Barry CourterI continue to be blown away by the amount of musical talent that exists in our area, and also at the level of cooperation and collaboration that is going on. There has always been a lot of talented people around here, but they tended to keep to their own. And so did their fans.
Wednesday we posted on Facebook (facebook.com #timesfreepress.com, or www.timesfreepress.com/music) a video we put together as part of our weekly Music Wednesdays Facebook Live program. It's a holiday special that is a benefit for the Chattanooga Food Bank called PB & Holiday Jam. The Food Bank always needs peanut butter and you can drop off jars here at the paper or at the Chattanooga Public Library where we shot the performances.
Recent Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame inductee Mitch Ryder does a reggae version of "Silver Bells." He and his wife recently moved to our area and he told me after the taping that he has come to appreciate the "can-do" attitude of people he has met here.
One act after another, we were amazed by the level of talent, the passion and the commitment to the local music scene. Check out Jermaine Purifory singing doo-wop with Jimmy Tawater and later killing his own version of "The Christmas Song."
Brothers Scott and Todd Smith of Smith & Wesley were headed to Nashville to work on their burgeoning careers, but took time out to come in and do a killer version of Alabama's "Christmas in Dixie." They just released the video for "Superman (For a Day)." Proceeds from that are going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Cody McCarver, along with Lew Card on mandolin, does a great version of "Silent Night." Heatherly delivered on "Santa Baby," and library staff members Mary Barnett and Meredith Levine created two original pieces they performed as Femme 'N M. Shane Morrow, Mary Edwards and Yolanda Morton wrapped everything up at The Studio with a gorgeous medley.
It's also worth checking out to see how Chrissy Varnell transformed the entire space in The Studio into several holiday vignettes, and to hear the sound Tyler Orr and daughter Elizabeth got on the recordings.
As if that weren't enough music, we had part of Chattanooga Christian School's choir sing at Ice on the Landing just because we thought it would be cool.
In all, about 40 or 50 volunteers were involved in making it happen and they did it with amazing spirit and passion. Just because it was cool.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.