Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:09:42 -0400
From: Rocky River Baptist Church
Subject: Renowned James King Band plays free concert April 22
SILER CITY ¡ª The James King Band, an internationally renowned bluegrass group, headlines a pair of free concerts this month as part of the “third sundays @ rocky river” performance series.
To accommodate their busy schedule, The James King Band will appear on April 22, the fourth Sunday of this month.
One week earlier, on the traditional “third Sunday” date, The Craft Family, a men’s quartet based in Lewisville, will perform a concert of traditional Southern gospel music.
Both concerts begin at 6 p.m. and are held at the Rocky River Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, located behind the main building on Siler City-Snow Camp Road. 6¦5
The James King Band rose to prominence in 1997, when the group was named Emerging Artist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. 6¦5 0„2Two years later, they received even more acclaim when their song, “Bed By the Window,” was nominated as the IBMA Song of the Year. The gripping, bittersweet song about
a man in a nursing home with a vivid imagination appeared as its album’s title track. 6¦5
King, who also plays guitar and performs vocals with the Longview Bluegrass Band, is a featured performer on a number of solo and group albums dating back to the mid 1980s. His most recent, Gardens In the Sky, is his first exclusively gospel-oriented bluegrass collection and was released in 2008 by Rounder Records.
The band also features 0„2Clay Lillard on banjo, 0„2Donald Dowdy on mandolin and vocals and 0„2Eddie Biggerstaff on upright bass and vocals.
When they take the stage at Rocky River Baptist Church, the James King Band will mix gospel tunes with some of their light bluegrass classics, including “Bed By the Window.” 6¦5
King and the band appear at Rocky River after a three-week, western tour that included performances in eight states. Among other locales, the band played venues in Fort Worth, Texas; Denver, Colo.; and San Francisco, Calif.
This month’s concert will be the second time The James King Band has performed at Rocky River. The group is returning after an enthusiastic reception last summer.
“We are thrilled once again to host James King, his wife Julie and his fine band at Rocky River,” says Pastor Greg Burriss. “James is a great musician and a wonderful songwriter and story teller. You will really be blessed when you hear him.”
The Craft Family, which appears the week before James King, has been performing traditional Southern gospel for nearly 57 years ¡ª and the group truly is a family. Brothers Ed, Raymond, John and James Craft have comprised the group from its genesis and they’re thrilled to be performing together still.
“Were all more than senior citizens, that’s for sure,” says John. “We just enjoy what we do and it’s been an amazing journey.”
There is no admission fee for either concert, though love offerings will be collected to help cover the bands’ expenses. The James King Band will have CDs on sale. 6¦5
Directions and information about the church are available at rockyriverbaptist.org and more about The James King Band is available at 0„2thejameskingband.com. Regular announcements and breaking news about the “third sundays” series are provided at Facebook.com/RockyRiverBaptist.