September 2007

Tricia's New CD, Velvet, Available Now!

I grew up listening to my parents' big band records featuring great singers, and since then, I've always wanted to put together a collection of songs with a smooth, "torch" sound of my own. This collection of songs came together after an "in the round" performance at the Bluebird Cafe one night with Michael Johnson, Ellen Britton, Don Potter, and myself. The songs we sang that night seemed to fit together pretty well, so I gathered some of my favorite musicians, booked a great engineer, went into the studio, and made this recording. I hope you find as much enjoyment in listening to it as I did in making it.

Thanks for supporting the music...let me know what you think,

Tricia

July 2006

Another Song That Has a Good Cause

"The Whole World In Front Of Me," written by Tricia and Gina Taylor, has been selected to be featured in an upcoming public service campaign for Operation Lifesavers (www.oli.org), an international organization that promotes awareness and training on railroad safety. Gina was invited to sing the song during the opening ceremonies of the organization's national conference in Anaheim, CA, on July 9-10.  This song was inspired by a train-truck collision involving six of Gina's classmates when she was a junior in high school in 1991. It's a story song written from the standpoint of the lone survivor of the wreck.  If you'd like to hear a music clip or read the lyrics, visit www.ginataylor.net.

June 2006

Tricia has accepted a position at Delta State University as Director of the Delta Music Institute. Read more about it in the following articles:

• Bolivar Commercial
• Delta State University News

March 2006

November 2005

Tricia Celebrates 25 years in Music City!

Tricia packed up a U-Haul in Jackson, Mississippi and moved to Music City in August of 1980, and after a quarter of a century, the time has come to mark the passing of those 25 years with an all-star show at the Bluebird Cafe on Friday, November 18 at 9:30 pm. Tricia will be performing with a band doing several cuts from her "Heart of Dixie" CD as well as premiering several cuts from her upcoming jazz album, scheduled to be released in 2006. Several friends will be stopping by
to add some songs to the evening, including Buddy Greene, Karen Staley, Miss Mississippi 2005 Kristian Dambrino, and some other "surprise" guests. For ticket information and reservations, call the Bluebird Cafe at 615.383.1461 or go online at www.bluebirdcafe.com. Don't miss this one!

Words & Music in the Big Apple

With the Country Music Association Awards being held this year in New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has partnered with several schools in the five boroughs of the city to participate in their highly popular Words & Music program. Tricia facilitated a teacher's workshop for participating schools a couple of months ago, and she will be returning November 8 and 9 to meet with the student writers and perform their songs. "If I can make it there, I'll make it
anywhere!"

Tricia Walker & Buddy Greene Perform for Barefoot Republic Camp benefit

The 5th Annual Barefoot Republic Camp Fall Banquet sponsored by Barger-Tanner Construction is Tuesday, November 15th at The Factory in Franklin (Doors 6pm, Dinner 7pm, Buddy 8pm).  This fundraiser includes a concert by Tricia Walker and Buddy Greene, Hog Heaven dinner, and a silent auction. Barefoot Republic Camp is a summer camp that brings together kids of diverse backgrounds for some fun, as well as participating in arts education programs. Check out their information at www.barefootrepublic.org.

March 2005

Original play, "The Class of 1971 and a Half," premieres in Nashville

A part of Tricia's journey is being explored on the stage in a newly created work titled "The Class of 1971 and a Half." The play premiered on March 10 and ran March 10-13 and March 16-18 at Bongo Java Theatre in Nashville. Read an excerpt from the press release:

The play was written by local playwright, Randy Moomaw. Moomaw, a native of rural Virginia, moved to Nashville from L.A. in '94 as a writer for High
Five Entertainment¹s, The Road. He's a winner of the Samuel Goldwyn Award as well as several American Songwriter Magazine awards. At the coaxing of his long time friend, Jim Uhls, screenwriter for Fight Club, and many local theatre personalities, Moomaw decided to find his way back home to the stage. The seeds for the story were planted by beloved Nashville songwriter, Tricia Walker, one of the Bluebird Cafe's original Women In The Round. I've met with Tricia many times to brainstorm about an educational piece to support her incredible "Heart of Dixie" project. Tricia grew up in rural Mississippi at a time when forced integration was imminent. Back in 1970, Tricia, along with several other white members of her high school class, finished up their graduation requirements in summer school in order to avoid attending the new consolidated, predominantly black county school.  Some thirty years later, Tricia and a few of her old classmates held a trip to New York that served as their long delayed class trip. Tricia had later come to know about Helen Hunter, a black woman in neighboring Franklin County, who went from being a top student at her small black school to being a potential target at her newly consolidated, predominantly white county school. Moomaw suggested to Tricia that inviting Helen along on such a trip as an offering for reconciliation would make for an interesting play.  So he asked Tricia for permission to use elements of her story to inspire The Class of 1971.

