Lamay And Reese At Charles And Myrtles On Saturday, 8 P.M.

  • Thursday, March 5, 2015

Joe LaMay and Sherri Reese call themselves An American Folk Music Duo because their music reflects their love of our nation's rich traditional musical heritage.

Before they met in 1998 at a folk song circle, Mr. LaMay had been a solo singer/songwriter, while Ms. Reese had been singing and playing in a family old-timey and bluegrass band.

LaMay & Reese are committed to the sharing, learning, and promotion of folk music within their local community and beyond. Aside from being touring musicians, they host a monthly coffeehouse, a weekly acoustic music jam, head up a songwriters group, and since 2004 have contributed monthly roots music segments on Bill Knowlton's Bluegrass Ramble Radio Show (NPR).

LaMay & Reese's appreciation of the old songs is evident in their songwriting. Their songs feature old-style harmonies with a traditional feel. Several of their original songs have been recorded by other folk and bluegrass musicians.

"LaMay & Reese performances are always entertaining and fun. With Joe on guitar and Sherri on banjo, they present a collection of traditional and original songs that are sure to inspire the novice and please the traditionalist," officials said.

LaMay & Reese have released five CDs of their music, and printed a songbook featuring twenty-eight of their original songs.

Songwriting:

Joe wrote and recorded his first original song, Comin' Home To Say Goodbye, in 1976, and when he and Sherri teamed up in 1998, she began writing songs. Together, they have written a number of songs that have been recorded and performed by other folk musicians and bluegrass bands. LaMay & Reese present songwriting workshops at festivals. In their local community, they host a writers group and teach songwriting workshops at their local arts center.In 2013, they printed their first book of original songs - Words & Music.

Radio Show:

Since 2004, LaMay & Reese have been contributing monthly home-grown music segments to Bill Knowlton's Bluegrass Ramble Radio Show. Their twenty-minute segments feature songs and musicians recorded "live" in Kentucky and on the road. In over 100 segments, they have featured dozens of musicians, and hundreds of songs, showcasing American folk and bluegrass roots music. Now in it's 43rd year, the show is aired on NPR throughout the northeast and over the world-wide web.

What Folks Are Saying:

With their story songs, beautiful harmonies, and their presence on stage, I believe LaMay & Reese are keeping alive a form of music that is more and more becoming a thing of the past. 
Adam Phillips
WHAY 98.3FM 
Americana 24/7

I know Joe & Sherri are good, but I never realized how good until I listened without distraction. No TV. No video. Just sound. Their harmonies are way cool.
Bill Davenport
Musician
Louisville, Ky.

Joe & Sherri have a special feeling for bluegrass and old time folk music, and are excellent songwriters who capture the sentiment and color of earlier music and many of their songs sound truly traditional. 
Ray Baumler
A Variety of Folk
WRUR 88.5 FM

Glad my girls got to hear you two. I'd told them about you - but nothing like live!
Dulcimore Dan 
Musician/Dulcimer Maker
Clarksville, In.

"We have seen Joe and Sherri perform a number of times, most recently at the Central Ohio Folk Festival. They did a brilliant set, playing and singing extremely well, and engaging the audience in a professional and most enjoyable way. We enjoyed every song they performed." 
Phil Cooper & Susan Urban
February Sky
Trout Lake, Mi.

LaMay & Reese Trivia:

• Joe released his first record ing, Comin' Home To Say Goodbye, on 45 RPM, in June 1976.
• Sherri still plays her first guitar, a 1969 Martin D28S, which was a gift from her mother and father in 1971.
• Joe founded the indie folk label, Local Folkel Records, which released 16 albums between 1986 and 1992.
• Sherri has sung harmony on a number of albums recorded by other musicians.
• Joe is a graphic artist, who designs CD packaging, and promotional materials for musicians.
• Sherri's banjo was custom-made by Dave Large of Ironton, Ohio. 
• Joe's 8mm home movies from the Woodstock Festival (1969) were featured on ABC's Nightline 
• and in the John Kane film The Last Seat in the House.

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