If you've always wanted to meet the writers of your favorite songs, now is your chance!
Friday, August 29
at the VBC Playhouse
6:30pm
Songwriter's featured for the upcoming show are as follows.......
Donny Fritts - Donnie Fritts began playing drums in local bands at age 15 and later developed into a session keyboard player. His first studio experience was in the recording studio located in Florence above City Drug Store. Fritts was involved in many of the early songs and recordings created in the Shoals music industry. In 1965, he was signed to a Nashville publishing company and had songs recorded by Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. He later met Kris Kristofferson who was just beginning his songwriting career. When forming his band, Kristofferson called on Fritts, who has remained friend and co-worker for over two decades, performing live, on recordings and in numerous movies throughout that period. Donnie appeared in three of Sam Peckinpah's movies, "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid", "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia", and "Convoy" as well as other movies including "A Star Is Born" and "Songwriter". As a song writer, Fritts is known for "We Had It All", recorded by Ray Charles, Willie Nelson and many others, "You're Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning", "Breakfast In Bed", and "Choo Choo Train".
Pat Upton - Upton was the original lead singer of Spiral Starecase, a band popular in the late '60s and early 70s. "More Today than Yesterday" has been recorded by great musicians such as Johnny Mathis and Andy Williams. Upton left Spiral Starecase in 1972, and wrote/sung jingles, and did session and night club work from 1972 - 1981, when he met Rick Nelson. Pat sang back up vocals on Nelson's Playing to Win album, touring with Rick's Stone Canyon Band. In 1994, Upton released Then & Now, breaking his 20 year, self-imposed recording hiatus. This album is describes as "a balanced blend between old and new tunes", and is a 1990s tribute to a time honored subject - love in all its phases. Upton wrote or co-wrote 5 of the ten songs and was co-producer of the project. In 2003, Taragon released a compilation CD of the complete Spiral Starecase recordings, plus some of Upton's newer music.
Larry Byrom - Larry was born in Huntsville, Alabama and grew up playing the trumpet, piano and the guitar. Eventually, settling into a love affair with the guitar building his skills with slide, acoustic and electric guitar. In the 60's, he joined Steppenwolf, replacing Michael Monarch on lead guitar in 1969 - remaining with them from 1969 through 1972. Larry's song credits include "Hey Lawdy Mama", "Who Needs Ya", "Renegade", "Draft Resister", "Ball Crusher", "Fat Jack", "Fag", Foggy Mental Breakdown", "Earschplittenloudenboomer", "Suicide" and "Hippo Stomp" featured on the albums, "Monster, Steppenwolf Live and Steppenwolf 7. Larry toured with great performers such as Neil Young, Steve Winwood and Peter Frampton. Larry was awarded BMI's writing, "Citation of Achievement" for the Tanya Tucker song, "Feel Right" and included as a "Music Achiever", with the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Wikipedia has recognized him as a "Distinguised Alabamian" and AL.com as a "Famous Alabamian". Larry currently lives in Muscle Shoals and is working on finding and producing artists in this area. He has been awarded the prestigious "Studio Musician's Award" from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Jim Parker (host) - Originally from California, Jim Parker has been helping to put on Songwriter's Showcase shows in Huntsville for years now. Jim has performed with artists like Loretta Lynn, Lee Greenwood and The Bellamy Brothers and written songs for numerous others. Jim is truly inspirational and humble singer/songwriter with an intimidating amount of experience in the music industry.
Click here to find out more about these performers and the Songwriter's Showcase.
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