June 12, 2010  Time: Approximately 8:00 p.m.

I am excited to be going to this Civil War re-enactment at East Harbor State Park on Lake Erie.   This event will feature re-enactments on Saturday and Sunday.  Tours of the Confederate Prison Camp on nearby Johnson’s Island will be available, a full field hospital as living history, and the traveling C.S.S. Hunley traveling exhibit (full size replica of the first successful  submarine).  I will perform “Songs and Stories from The Civil War” at (approx.) 8:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

“Starch In Their Petticoats: Stories of Strong Women Who Settled the West”           May 14 and 15, 2010    6:30 ’til 9:00 p.m.  Homewood Public Library in Homewood, AL

I am so excited to be doing this program with the actress / master storyteller Dolores Hydock.  Ms. Hydock is an amazing performer who will bring to life some colorful characters:

“They were tough, resourceful, and ready for anything!  Storyteller Dolores Hydock brings to life stories of women of guts and gusto who settled the American West.  They were pioneers, homesteaders, pistol-packin’ card sharks, entertainers, and “upstairs girls,” but they all played a part in putting the shine in the Golden West of the 1800’s.”

I will be performing some historic tunes as Dolores weaves her magic — I am very proud to work with this very talented lady!

The program is at The Homewood Public Library Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Road in Homewood, AL.  Tickets are $20 and include and hors d’oeuvres buffet starting at 6:30 p.s. and the program from 7:30 – 9:00 p.s.  Advance ticket reservations are required, and can be made from April 5th through May 10th by calling the library at 205-332-6625.

I will be returning to Local Color in Springville, AL to perform Songs and Stories of The Civil War on July 17.  This promises to be another delightful evening at one of my favorite venues.  Local Color is an dinner theatre that can accomodates  70 people.  The food is outstanding! Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. with the program at 7:40.

For reservations call Merle or Gary at 205-467-0334.

Place: Old Pickens County Courthouse

When: Approx. 6:00 p.m. / Play begins at 7:00 p.m.

One of the most unusual places you can go is Carrollton, Al.  If you stand on the north side of the old county courthouse and look at the topmost window you can clearly see a human face in the pane of glass there.  This play tells the story of the events that led up to the moment when lightning struck and forever etched the image on the glass.  The proceeds from this event will help to preserve the marvelous old building.

The story is set in the 1870’s so I will present tunes from that era prior to the play’s beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Place:  Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham, AL

Time: Sunday March 14, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

“Tom Sawyer” is Alabama Libraries’  featured book for this year’s Big Read.  Mark Twain was raised on The Mississippi River town in Hannibal, MO.  He lived in an exciting place at an exciting time!  The Mighty Mississippi was America’s super highway with riverboats busily shuttling people and goods up and down the river at a rapid pace.  A job on a paddle wheeler was every boy’s dream!  I will be presenting tunes that Mr. Twain would have heard in Hannibal from the townspeople, from musicians on the boats, and some songs the stevedores sang as they loaded and unloaded cargo.

Tickets go on sale Feb.1 / call 205-975-2787 or visit The Alys Stephens Center Ticket Office.   Adults $10.00  /  Children under 13  $5.00

Place: Shelby County High School;  101 Washington St.;  Columbiana, AL 35051

from the Big Read Brochure…..”By combining music from the Ken Burns’ film MARK TWAIN with humorous and fascinating tales, Horton will paint a picture of what life might have been like on the Mississippi during Tom Sawyer’s time.  This is a free event.

This event will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude at approximately 8:oo p.m.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to play some of the tunes I played for Ken’s film, plus other period songs that the young Sam Clemens would have heard while growing up on the Mighty Mississippi.  The steamboat was a big part of the river culture of the 19th century and is a fascinating part of our country’s history and developement –  I will be telling some of the steamboating stories I learned while performing on the Delta Queen Steamboat Company’s vessels over the last seventeen years.

March 7, 2010

Place:  Pelham Public Library;  3160 Pelham Parkway;  Pelham, AL 35124

from the Big Read Brochure…….. “By combining music from the film Mark Twain with humorous and fascinating tales, Horton will paint a picture of what life might have been like on the Mississippi during Tom Sawyer’s time.  Seating is limited forht this free event, so please call 205-620-6418 to reserve a seat.”

I am really excited about this program!  I will play some of the tunes I played for Ken’s film, plus other “period” tunes that the young Sam Clemens would have heard while growing up on the Mighty Mississippi.  The steamboat was a big part of the river culture of the 19th century and is a fascinating part of our country’s history and developement  — I will be telling some of the steamboating stories I learned while performing on the Delta Queen Steamboat Company’s vessels over the last seventeen years.

Since I began recording a great deal of 19th century American music I have been accumulating old instruments as I find and can afford them.  My dear friend, Herb Trotman of Fretted Instruments in Homewood, Alabama, found this guitar for me several years ago.  Selwyn Spaulding (Birmingham, AL) restored it and made it come back to life.

I have found that the “woody” sound of vintage instruments really makes old music sound and feel “period” and warm.

I was first exposed to Mr. Foster’s tunes in music class in elementary school and have loved them ever since.  I have wanted to do an album of his tunes for a long time and actually began recording about a year and a half ago.  I would record a tune or two in between film projects and as of today have completed thirteen tunes.  I hope to complete the process of recording, mixing, mastering, and doing the cover and liner notes by the end of the year.  The  toughest challenge I am have now is not determining which tunes to include but which of his great songs to exclude!

My goal is to present these tunes as they may have been played back in the middle 19th century — both by playing antique instruments and doing simple “period” arrangements.  The beauty of Mr. Foster’s songs is the sincereity of the lyrics and the simplicity of the melodies.

The CD is now available.  If you are interested, please check my dealer listing, or go to <www.cdbaby.com>.  The CD is also available on several download services such as itunes.  If you have any questions, please contact me via webmaster@bobbyhorton.com.