Sara Hickman – Jon Vezner – Don Henry

Sara Hickman – Sara Hickman creates music for adults, families and children. She is an Official State Musician of Texas and served from May 2010-May 2011, as decreed by the Texas State Legislature. In honor of her role as state musician, Sara wanted to give back to her home state. In May 2011 she released The Best of Times, a compilation CD of her songs recorded by other amazing Texas musicians, including Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Ruthie Foster and 25 other musical acts. All proceeds went to Creative Action, a group that helps put art, music and theatre back into public schools. She released her 13th CD Shine, in the summer of 2013, and more recently Newborn, Too, a follow up to the award-winning Newborn CD. Indeed, she has a number of award-winning children’s titles, including the Big Bird, Little BirdDVD. She’s known for her one-of-a-kind live shows, which can vary from intimate and soothing to hilarious and rocking. Whether it’s the Tonight Show, Carnegie Hall, outdoor amphitheaters, schools or house concerts, Sara is excited to bring her joyful, creative music to her audience.

Don Henry – Grammy-winner Don Henry has written songs recorded by legends Ray Charles, Patti Page, Conway Twitty, Gene Watson, and B.J. Thomas, as well as by young hit makers Blake Shelton, Lonestar, and Miranda Lambert. Don’s played with performers as diverse as Joey Ramone at New York’s famous Bottom Line and Keith Urban at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe. The wit and wisdom of Don’s songs are widely renowned, from campfire favorites, the hilarious “B.F.D.” and biker lullaby, “Harley,” to the wonderfully poignant tribute to Martin Luther King, “Beautiful Fool.” Kathy Mattea’s version of the Grammy Award winning “Where’ve You Been,” also won Don and co-writer Jon Vezner, Song of the Year honors from the ACM, the CMA, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the first song in country music history to be awarded all four honors in the same year! Miranda Lambert had a big hit in 2013 with Don and Phillip Coleman’s song, “All Kinds Of Kinds,” with Don singing background vocals. Don tours extensively as a solo performer, and he’s also a member of The Waymores with Tom Kimmel and Sally Barris, as well as performing in duos with Sally, Craig Carothers, and Jon Vezner.

Jon Vezner – Grammy award-winning songwriter Jon Vezner is a tunesmith of rare sensitivity and dry wit. With a degree in music theory and education, in 1983, he made his first trip to Nashville to attend the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) spring symposium, where he soon developed a relationship with music publishing company, Wrensong Music. He moved to Nashville in January of 1986, and within that first year he had songs recorded by Reba McEntire and Ronnie Milsap, followed by Lorrie Morgan’s first single in 1987, “Train Wreck of Emotion,” which he co-wrote with Alan Rhody. In 1989, Vezner co-wrote “Where’ve You Been” with fellow singer/songwriter Don Henry, recorded by Jon’s wife, Kathy Mattea, a true story of Vezner’s grandparents that earned him “Song of the Year” honors with both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) for 1990. The song was honored with a Grammy Award for “Best Country Song” and the Nashville Songwriters Association “Song of the Year.” Vezner was subsequently named “Songwriter of the Year” by the NSAI. Jon’s songs have been recorded by a varied list of artists such as Martina McBride, Janis Ian, John Mellencamp, Nancy Griffith, Faith Hill, Clay Walker, Diamond Rio and Steve Wariner. Vezner also has quite a list of production credits, including projects for Danny O’Keefe, Victoria Shaw, singing legend Patti Page and Jeff Gilkinson. Jon and long-time friend Don Henry have recently reunited to create a new CD project as the “Don Juans.” In the last two years, Jon received Distinguished Alumni awards from both North Hennepin Community College and Southwest Minnesota State University. Jon also leads songwriting workshops all across the country.

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