From the world of the Carter Family comes the music of old-time musician Ivy Sheppard and singer Eugene Wolf, The Mendota Songbirds. Steeped in the melody and message of the songs that carried the country through the Depression and beyond, the Songbirds found their seed of inspiration from a visit to Mendota resident and song carrier, Bill Clifton, who took the same sound around the world beginning in the 1960s and brought it into the modern world. They realized that these 100-year-old songs still hold the key to moving through and finding comfort in today’s trying times.
Ivy cut her teeth while playing with the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers and is the host of a popular syndicated old-time radio show, Born In The Mountain. Eugene has been a vocalist with the country duo, The Brother Boys since the late 80s and in 2002 he created the role of AP Carter in Barter Theatre’s Keep On the Sunny Side.
The Songbirds present the music of the Carter Family, Ola Belle Reed, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, and other early country performers as well as songs they’ve written and collected on their way.
Upcoming Shows:
Saturday, November 14th Blackwell Chapel Store (Meadowview, VA) 7pm
Past Performances
Friday, October 16th Carter Fold
Saturday, October 17th Home Craft Days (Big Stone Gap, VA) 2:30pm
Sunday, October 18th Down Home Radio Hour (Johnson City, TN) 3pm