Tricia Meets With Legendary Producer Norbert Putnam

On a recent trip to Mississippi, Tricia stopped by her alma mater, Delta State University, to visit with legendary producer/engineer, Norbert Putnam, who is heading up the new Delta Music Institute at the college. Putnam said that big plans will soon be announced about the facility and
curriculum that will be part of this progressive program. Alabama native Norbert Putnam was instrumental in countless successful recordings of artists like Jimmy Buffett and Dan Fogelburg. A quick search on Google will bring up a seemingly endless string of credits for this music master. Tricia received her Bachelor's degree as a Delta Scholar from Delta State.

Center for Southern Studies Reception Features Tricia

For the second year in a row, Tricia was invited to provide music during
a reception hosted by the Center for Southern Studies at Ole Miss during the
2005 Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration. Dr. Charles Reagan Wilson,
director for the Center, expressed his thanks to Tricia for sharing her "Southern" music which fit so well with the event.

In The Studio with Ashley and Lulu

Tricia had the great pleasure of contributing some background vocals
on Ashley Cleveland's new CD, "Men and Angels Say," along with the other members of the Original Women in the Round, Pam Tillis and Karen Staley. They are featured on two tracks, "Power in the Blood" and "Holy, Holy, Holy." Tricia also contributed and produced vocals on an upcoming Lulu Roman CD. Lulu was one of the stars of the long-running TV program, "Hee Haw." This CD will be featured and sold on the Home Shopping Network.

September 2004

The Heart of Dixie Enhanced CD To Be Released September 28

Tricia's much anticipated new enhanced CD, The Heart of Dixie, will be released September 28. The Heart of Dixie reflects on the themes of redemption and reconciliation, injustice and intrigue, past history and future hope with love and laughter along the way. In addition to twelve songs, the enhanced CD includes a photo gallery, song lyrics, press/industry quotes, biography and a five minute performance video.

The Heart of Dixie CD Release party to be held at the Bluebird Café September 29.

A CD release party for The Heart of Dixie will be held on Wednesday, September 29 at 9 pm at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, TN. Band members for the show will include Vince Barranco, Paul Brannon, Don Kerce, and Carson Whitsett. Opening the night's show will be singer/songwriter Davis Raines. For ticket information, contact the Bluebird Café at 615-383-1461 or
www.bluebirdcafe.com.

First Annual Riverbluff Acoustic Music Festival
October 9

On behalf of the Arts Council of Cheatham County, Tricia is serving as coordinator for the first annual Riverbluff Acoustic Music Festival to be held on Saturday, October 9, 2004 at River Bluff Park in Ashland City, TN. Artists scheduled to appear at the Fairfield Four, Daybreak, Buddy Greene & Band, Kathy Hussey, Wildfire, and the Nashville Dulcimer Quartet. A performing songwriter contest is being held in conjunction with the festival. For complete information, visit www.riverbluffmusicfestival.com.

Partners In Rhyme concert to be released on DVD/CD

Partners In Rhyme, a 90-minute acoustic music concert featuring Tricia Walker and Davis Raines will be released in a DVD/CD package (please check back for the official release date). The show was produced as a joint venture between Big Front Porch Productions and students from Utah Valley State College in Orem, UT. The package spotlights Tricia and Davis in a concert performance in a theatre setting along with artist interviews and special features about the project. The Accounting, English, Multi-Media, and Culinary departments of the college produced the show, which was broadcast live on cable TV to the Utah Valley area and to the world via the Web. www.uvdigital.net

Big Front Porch Productions composes theme for Nana Star project

Big Front Porch Productions is partnering with ee publishing & productions, inc. in the creation of a music theme for their Nana Star project. Nana Star is the first story in a series of children's books which will include a newly composed song for each new character in the series. Plans are in the works for a Nana Star lullaby and sing-a-long CD.

The Nana Star foundation has been created, and a portion of all proceeds from books and products will go to chosen charities, primarily those dealing with children who are ill and also with charities involved in improving inner-city schools. www.eeppinc.com

Songs and Stories from the Big Front Porch features Tricia and Nashville singer/songwriters

As a follow up to Partners In Rhyme, Big Front Porch Productions and Utah Valley State College once again partnered to produce Songs and Stories from the Big Front Porch in July of 2004. The 90-minute concert, featuring full set design and 5.1 Surround Sound, is currently in postproduction and will be made available for release on DVD. The four writer/artists included in the performance were Tricia, Davis Raines, Brian and Natalie Langlinais. The writer/artists also interacted in classroom and lab settings with the students as part of UVSC's "Real World" program. www.uvdigital.net

Headlines

• Vicksburg Post
  --Heart of Dixie Review

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