SHOALS EDITION
JULY/AUG 2012 $3.95
noalapress.com
Bank Independ ent was named in the top 3% of US bank for custom s er satisfactio n*
Faster Approval and Nationally Competitive Rates At Bank Independent, you receive the best of both worlds. As a $1 Billion Bank, we provide access to federal programs including VA and Fannie Mae conventional loans. So you can leverage aggressive rates from national investors, or special programs subsidized by the Federal Government. As a local community bank, we can offer better service through local underwriting and fast approvals.
Apply online in as little as 20 minutes: www.bibank.com/mortgage Or call us Athens: David Savoie 256-216-3749 Florence: Roxanne BeneďŹ eld 256-765-3616 or Chris Estave 256-386-5100 Muscle Shoals: Heather Gargis 256-386-5044
Member FDIC, *Raddon Financial Group, Chicago, IL 2012, Credit Approval and Program Restrictions Apply
2 | NOALAPRESS.COM | JULY/AUGUST 2012
NOW N OW OPEN A&E Home Medical Supply, over 2,000 square feet of the m comprehensive selection of medical equipment ent and supplies, suppli IN STOCK – to help you stay comfortable at home!
Helping He llppiinngg you you sstay ttaay comfortable comforttaabllee aatt home home We’ve W e’ve been helping N North orth Alabama with the highest quality home healthca healthcare re equipment, supplies and service service for more more than 16 years. years.
How can we help you u? Count on us fo for: r: Home ooxygen xygen tt Home Sleep therapy se services rvices (C (CPAP/BiPAP) PAP/ AP BiPA A AP) tt Sleep Diabetic supplies, including footwear footwear tt Diabetic tt Medical Medical equipment tt Bath Bath safety products products tt Flex-A-Bed Flex-A-Bed products products Power wheelchairs, scooters and lift-chairs tt Power Full-line of oorthopedic rthopedic braces and suppo supports rts tt Full-line and more! tt and and much mo re! 235 Azalea DrivH s Florence, AL 35630 Located directly behind Red Lobster 4 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Store Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm SKRQH s WROO Iree
In cooling and heating companies, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE! We’ve been in business for 56 years because we take care of our customers. We would like you to experience the C&H difference! WE BELIEVE: • Personal service starts when a live person answers the phone • Courtesy and respect are expected, not a privilege • There is no substitute for taking care of our customers • If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is; you get what you pay for • Honest and fair pricing is the best way to grow a company • Doing what’s right - even if it costs us money • If we wouldn’t invest the money — why should you? • Our people should know you by name, and vice versa
Mitch Parrish, Owner
Alvin Lynch, Owner AL Certification #06222 AL Certification #50045
JULY/AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS.COM | 5
6Âť
July/August 2012
ON THE COVER: Each year, our Entertainment issue takes a look at rising stars in north Alabama to give you a glance at the amazing talent that this part of the world fosters. Noah Myers, on the cover, and Ally Burnett, on this page, are just two of them, all of whom you will meet up close in this issue.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 7
8»
inside SHOALS ••••• July/August 2012 Volume 5: Issue 4 ••• C. Allen Tomlinson Editor-In-Chief David Sims Managing Editor/Design Director Contributing Writers Amy Cruce, Cara Depew, Sarah Gaede, Dorothy C. Hardy, Laura Anders Lee, Ann Hanky, Sara Kachelman, Ryan Paine, Claire Stewart, Andy Thigpen, Allen Tomlinson Contributing Photographers Armosa Studios, Amanda Chapman, Maggie Crisler, Patrick Hood, Danny Mitchell, Abraham Rowe Business Manager Roy Hall Marketing Coordinator/Advertising Sales Lyndsie McClure Editorial Assistant Claire Stewart Graphic Designer Rowan Finnegan
Features 18 Spin Cycle 26 North Alabama Musicians: Up Close 54 Mac McAnally: The Man Behind the Music 60 A Renovation of Historic Proportions 68 Poetry and Photography Showcase 74 Pat Cunningham Devoto: Writing the American Dream 82 In the Spotlight: Shoals Area Theaters Everything Else 12 Calendar 48 Market 90 Food for Thought 94 Twenty Questions 96 Bless Their Hearts 98 Parting Shot
Interns Andy Thigpen, Sara Kachelman, Ryan Paine ••• No’Ala is published six times annually by No’Ala Press PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 256-766-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106 Toll-free: 800-779-4222 Web: www.noalapress.com Standard postage paid at Florence, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States. Signed articles reflect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. © 2008-2012 ATSA, All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to Allen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above, or by e-mail to atomlinson@atsa-usa.com. Letters may be edited for space and style. To advertise, contact us at: 256-766-4222, or sales@noalapress.com. The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request. Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor first.
No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks on 100% recycled paper.
Join us on Facebook: No’Ala Mag
editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson « 9
It must be in the water. Seriously. Welcome to the annual No’Ala Entertainment issue, a showcase of the best rising and established talent in north Alabama. If you didn’t realize that we have an abundance of amazing ability in this part of the world, just get ready. You’ll know it when you get finished with this issue! And we’re not just talking about musical talent, although you’ll get an introduction to some rising stars and a re-introduction to a man you might know pretty well, multi award-winning singer/songwriter Mac McAnally. You’ll meet Pat Cunningham Devoto, a writer with deep Florence roots who has just written her fourth book, and in her writing you will see people and places you recognize on just about every page. There are several performing arts companies in the Shoals, which we’ve featured in this issue, and the Joe Wheeler home, near the Courtland community, has just undergone a major renovation, which we talk about as well. If you’re old enough to remember vinyl records, check out the feature about Pegasus, a Shoals-area institution and an incubator for new musical talent. (If you don’t remember vinyl records, you need to march down there and let someone tell you about this important part of our musical heritage—it’s what we used before we all got MP3 players.) We’re delighted to give our subscribers something to listen to with this issue. Thanks to First Southern Bank, we’ve once again created an audio CD so that our subscribers can listen to the featured artists as well as read about them. There are extra copies of this CD at First Southern branches, so drop by and ask for one—but hurry, because quantities are limited and these tend to go pretty fast! Do you think the talent in our region has something to do with the water in the Tennessee River? This issue is always one of the most popular among our readers. It’s easy to produce, really, because we are surrounded by such astounding talent. As long as that is the case, this will be a fun issue. We hope you enjoy it!
No’Ala’s Shoals magazine was once again honored at the Southeastern Magazine Publisher’s Association Gamma Awards presentation with nine awards, including four Gold Gammas, the most of any publishing company in our category. A sincere and humble thank you to the writers, photographers and wonderful subjects in the Shoals that made it possible to gain these accolades from our peers.
Don’t rush it!
It takes a full 40 weeks of pregnancy for your baby to develop. Reduce your baby’s risk of jaundice, low blood sugar, infection and other problems by having patience to make it to 40 weeks. Maximize those lungs – babies born just 2 or more weeks early can have twice the number of complications breathing Relax! Babies are usually so much easier to care for in the womb Recover from childbirth faster by having a natural birth. Labor should only be induced for medical reason – not convenience. Induction can increase your chance of a c-section. Baby will know when it is time to make a grand entrance so don’t be in a hurry!
G A L 1-800 - 545 -1098
www. a d p h. o rg /g a l JULY/AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS.COM | 11
12 »
calendar
July 2-13 Alabama in the Making: Traditional Arts of People and Places Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St.,Tuscumbia; $5 Adults, $3 Students; Free for museum members; 256-383-0533 or www.tvaa.net. July 4 Shoals Spirit of Freedom Celebration McFarland Park, Florence; 10:00am–10:00pm; No admission charged; 256-740-4141. This Independence Day celebration kicks off with live music, onsite food vendors, family activities, and one of the largest fireworks displays in the Southeast. 256-765-5500 or www.una.edu/summertheatre. 4th of July Walking Parade 600 North Main St., Sheffield; 10:00am; 256-383-0783. An old-fashioned walking parade from baby carriages to wagons. Prizes will be awarded. July 5-8 A Streetcar Named Desire George S. Lindsey Theatre, 500 N. Pine St., Florence; 7:30pm (2:00pm on July 8th); $5 students, $10 seniors and UNA employees, $20 general admission. The Summer Theater program at UNA presents this classic, in the new black box theater on the UNA campus. July 6–August 10 Mostly Blues Exhibit Kennedy-Douglass Center for Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence; Admission Charged; 256-760-6379. This event features paintings, drawings, photographs and mixed media to coincide with the W.C. Handy Music Festival. July 6 First Friday Court Street, downtown Florence; 5:00pm–8:00pm; 256-740-4141 or www.firstfridaysflorence.com. July 6–14 The Miracle Worker Helen Keller’s Birthplace: Ivy Green, 300 W. North Commons, Tuscumbia; 8:00pm; $10 Reserved seating, $8 General admission; 256-383-0466. July 7 Rogersville First Saturdays Downtown Rogersville; 3:00pm-8:00pm; 256-247-9449.
July 19 Hot BBQ, Cool Blues Downtown, Tuscumbia; 6:00pm-8:00pm; 256-383-9797. Come and enjoy live music and BBQ meals sponsored by Tuscumbia Retail Development. July 19–21 11th Annual Bluegrass Festival Heritage Park, Downtown Rogersville; 256-247-9449 Live music and family-friendly activities are what this event is all about. July 19–22 The Wizard of Oz Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence. Visit www.shoalstheatre.com for prices, times and details. July 19–21 and July 26–27 SummerStock at the Ritz presents The Sound of Music Ritz Theatre, 111 W. Third St., Sheffield; Performances at 7:35pm; Tickets are $15.50 adults and $9 students in advance from the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 256-383-0533, ritztheatre.ticketleap.com, and $17.50 adults and $10 students at the door. At 6:00pm before the July 19–21 performances, dinner is available in the theater’s Encore Room ($30 per person, reservations required) Contact Keith McMurtrey, 256.383.0533 or www.tvaa.net. July 20–21 2012 Classic Antique Boat Show Joe Wheeler State Park; No admission; 256-247-546. This annual event is sponsored by the Dixieland Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society. This event is open to the general public. July 20–21 Saddle up for St. Jude 1 Underwood Rd.,Tuscumbia, Gardiner Farm; 12:00pm–12:00am (July 20) and 7:00am–12:00am (July 21); 800282-7436. One of the largest events in the Southeast to benefit St. Jude Hospital. It includes horseback-riding, auctions, wagon rides, horse shows, roping, and demonstrations. It also features country music artist, Joe Diffie.
Merchants and live music line the streets of downtown Rogersville to bring a family-friendly event to the area. July 16–19, 23–26 Tennessee Valley Museum of Art Camp Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; camp for ages 6-10 is July 16-19 and runs from 10:00am through 2:45pm; camp for ages 11-15 is July 23-26 and also runs from 10:00am through 2:45pm. Admission charged; call 256-383-0533 or visit tvaa.net for information.
July 20-28 W.C. Handy Music Festival
July 20–28 W.C. Handy Music Festival The location varies; No admission is charged; 256-766-9719 or www.handyfest.com. This is a weeklong tribute to the “Father of the Blues”, W.C. Handy. Blues and Jazz music will come from all over the Shoals area from different venues such as restaurants, theatres, malls, parks, and much more. July 22–August 31 Artworks 2012 Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; $5 Adults, $3 Students; 256-383-0533 or www.tvaa.net. July 26–28 Ten Years of Audie Mescal Celebration Audie Mescal Clothing, 101 N. Main Street, Tuscumbia; 256-314-6684. Celebrate ten years of Audie Mescal with an Ivy Jane and Uncle Frank Trunk Show. July 26 Shoals Culinary Academy presents the Cuisines of Louisiana Cooking Class Shoals Commercial Culinary Complex, 610 W. College Street, Florence; 7:00pm–9:00pm. Admission $30; Call 256-764-0044 to register or visit shoalsculinaryacademy.com. July 27–28 FOM Legacy Fishing Tournament Weigh In McFarland Park, Florence; 256-740-4141. August 3 First Fridays Court Street, downtown Florence; 5:00pm–8:00pm; 256-740-4141 or www.firstfridaysflorence.com. August 3,4, 10 and 11 Tuna Does Vegas George S. Lindsey Theatre, 500 N. Pine St., Florence; 7:30pm (2:00pm on July 8); $5 students, $10 seniors and UNA employees, $20 general admission; 256-765-5500 or una.edu/summertheatre. August 14 Shoals Culinary Academy presents the Cuisines of New England Cooking Class Shoals Commercial Culinary Complex, 610 W. College Street, Florence; 7:00pm–9:00pm; Admission $30; Call 256-764-0044 to register or visit shoalsculinaryacademy.com. August 16 Light the Night Kickoff Party FloBama, downtown Florence; 11:30pm-1:00pm; Free lunch! Hosted by the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. www.lightthenight.org/al.
August 16–19 The Hallelujah Girls Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence; Visit www.shoalstheatre.com for prices, times and details. August 16–September 21 Paintings and Mixed Media Work by Sarah Irvin Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence; 9:00am–4:00pm Monday–Friday; No admission charged. 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org. Continued page 14
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 13
14 »
calendar
August 23 Northwest Alabama Hunting/Fishing Expo Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum, 702 E. Veterans Drive, Florence; 10:00am–4:00pm; hosted by the Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association; 256-383-7021.
August 24–25 Killen Founders Day Killen Park, Killen, AL, 10:00am–10:00pm; no admission charged; 256-740-4141.
WICP Presents Humorist Dr. Carl Hurley Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence; 2:00pm and 7:00pm; Admission $20; purchase tickets at the LifeWise Seniors Office, WICP Adult Day Services, or www.WICPDays.org.
Celebrate the anniversary of the town of Killen with a parade, a 5K run, artisans and food vendors, live musical entertainment, activities for kids, a working colonial village, Native American demonstrations, and a display of classic vehicles. A fireworks show on Saturday night will conclude the event.
Back by popular demand. This year, baritone Jim Rittenhouse opens the performance, and Dr. Hurley will entertain in a familyfriendly venue. Shoals Culinary Academy presents California Cuisines Cooking Class Shoals Commercial Culinary Complex, 610 W. College Street, Florence; 7:00pm–9:00pm; Admission $30; Call 256-764-0044 to register or visit shoalsculinaryacademy.com. August 23–25 and 30–31 Center Stage presents The Importance of Being Earnest Ritz Theatre, 111 W. Third St., Sheffield; Performances at 7:35pm; Tickets are $11.50 adults and $7 students in advance from the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 256.383.0533, ritztheatre.ticketleap.com, and $13.50 adults and $8 students at the door. Contact Keith McMurtrey, 256-383-0533 or www.tvaa.net.
