Here is the May lineup and reviews for Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse, located inside Christ Unity Church at 105 McBrien Road. Shows begin at 8 p.m. and there is a $10 suggested donation at the door. Coffee, tea and homemade cookies are available. For more information call 504-7258.
May 3 Richard Smith
Now residing in Nashville, Richard has toured the world as a solo artist, teaming up with his wife, Julie Adams, for a unique guitar and cello duo, performing with his brothers Rob and Sam as the Richard Smith Guitar Trio and with his swing band, The Hot Club of Nashville, Fellow guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel prefers Richard Smith as one of his favourite duet partners. In 2001, Richard became the National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion in Winfield, Ks. He was elected Thumbpicker of the Year in 2008 and inducted into the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in Kentucky in 2009. He is also a recipient of the Golden Thumbpick Award by the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists in California.
May 11 (Sunday) Jack Williams
The music of Jack Williams, rooted in his native South Carolina, was shaped by a 54-year career of playing folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Jack is considered a "musician's musician," an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar. From acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, New Bedford SummerFest Folk Festivals, his musicianship, songs, stories and commanding presence have established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.
May 31 Taylor Pie / Ruby Lovett
Taylor Pie is a native East Texan. At a Del Mar College hootenanny she hooked up with Don Williams and Lofton Kline and the three quickly found their sound and name- The Pozo Seco Singers. The trio recorded a song called "Time," which became a national hit. The group shared the stage with folk icons Gordon Lightfoot, Ian and Sylvia, Odetta, Smothers Brothers and John Denver. After the Pozos, Taylor moved to NYC in 1972 playing clubs like the Bottom Line, where Bette Midler came in one night to hear her song "Back in the Bars Again," and ended up using it in her "Clams on the Half Shell" review. In the early 80’s, Taylor headed to the Berkshires where Susan Taylor became Taylor Pie, looking for a handle that didn't feel like "Jane Doe" as she remembers. Pie has had songs recorded by Tanya Tucker, Mickey Gilley, the Forester Sisters, John Conlee, Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, and Terri Hendrix. Ruby Lovett is pure country. She is heir to a tradition of women with drawls and spunk, women who, truth be told, built and nurtured country music from its beginnings through early Reba. Ruby released a critically well-received album on Curb Records produced by Garth Brooks producer Allen Reynolds and anchored by "Look What Love Can Do," a self-penned song based on her experience as an adopted child. "The music I make is real country music," she says. "It's pure and unpolished. It's the country music that I love, and I believe there's an appetite for it."