LEE ROY PARNELL REUNITES WITH ORIGINAL BAND THE HOT LINKS FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY BASH AT THE FRANKLIN THEATRE ON NOV. 20

Courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC, Photo by Jim McGuire

Pictured (L to R): The Hot Links: Steve Mackey, Lynn Williams, Kevin McKendree, James Pennebaker, Lee Roy Parnell

Grammy nominated Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame Member Lee Roy Parnell is reuniting with his original band, The Hot Links, at the Franklin Theatre on November 20 at 8 p.m. to revisit the band’s rich history, hit recordings and of course their legendary live performances, which are still talked about to this day. This one-night-only reunion concert will showcase Parnell’s world-class slide guitar chops and soulful vocal delivery with The Hot Links’ rollicking musicianship. Tickets for the 25th Anniversary Bash can be purchased at www.franklintheatre.com.

Parnell, whose hits include “On The Road,” “Love Without Mercy,” “I’m Holding My Own,” “Tender Moment” and "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am,” has a deep-rooted friendship and collaborative history with The Hot Links: Steve Mackey (bass), Kevin McKendree (keys), James Pennebaker (guitar, mandolin, fiddle & steel guitar) and Lynn Williams (drums).

Parnell made great progressions within the country music industry as he was one of the first in the '90s to use his live band in the studio rather than studio musicians who were frequenters on Music Row. The result: Parnell and The Hot Links firing on all musical cylinders as can be experienced on Parnell’s country chart hits such as "Heart's Desire” and "A Little Bit Of You” and his highly acclaimed classic albums, We All Get Lucky Sometimes and Every Night's A Saturday Night. The Orlando Sentinel, in a vintage Lucky review, called Parnell a "fiery slide guitar player and, like Vince Gill, has a reputation as a musician's musician" and The Hot Links a “hard-driving, versatile band.”

“I always liked artists or bands that sounded unique,” Parnell explains. “My motto was ‘if I sound like everybody else, then what's the point?’ When it came to recordings, I always felt like the records should sound like the band live on the bandstand and vice versa, so I started putting my dream band together long before I came to Nashville.

“I’ve known James Pennebaker since we were 17 years old. The first time I heard James play (with our friend and mentor, Delbert McClinton) I knew that when the time came for me to put my band together, Brother James was my guy. The same can be said for Brother Lynn Williams on drums and Brother Steve Mackey on bass. I knew they belonged in this band long before I could hire them. Brother Reese Wynans, who had played with me in Austin and was with me again for a time after I had moved to Nashville, ultimately decided to stay home in favor of playing sessions. Blood brother, Rob Roy Parnell, and his harmonica had the gig with me since he was 12 years old, so he was on board. Then came our final member, Kevin McKendree, who was the perfect addition on keyboards, and that was the final and definitive Hot Link roster,” says Parnell.

A tradition has been established over the last several years, with Parnell playing The Franklin Theatre each fall, many times in a "Lee Roy Parnell & Friends" format with special guests, but this will be the first time Parnell and The Hot Links, along with special guest and honorary band member Rob Roy Parnell, have performed together at one of these unique shows.

“The Franklin Theatre is — and always has been — my baby,” says Parnell, adding, “we love the staff and the vibe at ‘The Franklin.’ The production is top notch! We all live within 30 minutes from there, and it’s always one of the last shows of the year. This show is always a homecoming! That goes for our friends and fans, too.”

When Lee Roy Parnell and The Hot Links once again join forces on Nov. 20 at The Franklin Theatre, the reunion has all the makings of becoming a truly legendary evening of music.

"We are going to throw down and have a whole lot of fun,” says Parnell. “This will be a special night."

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY SCHEDULES STOP AT FRANKLIN THEATER

PRESS RELEASE

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE — In the early 1970s, Rolling Stone Magazine called Michael Martin Murphey “one of the best songwriters in America.”  Since that time, Murphey has left an indelible mark on the American Music Landscape crafting and recording such iconic hits as “Wildfire,” “Carolina In The Pines”, “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, “Cowboy Logic,” “Cherokee Fiddle”, “Boy From The Country” and more.
 
In the process, he has topped the Pop, Country, Bluegrass and Western Music charts, earned six gold albums and multiple Grammy nominations.

Murphey will appear in Franklin, Tennessee,  at The Franklin Theater (419 Main Street) Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 pm. For information, call 615-538-2076 or visit  http://www.franklintheatre.com

Through all the chart-jumping and genre-busting, Murphey has remained constant to an honest, sophisticated approach to his songwriting.  His new Red River Drifter is a collection that draws from a deep well of eclectic influences ranging from classical to country, blues to bluegrass, pop to western. In fact, it’s simply impossible to pigeon-hole Murphey to one specific genre. He is no more country than rock, no more bluegrass than classical. He is, rather, a true AMERICAN songwriter.