August 24–25 Devised Theatre Project George S. Lindsey Theatre, 500 N. Pine St., Florence; 7:30pm (2:00pm on July 8); $5 students, $10 general admission; 256-7655500 or www.una.edu/summertheatre. August 24–26 Twickenham Fest Church of the Nativity, Huntsville; times vary. No admission charged, but donations strongly encouraged. Twickenham Fest is a summer chamber music festival that presents free concerts in Huntsville, Alabama. Every summer, a small number of hand-picked Twickenham Fest musicians come together in performance to deliver inspiring world-class concerts in intimate settings.
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Myron Gardner, LUTCF 1819 Darby Drive, Florence, AL 35630 Bus 256-764-2234;Cell 256-335-6080 Email myron.gardner.b17k@statefarm.com
Phil Wiginton 419 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, AL, 35660 Bus 256-383-4521; Cell 256-762-5859 Email phil@philwiginton.com J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 15
16 »
scene
Baby Zeppelin
Emma Campbell, Marla Smith, and Linda Campbell Danielle Snoddy
Sarah Kate, Linda Armstrong and Meaghan Doyle
Josh Haselton Brianna Paduganan
Jon Davis and Malorie James PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHOALS YOGA
Above: Shoals Yoga Grand Opening
Below: Sheffield Sings
APRIL 7, 2012 ENGLISH VILLAGE, FLORENCE
M AY 5, 2012 SHEFFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Polly and Ashley Ruggles, Tim and Kim Morgan
Olan and Donna Mefford
Tommy Jones
Amy Holcomb and Richard Gardner
Gina Mashburn, David Ruggles, and Tina Nesbitt
Louise Taylor Sparks and Gardners
Tim Leigh and Ian Sanford
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 17
18 »
everybody’s business
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD
The song could be anything from almost any era or genre. On some days, Ryan Adams fills the air with melancholic ecstasy. On others, John Lee Hooker’s foot taps a steady groove under a crunchy guitar and posters of different rock n’ rollers. Beyonce or Gaga can even be heard—albeit not often. And Tim McGraw is somewhere in there, filling up another red solo cup. “I try my best to listen to pretty much everything—even the artists I don’t like,” said Eli Flippen, second-generation storeowner. “I drive most people crazy because I play all the crap they don’t always want to hear down here. We (the staff ) argue about music all the time.” A perfect philosophy for the owner of the biggest and oldest record store in town. In the sea of vinyl one can find anything from Alan Jackson to Frank Zappa, Boy George to Yo-Yo Ma. Joey Flippen, Eli’s father, started the store as an undergraduate at UNA in 1980. He was a music marketing major who used his classes to put a proposal together and get a loan for the shop. Since then, he has seen shifts from vinyl to 8-track to cassette to CD. He credits the store’s longevity to his and his son’s ability to stick closely with new trends and stay ahead of the game. “I think that’s one of the niches and our keys to success—we’ve been able to follow the trends and what’s on the horizon and get things that other dealers couldn’t get,” he said. The store has also seen some location changes. It first started on Court Street where On the Rocks is now. Then it moved to Tennessee Street where the Shoals Bicycle Shop is, and then a little further down the road to an old carpet store—Jefferson Carpet Factory. Even now, in huge, retro, late-seventies pastels, the initials “JCF” still adorn the back wall. But they’ve taken on a different meaning: Joseph Coleman Flippen. “We never painted over it because he got a kick how his initials were already on the wall,” Eli said.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 19
“We’ve been able to follow the trends and what’s on the horizon and get things that other dealers couldn’t get” —Eli Flippen
Below, left to right: Joey Flippen, Eli Flippen, Eric Gebhardt, and Reed Watson are the guys who keep Pegasus Records humming.
And you can thank the original carpet factory for the thick powder pink plush that absorbs your feet into the floor. “It’s interesting because when we do shows in here, we always get comments on the carpet and how squishy the carpet is,” Eli said. “They used the most expensive carpet and the most expensive padding, and here 20 years later people make comments on it. We’d probably be on cement floors if it wasn’t for that.” While the carpet and walls set the mood, it’s the vinyl that gives the store its soul. “We’ve always sold vinyl,” Eli said. “It’s something we’ve always had a market and demand for. There have always been collectors in the area.” It’s not always collectors, though. The younger generation loves vinyl too. “At some point they have that epiphany where they realize, ‘Whoa, this actually does sound better than those MP3s I’ve been downloading.’ Then it gets back to ‘We’re going to sit down and listen to an album from start to finish.’ It’s not just one song. It’s not a single. It’s listening to the artist’s entire concept from beginning to end. “I think people start to respect that a little bit more when you start to think of an entire album as an art piece and not just a collection of songs.” For people who believe in vinyl as a single, cohesive work of art, Pegasus hosts the Vinyl Junkies Meeting. Vinyl Junkies is a group ranging from 18- to over 60-yearolds that meets monthly to swap music, socialize, and just listen to whatever vinyl people bring to the evening. “The idea behind it is that it wasn’t supposed to be something popular: no Abbey Road, no Zeppelin II, no Floyd The Wall, or anything like that. It was more like ‘I got this record out of the 25-cent bin, and I liked the cover of it and I got home and it blew me away’ kinda thing.” Eli says it’s funny to watch because a lot of the older people got to see a lot of the younger people’s favorites back in the day. “There’s a several generation gap between them, but everyone still finds something like Blue Oyster Cult, Ryan Adams, or Death Cab for Cutie that they like.” On top of the Vinyl Junkies Meeting, Pegasus is also known for renting out practice rooms to aspiring bands. Originally they planned to turn the upstairs into
20 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 21
“I’ve always been happy to do anything to give a locale that gives a scene to garage and indie bands”
Daniel Crisler performs in the store.
apartments, but because of city ordinances and too much red tape, they went with practice rooms. “There just aren’t practice rooms in the area,” Eli said. “Pretty much anybody that has been in a band in this area over the past 20 years has been in those practice rooms in some form or fashion.” Not only is Pegasus Records providing practice rooms to local bands to help cultivate new, young music, they’re providing a venue as well. Pegasus just opened its new venue this past spring, and it’s been a long time coming. “We always joked around about the fact that somebody just needed a big building that had an established business in the front of it that was making money and paying the bills and just had a big room in the back where we could do something,” Eli said. “And we were like, ‘well, hell, we’ve got a room in the back of our store—and we’re a music store.’” So far, the likes of Doc Daily and the Magnolia Devil, Redmouth, The Bear, Black River Bluesman, Belle Adair, and the Alabama Shakes have all graced the stage with their sounds. “I’ve always been happy to do anything to have a locale that gives a scene to garage and indie bands,” Eli said. “There are good bars in the area, but the whole downtown scene is really catered toward college stuff. We want to have venue set up that gives people an opportunity to touring bands to play here that couldn’t fit inside a restaurant.” Now that Eli has the venue set up, his next plan is to start his very own Pegasus Record Label. “I say ‘record label;’ it’s going to be a very loose sense to begin with,” he said. “There’s a lot of great musicians in the area who spent a lot of time and effort putting together projects.” The vision of the label is to support the musicians financially by helping with their albums. Pegasus Records has been, and is becoming even more, a hub for music in the Shoals Area. It provides a venue and a resource for artists young and old to tap into the vein of what’s going on today, and relive the glory of yesterday. Indeed, if Muscle Shoals music still has soul, its heart is coated in vinyl.
22 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Peace of Mind Another reason families choose ElderCare Services ElderCare Services provides in-home care that enables you to relax, knowing your family member is being cared for in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. Since 1996, we have been a trusted resource for those who need a little care...or a lot. Call Jean Gay Mussleman or Dee Mussleman for details.
210 E. College Street, Florence AL 35630 256-740-8249 www.eldercareweb.com
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 23
24 »
scene
Blake Yarbrough and Justin Newland
Charley Anne, Jon Ellen, and LaSondra Hatton Muscle Shoals Civitan Club Members
Jackson Sarapin and Briley Olivia Snipes
Muscle Shoals Motorcycle Police
Amy Dodson, Lacey Callahan and Members of EX Fraternity
Josh and Ashton Aycock with youth from Brian Hill Baptist Church
Nathan Willis and Hunter Richardson PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEBBIE BRADFORD
Above: 8th Annual Swampers 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk APRIL 28, 2012 MUSCLE SHOALS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Below: Junior League of the Shoals Kids in the Kitchen APRIL 19, 2012 SHOALS COMMERCIAL C ULINARY CENTER
Liam Ivie Aubrey Ivie
Jenny Kennedy
Aidan Kennedy
Sam Yarbrough and Brooklyn Brewer
Josh Quick & Elnar Gudmundsson of the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa
Mary Martin Nordness
You can look better... without traveling out of town! Why travel out of town to look your best? At Shoals Plastic Surgery, we can help you look as young as you feel—right here from your own hometown! Here is a partial list of the available procedures: Face: Botox Treatments • Injectible Fillers • Ear Surgery • Eyelid Surgery • Facelift • Nose Surgery • Cancer Removal Breast: Breast Augmentation • Breast Lift • Breast Reduction • Breast Reconstruction Body: Body Lift • Liposuction • Tummy Tuck • Arm/Thigh Lift
Dr. Russell Jennings Shoals Plastic Surgery Face & Body
Now featuring Vaser Liposuction Now carrying Obagi Skin Care
203 West Avalon Avenue Suite 300 Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone: (256) 386-1450 www.shoalsplasticsurgery.com
MORTGAGE
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 25
North Alabama Musicians
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN AND CLAIRE STEWART » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD MUSIC REVIEWS BY ALLEN TOMLINSON » MAKEUP/GROOMING BY NATALIE FAGGIONI
26 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 27
Noah Myers
Madeleine Frankford
28 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
TEXT BY CLAIRE STEWART
The Bluebirds would not have been able to spread their wings without the help of the University of North Alabama and Singing River Records. When Noah Myers, a Madison native and an entertainment technology major at UNA, was planning to record a demo CD, he thought it would be on his own. His plan was to make the CD and submit it for Singing River Records’ artist of the year competition. Singing River Records is a student-produced label from UNA’s Department of Entertainment Industry, and the label has chosen a musical artist or group every year to produce and manage, giving the artist and the students involved real-life experience in the entertainment industry. Noah got in touch with Madeleine Frankford, a nineteenyear-old from Athens, through mutual friends who were involved in the music scene in Florence. He watched some of the videos she recorded on YouTube, covering songs from artists like City and Colour, The Postal Service, and Nickelcreek. As soon as the duo met and sang a few songs together, Noah knew they needed to record a demo together to submit to Singing River Records. With the deadline a few short days away, the two had to become fast friends through the songwriting process, and even though they barely knew each other, they had to get their emotions out on the table to produce the raw and heartfelt lyrics they are known for. After their in-depth songwriting sessions, Madeleine said “We’re at the point now where we’re finally comfortable with each other.” For the 2011-2012 year, The Bluebirds were the chosen winner. This is the first musical duo that Singing River Records has signed, but the change has been very well received. The Bluebirds have sung at multiple venues in the Shoals area and have placed their EP on ITunes this year. The Bluebirds’ sound is a beautiful mix of male and female harmonies that blend together with the sound of an acoustic guitar. Though some of their recorded songs feature a whole band and give the music more of a pop feel, the duo has been praised for their pure, folksy sound that comes through in their honest words and simple melodies. Noah says that their lyrics come from a very sincere place—“The lyrics are a combination of past experiences, storytelling, and spur of the moment inspiration…and maybe a little embellishment.” The Bluebirds have been compared many times to another group with roots in the Shoals, The Civil Wars. But, their influences come from many artists. The duo says they are inspired by musicians like Ingrid Michaelson, Ray Lamontagne, Jeff Buckley, Fleet Foxes, and Bon Iver. The two still admit that they owe a lot to the label. Madeleine, who says she is “new to the game” admits that it has all definitely been a learning experience, but like all other jobs, she knows the connections she makes now will help her in the future. Noah is now in New York doing an internship in his field of study, but no matter what his future holds with the Bluebirds, he wants to be involved in the music industry. “This has all been a great experience and I am very thankful to have a demo…No matter where I go, this will really help me get my foot in the door.” The two are young and still not sure where they will go as a group, but no matter how long their song lasts, the Bluebirds will have a big audience listening in north Alabama.
When you learn the back story of this duo—that they got together simply to compete against other groups for Singing River Records’ annual production, and had no long ties or deep history together— it makes their music even more interesting. It’s good stuff, the kind of music you hope you’ll continue to hear for years to come. If this a long-term relationship, we are lucky. If this is a chance meeting, a passing of ships in the night, we are luckier still that we have the opportunity to hear them. Its scarcity might make it even sweeter.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 29
Ronnie Moore
Chris Wilson
Nate Emery
30 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Daniel Moore
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN
Ronnie Moore, the founding member and lead vocalist/guitarist of The Barnstormers, doesn’t have an interest in the pristine Southern tradition of apple pies, fishin’ holes, or skippin’ stones in the Alabama sunshine. His music likes to come out at night. “We wanted to explore Southern folk music as a whole, but it got a little dark and bleak,” Moore explains. “In the South, we have this gloomy, big, scary heritage. And [the music] explores that—the undercurrent of darkness that pervades Southern culture.” The Barnstormers started in 2001 in Decatur, Alabama. Don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re another singersongwriter band, though. Moore is a Venezuelan-born fan of William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, and Flannery O’Connor. The band’s music is a blend of styles from all over the world, with an appetite for the Southern Gothic. “I really draw from a lot of different music from all over the world,” Moore said. “A lot of people follow that Southern tradition, but we kind of make our own gumbo of sounds.” Listen to The Barnstormers and you’ll understand. Many of the songs on their two albums, Graveyard Town and Switchblade Serenade, feature varied instrumentation with sitars, organs, cellos, accordions, and upright honky-tonk pianos. The vocals range from lo-fi and scratchy to full yet bleak. If all of this darkness is too much to take, don’t be alarmed. Their most recent album Graveyard Town was a good purge for Moore. “Graveyard Town is a release of negative feelings of the South,” he said. “We’re all looking at how to say goodbye to those negative things and say hello to a new life.” The album, set to be released this summer and entitled Strange Tales, promises to be more uplifting. This one explores the sensation of changing lifestyles and outlooks on life, according to Moore. This is not without some bitter sweetness, of course. “I’m positive on the South,” Moore clarifies. “Life here comes with a bittersweet aftertaste because of some of the things we’ve done to each other. It’s like two things that are in the same place and have to coexist. We kind of have this push-pull that goes from very light to very dark very quickly.” Telling stories is ultimately what Moore wants to do, and what he believes is the purpose of his music. “Every day is a story,” he said. “Storytelling is about finding what’s valuable in the daily and mundane and extracting it in a way that it can be preserved. It’s our own desire for immortality.” And the immortality of the South, with all of its gothic charm and dark nights, is exactly what Moore wants his music to achieve. “We borrow to create a more complete vision of what the last 200 years have been in this area, and try to put that in a contemporary scope,” Moore said. “I can’t speak for everyone else, but I can see how it’s alive in my life and creates a bigger context for that.” The Barnstormers consist of Ronnie Moore, Chris Wilson, Daniel Moore (Ronnie’s brother), and Nate Emery.
