and Stein at the above address. 


Each team has a St. Jude website where they have stated their goals for raising funds and are in competition with each other. Select your team and click on their link to donate.
Back Porch Pickers
Click HERE to help the Back Porch Pickers meet their goal. Your donations are appreciated!
Ron Brown
Ron Brown, a local north Alabama songwriter. He writes in several genres including jazz, blues, country, folk, and bluegrass. He plays guitar and harmonica. Ron runs a songwriters show once a month in Cullman, AL at Berkeley Bob's Coffeehouse; one of the best listening venues in Alabama.

Robin Stewart
Robin Stewart is a brilliant pianist who writes thought provoking songs. She has co-written with well known Nashville writers as well as many local writers in north Alabama. She performs as often as possible, given she is the mother of three children.

Allen and Connie Watkins
Allen Watkins, professional musician and songwriter who teaches guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass. Allen receives wonderful reviews from music critics. He writes wonderful songs and collaborates with Connie Watkins and others in writing songs.

Connie Watkins, an excellent songwriter recently released a CD called “Dakota Landing”. She plays guitar, percussion, and is a soulful singer, Look for her to be involved in a lot of music around the area with Allen!
Ted Whittington
Ted Whittington is affectionately known among his friends as Uncle Ted. He writes brilliant songs, plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, and the fiddle. He is very passionate about the fiddle! His songs will certainly entertain and grab your attention.

Songs From The Ham
Click HERE to help Songs From The Ham meet their goal. Your donations are appreciated.
Chapman James
Chapman has had unique insights into the development of a Folk musician. "A writer is not necessarily the one that shouts 'Hear Me!' (that's the performer talking), but one that listens and seems to whisper 'I heard you'. "Whether it's the sound of a human trotting across the prairie, the epic life of a tree, the loneliness one needs to combat garden gnomes or a view of war through the eyes of a 4 year old boy, Chapman's songs are honest and simple.

Travis Widner


Travis Widner says he had no idea he would be writing songs and singing in venues when he went to Auburn University as a freshman.  Widner had never written music until he met Chris Williams and they formed the band “John and the Conners”. He has deep hometown ‘roots’ having been raised in Union Gap, AL with a higher than normal musical family. It has focused him and given him a unique perspective into songwriting themes and methods.  Widner spends about 10-12 hours a week playing music unless he is especially “inspired” then he may even hit an Open Mic or schedule a venue with other writers. 


Drew Richter
Drew Richter was raised in Alabama but, has also lived in Tampa, Miami, Amsterdam and London. He currently spends much of his time between Florida, Alabama and Nashville TN. He is best known as a singer-songwriter. Formative musical influences began in the early 1980's with the Gothic bands of Europe such as Bauhaus, Joy Division and The Cure. He lived and worked from the United States to Europe performing and co-writing with well-know artists. In March 2015 Drew finished an 11 song recording project at The Treehouse Music Group in Nashville with Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist Chris Faulk, and multi-Grammy winning Songwriter Jodi Marr. Drew Richter’s first full length solo CD titled “Snake Smile” is due for release 2015.
September Reed

September Reed has serenaded many of Birmingham South Side's creatures of the night with her unique musical style and her sweet, raspy voice. She plays solo and with groups with her range of style running from sweet and sympathetic acoustic to bold and unapologetic A cappella. She has never been attracted to the fame, center of attention aspect of the music industry. Her love for music and songwriting has always been her main deal. September's lyrics are powerful and heart-wrenching ringing true with every note she sings.

Shoals Songwriters
Click Here to help the Shoals Songwriters meet their goal. Your donations are appreciated.
Will Stults
Performing Songwriter Will Stults has been featured at The Bluebird Cafe, The Songwriters Showcase, and many other venues across The Southeast.  His music has been called genuine, insightful, heartfelt, and hilarious.  His Wife is tired of listening, his Mother says his best work is behind him and he has been turned down by some very famous people so he is happy to once again be a part of the St. Judes Benefit.

Lori Lovelace
Lori Lovelace is a songwriter from Florence, Alabama.  Lori has been writing and performing in songwriter rounds and shows in North Alabama and Tennessee for the past ten years.  She recorded her first solo songwriting project in 2011. Lori has a Contemporary Christian project written and recorded with her co-writer and church band mate. CD is set to be released in mid September. In the past two years, she has co-written several songs being performed by independent artists. Her focus is on writing songs to be recorded and produced for pitching to major label artists in Nashville's commercial market.
John Crosslin
John Crosslin, a writer from Florence, Alabama has shared his songs throughout Alabama, and Tennessee, playing coffee houses, bars, theaters, and a multitude of small venues. Some of his songs have been recorded by local artists, and played on local radio stations. His stories and songs are inspired by the struggles and small victories of the everyday common man.