“What I’ve written over the years has always reflected what was influencing me at the time,” says Murphey.  “This album is a return to those days when I was influenced by everything. Right now, some really interesting , intricate melodies are coming to me.”  

A native Texan, Murphey’s songs have always reflected his lifestyle, and are understandably seen through a Western lens, often built on outdoor themes with the sensibilities of his cowboy lifestyle. From the first notes of the bluegrass-driven “Peaceful Country,” Red River Drifter takes listeners on a journey through the broad spectrum of music Murphey absorbs while traveling from city to city — up to 200 dates a year —  from coast to coast.    

At the core of his music is a stubborn determination to be the best songwriter he can be, a focus that has led to his songs being covered by such artists as Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Hoyt Axton, The Monkees and more.  “I spend a lot of time on the road listening to all kinds of music,” he says.  “I grew up in Texas, the world’s number one musical crossroads where anything goes musically.  Texas has produced great artists from every genre. You can wake up and say ‘today, I think I’ll write a symphony’ and you can find an audience for it there. The same can be said about any genre in music.  Texans love music. They enjoy opera and they enjoy bluegrass.  I am a product of that, and I am the Number One fan of all types of music.”  

Red River Drifter was produced by guitar ace Pat Flynn and Ryan Murphey, who has produced Murphey’s last three albums. The majority of the songs were written while the group was working a month-long series of shows in Colorado. “We had a great place to sit on the back porch and look out at the mountains.  It was like sitting there like an eagle on a perch looking at life.”  

It is an approach that has worked well for Murphey.  According to BMI, Murphey has 5 million-performance songs — “Wildfire” (3.9 million), “Cherokee Fiddle” (1.92 million), “Carolina In The Pines” (1.65 million), “Talking To The Wrong Man” (1.21 million), “Still Takin’ Chances” (1.2) — and a total of 11 award-winning BMI songs (6 in Country and 5 in Pop).  Also, according to BMI, repeat, back to back performances of his award winning songs alone, with each song averaging 3 minutes each, would amount to 64 years of continuous airplay.

THE JUDDS HEADLINE FRANKLIN THEATRE BENEFIT

TICKETS TO GREEN NIGHTS CONCERT GO ON SALE SEPT 23

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (September 19, 2011) — The legendary Franklin Theatre today announced that hometown country superstars The Judds are sharing their talent for a Green Nights concert on October 18th at 8 p.m. to benefit the historic landmark.


Naomi and Wynonna Judd will play the 300-seat venue as part of the new Green Nights concert series that will help sustain the nonprofit Franklin Theatre for future generations. Tickets to “Green Nights Presents The Judds” start at $85 and will go on sale September 23rd at www.franklintheatre.com.


“As Williamson County residents, The Judds have been devoted friends of the Franklin Theatre for years,” said Mary Pearce, Executive Director of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, which recently restored the venue. “We are incredibly grateful to Naomi and Wynonna for lending their voices to help make sure the theatre has a bright future.”


“The heart of Franklin is the theater and it’s beating again,” said Naomi Judd.  “It never occurred to me that we’d have the thrill of actually performing up on its stage, looking out at smiling familiar neighbors.  Pardon me if I shed a tear of nostalgic joy.”


“I love Franklin and knowing that part of it is being kept original is so important to me and my children,” said Wynonna Judd.  “I have lived in Franklin since 1978.  One of the things I love most is our small town spirit and the way we all hold sacred our unique community.  The familiar sights and the beauty I see when cruising down Main Street does my heart good.  I am happy and grateful to live in such a special place.  I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else on the planet.”


With five Grammy Awards and over 60 industry awards, including eight consecutive CMA Awards under their belts, The Judds are one of country music’s most groundbreaking and enduring acts. The duo has charted 25 singles on the country charts — 14 of which went to Number One — and has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.


Earlier this year, Curb Records released The Judds’ newest compilation album, “I Will Stand By You: The Essential Collection,” featuring new songs and classic hits. The duo also recently starred in a docu-series entitled “The Judds,” which premiered earlier this year on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and followed the iconic mother-daughter duo as they prepared for their first tour in 10 years.  The six-episode series debuted with the highest rated premiere outside of OWN’s launch week.  Viewers tuned in every Sunday night to watch the moving exploration of Wynonna and Naomi’s relationship weaved throughout the backdrop of their momentous concert tour.


In honor of The Judds’ contribution to the Franklin Theatre, the Heritage Foundation will plant a legacy tree in a public space in Williamson County — a nod to the Green Nights philosophy of giving back to the community and the environment that we all care about. Previous Green Nights artists include Vince Gill and Amy Grant, and Michael W. Smith.


Built in 1937, the Franklin Theatre re-opened to the public on June 3 following a multi-year, multi-million-dollar restoration. The Main Street landmark is owned and operated by the nonprofit Heritage Foundation.