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"WALK THIS MOUNTAIN DOWN"
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Singing the Carter Stanley song " Who Will Sing For Me" at the Bluegrass Underground Show in Cumberland Caverns"
Singing "Gone" at a taping of NPR Nashville's syndicated show Bluegrass Breakdown. Keith Sewell on guitar, Andy Hall on dobro, Andy Leftwich on mandolin, Dave Pomeroy on upright bass and Rick Stanley singing some great harmonies. My honey wrote this one with me!
Influences
My all time favorite has to be Loretta Lynn. I remember the first concert that I ever went to was with my mother and father in Hampton, Virginia. Dad purchased Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn tickets for my 10th birthday. I was so excited that I started crying when they were introducing her. Right before she walked on stage I caught a glimpse of her white high heels and thought I was going to faint. She is still my hero today. Other influences for me are Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Connie Smith, Don Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Emmy Lou Harris and of course, Dolly Parton. My grandparents, Lloyd and Martha Butler always used music in their home. I can still hear their voices twining around each other. They taught me to sing harmony even before I knew how to sing lead. My mother's voice, she's a great singer. My father's love for country music was my greatest influence. Hearing his radio blaring on a Sunday morning is my earliest introduction into this genre and stuck with me to this day. And last but never least, my husband introduced me into a whole new music world with his love for bluegrass.
It still amazes me that I am living and making music in Nashville. I find myself pinching my arm and counting my blessings that I am doing something I love so deeply. As far back as I can remember this was my dream. So......dreams do come true even if they are a distorted version of what you thought they would be.
I have enjoyed a crazy roller coaster ride in this town. The intoxicating anticipation, the clickidy, clacking slow ride to the "almost" top and then the screaming while the bottom was dropping out was something but I am still here.
My new passion is writing the songs I sing now. I found this part of me on my long journey back from a major record deal. "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger"....who said that? I want to meet them and shake their hand. After my singing deal ended I felt lost until I found pen and paper. Almost as faint as a whisper, I found my true voice waiting inside of a song that was dreamed up in my heart. Whew, the thought of that recognition still blows me away. I am a writer on Music Row and the pride I feel going to my office everyday is so big that it fills me to bursting. Who knew?!
HI , DONA GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK , THIS IS MY NEW PAGE , AND NEW COMPUTER , YOU WERE ONE OF MY FAVORITES , GOD BLESS AND WELCME HOME, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, DR, CLYDE
Thank you so much for that comment! I feel exactly the same way. I treasure your friendship also. I pray that your Thanksgiving is one of joy and happiness. God Bless you and your family. Oh, and Daisy Dog too.
I hope you got some good sleeping done. I plan on doing that a little later. I pray that your day was one of dreams coming true. Smile, sing, and dance your way through the week-end!
Hugs and God Bless!
Hey Donna: Thanks for the add. I stopped in to listen to your music while I was working on the PC. Thanks for sharing your beautiful music with the world.