Charlton James

Charlton James was raised in Spruce Pine, Alabama. He now lives in Sheffield, Alabama where he serves as an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of North Alabama. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Academic Affairs Outstanding Teaching Award at UNA. He holds a BFA in acting from the University of Utah and a MFA in theatre performance from the University of Alabama. As an actor his work has been showcased at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Syracuse Stage, Capital Repertory in Albany, New York, and the Salt Lake Shakespeare Company. His acting and teaching career have been accompanied by a love for music and songwriting and he is looking forward to sharing his unique style of songwriting at the 19th Annual Songwriters for St. Jude event. 

Nashville Power Chords
Click HERE to help the Nashville Power Chords reach their goal. Your donations are appreciated.
Jim Parker
Within a year after getting his first guitar donated by his sister’s boyfriend, Jimmy Gilmer of Sugar Shack fame, Jim was playing in a band and later became a founding member of The Illusions that landed a record deal with Dot Records. In 1966 he and his buddies decided to leave their hometown of Amarillo, Texas, and head to Los Angeles. During that time, The Illusions became “The Kitchen Cinq” recording with Lee Hazelwood’s LHI label for three years. Fifty years later, on August  28, 2015,  Ace Records of the UK and its affiliate US label Light in the Attic Records released  “The Kitchen Cinq, When The Rainbow Disappears”, as an anthology box set complete with a booklet of photos and history of the band.His move to Nashville in 1975 began another phase of Jim’s career. He met a young John Anderson and began writing successful chart songs. Jim branched out and through the years has co-written with many #1, Hall of Fame and Grammy winning songwriters.


Jim is the creator and host of the popular series Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series ® at the Von Braun Center Playhouse in Huntsville, AL where he showcases the incredible talent of his hit songwriter friends from Nashville, Muscle Shoals, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Canada and surrounding areas. The dinner-theater atmosphere has created a highly anticipated monthly event where people listen to great songs and hear the stories behind the songs from the people who wrote them.

Billy and Marija Droze
Billy spent a year or so playing with his dad’s band in Texas, but he decided it was time to move to Nashville, where he currently resides. Continuing to play anywhere he could, Billy steadily expanded his ever-growing fan base. It was dramatically increased by several tours singing lead for Grammy-winning Shenandoah (using the name Billy Ryan). He was signed by RCA/Sony BMG as an artist shortly after arriving in Nashville but that did not develop into what he had hoped for. As a staff writer with publishing deals, Billy had several good cuts including: “You Never Know,” Darryl Worly, Shenandoah, “That’s Why I Run,” Billy Yates (#1 in Europe), “Sunday Clothes,” Randy Kohrs, ”Big Pain,” Marty Raybon, “Bottle Was a Bible,” Junior Sisk.

Billy needed a change of scenery after a family tragedy, so he booked a thirteen-city, nine-country tour of Eastern Europe to promote his third independent album, “Ready For The Ride.”  It was well-received by fans and reviewers and earned him three #1 singles on the European Hot Disc charts. This tour also led him to Lithuania where he found his soul mate. When he returned to the U.S. it was with his new wife, Marija, whose lovely voice blends perfectly with his and their son Nickie. Billy has appeared in Country Weekly numerous times, as well as other magazines and Web sites in the US and Europe. Billy has had 2 major-network country music videos.

Andrew Pope
Andrew Pope, born in Geraldine, Alabama is an American country music singer and songwriter. Pope was signed to MillTown Records in 2012 and released his debut album “Here We Go Again” in November 2012. It peaked at number 63 on the iTunes Country Album charts for 2012. The album features 12 songs, 9 of which were written by Pope himself. It also features guest appearances from Confederate Railroad and Jeff Cook from country super group Alabama.

Bridgette Tatum
In 2009, Bridgette Tatum, native of Florence, South Carolina, co-wrote the most played song on Country radio stations across the United States.  “She’s Country,” recorded and released by Platinum-selling country superstar Jason Aldean, held the No. 1 position on the chart for two consecutive weeks. In 2010, Bridgette’s song, “Loud” was selected as the Official Theme Song for the ACC Football Conference’s 2010 Season.  This fast-paced anthem, captured in a raucous music video, resulted in exposure for Bridgette in over 27 million households. In 2011, she toured with Heidi Newfield as part of the nationwide She's Country Tour presented by Pendleton Whisky. In partnership with the Lano Company, Bridgette released a unique light-up lip gloss, helping to develop her signature color, “Hillbilly Rockstar.”


**All donations go directly to St. Jude. No expenses are paid by Singers/Songwriters for St. Jude
Remember, donate on line  HERE. Donate at the show. Mail donations for St. Jude to:
10871 County Line Rd #B, Madison, AL 35758
(256) 325-3779