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Country Music Talents Found in Weakley County

 

 

They are cousins only by marriage, but for Micah Arnold and Jonathan McDowell, country music is definitely in their blood. Now, they will have the opportunity to showcase their family talent as they set out into the country music industry with talent scout Vicki Love. Love came back to her roots in Dresden last month for a reprieve from the hectic industry. But, she lacked the ability to dawdle and soon sought out what will be her next project. It didn’t take much time once Love heard the vocal talents of Arnold and read the original songs created by his cousin McDowell.


Arnold, 27, of Gleason said he starting singing at the ripe age of three and from there, he was stage-bound with the help of his father, Jim. “Music has been my life. My dad grew up in country music and I adapted to it. Now it is a part of me,” Arnold shared. Arnold’s history in country music ranges from breaking into the business with Loretta Lynn and recording songs in Hurricane Mills to Music Row. “I’ve been trying to break into the country music business for years,” Arnold said. After leaving UT Martin with two years of college under his belt, Arnold took off for Nashville and eventually came home when the big break didn’t come to fruition. With excitement about what the future will bring, Arnold says working with Love has been a dream come true. “She’s been great, real supportive of me,” Arnold said. The budding artist has admiration for country music icon George Strait, but says his goal is to never try and mimic anyone else on the stage. “I like to have a lot of energy. I want the audience to have a good time and I put my feelings into it. I’m from Gleason. I come from a small town and I’m just a good ol’ country boy,” he added.


McDowell’s story is quite similar. At 29-years-old, McDowell has spent much of his adult life working in law enforcement, but his passion has always been country music. “I get my inspiration from my three-year-old daughter, Brooklyn Renee,” McDowell shared. The Gleason resident and Weakley County Sheriff’s deputy said he received a music scholarship to a university in Mississippi where he honed his skills with instruments including the pen. McDowell has a vocal talent, plays bass guitar and enjoys writing his own country music songs. He said of his three country music dreams, he has already fulfilled two by performing on the Ryman Stage in Nashville and being featured as a guest artist at the Grand Ole Opry. “I enjoy writing and playing country music,” McDowell said.


McDowell said the best piece of advice he ever received came from fellow artist Jack green. “He told me if I hadn’t heard ‘no’ 10 times, then I wasn’t trying. If you give up, nobody is going to give you a chance. All it takes is that one person to give you a chance,” McDowell shared. This talent said he has also never met a stranger and wants people to wave when they see him. While McDowell also has an affection for George Strait’s style of music, he confessed his favorite artist was Vern Gosdin.


Both artists said they have no problem performing on stage. McDowell actually made it through the first audition of Nashville Star. Arnold was named the West Tennessee Idol finalist and a runner-up in the state finals.


Love has planned a community concert in Gleason at 9 p.m. on Friday at the American Legion for Arnold, McDowell and the band currently known as The Micah Arnold Band. The publicist said security will be available during the show that night and commended the behind the scenes efforts of Michael Whitney and Loy Gail Mansfield. “Many props to them. Every day Michael watches over me,” Love shared. She said she is looking forward to honing the new talent and presenting them to country music powerhouse players at an invitation-only concert in January at the legendary Tootsies in Nashville. Love is also working to secure transportation to Nashville for the band’s fan base. Other members of the band include Nick Stroud, acoustics; Matt Coffey, lead guitar; Qwin Messer, bass guitar and Ricky Morgan on drums. The public is invited to Friday’s show in Gleason. Source: Weakley County Press

 

 Mike Snider to be Inducted Into George Hay Music

Hall of Fame

MAMMOTH SPRING, Ark. -- Loretta Lynn, Gene Williams, Mike Snider and the late Dottie Rhodes will be inducted into the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame, named for the man who created the Grand Ole Opry, on Sept. 20 in Mammoth Spring, Ark., at 1:30 p.m.

The George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame and Foundation honors the memory of George D. Hay, who credited a hoe down in the town as the inspiration for his creation of the Grand Ole Opry. Both the hall of fame and foundation have the support and encouragement of Hay’s daughter, Margaret Hay-Van Damm.

The induction will be conducted during the 13th Annual George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame and Hoe Down Awards Show on Sept. 20 at the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame Theater in Mammoth Spring, Ark.

