FFAACCEESS && PPLLAACCEESS22001111

Special publication of the Franklin County Times

Contact Russellville City Hall at 256-332-6060

Fine recreational opportunities that

include a city swimming pool,

tennis courts, ballfields and

beautiful parks

Highly acclaimed cityschool system

situated on one ofthe most beautiful

campuses in the state

Working to providebetter services with

a new fire station,industrial park withspec building and arenewed effort to

revitalize downtown

AA cciittyy tthhaatt’’ss pprroouudd ooff tthhee ppaasstt……..aanndd bbuuiillddiinngg ffoorr tthhee ffuuttuurree

2 FACES & PLACES

3

hen looking at the various topics we couldhave pursued as our theme for Faces andPlaces 2011, many ideas came to mind.

But, the timing was perfect to spotlight onlya handful of the talented musicians that our county hasproduced.

The state of Alabama has promoted 2011 as the Year ofMusic in Alabama. Northwest Alabama has played atremendously important role in making the state knownfor its musical heritage.

A short drive up U.S. 43 to the Shoals and that musicalheritage is undeniable.

To our south, in Hackleburg, Sonny James, one of coun-try music’s all-time legends developed his musical talentsbefore taking them to the world.

Here, in our own county, country music superstarTammy Wynette, grew up and left a legacy for all future

generations of singers.The county has had Grammy nominees, musicians who

have performed with some of the greatest performers inhistory and others who have embarked on their paths tomusic stardom.

Music is a source of pride and our community is no dif-ferent.

Our only regret is that we were not able to feature eachand every talented singer, band or instrumentalist thatour county has. Time and space limited us to just a hand-ful and we believe all of these are exceptional peopleand places that our county can boast about.

But they certainly are not alone. We hope you all getout to one of the venues featured here or to some othershowcase event featuring any number of FranklinCounty’s talented performers.

— Jonathan Willis, Publisher

W

9

12

14

18

20

22

24Arts andEntertainment

Center

BrooklynHall

KodyMadden

JosephBaldwin

CodyBowen

EddieMartin

KerryGilbert

Blaze Bishop

5

7

16RoxyTheater

BufordParker

FACES & PLACES

P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883

www.franklincountytimes.com

Publisher Jonathan WillisEditorial Scot Beard and Kellie SingletonSales Peggy Hyde and Nicole PellComposition Karen McAfeeCirculation Terri Pounders and Thomas DouglasPress Room Tommy Nichols, Alton Zills, BettyJo Bray and Courtney Honey

4

www.franklincountytimes.com

FACES & PLACES

We Are Here To

Fill Your Needs!

Hwy 43 • RussellvilleFranklin Shopping Center Russellvillephar@bellsouth.net

256-331-1919

Rodney Logan, Owner & R.Ph, StappHarrison, Pharm D & Paul Lovelace, R.Ph

Hours of Operation:Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

We Are Still YourCompounding Headquarters.

FFoorr aallll YYoouurr IInnssuurraanncceeNNeeeeddss CCaallll......

Sinclair-Lawrence & Assoc., Insurance117 S. Jackson Ave. • Russellville

(256) 332-2061

201 E. 4th St. • Sheffield (256) 383-3553

2513 E. Avalon • Muscle Shoals(256) 383-8335

501 N. Jackson Ave., Suite 1 • Russellville(256) 331-9595 • insurance9595@bellsouth.net

INSURANCE SPECIALISTS RENEE JAMES - SENIOR AGENT

Are You New To Medicare?Allow us to explain how your benefits can work

for you. You have options with medicare

supplements, advantage plans and part D prescription plans.

If you have been on Medicare disability and you are turning 65 -

we HAVE coverage for you!

Do you need vision and dental benefits?

WWoooodd SSaalleessWWoooodd SSaalleess

HHwwyy 4433 && LLaaGGrraannggee RRdd.. •• RRuusssseellllvviillllee

FFlloorraall DDeessiiggnn FFoorr AAllll OOccccaassiioonnss

FFlloowweerrss && SSuupppplliieess HHoommee DDeeccoorr && GGiiffttss

225566--333311--00990044 -- MMoonn,,--SSaatt.. 88 ttoo 55::3300

906 South Jackson Ave.

Russellville, AL

256-332-1122

Ric Chambless and

Jackie Peoples

sprymemorialchapel.com

SPRY MEMORIAL CHAPELOF RUSSELLVILLE

Faces and Places Presents:

Buford Parkerocal musician Buford Parker was born andraised in Franklin County and grew up beinginfluenced by the classic country musicsounds that were popular in the area.Parker was just eight years old when his

older brother, Freddy, taught him a few chords on theguitar and he quickly fell in love with playing andmaking music.“We played together all the time at different placesafter that,” Parker said.“I made my first appearance onTV when I was 12 years old on the Old Red Show inFlorence, and I enjoyed every minute.”

Parker said he continued to playmusic with his brother, but as hegot older, Parker formed a band inthe early ‘60s called The Shyaways

with some of his classmates at Russellville HighSchool. They regularly jammed to classic countrytunes and what is referred to today as “the oldies.”TheShyaways played together for several years beforedisbanding to go their separate ways.“I always loved music. It was just my favorite hobby –my favorite thing to do,” Parker said.“I didn’t reallyplay music very much for about 38 years, but aroundsix years ago, I decided I wanted to start playing againas a hobby.”Parker had been busy with various projects throughthe years, including his publication,“The SourceMagazine,” that focuses on Franklin County history.But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t forget about

