IMPROMPTU BAND IS A HIT ON STAGE
By
Minda Painter

Saturday night, September 25, the Rural American Music Revue was presented at the Cotton Pickin’ Theatre. It featured past performers in the Rural American Idol program and auditioned two new singing sensations. The fourth Saturday of the month is always reserved for the POINT organization’s talent show.

It was kind of a “kooky” evening in as much as the program is usually a karaoke-styled event, with the singers using their own CDs for music. However, as the warm-up started in the afternoon, several local musicians dropped by to see what was going on. By show-time at 7:30, a full blown, impromptu band had formed, and the show opened with live music, much to the delight of the audience.

POINT’s “Pick-Up Band” developed from local musicians and supporters, including Gene Smith, Jr. and Gene Smith Sr., Rusty Hines, Curtis Wayne, and Mr. “D”. Also participating in the evening’s program was Patsy Hanks.

Featured for this show was Rafael Espinoza, from Alba-Golden. While in high school, his skillfulness on the guitar strings won him “All-State Jazz Guitarist”, and he was selected as lead guitar for the Four States Honor Jazz Band. Now he attends Tyler Junior College, and his exposure to other young talent with the same level of musical interest has led him to expand his endeavors by forming a band and starting songwriting. In a husky, jazz singing style, he performed some of his original songs with gusto.

Another former Rural Idol participant, Shea Birdwell of Quitman, was in the audience supporting his college buddy, Espinoza. Shea was invited to join the ensemble for a performance. Delightfully obliging the call, his vocal performance was backed on spell-binding guitar by Espinoza.

This was the year’s final audition for the Rural American Idol. Saturday night’s show completed the lineup for a showdown on October 23, when the contestants will be backed by a live band as they compete. The winners in October will progress to the final show on November 20 with all the great prize monies and the crowning of Rural American Idol-2010.

Jessica Mize, from Lewisville, gave an impressive rendition of “Me and Bobby McGhee” and Patsy Cline’s old classic “Crazy” for her audition songs. Her vocal performance conveyed her educational background and training in music.

Equally outstanding in her performance was Tammie White, from Royse City. Her musical exposure extends to playing keyboard at church and the role she played as Patsy Cline in a musical play, “Always Patsy Cline”, presented by the Royse City Chamber of Commerce. She sang Martina McBride’s “Broken Wing” in her own stylish way and then showed her fun character in her delivery of “It Happens”, a tune by Sugarland.

(L-R) Rafael Espinoza, Tammie White, Jessica Mize, and Shea Birdwell

Jessica Mize and Tammie White will join the others who qualified from the previous auditions. In Division 2, Jessica Mize will face Laramie Lomenta of Alba and Aubrey Burnley of Tyler. In Division 3, Tammie White will take the challenge from Emily Worley of Emory, Janet Lyn Adam of Winnsboro, and Laura Cockerham of Emory.