The Barnstormers might not describe themselves as “fun”— they are very serious about their music, and it can have a dark and brooding side—but there’s no better way to describe the act of listening to them. It’s just fun, as they blend their strings and their voices into a deep and powerful blend of Southern folk and rock, and you may want to tap your toes or even dance. These guys are great musicians, and they know what they are doing. They’re serious about it, but we’re serious, too: this is just fun.
“Storytelling is about finding what’s valuable in the daily and mundane and extracting it in a way that it can be preserved. It’s our own desire for immortality.”
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 31
Eddie Thomas
Frank Thomas
32 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
TEXT BY CLAIRE STEWART
For brothers Eddie and Frank Thomas, music is all about location, location, location. They have recorded a Muddy Water’s tune on a hay bale at Stovall Farms, where Muddy used to work, and where Eddie said he could feel Muddy’s presence. They have also been seen sitting in a sage grass field close to where Son House recorded his version of Shetland Pony Blues. Eddie sang the same song as a mockingbird perched nearby, who then sang along with his slide guitar. They have also played in the choir loft of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, singing Sweet Hour of Prayer, recorded by the sound crew at National Public Radio. Church bells can be distantly heard in the background. They both agree that their location in the Tennessee Valley has drastically influenced their musical style. Eddie, a singer and songwriter, and Frank, a master of recording, work together to record songs about growing up in Iuka, Mississippi, and remembering the past, where Frank says “times were simpler, but not lacking human complexity.” Along with playing classic songs from the past, the brothers have released three original albums: Maggie’s House, Chasing Butterflies, and Pennyland. In Maggie’s House you can find collections of memories from the brothers about their home in Iuka. Chasing Butterflies moves into a time where the brothers were traveling, working in Maine, trekking the Appalachian Trail, and studying directing and acting for a year in New York City. Frank says, “this album does not walk a straight line, but if you stand on the right hilltop, it should offer an interesting view.” Finally, Pennyland, reveals a restlessness in the lives of the brothers and a craving for some ‘uncertainty’ in life, and a ‘quest for undone things’. The whole discography creates a story that anyone can identify with. In 2003, the duo finished up a long and unique project called Angels on the Backroads, which covers the history of the blues through sixty-five songs which are meant to be played along Highway 61, or Blues Highway, from Memphis to New Orleans. Many of the recordings were done along this very same highway. The entire project took three years of researching musicians and learning the songs, three years of recording on location, and two years of producing to create a four CD boxed set with an entire lifetime’s work of music in country, blues, jazz, and roots. Most musicians would cringe at the thought of recording outside and having to deal with the unpredictable weather, but Frank and Eddie agree that this adds so much to their music and the mood they want to create for their listeners. But, they will admit, the conditions are not always favorable. At times, Frank would hold a fleece jacket and move around Eddie, blocking the microphone from wind during each song. There are not many albums in which the recording engineer is listed as one of the contributing artists, but in Frank’s case, it is fitting. The brothers say that the greatest influence to their music is what they heard on radio and television growing up. It is everything from the old jingles and commercials to the harmonies they sang in church pews. They say they are inspired more by the time in which they grew up in than anything else. Though they are intrigued by the ‘simpler times’, the brothers are not unappreciative of the new technologies and music that are popular today. Frank says “any music that is done well, with an honest effort, and has something that makes it feel genuine, certainly grabs our attention and is an inspiration… Eddie is much the artist, looking to tell an honest story in song.”
Comfortable as your favorite loafers; smooth as Kentucky bourbon. Eddie and Frank Thomas weave simple stories into beautiful songs that seem personal in the way they wrap themselves around you. The brothers sing with such tight harmonies they are almost the same voice, and their words speak of love, longing, and a simpler style of life. Maybe it’s their maturity that make these two among our favorites, even as we struggle to find words to describe them. They just know us, and they are singing songs about our lives.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 33
For invitations and party supplies for garden parties, weddings, showers and every kind of celebration, your party source is
Party Works 5000 Whitesburg Drive S., Suite 108 Huntsville, AL 35802
News, classical music and more 88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsville www.apr.org 34 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
256-881-7780
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 35
“I’ve known since I was four years old that I wanted to be a singer. There was just this nagging thing that followed me my whole life. I didn’t choose music. Music chose me.” 36 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN
One word to describe Ally Burnett might be “unstoppable.” But that might be an understatement. “I’ve known since I was four years old that I wanted to be a singer,” Burnett said. “I just knew the first time I stepped on stage that I wanted to do it. I can’t pinpoint it. There was just this nagging thing that followed me my whole life. I didn’t choose music. Music chose me.” Since then, she has been across the country and to the middle of the ocean: the California girl lived in Hawaii for 10 years before she came to reside in Huntsville to take care of her father who is dealing with health issues. Now she’s feverishly making music and is determined to break into the music scene. So far, she’s doing a good job. Burnett has had her music featured on several MTV shows such as Paris Hilton’s My New BFF season two, The Seven, Jersey Shore, The Hills, and Friend Zone. “I didn’t start out knowing many people,” she said. “I just saw what I wanted and went after it. Nothing’s going to stop me.” She started her musical career as a pop-punk singer, which evolved into power pop, and is now somewhere in between. Musically, she said she is constantly compared to Paramore’s Hayley Williams or Katy Perry. She does like Paramore, but she doesn’t want to deal with the connotations that go with being a pop singer like Katy Perry. While listeners can possibly hear Paramore in her style, some of her personal favorites are Paula Abdul and Andrew McMahon from the band Something Corporate. “Andrew McMahon is a god among music,” she said. “The first time I saw them live, it just blew me away.” “Pop music is just ‘Let’s get drunk, party, party; blah, blah, blah,” Burnett said. “I’m singing what I love and singing what I feel. I try to grow with every record I do.” Her new summer five-song EP is expected to be a change for her in that she is embracing a more country sound—perhaps after living in the South for so long. “It’s a lot easier to be real in country music,” she said. “[Pop music] is not real. I hate to be pessimistic about it, but it’s not. When I write, I like to be real, and country kind of gives you that leeway to do so.” Ingenuity is by far the most important thing to Burnett. “For me, I think what sets me apart is I’m free and true to myself when I make music,” she said. “Everything that comes out of my mouth has meaning to me.” At this point in her life, break-ups are a hot topic because she’s allowed to be vulnerable. “Not all of my songs are about relationships and heartbreak, but that’s definitely my niche,” she said. “When it comes to heartache, the average person can relate to it. I feel like that’s when my songs are most honest— when I’m most vulnerable.” Fans will be hard pressed to find her performing live. She said she will be doing several acoustic tours to promote her new EP, but she prefers the studio to the stage. “If it were up to me, I would try to be in the studio every hour, every day,” she said. “Your songs are like your babies, and the studio for me is where they’re all created.” She is unabashedly confident, and readily admits to a shoot-from-the-hip style. “I just do what I know,” she said. “It’s just naturally to me—what I’m doing—and whatever comes out comes out. I have no idea what I’m doing,” she said and laughed. “I try to stick to what I think I’m good at, and, for me, that’s writing and singing.”
Ally is a pop-rock storyteller who knows how to pair catchy melodies with powerful lyrics that leave her songs in your head long after the pause button has been pushed. There’s a maturity to Ally’s voice, which doesn’t surprise you; the maturity in her lyrics hint at experiences beyond her years. Or maybe she just feels them more deeply; we’re just lucky that she is so masterful at putting them into words. There’s variety in the album, from slower ballad-like pieces to rock songs with a to-the-gut beat. Pay attention to this artist—she has all of the elements to make her the next talked-about star.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 37
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN
“When I started writing, I just started writing about things I knew about,” Matt Prater said. “Family was definitely a big influence when I got into music.” And music, for this Athens native, is embodied in his family: his oldest daughter, Madelyn, is actually one of the biggest reasons he is where he is now. “The birth of my oldest child was an inspiration,” he said. “Up until then, I just played cover songs, and I hadn’t even thought about being a musician. For some reason I decided that I could write—or was going to. That whole time period in my life was inspirational.” All of the tracks on his album Small Town Son reflect aspects from his daily life: family, God, nostalgia, and southern life. The song “Ten Years Two Kids” is a true story about meeting his wife and the journey they’ve been on. He said they were two kids then, and they have two kids now—Madelyn and Emmalee. His song “Dirt” reflects his admiration of blue-collar working life. And he is no stranger to it; he has been working in construction since he was 15. “What they are doing is still noble to me, even though it’s not glamorous,” Prater said. “Being in the daily grind—seeing things that could be.” And things that once were. Nostalgia is also a strong element in Prater’s songs. Songs like “Small Town Son” and “Ghost Town” reminisce about simpler times when “it seems like everything was just slower back then,” he said. Other songs like “Mountain Violets” are pure poetry. The words were taken from a poem written by his grandfather from South Dakota. It’s taken from a family story, and the child in the story is actually his grandfather. What Prater loves most about playing music is the connection it creates between him and his listeners. “I love connecting with people,” he said. “I love it when people understand my songs. I love music, and I love a good song.” Some of his favorite artists include John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash. “All those guys that were kind of on the fray of rock n’ roll—folk rock, outlaw, country types,” Prater explained. Other artists like Jack Johnson, Bryan Bingham, Chris Knight, and the late, great Levon Helm have helped him round out his style. “I don’t want to limit anything by saying it’s one kind of music,” he said. “And at this point, I don’t really have to. I believe you need a little bit of everything in your arsenal. I don’t know how many good songs I can write, but I want to write a lot more.” For Prater, things will hopefully be changing soon. He is currently working on a project that he expects to release by the end of the year. He hopes this will put him on the “inside” of the music business. “I’m kind of an outsider in some ways,” he said. “I’m not part of the music industry full time. I’m breaking in when I can, and I’d like to break in a little more. At this point, I’m pretty much a loner,” he said with a laugh. But maybe not for long.
Matt Prater is from a small town and proud of it. If you’re from a small town, too, there is plenty to love in his music, which centers around his stories and his rich, melodic voice. The stories are delightful Southern slices of life, each one complete in its telling; his voice draws you in and makes you want to listen to every word. It’s kind of country, and kind of sweet, really; it’s music that never gets old. This entire album is a delight.
“I love connecting with people. I love it when people understand my songs. I love music, and I love a good song.”
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 39
40 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN
When Byron Green sits down at his piano to write a song, his inspiration doesn’t come from other bands or songs he’s heard: it comes from advice. “You would think, being a musician, I would get inspired from music” Green said. But instead, 24-year-old Green uses songs to vocalize advice for his friends and family when they are going through hard times. “Instead of sitting down and talking about it and being awkward, I just sit down and write it out,” he said. “A lot of times they’ll hear it and like it and relate to it, and then I say, ‘Do you know that was about you?’” He prefers his style of songwriting because it makes the song accessible to a wide audience. “It makes it easy to write songs because there’s bound to be someone who can relate to it,” Green said. It seems pretty straightforward on paper, but Green’s style is fueled by a wide variety of genres and his ever-changing moods. This creates an interesting mix for his album, Who You Are. “There are a bunch of different moods on one disc,” he said. “People change. Everybody changes and evolves. The songs I write change with me. Some of them are really deep, and some of them are shallow. If you listen to my record, I sound like a schizo, but I’m really not,” he laughed. Green’s musical experience lends itself to a variety of influences. He cites 90s bands that he grew up with as being influential—bands like Tonic, 3 Doors Down and Matchbox 20 specifically. However, what he plays spans artists from Ray Charles to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bruno Mars to Ludacris. “I don’t have a set genre because I appreciate all kinds of music,” he said. “I mean, I haven’t put out a rap song yet, but it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t. It really throws folks off. They expect one style from a band, and I come in and do all these different things.” Any conflict? Not really. “It works out,” Green said. “You please the majority at least once each night.” And the performance is what Green lives by. “When you’re on stage, you are who you are, and no one can take that away,” he said. “An artist, in my opinion, should take the stage because no one can take the stage away from you.”
When we say Byron Green has an “unusual” voice, it’s not a bad thing—in fact, it’s very, very good. There’s something about the tenor of his voice, paired with his soulful lyrics, that demands attention. He’s not the kind of entertainer who blends into the background; instead, you find yourself hungry to hear what’s next. It’s this distinction that will serve him well, and sets him apart from the rest.
“When you’re on stage, you are who you are, and no one can take that away. An artist should take the stage because no one can take the stage away from you.”