Mike Snider

Mike Snider, a native of Tennessee and a member of the Grand Ole Opry, credits his dogs for starting his country music career. When he was six, his dogs dug up a horn in his front yard. When he managed to get a tune out the chewed up old horn, his father got him a trumpet.

That gift was followed by a banjo when Snider turned 16. Snider’s dedication and hard work on the banjo resulted in two state banjo championships and, at age 22, the title of National Banjo Champion.

His first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry is attributed to a meeting with Gordon Stoker, a member of the Jordannaires. Snider told Stoker that he would like to do the Grand Ole Opry and not only did Snider get the invitation, but also his entire hometown of Gleason, Tenn. Snider’s performance was witnessed by some 2,000 hometown friends and neighbors.

Now a permanent fixture on the Grand Ole Opry, Snider and his band are called the “best string band in the nation” by Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs.

Snider said the Mike Snider String Band members do their music “by the seat of their pants.” Band members are Matt Combs and Shad Cobb on twin fiddles, Charlie Cushman on guitar and banjo, Terry Smith on bass fiddle and Snider on mandolin.

“Mike Snider is a great comedian and championship musician as well as a renowned country music performer,” said his George D. Hay Hall of Fame nomination biography.

In addition to his appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, Snider has appeared on “Nashville Now,” for seven years at Nashville’s OpryLand USA and for seven years was a comedic performer on the television show, “Hee Haw,” playing banjo, harmonica and mandolin. Source. Branson Entertainment Examiner.

Frazier Selected as Weakley County Director of Schools

DRESDEN (March 30) Randy Frazier, principal of Gleason Schools and coach of the Lady Bulldogs basketball team, was selected from five candidates to lead the Weakley County School System.

Weakley County School Board members interviewed all five candidates Monday and made the selection Monday following the interviews.

Candidates included: Frazier; Career Education Director Marvin Flatt; Instructional Supervisor Debbie (Hays) Doster, of McKenzie; Assistant Director Jeff Kelly; and Technology Coordinator Mark Maddox, who also is the state representative to the General Assembly for the area.

Frazier will enter negotiations with the board for pay and benefits. He will replace Richard Barber, who is retiring after serving the school system since 1969 in various capacities, including the directorship since 1990.

Weakley County Schools has 10 schools, 648 employees, and 4,800 students.     

Gleason School has achieved high honors during Frazier's tenure. Most everyone knows about the state championship girls' basketball teams. However, Gleason High School ranks among some of the top schools in the nation.

According to a story published earlier this year in The Banner, for the second consecutive year, Gleason High School in Weakley County has been named to the 2009 U.S. News and World Report list of America's best high schools.

U.S. News and World Report analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools to find the best across the country and placed them into gold, silver, bronze and honorable mention categories.

Gleason High won in the bronze category.

"We have an outstanding faculty and staff," said Gleason Principal Randy Frazier. "Our students have done a good job in class concentration on what needs to be done for us to attain the scores.

"The students have really focused on achieving well on these tests," he added. According to an analysis by School Evaluation Services - a K-12 education and data research analysis business - a best high school is one that succeeds at standardized test performance, proficiency rates of all students, including the least advantaged, and challenging college-ready curriculum.

A bronze medal recognizes high schools that meet the first two criteria of the methodology.

Another testimony to the school's outstanding effort became evident in December when the Tennessee Department of Education named Gleason High the 2009 state recipient for the Title I Distinguished School in Exceptional Student Performance. Source: McKenzie Banner.

West Tennessee High Schools Make Magazine's Best-of List

The Jackson Sun
January 31, 2009

Seven West Tennessee high schools have been named to the 2009 U.S. News and World Report list of America's best high schools.

The schools include Adamsville High School in McNairy County, bronze medal; Big Sandy School in Benton County, bronze medal; Dyer County High School; Dyersburg High School, bronze medal; Gleason High School in Weakley County; Hardin County High School; and Middleton High School in Hardeman County. Schools without the medal by their names could not be reached to find out what they were awarded.

U.S. News and World Report analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools to find the best across the country and placed them into gold, silver, bronze and honorable mention categories, according to a news release.

