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Holly Benton

This Blog is about my very good friend Holly Benton. I have known Holly for about 10 yrs. All I can say is that when I first heard her sing on ReverbNation, she just blew me away. I honestly never heard a voice like hers before. I have been into music for almost 50 years, Holly’s voice is so unique. Her tone is perfect for Soul & Bluesy music. She has a low range, but not too low. She can bring her vocals from a low sultry tone to a rough & raspy powerhouse sound without any effort. Holly does an amazing rendition of “I Rather Go Blind” by Etta James. I feel that if a singer can do this song justice then they are definitely a good singer.
Holly is from southeast Missouri, around Cape Girardeau, MO. She has been in a few bands plus performed as duo and also solo.
The first time I saw Holly perform live was at Apple Creek Winery, all I can say about that day is I was just as impressed with her sing live that day as I was when I first heard her on the internet. Holly did an amazing job.
Holly has gone thru some transformation since I first saw in 2014. They all have led to the outstanding vocal range & control she has today. Plus, her stage presence has also blossomed.
Holly is also a very talented songwriter; her first self-produced CD “Deceit” is all original songs and has to be my favorite out of all the other CDs. One of my favorite songs off of this album is “Drawn To You”, I think I love this song because it such slow Blues type song and really shows off Holly's singing ability with such style of music, another one is “I Won’t Be That Women” this songs has that Haunting Blues sound, Holly really puts the prefect tone and feel to the song with your beautiful vocals. Like I said the whole is my favorite because they were all written by Holly and is the style of music she loves to sing.
Holly writes from experience and writes in such a way that you can really feel want the song is about.
Holly has recently came to me and asked me to get a band together for her, she is wanting to get back to what she loves to do which is sing the Blues & Soul music. I would have to agree that is where she seems to be more comfortable with. So, I was able to arrange for Holly to sit in on a couple of Jam Sessions and she just blew the roof off the place on both occasions.
So, all I can say is that I highly recommend keeping an eye & ear out for Holly Benton, I was able to ask Holly some questions and here are her answers. Plus, here is a link to her YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1g3EpYAvpKOSZXKoPzUN4w

1.How long have you been playing music? I have been playing music publicly since 2014.
2.How many bands have you been in?
I have been in 3 different bands. First was a two piece with Kevin Engert. We joined Kevin Curry & Matt Helmers called Nuff Said. Last year, started playing in a band called Another Round with Brad & Brian Krauss.
3.Where were you born?
Cape Girardeau, MO.
4. Are you self-taught?
I took piano lessons for about a year when I was 9, which taught me the fundamentals of music. As far as my Mom tells me, I would wake up singing every morning as a toddler. Don’t know that has ever stopped.
5. Who are your biggest influences?
I’ve always admired the powerhouse female vocalist. I discovered my Mom’s Aretha Franklin album, “I’ve Never Loved A Man The Way That I Love You” when I was 10 years old. I was blown away with the range and power of Aretha’s voice. I later came to love Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, Patsy Cline, Kd Lang, Gladys Knight and even Opera singer Lara Fabian.
6. What style of music do you consider yours?
I think ballads of several genres are my strong suit. I feel Blues & Soul music. Singing those songs have always come natural.
7. What was your first gig?
My First gig was at a local winery. I was scared to death. I may have partaken in a bit too much wine to calm my nerves. That didn’t work out too well. They asked me back, so I guess all was not lost.
8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business?
Have a realistic expectations. There’s a lot of talent out there and it is so easy to get burned out and disheartened. It’s a job. Some gigs you may only be playing to one or two people, it’s hard to get into it, but try to give them all you have and hopefully you’ll reach them on some level.
9. Do you write your own songs?
I do write my own songs. I haven’t written anything I awhile. I tend to write out of misery. I have a feeling there will be some new songs flowing soon if that tells you anything. I have had some success getting music placed in some TV shows.
10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal record collection?
I like so many genres of music. There are probably not at least a few songs I like in every genre. I’d say some people would be surprised that I have a Beverly Hillbillies album with songs from the original cast of the television show. It’s actually pretty humorous.
11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option?
I guess I’d have to spend my weekends listening to the musical talent of others. Frederick Nietzsche once said, “Without music life would be a mistake”. I agree wholeheartedly. I think music is the perfect representation of human emotion.
12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform?
My favorite song to perform is “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” by Etta James. I love the dynamics of the song. It starts out acapella and builds with a fun melody to move to.
13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs?
Whoever is going to make me the most money by singing one of my songs. Although, I would completely love to hear Shelby Lynne sing one of my songs.

