For over ten years Thacker Mountain Radio has produced a live, unrehearsed broadcast that features author readings and a wide array of musical performances. The free show is normally recorded and broadcast weekly from Off Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, but will relocate for this special show in DMI Studio A as part of the institute’s spring fundraiser for student scholarships.

This year’s featured literary guest is Leland native Culpepper Webb, author of the acclaimed work “Lifted From The Waters.” Musical guests are brothers Bryan “Beaches of Cheyenne” Kennedy and Gordon “Change The World” Kennedy. Both Kennedy brothers, sons of music legend Jerry Kennedy, have won multiple Grammy awards for their songwriting and producing.

Thacker Mountain’s house band, the Yalobushwhackers, features the Delta’s own Duff Dorrough. Joining the band for this special Thacker edition will be former Tangents keyboard player and Delta native Jim “Fish” Michie. They will be backing the show’s musical guests as well as playing featured performances of their own.

Thacker Mountain is hosted by Jim Dees and is broadcast live on Rebel Radio 92.1 FM and rebroadcast statewide on Mississippi Public Broadcasting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Delta Music Institute began with a generous donation by Fred Carl of the Viking Range Corporation. The focus of the DMI is to provide students with a broad and thorough education in the technological, business, and creative areas of the music industry.

The public is encouraged to come be a part of this entertaining broadcast on March 5 at 3:00 p.m. to support the Delta Music Institute. For more information on the Thacker in the Delta event, please call (662) 846-4579 or visit dmi.deltastate.edu.

Award winning singer-songwriters George Jackson, Troy Jones and Patti Ryan will be the featured songwriters during the live broadcast of Thacker Mountain Radio as part of the Delta Music Institute (DMI) Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 6 at 3 p.m. in Studio A of the DMI in the historic Whitfield Building on the Delta State University campus.

In addition to the radio show, Jones and Ryan will perform a Songwriter’s Show the evening of March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Studio A. Jones and Ryan will be joined by DMI Director Tricia Walker, who spent over 25 years in Nashville as a performer and songwriter before returning to Delta State University in 2006 to lead the DMI program.

Born in Port St. Joe, Florida, Jones worked in the cotton mills of Alabama for over 20 years before trying his hand as a songwriter in Nashville. He commutes weekly to Music City to write as a staff songwriter for Carnival Music Publishing, while maintaining his home in Alabama with his wife, three children, and a dog named Buster. Jones’ songs have been recorded by Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Joe Nichols, Billy Currington, and many more.

Jones’ most recent hits include “Shiftwork” by Kenny Chesney and the smash hit, “People Are Crazy,” by Billy Currington, which was #1 on the Billboard charts for two weeks. He also performs in the comedy stage play, “Toe Roasters,” with fellow songwriters Bryan Kennedy and Wynn Varble.

Mississippi native Patti Ryan grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, graduated from the Mississippi University for Women, then began a career in teaching while performing on the weekends in a musical group with her brothers. Ryan’s, colleague Wanda Mallette, and musician Bob Morrison co-wrote one of the most successful country hits of all time, “Lookin’ For Love,” which held the #1 chart position for three weeks and launched country singer Johnny Lee’s career in the movie Urban Cowboy. “Lookin’ For Love” was also featured in the Broadway show “Menopause, The Musical.” In addition to that standard, she wrote additional hits “Americana” for Moe Bandy, “Just Another Woman In Love” for Anne Murray, and “Out Of Your Shoes” for Lorrie Morgan. Ryan has two ASCAP Pop Awards, 15 ASCAP Country Awards, a Tony nomination, and two Grammy nominations. She moved to Nashville in 1984, where she continues to work as a songwriter. She is looking forward to the release of her upcoming book,” An Intimate Look At Songwriting.”

Born in Greenville, George Jackson started recording for Ike Turner’s record label in 1963. He journeyed to Muscle Shoals, Ala., to work at Fame Recording Studio, where he became a staff songwriter and wrote such hits as “One Bad Apple,” which was #1 for five weeks on the pop charts for the Osmond Brothers in early 1971. During the mid-’80s, Jackson joined Malaco Records as a staff songwriter where he penned the classic blues song, “Down Home Blues” for Z.Z. Hill. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000. Jackson’s most recognizable hit is “Old Time Rock And Roll,” which has been recorded countless times, most notably by rocker Bob Seger.

The Songwriter’s Show is free and open to the public.

For more information on the DMI Anniversary Celebration, please call (662) 846-4579 or visit dmi.deltastate.edu.

Patti Finley, 50, died Thursday at a Memphis hospital.

Finley, an elementary school music teacher, was with the Winona Show Choir on Feb. 2, when the group recorded “Rise Above” at the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University. The choir is comprised of students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Winona School District. It is preparing a demo to be considered in a Kennedy Center Honors program, which will including a trip to Washington, D.C., and a visit with President Obama.

