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"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
"It’s the sound of a young man attempting to make peace with his past and coming to terms with the changes of his present — the realization that while he might not be where he was or even where he wants, that good things happen. There’s both celebration and solace in such a moment of clarity, and that Bigwood spins it into sonic gold is evidence of an artistic soul wise beyond the years of its mortal shell." - Steve Wildsmith of The Daily Times (Maryville, TN)
Melissa Ellis is an award winning singer-songwriter and a 2020 quarterfinalist of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN where she shared the stage with over 100 rising solo/duo blues acts from all over the world.
Beginning her professional career as a singer/actress/dancer in theater at the age of 16, she performed in regional tours before moving on to study classical and jazz music at Tennessee Technological University as a vocalist while pursuing a singing career in Nashville.
In 2009, Melissa released her debut album Melissa Benjamin, lending her seasoned talent to the world of bluegrass & gospel. Her original single, “Crossville,” was adopted by her hometown as the official city song. While touring, she found new inspiration and started writing more original songs. With new songs came a new sound that evolved into a more soulful genre.
Melissa’s sophomore album, Just Me, was released in 2011 and as a multi-instrumentalist, the album showcased her musicianship on guitar and piano, as well as more of her original material.
Melissa’s latest musical journey brings out the raw emotional sounds of blues & her training in jazz. Her repertoire includes her original songs mixed with re-imaginings of familiar classics that are presented in fresh new ways. Melissa has landed opportunities that have placed her on world renowned stages, on radio, on television, and at high profile festivals, including Nashville’s acclaimed CMAfest where her soulful style was showcased among the sea of rising country twang.
We are honored to host James here at the Grinder House with his second appearance.
One of six Grand Prize winners in the 2020 Tennessee Songwriter's Week Contest sponsored by The Bluebird Cafe and The Tennessee Tourism Board for my original song "Songwriter".
The July 2020 Bluebird Cafe Golden Pick Winner, co-sponsored by Taylor Guitars.
The opportunity to perform at some incredible venues such as The Grand Ole Opry House, The Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena, The Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner, Commodore Grille, The Walnut House Murfreesboro, Puckett's Franklin, Arrington Vineyards, GMA Seminar in the Rockies, and The Nashville Network.
Beyond fortunate to have co-written songs with some of my favorite songwriters of all time including Bobbie Cryner, Jimmy Yeary, John Scott Sherrill, Gary Nicholson, Cyndi Torres, Jeff Pearson, Michael Salacuse, Brittany Allyn, Thad Guerra, Craig Karp, Kim Parent, Shelly Rann, Don Goodman, Shirley Myers, Rod Nicholson, Rob Heath, Sheila Stephen....and many others along the way.
Being a part of the band Passenger in the early 2000's with treasured friends Barry Hackett, Mike and Kristy Rhode, Matt McGee, Mike Mahaffey, Mark Smith, and Joseph "Billy" Fulk.
Winner of several awards at the 2002 Academy of Gospel Music Arts competition (AGMA) 2002 including: Southern Gospel Song and Overall Song of 2002 for "Passenger", and Praise & Worship Song of 2002 for "If I Did Not Sing."
Nashville, Tennessee-based indie-folk trio TOWNE consists of longtime singer/songwriter collaborators Steevie Steeves, Jon Decious and guitarist Luke Marshall. Like Steeves, who cut her teeth singing in Pittsburgh’s riverboat and cover band scene, Decious spent the years prior pursuing a career in songwriting, leaning on his poetically simple, “Kentucky talk”, style of writing to land songs on albums of up-and-coming roots and Americana artists such as; Caitlin Rose, Anderson East, and most recently, Lucette. Inspired by the likes of everyone from; Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, Heart, The Killers, and the perfectly imperfect harmonies of Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, the two set out as an acoustic duo for years. Eventually, landing slots on The Pilgrimage Festival, Master Musician’s Festival, 30AFest, performing alongside artists such as; Willie Nelson, Travis Meadows, and Eddie Vedder, among others. The pair released two EP’s: 2016’s Games We Play, and 2018’s Audacious (which included the single “Camouflage” that placed 2nd in the International Songwriting Competition), before meeting guitarist, Luke Marshall, while guest-speaking at a Kentucky 4-H music seminar. Marshall, along with his Johnny Marr-meets-Nels Cline-inspired playing, proved to be the missing link for the duo that had been forever in search of “that sound”.
