PRESENTS:
KNOXVILLE FREEDOM SONGS & STORIES - Researched & Compiled by Tomi Robb
ARTISTS
Dan Higgins - Bass John Jackson - Keys & Vocals Josh Lecroy - vocals Cole Liles - Drums Ethan Norman - Guitar & Vocals Tomi Robb - Director, Narrator, & Vocals Adam Whipple - Guitar, Mandolin, & Harmonica
SONGS (In order of performance)
Living With the Blues - Brownie McGhee I Want Jesus to Walk with Me* - Eric Bibb Two Wings* - James Cleveland Walk On - Brownie McGhee Raise a Ruckus - Brownie McGhee Joe Louis Blues - Carl Martin Lady Be Good - Howard (Louie Bluie) Armstrong Blues for Rampart Street - Ida Cox My Baby's Gone - Stick McGhee Oh, Happy Day* - Edwin Hawkins
*Popular song in black churches during the era. Composer is not connected with Knoxville.
SPECIAL THANKS
Community Evangelistic Church
ABOUT THE SONGWRITERS
Brownie McGhee (1915 – 1996) preserved and popularized the Piedmont blues style, meshing bouncy guitar picking and strumming with rhythmic, hooting harmonica. Brownie learned guitar from his father, known around University Avenue for playing guitar and singing. Brownie contracted polio at the age of four, which incapacitated his right leg. His brother, Granville McGhee, was nicknamed Stick McGhee for using a stick to push a wagon carrying young Brownie. In 1948, Brownie started a blues school in Harlem, and shortly before his death, he started the Blues Is Truth Foundation to give scholarships to young musicians.
Carl Martin (1906 – 1979) played Piedmont blues, which emphasizes fingerpicking and a light, jazzy feel distinct from the simpler sounds of Delta blues. It was a style often heard in the barber shops and pool halls of Vine Street in the years after World War I. It was in Knoxville that Carl met Howard Armstrong. The two formed the core of Knoxville-based bands, the Four Keys and the Tennessee Chocolate Drops. They recorded at the 1929-30 Brunswick sessions at the St. James Hotel on Wall Avenue near Market Square.
Howard Armstrong (1909 – 2003) also known as “Louie Bluie,” was an accomplished musician, painter, and storyteller, who created ethnic jewelry, mastered seven foreign languages, 22 musical instruments, and traveled the world. By the age of ten, Howard had formed a family string band with his five younger brothers. They played for money on the streets of LaFollette and in remote coal camps on the nearby mountains. Howard always brought that money to his mother to help pay for their home. He left school and home at the age of 12 to join the family of fiddler Blind Martin Roland in Knoxville, mingling on the famed Vine Street of downtown. In the heart of the Great Depression, Howard developed what he called "skiffeling," which meant earning a living by knocking on doors in ethnic neighborhoods and singing songs to homesick immigrants in their native tongues. He made many original songs, but his early theme song was a Gershwin tune that he loved: Lady Be Good.
Ida Cox (1888* – 1967) *The date and location of Ida Cox’s birth are unclear, but she told reporters that she was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 25, 1894. Her commanding stage presence and expressive delivery earned Cox star billing, and by the early 1920s, she was regarded as one of the finest solo acts. She secured a contract with Paramount Records, who called her "The Uncrowned Queen of Blues.” In 1945, she was forced into retirement after a debilitating stroke which occurred during a performance in Buffalo, New York. She moved to Knoxville where she lived with her daughter and became active in her church. Cox effectively disappeared from the music world until 1959 when she was urged to make another recording. In 1961, 15 years after her last sessions, she recorded Blues for Rampart Street.
Stick McGhee (1918 – 1961) dropped out of high school his freshman year and went to work with his father at the Eastman factory in Kingsport. He served in the army during World War II and settled in New York after he was discharged in 1946. In 1949, Brownie backed Stick in his recording of Wine Blues, which became a No. 2 Billboard hit. The song was continually covered for a decade before being recorded by Jerry Lee Louis who is often credited for it being one of his signature songs. The term “rock ’n’ roll” did not yet exist, but some scholars have proposed that McGhee’s Wine Blues was the first rock ’n’ roll recording.
