(Note: Click here to download a high-resolution photo of Judy Collins)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bluebird on the Mountain concert series presents a special evening with Judy Collins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Other guests include Marcus Hummon and Hugh Prestwood, with Amy Speace opening.
Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available through Ticketmaster, which adds a handling fee. Tickets are limited, and past performances have sold out prior to the day of the show. The concert will be held rain or shine.
Collins’ impressive career has spanned more than 40 years, combining a unique blend of contemporary themes and interpretative folksongs. She won the Grammy for song of the year in 1975 for her version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical A Little Night Music.
Collins also is noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” on her 1967 album, Wildflowers. She released the album Portrait of An American Girl this year.
Her song, “Chelsea Morning,” was selected by former President Bill Clinton as one of 11 tracks on his new CD compilation, The Bill Clinton Collection: Selections from the Clinton Music Room. The CD is expected to be released in late September.
Hummon wrote the current Rascal Flatts hit “Bless the Broken Road” and No. 1 songs by Wynonna (“Only Love”) and Tim McGraw (“One of These Days”). He co-wrote the Dixie Chicks‘ Grammy-winning “Ready to Run” along with group member Martie Siedel.
Hummon’s creative side isn’t limited to writing hit country songs. He has written a book of poetry, three stage musicals and the lyrics for the PBS children’s cartoon series Book of Virtues.
Prestwood has been writing hits for 20 years and was discovered in 1978 by Collins, who gave him his first hit, “Hard Times for Lovers,” and recorded five more of his songs. Prestwood has written six No. 1 songs, including “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart,” by Randy Travis, “The Song Remembers When,” by Trisha Yearwood and “The Sound of Goodbye” by Crystal Gayle.
Prestwood’s new album, The Fate of Fireflies, was released this year. This will be his second performance at the observatory.
Speace’s sophomore album, Songs for Bright Street, will be released in November. Contributors to the album are Gary Louris of The Jayhawks, guitarist Cliff Eberhart and E-Street Band fiddler Soozie Tyrell.
Bluebird on the Mountain presents artists from the stage of Nashville’s renowned Bluebird Café singing on the beautiful observatory grounds overlooking Nashville. The series is booked by Amy Kurland, founder and owner of the Bluebird Café.
Tickets are available in advance for $90 per carload or at the door for $100. Cars may contain a maximum of eight people and no RV’s or buses will be admitted. Single tickets cost $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and food.
Concertgoers are encouraged to gaze at the heavens using the observatory’s Seyfert telescope after the show.
Dyer Observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Boulevard and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake. A map is available at www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu/directions.htm.
Media contact: Todd Vessel, (615) 322-NEWS
todd.vessel@vanderbilt.edu