L

STORY BYKELLIE SINGLETON

FACES & PLACES 5

In the SPOTLIGHTShoals Lighting

2308 Woodward Ave • Muscle Shoals • 256-383-1437 Mon. - Fri. 8 to 5 • Sat. 9 to 2

• Style• Selection

• Service

Specializing in high quality, costeffective solutions in contracting,business improvement, project

management and nuclear safety

www.redhawkts.com256-331-3432

Services, LLCServices, LLCTTechnical echnical

RedhawkRedhawk

“Your First Choice for Quality and Integrity”

his musical roots or the desire he had toshare his musical talent with other people.“When I decided to jump back into mymusic, I started playing and singing at theLittle Ryman in Tuscumbia,” Parker said.“Then in 2006, I got with my friend LukeWaldon at B & L Studios in Russellville anddecided to record a CD of some old coun-try classics. Some of the people with B & Ldid the music and I sang.”Among the songs Parker recorded on thatfirst CD were songs by his greatest musicalinfluence – legendary country singer RayPrice. Parker said he enjoys singing Price’ssongs and other classic country hits as wellas his own original music.“Since that first CD, I’ve recorded four otherCDs of mostly my music along with someother songs,” Parker said.“I’ve built up tosing at seven different local places and I’vealso been privileged to sing at JimmyDriftwood’s Barn in Mountain View, Ark.”Being dedicated to music is not alwayseasy and sometimes the road can get

tough, but Parker said he has people likemusician Travis Wammack to fall back on.“Travis has been a great inspiration to meand has really helped me with my music,”Parker said.“I feel like I’ve learned a lotfrom him.”Parker said he has had several memorablemoments during his music career that willstay with him for years to come, one ofwhich being the time he was able to inter-view his musical muse, Ray Price.“Through my music and through my mag-azine, I was able to sit down with Ray Pricefor 45 minutes on his bus,” Parker said.“Wetalked about music and I gave him some ofmy new music to listen to. It was a greatexperience and something I’ll alwaysremember.”Other memorable moments include hav-ing the legendary Hank Snow’s steel guitarplayer, Cayton Roberts, play for him at hisappearance at Jimmy Driftwood’s Barn, andopening for Billy Ray Cyrus’s brother, KeboCyrus, in Savannah, Tenn. two years ago.

“I’ve enjoyed playing at these differentvenues out of state but I love when I get toperform for people back home, too,” Parkersaid.“For the past two years, I’ve been privi-leged to be an entertainer at “ThePretenders”W. C. Handy Festival event heldin Russellville and the entertainer for theFranklin County Farmer’s Extension and theCattlemen’s Association banquets. I’ve alsobeen an entertainer at the Spruce PineFestival and the Watermelon Festival,which I’ll be participating in this year aswell.”In addition to his many appearances,Parker is also busy promoting his newestalbum,“Romeo Gambler,” which can bepurchased at Good Springs Fish and Morein Russellville.“This CD has 10 tracks and has an oldcountry style to it I think people will enjoy,”Parker said.“I hope to keep performingthese songs and others for many years tocome because I just love people and I loveentertaining.”

FACES & PLACES

State Senator Roger BedfordYour Hard Working Senator, Still Working For You!

256-332-6966 • fax: 256-332-6967 • email: senbedford@aol.comPaid for by Roger Bedford, P.O. Box 370, Russellville, AL 35653

PROUD TO BE ONE OF THEFACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

6

or most people the idea of standing on stage in front ofseveral hundred people is a terrifying thought. ForRussellville’s Blaze Bishop, she loves large crowds – it isthe small crowds that make her nervous.When she performed for a small crowd at a Civitan meet-

ing, she was so nervous she was shaking.“I would rather it be 1,000 people than two people,” Bishop said.It is a good thing Bishop does not mind performing for large

crowds because she has had the opportunity tosing at Alabama Adventure, the WatermelonFestival and even the Alabama Music Hall ofFame.

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame show remains one of Bishop’sfavorite performances.“There were a lot of people there, I felt happy about doing it,”Bishop said.“It was a big stage and the sound was great.”She seems very comfortable in front of large crowds and said sherarely feels nervous while performing. Bishop said her nerves havenot gotten the better of her when she thinks about going onstage, but does get a little nervous when the person singingahead of her is performing his or her last song.

She said she is not too worried about making a mistake whilesinging – unless it is a competition.“It depends on what you do and who you’re in front of,” Bishopsaid.“If you are competing, you hope the competition doesn’t hearif you mess up.”Bishop, who turns 14 in September, got her start in music abouteight years ago when she went to work with her mother andbegan singing to kids on the playground. Soon her parents wereencouraging her to take voice lessons.“We realized she had talent,” said her father, Frank.“She got hervoice from her mother and her pitch from me.”Bishop progressed through the lessons and was soon ready totake to the stage. The only problem was that there were not manyopportunities for young children to perform so she and her fatherdeveloped a plan.That plan grew into Entourage, a group of youth talent fromacross northwest Alabama that has grown to include membersfrom Tennessee and Georgia as well.Entourage first performed at Good Springs and put on a showthat impressed the owners. With a mix of country, rock, pop and70s music, the group earned an open invitation to perform at

