Center, Texas - Homegrown and Homemade is a music series that will highlight local Shelby County guitar-pickers and songwriters. Spanning many different styles, ages and musical influences, five musicians have been picked to showcase in 2009 include Colby Miller, Thomas Morrison, Tim Hopkins, Grant Harris and Danny Paul Windham. In an intimate setting, each songwriter will share the stage and highlight a handful of songs that were hand-written in and about Shelby County.
Colby Miller started playing guitar and writing songs in 2003. With influences like Dave Matthews, Bob Schneider, and Amos Lee, his unique musical style has captured and kept the attention of ears from across the country. Miller is continually acclaimed for his imaginative lyrical writing, refreshing vocal tones and seamless relation between performance and expression. Songwriting is Miller's first musical love. Having penned nearly 100 songs, he has become comfortable in his role as an author of many themes, including songs about love, fear, hope, friends and family. In the only songwriting competition he has entered to date, The Nacogdoches Americana Music Festival New Traditions Song Contest, Miller won 3rd place and was invited to play at the annual event in 2008. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), Miller moved to Magnolia, Texas to marry his long-time sweetheart and begin a career in computer marketing, though he continues to grow and learn through his music.
Thomas Morrison, a life-long resident of Center, has only been away from Shelby County for four years at Texas A&M University, in College Station. While attending Texas A&M, Morrison earned degrees in both Marketing and Finance and was introduced to the wonderful new sound of Texas music that is rarely found on pop radio. Influenced by artists like Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Randy Rogers, Robert Earl Keen and Ryan Bingham, Morrison has a very “Texas” sound that is unpolished and uncomplicated. Realizing his love for music and performing, Morrison has been known to write many songs a week. A very prolific songwriter, Morrison also enjoys sharing his music with anyone who will listen. Still living in Center, Morrison works for Port-A-Cool, LLC and looks forward to any opportunity to share Texas Music with an audience.
Tim Hopkins is relatively new to the songwriting club, but has cranked out some tremendous tunes. Hopkins’ songs are crowd-pleasing, upbeat and very genuine. Painting a beautiful image of small-town life, Hopkins touches on topics ranging from high-school aged activities to finding faith in small country churches. After one listens to any song from Hopkins, you cannot deny that his major influences are Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. Heavily influenced by gospel music, Hopkins creates a unique sound that fits into any southern atmosphere. Also a Center High School graduate, Hopkins has spent several years in Dallas, but has returned to Shelby County to raise his two little girls with his Shelby County wife. Hopkins works for Shelby Savings Bank and leads the music for McClelland Baptist Church.
Grant Harris will surprise you! His earthy, roots music is very unique. Pulling the most empathetic qualities from Americana music, such as Slaid Cleaves and Townes Van Zandt, Harris’ music will stir you. His personal songs are descriptive and emotional as good folk music should be. Harris offers an original take on songwriting and will be a pleasure to experience. Harris, a Timpson, Texas native, now lives in Nacogdoches, Texas. After graduating from SFASU with a Political Science degree, Harris now works as an Account Manager for The Blood Center of East Texas.
Danny Paul Windham needs no introduction in East Texas, as his “larger than life” presence will hold your attention in any size room. Windham knows country music as he has been playing it longer than the other four participants have been living. Playing with bands from the time he was in college, Windham has traveled around the state and country sharing his own homegrown music that he calls “country as a dirt clod.” A true gem of Shelby County, Windham and his band, The Pine Hill Revue, will break into song at the drop of a hat. As a local dentist, Windham and his wife, Sally, are well known. They have also entertained the county for years as musical coordinators for the East Texas Poultry Festival. Original influences like David Allan Coe and Willie Nelson, Windham’s repertoire has grown over the years to include works of Rodney Crowell, Chris Knight, Todd Snider, Monty Montgomery and Robert Earl Keen. With a playlist that goes for miles, Windham can crank out any tune that can keep a party alive. His personal songs are the true crowd pleasers as they touch on topics we all can appreciate and relate to as Shelby County citizens.
The Homegrown and Homemade performance will be held Saturday, April 11, 2009 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Historic Shelby County Courthouse on the downtown square in Center, Texas. Advance tickets are $5.00 per person and $10.00 at the door at show time. Tickets are available at Austin Street Marketplace, Attoyac River Gallery and Mill Creek Gallery; all businesses located on the downtown square. Proceeds will benefit the Lakes Area Arts League.
For additional concert information, contact Karen Thompson 936.590.0070 or Thomas Morrison via email at homegrownandhomemade@gmail.com.
Please visit the website www.myspace.com/homegrownandhomemade to check out samples of the songs by Homegrown and Homemade.
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