Previous sunday in the Park Events

2006 Series

June 4 

WHISKEY RICHARD

Nashville-based act Whiskey Richard has been tearing up the Southeast music scene for the past 4 years. While based in Tallahassee, they played over 200 shows at FSU's most popular venue, Bullwinkle's Saloon (featured annually in Playboy's "Top 100 College Bars") and filled venues throughout Florida and Georgia. With broad appeal and an electric live show, the group is showcasing their music in Nashville while continuing to tour the country.

Songwriter Chris Dreyer and guitarist Scott Taylor began performing together while studying abroad in London. After recording a demo, they gave three standing-room-only performances at London's famed 12 Bar Club.  While paying their dues as an acoustic act on the local scene at Florida State University, Chris and Scott set their sites on fleshing out the original tunes with a full band.  

Bigger shows were booked, and they began to play outside of Tallahassee. The group found its way and started playing Bullwinkle's, the hottest bar in Tallahassee. Within a few months, they were the hottest group on the roster and began expanding their fanbase. Mark Raudaugh settled in as drummer in 2003. Andrew Altman came in on bass the fall of 2004. Whiskey Richard became the name of band.

With the addition of Drew and Mark on bass and drums, the group has continually wowed its audiences with amazing live shows and breath-taking musicianship. After 250+shows while based in Tallahassee, the group has relocated to Nashville, TN to take the music world by storm. Look out.

When talking about Latin music, the San Rafael Band can be set apart from the rest.  For over 10 years, the San Rafael Band has continued to be one of the most popular bands in the Southeast.  The group is led by Rafael A. Vasquez, lead guitarist and songwriter.  Rafael was raised in San Antonio, Texas and later in Northern California.  He has performed opening acts for Santana contemporaries such as El Chicano and Airto Moriera.  The San Rafael Band has opened shows for Michael Stern and John Patitucci, Michael McDonald, Jo Satriani, Cachao, and most recently Los Lobos.  SRB members include:  Jim Roller (bass), who has been on the road with country artist Mindy McCready, Pam Tillis, Lila McCann and LeRoy Parnell.  Rob Guidry (drums), hailing from Louisiana, had backed up "Soul Man" Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave) and has opened shows for fellow Louisiana natives the Neville Brothers.  Justin Levinson (congas) is fast becoming one of Nashville's top studio percussionists, just recently opening up for Shania Twain on tour.  Dan Nadasdi (keys), origianally from Toronto, served as band leader for country artist Michelle Wright for a number of years.  Glen Caruba (congero and percussion) recently finished performing with Jimmy Buffet in the Broadway musical Don't Stop the Carnival.  He also studied with the great Alex Acuna and has worked with both the Mavericks and Glen Frey.

June 18

THE PEASALL SISTERS

When the producers of the motion picture O Brother, Where Art Thou? were looking for three girls to play George Clooney's on screen daughters, three sisters were brought to the audition by their biggest fan; their mom.  Over the past five years, these sisters — Sarah, Hannah, and Leah, sang on a multi-million selling album, have earned a GRAMMY, a  CMA Award,  an IBMA Award, and an ACM Award.  The Peasall Sisters have performed at such esteemed venues as Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall with the acclaimed Down From the Mountain tour, in addition to the Grand Ole Opry.  

Now the Sisters have been joined by their father Michael as they travel the United States performaing at churches, Blue Grass festivals, and various other events.  In August of 2004, John Carter Cash and Dualtone Records released The Unbroken Circle, a tribute to the Carater Family music and heritage.  The Peasall Sisters teamed up with Emmylou Harris for one track of the album.  The girls have finished a new album entitled Home to You on DualTone Records.

But even after all the time spent in the spotlight, the Peasalls are still all about family. They remain down-to-earth teenagers who live with their tight-knit family, including three younger siblings in White House, Tenn.  If you ask the girls about their favorite music, these modern day Carter Sisters list a history of family groups spanning a century, from the Cox Family to the Carter Family to the Whites, Nickel Creek and the Dixie Chicks—not to mention the influence of their own multi-instrumentalist grandfather, Jimmy Brasher, author of Home to You’s “The Old Church Yard.”

June 18

KRISTINE MYLLS

Jazz vocalist Kristine Mylls combines sexy vocals with an undeniable stage presence that has captivated audiences across the country. Drawing on her experience in performing a variety of musical genres, she brings elements from each into her stunning show.