F

STORY BYSCOT BEARD

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

Blaze Bishop

7

Good Springs in the future.As word got out about Entourage, the group began to makeappearances at several venues throughout northwest Alabama.During this time, Bishop honed her stage skills and became awell-rounded performer.One thing Bishop has tried to do is sing a variety of genres tokeep her options open.“I sing country when I have the opportunity and I sing gospel atchurch,” Bishop said. She is also comfortable singing a pop songor some rock.With that variety of styles, Bishop won a few talent competitionsincluding Franklin County Idol and being a semifinalist in ShoalsIdol.She soon caught the attention of Kerry Gilbert and earned aninvitation to sing with him, allowing her to gain valuable insightfrom a seasoned local singer. The performance with Gilbert alsohelped open other doors for Bishop as new area residents wereintroduced to her.Last summer she co-headlined a concert with fellow Entouragemember Brooklyn Hall. She has even earned an invitation fromMike Jennings to perform on “Nashville Spotlight.”Bishop enjoys singing so much she hopes to make a living doingit someday, but has a back up plan in case that career choicedoes not work out.“I would like to be a singer, but if I couldn’t do that I want to goto Auburn and learn about criminology,” Bishop said.“I alwaysliked shows like ‘Law & Order’ and growing up with my sister wewould get into fights because stuff would come up missing. Wehad to figure out who to blame.”One thing Bishop has figured out is how to be successful instarting a career. She has gained valuable insight the past eightyears and would tell any young performer there are five thingsto keep in mind.First, when you are on stage you are a different person. If you areshy you have to put it behind you and be the person you wantto be.Second, make sure singing is something you want to do. If youdo not have that passion and are unhappy, people in the audi-ence can tell.Third, take every opportunity to entertain because you neverknow who will be in the crowd.Fourth, you should be able to perform the songs you want toperform.The fifth piece of advice might be the most important.“Don’t be afraid to take the spotlight or talk to people you don’tknow well,” Bishop said.“They could get you opportunities youmight not have gotten by yourself.”Blaze has followed that advice and has progressed far in hershort career. She is getting more and more opportunities to per-form in front of bigger and bigger audiences, and she couldn’tbe happier.She still does not like small audiences, especially when there isonly one set of ears listening.“I won’t let my dad listen to me practice,” Bishop said.“He has alot of suggestions. I can’t do that, I want to do it my way.”

FACES & PLACES

Your Home Away From Home!

Please call or come by our facility for a tour of ourrehab rooms, and an explanation of our servicesand how they can benefit you and your family.

As well as meeting the long-term care health

needs of the elderly of our community, we

also offer short-term rehab services. This pro-

gram consists of intense nursing services as

well as physical, occupational, and speech

therapy as required by the patients’ needs in

conformance with their physician’s orders.

Hospital admissions are usually only for a very

limited stay. Patients are frequently

discharged before they are fully able to stay

by themselves. Stays in our facility covered by

Medicare include joint replacements, strokes,

and even before generalized weakness related

to their hospital stay. The 20-day stay at our

facility gives the patient time to regain their

strength and independence and helps insure

their continued recovery.

Medicare or private insurance may cover these

short-term stays. If a stay is Medicare covered,

the first 20 days are covered in full resulting

in no out of pocket expenses for the Patient

or their family. If additional therapy is required,

Medicare may also cover the 21st thru 100th

days, but there is a co-payment during this

period that my be paid either thru a

supplemental insurance policy or

by private funds.

The rooms in our facility for short-term

admissions have many amenities not found

in other facilities in Russellville and even in

the Shoals area. Large private rooms,

which include telephones, patios with

furniture, television, electric beds, tables,

chairs for inroom dining, and large

bathrooms with showers.

Terrace ManorNursing & Rehabilitation Center, Inc.

390 Underwood Rd., Russellville 256-332-3826

Phillip & Sherene Wade

8

Faces and Places Presents:

Kody Madden

eenagers are faced with many difficult deci-sions.Some are life changing; such as choosingwhich college to attend and what professionthey want to enter, while others really aren’t

that important in the grand scheme of things, theyjust seem really important at the time.But, nonetheless, many decisions can be gut wrench-ing for some teens.Sixteen year-old Kody Madden faced one of thosekinds of choices last year.Madden — whose parents, Jeff and Crista, were both

state championship winning bas-ketball players — made the difficultdecision to give up the sport that

he had played for many years and the one his fathercoaches.What could he have been so passionate about that hewould be willing to walk away from high school ath-letics?“Music is the one thing I love doing most,” saidMadden, who has won several state and regionalsinging competitions, including the Shoals Idol con-test in 2010.“That is something I’ve done all my life and I can’t seea time when I won’t enjoy that. Playing sports wasfun, but I think it kind of started to get in the way ofdoing what I really love.”With a deep, powerful voice that stretches beyond hisyears, Madden has become a favorite guest performer

T

STORY BYJONATHAN WILLS

FACES & PLACES

100 Village Square • Russellville256-332-4620

Ask about our NO Security Deposit Special!

wwwwww..ssppmm..nneett

• You can quality with NO income!• You can qualify even if you still own a

home or land! • Rent is based on income, less all your

medical expenses!

For adults 62 years or older, or Mobility-Impaired

VVIILLLLAAGGEE SSQQUUAARREE AAPPAARRTTMMEENNTTSS

Skilled Nursing Care and Rehab• Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy

• Speech Therapy • Wound Care • Dementia Care • Trach Care

Most insurance acceptedCall Christy McCarley, Marketing & Admissions

Coordinator at 256-356-4982 for moreinformation or stop by for a tour!“Welcoming your family to ours”

256-332-5249www.hesterprinting.com • robert@hesterprinting.com

308 Jackson Ave. S. • Russellville • (Big Star Shopping Center)

Printing - Copies Signs & More

9

for many area shows. He performed at thecity of Russellville’s Jam on Sloss LakeFourth of July celebration and has per-formed at the Franklin County Arts andHumanities Council Evening at the Roxy, aswell as doing shows in the Shoals area aswell.“I just love being on the stage and singingin front of people,” he said.He first performed at the tender of age offive and then began competing with hischurch, Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church, ayear later. Through the years, he has wonseveral district and state honors perform-ing solo and with groups.Twice, including this year, he won the statevocal solo contest as part of the AlabamaFree Will Baptist State Association. In July,he competed in the national association’scompetition.Though he did not win that competition,

his performance was so good that he wasselected to perform with a group of 12other teens, known as the YouthEvangelistic Team, next summer. They willtravel across the country singing, perform-ing and ministering in various churches.This will not be totally new for Madden,who has performed with a similar groupknown as the Connection Singers travelingand performing across north Alabama forthe past three summers.“That has been a really thrilling experi-ence,” said Madden, who has learned toplay the guitar and is now taking piano les-sons.Music is not something new to theMadden family. Kody’s grandfather, BillyMadden, performed with several rock ‘n rollgroups before turning to gospel music andsinging with the Believers in Christ and JoyMakers for years.

