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Songwriters and Storytellers Take to the Porch at this Friday’s Concert at the Jones House

 

Orville Hicks

Aug. 7, 2012. Songwriters and storytellers will perform this Friday, as the Town of Boone continues with the 2012 Concerts at the Jones House series. Musical groups will include Sound Traveler and Lisa Baldwin and Dave Haney, and storytellers will include Orville Hicks and Charlotte Ross.

Sound Traveler is made up of husband-and-wife duet, Bob and Patty Tatum, both multi-instrumentalists who bring a wide array of styles and sounds to their music. Bob is a retired school teacher from Avery County, and along with Patty the two tour the High Country from spring through fall. “These guys are a lot of fun,” says concert organizer, Mark Freed. “They have a really diverse repertoire and will probably fill the porch with instruments.”

Charlotte Ross is a retired ASU professor, who has been known as the Legend Lady for quite some time. Ross has collected more than 3400 stories from tellers around the region and world, and she can recite many of them. “The stories communicate the power and pride and special beauty of the people of the Appalachian Mountains,” Ross says. “They define us as a people.”

Lisa Baldwin and Dave Haney, another husband-and-wife duet, play a variety of acoustic styles, influenced by bluegrass, country, folk, classic rock-n-roll, and contemporary songwriters. They also perform numerous original songs, written by Baldwin, a school teacher who has used music to educate for decades. “Lisa and Dave always bring a solid set to the porch,” says Freed.

Orville Hicks is a living legend and bearer of the Jack Tales storytelling tradition that thrived on Beech Mountain for generations. Hicks grew up listening to stories by his family, including his mother and uncle, Ray Hicks, who was known around the world as a master teller. Orville carries on the traditional tales he heard growing up, in addition to some additions of his own. “Those who have heard him tell know what a treasure each performance brings,” says Freed. “And if you have not heard Orville, you must come Friday – It is an experience not to be missed!”

Concerts at the Jones House take place in downtown Boone at 604 W. King St. every Friday from June through September. The free concert starts at 5 p.m., and patrons are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit in the lawn. The 2012 Concert series is sponsored by MPrints, Stickboy Bread/Melanie’s, Footsloggers, Mast General Store, and the Downtown Boone Development Association. For a complete schedule, visit www.boone-nc.org or call 262-4576 for more information.