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 41
42 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Affordable Academic
Now registering for 2012-2013 More than 32 years ago, Riverhill School was founded to give its students an educational experience that promoted each child’s individual potential. Today, we still provide academic excellence and experiences that create a lifelong love of learning. Want to know more? Come and visit! You’ll find we make the difference of a lifetime. We’re registering now for our Pre-K2 through sixth grade classes. Call 256-764-8200 or visit riverhillschool.org for more information.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 43
“There’s the show where it doesn’t matter what you’re doing and no one really cares, but in that case you’re playing for yourself and it’s great either way.” 44 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
TEXT BY ANDY THIGPEN
He knows what you’re thinking, and the answer is no: he is NOT related to Hannah or Walt Aldridge. “I’ve never actually met Walt,” he admits, laughing. “I’ve seen him, but I’ve never met him.” Rob Aldridge might share a name with the two local family songwriters, but he’s doing something all his own. “It’s pretty much across the board,” Aldridge said. He cites stylistic influences covering everyone from Steely Dan to Led Zeppelin to Marvin Gaye. Some of his favorites are Wilco, Ryan Adams, Zeppelin, and Tom Petty. In the Shoals area he mostly plays covers at the local bars, so his acoustic sets have a Jack Johnson feel, with a little Sublime vibe too. “A lot of people ask what kind of music I play,” he said. “After playing so many covers, I tend to hit every genre.” Aldridge, 24, just recently signed a songwriting contract with Jimmy Nutt at Nutthouse Studios. He began working on an album in the spring that is expected to be released by the end of the year. He knows his sound, but he’s having trouble piecing it all together. “I’ve had to play so much different stuff on my own,” he explained. “It doesn’t really go well with trying to put a whole album together. The album will probably stick a little closer to an alt-rock-country feel with some bluesy elements.” Aldridge, a Huntsville native, got his start playing guitar when he was 13, and guesses that he started writing around then too. His dad was a musician who played around the Huntsville bar scene. When Aldridge was a kid, his dad would sneak him in to watch and socialize. “When I did get out, I already knew all of the bar owners, so I guess I got started a little early,” he said. Since then, he’s hit the ups and downs of songwriting. “There’s a lot of songs I’ve written that I pray no one ever sees,” he said with a laugh. “I really like what I’m writing now. It’s something I’m proud of—which is more than I can say for some of the other stuff.” Prepping for his new album has let him explore his own unique style of writing as well. One he comes up with a riff and records it, he usually plays it backwards to find out if he can hear any new melodies. Then come the words. “I try to pick a really simple subject and approach it from a different angle,” Aldridge said. “I like to use words that people subconsciously think of. I want to take my own personal experiences and generalize them in a song. I heard Tom Petty say that it makes it a song personal, but it’s vague—anyone can put themselves into it.” His favorite nights are when he’s stuck in a bar doing covers and someone requests one of his originals. “There’s the show where it doesn’t matter what you’re doing and no one really cares, but in that case you’re playing for yourself and it’s great either way,” Aldridge said. “You can change a person’s mood if you’re playing it right. I’ll play some really obscure song and if I play it right they will really get into it. Sometimes people come in and request [originals]. When it’s a night like that, it’s usually more fun.” Either way, Aldridge wants some change, and the new album is expected to deliver. “I need a change, and that’s what I’m gunning for right now.”
It’s unfair, really, that someone so young can express such depth of emotion in his songs, and can deliver those feelings with such expression and such a wide vocal range. Rob’s voice is beautiful, a blend of rock and soul, leaning more to the soul. Pay attention to this one: if he can write and sing like this at this age, there’s no telling where he’ll go.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 45
46 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
TEXT BY CLAIRE STEWART
Brad Guin went years and years in the music industry without knowing he could sing. He played saxophone for headliners like The Temptations, Greg Allman, B.B. King, and Martha and the Vandellas when he was just seventeen. He has played in The Apollo Theatre, Austin City Limits, every Blue Note Club in Japan, as well as the finest theaters in every major city in North America—but he was always behind his saxophone. In the hopes of producing his own original record (which he thought at the time would be mainly instrumental), Brad traded a Fender Rhodes piano to his friend Jimmy Nutt for three days of studio time in Sheffield’s The NuttHouse studio. He then invited his ‘most bad-to-the-bone friends’ to the session. These included Buster Marbury, Jason Isbell, Ken Waters, Jimbo Hart, and Greg Lowery. One day when Buster heard Brad messing around with a song, he said “You need to do that, man. You got something.” And Buster knew exactly what he was talking about. After keeping his talent a secret for so long, even from his wife and son, Brad slowly began to grow confident in his vocal ability. He later produced and recorded an album with only one other person present. In 2011, he assembled the group we now know as Bad Brad and the Sipsey Slims, and starred as lead vocalist. Brad says he is influenced by music ranging all the way from James Brown to Hank Williams to Motown and 60s pop. Brad is self-diagnosed with what he calls ‘Jim Nabors syndrome.’ “I am country as a turnip green, and I sing like an old black man.” He lived in Tuscaloosa through childhood on the edge of the Sipsey swamp and called himself a swamper until he came to Muscle Shoals and met a different kind of ‘swamper’ in the studios here in the area. When he moved here, he was exposed to the vast musical history in the Shoals and immediately immersed himself in it. He said that in this area, it always feels like something is about to happen. “I feel like the ground rumbles with creativity here. You are constantly affected by the talented people around you and you are inspired by their accomplishments. I don’t get that anywhere else.” Recently, Brad worked with the Alabama Blues Project in Tuscaloosa which gives many at-risk and troubled youth the opportunity to learn about and play the blues music that is so deeply embedded in Alabama history. He says that he has been inspired by so many of the young people that have come through the program that he says he “couldn’t stump” with every kind of music he threw at them. He wants to help others grow up with the same eclectic music appreciation he was fortunate enough to be raised with. Brad wants to provide his listeners with what he says is missing from a lot of music today—“We are missing so much dynamic contrast. This album has such a high-quality, vintage sound that I think people will really like. All I want to do is take everyone on their own musical journey.”
Here’s the thing about Bad Brad and the Sipsey Slims: they have a distinct Muscle Shoals sound to their music. The vocals are deep and bluesy, and the music that girds all of that up is rich with horns, organ, and that beautiful saxophone, in the same style that put Muscle Shoals on the musical map. Think Percy Sledge; think Clarence Carter. Then stop thinking, grab a beer, and sit back and let this rich music roll right over you. If it doesn’t transport you to a place where there’s red clay and cotton, you are not a Southerner.
“I feel like the ground rumbles with creativity here. You are constantly affected by the talented people around you.” J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 47
48 »
market » Claire Stewart » Photos by Danny Mitchell
Summertime and The Living is Easy Language Lace Top ($93) Audie Mescal (256) 314-6684
Hand-cut Copper Bookmarks ($18) Relique (256) 767-4810
Aztec Shorts ($59.95) Market House (256) 577-5197
PROlite Yoga Mat ($72) Mat Sak ($49) Shoals Yoga and Pure Bliss Living (256) 702-3022
48 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Gentle Souls Rose Gladiators ($188) Marigail Mathis (256) 764-9444
MM Couture Blue Ruffle Top ($72) Marigail Mathis (256) 764-9444
Large Brim Hat ($33) The Village Shoppe (256) 383-1133
Striped Tank ($33) Frolic (256) 766-6150
Colored Jeans ($102) Audie Mescal (256) 314-6684
Lucky Brand Cork Flats ($69.95) Austin’s Shoes (256) 386-8720
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 49
50 »
market
Fritz Pillow ($125) Las Flores ($175) Relique ($175) Driftwood Home+Design driftwoodhd@gmail.com
Writing Tablet ($12) Planner ($127) Printers and Stationers, Inc. (256) 764-8061
Eco-Friendly Diaper Bag ($80) David Christopher’s (256) 764-7008
Tablet Case ($28) Dragonfly Boutique (256) 386-5242
Sun Cruz Ladies Cruizer ($275) Shoals Bicycle Shop (256) 766-3343
50 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Brighton Leather Strap Bracelet ($66) The Village Shoppe (256) 383-1133
Pure Sanctuary Chain Necklace ($125) Labradorite Ring ($115) Side Lines (256) 767-0925
Bracelets ($2) Benefitting Cystic Fibrosis T-shirts also available ($15) Caitlin Wall (256) 335-6719
Cailyn Shimmer Powders ($13) Face 2 Face (256) 275-3527
Marigail Mathis Signature Perfume ($50) Marigail Mathis (256) 764-9444
Can be used as eyeliner, nail polish, lipstick, lip gloss, or eye shadow!
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 51
52 »
scene
Katherine Anderson and Margaret Forsythe
Bobby Champagne, Jimmy Oliver, Martha and Woody Truitt
Janet and Andy Chorney Laura and Inez Holden
JoAnn Thomas, Glenda Oldham, Martha Truitt and Wanda NeSmith
Rod and Emily Slusher
Megan Lovelace, Chris Tant and Anna Champagne
Helen and Brad Nichols PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURIE TANT
Above: Coaches vs Cancer Bracket Challenge 2012 HOSTED BY JIMMY & BRANDI OLIVER AND M ARTHA & WOODY TRUITT SWAMPERS
Below: Coaches vs Cancer Victory Tour 2012 Tip-Off Party HOSTED BY B OB AND GINA BAILEY PICKETT PLACE
Courtney Martin, Megan Lovelace, and Amy Scogin
David and Glenda Campbell, Gerald and Brenda Hudson
Robin and Russ Coussons Pat Slusher and Tommy Mathis
Lisa Segura, Elizabeth Berry, and Helen Nichols
Jodi and Kevin McDaniel
Trey and Meghan Bailey Coaches vs. Cancer Committee PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURIE TANT
If you talk about rehab, assisted living or long term care, sooner or later you’ll talk about Glenwood. We’ve been a premiere provider of healthcare services in the Shoals for 35 years. At Glenwood Healthcare, we are totally focused on your care. Come talk to us about it!
Rehab • Assisted Living • Long-Term Care ___________________________________ 211 Ana Drive, Florence, AL 35630 256-768-2775 • www.glenwoodhc.com
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 53
“I HAD SOME SONGS, BUT HONESTLY DIDN’T CALL THEM SONGS— I WOULD JUST PLAY THE GUITAR. MY PARENTS HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD THEM. I WAS SHY.” —MAC MCANALLY
54 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
M AC M C A NALLY THE M AN B EHIND THE M USIC TEXT BY L AURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD
I
pull into the driveway of Mac McAnally’s house, a man whose lyrics are often stuck in my head, and double check the address. This can’t be it, I think. It’s too…well…normal. I walk past the open garage and see the screened-door open in back, and I let myself in. Mac casually greets me inside and tells me to go on through, he’ll be right there, just like I’m a neighbor coming over for a visit, not interviewing a music legend for No’Ala. So there I sit in a rocking chair on the front porch of his 100-year-old Sheffield home, admiring the view of the river and waiting on Mac to tell me about his life. Mac arrives 15 minutes later, having showered after a morning golf game. He strums a few notes on his 1859 Martin guitar while he sits on the porch swing and talks.
BORN IN RED BAY, ALABAMA, and raised in Belmont, Mississippi, Mac was around music from an early age. His mother and grandmother both played piano for their Baptist church, and they often invited neighbors over at night to play music. “That’s how we entertained ourselves,” said Mac. “We didn’t have a TV or telephone or radio. We were kind of late in the game for in-house entertainment. Our neighbors would bring over mandolins, saxophones, whatever someone had that made a noise.” Mac was a talented piano player and guitar player from a young age, so much so that his family felt it was God’s will that he be a musician. That’s why when at only 13 years old when Mac was asked to play in a band, at a state-line honky tonk (in a wet county no less), his strict Baptist parents let him go. “They had never been in one and would never go, but they knew I wanted to play with other musicians,” he said. “Dean Linley, who worked at the Ford body shop and moonlighted as a country singer, made the pitch to my parents and assured them he’d pick me up and take me home each night. They paid me $250 a week. That was a lot of money in 1970. I was making as much as my parents.” So Mac played at the Circle E Club in Iron City four nights a week, getting home at 3 a.m. and waking at 7 a.m. for school. He was bringing in as much money as his father was making as a school teacher and his mother was making as a worker in the Wrangler plant.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 55
“Dean was a good man, and he introduced me to country music,” said Mac. “My only other exposure to that point was gospel.” At age 13 and in a rough bar, Mac was too intimated to get off the stage during breaks, so he stayed and practiced his acoustic guitar. One night, some other musicians heard him playing and invited him to come to the studio with them. After that, Mac was hooked. At age 15, he left school to pursue music full time. “My dad was the assistant principal so it was a tough sell,” said Mac. “My parents would have envisioned me being a music minister at a Baptist church.” One day at Wishbone Studios, an artist never showed up, but the studio asked to hear some music from Mac and his friends. With some coaxing, Mac played them one of his original songs. “I had some songs, but honestly didn’t call them songs—I would just play the guitar,” said Mac. “My parents had never even heard them. I was shy.” The engineer decided to cut a record on the spot. That record contained the hit, “It’s a Crazy World,” which made it to the Billboard Hot 100. Mac was 19.
“WE DIDN’T HAVE A TV OR TELEPHONE OR RADIO. WE WERE KIND OF LATE IN THE GAME FOR IN-HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT. OUR NEIGHBORS WOULD BRING OVER MANDOLINS, SAXOPHONES, WHATEVER SOMEONE HAD THAT MADE A NOISE.” —MAC MCANALLY “I was surprised at all of it,” said Mac. “I wore my grandfather’s overalls everywhere. Show business didn’t come naturally to me. Farm people are not raised to draw attention to yourself. Everyone in Belmont means what they say. Nobody in Belmont told me I was awesome, so I was surprised when others said I was good.” Mac’s first ASCAP check, which was more money than he had ever seen, was just $3,000 shy of allowing him to buy his father’s old homestead, which was for sale. It’s a good thing the check came up short because it would have given Mac the excuse to get out of the limelight and move back home for good. But he stayed put, and the rest is history. Mac is a songwriter, vocalist, producer, piano player and master guitarist. In his career, he’s worked with such names as Hank Williams, Jr., Alabama, Ricky Skaggs, Linda Ronstadt, Amy Grant, Travis Tritt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sawyer Brown, Roy Orbison and Dolly Parton. Several of his songs performed by Kenny Chesney have been major hits, including “Down the Road” and “Back Where I Come From.” He recently cut a song with Zac Brown, and LeAnn Womack invited him to sing on her new record. Mac has also produced nearly a dozen of his own records. And if that weren’t enough, he travels with Jimmy Buffett as a member of the Coral Reefer Band. “Jimmy heard that first record that I made, and he wrote me a note,” said Mac. “He said we were both Mississippi kids and both storytellers and that we’d be working together.” In May, Mac was honored in his hometown of Belmont as part of the Mississippi Country Music Trail. And for the past four years in a row, he’s been named the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year, an honor that hits close to home. “Chet Atkins was my dad’s hero, and he won nine times,” said Mac. “Nobody has ever won more than three. The fact that I’m second to him I know would have meant a lot
56 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 57
to my dad. I don’t think I’m deserving, but I’m grateful someone thinks I am.” Mac’s father passed away in 1982, and his mother passed away in 2006. But his family still remains close to his heart. In fact, his grandmother’s 1906 pump organ and his mother’s accordion are in his living room. And one of the reasons Mac calls Sheffield home is because it’s close to his roots. “All of this is close to my heart—my family center, my church center, my creative center,” Mac said, pointing out toward the river. “This is a special place. The Indians said it was the singing river. I don’t have a better explanation than that. People have come through here and made wonderful music for a long time. WC Handy, Roger Hawkins, it pours out of people. I write on this front porch. I’m most comfortable here than anywhere in the world. I’m sitting here on this river, and this house is paid for, and I’m a lucky son of a gun. Nobody appreciates it more than me.” Besides inspiration from the Tennessee River, Mac credits God for his natural gift. “I’m reverent towards the source of creativity,” said Mac. “I was raised in church and think it has something to do with God.” Mac definitely does have a gift from God. He’s been known to sit down with his guitar and words of an entire song literally just pop in his head and come out of his mouth. His songs have been called American anthems. His lyrics are rich with the values important to him: God, family, nature, Southern roots, a simple life. Mac has a family of his own, three grown girls who live in Nashville and help influence his musical repertoire. “My girls are always introducing me to new music,” said Mac. “I love the new stuff, but I’ve also been catching up. My early listening had a lot of gaps in it. When I heard the Beatles they had already broken up. I’ve gone backwards through their catalog and the Rolling Stones.” His youngest daughter says that modern country music is neither modern nor country, and Mac agrees. “There have been a few trends in music that made me wonder if we were done with melodies, if it were all computerizations,” said Mac. “It costs so much to market a modern record. There is so much research involved like how to reach girls 18 to 24. Not all those overlays are good for music. We just need to make something that means something to us, and we’ll figure out who to market it to. Music by itself is one of the most fun and wonderful things in the world. It’s easy to forget that when you’re thinking about making up a song that pays the electric bill.” Mac says today he hasn’t had the time to sit down and write music as much as he’d like. His summer is jam-packed with tour dates with Jimmy Buffett and his own solo gigs. But when he
58 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
does get home, he looks forward to playing golf and eating at some old favorites, such as George’s and Dale’s, among others. “Jimmy will land his plane here to get a Bunyan hotdog,” laughed Mac. “And my daughters will drive down for Jack’s breakfast and Trowbridge’s. I’ve got my spots.” To Mac, there’s no place like home. “I can do anything here,” he said. “Produce, write. I’m close to Nashville. It’s a wonderful balance living here. I’ve lived in the Shoals since 1976, and I won’t ever not have a place here.” As for the future, Mac says there’s not much left on his bucket list. “I got it all nailed 20 years ago, and I’ve been swimming in gravy since,” he laughed. “I don’t feel finished yet though. I know I have more music left to play and left to write. And that makes me happy. It’s all good.”
