MAYHEW — Nash Street traces its musical roots all the way back to grade school, before bluegrass became “cool” again, when a public school teacher in Starkville organized promising music students into a folk string band.
Some of the faces have changed over the years, and the band”s style has matured as new members folded their strengths into the mix. But over the years, Nash Street worked up to larger and more prominent venues — ultimately winning the 2008 Colgate Country Showdown at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
East Mississippi Community College will welcome the “Best New Act in Country Music” to the Lyceum auditorium Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m. when Nash Street headlines a visit by the Sucarnochee Revue nationally-syndicated radio show.
“The Sucarnochee Revue has performed for the last couple of years at EMCC”s Scooba campus, and we thought it was time to invite them to perform up in the northern end of the district,” said Dr. Paul Miller, vice president of EMCC”s Golden Triangle campus.
“The Revue”s line-up has something for everyone”s musical tastes. Beyond that, it gives people a chance to see a little bit of our campus — and proceeds from the concert will go toward EMCC”s tuition guarantee program, which enables qualifying students to attend EMCC tuition-free. To top it all off, one of the members of Nash Street, Jason Graham, is the son of Grady Graham, who teaches automotive technology here at EMCC, so we”re excited about that, too.”
Good years for the Revue
The last couple of years have been good for both Nash Street and the Sucarnochee Revue. The Revue, which highlights music from the Black Belt region of Mississippi and Alabama, is usually taped at the University of West Alabama, but founder Jacky “Jack” White also takes his act on the road.
The show performed at EMCC”s Scooba campus for the first time in July 2007, when it aired on 22 radio stations in eight states. By the next year, the Revue”s reach had extended to 35 stations in 10 states. Today, the Sucarnochee Revue can be heard on 60 stations in 13 states — including Mississippi Public Radio and Alabama Public Radio.
“My dream was about putting a spotlight on music and artists from this part of the world. When I started the Sucarnochee Revue, people thought I was crazier than I really was, but God had a little bit of a hand in it and here we are,” White said.
“We are thrilled to have Nash Street joining us at the Revue again. And we”re looking forward to a great crowd of loyal listeners and new friends at the Lyceum at EMCC”s Golden Triangle campus.”
Sucarnochee line-up
In addition to Nash Street, the May 29 line-up also includes:
- Jacky “Jack” White — The host of the Sucarnochee Revue lives in Livingston, Ala. Since his music first started hitting the charts in 1985, more than 100 of White”s songs have been recorded by artists including Ray Stevens, Charley Pride, Buddy Jewell, Steve Wariner, Neal McCoy, Carl Ray and Mark Lowery.
- “Mississippi” Chris Sharp and the Jang-A-Lang String Band — Interweaving bluegrass, folk and blues, Sharp, of Porterville, says he cut his teeth on Jimmie Rodgers” records, singing on a porch in Meridian with Rodgers” aunt, Elsie McWilliams, and taking guitar lessons from his cousin, Virginia Shine.
- Britt Gully — A lifelong resident of Cow Creek in Kemper County and a popular singer/bandleader, “honkabilly” Britt Gully is well-known as a songwriter, guitarist and a top interpreter of Jimmie Rodgers” music.
- J. Burton Fuller — Born and raised in Emelle, Ala., Fuller has been known for years as one of Sumter County”s best singers and guitarists. At the age of 69, this master woodcrafter released his first CD with international distribution, “On a Sumter County Porch.”
- Track 45 — Meridian”s Joel and Susie Johnson and their children, Jenna, K.K. and Benjamin, perform a variety of musical styles, from folk and bluegrass to country and gospel, and are known for their three-part harmonies.
- Ada McGrevey — A singer all her life, McGrevey works with Mississippi State University”s Therapeutic Writing Program. Her husband, Mike, is MSU”s vice president of finance and administration.
- The MaHarreys — For more than 30 years, the MaHarreys Gospel Singers have traveled the country presenting music that spans a vast spectrum of styles, including Southern gospel, Christian country, praise and worship and bluegrass.
- William Michael Morgan — This young country singer has been performing since he was 5 years old. Influenced by Tim McGraw, George Jones, Charley Pride and Hank Williams Sr., Morgan performs throughout the Southeast.
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