Music, Music, Music

Music, Music, Music. Isn’t a festival? It is Michelle Rea ‘s new T.V. show on Nashville’s Comcast Channel 19 http://nashville19.org  .
I attended to the first taping and I am just now writing about it because I have been on the road. Music , music , music is the brain child of Michelle Rae www.michellerae.net or http://www.myspace.com/michellerae1
The Music ,Music, Music is a place to feature the music Michelle loves. You may think she is just a country girl not our Michelle Rae. She is a little bit country mixed with a whole lot of every thing else. Jazz, Blues, R&B, Motown, Gospel and a little Southern Rock thrown in for balance. There is the sense of tradition as Michelle holds the old country favorites like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn to her heart. The first show was taped on March the second and Michelle’s very first guest was Karen Wheeler.
Karen Wheeler is one of the kindest most talented people I have ever meet. She was raised in the music business. For those who don’t know who her father is he was He was the late great Onie Wheeler. Onie Wheeler was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and played with the Roy Acuff show for 22 years. Onie Wheeler passed away of a massive heart attack while singing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry May 26th, 1984 That is one of those facts that makes you sad and happy at the same time. Sad that this great man passed away and also envious that he passed away doing something that he loved so much. I hope that I am that lucky. Onie Wheeler was also a crafts man making hand made banks of wood resembling any

shape you can imagine. Guitars, pianos, or even just a circle all holding hidden latches to be found keeping treasures safe for generations to come.
Karen brought some of her treasured artifacts to show the studio audience. Karen started singing when she was eleven years old, later opening for such greats as Conway Twitty . Whom she toured with for 12 years! Karen also appeared with many of country music’s legendary performers such as: Loretta Lynn, Cal Smith, Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins, Farron Young, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Mickey Gilley, Billy “Crash” Craddock (no relation) ect, ect, form more information http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/8434/index.html
Karen has two great passions songwriting and cooking or cookbooks. She is a brilliant and funny songwriter. She is best known for her mortified version of the mule s skinner song. I don’t know how she ever learned to while like she does I must be a family trat.
Her first cookbook is call “RECIPES & Memories” Karen wheeler Cookbook and can be ordered for her web site. It is full of common recipes of the south and some not so common recipes. From basic home cooking to Christmas candy You can find it in one of her two books. In a time when you want the freshest and the best for your family here is the cookbook for you.
Karen Wheeler is also a cancer survivor. Her band members gave her a pink Louisville slugger to knock out breast cancer and so far she is a survivor.
(Karen gives all her success in surviving breast cancer, life and music to her faith in her Lord and Savior. “I can do all things in life through God who strengthens me”.)

She is an amazing person look for an appearance near you to learn more about Karen Wheeler. . It was only fitting on this day Michelle Rae and Music ,Music, Music asked Nancy Haukins Dubois the Marking Director for the Mid South to come and talk a little about the efforts to fight cancer in this area. If you have been touched by cancer like most of us have go to www.caner.org to find fundraisers, walks, relays that you can participate in.
I hope you will look up Karen Wheeler and enjoy her music and some of her favorite recipes.
The other band members on this days taping were a few of our local. Julie Taylor on guitar (http://nashville19.org) Jack Lawless (http://www.myspace.com/jacklawlessmusic  ) guitar, Mike Furkins – Untouchable Drummer/Band Leader for Clue and the Honkytones, Smiley Roberts. on Steele guitar.( the only Steele guitar player I have seen play in boots) www.ntsga.com

Michelle Rae’s goal for Music ,Music, Music is not only to bring some of our favorite Musicians but to tell a bit of their story. While opening the door for the new, up and coming songwriters and musicians. Giving them a chance to rise to the top. Music , Music ,Music will continue to spot light Cancer Awareness and Domestic Abuse.
Special thank to Costco www.costco.com for under writing this show as well as Mike Thompson (Thompson Music Rental) Hillsboro Village, Nashville, TN 37212  http://thompsonmusicrental.com  , special thanks to Little Hollow Records. www.littlehollowrecords.com Special thanks to Cindy For all the Stage decorations