Alabama Songwriters Festival

Entry Form, Rules and Regulations available at:

http://www.mountainvalleyartscouncil.com/ALABAMA-SONGWRITERS-FESTIVAL.html

Friday ~ March 4 ~ 7:00pm

Coffee Tree Books & Brew

7900 Bailey Cove Road

Huntsville, Alabama 35802

Stan Moore ~ February 10, 1949 - December 17, 2010

The songwriter community experienced yet another great loss in the passing of our friend Stan Moore.  I met Stan through music about 30 years ago and it was likewise through music and songwriting that we had more recently again been drawn together at the Coffee Tree and the NSAI meetings.  I’ve been around a lot of musicians and songwriters over the years and you can tell the ones who truly love music and songwriting.  The ones that dearly love it and have it deep in their heart and soul will *never* be able to quit and will continue to come into your life as the years go by with their songs out of that love and passion …and such as it was with Stan.  Thanks, Stan, for coming into our lives.  We will dearly miss you AND your songs, but will forget neither.  –– Donny Grace, Coordinator, North Alabama Songwriters
Official Chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)

Nashville Event!!!

December 4, 2010
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  Our Sweet Home Alabama’s 
Own Homegrown 15 Year-Old
Award Winning Singer!
Award Winning Songwriter!

MaryJustice

 Appearing At The

2611 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN

Mini-Showcase Production
By Producer Mike Jennings

HONORING

America’s Heros Through The Years.

Saturday – November 13 – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Please join us as we seek to honor our VETERANS from across the years

Saturday Night Open Mic Series

Wayne Hemmerly
Host



Randy Duck
"Thin Blue Line"





Earl Watts
"More Than A Name On The Wall"

Coffee Tree Books ‘N’ Brew
7900 Bailey Cove Road
Huntsville, AL 35802
256-880-6121



Live at the Coffee Tree Books & Brew

Friday, November 5, 2010

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Solo Performance

Featuring MaryJustice's Original Pop Songs

Plus Favorite Pop Hit Covers

Come on out and join your friends

for a night of fun and great entertainment!

&

Great food, coffee, lattes, frozen delights and more

served by the terrific staff at the:

Coffee Tree Books & Brew 

7900 Bailey Cove Road

Huntsville, Alabama

256-880-6121

LIVE! At The Coffee Tree Books & Brew!

Friday – September 17th

6:30 – 9:00

 

Featuring
Ken Cooper
Lisa Carr
Doug Budzak
MaryJustice
Marcia Lucas
Ron Brown
James Randolph  

Seven singer-songwriters forced to perform together as a single cohesive unit - can it possibly work?

Will there be sweet harmonies....

or bloodshed?

Come Find Out For Yourself!

A Band Named Sue! Live at NASA!

A Band Named Sue was honored to perform at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Awards Ceremony,  August 17, 2010! 

We sorta think the NASA bunch liked us! They gave us an achievement award!



It was a fun gig! The food was great! We'll go back again anytime...

"Bigger Hands"

I think this video by our friend, Jim Parker, is very timely and will speak to each of us. Jim co-wrote this song with Nashville Recording Artist, John Anderson. It was released last year on John's album "Bigger Hands." This video was recorded during The Jim Parker Songwriter Series at the VBC in Huntsville, Alabama, where he hosts a monthly show.



A picture is worth more than a thousand words! Awesome video...awesome song...awesome singer!
Thank you, Jim!

Next Jim Parker Songwriter Series Show is
Friday Night ~ July 9th
6:30 PM at the VBC

 with
Jill Colucci
Pam Rose
Randy Sharp
& host Jim Parker
opener Mike Willis


**Tickets on sale at the
VBC & Ticketmaster

Madison Gazebo

Thursday June 24 – 6:30 PM

Village Green Gazebo in
Historic Downtown Madison


Donny and Susan Grace


 www.myspace.com/donnyandsusangrace

Jim Parker


www.jimparkermusic.com/

Lori Lovelace
 
www.myspace.com/lorilovelace

MaryJustice Lucas


www.myspace.com/maryjusticesings

  

MaryJustice Live! Guntersville Civitan Park

A great event for the young folkes.... See you there!

In Memoriam – BD Chase

Happy Birthday, BD!

BD started the Songwriters Open Mic at the Coffee Tree Books & Brew in Huntsville, Alabama, an event mentioned frequently on this blog.  I suppose you could say that this blog came into being because of him.  We stumbled onto the event one Wednesday night after MaryJustice's ballet class for a sandwich and cup of coffee, totally unaware of what that would mean to us. There were a handful of songwriters strumming guitars and singing their  songs… just a handful. Now the place is packed on Wednesday nights ... new comers and old friends sharing what they have written and carrying on his tradition of encouraging and helping one another.
 