ABOUT OUR ARTISTS
DAN HIGGINS: Dan started playing music at age 11; first, in the school band and then, in church. Soon, he was involved in jazz band, marching band, and a touring choir in college. Dan was also in a short-lived rock band that made one album. He has played a bit of just about every style of music including bluegrass/folk, hard rock, jazz, gospel, and blues.
JOHN JACKSON, a native of Chicago, arrived in Knoxville in 1986 as a student at Knoxville College. Shortly after graduation, John served as Minister of Music at Community Evangelistic Evangelical Presbyterian Church (CEC) here in Knoxville. John is currently serving at CEC and has been there for 30 years. John also serves as part-time director of music with Freedom Fellowship Christian Church since 2005 and part-time director of music with HOPE Fellowship since 2018. John serves faithfully with other para-church ministries in the city of Knoxville: Emerald Youth’s Children's choir and Young Life. John is married to April Jackson, who is Divisional Coordinator with Young Lives. John has a son, Jahson, who attends Johnson University and a daughter, Jalan, who recently graduated from King University and is currently attending Roane State.
JOSH LECROY is a singer/songwriter from Knoxville. A Carter High School graduate, he is currently enrolled at Johnson University. Josh is involved in Knoxville Young life as a leader and he loves to spread music, love and good energy to all people. He recently released his first single “Busy Doing Nothing” on all streaming platforms. Josh hopes to continue to share uplifting vibes to everybody.
COLE LILES has been involved with The WordPlayers since 2019. Originally from Nashville, Cole has lived in Knoxville for the last 11 years (Go Vols!). He is a freelance videographer and lives with his wife, Courtney, and his cat, Dahlia.
ETHAN NORMAN has been working with The WordPlayers for several years and loves this company! Ethan is a musician, songwriter, and playwright. Along with his wife, Rachel, and two little boys, Bode and River, his two favorite things are being outside and making music. It’s also a well-known fact that Ethan’s dog, Kipling, is much cooler than Cole's cat, Dahlia. TOMI ROBB recently graduated from the UT College of Law. Since 2012, she has performed as a singer, actress, and speaker with The WordPlayers, KnoxCAM, MissionWorx, Tennessee Valley Players, Oak Ridge Playhouse, and Encore Theatrical Company. Tomi is so excited for the opportunity to share these stories with our Knoxville community. It is an honor to perform as part of a company. Thanks be to God!
ADAM WHIPPLE has played multiple instruments or arranged charts for The WordPlayers for The Spitfire Grill, Bright Star, On a Hill Far Away, et al. He’s an editor for Foundling House, has written for The Rabbit Room and other publications, and his music can be found anywhere there’s an internet signal.
COMING UP IN OUR 2020-2021 SEASON
July 15-17 @ 7:30 PM & July 18 @ 2:30 PM At the Old City Performing Arts Center, 111 State St., Knoxville
A timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.