AFTER THE INTERVIEW, I follow Mac inside to his piano. There I stand in his living room as he sings “On Account of You” from his Down by the River album. I can’t help thinking that music is a whole lot better on account of Mac.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 59
A RENOVATION OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS TEXT BY L AURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD
60 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
orth Alabamians have seen his name their entire lives: The Joe Wheeler Highway, Joe Wheeler State Park, Lake Wheeler, Wheeler Dam, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Joe Wheeler has had a tremendous impact on the local area, state and country. He’s one of two Alabamians (Helen Keller is the other) with a statue of honor at the Nation’s Capitol. He served as the youngest Confederate general in the Civil War, in U.S. Congress for 20 years and as general during the SpanishAmerican War. He’s one of only two Confederate generals buried at Arlington National Cemetery. And it if weren’t for Joe Wheeler, the Tennessee Valley probably wouldn’t be the economic hub it is today. This summer, locals have the opportunity to learn more about the man with such a footprint in North Alabama as the Joe Wheeler Home reopens its doors. Since 2005, the Joe Wheeler Home, known as Pond Springs, has been closed. The home, which Joe built with his wife Daniella in 1870, was in utter disrepair. Due to lack of funding and the project’s complexity, the home is finally complete after 12 years and three phases of renovations. Today, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the two-story Victorian frame house and grounds, which include a log cabin from 1818 and an icehouse, corn crib barn and plantation office Above: The earliest known photo of the house, circa 1874. The women in front of the home are the Wheeler daughters.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 61
Above: The original log cabin (1818). Left: The cemetery is home to 200 unmarked graves of slaves, as well as marked graves honoring the Wheeler family.
from 1830. Also on the grounds is a cemetery with both unmarked graves of some 200 slaves and markers honoring the Wheeler family. The highlight is the Wheeler home itself, which is set up just how Gen. Wheeler’s daughter Annie lived in 1930 when she herself gave tours to the public. The house is filled with rare antiques, exquisite china, delicate clothing, one-of-a kind militaribilia and Victorian grandeur which not only tell the story of a significant Alabama family but of a way of life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Bringing the house back to life has taken tremendous effort. The Wheeler family donated the home and surrounding buildings to the Alabama Historical
62 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Commission in 1992. The state first renovated the out buildings before having the funds for the house itself. When the work began, nobody could even walk inside the home. The porches were on the verge of collapsing, the walls were crumbling, the floors had an eight-inch sag in the middle, there was no air-conditioning and none of the windows were functioning. Architect Dave Ely with KPS Group in Huntsville drew up plans for the home’s renovation after studying historic photographs and scale drawings. Dave was challenged with striking a balance between making the home historically accurate while adding modern yet necessary features such as an HVAC system which not only provides a comfortable environment but helps preserve the valuable antiques and archives inside from further deterioration. “We had to be careful to preserve as much of the original historic fabric such
as the trim, the plaster, the wood—yet we had to insulate the walls, make the windows air-tight and add the new heating and air conditioning system,” Dave said. “We were able to save the original glass on the windows—one of which had Miss Annie’s name scratched into the glass.” General contractor Trav Hovater, Jr., with H&N Construction in Florence also assisted with the home’s renovation. First, H&N stabilized the foundation then began an arduous process to renovate the rest of the house. “It was in pretty bad shape after years of being vacant and about as bad as I’ve seen as far as salvaging,” Trav said. H&N replaced and salvaged the plaster walls, lead abated the building, restored the hardwood floors, repainted the house and added the HVAC system. “It’s about 50/50 what was restored versus what’s new, but of course you can’t
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 63
The house is filled with rare antiques, exquisite china, delicate clothing, one-of-a kind militaribilia and Victorian grandeur which not only tell the story of a significant Alabama family but of a way of life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. tell the difference,” Trav said. “As far as a historical restoration, this is one of the most extensive projects we’ve ever done. From here, I look at old buildings differently than I used to. I see a value in the old structures. And it’s exciting to be on a project like Joe Wheeler because he’s at the rotunda in D.C., he’s a historical figure for our state. To have our name on this project means a lot.” During the renovation, the furniture had been sent off to be restored, thanks to the Friends of the Joe Wheeler Home Foundation who raised $75,000. With the renovation complete, the furniture and thousands of artifacts were ready to be moved back in and strategically placed. The house has a valuable collection of antiques spanning from the early 1800s to the 1940s including four large 1840s New York armoires, an 1870s Mahogany island bed, a unique 1870s Wooten desk and intricate four poster beds and dining room suite. Walking through the house, visitors get a sense of the man Joe Wheeler was. Joe Wheeler was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1836 and later moved to Connecticut before attending West
Point at 19. Always a Southerner at heart, he became the youngest Confederate general at age 24 in the Civil War, where he fought in 127 battles. During the war in 1863, he and his cavalry were in North Alabama camping on Daniella’s father’s land. Daniella, who had lost a husband and a daughter by the time she was 25, fell in love with young Gen. Wheeler. A few years later, Daniella lost her son, but when the war ended, Gen. Wheeler came back for her and saved her from a life of grief. They married, had seven children and enjoyed Alabama plantation life. Gen. Wheeler set up a law practice in Courtland, and he and Daniella began buying up land. With Daniella’s late husband’s and late father’s properties plus their new acquisitions, the couple owned 17,000 acres by the early 1900s. Meanwhile, Gen. Wheeler ran for office and served as a U.S. Congressman for 20 years. While in Washington, he became close with President McKinley. In 1898 at the age of 61, soon after Daniella passed away, Gen. Wheeler was asked by McKinley to serve as a general in the Spanish-American War. He gladly accepted. During the war, Gen. Wheeler served as Teddy Roosevelt’s superior and
alongside his son Joe, Jr., a soldier, and his daughter Annie, a Red Cross nurse. When Gen. Wheeler came home in 1900, he spent his last years as a hero, traveling around the country attending banquets and parades in his honor until his death in 1906. Inside the home are hundreds of artifacts reflecting the family’s service to their country. Included in the collection are a rare flag flown in the SpanishAmerican War, Gen. Wheeler’s portrait and uniforms, Annie’s Red Cross uniform and Joe, Jr.’s West Point coat and military uniforms. Besides the military, North Alabama’s development was also important to Gen. Wheeler. During his service in Congress in the late 1800s, he commissioned the Army Corps of Engineers to study the Tennessee River. He had a dream to make the river navigable—from the Shoals to Decatur was like white-water rapids. Later in the 1930s, when FDR was looking at federal projects, he already had Gen. Wheeler’s plan in place for the river, and the Tennessee Valley Authority was born. The TVA acquired 3,000 acres of the family’s plantation and in 1937, they dedicated the Wheeler Dam in his honor. Today, the Wheeler family still owns much of the land. In 1992, they donated 50 acres, the home and surrounding buildings to the state. The Alabama Historical Commission employs a director, curator, tour guide and a maintenance man on site who provide public tours, maintain the property, manage the archives and conduct ongoing research. The Wheeler family had so many personal possessions that there are still trunks sitting in the attic ready to be sorted and archived. “So far I have archived 5,000 items and when it’s all said and done, I will have archived 10,000,” said Kara Long, Pond Springs curator. “This is a curator’s dream job—to have such an extensive collection in a house museum. Every day
64 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 65
POND SPRINGS: A TIMELINE 1836 Joe Wheeler is born in Augusta, Georgia 1860 He becomes the youngest Confederate general in the Civil War 1870 Gen. Wheeler and Daniella marry and build a home on her family’s land 1884 Gen. Wheeler is elected to the U.S. Congress 1898 Gen. Wheeler serves as a general during the Spanish-American War 1906 Gen. Wheeler dies and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery 1935 FDR visits Pond Springs 1937 The Wheeler Dam is dedicated in Gen. Wheeler’s honor 1955 Gen. Wheeler’s daughter Annie lives at Pond Springs until her death 1992 The property is donated to the state and renovations begin 2012 The home reopens to the public for tours
we find more items. We have so much that we can rotate coverlets and clothes throughout the year so that visitors see something different each time they come.” Kara recently found a trunk with a man’s bathing suit, tuxedo and newspaper clipping indicating a trip Joe, Jr., took to Tampa in 1936 the year before he died. New stories about the Wheelers are discovered literally every day. “We were giving a tour recently, and an 80-year-old woman from one of the senior groups recalled living on the grounds when she was a little girl as the daughter of the cook,” Kara said. “And she remembered meeting FDR when he came to town. That would have been in 1935 during his whistle-stop tour. It’s pretty amazing.” Kara, the site director Melissa Beasley and the tour guide Hollye Raines all pitch in to provide tours five days a week. Guided tours are offered every hour on the hour beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday through Saturday with the last tour at 3:00 p.m., and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with the last tour at 4:00 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and military and $3 for children. The home is also available for special events. On Sept. 8, the public is invited to celebrate the 176th birthday of Joe Wheeler on the grounds. While the renovation of Pond Springs has come a long way, it’s far from being complete. The grounds are overgrown
66 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
and need landscaping. And visitors be warned: there is no concession stand or restroom. To help complete the restoration of Pond Springs, you can make a donation to the Alabama Historic Commission at preserveala.org or to the Friends of the Joe Wheeler Home Foundation at wheelerplantation.org.
