Mountain Cove
Bluegrass performers the Mountain Cove Bluegrass will bring their talents to Sacred Sounds Fridays, July 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot at Depot Street and U.S. 41 in Ringgold, Ga. in a special concert for the Share America Foundation, Inc. Also appearing will be pianist Ryan Stinson. Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” will emcee.
Mountain Cove Bluegrass is one of the region's most active bluegrass bands appearing in venues throughout the region. They were featured on the Great American Country cable network and have won the Smithville Bluegrass Band competition twice.
"This is one of the most talented group of young men in bluegrass today," Mr. Franks said.
The group from the Chattanooga area includes Cody Harvey on banjo, Eli Beard on guitar, Chris Brown on fiddle, Will Markham on bass, and Tyler Martelli on mandolin.
Several members of the group including Mr. Harvey, Mr. Markham and Mr. Martelli are Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholars. Their latest CD is "Mountain Cove III."
Mr. Stinson, of Ringgold, is a country and gospel pianist who performs regularly at theaters in Pigeon Forge and venues in Nashville and concerts around the region.
He began his training with five years of lessons from the pianist at his home church, First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe.
Mr. Stinson said he plays everything by ear. “I specialize in the Nashville Sound ‘slip-note’ style of playing made popular by the late Floyd Cramer,” he said. “I learned to play the song ‘Last Date’ upon my family’s request. It is the first song I ever learned by ear, and I’ve been doing it that way ever since.”
His latest CD is " Gospel Glory." Visit him at Ryan Anthony Stimson Music on Facebook.
The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund. The Share America Foundation, Inc., a Georgia non-profit, presents scholarships to talented musicians who excel in the Appalachian musical arts.
Donations for tickets are adults: $6, Children 5 and under free with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at SonShine Christian Books, 706-861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe. For more information, Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or www.shareamericafoundation.com.
Ryan Stinson