PATCHWORK Rides Again!
Patchwork - the best of a few worlds...
\"Stunning, soaring vocals!\" - Bill Hutchinson, City of Gainesville Cultural Events Programmer/Concert Promoter
\"Impeccable musicianship and sterling harmonies!\" - Greg and Kiki Webb, Radio deejays/Concert Series hosts, Minnesota
It took several years for Patchwork to record their second album, but it was well worth the wait. In this eclectic assortment of tunes the girls lend their extraordinary vocal blend and acoustic instrumental skills to an amazing array of tunes, ranging from original folk and bluegrass to forties swing and rhythm & blues! Each tune is a surprising and delightful departure from the one before.
Featuring national award-winning banjoist and fiddler Tammy Murray, Patchwork hails from Gainesville, Florida, and has been together for over fifteen years. Each member plays professionally in a variety of musical settings, and brings her own unique talent and flavor to the mix. The group\'s forte is their incredible vocal blend, along with creative arrangements and unique stylistic choices.
Patchwork performs in concerts, museums and festivals throughout Florida, and has been broadcast live on national public television and radio. Their professional ease onstage, instrumental prowess, and beautifully blended voices have made them a favorite at festivals statewide, including the Gamble Rogers Festival in St. Augustine, the Will McLean Festival in Dade City, and the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs, where they were chosen as headliners in 2006-2008.
They bring a spirit of camaraderie and ease to all their music, which comes across in their live recordings. Patchwork epitomizes the idea that \"Girls just want to have fun\"--and they want to make sure everyone else does too!
PATCHWORK PERSONNEL
TAMMY MURRAY
With several musical awards on her mantle, Tammy is the most versatile instrumentalist in the group. Among her many accomplishments are: Florida Rustic Fiddle and Twin Fiddle Champion, Florida Hammered Dulcimer Champion, National Old-Time Banjo Champion, and Florida Old-Time Female Solo Vocalist. She has performed in festivals and contests all over the country, as well as schools, museums, radio and television shows, theatrical productions, clubs and restaurants. In addition to releasing her own album, \"Six White Horses,\" she also plays on several other Florida folk\'s albums, including Mark Johnson, Anna Moo (with Bo Diddley) and Fay Baird (of the Short Sisters). Carrying on the legacy of traditional music, she holds old-time jams for children, teaches music privately and has taught at several schools in the Gainesville area.
JANET RUCKER
A multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, bass, and banjo, Janet is best-known for her distinctive voice, described by one producer as \"fragile, yet powerful; vulnerable, yet confident.\" A veteran of countless bands, she is in high demand as a session singer at local recording studios. Her original songs compose a large part of Patchwork\'s repertoire, and her \"Florida Home\" was recently one of the winners in the Will McLean Best New Florida Song songwriting contest. She performed in the Hippodrome State Theatre\'s 1987 production of \"Hair,\" and before forming Patchwork she toured the festival circuit from Colorado to Atlanta to Florida with her band, Country Love. Janet is a member of many bands, including Antidote.
CATHY DeWITT
An eclectic musician whose roots branch out from classical and folk music to jazz, Cathy plays piano and guitar and sings. Several of her original compositions are on the Patchwork songlist, including \"My Heart Belongs to Florida\", second-place winner in the 2005 Best New Florida Song Contest. She has played at clubs and festivals throughout the state for over twenty years. She performed with Florida legends Will McLean and Don Grooms, and has sung with Tom Paxton, Dave Frishberg, Garrison Keillor, and others. In addition to hosting a popular folk music program on WUFT, Cathy is the Music Director/musician in residence for the Arts-in-Medicine program at Shands Hospital, and presents national workshops on music and healing. She won the National League of American Penwomen (Gainesville branch) Award for Music in 2000.
ANNIE McPHERSON
Annie grew up playing music and singing, influenced by her mother who was a trained vocalist and piano player. An eclectic musician, she won 2nd place in mandolin and 2nd place in beginning banjo at the Old Time Music Championships in 2001, and started playing acoustic bass with Patchwork in 2006! She also sings, plays piano, and loves to play bluegrass, swing standards and folk music with her husband David Cook. Their bands include contra dance bands Tarragon and Physical Medicine, and the swing dance bands Starlite Express and Dem Cats be Cookin’.
JOLENE STONE JONES
A graduate of the University of Florida\'s music program, Jolene is in demand for her wide vocal range. Her soaring harmonies and rhythmic mandolin playing are a distinctive part of Patchwork\'s sound. She has performed in several local bands, as well as in the University of Florida production of \"Madame Butterfly.\" A music teacher, she has presented various workshops at festivals and schools throughout the area, and her high harmony vocals have graced many a studio project.
QUOTES:
\"I truly love listening to your music. So lucky to have y\'all at the end of a long day\" - S.S., RN/Paramedic
\"They were the best act I heard all weekend\" - Florida Folk Festival attendee.
\"I\'ve run sound and mixed all kinds of bands, from local to national, at festivals and events throughout the state. Nobody else can match these women\'s vocals\"- Rob R., Sound Engineer
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