In late 2018, the trio caught the eye of Grammy Award Winning producer, Mitch Dane, while playing a show at a bar on a slow Sunday night in Nashville. Long story short: it was meant to be. TOWNE was looking for a producer that could capture their live sound on tape and Mitch was looking for a band with a live sound the he wanted to capture. Soon after, sessions were booked at Mitch’s Nashville studio, Sputnik Sound.
In early 2019, TOWNE’s fans came together, organizing two fundraising concerts to finance the recording of the band’s first full-length album, “In The In Between”. The album is set for release in August of 2019.
"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
"In the House" at The Grinder House - 11/27/2020 - Mother Legacy
November 27, 2020
MOTHER LEGACY is a personal expansion of my life as MOTHER Ray Collins (Founding Member - Mothers of Invention) niece/protégé. I need to carry on your legacy Uncle Ray, your words and teachings were not unheard or wasted.
Riverbend 2018
Franklin County Fair 2018 with Layla spring of American Idol
over 370+ shows since June 2017
Multiple appearances on channel 12 Chattanooga
30+ fundraisers & benefits
With extensive professional experience in every aspect of entertainment, TV, studio, to main stages big and small. Public to private events.
Recently called the Sonny & Cher of modern day.
BIO
A guy, a girl and a guitar with a show unlike any other acoustic act.
Don’t let the 2pc fool you, SOFT, HARD, WILD, PRETTY…..a wide variety for everyone. Vocals unlike any you've heard. Which will knock you off your seat, harmony to make goose bumps crawl and bring tears to your eyes. Such full sound rhythm, rocking guitar playing & finger picking to have you scratching your head. Nobody can fathom how they can create so much energy and sound with a tiny simple package.
MOTHER WHO, YOU ASK?
Shay Collins IS Mother Legacy. Many don’t know that Shay came into this world through music, as her mother, Sue was a popular club singer in Taipei, Taiwan.
Shay, together with her flashy velvet vocals crooning cowboy husband Steve, have created quite an inspiring, exciting, rocking performance lighting up stages everywhere. Loveable, real, raw and honest, they are able to conquer:
big shows, private shows, loud shows, quiet shows, dance shows, dinner shows, they are diverse enough to cover all of them with a sound so unique and powerful.
Ask Shay how this all started and she will humbly tell you, she never thought she was good enough. Losing both her biological and stepfather to cancer in one year, their last words were for her to sing. Singing Journey’s “Faithfully” as their wedding vows was the first time any of the family had heard their musical magic.
Best man, best friend, brother and veteran musician, Robert Stone, decided this was going to happen and he presented Steven with a guitar.
Honoring her fathers’ wishes, they stepped out to do a few free shows for friends. Opening for Chattanooga’s top bands, The Band Antle, Aunt Betty and well known gospel/country singer/songwriter Tyson Leamon, this led to an unbelievable and overwhelming amount of bookings; and they haven’t stopped coming since.
Bringing them to today, neither dreamed of anyone wanting them to produce original music, let alone a CD but by popular demand and pressure they set out to create just that. They knew it needed to be done quickly and professionally. Beloved and admired booking manager, Rick Davis (Holly Oak Management Services) saw something in these two and decided it needed to happen now.
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"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
"In the House" at The Grinder House - 11/20/2020 - Pearl Clarkin
November 20, 2020
Her new single “Girls of Summer” hit country radio and charted in the top 50 on the Country Breakout Chart. Pearl began performing live music venues at the age of 12 in her home town of Pensacola Beach FL. She has performed over 1,200 live shows since then across the country on tour. She is an acclaimed songwriter and has performed many times on the circuit in Nashville at venues such as The Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room, and any of the Nashville hot spots for originals and showcases. She was recently compared to Bobbie Gentry by a major publisher while singing at Bluebird Cafe. Pearl has opened for many big names ranging from Charlie Daniels to Michael Ray, and performed at the CMA Fest over the last 5 years at places like Storme Warren's Nashville Navy and on the Hard Rock Stage outdoors. Big Machine Label Group recently named Pearl one of the top 10 unsigned artists in the country as she represented Pensacola in the Nash Next nation wide competition. She was also honored as one of the top unsigned artists in the country by CMT by placing in their Music City Madness singer/songwriter contest. Pearl has headlined her own concert back home on Pensacola Beach before 4000 friends and fans and sings each year for the Pensacola Beach Songwriter's Festival. You've seen her on GAC TV in Storme Warren's Country on the Beach Key West Event.
