Monday, July 09, 2007
Singer/Songwriter Sensation Lucinda Williams Hits Artpark!
Three-Time Grammy-Winner Headlines July 18 “Wednesdays on the Gorge!”
(Lewiston, NY) Lucinda Williams, the final headliner act confirmed before Artpark officially announced its 2007 Summer Season, may be a prime example of saving the best for last. Williams, a three-time Grammy Award-winning indefinable singer/songwriter (her three Grammys have come in the categories of country, folk and rock) who has been tabbed “America’s best songwriter” by Time Magazine, is the featured act of the July 18 installment of Artpark’s “Wednesdays on the Gorge” free outdoor concert series, presented by HSBC Bank and HSBC Mortgage Corporation. All “Wednesdays on the Gorge” concerts begin at 6:30pm and feature free hands-on art activities for children.
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to renowned poet Miller Williams and a talented pianist mother, Williams had a ferocious love for music and words at an early age. Her childhood travels took her from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Santiago, Chile, and everywhere in between. Her itinerant nature can be found in her music as well, since she draws from a diverse array of artists who influenced her, including Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.
The history of Williams’ now-storied career is fast becoming the stuff of music legend. After two early albums – Ramblin (1979) and Happy Woman Blues (1980) – Williams’ self-titled 1988 release is widely considered her breakthrough, featuring some of her best-known classics including the Grammy-winning “Passionate Kisses.” Sweet Old World was released in 1992 to continued acclaim and, six years later, came Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, which captured the 1998 Grammy for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” and is widely considered one of the most influential records of the last half-century.
In 2001, Williams took home her third Grammy Award, this time for “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance” for “Get Right With God” off of her sixth full-length record, Essence. Paring down the time between album releases even further, Williams returned in 2003 with World Without Tears, which became her highest-charting effort to date when it debuted in the Top 20. 2005 saw the release of two live recordings, Live @ the Fillmore and Live from Austin, TX. Williams is currently touring in support of her latest release, West, which hit stores this year and has already earned her a trio of 2007 American Music Award nominations (“Artist of the Year,” “Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year”).
Opening act Charlie Louvin is legendary country music star, part of the Louvin Brothers who dominated the early pop and country charts. Louvin, already a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Artpark’s Outdoor Amphitheater can be accessed via the Upper Park’s Portage Road entrance off of Center Street or through South Fourth Street nearest the Mainstage Theater.
“Wednesdays on the Gorge” is also supported by Certo Brothers Distributing Company, Modern Corporation, Tim Horton’s, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. Children’s art activities are sponsored by the New York Power Authority.
For more info, call the Artpark Box Office at (716) 754-4375 or go online to www.artpark.net.
(Lewiston, NY) Lucinda Williams, the final headliner act confirmed before Artpark officially announced its 2007 Summer Season, may be a prime example of saving the best for last. Williams, a three-time Grammy Award-winning indefinable singer/songwriter (her three Grammys have come in the categories of country, folk and rock) who has been tabbed “America’s best songwriter” by Time Magazine, is the featured act of the July 18 installment of Artpark’s “Wednesdays on the Gorge” free outdoor concert series, presented by HSBC Bank and HSBC Mortgage Corporation. All “Wednesdays on the Gorge” concerts begin at 6:30pm and feature free hands-on art activities for children.
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to renowned poet Miller Williams and a talented pianist mother, Williams had a ferocious love for music and words at an early age. Her childhood travels took her from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Santiago, Chile, and everywhere in between. Her itinerant nature can be found in her music as well, since she draws from a diverse array of artists who influenced her, including Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.
The history of Williams’ now-storied career is fast becoming the stuff of music legend. After two early albums – Ramblin (1979) and Happy Woman Blues (1980) – Williams’ self-titled 1988 release is widely considered her breakthrough, featuring some of her best-known classics including the Grammy-winning “Passionate Kisses.” Sweet Old World was released in 1992 to continued acclaim and, six years later, came Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, which captured the 1998 Grammy for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” and is widely considered one of the most influential records of the last half-century.
In 2001, Williams took home her third Grammy Award, this time for “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance” for “Get Right With God” off of her sixth full-length record, Essence. Paring down the time between album releases even further, Williams returned in 2003 with World Without Tears, which became her highest-charting effort to date when it debuted in the Top 20. 2005 saw the release of two live recordings, Live @ the Fillmore and Live from Austin, TX. Williams is currently touring in support of her latest release, West, which hit stores this year and has already earned her a trio of 2007 American Music Award nominations (“Artist of the Year,” “Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year”).
Opening act Charlie Louvin is legendary country music star, part of the Louvin Brothers who dominated the early pop and country charts. Louvin, already a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Artpark’s Outdoor Amphitheater can be accessed via the Upper Park’s Portage Road entrance off of Center Street or through South Fourth Street nearest the Mainstage Theater.
“Wednesdays on the Gorge” is also supported by Certo Brothers Distributing Company, Modern Corporation, Tim Horton’s, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. Children’s art activities are sponsored by the New York Power Authority.
For more info, call the Artpark Box Office at (716) 754-4375 or go online to www.artpark.net.
The Earl W. Brydges Artpark is being operated by Artpark & Company, Inc. for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation under a license agreement.
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