American Roots music – bluegrass, country, folk, blues, and gospel (among others) is the lifeblood of America’s cultural heritage. These are the sounds of the American melting pot in full boil, and this summer we will present some of the iconic masters of these forms as well as promising and talented rising stars, among them: the Del McCoury Band, John McCutcheon, Heritage Blues Quartet, Spuyten Duyvil, David Wax Museum, the Stray Birds, Doug & Telisha, and Walkabout Clearwater Chorus. Tim O’Brien, the Amy Helm Band and Suzanne Vega will appear on the Caramoor stage as well.
To further celebrate this truly American musical tradition, we are thrilled to welcome two longtime friends celebrating some forty years on the road, neo-traditionalists singing in the church of the high and lonesome: Emmy Lou Harris and Rodney Crowell! The two met and began performing together in the 1970’s and have recently collaborated on an album, “Old Yellow Moon.” This collaboration features many songs written by Crowell, and is what I call “real country,” meaning old-style, western Kentucky country, with the deep bass and pedal steel that is glaringly absent from today’s watered-down fusion that is somehow inauthentic.
Long known as an interpreter of songs, 12-time Grammy Award winner Emmylou Harris has, in the last decade, gained admiration as much for her eloquently straightforward songwriting as for her incomparably expressive singing. As the years have passed, her voice has become even sweeter, always with a twinge of sadness and longing in its tones. She will dig deep and go straight to your soul!
Rodney Crowell, also a multi-Grammy-award winner, has written songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Norah Jones, Etta James and the Grateful Dead among others. While primarily known as a songwriter, Crowell enjoyed popularity in hit-radio country music in the 1980’s. Since then he has continued his prolific songwriting including the songs on “Old Yellow Moon,” his first official collaboration with Emmy Lou Harris since joining her Hot Band in 1975. He is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and most recently the author of the well-received autobiography Chinaberry Sidewalks.
Both Harris and Crowell have touched souls with their sweet, mournful sound. This summer, expect to be mesmerized by the urban cowgirl in fringe and the black-hatted outsider!
They will be appearing at Caramoor on July 13th in the Venetian Theater.
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