Donald B. Faulkenbury was born June 20, 1947 in Pageland, NC.  He took the name BD Chase and began playing bass professionally in 1967.  He played in scores of night clubs, roadhouses, dives, and the usual assortment of weddings and played up and down the east coast in a variety of "beach bands" doing mostly Carolina shag music, oldies, and rhythm and blues.  He also performed backup for such groups as The Platters, The Clovers, The Coasters, Clifford Curry, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and a brief two-week stint with a young country singer named Randy Travis.  BD decided to go solo in 1987 and in '93 retired from professional performances concentrated on writing. BD won numerous awards at the Mountain Valley Arts (MOVA) Festival.  BD said, “I've enjoyed this aspect of the business a lot more than the performing end but have yet to see any financial gain, however, as any songwriter knows, once you start, you're hooked”.  “So, if I never make a dime on any of my songs, I'll continue to crank'em out”.

BD was a talented artist who loved painting caricatures and  Americana. Some of his work is displayed at the Coffee Tree Books & Brew.  

BD went home to be with his Lord on July 9, 2008. BD is lovingly missed by his family, friends and The Coffee Tree. His friend, Ken Dupree stepped up to host Songwriter’s Night. BD, he is faithful to get first time singers to sign the guitar. The first one got so full a second one was added.

Happy Birthday!

Live In Huntsville, Alabama!

Jim Parker's Songwriter Series

Friday - June 4, 2010  - 06:30 PM

Von Braun Center Playhouse
700 Monroe St SW
Huntsville, AL  35801

Jim Parker's Songwriter Series is a monthly showcase featuring the world's greatest songwriters and musicians. It is hosted at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to see these artists perform in the round, up close and personal!

Here is a small sample from the last show!

Sally Barris
 
“Let The Wind Chase You” recorded by Trisha Yearwood
”Reluctant Daughter” recorded by Martina McBride

Don Henry

“Where’ve You Been” recorded by Kathy Mattea
”If I Was Your Man” recorded by Blake Shelton

Tom Kimmel

“The Blue Train” and “Never Saw Blue Like That”

Host Jim Parker

“Chicken Truck” recorded by John Anderson
”Bigger Hands” recorded by John Anderson

The best and most entertainment you’ll ever get for $20.00. Food & drinks available and served by Playhouse staff.

Tickets on sale at the VBC & Ticketmaster

Introducing….

Each of these talented performing songwriters are frequently seen presenting their new songs at The Coffee Tree Books & Brew in Huntsville, Alabama.  Most are members of the North Alabama NSAI Sanctioned Chapter.  It’s hard to believe that it’s been just a little over a year that they met and started inviting each other to share time in their showcases.  In the past several months, this blog has featured or advertised events for these guys so if you are a frequent visitor of this spot you’ll recognize them.

Now, don’t get me wrong…as I stated before they are talented….multi-talented, vocally  and instrumentally!  They each love writing and singing songs, and making music with various instruments while holding down full-time “day” jobs.  So, as to not show any partiality, I’ll introduce them in alphabetical order:

  

Doug  has 40+ years experience performing everything from funk to reggae to rock to country to jazz. Doug plays guitar, piano and other musical instruments and has shared the stage with many nationally-known artists, including: The David Nelson Band, Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship, the Neville Brothers and many others. He is one-half of the outstanding duo, “Uncle Bethel” and the owner and operator of Rockit Juice Audio.

James is the percussionist with all sorts of gadgets from tiny cymbals to rain machines.  For someone so quiet and unassuming he can certainly make a lot of noise! You probably recognize him from the duo, Ron & James. James is a technician who assists in heart surgery. Far too complicated for me to give any detail. Ask him when you ask for his autograph.

Ken is a rocket scientist who was so embroiled in his work that his wife, Jennifer,  bought a $1.00 guitar from eBay to get him into a hobby.  As Ken states it, he “noodled” around playing favorite tunes and then started writing songs.  Once again, his wife gave him a little shove toward music by paying for studio time to cut his first CD.  The start of something amazing!

Lisa plays several instruments (including cow bell). She grew up singing in church, choruses, theater, and sitting in with the occasional band. She has a great vocal range, can take the lead or harmonize. Look out Winonna! In addition to song lyrics, Lisa writes poetry and is working on a “blockbuster” novel.  She’s the other half of the duo “Uncle Bethel” and oh, yeah, Lisa is also a rocket scientist.

Marcia is a vocalist whose sound has been likened to that of the late Karen Carpenter.  Her vocal experience ranges from theater, Praise & Worship Leader, choir and she can go solo, sing harmony and will occasionally throw in a few “moves.”  Marcia plays French Horn but refuses to “lug one of those heavy things around” since she finished school. Marcia is an insurance marketing manager.  She is also this blogger’s beautiful daughter!