The Waymores

This Blog is about a recent Husband & Wife duo I discovered on the internet. They go by The Waymores, it is made up of Willie Heath Neal & Kira Annalise, They hail from Georgia.
Because of a very dear friend of mine, I have been finding lots of “Real Honest Country” musicians. The Waymores definitely fall into that category with some “Honky Tonk” feel to their music.
Let’s start with the style, like I said it real Country music. Which seems to be dying on the radio. But if you really look hard & deep you can find lots of Artist still playing this amazing music.

The Waymores are definitely keeping the tradition alive.
Willie’s voice is a husky baritone, which really puts the Country in their songs. When I listen to Willie sings it reminds me of David Allen Coe & Johnny Cash combined. It has that whisky drinking sound to it, which produces that Honky Tonk feel.
Kira’s voice is such a great tone for Country/Honky Tonk music. Kira has an amazing control of her vocals, where she can put the twang in, plus she has the ability to also put a great vibrato to her voice. I have been trying to think a Country Female singer to compare and I can’t, which is a great compliment.
Now if you have been following for any length of time. That I am a huge fan of Female Singers, especially ones with very unique voices. Kira Annalise has that voice. She has a solo EP & Album; I have to say I just got them from Kira and has listen to them at least 10 times along with the two from The Waymores.

Now that we talk about each of them, let’s talk about them together. All I can say is that when Kira & Willie met and formed The Waymores, it was a magical thing. Cause the music these two play and write is nothing short of amazing. Their voices together are basically Honky Tonk Heaven. When they sing in harmony it just gives me goosebumps.

They have an EP “Weeds” & a full length album “Stone Sessions”. I am going to start with the EP, The first is “Matches” this has to be my favorite from the EP. My next on the EP is the title track “Weeds”.
Now on to the full-length album, This album has 10 really good songs on it. The first song I really like is “I Don’t Like The Liquor” this is just a fun song and I think their harmonies are really good. The next one I like is “Heart Of Stone” this song is just well written; the melody is very catchy. Another one is “Even When” this song is something that we would love to say at least once in our lives…
So, you can probably tell by my Blog that I really do like this Duo. Mainly because they write & sing real honest music. So, I highly recommend you check them on the links I posted below.
As always I was able to ask both Willi & Kira some questions and here are their answers.

https://www.thewaymores.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@The-Waymores

1.How long have you been playing music?
Willie has been playing for about 32 years. He first started playing in bands in the Navy. His first live
show was on a rooftop in Singapore. He was instantly hooked. I sang in a band with my brother in 2006
but didn’t start playing guitar and creating my own music until I met Willie in 2007. We’ve been playing
together as The Waymores since 2013 but we didn’t get serious about this group until 2018.

2. How many bands have you been in?
Willie has been in 7 bands. Socrates Greenhouse, Big Red Rocket, The Eugene Swank Atomic Honky
Tonk, The Modern El Dorado’s, The Damned Ol’ Opry, The No Count Palooka’s and now The Waymores.
I have been in 4. The Flop, The No Count Palooka’s, The Trainwrecks and now The Waymores.

3. Where were you born?
Willie was born in Gwinette County but grew up in Rome GA. I was born in Decatur GA but grew up in
Marietta GA.

4. Are you self-taught?
Yes, we are both self-taught. Some people think that’s a blessing or a bragging point but we both wish
we had been taught as children when your mind isn’t so full of other garbage, and it can better absorb
things. We both struggle with our limitations in both playing and singing.

5. Who are your biggest influences?
Elvis, Waylon Jennings, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earl... This list could go on for days.

6. What style of music do you consider yours?
We call it Honky-Tonk and we have good reason behind it.
The original meaning of “Honky-Tonk” referred to a style of ragtime that emphasized rhythm more than melody or harmony.

The original meaning also referred to an establishment where the patrons were loud and rowdy. We make our living in dive bars of such and we think the description is a fitting one.

7. What was your first gig and how old were you?
Willie’s first show was on a rooftop in Singapore. He was a 20-year-old Navy sailor, stationed on the U.S.S Kitty Hawk. He and some buddies on the ship had a punk band and they managed, through the help of the USO, to get a show at a bar in a foreign port. To hear him tell it “We were terrible, but they went nuts and they loved us. There was no looking back for me.”
My first show was far less thrilling. My brother worked in a restaurant, and they needed a band for their 20th anniversary party. My brother is a crazy talented musician. I agreed to sing with him and a buddy of his and I hated it. I vowed never to get on stage again. They talked me into one more show and something happened on that one. I don’t know what it was, but I was a lifer after that.