Top: The corn crib barn (1830) at Pond Springs; Above: The house is filled with rare antiques, exquisite china, delicate clothing, and one-of-a kind militaribilia; Opposite: General Wheeler and his daughter Annie Wheeler, circa 1900.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 67
This Dust This red clay dust slipping down from these fingers has embraced them— the bodies of my people long since committed back to earth. It has covered sweating black faces in the cotton fields of the South and teased my nostrils when wetted by a swift summer shower. It has encircled the roots of flowers and clung to stalks of green; it has determined the yield of crops and nourished the kudzu vine It has been washed off in tin tubs with flour sacks and lye soap and shook out of quilts by mothers on warm summer mornings. Sometimes I think this rusty clay has seeped into my soul, sending through the red in my veins a message to my heart: here you belong. —Dorothy C. Hardy PHOTO BY PATRICK HOOD
68 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
PHOTO BY AMANDA CHAPMAN
Shadows in his Shoes He was a thing one relished and relinquished, A dream forgotten upon waking— A gleam, a beam of half-dollar lost Somewhere on the floor of the sea Oh, the simplicity of strangers! He was the monarch mystery Of one million different histories One million miles from my own And somewhere among the dunes In my cerebral Sahara he reigns over the other typhoons and monsoons Of a sixteen-year-old’s dreaming. I once saw a mirage on Main Street And now the sandstorm blows him away Into the sun he dims and fades Only his smile will staySly and bemused Shy and confused Lingering above The shadows in his shoes. —Sara Kachelman J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 69
PHOTO BY M AGGIE CRISLER
Raging Gardens Grandpa George handed Dad a little baggie of red seeds when he was born. Dad passed it to me when I emerged on a cool, plain plains day in Nebraska when I was too angry to lie in Mom’s tummy any longer. She was full of rage, and Dad put it there. When we spend too much time in the sun, our freckles become aggravated and attack our arms and faces: three generations of polka-dotted rage. When we perform heavy physical activity, our faces turn red and our arms and hands tremble like when we’ve been holding on to the hedge trimmer for too long. Grandpa George had a garden. Dad has a garden. I have a garden. When we play in our gardens too long, our faces turn red and our arms and hands begin to tremble. My garden swallows rage fed to it by hoes and shovels and spades. Overwhelmed, it births happy tomatoes, berries, and flowers an impatient time later. And they’re all red. We harvest them, pluck them, transplant them, shove them into our guts while smiles come to distract the labor and stress that fueled relaxing trips to a garden of red: a thing that came from him that lives in my soul and next to the steps that Iuse to run away when I’m full of it. —Cara Depew 70 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Like a needle into the grooves of a record We fall into habit. Comfortable in our ruts As we waste away. —Ryan Paine
PHOTO BY ABRAHAM ROWE
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 71
The Wanderlust’s Guide to the Galaxy
PHOTO BY ARMOSA STUDIOS
For every one of you that yearns to be somewhere else and chooses to sit right in your seat because of ‘inconvenience’. For the dreamers, the dancers, the hikers, and the lovers—you will be stuck in your box till you build yourself a door. The tiny scratches on windows from children itching to go play, turn into the hours spent looking at the screensaver shot from that trip you never took. Mark Twain, Henry Miller, Robert Frost, and Emerson too, knew the life-giving juices that seep into your psyche as soon as your feet hit foreign soil. It’s uncomfortable, and it’s graceless, but it is as immaculate as the flowery words falling off the tongues of these strangers surrounding you. Go ahead and travel with your millions but you will never get the genuine reward of the excursion. In the purest sense of anonymity, you will own nothing. The sky, the earth, and your own breath will be your only true possessions. It’s the wind that goes through your hair that also goes through the hair of a girl staring out on the Bay of Bengal wondering when a ship will come to take her to her real life. How many authors and poets tell you to enjoy, day after day, the exciting new events in your own backyard? Soon, we will release the fear of the unknown—our xenophobia will be a distant, laughable recollection. We will look at each and every person the same way we would look into a mirror—with appreciation of the vitality we are so lucky to be bestowed with; no credo, nationality, nor tribal lines before us. But, those are the precise obstructions that creep away when you are on your way out of your tiny little bubble. Every soul is a lesson to be learned. Every encounter is tiny snag in the tapestry we were woven into. For the days when it smells exactly like the morning fog at Machu Picchu, or the nights when your glass of red never measures up to the vineyard tastings in Bordeaux, or when a wink from a stranger takes you back to a café table sharing antipasti with a charming man with robin’s egg eyes. To every lost heart, staring at the same dingy photo from that ‘trip of a lifetime’, aching to be back in the arms of another homeland—don’t let it be your last. Lifetimes are shorter than you know in a vast galaxy like ours. —Claire Stewart
72 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 73
WRITING THE AMERICAN DREAM TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON » PHOTOS BY DAVID SIMS
“I WOULDN’T BE A WRITER IF I HADN’T GROWN UP IN FLORENCE,” SAID PAT CUNNINGHAM DEVOTO. WE WERE SITTING ON HER BACK DECK IN HER BEAUTIFUL SUBURBAN HOME IN DECATUR, GEORGIA, RIGHT OUTSIDE ATLANTA. “FLORENCE GAVE ME SOMETHING OTHER WRITERS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE, A WONDERFUL SENSE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, REALIZED. I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I WAS OLDER, WHEN I COULD SEE FLORENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF A LARGER WORLD.” Florence also gave her a love of books. Pat’s mother spent time at the Florence/Lauderdale library and Anderson’s Newsstand downtown, always taking Pat and her siblings along, and Pat remembers the meticulous preparation her mother would go through for her book club. Reading was important in the Cunningham house. Pat’s latest book is set in Florence. The book, On Tripoli Circle, is based in a small Southern town, and it doesn’t take a Shoals area native long to feel that there’s something wonderfully familiar about it. That mayor, the guy who accidentally became a high school football hero when the ball literally landed in his arms, sounds an awful lot like a real public servant we remember from growing up here; the main character walks downtown and to the library and describes the scenery, including Tripoli Circle with its Sears and Roebuck houses, in a way that makes you want to get in the car and go find the actual spots. Pat laughs when she tells about a couple who came to a book signing in Florence after spending hours driving around looking for Tripoli Circle; they were convinced they knew the exact spot she was writing about. “Because I’m the one who’s interested in history, my brothers and sisters passed along a box full of old letters that they found in my mother’s things. I didn’t dare throw it away—there’s a handwritten note on the top of the box from my grandmother that says Johnnie’s letters, do not destroy.” —Devoto
On Tripoli Circle is Pat’s fourth book. The first, My Last Days As Roy Rogers, came from Pat’s memories of growing up during a time when the fear of polio dominated summertime life, and black and white children formed friendships without being aware of the prejudices all around them. It also has strong roots in Florence; Pat’s style of writing combines humor and delightful storytelling to bring back memories, evoke nostalgia, and make a point. It’s delightful. “It’s interesting,” Pat said, “that when I go to book signings and events now, so many people want to know my opinion about whether the world will even have paper books in five or ten years, in this age of Kindles and e-readers. Much of my audience still wants to hold a book -especially those fifty or older. They say there’s something about the feel of a book, about curling up with a good book, that a Kindle just can’t replace. I tell them that’s what people said about radio when TV first came on the scene. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.” Pat grew up in Florence, the child of Rutland and Sarah Cunningham. Sarah was originally from Knoxville, and she and Rutland met at the University of Tennessee; Pat says it was interesting to observe her mother, who was an outsider, incorporate herself into the social life in Florence. Rutland was very much a native of the Shoals area; he spent time growing up living in Barton Hall in Cherokee, where his family farmed. Her parents had great senses of humor and that, combined with the unique blend of native/non-native backgrounds, gave Pat a unique perspective on Florence, the South, and the social climate of the day. Pat and her brothers and sisters went to Kilby Training School and graduated from Coffee High School. Pat went on to the University of Tennessee and started her graduate work at Georgia State University. A mother of two, grandmother of four, an avid tennis player and a former high school history and economics teacher, Pat lives a very busy life—but writing plays a central role. “I love the research,” she said. In fact, for Pat the inspiration for a book comes and she spends a lot of time—years, even—doing the research to get ready to begin writing. “Every editor I’ve ever worked with tells me that you have to just stop the research and start writing,” she says with a smile, but her love of history makes research a joy instead of a chore.
Facing: Pat Cunningham Devoto at home in Atlanta.
“Tripoli” got its start after Pat’s mother died. “Because I’m the one who’s interested in history, my brothers and sisters passed along a box full of old letters that they found in my mother’s things,” she said. “I didn’t dare throw it away—there’s a handwritten note on the top of the box from my grandmother that says Johnnie’s letters, do not destroy. Johnnie was Pat’s uncle, who died in World War II, and as Pat began to go through the letters, the idea for the book was born. “One of the most interesting things I noticed was how upbeat the letters were,” she said. “The soldiers in World War II did not want their families to worry about them, even though they were enduring some terrible hardships.” Johnnie’s letters talked about the scenery, the places he was seeing, and the men he was serving
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 75
“It’s interesting that when I go to book signings and events, so many people want to know my opinion about whether the world will even have books in five or ten years, in this age of Kindles and e-readers. The audience I cater to wants to hold a book, and they are mostly fifty years old or older. There’s something about the feel of a book, about curling up with a good book, that a Kindle just can’t replace.”
with, but didn’t delve into how difficult it really was to be fighting so far away from home. Pat’s research filled in the blanks about how things really were, and her book masterfully paints a picture of the contrast between what was said and what went unsaid. After all, this was war. Another observation was about how difficult it was for men returning from this experience to talk about it. Pat’s main character, Daniel, is consumed with survivor’s guilt, and devotes his life to serving others as pastor of a church, sometimes even giving away the family’s grocery money to people he perceives as being needier than they are. “It’s difficult for any soldier to process the experience of war,” said Pat, “but I think that particular generation was determined to carry on as if all of those horrors had not happened, in order to protect their families from the reality.” “In the 40s and 50s, in Florence, when so many veterans were home from the war, I remember hearing their stories…but most of them were funny,” Pat said. “I remember A.B. Cramwell, a friend of my father’s, telling a story about the Normandy invasion, when his Higgins boat ran out of gas on D Day, and it was really hysterical.” The Normandy Invasion wasn’t funny at all, but one way to deal with horrible things is to find humor, which Pat thinks is typical of that generation. “They wanted to put a happy face on it, because…well, because they just wanted us to know about it that way.” Of all of her books, this one has strong roots in a family tragedy. In World War II, her Uncle Johnnie was assigned to a night flight in a bombing raid, and the plane exploded upon takeoff; all nine men aboard died. The captain, who for some reason didn’t go with his crew that night, saw it all happen from the ground, and later wrote Pat’s grandmother a letter expressing his sadness and condolences. The emotion in that letter struck a chord with Pat, and Daniel, her main character in On Tripoli Circle, is based partially on him. (There is a plaque at the UNA Ampitheatre honoring all the men—including her Uncle—who went to UNA and died in World War II.) After going through the box of letters, Pat was inspired to do further research, and the World War II museum in New Orleans and the Mighty Eighth Museum in Savannah, were wonderful resources. Further information about the plight of returning vet-
76 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
erans and their families was supplied by her daughter-in-law, Marcy, who worked, for a time, with veterans at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Unlike her other books that were published by a large New York house (Warner Books), Pat decided to self-publish this one, through Create Space, an Amazon company. “It seems to be the new trend,” she said, “but while self-published authors get to keep more of their revenue, they don’t have the advantage of the marketing effort that a big New York publisher can give you.” Pat’s oldest son, Mike, lives a few doors away, and Pat’s writing is interrupted by bouts of babysitting her grandchildren and tennis, a sport she has always loved. (She is very involved in the USTA - directing the Southern Cities Championship, a charity tennis event in Atlanta, for some 15 years.) Her youngest son, Andy, lives in Montana with his family, and she tries to get there to see them when she can. The Southern Writer’s Project at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery has adapted her first book, My Last Days as Roy Rogers, for a reading. She hopes that someday it might be developed into a fully produced play. And in her spare time—don’t laugh, she’s quite a multi-tasker—she works with Aid to Inmate Mothers helping direct a book club at the women’s prison near Montgomery. It doesn’t give her a whole lot of time to write…but she already has an idea for her next book. “It’s a Christmas story for children,” she said, “and it’s very much based in Florence.” One of her favorite memories of growing up involves a Cunningham family Christmas tradition, in which her family would go and visit relatives and friends before Christmas Eve. “We’d go see a lot of my grandmother’s friends, like Mrs. Trousdale and Mrs. Crowe, and these outings would always end at Cousin Hiram’s house, where we would be served tea,” said Pat. Her cousin Hiram was Hiram Kennedy Douglass, whose home is the centerpoint of the city’s art center complex near Wilson Park. You can get On Tripoli Circle at Books-A-Million, on Amazon, or an electronic version through Kindle. To save you some time, after you read the book, Pat grew up on Cedar Street, but it’s not Tripoli Circle…completely. You’ll find a little bit of Tripoli just about everywhere you look in downtown, and you may recognize some people you know as well. Florence is woven into just about every page.
After completing an ACT-Prep course from ScorePlus Academics, Lori-Anna’s ACT score went up six points. In a competitive arena where even a point can make a huge difference for scholarships and financial aid, ScorePlus helped Lori-Anna score big. Want to learn more about what ScorePlus can do for you? Contact the Florence office today. It’s a great investment in your child’s future.
TEST PREP | ACADEMIC COACHING info@scoreplusacademics.com www.scoreplusacademics.com
256.740.9536
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 77
Excerpt from, On Tripoli Circle Aggie, the narrator, is remembering a summer in 1950 when she and her mother were helping clean out the house of an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Brownlee, who had just died. e were upstairs, in the boy’s room. My fingers began tapping on Jonnie Brownlee’s desk, waiting. They caught the middle drawer handle and slid it open, not looking for anything, just idling, passing time until the others were ready to go. When I first saw it, I had no intention in the world of taking it, not a thought of it. It was lying on top of some stray papers, a tiny light brown soft leather-bound booklet, almost doll-sized. JOURNAL was engraved in small faded gold letters on the front. I picked it up and began turning tissue-thin pages. Dates and words in pencil flickered by: “Dec. 43, stalag, Jerry,” all printed in the neat, cramped style of a boy. “Let’s not dig into the drawers in here, Aggie. We’ll need to wait on the chief ’s permission for that.” Mother had glanced up at me and then back to read-
W
78 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
ing a school textbook she had found. I dropped it in the drawer and began slowly pushing it closed, but then something, some odd notion, came over me—the intermittent belligerence of childhood, perhaps, or its size, so compact and fitting perfectly into my hand, or maybe some lingering spirit in the house wanting to make itself known. I had never before taken anything of Mrs. Brownlee’s and would never again; but that time, at that moment, I picked up the little journal back out of its resting place, slipped it into the pocket of my shorts, and closed the drawer. I often think back to that moment, how it changed all of our lives. “What in hell is going on here?” Chief stood in the doorway, staring at the room—caught off balance to the point of reaching out to touch the door frame, keeping himself upright to his horizon. For a moment, he must not have been able to understand where he had seen it all before, and then slowly it must have dawned. This room was as familiar to Chief as his own boyhood room. He had heard it described so many times on those cold, bone-chilling nights in the POW camp when he would sit with Mrs. Brownlee’s sons, wrapped in thin blankets that were not keeping the warmth in or the cold out—so miserable that they couldn’t sleep but had to endure it, so they would talk of anything that came to mind. For the Brownlee boys, it was a favorite subject. Their life had gotten just that far before the war came along—high school, the girls in their classes, teachers they liked, football, always football, and this warm, safe room that Jonnie and Sammy would come home to every night, the smell of supper drifting up to them from their mother’s kitchen. Chief stepped in slowly, realizing now that he already knew this place by heart. “I’ll be damned if it ain’t just like they said. Hell, if this ain’t the spittin’ image. I tell you what, Aggie. . . tell you what. Think to myself lots of times, what in the hell am I doing here… and they ain’t?” Chief looked at me for a moment, mystified by the randomness of it all. “They was younger, lots younger,” and began stuffing the handkerchief into his back pocket. “Never did understand it . . . old boy like me.” “She probably couldn’t bring herself to change it… the room,” Mother mumbled, barely aware of the rest of us, as she leafed through an Alabama history textbook. He walked over and touched the service banner in the window, turning it around so the front faced the street again. “Guess we better leave everything like we found it, ’cause we’re gonna want to keep this here room just so.” He sighed. “Gotta wait to get the official report from Birmingham, seems like poor old Miz Brownlee… I don’t put much stock in it, but seems like there mighta been something unusual about her dying, so the Birmingham boys say.”
“Why would you keep this room in pristine condition and think nothing of tearing up the rest of the house?” Mother said. He glanced at her. “Probably this room is full of all sorts of papers and stuff. Y’all hadn’t took anything out yet, have you?”
s we crossed the street back to our house, Mother said, “I know it’s a temptation to want to look in every nook and cranny over there, but we have to resist it. Chief seems very possessive of what’s in that house.” We walked on in silence, waving to the as they passed in their Ford. “What was it, anyway?” “What was what?” “What was it in the desk drawer you were so interested in?” “Nothing.” I didn’t look at her. “Just some old journal, kind of a diary thing, probably Jonnie Brownlee kept it in high school.” Of course, in the future I would read it all—randomly opening the tissue-thin pages, leisurely dipping back into another time, when I could get a few moments alone with it. That’s how it began with the journal—a passing curiosity more than anything else.
A
January 15, 1944 The tunnel the others were working on was discovered— goons sneaking around with their dogs after—and the damn shame of it is they were almost done, not ten more yards. Daniel and a fellow from Sammy’s barracks, the two working down in the hole at the time, got solitary for a week, but have to serve it later. Seems there are so many POWs being caught trying to tunnel that the solitary cells are filled right now. Haven’t received any Red Cross packages for over a week. Sure could use the food.
