"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Cullowhee - bringing back the magic - if just for a night . . .

Arvon Gene Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s. Autry was also owner of the Los Angeles Angels Major League baseball team from 1961 until his death, as well as a television station and several radio stations in southern California.

Although his signature song was "Back in the Saddle Again," Autry is best known today for his Christmas holiday songs, "Here Comes Santa Claus" (which he wrote), "Frosty the Snowman," and his biggest hit, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

He is a member of both the Country Music and Nashville Songwriters halls of fame, and is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


CULLOWHEE BAND

















Cullowhee is back!!!!!

Cullowhee besides being a pretty exceptional location in the universe is the name of a six-member band of rompin’, stompin’, not necessarily as good as they once was but just as good once as they every was, bunch of old hippy dudes who get a kick out of congregating every once in a while with their fans and friends to remember what life used to be like when they were young and immortal. That is to say, before they settled down and got real jobs.

Cullowhee has not played together as a group in this neck of the woods since September of 1999. Nine years. Wow! But they’re coming home to help support the Cullowhee Revitalization Endeavor www.gocullowhee.org and to take part in the Mountain Heritage Day celebration on September 26, 2009.

These multi-talented gentlemen began playing together as a group when they were students at Western Carolina University back in the seventies. Before it was all said and done, they traveled a good bit of the country together, gathered a ton of fans, created some exceptional music, made some very special friends, and had a pretty great time doing it. They eventually landed in Atlanta with frequent visits to Louisville and enjoyed celebrity in both locations. Though it seemed close at hand on several occasions, the big break eluded them. They finally put a time limit on their efforts—ten years, they decided, was a goodly amount of time to spend looking for stardom as a group before they would go their separate ways. Cullowhee disbanded in 1985.

It was over ten years before the reunions started. A very special friend of the band was to celebrate his…well let’s just say a significant milestone of a birthday, and his wife started the ball rolling for his surprise party, choosing a band she knew he would appreciate.

Well, it was a great success and on several occasions since then, the band has reunited for a happening good time.

Yes, smiles, laughter, great entertainment, and good times come to mind when you think of Cullowhee. They are probably best known for their musical versatility and
showmanship. They frequently switch instruments and positions on stage, while keeping
you distracted with their homespun philosophy. All six of them contribute their songwriting abilities to the mix, and I challenge you to categorize their music.

If one word must be chosen, eclectic is about the only one that fits. So, if you’re looking for a superbly entertaining, country and western, rhythm and blues, jazzy, reggae, pop,spiritual sing-along, rockin’ good time, you need to come see Cullowhee.

You have to listen to the music!

www.cullowheeband.com/natural.htm Natural Mountain Woman - my favorite song.

http://www.gocullowhee.org/_Media/Bring_Back_The_Magic.mp3 Bring Back The Magic

Okay - this band was awesome - I brought my daughter and she was apprehensive as 95% of the group were middle age or over.

We showed her that you can have a ball - with no alcohol - and have the time of your life.

The crowd has followed them for years - this was the 25th year of their break up.
Love,
chatty

PS I wanted some gelato this weekend - there was a shop that had it - but it was closed. :(

4 comments:

ClassyChassy said...

You and that gelato! I have yet to find it in any store around here. I keep looking!

Chatty Crone said...

I think you'd love it if you could find it! lol I had to go to Alaska to find mine.

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Hey, I found and bought tiramisu gelato at ALDI's. Yep, that's right, the famous discount grocery store has gelato, and it's delish! Topped with powdered coffee. oh my.

Chatty Crone said...

I think we have an Aldi's here. Tiramisu and it was good? DId they have chocolate? lol Thanks,