Watching his son decide to give up sportswas not easy, Jeff Madden said. A longtimebasketball and football coach atRussellville Middle School, Maddenthought he would be traveling to see Kodyplaying ball most weekends.“Being a coach, it was hard when he decid-ed to give up sports, but as a parent, welove what he does and we stay on the roadall the time watching him perform,” JeffMadden said.“We are very proud of him. He is a goodChristian young man and I am grateful forthat.”While he mostly performs country andChristian music, Kody Madden said hewould also like to begin writing songs aswell. He has penned one song that he per-forms and hopes to do more in the future.“Music is just something that I love and Ican’t imagine not doing,” he said.

FACES & PLACES

Drive a little and save a lot at your near by Foodland Store

Russellville Utilities

721 Jackson Ave. SouthRussellville, AL

256-332-3850

After Normal BusinessHours Emergencies

256-332-2230

Proud to Provide Utility Services toRussellville and Surrounding Areas

10

FACES & PLACES 11

Joseph

Baldwin

Kody

Madden

Cody

Bowen

oseph Baldwin was born in Tupelo, Miss., but the onlyhome he has ever really known is in the small FranklinCounty community of Atwood between Vina andHodges.As a young boy, Baldwin roamed through the Franklin

County countryside and spent time with the horses he loved toride, but even though he had other interests, there was just some-thing about music that the country boy from Vina couldn’t resist.

Baldwin’s first step into the musical world was atan early age when he was prompted by hismother’s piano playing to take piano lessonshimself.

“I enjoyed the piano lessons but my classmates really made fun ofme for it,” Baldwin said.“Apparently playing the piano wasn’tsomething ‘the guys’ did, so I finally just quit to stop the heckling.”But before he quit his lessons, Baldwin was able to pick up enoughmusical training that when he finally got his hands on a guitar, hewas able to figure out how to play it on his own.“I just couldn’t get away from the music,” Baldwin said.“The feel-ing it gave me was like I would just go somewhere else. There was-n’t anything else like it.”

Even though Baldwin was completely sold out to his music, hedidn’t know if he could really make it a career, so in the meantime,Baldwin made his living as a farrier and shoed horses at his homeand around the area.“It’s really kind of funny that I have a career as a farrier and as amusician because horses are the reason I started doing anythingwith my music,” Baldwin said.“I was playing after a rodeo one dayand a guy heard me and asked me if I wanted to cut some songsin his studio, and things started falling into place.”Baldwin said the way his career in music “just sort of happened”was a blessing in itself.“I was going to play my music whether I made money at it or not,but I was lucky that people actually liked it and encouraged me topursue it,” he said.Once he decided to continue down the musical path he pouredhis time and energy into singing and playing at different venues,like his fairly regular gig at the Rattlesnake Saloon in ColbertCounty, and for different occasions.“Growing up I listened to anything and everything from DwightYocum – who I was a huge fan of – to KISS to Minnie Pearl,”Baldwin said.“I took those influences and made my own kind of

J

STORY BYKELLIE SINGLETON

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

Joseph Baldwin

12

sound that’s more like easy listening meets country and I thinkit appeals to a wide range of listeners.”During his steady rise in the music world for the last severalyears, Baldwin has had several experiences and accomplish-ments that would make any musician proud including landinga two-year spot at the well-known venue, Tootsies, onBroadway in Nashville and winning the Panhandle Star compe-tition in 2007 in Panama City, Fla., which allowed Baldwin to bethe opening act for country singer Jason Aldean.“Those were real highlights in my career, but I could possiblybe in the middle of one of my biggest accomplishments yet,”Baldwin said, referring to his spot as a finalist in the AlabamaDepartment of Tourism’s “Songwriter’s Contest,” which is acomponent of the department’s Year of Music campaign.At the end of June, Baldwin beat out more than 50 other con-testants to win the North Alabama Region’s “Songwriter’sContest” on June 25 with his new song,“I’m Alabama” andbecame one of four finalists to compete for the title at the endof July.“No matter what happens with this contest, I consider it anaccomplishment to have gotten this far,” he said.Even though Baldwin has several accomplishments to beproud of, the journey hasn’t always been easy, which Baldwinsaid is just the way it goes in the music business.“Several times I’ve had disappointments, but whenever some-thing really bothers me, it always seems like I would see a fanor watch how my music made someone smile and it would justkeep me going,” he said.“I just never let it get me down.”Baldwin’s music career is going in many directions but he saidhe would never forget his Franklin County roots and the peo-ple that got him pointed in the right direction in the begin-ning.“You consider the people in your own county to be your peo-ple, and if the people here hadn’t liked my music, I probablywouldn’t have branched out,” he said.“It’s people like mygrandparents, Robert and Ava Dean Baldwin and MarvalinePharr, that I dedicate my music to and no matter what happens,I’m just going to keep on singing.”

FACES & PLACES

Russellville Hotel & Suites

• Newly Renovated• Free HOT Breakfast• Banquet & Conference

Facilities Available • Large Whirlpool Suites

13770 Hwy, 43 Russellville, AL

256-332-1002Each Best Western branded hotel is independently owned and operated

PLUS

The Franklin CountySheriff’s Office

supports our community.

Sheriff Shannon Oliver wantsto remind children to

SAY NO TO DRUGS!

Sheriff’s Office256-332-8811

Dispatch-24hr256-332-8820

TC TIRES

TIRES, COMPLETE ALIGNMENTS,

BRAKES, SHOCKS, STRUTS

AUTO SERVICE

Call 256-331-0532

TC WRECKER SERVICE256-331-2345

TC AUTO PARTS256-332-1723

122 COUNTRY HILL DRIVE • RUSSELLVILLEMON.-FRI. 8AM-5PM, SAT. 8AM-12PM

24 HOUR SERVICE

202-A Wilson Dam Rd. • Muscle Shoals, AL

Mon. - Fri 10 - 5:30 • Sat. 10 - 4 • 256-436-0637 130 N. Jackson Ave. • Russellville, AL Sheila Underwood

•• HHoommee

•• AAuuttoo

•• LLiiffee

•• CCoommmmeerrcciiaall

((225566)) 333322--11338811 •• woodthompsonins.@aol.com

Serving our area for over 50 years!