MaryJustice, an award winning singer/songwriter, started composing songs and singing before she could write.  Her mother, Marcia, recorded  them in a journal as she sang. MaryJustice became more serious about writing songs at age seven.  By age 12, she knew she wanted a career in music and songwriting and gave up ballet to concentrate on music.   She recently started playing guitar and is learning  electronic keyboard.  MaryJustice, 15 years old, is a homeschooled high school student. Yep, you guessed it…she’s my beautiful granddaughter!

Ron plays guitar and is the man of many harmonicas. He occasionally picks up the mandolin and autoharp.   Ron has years of theatrical experience and probably knows the lyrics and music to every thing played on the radio in the last three decades. Yes, he’s Ron of the Ron & James duo. Ron is also in the medical field…something else complicated that is associated with heart surgery.

So, one day (or probably night), Doug (remember I listed people alphabetically)… but who always comes in first with the bright ideas… exclaimed, in his entrepreneurial voice, “Since we rehearse and perform together why don’t we form a band!”  So this group put together a great band covering every music genre of originals from gospel, pop, rock, Americana, country.  Then they started sprinkling in some cover songs from the 1960’s to 2010!

Since I advertise, photo, video and write about this gang (and others), I kept asking for a name for this band…Then one Wednesday night, at the Coffee Tree Songwriter’s Open Mic, the whole group went to the microphones  to sing a song one of them had written … I should state here, this was a “first” for seven people to present a new song together… I don’t even remember which song or who wrote it… As Lisa introduced the new song, she also announced the premier appearance of  A Band Named Sue. Of course my mouth fell open and I was speechless …. for  a little while! LOL!
So… give me a drum roll, James! 
Introducing……

A Band Named Sue

 

Coming soon at a place near you….maybe…

Lots Goin' On With Our Homegrown Songwriters!!

Last Saturday, April 10th, MaryJustice auditioned for the Homegrown Talent Competition to be held during Huntsville's Panoply of Arts Festival on Sunday, April 25th. Out of about 30 contestants, 10 were selected from this audition. Three auditions were held on different days at the beautiful Bridge Street Town Center. Talent entries include singers, dancers, actors, bands and are categorized by age not talent. MaryJustice will compete in the 15 - 20 age group! Come on out, everyone to cheer her on with this new song she wrote just last week.



More great new songs from the Songwriters to follow... This bunch of talented folkes is keeping this webmaster busy!

I Wish It Was Me

Written by Kenneth Cooper. Performed by Kenneth Cooper and Lisa Carr at the Nashville Palace

The World Famous NASHVILLE PALACE ~ 7:00 Tonight

HOST ~ James Breedwell!

Hope to see you all there!  The usual group, Coop, Uncle Bethel, MaryJustice, Ron & James, Earl Watts and Jerry Mungle, AKA "Two Old Men & Some Songs"  will be there with guest,  

So come on out and join us

If You Missed The Last One…Don’t Miss The Next One!

We are BIG HITS! at the World Famous NASHVILLE PALACE! The Homegrown Songwriters from North Alabama have been invited back by Host James Breedwell for another showcase  …. so …if you missed the last one…don’t miss the next one! April 8th 7:00 PM



"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" performed by Patsy Trigg and Marilyn Green. Miss Trigg is the original recorder of this song and Gold Record Winner.
Homegrown Songwriters and guests relaxing and enjoying the show. "Shaking The Blues Away" written and performed by Uncle Bethel, vocals by Lisa Carr and recorded at Rockit Juice Audio.... Watch for more videos from this show....coming soon!

Come On! Meet Us At The Nashville Palace!

Thursday – March 11 – 7:00 – 8:30
2611 McGavock Street
Nashville, TN 37201
Thursday, February 11, 2010
7:00 – 8:30 PM
The North Alabama Songwriters were a hit last month and James Breedwell invited us back for his Thursday night open mic at the World Famous Nashville Palace! Thank you to James Breedwell and  Pat Groves!
Let us entertain you with original music  ranging from Christian, Country, Americana, Pop, Rock and maybe a little political satire  written by each of these talented performing songwriters.
Karen Newsum
Earl Watts
Jerry Mungle
Earl and Jerry are frequently billed together as Two Old Men & Some Songs.
Ken Cooper AKA Coop
MaryJustice
 Ron (right) & James (left)
 Doug & Lisa

AKA Uncle Bethel

Patsy Trigg of “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” fame!

Our coordinator Doug Budzak has put together a great lineup.  So, come on and join us in Nashville.