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"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
Southern roots run deep in Lee Gibson’s veins and you see that on stage when he performs. Raised in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee, gave Gibson the humbleness that comes across on stage and his love for country music. As a child Lee enjoyed sitting in front of the television or radio listening to some of the greatest artists of our time, such as Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard and George Jones. Music started at a young age with Lee Gibson as he was part of the musicals and plays in his school, a member of the church choir, and he also had an acoustic show which he eventually added a full band to.
Gibson carries some of the songs from his country icons on stage as his songs tell the story of lost loves, hardships, falling in love and there are always the good drinking songs that have made history in country music. “Who You Are”, “Long Slow Night”, “My Country” and “Lincoln County Lightning” are just a few of the originals Lee Gibson performs at his shows. All of these songs telling stories that his audience can relate to.
Being compared to Dwight Yoakam and Ronnie Dunn Lee Gibson’s voice is powerful, clear and definitely country. With his influence, from these artists and so many more, Gibson pursued writing with some of the top Nashville songwriters. In 2001 he landed his first record deal and this put him on the stage with Randy Houser, Anthony Smith, Darryl Worley, T. Graham Brown, and even the late George Jones.
There is still uniqueness in his songwriting with the upcoming release of his sophomore album. You hear a collection of all of Lee Gibson’s influences on this album. There is love and heartbreak, happiness and despair, the jovial and serious and an album showing Lee Gibson’s talent and love of music.
As Lee Gibson steps on stage he does so with the experience he has gained over the years of working in the music business. His 6 foot 4 inch stature carries the deep richness in his voice as he sings to his audiences. His songs tell stories about who he is and some of the things he has experienced, as well as some classic country and rock and roll to get everyone up and out of their seats dancing. Gibson reaches out to his audiences and they love him as he makes time for them after a show.
This will be an exciting year for Lee Gibson. In November Gibson will be part of the An American Legacy Tour, starring Ronnie McDowell. A cruise is planned that will depart on the Carnival Fascination from Jacksonville, FL to the Bahamas, November 12 through November 15. Several other projects are in the works for Gibson and he is looking forward to this year and where his career is going.
As you walk into the venue you look on stage and Lee Gibson is performing. His voice carries through the sound system and you know you are about to see a great country singer on stage. His experience and talent shows through and the friendliness in his voice welcomes you to a seat. This is a Lee Gibson show. Quality, talent and pure country.
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"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
6pm - In the House at the Grinder House - 11/06/2020 - Rick Stone
November 06, 2020
Rick’s signature personality shines in interviews with Atl. & Co., Full Throttle Magazine, Rising Star Magazine, and many local radio shows and newspapers. That personality translates effortlessly to the stage. Rick likes to engage with the audiences at his shows, coming off stage and performing amongst the crowd he demonstrates his desire to be close to his fans. He makes himself available before, after and even during shows for a quick chat and a friendly handshake. Rick has had steady success in the industry, beginning in 2008 with the debut of his single ‘Me and You’, a deeply personal song that gave him his first radio airplay. He followed the success of this track with a string of impressive single releases including ‘I’m Your Man’, ‘Never Started Drinking’ and ‘This Ole Road’. Recent releases show no sign of him slowing down either. The accompanying music video for his 2019 single ‘Wonderin’ What I’m Doin’ Wrong’ quickly hit 100k views on YouTube and his newest single ‘Quicksilver’ is positioned to do equally as well. Things keep moving quick for Rick and he couldn’t be happier to have the support of the best group of fans and family a man could ask for. Don’t miss a chance to catch him live, you sure won’t be disappointed.
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