WWOOOODD--TTHHOOMMPPSSOONN IINNSSUURRAANNCCEE SSEERRVVIICCEE,, LLLLCC

13

eople who have lived inFranklin County for anylength of time is familiarwith KGB, a band led byRussellville native Kerry

Gilbert, that has been performingsince 1992.The lineup has changed throughoutthe years, but Gilbert has remainedand has worked to bring wholesomefamily entertainment to Russellville.“I am blessed to get to do what I do,”

Gilbert said.“Musicmakes a differencein my life. I vent myfeelings through

my singing.”Gilbert said the industry haschanged quite a bit since he got hisstart in 1985 with Mountain Breeze.One of the biggest changes is theway Gilbert schedules performancesfor KGB.In the past Gilbert would spendhours on the telephone making hun-dreds of calls to book a gig. Now hecan get a show for the band withouthaving to speak with another per-son.“I still use the old methods, but a lotof e-mails get exchanged,” Gilbertsaid.“Last week I booked a gigthrough text messaging. Not onephone call, it’s amazing.”Gone are the days when Gilbert hadto spend large amounts of moneyrecording and copying demo tapesor printing of 8x10 glossy photos ofthe band. Thanks to Facebook andthe Internet, anybody can haveaccess to photos or KGB’s music. Hesaid fans could even purchase hissolo CD without ever having to leave

P

STORY BYSCOT BEARD

Faces and Places Presents:

Kerry Gilbert

14

their house.Some parts of the industry haven’t changed, however, but that isfine with Gilbert. The technology in the recording studio has got-ten better, but the process remains the same.Gilbert and the other members of KGB — Shane Goodson,Mitchell Curtis, Hugh Banks and Randy Kimbrough — were inthe studio in late July recording a CD. Gilbert said the process isnot as simple as the movies make it appear.“You don’t just go in to sing and walk out,” Gilbert said.“There isa lot of preproduction work like choosing songs. This is going tobe an all original album.”He said the band could spend an entire day playing music foronly one song and another day working on vocals. Once therecording process has been completed, the engineer couldspend up to a day working on each song.Shortly after emerging from the studio, KGB will return to thestage. The second Saturday of every month the band performs atthe Roxy Theater. All profits from the show go to the restorationof the theater.During the shows Gilbert invites an opening act to perform, usu-ally a talented local singer such as Blaze Bishop or Brooklyn Hall.He said the Shoals area is known for talented musicians, butFranklin County also boasts quite a bit of talent and he enjoysshowcasing it.“I can’t even begin to mention how many talented young singersthere are,” Gilbert said.“I want to give them stage time and try tospotlight that young talent.”The Secret Sisters, one of the acts that opened for KGB last year,is currently touring in Europe. Gilbert said he hopes many moreof the young opening acts can find that kind of success and peo-ple will remember seeing them perform before they becamefamous.“People can say, ‘I saw them at the Roxy in 2011,’” Gilbert said.“It’slike people say, ‘I saw Elvis in 1955 in Sheffield.”In addition to giving young talent a place to perform, Gilbert alsooffers the singers advice on how to be successful in the musicindustry. With 26 years of experience, Gilbert has valuableinsights to offer and he enjoys mentoring the young performers.“They ask me for advice and I’m thankful for that,” Gilbert said.While the young singers might be interested in getting adviceon how to get more gigs or how to get into the studio, theymight also want to ask Gilbert about how to stay in the musicindustry for long period of time. With so many bands breakingup after tasting a little success, it seems as though making it inthe music industry is tough.Gilbert said the key to surviving is simple.“You have to surround yourself with good people. I have beenfortunate enough to be around family people who love God,”Gilbert said.“(The members of KGB) are dear to me. We love eachother and respect each other. We are like brothers.”

FACES & PLACES

Debra Mays & Amy KnightB.F.A. Interior Design

69 Clark Drive • Russellville256-332-0026

debrabmays@yahoo.com

13830 Hwy 43Russellville, AL

256-332-7800

5114-B N. Jackson Ave. Russellville, AL

256-332-5161

FranklinFinancial

Serving Our Neighbors Since 1941

st

17901 Hwy 43 • Russellville256-331-0059 • Carryouts Available!

Family Atmosphere • Delicious FoodBreakfast • Lunch • Dinner

“Best Breakfast in Franklin County”

DINNER & a SHOWTeen Showcase

with Frank Bishop1st Saturday of each Month

KGBevery Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm

Travis Wommackevery Friday 5:30pm-7:30pm

Jacob GreenLast Saturday of each Month

6:00pm-8:00pm

No Cover Charge

15

here was a time when folks lined up for blocks outsidethe Roxy Theater, standing beneath its glowing lights, justwaiting for a chance to get inside and see the latestHollywood production.The historic theater was hailed as a “modern touch of

architecture and contractor’s art” when it wasbuilt in 1949, providing the city of Russellvilleand Franklin County with one of the nicest

movie theaters in the Southeast.For more than two and a half decades, guests spent weekend afterweekend visiting the Roxy, sharing time with friends and taking

