Bev Webb is not surprised at the phenomenal success of two of her grandchildren. "All the grandchildren performed musicals at the house growing up," Bev says. "The boys were in charge of the stage and lighting, and the girls sang and acted. All of my daughter Cathy's children are very musical. They were in the college ensemble and some even performed at Carnegie Hall!"
While most 'barely adults' are on the college party train or finding themselves or overly into themselves, Eleanor and Rebecah Angel, Cathy and Dick Angel's youngest daughters have not only cut an album, but saw it break into the top 10 iTunes singer/songwriter chart on its first day. "Honestly, going into the creation of this EP, we didn't have many expectations. If only our family bought copies of it, that would be fine," Eleanor, a student at UTC says.
The close knit family bought their share of copies, along with a gazillion others. Their band, Ten Bartram, was their grandparent's address on Lookout Mountain. "They tried to think of a name for their band and couldn't, so they just used my old address," Bev says. Not one to toot her own horn, Bev doesn't tell of the positive and meaningful impact she had on her grandchildren. Clearly she did.
"Up the foggy mountain road, past two waterfalls, into the drive, up the wooded path and across the mossy rock patio. Step inside and take in a deep breath. Can you smell the hot chocolate with extra marshmallows just for you? Do you hear the bird in the kitchen and catch a little Rat Pack or Nat King Cole drifting in to greet you? You are in the right place. Take off your shoes so you can feel the creak of the wood, the cush of the carpet, the cold of the marble and the scratch of the oriental rugs beneath your feet. From ping pong and endless games of pool in the basement to long, rainy afternoons of make believe in the attic… everything in between is now just a sweet memory. Tall bar stools line the bar in the living room, chocolates hidden just in our reach, a twinkling two-story Christmas tree, dressed to the nines. Antique arcade game, slot machine, and trampoline with just enough life left in them for you. Walking, not running to catch the next episode of Scooby Dooby Doooo on Cartoon Network! Twelve cousins, giddy with excitement, sneaking upstairs to the special closets and decking out in Nana’s stash of lace, fir, pearls, heels, hats, bowties and pipes. Tip-toe downstairs and line up in front of the giant fireplace to put on the next fabulous performance of The Cousin Crew. Oh the melodies. Oh the laughter. Oh the tears. Welcome to Ten Bartram Road… Nana’s house. A cup overflowing with childhood, music, home, loss, gain, support, worth, family. Don’t you want a swig?" This is the description on their website of a very special place, 10 Bartram Road. Obviously there is great meaning in choosing this name for their band.
Their music is soulful. Easy on the ears, and lingers on the mind like an old, well-known song. They write their own music and truly it seems to be written by old souls. "Rebekah worked in an orphanage in Vietnam," Bev says. "It really had quite an impact on her and that experience inspired at least one of their songs."
There is a depth to these young women (who are both incredibly gorgeous) that defies their age. "My hope is to be a light and encouragement to any one I may encounter on this journey of life," Eleanor (whose name means 'shining light') says of herself after admitting her haircut is lop-sided and that she named her dog after Bob Dylan. Engaged to Jonathon Rapp from Signal Mountain, Rebekah wrote a song about the death of her hermit crab when she was eight, inspired by a Beatles song about life going on. Not your average 8-year-old.
Not your average rocks stars either. Shine on!