June 22, 1944 We eat a cracker with a mug of tea for breakfast. The Krauts bring watery turnip soup for dinner—if we’re lucky—and a lot of days, that’s it. Herr Guten said we should be happy with what we get. Most of the rail lines have been bombed out and there is no way to get the Red Cross food to the camps. That’s what he said. I don’t know if we believe him. He told Daniel any prisoners found trying to escape from now on will be “shot on sight—no more solitary confinement—no more tunneling as sport.”
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 79
80 »
scene Lisa and Paul Wallace
Rachel Mitchener ad Tracy Marcu Nelly Gabriel, Rusty and Lisa Alexander, and Tracy Marcu Mary Jane and Phillip Fowler Joel and Carmen Anderson
Ashli and Scott Smith
Becky Mauldin, Joel Anderson and Pruitt Mauldin
Jim Cunningham and George Pillow PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MICHAEL
Above: Riverhill School Tour of Homes Donor Party
Below: Miss Bronze Beauty Pageant and Award Show
M AY 5, 2012 HOME OF JOEL AND C ARMEN ANDERSON
M AY 6, 2012 DESHLER HIGH SCHOOL , TUSCUMBIA
Ussery Miller-Ray, Mr. Spencer, Libby Johnson, and Roderick Sheppard
Beverly Winston, Meccosia Eggleston, Robbie Vaughn, Diamond and Casey Eggleston
Ariele Owens, Brianna Thomas, Erin King, Robbie Vaughn, Krystal Fitzgerald, and Denisha Reed
Miss Junior Bronze 2012 Ashea Phillips
Kevin Beamon Moesha Johnson, Tamara Ziegler, Zamari Johnson, Ashea Phillips, MaCara Woods, and Brianna Thomas
Mary Napier and The Muscle Shoals Twirlers
Miss Bronze 2012 Robbie Vaughn PHOTOS BY SMILING FACES PHOTOGRAPHY
Haven’t you heard?
Pie is the new cupcake.
Is your Grandma Edna’s strawberry rhubarb pie arguably the best in the state? Do you want to announce, once and for all, that your coconut cream pie is better than your neighbor’s? Let’s set the record straight! Send in your pie recipes to claire@atsa-usa.com by Friday, July 20th. We will find the best pie recipes in North Alabama and show them off in our September/October issue. We will pick our favorite recipes and then have a tasting competition on Friday, July 27th in our offices in Florence. There will be winners in five different categories as well as an overall winner who will receive a $100 gift card to The Sweet Magnolia Café in Florence along with a trophy. The five categories are Chocolate, Fruit, Cream-based, Nut, and Novelty. Please send in only one recipe for each category. We only ask that each pie recipe be original and made with love in North Alabama. (Please no frozen pie crusts). Now get to baking!
From traditional to avant-garde, from Broadway to burlesque, Shoals area theaters seem to offer something for every audience Text by Laura Anders Lee Photos by Danny Mitchell and Patrick Hood
Š PATRICK HOOD
“Our first show was Anything Goes, which was very appropriate,” laughed Mary Settle. “Now we host various productions throughout the year including musicals, comedies, dramas, mysteries and even festivals.” In 2009, the Tennessee Valley Arts Association started Summer Stock, a work-study program for students and young professionals ages 16-29. “By putting on two productions each summer, they develop skills for acting, choreography, etc.,” said Mary Settle. “There is no cost for students to participate. We want to provide an opportunity for creative minds to participate in quality programs and utilize artistic talents above and beyond what they do in school or to make a living.” In June, the Summer Stock group performed 100 Years of Broadway, and in July, they will perform Sound of Music. In addition to working with adults and older students, the Ritz Theatre is home to Time Out for Theatre, a children’s theater program. Each year, Time Out for Theatre presents six school performances and one public show.
© DANNY MITCHELL
The Ritz With a history dating back to the roaring 20s, the Ritz Theatre in downtown Sheffield still dazzles audiences today. The oldest of the Shoals area theaters, the Ritz opened as a silent movie house featuring Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The theater was decorated in neo-classical style and later updated in art deco, which is what patrons see today. In the 1950s, the theater closed as newer, more modern movie houses began to pop up in the area. The theater remained locked for three decades until 1983, when the Tennessee Valley Arts Association purchased the building for their growing community theater program.
“We have a big educational component,” said Mary Settle. “We draw classes from North Alabama as well as Mississippi and Tennessee. It’s so important to expose the children to theater. If one little child is sparked by a show and begins their pursuit of passion, the whole program is worth it. We hope that other children are inspired as well.” In the fall, the Ritz’s community theater component, Center Stage, will perform The Importance of Being Ernest and A Few Good Men. Recently, the Ritz has also begun hosting Folk Life and an annual bluegrass festival to perpetuate Alabama’s heritage of storytelling and traditional music. “Theater reminds us what it means to be human,” said Mary Settle. “ It’s taken from life stories. It’s interactive. We unplug when we come to the Ritz.” Shoals Theatre
“When I first walked in those doors, my heart stopped,” said Mary Settle Cooney, director of the Tennessee Valley Arts Association. “The building is special. It’s a landmark.”
If it weren’t for the Shoals Community Theatre Group, which comprises the Zodiac and Gingerbread Players, one of the major landmarks in downtown Florence may have gone dark. But thanks to their hard work, the iconic “Shoals Community Theatre” sign once again lights up Seminary Street, beckoning locals and visitors alike to the old 1948 movie theater to catch a live performance nearly every week of the year.
Surprisingly after being closed for 30 years, the space only needed minor renovation. UNA theatre professor Jim Davis and architect Tom Donaldson worked together to convert the old movie house into a theater for live performances, including the addition of a technical space in the balcony, dressing rooms, an orchestra pit and a stage. The Tennessee Valley Arts Association brought in chairs from the Tuscumbian Theatre, which had just closed, and the revitalized theater was ready for an audience.
“Our group was looking to expand and had the opportunity to purchase the building around four years ago,” said Randy Pettus, who has served as president of the Shoals Theatre Community Group since the building’s renovation. “It was never used as a venue for live theater so we had some work to do. We tore the stage out and added a new, bigger one, complete with a trap door for special effects. We redesigned the lobby, painted the building throughout and researched the period to try and keep everything close to the original. We
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 83
—Mary Settle Cooney, Tennessee Valley Art Association
even sought input from the Rosenbaum family, who built the theater, and local architect Bob Whitten, who knew a lot about the original building.” Besides cosmetic changes, the group faced some major challenges including abating asbestos in the basement and adding a new roof. “When we decided to make this move, it was a mass community effort to make it happen,” said Randy. “Workers, parents, volunteers…everyone came together to work on that theater. They came with buckets and rags and scrubbed the seats and floors. I’m very honored to have been a part of it.” The crowning glory of the project came with the resurrection of the lighted sign at the theater’s entrance. Randy received a call one day from a private donor, who to this day remains anonymous, who offered to fund a replica of the original sign. “It was a great day when we raised that sign and lit it up for the first time,” said Randy.
Before moving into the theater, the Zodiac Players performed in a small venue in the old Firestone building on Hermitage Drive, and the Gingerbread Players, the children’s theater group, had to rely on school auditoriums. The old Zodiac The-
84 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
atre is still used for rehearsals and rented to smaller groups. Now both organizations are under one roof at the Shoals Theatre, and their audience size has gone from just over 100 to nearly 700. The Shoals Theatre is all volunteer-based with only one fulltime employee and a cleaning crew. The board has a play-reading committee which selects eight productions for each season. In July, the Gingerbread Players are performing The Wizard of Oz and in August, the Zodiac Players are performing The Hallelujah Girls. The George S. Lindsey Black Box Theatre It’s long been said that when one door closes another one opens. North Alabama lost its hometown star George S. Lindsey in May, but his legacy lives on at the community’s newest theater which bears his name: the George S. Lindsey Black Box Theatre and Ernest Borgnine Performance Hall.
SHANNON WELLS FOR UNA
Inside the theater is just as lively as the outside with eight performances by the Shoals Community Theatre Group and around three dozen more events each year, from comedies and Christmas programs to songwriters listening rooms and even theater classes for adults and students.
© DANNY MITCHELL
“We want to provide an opportunity for creative minds to participate in quality programs and utilize artistic talents above and beyond what they do in school or to make a living.”
“For many years, UNA has benefitted from the friendship between Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Borgnine,” said Dr. David M. McCullough, chairman of UNA’s department of music and theatre. “The men whose names this building bears have long and deep relationships with this university and have proven their commitment and love for this institution through many years of association.”
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 85
© DANNY MITCHELL
“When we decided to make this move, it was a mass community effort to make it happen. Workers, parents, volunteers…everyone came together to work on that theater. They came with buckets and rags and scrubbed the seats and floors.” —Randy Pettus, Shoals Community Theatre Group
At some point, most everyone in the Shoals has probably attended an event at Norton Auditorium. The 1,400-seat center is the largest venue in town and it’s long been a popular place for watching a play or a concert. Like the Ritz and Shoals theaters, Norton Auditorium is a traditional, proscenium-style theater where the spaces for the audience, orchestra and actors are well defined. However, the new venue, which officially opens to the public in July, is considered a black box theater, where those lines are blurred. “There has never been such a facility on campus,” said David. “We had to improvise with the Norton stage. But now we have control of all the elements of the environment. We can fashion and furnish the large rectangular space and adjust the seating to accommodate any performance. With 96 seats, anyone is within a few feet of the actors. There’s no contact with the outside world. The goal is to bring the audience in to connect 100 percent with the theatrical production.” “In some shows it’s difficult for the audience to feel the emotions of the actors when they’re sitting 30 feet away,” added Adam St. John, a UNA student in his junior year. “The new theater is a much more intimate setting and provides more opportunities for the actors as well as the lighting and set designers.” The theater was dedicated in March during the George S. Lindsey film festival, with both Lindsey and Borgnine attending the ceremony. A graduate of UNA and a native of Fairfield, Lindsey had long supported the school and the theater program. While best known for his role of Goober in the Andy Griffith Show, his other television credits include The Twilight
86 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
Zone, M*A*S*H, Larry the Cable Guy and many more. In 1998, Lindsey started the community’s film festival, now on the list of top 20 events in the Southeast, and he often brought some of his Hollywood contacts with him, such as Ernest Borgnine. Borgnine, who won the Oscar in 1955 for Marty, has been in more than 100 films and 50 television shows from The Dirty Dozen and The Poseidon Adventure to Home Improvement and SpongeBob Square Pants. He has often visited UNA with Lindsey, and both have donated their career artifacts, including scripts and other memorabilia, to the program.
A Shoals-Area Theater Timeline Ritz Theatre (1928) First Production: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Shoals Theatre (1948) First Production: That Lady in Ermine The End (2009) First Production: The Mercy Seat George S. Lindsey Black Box Theatre (2012) First Production: A Street Car Named Desire
“All of us are grateful for Mr. Lindsey and what he’s done for the campus, the theatre and film programs and the new building,” said Adam, who received one of two George S. Lindsey endowed scholarships to UNA last year. Anyone wanting to experience the black box style theater and pay tribute to George S. Lindsey and his vision for the UNA theatre program has their shot this summer. UNA will perform A Streetcar Named Desire in July and Tuna Does Vegas in August. The End UNA is not the first in the area to introduce a black box theater concept. Three years ago, UNA graduate Scott Long started The End theatre, a black box style venue downtown that hosts everything from poetry slams to burlesques. Some even call it an underground theater, perhaps because of its physical location in the basement below Pine Street, but also because it’s somewhat experimental. “Other theaters in town were doing comedies, musicals and educational stuff,” said Scott. “That’s all important, but nobody was serving vegetables. We do things other people aren’t willing to do.” A native of Athens, Scott didn’t go to college right away. Instead he worked various jobs, including waiting tables. One day, he waited on a table of improv actors, who invited him to perform with them. Then later while attending UNA, his friend exposed him to the theater program there, and he fell in love. “While at UNA I got the idea for opening a black box theater in Florence,” said Scott. “I also got a lot of support from Dr. Ruebhausen, my mentor.”
Soon after college, an opportunity came up to lease a space on Pine Street. Scott stripped the wood paneling and added lighting. He brought in some second-hand couches, got some theater seats from a closed theater in Moulton, and a friend recovered them in mix-matched fabric for a cool, vintage effect that also feels homey. “At the theater, usually someone has dragged their spouse there—at least one person out of the couple doesn’t want to be there,” laughed Scott. “I wanted a place where at least everyone would be comfortable.” Scott and his friends painted the walls and floors black, literally making the room a black box. The seats surround the stage so the actors are smack dab in the middle of the audience. “Every director has an obsession about something,” said Scott. “For me, it’s all about intimacy. It can be frustrating in theater when the distance between the audience and performers is too great.” The theater is Scott’s full-time passion, but he has a day job to pay the bills. But by night, Scott is exposing the community to a different kind of theater. “My goal is to get people to think about things in a different way,” said Scott. “ If I can have one person leave the theater and question their perception, how they see things and think what they do, then I’ve literally changed the world because one person could change.” A few of the most popular shows have been David LindsayAbaire’s zany comedy Fuddy Meers along with basement burlesques that are offered several times a year.
“Other theaters in town were doing comedies, musicals and educational stuff. That’s all important, but nobody was serving vegetables. We do things other people aren’t willing to do.” —Scott Long, The End
© DANNY MITCHELL
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 87
We’ll Make You Shine For all of your special events, count on Party Pros to make it extraordinary. From tents and chairs to tables, lights and china—and now tuxedos!— trust your special event to the event specialists at Party Pros.
“The goal is to bring the audience in to connect 100 percent with the theatrical production.” —David McCullough, George S. Lindsey Black Box Theatre
We’ve always been your source for tents, tables and all of the details to make your entertaining perfect. Now we rent tuxedos as well! Come visit our Party Store at our new location at Parkway Shopping Center, adjacent to Regency Square Mall. Over 1,000 tuxedos in stock!
When it comes to your party, trust the Pros!