TSTORY BY

JONATHAN WILLS

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

The Roxy

16

advantage of a type of entertainment notfound everywhere.“It was a beautiful place,” said MartinGault, whose grandfather, Lee Gault, Sr.,managed the Roxy from its inceptionuntil his death in 1963.“We used to come down here early onSaturday morning and spend all day andwouldn’t leave until late that night,” Gaultsaid.The theater was a popular attraction formoviegoers and many local residents stillremember the times they spent there.Frank Bishop, of Russellville, rememberstaking his now wife, Linda, to the theateron date nights, but his memories go evenfurther back.“I didn’t ever have money to go to thetheater unless they had a fundraiserwhere you brought canned food to seethe movie,” he said.“I remember one time when U.S.Reduction paid our scout troop’s way intothe theater to see “Follow Me Boys,” whichwas a movie about a Boy Scout Troop.”The theater began to see less and lesstraffic through its doors as televisions

gained popularity. The Roxy remainedactive off and on until 1976, when it final-ly showed its final picture.In the years following, the once proudtheater sat vacant as weather and decaytook its toll. In 1987, Russellville business-man Buddy Rogers donated the buildingto the Franklin County Arts andHumanities Council, who set forth on afundraising drive to pay for renovations tothe theater.“It seemed a shame to let this historiclandmark just rot and have to bedestroyed,” said Arts and HumanitiesCouncil president Susie Malone.The renovation had a personal feel forMalone, whose aunt, Lila Hovater, workedat the theater for many years.“It was personal because I grew up in thattheater,” Malone said.“It was a fun time inour lives and that’s a special place for a lotof people.”After the building was donated to the artscouncil, members began trying to securefunds for renovations. The group raisedenough money to put a new roof on thebuilding and civic clubs, including the

Rotary Club, helped buy new seats for thetheater.State Sen. Roger Bedford secured fundingto replace that heating and cooling unitso the Roxy could be used year-round.Since renovations began more than 20years ago, the theater has seen a revival ofsorts. It now hosts a monthly concertseries and special events throughout theyear. The arts council also hosts a concerteach year as part of the annual W.C.Handy Festival out of Florence.“There is something special about per-forming in that theater,” said local musi-cian Kerry Gilbert, who performs there thesecond Saturday of each month.“There is just a different feel to it and it’svery intimate when you are performing.The acoustics are awesome.”Though the historic building no longershows Hollywood productions as it oncedid, the arts council’s efforts to revive andrestore the building have given countyresidents something else they can beproud of. It is still a source for great enter-tainment that future generations of resi-dents can enjoy.

FACES & PLACES 17

ussellville native Eddie Martin had no idea hewould someday be completely immersed inthe music industry when he graduated from

Russellville High School in 1983.Even though his love for music began at an early ageas he listened to his parents, Glenn and Bobbie, sing

an harmonize when they woulddrive in their car, Martin didn’t feelthe music truly pulling on him until

after he graduated high school and entered college.“When I was in high school, I was a writer. I had been awriter for as long as I can remember,” Martin said.“Iwasn’t a part of the band or the chorus. I loved musicbut I didn’t look at it as a career path then.”

But during his sophomore year at the University ofNorth Alabama, Martin could not deny that we want-ed music to be more than just a small part of his life.He quickly changed his major and entered into thecollege’s commercial music program.“Once I knew I wanted to pursue songwriting andsinging, I tried to make sure that I put myself aroundother songwriters in the business,” Martin said.“Ibegan volunteering at the Alabama Music Hall ofFame when they had their office at Wishbone Studios,and that volunteer job led to a part-time job at thestudio itself.”Martin’s willingness to volunteer and do whatever ittook to perfect his craft ultimately began to pay off.

RSTORY BY

KELLIE SINGLETON

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

Eddie Martin

18

While working at the studio, Martin beganto work with his first professional song-writer, Brandon Barnes, and the partnershipwould last for several years.During this time, Martin started workingon his first project – a nine-song “pop andR&B” cassette called “In the Mood toGrove.”“Most of the initial music I worked on wasin the pop and R&B vein,” Martin said.“Iwas hanging out with those kinds of writ-ers back then when R&B was very song-ori-ented.”Even though Martin got his start in thepop and R&B genre, he describes his musi-cal tastes and influences as being very“eclectic” from Hank Williams to StevieWonder to Billy Joel to Ella Fitzgerald.Martin said that right now, however, he ismore interested in exploring what he calls“Americana” music, which is how hedescribes the music on his newest album“Untethered,” which is Martin’s fifth soloalbum.“Some people think the album has a coun-try feel, and I can see why they would saythat,” Martin said.“Most country musictoday doesn’t sound like the true country

music I was raised on.”And as if a solo album isn’t enough tofocus on, Martin is also immersed in hisnewest project – a trio called TheWildwood Ruminators.“My whole life, I’ve always liked throwingpeople together in creative situations andtrying to make something out of it,” hesaid.“The collaboration is what I reallyenjoy.”The Wildwood Ruminators consists ofMartin; Russellville-native John Jackson, aguitarist who was part of the pop/punkband Jessica’s Mistake; and Tony Lee, amulti-instrumentalist who was in the localCeltic group Full Moon Ensemble.“We each bring very different musicaltastes and influences to the plate,” Martinsaid.“Our sound is an eclectic style ofmusic which blends various roots-basedinfluences – mainly blues, jazz and folk.We're able to play everything from an all-acoustic three-piece to incorporating elec-tric guitars to adding additional players inorder to play full-band gigs.”Martin said The Wildwood Ruminatorshave performed recently at the HelenKeller Festival, the Spirit of Freedom

Festival at McFarland Park, songwritershowcases, various outdoor venues andnumerous private events, which Martinsaid they are available for if contacted.They are also scheduled as the featured actat First Fridays in downtown Florence onOctober 7.With so many projects over the years,there’s little wonder why Martin hasreceived recognition for his musical talent.In 2005, Martin produced a version of thesong “I’m Gone” for a local female artist.The song won the Best of Showcase Seriesaward from the Songwriter’s Hall of FameNational Academy of Popular Music forthat year.Martin decided to include his version ofthe award-winning song on his“Untethered” album, which is available forpurchase at Audrey’s Gifts and HomeDécor in Russellville, at CDBaby.com orthrough Martin himself.Music from The Wildwood Ruminators canbe purchased from the individual bandmembers, at CDBaby.com, on iTunes orthrough the group’s Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/thewildwoodrumina-tors.