"Being recognized as one of the top schools in the nation is a great encouragement to the Adamsville High School community and to McNairy County. A tremendous reward from the notification from U.S. News and World Report is the reinforcing impact of the instructional program and academic success of our students," said Adamsville High School principal Dr. Brian Jackson.

Jackson attributes the school's success to the teachers' focused awareness of individual student needs and to a commitment to offering students extra help through an extensive after-school program and other methods to help students experience academic success, the release said. He also credits training that his teachers received through the High Schools That Work network.

McNairy County Schools Superintendent Charlie Miskelly said that it's a tribute to Jackson and his staff for their hard work.

"We are proud of them for what they have accomplished," Miskelly said in the news release.

According to an analysis by School Evaluation Services - a K-12 education and date research analysis business - a best high school is one that succeeds at standardized test performance, proficiency rates of all students, including the least advantaged, and challenging college-ready curriculum, the release said.

A bronze medal recognizes high schools that meet the first two criteria of the methodology.

 

Weakley County Soldier Honored at Grave Dedication Service

by Andrew Pritchett ~ Dresden Enterprise

Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Jeffrey Forrest Camp No. 323, and the Tennessee Society of the Order of the Confederate Rose, Mariam Beck Forrest Chapter No. 5 hosted a grave dedication service Saturday, August 25 at the Sand Hill Baptist Church, located at 2697 Finch Road, Gleason, to honor Weakley County Civil War veteran John R. Stalcup (1824 - 1915),

Stalcup, who is the great-grandfather of Gleason Mayor Jack Dunning, has the distinction of being Weakley County's only Mexican War veteran. He also served with the confederacy during the civil war. John Stalcup was born June 20, 1824 at Trenton, Tenn.

His father and mother died when he was six years old, and he was moved to Weakley county to be raised by his grandfather.

Mr. Stalcup joined the U.S. 2nd Infantry at Huntingdon and fought during the Mexican war under Col. Bill Haskell as part of Gid Pillow's brigade. Upon arriving in Mexico he took part in battles of Monterrey, Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo and was present when the U. S. flag was unfurled over the capital of Montezuma. He was the only man from Weakley county to have the distinction of fighting during this war.

In 1861, Mr. Stalcup again went to war, but this time for the South. He joined the 51st Tennessee Confederate Infantry Co. K. He fought during the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Perryville (where he was wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell), Chickamauga, Missionary  Ridge, Franklin and Nashville. While imprisoned at Columbus and being treated for a broken arm by federal authorities, he escaped from the hospital about the time peace was established.

Upon returning to Weakley County, he found his home devastated and impoverished. He set to work to regain in peace that which he had lost in war. He married twice and had a total of 10 children with only five still living by 1915.

The Dresden Enterprise wrote an article about Mr. Stalcup shortly before his death and described him as "a sterling "Democrat" and that "his life has been marked by honesty and integrity in all his dealings, and no man ever lost a dollar on him".

Prior to his death on March 19, 1915, Mr. Stalcup requested that his coffin be entwined with the U.S. stars and stripes and the Confederate stars and bars. Source: Dresden Enterprise.

 

LEFT: Gleason Mayor Jack Dunning receives a CSA battle flag from Confederate re-actor Billy Alton of the 7th CSA Calvary (Dismounted) during a grave dedication service on Saturday, in honor of Dunning's great-grandfather, John R. Stalcup, who served with the confederacy during the Civil War. Speaker for the occasion was Tony Hensley Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #323 (Jeffery Forrest Camp'

RIGHT: Gleason Mayor Jack Dunning (seated) is seen during a grave dedication service on Saturday, in honor of Dunning's great-grandfather, John R. Stalcup, who served with the confederacy during the Civil War. Speaker for the occasion was Tony Hensley (left) commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp # 323 (Jeffery Forrest Camp). Confederate re-actor Billy Alton of the 7th CSA Calvary (Dismounted) holds a CSA battle flag.

