NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Award-winning singer-songwriters Mike Reid and Michael Johnson will headline the second Bluebird on the Mountain show of the 2007 season at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory.
Bluebird on the Mountain showcases artists from one of Nashville’s top music venues, the Bluebird Café. The series is booked by the club’s owner, Amy Kurland, who founded the Bluebird in 1982.
Mike Reid, a former Cincinnati Bengal and Grammy winner, is a classically trained pianist who studied at Penn State. In the NFL off-seasons, Reid performed with orchestras in Cincinnati, Dallas and Utah. After leaving the NFL in the mid-70s, Reid played the Colorado resort circuit.
In 1980, he signed with ATV Publishing and later moved over to Milsap Music. While there he wrote material for Ronnie Milsap’s Inside album, which contained the hit single, “Stranger in My House.”
From there Reid scored cuts with Marie Osmond, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd and Bonnie Raitt, whose recording of the 1991 hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me” sold more than 6 million copies. In 1985, Reid was named ASCAP‘s Writer of the Year and in 2005 was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Colorado native Michael Johnson draws from a variety of influences to create his soft folk-pop sound. Johnson began playing guitar at age 13 – starting with folk and jazz – before studying classical guitar with Gracicano Tarrago in Barcelona, Spain. In addition to his songwriting and singing skills, Johnson is a much sought-after session musician who has recorded with Dolly Parton, Leo Kottke, Faith Hill and the late blues player Michael Bloomfield.
Before settling in Nashville, Johnson worked with Randy Sparks and the New Society and the Chad Mitchell Trio, which included rising folksinger John Denver. Launching a solo recording career in the 1970s, Johnson has recorded for the EMI, RCA, Atlantic and Vanguard labels. He scored a Top Ten hit with “Bluer Than Blue” in 1978 and followed up with the Top Five single, “This Night Won’t Last Forever.” In the late 1980s, he scored five Top Ten country hits including “Give Me Wings” and “The Moon is Still Over Her Shoulder.”
Ellen Britton is a talented performer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with decades of experience in the music business. She has received rave reviews from veteran Nashville music journalist Robert K. Oermann and Sing Out! magazine. Critics have compared her voice to that of Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell.
A native of Pennsylvania, Britton learned to play guitar from her father, a well-respected folksinger in the Philadelphia area. As a young woman, Britton and her sister Wendy played the college circuit performing their unique blend of folk and blues. In the early 1990s, Britton moved to Nashville where she has worked as a guitar player and backup singer for country artists Sara Evans, Pam Tillis and Martina McBride. Britton released a self-titled solo album that includes drummer Kenny Malone and jazz guitarist John Willis. Britton is also a member of Queen of Hearts, a quartet of singer-songrwriters who released the album Pink Boots in 2006.
Rounding out the evening’s performers will be W. T. Davidson. Moving to Nashville from Iowa in 1974, Davidson signed on as a staff writer with Famous Music where he churned out songs for artists of various musical genres. Among Davidson’s cut are “They Call It Love” by Ray Charles, “Paintin’ This Old Town Blue” by Crystal Gayle and “The Blues Don’t Get Tired of Me” by Millie Jackson.
Advance tickets are available through Ticketmaster, which will add a handling fee. Tickets are limited, and past performances have sold out in advance of the show, so it is advisable to get your tickets early. All concerts will be held rain or shine.
Other show dates for the 2007 series are July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 15 and Oct. 13. Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. shows. The July 14 and Aug. 11 shows, however, have an 8 p.m. start time with gates opening at 7 p.m. Artists scheduled to appear during the 2007 season include Bob DiPiero, Victoria Shaw, Tom Schuyler, Don Schlitz, Richard Leigh and Allen Shamblin.
Concert attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and pack a picnic basket. After the show, visitors can linger to stargaze using the observatory’s Seyfert telescope.
Season tickets for carloads with a maximum of eight people are $350 for a season pass and $80 for a single show. No RV’s or buses will be admitted. No individual tickets will be available this year.
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: Chris Skinker, (615) 322-NEWS
chris.skinker@vanderbilt.edu