FACES & PLACES

120 Clark DriveRussellville, AL 35653

256-332-4981 1-800-331-7855

www.clarkpulley.com

was $5,999 was $8,399

NOW $4,799 NOW $7,299

19

t takes some people years to findsomething they are passionateabout. For Russellville’s BrooklynHall, she found her passion at anearly age and has been pursuing it

ever since.When she was 7-years-old she begansinging. One year later she was performingat her church.

“I got into it because Ienjoyed it a lot,” Hall said.A member of the audi-

ence of a church play heard Hall sing andinvited her to perform at the Roxy. She laterparticipated in the Shoals Idol competition.In the years since, Hall has recorded one CDand will soon be heading back into the stu-dio to make another CD. Hall is looking for-ward to the new recording session and saysshe is better prepared because she knowswhat to expect.

The first time she headed into the studio,the experience was not what she wasexpecting. The microphone was differentthan the ones she had used on stage andshe was not used to singing while wearingheadphones.“It was a new experience and a lot of work,”Hall said.“But the best part was getting theCD.”Hall boasts an impressive resume. In addi-tion to the CDs, Hall has opened for RonnieMcDowell, performed on “NashvilleSpotlight,” earned a spot in the All-Stateshow Choir, earned superior ratings at theThespian Festival and performed at theRoxy and several other venues inRussellville.Hall’s favorite genres of music to performinclude country and gospel, but she alsoenjoys singing the jazzy style songs byAdelle.

Through it all, she has grown as a per-former, but says her nerves still get the bet-ter of her sometimes.“I got nervous when I first started, but notnow,” Hall said.“I do get nervous in front ofsmaller crowds because you can see every-body looking up at you.”Hall has performed at several venues, butsaid her best performances were at theWildhorse, the Hard Rock Café and theCancer Society event hosted by the firedepartment.Beginning in January Hall will be perform-ing with Sweet Southern Entertainmentand will have the opportunity to perform atlarge venues in Georgia.During her brief career, Hall has becomeone of the top young performers in north-west Alabama. She performs withEntourage, a group of young talent thatperforms throughout the area.

I

STORY BYSCOT BEARD

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

Brooklyn Hall

20

Hall said being with other singers her age helps relieve some ofthe stress and is a great way to learn about the business. Ofcourse, the friendships she developed with the various membersof Entourage are also special to Hall because it is like a supportgroup for everyone trying to build a career in the music field.“It’s really fun because you are not by yourself and you havepeople to talk to,” Hall said.“We mostly talk about music.”She is in the right place at the right time to compare notes withyoung singers. This corner of Alabama has many talented singerswho are part of Entourage. Hall said being part of that talentfeels great and they are creating a springboard that will allowfuture singers to launch their careers in Franklin and surround-ing counties.Being from Russellville, Hall has also been able to get guidancefrom seasoned performers like Kerry Gilbert, who has been per-forming since the 1980s. Hall said she appreciates the help shehas gotten from Gilbert, especially the opportunities he hasgiven her to perform and his words of encouragement.Hall has learned from all the people she has performed with andfrom her own experiences. She said the advice she would offer ayoung singer is to realize it takes a lot of work and practice to besuccessful. She also said it is important to warm up your voicebefore you sing.The biggest piece of advice she can offer, however, is to have athick skin.“Don’t take things to heart,” Hall said.“There are some meanpeople out there.”

FACES & PLACES

1188880011 HHwwyy.. 4433 NNoorrtthh •• RRuusssseellllvviillllee

FFlloowweerrss && GGiiffttssGGrraaccee’’ss

225566--333322--99550000

DDeeccoorraattiioonn FFlloowweerrss && HHoommee DDeeccoorrCCuussttoomm OOrrddeerrss

AArreeaa’’ss LLaarrggeesstt SSeelleeccttiioonn ooff SSiillkkFFlloowweerrss && FFlloorraall SSuupppplliieess

GGrraaccee’’ss PPllaaccee

21

rowing up, Cody Bowen always enjoyed different kinds ofmusic.But it was just listening to the music, not performing.Shortly after graduating from Russellville High School in2004, Bowen began dabbling in some writing and singing

and has since seen that hobby grow into an almost every weekendjob.He now performs at various venues around theShoals and Southern colleges playing his guitarand singing.

Bowen found his interest in music a little later than many do, butonce he got started, there has been slowing down.“When I first started I just sang, I couldn’t play any instruments,” hesaid.“I picked up the guitar pretty easily and I really enjoy playingthat.”Bowen recently recorded a new album, one that he expects to benamed “North Alabama Line.”

He describes his music as having a “country edge, but more of anAmericana story-telling feel” with a 60s-70s electric guitar sound toit.“I call it alternative country,” he said.“But, when I perform live I doeverything from blue grass to rock n’ roll. I have found that it’s bet-ter to know a little of a lot of different styles than to just know a lotof a few styles.”Bowen said he plans to release his album to local radio stations andto have it available for downloading rather than producing manyCDs.“The ways of releasing music has changed a lot lately and I thinkhaving it available for downloading is the way we will go with thisalbum,” he said.Bowen’s style of music has made him a popular choice for perform-ing at college fraternity parties and other smaller venues, such asFrank’s Italian in Tuscumbia and Captain Dave’s restaurant inHaleyville.

GSTORY BY

JONATHAN WILLS

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

Cody Bowen

22

“I played the Hay Fest with Rolling in the Hay at the WorkplayTheater in Birmingham and really had a good time there.Thosesmall venues where you are up there by yourself with your gui-tar in front of the crowd are what I really like.”Though he enjoys his time spent traveling and performing, hesaid writing music is his true passion.“When I was in the seventh grade, I had a teacher named Ms.Channell, and we had to keep a writing journal everyday,” hesaid.“I found out then that I like to write. Over the years I havewritten several songs and I perform them a lot. I would like tohave someone else record one of my songs sometime.“I like having something that I created, knowing that my heart,soul and mind was put into it.”He also had rather be performing live than in a studio record-ing, he said.“The recording is OK, but I had rather be playing live. People arehonest in front of you. I just like to perform and have a goodtime, and that’s what you get in these small intimate venues.”Bowen, who is the son of Johnny Bowen and Jadonna Bowen,and the grandson of Sue and Bobby Bowen and Kay and SamCantrell, said he doesn’t know where his musical career will takehim, but for the time being he is at home in Franklin Countyand loving every minute of it.“I am as happy as I can be with everything right now,” he said.“Iam just playing and writing my music and we will see where itgoes.”

