Moonshine Martinis is a look back at country music from the 60's & 70's. The show is a blend of well known favorites and obscure one-hit wonders from artists including Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Jeanne Pruett, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Larry Gross and a few others.
I got the idea to perform a country cabaret years ago when I moved to New York from West Virginia. My friend Jason and I were lying on Jones Beach when the thought of the cabaret crossed my mind. We chatted about it, and I wrote down some notes; mostly a list of songs I liked for one reason or another. Jason suggested singing "I'm a Little Bit Country", but that would require a duet. So unless Jason wants to join me on stage....
As I sat there (drenched in sunblock), I thought of the songs that I heard growing up (drenched in Coppertone), and a number of images came to my head. I can remember my grandmother with dark hair washing dishes in the kitchen with Johnny Cash playing on the 8-track tape player.
In elementary school, I remember the alarm going off at 7:00am and country music would instantly be piped into my brain (Islands in the Stream...that is what we are...no one in between, how can we be wrong...) My best friend at the time was nuts about Kenny Rogers. She thought he was cute (which kinda grossed me out). We'd dance around in our satin Shaun Cassidy jackets and Jordache blue jeans singing "Coward of the County" over and over again.
Of course, my family watched Hee-Haw on Saturday Nights, everyone in the community did. It was southern West Virginia, afterall, we needed something to talk about after church the next day. You couldn't even escape the country music in church because country and gospel went hand in hand.
I remember the Dolly Parton show. I never missed it, even if it meant leaving the skating ring half an hour early. And I remember mom singing "Stand by Your Man" while laquering her hair with Aquanet. She may have been flat, but her hair never was!
Because older country music is so influential to me on a personal level, I felt the urge to share it. I've been looking forward to this performance for many years. I know it's going to be fun for me, and I hope you will come out and enjoy it, too.
To my new found friend! Hope you don't slap Kerry for kissing you like that!! LOL Have a wonderful Valentine's Day. Remember Valentine's Day is not always about 'Eros', it can be about 'Agape'. (I do know other words for love...problem with the English language is there is only one word for love) I wish you all the AGAPE you can handle. BTW--Eros is sexual love, Agape, is Godly love! ;)
Darlin', we gotta talk. Your bio reads like mine would, if I'd just sit down and write it! I grew up just a ways up Route 23, but we always knew the homeland was Buchanan County, Virginia. :) Keep it real, country gal-- I'll come to see your show real soon. Jamie Lyn
Thanks for adding me! Funny--I've been singing "Mama Tried" for weeks now, ever since I found it in a karaoke book at some place in Koreatown. Great job!
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