GoodStuff PR Co. News Detail
February 58, 2009
Valerie Smith Welcomes Multi-Instrumentalist Ernie Evans to Liberty Pike
Band Hits Road for Southeastern Tour *** "Two of the freshest voices in bluegrass today...Buller and Smith have an infectious enthusiasm that comes through in their music. Though on the national scene for years, they are still a little under the radar compared to other female bluegrassers like Vincent, Lynn Morris and Laurie Lewis. They are every bit as good." ***
NASHVILLE, TENN - Singer and bandleader, Valerie Smith, welcomes promoter, producer and musician, Ernie Evans, as the newest member of the internationally renowned group Liberty Pike. Riding high on the critically acclaimed female duet album by Valerie Smith & bandmate Becky Buller called Here's a Little Song, the band is excited to welcome Evans, a multi-instrumentalist from the state of Florida. He will be playing guitar, mandolin and banjo for the band as well as lending his voice on vocals.
The excitement goes both ways. "This is a uniting that should have happened a long time ago," he says. "I have been a fan for many years and I am very exited to work with such an incredible entertainer as Valerie and her band. I have filled in several times over the past few years and hoped this opportunity would happen" Evans brings years of experience and knowledge in the bluegrass realm to the table. He is the President of the North Florida Bluegrass Association and founder of the Florida School of Bluegrass. Originally from Northwestern Ohio, Evans has played professionally since his teenage years. Well known on the banjo, he is also well versed on the guitar and with a history playing jazz guitar, he became a well known jazz-grass guitarist, performing at festivals, nightclubs, on television and radio. A devoted family man, Evans has played and lived in the state of Florida for years, having played with, among others, the legendary Vassar Clements. This personnel change marks the band's next step into the future after experiencing tremendous growth and success in 2008. Smith was recently nominated for the Traditional Female Vocalist Award, given out in February 2009 at the annual SPBGMA convention (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music.) The band also received their first Independent Music Award nomination in the Americana Album Category, for Here's a Little Song, for the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards. The band will also begin a Southeastern tour of the United States the first week of March, hitting many of the stomping grounds frequented by new band member, Evans. "We are truly looking forward to Ernie being a part of the band. He's brought much depth and musical ability to the table when sitting in with us in the past and we look forward to him growing with the band as we move forward!" says Smith. Catch Valerie Smith & Liberty on tour in Florida and Georgia in early March. Click here for tour date information. For more information on Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, email shari@goodstuffpr.com or visit www.valeriesmithonline.com