For tickets & information, please see wordplayers.org
We are thankful for the support of our 2020-2021 Season Contributing Players! (Gifts given between August 1, 2020 & June 1, 2021)
ALL WORLD PLAYERS ($1000+)
Anonymous Barbara Darce Jim & Leann Dickson Shawn & Alice Carson David & Ann Colquitt Leslie Hull Joyce Ledbetter Paul & Michelle Pardue Warren & Kathy Payne Ron & Peggy Turner Bill & Dotty Vinson James M. & Linda L.Williams
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS ($500-$999)
Anonymous Ben & Missy Blalock Robert & Annie Bright John & CeCe Campbell John & Cindy Cannon Tom Cervone & Susan Creswell Brad Croisdale Jill Lagerberg Joe & Carol Ottaviano Terry & Jeni Weber Annamae Weber
ALL STAR PLAYERS ($250-$499)
Anonymous Don & Beth Arnurius Anna Bellamy Wendell & Rachel Boertje Dean & Mary Farmer John & Patti Frazier Richard & Lee Graham Stan & Rosalie Hadley Lakeisha Hogue Jack & Cindy Hopkins Joe & Kim Jaynes Dan & Libby McCammon Jim & Celia Montgomery Mark & Dee Pierce Ernie Roberts Marty Smith Joyce Wyatt
MAJOR PLAYERS ($100-$249)
Anonymous Richard & Margaret Ashworth Dale & Mary Beth Berry Tom & Linda Bolen Robert & Lorraine Bowman George & Kathy Brooks Dorothy Bryson Richard & Michelle Castleberry Bill & Helen Deitch Kathryn DeWine Mark & Helen Dickey Mary Jane Elmore Archie & Susan Fendley Ed & Melissa Flanagan Reid & Nancy Gerhardt Michael & Jean Giusto Brad & Joy Guilford Don & Caroline Harrell Mark Hedrick Kathryn Hendrix Jim & Becky Henry Chris & LeAnn Hilemon Oliver Hoig James & Lee Hysmith Stan & Jackie Johnson Robert King Teresa King Melanie Kirkham Jay & Susan Kohlbusch Steve & Mary Krempasky Paul & Cherie Larson Ron & Therese Leadbetter Chris & Wendy Ledbetter Steve & Caroline Luper Jim & Julia Malia Joe & Ellen Manning Buddy & Janet McLean Mark & Doris Moreland Cynthia Morris Frank & CeCe Morris Bill & Sheila Moyer Harry & Amy Ogden Don Olive Kevin & Kimberly Proffitt John & Anita Randle Barry & Pam Robertson Sherrie Rumbolt Fares & Harriet Schlank Judy Shepherd Ron & Alva Shipe Mike & Carol Slavin Gregor & Jennifer Smee Wayne & Laura Smith Charles & Ann Snodgrass Bernard Starner David & Lisa Stockton Richard & Irene Townsend Dave & Barbara Wasil Larry G. Welch John & Janie Wendelken William Bruce & Linda Wheeler Deborah Wooten Stan & Melissa Zachary UTILITY PLAYERS ($25-$99)
Mariellen Amber Diane Bailes David & Rachel Ballenger Hershel & Joyce Beeler Justin & Keli Bell Brian & Jean Bonnyman Patty Bruns Ann Callahan Joe & Karen Carson Carol Ann Casey Richard & Michelle Castleberry Alan & Nancy Cheatham Mike & Pam Davis Donald Dunning Pat Earl Jack & Becky Ellison Russ & Tracey Ford Derrell & Brenda Frye Bryan Fuller Mary Sue Greiner Brad & Cindy Hood Patricia Jones Mark & Anne Kalisek Lou & Kim Kiernan Jack & Marjorie Lloyd Michael & Nancy Lofaro Stan & Brenda Malone Leonard & Debra Markham James & Sherburne Martin Jerry & Joyce McClellan Norman & Linda Judge McRae Bill & Deborah Morgan Coke Morgan Todd & Charlotte Olson Mark Palmer & Windie Wilson Cameron & Emily Puckett Howard & Marcella Russell Nancy Schowalter Gail Sewell Jeanne Sharp Lisa Silverman William & Joan Sloan Ron & Christine Solomon Amanda Stair David & Jane Stroud April Timko Ed & JoAnne Thrift Kelly & Karin Vogt Sharon Ward Jack & Patricia Watson Helen Wedekind Jean Wedekind Mary Wegman Janelle Witt
OTHER SUPPORT
Arts & Culture Alliance Arts Fund for East Tennessee Central Baptist Bearden Fifth Avenue Baptist Church Home Federal Bank Kiwanis Club of Northside, Knoxville Tennessee Arts Commission TJ Development
The WordPlayers is a non-profit 501(c)3 company of Christian theatre artists. Your support is needed and very much appreciated; gifts are tax-deductible.
Mailing Address: PO Box 53717, Knoxville, TN 37950-3717 Website: www.wordplayers.org 865-539-2490 * [email protected]
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