Fourth concert of the Bluebird on the Mountain scheduled for August 21
The fourth show of the 2010 Bluebird on the Mountain concert series is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature singer-songwriters Marshall Chapman, Gary Nicholson and Al Anderson. The show starts at 8 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Season tickets for this year’s series are sold out, but advance tickets for the remaining single shows are available through Ticketmaster or by phone. Tickets are $95 for a carload and a handling fee will be added. No RVs or buses will be admitted. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome.
Marshall Chapman has released 10 critically acclaimed albums, recorded with notable musicians, published a book, recently wrapped up her first acting role in the motion picture Love Don’t Let Me Down and is a proud Vanderbilt alumna (BA ’71). But for all of her accomplishments, Chapman is a musician first and foremost.
Chapman has recorded with Joe Cocker (“Just to Keep from Drowning”), Emmylou Harris (“Better off Without You”) and Jimmy Buffett (“Everybody’s on the Run” and “Beyond the End”). Since releasing her first album in 1977, Chapman has maintained a successful career as a solo artist. Her sophomore album, Jaded Virgin, was voted by Stereo Review as 1978’s Record of the Year. She has toured on her own and has opened for musicians including Jimmy Buffett and The Ramones.
After conquering every aspect of the music field, Chapman explored new outlets of creativity in 1998. She wrote 14 songs for the country musical Good Ol’ Girls. In 2003 her book, Goodbye, Little Rock & Roller, was published. Chapman is currently recording her newest album, tentatively titled Big Lonesome and a new book, They Came to Nashville, is scheduled for a fall release.
With more than 350 songs recorded, 26 ASCAP songwriting awards won as well as being responsible for over a dozen major hits, Gary Nicholson is rightfully referred to as the “go-to guy” in Music City. Nicholson has worked and recorded with Greg Allman (“Love the Poison”), Jeff Bridges (“Fallin’ and Flying”), Brooks and Dunn (“When We Were Kings”), Garth Brooks (“Squeeze Me In”), The Blues Brothers (“One Track Train”) and the Dixie Chicks (“More Love”) just to name a few.
Beginning as a performing musician in Texas, Nicholson evolved into songwriting and finally stepped into producing other artists’ records. In 2009 Nicholson worked with Ringo Starr to co-write a song for the former Beatle’s latest record, Y Not. Currently Nicholson is working on a new album.
Nicholson’s songwriting talents have been recognized and he will be inducted into the Texas Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in March 2011.
Al Anderson is a guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his 22-year tenure with rock band NRBQ. However, Anderson’s resume has much more to offer. He has released several solo albums, including Party Favors (1989), and has written or co-written songs for the likes of Tim McGraw (“The Cowboy in Me”) and Jeffrey Steele (“Somethin’ in the Water”). Anderson was also voted in 1993 as one of “the top 100 guitarists of the 20th century” by Musician Magazine, as well as receiving nods in the “team player” category.
While Anderson occasionally tours as a “guitarist-for-hire” for a number of country acts, he devotes the majority of his time to songwriting, and continues to land hits with Nashville’s stars including Vince Gill (“From Where I Stand”) and George Jones (“The Rock”).
[rquote]Weather permitting, the observatory also invites visitors to remain and stargaze using the observatory’s Seyfert telescope.[/rquote] If severe weather is forecast for show dates, please check the Dyer Observatory calendar for updates or call (615) 373-4897.
Dyer Observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Boulevard and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake. Directions are available at http://www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu/.
Built in 1953, Dyer Observatory was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The property consists of the observatory, 1953 house and garage and 2006 Star Chamber. The observatory serves as a community resource for the teaching of science as well as a venue for public, private and corporate events.