 

Gleason Home to Another Singing Sensation

By Sara Reid, Staff Writer

Gleason home to another singing sensation | Micah Arnold, West Tennessee Idol

Micah Arnold

The City of Gleason has long been known as the home of Grand Old Opry star Mike Snider, but in the near future it may be able to add another name to that list. Last month, Gleason native Micah Arnold, 26, took to the stage in the West Tennessee Idol competition in Jackson and outshined over 200 contestants to take home the grand prize and the chance to move on to state competition. Initially, Arnold, who has been singing since the age of three, was hesitant to enter the competition, but with the encouragement of his parents, Jim and Donna Arnold, he decided to take the plunge. “Over 200 people were at the audition,” Arnold admitted. “First, you had to sing a capella and if you advanced past that, you’d perform to a live round onstage in front of the judges and then a radio round where people called in and voted.” Despite the fact that the competition was very much like the “American Idol” television show, Arnold admitted that the entire process did nothing to wrack his nerves. “I’m used to the stage,” he said. “I’m in a band called Leaving Sunday and we’ve played in Dresden, Paris, Jackson and McKenzie. I’ve sung in Nashville in most every place. I play guitar in the band, but lately, of course, I’ve been focusing on vocals.” Arnold hopes to take his passion much further than the competition stage. He’s hoping to make a career in the music industry. “I’d really like to go further with it,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to work on a career in the music industry for a while now.” Arnold cites his musical influences as being everything from Keith Urban to Merle Haggard to Hank Williams Jr. to Garth Brooks to, of course, his father who played music when Arnold was growing up, but he relates his own style of singing to no one. It’s uniquely his own. “I try not to sound like anyone. I try to be unique. I’ve been told that I sound like George Strait or I sound like Conway Twitty, but I don’t want to be a second-rate version of them,” he admitted. Arnold wasn’t the only Weakley Countian to sing on the West Tennessee Idol stage, however. Two other singers from Palmersville also made the finals and Arnold saw their presence as a comfort. “Emily Rook was there and Paul Jolley was there and it was very comforting,” he remarked. “I knew them even before the competition and it was great that we all had each other to talk to and cope with. It really made the competition easier. We banded together and it really felt good to see people I knew there rooting all of us on.” When Arnold won the competition and received his trophy, he knew all the years of hard work and practice had paid off and he had just taken one step closer to his dream. “It really felt good. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time and it paid off,” he said. “I still have a long way to go as far as making a career in music, but this was a huge accomplishment. The judges were from the music industry and hearing the positive feedback from them made me feel good about myself.” “Every contestant there deserved to win,” he added. “It was not an easy win because everyone was so talented, but I’m pleased they chose me.” Arnold will now compete in the Tennessee Colgate State Finals in Monteagle on Sept. 6 and with a win, will move on to national competition at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

The Life and Times of Mr. Roy Travillian

By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com

It has been said that effort constitutes the defining line between those who dream and those who achieve. Gleason’s Roy Travillian is an achiever. He has not only dreamed great dreams, but through hard work and diligence, nurtured those dreams into reality. A spiritual and earnest man, he has lived a life that casts shadows on most. Laborer, farmer, salesman, business owner, college graduate at 68, author—-it’s easier to state what he hasn’t done rather than list all that he has accomplished. Quick to smile and even quicker to wit, Roy Travillian is a man with a story to tell.

Gordon Stoker

Gordon Stoker - Part of Half a Century of Music History

The Jordanaires greeted their fans at their induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. They have sung backup for Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and other legends. Quartet members are (from left) Curtis Young, Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker and Louis Nunley.  Source: Weakley County Press.  - Click Here For Full Story

Featured Series From the McKenzie Banner

Gordon Stoker - Gleason's Musical Marvel Makes it to Nashville: Part one of a two-part series By Deborah Turner   Source: The McKenzie Banner

Gordon Stoker - "The Amazing Years": Part two By Deborah Turner   Source: The McKenzie Banner

 Mike Snider

Mike Snider-Always Gleason's Hometown Boy

By Deborah Turner ~ dturner@mckenziebanner.com

Mike Snider surged from 1983 national banjo champ to a member of the Grand Ole Opry. After 26 years of perfecting the three-finger style of banjo playing, three years ago he switched to the clawhammer style in keeping with his interest in old-time mountain music.

Some who gain fame take due pride in being able to say they’ve never forgotten their roots. Celebrated banjo player, Mike Snider, on the other hand, dug his roots still deeper in the town of Gleason from which he’d sprung, after being welcomed heart and soul into the close-knit bosom of the Grand Ole Opry and adoring fans everywhere.  Source: MckenzieBanner.com - Click Here for Full Story

    

 

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