FACES & PLACES

256-331-0123 • Just Behind McDonalds • Russellville

SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • DELIVERY

GREEN’SDEPENDABLEHARDWARE

"START RIGHT, START HERE"

Go To www.STARTRIGHTSTARTHERE.COM. For Project Ideas and Specials.

Small Engine Parts and Service

Guitars &Music

Accessories

HERE NOW...MATCHRITECOLOR MATCH

15220A Hwy. 43

23

veryone needs a break from the everyday mundane thattends to plague people in a society that seems to alwaysbe on the go. Even rural places like Franklin County canget swept up in the hustle and bustle, but thankfully forresidents, the Red Bay Arts and Entertainment Center and

the Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts gohand in hand to provide that much-neededescape people need from time to time.

The Red Bay Arts and Entertainment Center is nestled into mainstreet in Red Bay and stands proudly as one of the jewels of theFranklin County area.

Originally a theater and bowling alley several years ago,Community Spirit Bank’s parent company, IndependentBancshares, Inc., took control of the property in the early ‘90s andkept it mainly for storage until two visionaries decided it could beput to better use.In 1994, the current bank president, Billy Bolton, and the executivevice-president, Patricia Nelson, decided to refurbish the building,which was in need of a serious remodel, and turn it into a placethe community could use for special functions.In December of 1995, renovations to the Garden Room, BanquetHall and Theatre were completed and Red Bay acquired a place

ESTORY BY

KELLIE SINGLETON

FACES & PLACES

Faces and Places Presents:

Arts andEntertainment

Center

24

that would become a showpiece in the years to come asgroups from across the county used the facility for theirspecial occasions.While the Banquet Hall and Garden Room have bothproved to be useful additions, the center’s Theatre draws acrowd from several states who come to watch plays per-formed by the city’s Bay Tree Council for the PerformingArts (BTCPA).Formed in 1996 by a group of citizens dedicated to bring-ing cultural arts into the community, the BTCPA consists of aboard of directors who are committed to bringing commu-nity theater to Red Bay.Red Bay businessman Scotty Kennedy has served in justabout every capacity with the BTCPA from acting to work-ing on sets to directing and serving as the chairman of theboard for several years. Kennedy said he was skeptical whenthe idea for a community theater first came up, but he’sproud to say that the BTCPA is a flourishing organizationtoday.“The Bay Tree Council performs three plays a year – one inApril, one in November and our dinner theater in February,”Kennedy said.“All our plays are well-attended by local resi-dents and out-of-town guests, but our dinner theater inFebruary has gone over so well that we had to add an extranight just for groups who want to come.”Besides providing entertainment for the community,Kennedy said the BTCPA serves an important function bybeing an outlet for creative people.“Our plays give local people with talent an opportunity todisplay those talents through acting, directing, hair andmake-up or set design,” Kennedy said.“We have a state-of-the-art facility we are privileged to use and the BTCPA hasgiven over 200 different people from two years old to sen-ior citizens in their 70s a chance to get out on the stage.”Kennedy said the BTCPA has performed mysteries, musicalsand dramas, but they discovered their audiences reallyenjoyed comedies, so that is their main genre to perform.The BTCPA has also produced several well-known playssuch as “Tom Sawyer,”“Little Women,”“Cheaper by theDozen,”“The Odd Couple,” and the Southern favorite “SteelMagnolias.”“Every time we perform, people come through the line afterthe show and tell us how impressed they are at the facilityand the quality of the play,” Kennedy said.“In our worldtoday of television and digital entertainment, our plays area rare, one-on-one personal experience. And the fact thatyou can see plays of such a high quality in such a high-qual-ity venue right here in Red Bay is really a gift for this area.”Additional information about the BTCPA and their upcom-ing performances can be found on their website atwww.baytreecouncil.org.

FACES & PLACES 25

FRANKLIN COUNTY MUSIC

EEvveennttss FFoorr FFoouunnddeerrss DDaayy:: ❀❀Beauty Pageant ❀❀Run/Walk

❀❀Cypress Cove Farm ❀❀2nd Annual Fried Pie Contest ❀❀Arts & Crafts ❀❀Food ❀❀Games ❀❀Antique Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show ❀❀Festival T-Shirts ❀❀Red Bay Museum will be open with

Strumming Friends making music ❀❀Red Bay merchants will have sidewalk sales ❀❀Specials & Door Prizes

❀❀Outside Entertainment from 9 to 2 ❀❀Buck Dancing Contest ❀❀Fiddle Contest

❀❀GGiivvee aawwaayyss ffoorr::✿✿Largest Family

✿✿Longest Distance Traveled ✿✿Youngest Person Present

✿✿Oldest Person Present ❀❀IInnssiiddee tthhee AArrttss && EEnntteerrttaaiinnmmeenntt CCeenntteerr ffrroomm 33 ttoo 55

MMuussiicc wwiillll bbee pprroovviiddeedd bbyy:: ✿✿FFA String Band ✿✿FFA Quartet

✿✿Allegro Country, with a✿✿Quilt Contest ✿✿Coloring Contest

✿✿Photo Contest

FFOOUUNNDDEERRSS FFEESSTT DDAAYYFFOOUUNNDDEERRSS FFEESSTT DDAAYYSSeepptteemmbbeerr 1177,, 22001111SSeepptteemmbbeerr 1177,, 22001111 BBaayy TTrreeee PPaarrkk

DDoowwnnttoowwnn RReedd BBaayyBBaayy TTrreeee PPaarrkk

DDoowwnnttoowwnn RReedd BBaayy