With the release of her debut solo album, entitled Mylls To Go, this unique jazz artist will continue to grow her fan base and pursue radio air play with her interpretation of hits like, Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) and One Fine Day.

Mylls grew up in Washington D.C. and began singing when she was 10 years old. As she quickly moved through the choral ranks of her grade and high school choirs, she realized her tremendous singing voice would become her life’s dream.  As a college student at George Mason University she studied classical music, but performed in a variety of genres. Mylls sang with several groups at once, including a vocal jazz group, university choir, and a rock band called “Second Sun”.  After graduating from George Mason, Mylls performed locally in various bars and clubs for a period of time, never feeling quite at home in the lackluster environment D.C. provided her and other musicians. On a whim, she and some friends moved to Nashville, where her love and passion for her dream was accepted and encouraged.

Along with singing as a solo artist, Mylls is one of the lead vocalists in a big band called “Radio Daze”, which is fronted by a four-part harmony vocal quartet. The band has played in various festivals and venues throughout the South, and numerous charity events.

Mylls says along with The Beatles, jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn have been influential to her as a musician, though in striving to be unique to her own style, she admits she doesn’t often frequent other local jazz performers’ gigs.

Her recent album, Mylls To Go, releases Fall 2003, and features musicians, Roger Spencer (bass; Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Buddy DeFranco, Beegie Adair), Lori Mechem (piano; Dizzy Gillespie, Ann Jillian, Edie Gorme and the McGuire Sisters), Jim White (drums) Denis Solee (saxophone), Michael Fair (tumpet and fluegelhorn), and Pete Huttlinger (guitar).

2005 Series

June 5

Rebecca Sayre

With a colorful palette of world experience paving her road to jazz, Rebecca Sayre’s warm, expressive tone and sense of swing prove she is a gifted talent on the rise. And with the recent release of her debut album This is Always, she has begun attracting notice from radio and increasing enthusiasm from her growing fan base. While many of her jazz contemporaries perform interpretatively, Rebecca Sayre brings a refreshing, straight-ahead approach to melody and lyric, and performs songs originally delivered by her greatest influences: Ella Fitzgerald, Chris Connor, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Anita O’Day, and others.

 Growing up in Northern California, Sayre recalls the consistent presence of classical music flowing through her home. Even so, she managed to discover the Ink Spots and June Christy in her parents’ record collection, as well as big-band radio station, KMPX, out of San Francisco. At age 11, she began playing guitar and writing songs, which later earned awards from the Bay Area Songwriters Association. By age 16, she decided she would pursue a singing career and at 19, her discovery of jazz and swing was seriously underway when she began singing in a local swing band. Soon after, Sayre packed up, and drove cross-country to pursue her musical dreams in Nashville.  Visit her web site at www.rebeccasayre.com.

Jazz singer Annie Sellick has it all, a sensational voice, commanding stage presence, striking appearance and infectious enthusiasm. She has won a large, devoted following and earned rave reviews, winning numerous 'Best Jazz Artist' awards in the Nashville media. And Sellick's latest album, No Greater Thrill, is sure to bring her national acclaim. Featuring the organ work of world-renowned jazz artist Joey DeFrancesco, No Greater Thrill is irrefutable evidence that Sellick has entered the big leagues.

Sellick's jazz journey began auspiciously when she sat in with guitarist Roland Gresham's group at a club near the college she attended. After her performance, the crowd rose to their feet cheering, and it was clear she had found her calling. "It shocked me, the response, and I think it shocked Roland too. Maybe that's why he kept me." She sang with Gresham's trio for four years and developed a sizable following. She honed her skills under the tutelage of Lori Mechem and Roger Spencer at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Sellick has been a mainstay at Nashville's main jazz venues, F. Scott's and Cafe 123, and was featured in a popular weekly series, 'Sellick and Sushi,' at Virago.

Sellick's first record, Stardust on My Sleeve, was a striking debut that highlighted her interpretative skills, bringing vitality and urgency to classic jazz standards. The album was on the Top 10 Local Artists list at Tower Records for many months, and even remained in Tower's storewide Top 25 for several weeks, keeping pace with international releases by top-selling artists. She has been profiled in every major Nashville paper, and gave a celebrated sold-out performance backed by the Nashville Symphony.

With the release of No Greater Thrill, it's clear that Annie Sellick's future is as bright as her smile. It's only a matter of time before the national jazz radar gets wind of this enchanting, compelling performer.  Track her activities at www.anniesellick.com.