8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business?
Be authentic, travel and do not stop.

9. Do you write your own songs?
We do. We both had written our own stuff before coming together as The Waymores and it was our first time writing with another person when we wrote together.
Luckily, it went well... for the most part.
We’ve since written with peers and continue to write together as often as possible, which is never as often as we’d like.

10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal record collection?
Herb Albert and The Tijuana Brass and maybe some Thin Lizzy

11. What would you be doing if playing music wasn’t an option?
Willie: Dying. Music is my religion. It’s saved me in more ways than I can count. I honestly don’t know
how long I’d survive if I wasn’t playing music.
Kira: I thought about being an attorney at one point. I was in college studying Macroeconomics when I
met Willie. I don’t think I had much of a plan until I saw him on stage one night, and it all clicked. I, too,
would be at a loss without music.

12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform?
This changes all the time but right now, Willie’s is Lonesome On’ry and Mean and I’ve been on a real
Loretta and Conway kick, so mine is You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly.

13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs?
Willie: Willie Nelson
Kira: Sierra Ferrell

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The Minnesota Songbirds

1/4/2023

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The Minnesota Songbirds

This blog is about four amazing Female singers from Minnesota. Which is Vicky Emerson, Jillian Rae, Sarah Morris & Anne Fitzgerald, I like to call them The Minnesota Songbirds. They do a stream called “Thank You For Being A Friend”. This is a very entertaining, not only do they all take turns singing but they also chat about the songs. This is very cool to watch. These four ladies all have a distinctive sound, but at the same time they are not that far from each other. Which makes for an impressive foursome. There have been a few duets by a couple of them at times, but I am not sure if all four of them have ever sang together.

The first of these very talented ladies I was introduced to was Vicky Emerson. I am not sure how I found out about Vicky; I believe it was thru YouTube. The first song I heard was “Long Ride” I was hooked. Vicky has such a beautiful voice that is easy to listen to. I have to admit that I love Vicky’s singing so much I bought her entire catalogue all at one time. Vicky’s vocals have such a smooth tone to it, and she sings her songs in such a manner that you get to feel what the song is saying. Vicky’s music style has a bit of Country feel to it plus some singer/songwriter sound.

The next talented lady I was introduced to was Jillian Rae. Jillian to me has a vocal style that kind resembles the Pop/Folk era of the late 60’s & early 70’s. She has a rich tone to her voice with great control. No matter if Jillian is singing a slow song or a slight rocker, her vocals are always clear and defined with a pleasant sound.

Next up is Sarah Morris. Sarah is not only an amazing singer, but an outstanding songwriter. Sarah style in my opinion is definitely a Singer-songwriter, which can hold a candle to some of the best like: James Taylor, Jim Croce, Plus many more. Also falls into the genres of Americana & Country. Sarah does a very cool stream “Toilet Tunes” where is has guest sing with her in her own bathroom. This is always entertaining.

And Lastly is Anne Fitzgerald, Anne rounds out this foursome of amazing ladies with her enriching style of music. Which falls heavily in the Singer/songwriter genre. But I feel that she puts her own touch of feelings to each of her songs, by giving them a bit of a melodic sound to them. Anne is a very Spiritual person, and it shows in her music I think this is what drew me to her music.

Like I said in the beginning of this blog, all of the ladies are very talented. But get them all four together and you not only have some beautiful music, but you have four Ladies that respect each other. This is why I truly enjoy watching their Live Stream “Thank You For Being A Friend” which I believe will be returning in the spring. Now there are two things I would really like to see happen. One is that I could see The Minnesota Songbirds as I call them, all perform live together. Second thing is that they put an album out as “The Minnesota Songbirds”. I know that some have helped out one another’s solo albums.
I have done a story on each of these talented ladies in my Blog, feel free to read those to learn more. Also, I have put each of their website links below.
So, in closing I highly recommend checking out each Ladies music and hope someday we will be listening to an album from “The Minnesota Songbird”.

           https://vickyemerson.com/home
           https://www.jillianraemusic.com/
           https://sarahmorrismusic.com/
          https://www.anniefitzgerald.com/