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Americana singer/songwriter Kevin Welch will open the Performing Arts Studio Winter Wind Concert Series on Sunday, October 15th at 7:00 pm in Norman’s historic train Depot, 200 South Jones Ave. Admission is $10. Seating is limited to 100. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Welch has a strong Oklahoma connection. His family moved to Oklahoma when he was seven. He attended high school in Midwest City and completed a semester studying music at U.C.O. before joining a bluegrass band and hitting the road. After touring the honky-tonk circuit for five years in bands called New Rodeo and Blue Rose Cafe, Welch started thinking “there might be another way to live.”
After meeting John Hadley (Norman), whom he describes as a “real songwriter for Tree International,” Welch married and moved to Nashville in 1978 at Hadley’s suggestion. He joined Sony/Tree International as a staff writer. In the decade to follow, Welch authored songs for artists including Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Trisha Yearwood, Ricky Skaggs, and the Highwaymen.
His self titled solo debut album was released by Reprise in 1990, followed two years later by the acclaimedWestern Beat.
In 1995 Welch teamed with three like minded friends and formed his own independent label, Dead Reckoning Records. Dead Reckoning released 21 records over the next seven years. Welch’s first album for the label,Life Down Here on Earth, followed soon after the company formed. Beneath my Wheels was released in 1999. The partners toured individually, and as a group called A Night of Reckoning, through the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Europe and Canada.
In 2000, Welch and Kieran Kane toured together and made a live record in Melbourne, Australia called11/12/13. In 2001 Welch recorded the Millionaire album with friends from Denmark, and in 2004 teamed with Kane for You Can’t Save Everybody. He then “toured all over the place again” he says.
Welch now sometimes works with his son Dustin, who seems to be following in his father’s footsteps, playing dobro, banjo and slide guitar like a pro.
The series of twelve Winter Wind Concerts is made possible in part by grants from the Norman Arts Council, the Oklahoma Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. Don Cies Real Estate is a corporate sponsor. Gingerbread Nursery School and Kindergarten supports the concerts as a Friend. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
For more information on Kevin Welch visit www.kevinwelch.com. For more information on the concerts, or to order tickets, phone The Performing Arts Studio at 405-307-9320. |