During an interview that day, Finley said she had been told to, “get my things in order.” She wasn’t expected to live long enough to see the completion of the project.

Friends say she denied chemotherapy in recent weeks so she could continue working with the choir.

Before Finley’s death, the choir returned to DSU to record the video portion of the package that will be submitted to the Kennedy Center.

On Wednesday, she was taken to a Memphis hospital for treatment. She died there on Thursday.

Funeral arrangements were pending Friday at Oliver Funeral Home, Winona.

Patti Finley, seated in DMI Studio A, directs the Winona Show Choir during the recording of her original song, "Rise Above."

The quarterly series honors Nashville musicians. Taking place in the museum’s Ford Theater, the 90-minute program includes a brief performance from Putnam and a one-on-one interview highlighted by vintage recordings, photos and film clips.

“I’m greatly honored to be included with an amazing group of players who have (been a part of Nashville Cats series),” Putnam said.

Putnam’s legacy extended beyond playing his bass to also producing songs and albums out of the Quadrafonic Studio he built with friend David Briggs in 1970.

Among the artists and albums he’s produced, Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville” and Dan Fogelberg and Joan Baez’s “The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down” have combined to sell more than 40 million albums.

Putnam’s playing can be heard on recordings by artists ranging from Ray Stephens to Henry Mancini to The Porter Sisters and his favorite – Elvis Presley, “who gave it his all” on every recording.

Over a nearly four-year period, the Cats series has recognized musical legends such as bassist Bob Moore and Don Helms, who played steel guitar for Hank Williams.

Putnam’s career is noteworthy because of his impact on the musical scene, from being a studio musician to producing and publishing, said Bill Lloyd, who will host the program that will be kept in archives.

“I enjoy getting to talk shop with these great players like (Putnam),” Lloyd said. “It’s a great way to document their stories as well as do a public program. We try to hit almost all the high points of their career and try to make it fun and informative at the time.”

(Posted from the Jackson Sun)

Congrats, Norbert!

P. Diddy’s Starmaker winner, Liz Davis, performs during 2005 Homecoming festivities at Delta State

Mississippi native and former Delta State University student Liz Davis was crowned the winner of P. Diddy’s Starmaker during Sunday night’s finale broadcast of the MTV reality competition series.
The 21 year-old claimed the show’s grand prize of a record deal with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records label.

In winning Starmaker, Davis became the first predominantly country artist to sign with Bad Boy.

Liz, and her entire family have strong ties to the University.

“Our whole family spent time in Cleveland and at Delta State,” said Liz’s mother Lauree Davis. “Delta State played a big part in the lives of our family. Liz’s time there helped her to achieve the success she’s enjoying today.”

Liz’s father, Dale, and mother both attended Delta State on athletic scholarships.

“Dale played baseball for Coach “Boo” Ferriss from 1977-81 and I received the first tennis scholarship for a female in 1979,” said Davis.

Liz’s older sister, Kelli Davis-Cotton graduated from Delta State in 2004 with a degree in marketing. She now resides in Cleveland and works for Coopwood Communications.

Liz’s younger brother Jeffrey is a junior at Canton Academy. “Jeffrey is an athlete and we don’t know where he’ll go for sure, but he could wind up at Delta State just like the rest of the family,” laughed Davis.

Performing at a talent show in Jackson, Liz Davis caught the eye of Norbert Putnam, an accomplished musician and producer who played bass for Elvis Presley and helped launch the careers of Dan Fogleberg and Jimmy Buffet. Putnam encouraged Davis to enroll at Delta State University, where he was director of the Delta Music Institute,a center for music industry studies focused on educating students in the technological, business, and creative areas of the music industry.

Once enrolled at Delta State, another music instructor influenced Liz’s life and career path. She received a music scholarship and was a member of “Renaissance” a popular vocal and instrumental ensemble led by Gene Ayers.

“Gene Ayers probably had the greatest influence on Liz during her time at Delta State,” said Davis. “She absolutely loved to perform and ‘Renaissance’ gave her the opportunity.”

Another instructor who recognized Liz’s talent was current Director of the Delta Music Institute Tricia Walker. “I taught Liz in a song writing class and her focus was very evident even as a student,” said Walker. “Having spent over 25 years in the music business, I believe Liz’s natural ability and instinct will take her a long way in the music industry.”

In the fall of 2006 Liz Davis left Delta State to pursue a career in music full time.

“Liz felt in her heart it was time to make the move and we supported her,” said Davis. “Even so, our whole family has fond memories and we love Delta State.”

For now, Liz Davis is back in Nashville. “She’s waiting to go to New York to sign her contract with Bad Boy/Interscope records,” said Mom. “This opens the door to a world of possibilities and we couldn’t be more proud or excited.”

DEAD GAZE – Back and Forth from DEAD GAZE on Vimeo.