© PATRICK HOOD
256-766-6214
“When The End first opened, we needed to raise money, and in brainstorming I thought about a burlesque show,” said Brittany Flory, a UNA graduate and founder of the Basement Burlesque Troupe. “Burlesque is edgy and sexy, a great fit for The End, which is experimental. We raised a lot of money and performed two shows that first year, but then we found a bigger purpose. The women in our group are all different shapes and sizes, but we took control of who we are and celebrate that we’re all different. Our biggest response in the audience has come from other women. They can see themselves in us. It’s fun and artsy but it’s empowering.” Other groups that frequent The End are the Boxcar Voices poetry group and the Hip Heart Group, which brings in a DJ while artists line the walls and paint to the music. “We wanted to provide a platform for young adults to express themselves freely in an environment conducive to creativity,” said Tyree Busbee, who founded the Hip Heart Group with his brother Titus. “The End theatre is ideal to encourage alternative and diverse artists’ participation in First Friday festivities. Hip Heart events have thrived because of the commitment of young artists and musicians to their craft and the social interaction through self-expression.” Be sure to check Facebook.com/TheEndofTheatre for a schedule of summer events.
Your party headquarters: 2801 Mall Road Suite 5 in Florence. Call 256-766-6214 or visit www.partyprosusa.com 88 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 89
90 »
food for thought » Sarah Gaede
IN THE MUSIC WORLD, THE RIDER IS THE PART OF THE CONCERT CONTRACT WITH A LIST OF DEMANDS THAT MUST BE MET TO GUARANTEE A PERFORMANCE. Van Halen is notorious for its insistence that there be no brown M&Ms in the backstage area. Rather than simply rock star capriciousness, the request was insurance that the promoter had read every line of their contract, including the technical specifications for installing nine eighteen-wheelers full of gear. If the brown M&Ms were present, it meant the contract had not been read thoroughly. The presence of even one brown offender required a line-check of the entire production, and often provoked bad-boy rocker behavior. The promoters at a concert in Pueblo, Colorado learned this lesson the hard way. Because they failed to note the weight requirements for the huge set, it sank through their new flooring and did $80,000 worth of damage.
Rock and roll all night, and party every day Van Halen’s practical test has inspired escalating demands from later stars, often centered on food and drink. Justin Bieber can’t go on without Vitamin Water, Swedish fish candy, and white socks. Not only must her dressing room furniture have “no busy patterns”, Mariah Carey requires Jo Malone vanilla candles ($65 apiece), melon Gatorade, and $300 Opus One Cabernet Sauvignon. Lady Gaga, a woman of the people, gets by on Red Bull, Coke Zero, and Robert Mondavi or Kendall Jackson wine. Adele, displaying alarming nascent diva tendencies, asks for a pack of Marlboro Lights and a disposable lighter, an assortment of chewing gum, and a small plate of “freshly made, individually wrapped sandwiches” that “must NOT contain tomatoes, vinegar, chili or citrus fruit.” She also requires two bottles of the “very best quality red wine” and 12 bottles of “best quality European lager beer, i.e. Becks, Stella Artois, Peroni etc. North American beer is NOT acceptable.” Bless his humble country heart, all Vince Gill needs to be happy is carpet on the floor, fruit juice, and herbal tea. If you are lucky, none of your friends has the diva gene when it comes to food and wine selection. As someone who loathes cilantro, I am tolerant of limited aversions to particular foods. I’ve learned to work non-meat wonders for my vegetarian friends. But dang, it’s hard to cook—especially baked goods—for vegans. No dairy, no eggs, no fun.
90 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
In the movie Barney’s Version, the hero asks, in response to someone announcing his veganism, “Is there a cure for that?” Exactly. Fortunately, I realized last summer, much to my shock, that my very favorite summer pasta sauce is—gasp—not just vegetarian, but vegan! Serve with a green salad, good bread, and a Sangiovese or Zinfandel. Finish with a simple Italian-style cake, called “Anarchy Cake” because you can use any fruit you want on it. If you have a vegan present, give them HäagenDazs sorbet in a flavor that compliments the fruit in the cake.
Raw Tomato Sauce for Pasta • 4 large, ripe beefsteak or other home-grown tomatoes, peeled and cored • 4 very large cloves of garlic, peeled • 6 large basil leaves, slivered, plus more for garnish • 6 grindings of black pepper • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes • 1/2 cup fruity, extra-virgin olive oil • 1 pound bucatini, perciatelli, or penne Chop the tomatoes coarsely. Place tomatoes and all the juices in a large ceramic or glass bowl. Smash the garlic with the side of a chef’s knife. Add garlic, basil, salt, black pepper, and pepper flakes to the chopped tomatoes. Stir in the oil. Let sit at room temperature for 8 hours, stirring occasionally. Taste for salt. To serve, cook the pasta, drain, return to pot, and toss with tomato sauce. Divide pasta and sauce evenly among four shallow bowls. Sprinkle with more slivered basil; serve immediately.
Anarchy Cake • 2 cups fruit (more or less)—whole blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries; sliced peaches, apricots, or plums; pitted cherries—enough to cover the whole top of the cake • 3/4 cup cake or pastry flour • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder • Pinch of salt • 1 large egg • 1/2 cup sugar, plus an additional 2 tablespoons • 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest • 1/4 cup light olive oil (not extra-virgin) • 1/4 cup milk (2% is okay) • 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar or balsamic syrup Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottom of a 9- or 10-inch diameter springform pan with parchment paper, spray with cooking spray, and lightly flour. Gently toss fruit with 1 tablespoon sugar and set aside. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside. Using an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat the egg with 1/2 cup sugar and lemon zest until light, fluffy, and pale in color, about 5 minutes. Add the olive oil, then the milk and balsamic vinegar, beating gently until fully combined. Very gently beat in flour mixture, or fold in by hand. Pour batter into the prepared pan and arrange the fruit over the top. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a knife blade inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool slightly before removing side of pan. Serve warm or room temperature with fresh sweetened whipped cream if you don’t care about calories, and try not to eat it all at one sitting.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 91
92 »
scene Angela Counts, Lorraine Aylward, Amy Davis, and Renise Beaver
Katy Beth Lewey, Kimberly Swindle, and Kathryn Balch
Jenny and Josh Kennedy
Julie Sak, Cheron White, and Mary Rippey
Cara Dawson and Emily Brown
Ben and Mindi Graves, Laura and Bryan Lee
Cara Dawson, Mindi Graves, and Callie Foster PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERESA BARTEK
Above: Junior League of the Shoals Annual May Dinner M AY 4, 2012 MONTGOMERY PLACE, SHEFFIELD
Below: Arts Alive Gala M AY 19, 2012 KENNEDYDOUGLASS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, FLORENCE
Ashlyn Pounders and Michelle Eubanks
Ross and Julie Berry
Bill & Amelia Wharton Debra Dombrowski and Rachel Hillis
Van and Cellie Morgan, Mary White, Martha Anne Parker, and Tom White
Joey James and Nicole Hugaboom PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL
92 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 93
94 »
20 questions » Claire Stewart & Ann Hankey
A Few Questions for John Paul White, Musician John Paul White, who lives in Florence, is straight forward, inspirational, and talented. He’s also one half of the Grammyaward winning duo, The Civil Wars, who, with Joy Williams, is living the dream to which every musician aspires. Most recently, The Civil Wars had two songs on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film The Hunger Games. This true Southern gentleman hasn’t let the glitz and glamour of success change his attitude: he has no plans to leave his roots to lead a more glamorous life. We recently caught up with John Paul and asked him to answer some questions that give insight into his view of life. Just like the musical poetry that is characteristic of songs from The Civil Wars, his answers are powerful and to the point. What is the biggest change you have experienced in every day life since you have become so well-known? I’m not sure how well-known I am, but I’m definitely welltravelled. That’s probably the biggest change in my life. I very seldom get to see my family, and that’s been a tough transition. What award or accomplishment are you most proud of? My son’s game ball in youth baseball. I get a lot more emotional about that stuff. I try not to get wrapped up in the accolades, because then I have to take to heart the bad reviews. What is your favorite thing about living in north Alabama? Our support network. We’ve got a wonderful circle of friends and family that are more than willing to pitch in while I’m away. Coming home to that network is also quite grounding for me. Back to reality. When you were growing up, did you ever imagine you’d be where you are today? We all dream of this, but if we’re truly honest, we never really think it will happen. I definitely didn’t dream that I’d be in a duo making these kind of records. Pretty happy about it, though.
What is your current state of mind? I’m content.
94 | NOALAPRESS . COM | J ULY /AUGUST 2012
© DANNY MITCHELL
What is your greatest fear? People realize I’m faking my way through all this.
What is your favorite way to spend free time? Anything related to spending time with my wife and kids. Which living person do you most admire? My wife, Jenny. Who is your favorite fictional hero? The Man With No Name. What is your most treasured possession? My 1956 000-18 Martin (guitar). When and where were you happiest? Right here, right now. Yes, I just quoted Van Halen. What is your most obvious characteristic? My lack of excitability. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My lack of excitability. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Intolerance. What is your greatest extravagance? A recent trip to Disney World. Worth every penny. What do you most dislike about your appearance? That I don’t look like George Clooney. What do you consider the most over-rated virtue? Being “tough”. On what occasion do you lie? When I’m sleepy. Which words or phrases do you most over-use? “I’m sorry”. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My urge to change myself. Where would you like to live? I’m perfectly happy where I live, but a summer island home would come in quite handy. What is the quality you most admire in a man? Humility. What is your motto? The Golden Rule.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 95
96 »
bless their hearts » Amy Cruce
Everyday Extraordinary Entertainment: The act or process of providing pleasure, recreation or amusement. From Websters Dictionary for Kids; and highly preferable to the grownup definition: “The act of entertaining.“ What’s the fun in that? Growing up in the Shoals, one tends to sort of take for granted an immensely diverse, creative culture. I never thought it strange that there was an internationally renowned songwriter and pianist working on the sink at his mama’s beauty shop on Highway 72; and I was half-grown before I knew he was called anything but Lindon because that‘s all I ever heard his mama call him. I didn’t know Harlon Hill and George Lindsay were famous until I was in my teens…they were always just “daddy’s friends.“ We were interested when The Osmonds were swimming in the slough at Shoals Acres, but they weren’t singing so they weren’t that much different from the rest of us. For real…Center Star Church once listed Neil Young in between one of our best gardeners and the local mechanic on the prayer list in the bulletin. It has always been a part of everyday life around here…extraordinary people with extraordinary talent in very ordinary settings. Looking back, I’m not sure when “Handying” became a verb, one without a connection to the ability to assist with things. During our five years in Texas, Handy turned into a good time to come home in the summer, and between a musically inclined brotherin-law and a knowledgeable husband, three-year-old Pariss and I found ourselves attending everything from music by the river to lunch in air-conditioned cafes…although as the years have passed, the lunches in the air-
conditioned cafes have become our preferred venue. Still, we never miss Handy on North Court and the showcase at McFarland is a favorite for the music AND the socializing. It’s a regular promenade of lifetime acquaintances, and when the jazz band does its marching tribute the entire crowd is on its feet, clapping and laughing. We’ve done the river party every way imaginable, from a tent with tables and linens and candelabra, to blankets on the ground with barbecue from Bunyans. (One year we set up the tent early, and a pop-up thunderstorm came rolling down the river. By the time my boys got there? There it went, rolling hind end over tea kettle down through IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE AROUND HERE…EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE WITH EXTRAORDINARY TALENT IN VERY ORDINARY SETTINGS. the waves. We’ve always hoped someone in Tupelo is enjoying our tent.) Half of everyone I went to high school with is parked in a bag chair on the median in front of Coby Hall on Tuesday night, and we practically have to take out a loan to keep all the kids entertained with buggy rides until the kind driver and weary horse call it a night. One year we were at Court Street Cafe listening to Edsel Holden when we noticed Topper Price and his then-wife (he seemed to change women with his shirts) sitting at the bar, enjoying the music. We told Pariss to go ask Topper if he was going to play and the next thing we knew...there was Topper, down
on his knees on the dance floor, leading Pariss in a jazz melody. Turned out? Instead of asking if he was going to play, she asked if he’d like to dance. Every year thereafter, when he played Handy, Pariss made a point of finding him and giving him a hug. He always remembered her and when he died in 2007, we held a private memorial on our turntable. There was the year I was walking down Court Street during Handy, and there was Boots Randolph standing on the street corner, blowing his song. At the time, I didn’t KNOW it was Boots Randolph, the man who wrote Yackety-Sax, I just knew I was in the presence of greatness. I stood there, suitably awed, until he finished and wandered off. Boots Randolph on a street corner in Florence, Alabama. Lord, I love this life! Then there are the essentials…food and beverage, because what sort of hot Southern night at Handy is it without supper? Muffalettas travel well and improve with a few hours rest. A portable grill full of hotdogs and burgers keeps the kids happy and the bugs away. Brownies get gooey in the heat and baked beans go with everything. Deviled eggs packed on ice don’t take up TOO much room from the chilled beverages which leads us to…How I Got Famous. Involving a red gas can. Packing up one year, I needed a really big pitcher to hold the margaritas. Nothing around here worked, so I sent my big kid to Dollar General to find something and when she came back, she was carrying a red plastic gas can. As in…a red plastic gas can. For real. Since desperate times call for desperate measures, I went with it. Mixed the margaritas in the gas can, packed plenty of ice and bags of sliced limes and voila! An institution was born. Everyone loved it, we repeated it the next year, and by the third year? People we’d never met before were stopping us on the street and in the parks, introducing themselves and saying, “I’ve heard about you! What a great idea!“ A couple of years ago we were pictured in some Mississippi publication somewhere as The Blue Cup Social Club, which we’ve been for nearly 20 years, lounging by the river with our red gas can and umbrellas for shade. It tickled us to see our name in print, “The Blue Cup Social Club,”as if publication validated us. We actually got rather smug about it: The Blue Cup Social Club, lending elegance to Handy. All of which was fine until, bless his heart, that boy sang that song about red solo cups and totally tarnished our image. It was as if someone had moved onto our street with pink plastic flamingoes and a car up on cinder blocks. So if you’re looking for us this year? We’re the people with the red plastic gas can and the Waterford. One must, after all, uphold one’s standards.
J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 97
98 »
parting shot » Patrick Hood
Kirk and Harper Russell—Record Store Day, Pegasus Records, Florence, Alabama
Check out our newly redesigned website at www.firstsouthern.com!
MEMBER FDIC J ULY /AUGUST 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 99
Affordable prescriptions. Expert advice. Customer service we’ve been known for since 1853. If you’re getting your prescriptions through the mail because you think you’re saving money—or because you’re afraid it’s the only way your insurance will pay for it—come see us. We can help you...and we are a whole lot easier to talk to than the U.S. Postal Service! 869 Florence Blvd. Florence, AL 35630 256-764-4700
202 W. Avalon Ave. Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 256-386-5220 www.mrdrugs.com
2602 Hough Rd. Florence, AL 35630 256-740-5515