Stacy Featured in Statewide Newsletter!

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AmeriCorps VISTA Stacy Drake Takes the Plunge in Berkley Springs!

The love of helping others can make volunteers do some pretty crazy things! Recently Stacy Drake, a West Virginia’s Promise AmeriCorps VISTA, went above and beyond to raise money for his VISTA site, BlackCat Music Cooperative, in Berkeley Springs. The program offers free music classes to area youth.

Stacy promised to take a dip in George Washington’s bathtub at Berkeley Springs State Park on Giving Tuesday, if BlackCat could raise $1,500 in 12 hours on social media.

The money was raised and Stacy took the plunge on George Washington’s birthday. As he entered the cool water, Stacy said he was happy to follow through because it was all for the kids!

VISTA MarchStacy Vista with kids

Dad’s trumpet for a guitar!

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As we continue our “Music In Your Life” series, the spotlight shines on Sir Paul McCartney. Paul’s dad played trumpet and piano and even had his own band, “The Jim Mac Jazz Band.” Jim had a upright piano in the home and encouraged Paul to take lessons, but young McCartney liked playing by ear.

On Paul’s 14th birthday, his dad gave him a nickel plated trumpet, but soon after, with rock and roll music becoming popular, he traded it on an acoustic guitar. Because he is left handed, it was hard to play, so he reversed the order of the strings. One other note from the early days, Paul wrote “When I’m Sixty Four” on his dad’s upright piano in the living room when he was about 16! John Lennon remembers the Beatles singing the song as part of an acoustic set, whenever their amplifiers broke down or the power would go out at the clubs in the early days of the band.

Holiday Sing A Long, Special Evening in Hancock!

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The Tri State Ukeclectic Orchestra and The Young Yukes presented a wonderful holiday program on Friday, December 21st at the Hancock Performing Arts Center. The festive mood filled the room, as audience members gladly sang along to many of their favorites and even added a few dance moves here and there.

This is the second concert The Young Yukes have performed with The Tri State Ukeclectic Orchestra, since the after school group was formed in September.

Uke winner Dr. Dan with Mike from Tri State Ukeclectic Orchestra

The Young Yukes and Uke winner, Dr. Dan Murphy, with Mike of Tri State Ukeclectic Orchestra

“From a Stutter to a Star!”

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Our “Music in Your Life” series continues…

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old. A psychiatrist tried unsuccessfully to cure her stuttering. Instead, Simon realized when she would sing, the stuttering stopped. So, she began writing songs and learning to play the piano and guitar to help with her self- confidence. In her early teens, she teamed up with her older sister, Lucy, to form the singing duo, The Simon Sisters. Carly would embark on a solo career after Lucy got married and wanted to start a family. Carly Simon’s work has included such great songs as “You’re So Vain,” “Nobody Does It Better.” “Anticipation,” and more, earning her Grammy awards and induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and The Grammy Hall of Fame.

With her 1988 hit “Let the River Run,” from the film Working Girl, she became the first artist to win a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for a song composed and written, as well as performed, entirely by a single artist.