MSU's Department of History will host its seventh annual ROOTS Music Concert at Lovett Auditorium, which will feature several award-winning musicians and Grand Old Opry veterans. Senior history lecturer, Dr. Ted Belue, visits Sounds Good to discuss details of the event.
The ROOTS Music Concert series is one of the many ways MSU gives back to western Kentucky's community. The MSU history department provides national and local acts who exemplify some of the world's best musical traditions, while attendees of the event are asked to donate canned goods to Need Line in lieu of an admission fee. "The Department of History provides music to warm us and our donors provide food to care for people in our community. It's a win-win situation," said Dr. Kathy Callahan, History Department Chair.
Senior history lecturer and organizer of the ROOTS Concert series, Dr. Ted Belue, visited Sounds Good to discuss the acts performing and to preview the music the audience can expect to hear. Kicking off the event will be Jim Hurst, a multi-genre guitar virtuoso known for his unique finger-style picking and soothing voice based out of Nashville. Hurst has performed alongside several Grand Ole Opry members, including Holly Dunn and Trisha Yearwood. He is also an International Bluegrass Music Association nominee for Best Guitarist.
Corinna Rose Logston and Jeremy Stephens are a dynamic husband-wife duo steeped in bluegrass and early country. Both musicians have had incredible success in their respective careers. Logston regularly performs with an award-winning traditional bluegrass band, which she co-founded, called High Fidelity. Stephens has worked as an instrumentalist on Ray Stevens' television show Nashville and at the Grand Ole Opry.
Paducah's own Wheelhouse Rousters will be closing the ROOTS 8 series with their hybrid music celebrating West Kentucky's cultural heritage, its industry and people, and river history. The trio focuses on songs gathered by musicologist Mary Wheeler and their original compositions rooted deeply in Americana.
The event is free and open to the public, though attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods for the Need Line food drive. The concert will take place at Lovett Auditorium on November 14th at 7:30 p.m. The show will last about two and a half hours. For more information, visit the MSU History Department's website.
