Swiftwater to Make Opry Debut on June 28

{sidebar id=3}The Sopchoppy Opry has served as the showcase for dozens of country, bluegrass and Gospel groups and individual artists in its eight year/eighty-five live show run as the Big Bend Area’s number one venue for classic country music!  Opry Musical Coordinator Bob Sims will continue that tradition for the June 28th show with another Opry musical debut!  Swiftwater is on deck as special guests for the show with Suzie Elkins and Trafton Harvey performing the first hour with house band, Southbound.  And to add even more spice to an already great show, radio personalities Callico and Jack of WGWD FM 93.3 Classic Country’s popular Call-In Request Show, will serve as on-stage host for the first hour!  Hey folks, it just doesn’t get much better!  Don’t miss this show!  It is going to be one you’ll always remember!

Several years ago, a dynamic couple, Al and Wretha Webb, did a guest appearance on the Opry as The Webbs.  Now Al and Wretha have joined with Amy Alderman, Joan Alderman, Ruth Hagy and Jesse Seabolt to form a special sound they call Swiftwater!

The group, Swiftwater, has a unique sound all its own, featuring three distinctly different lead vocalist with harmonies like you’ve never heard!  Add guitars, mandolin, banjo, upright bass and harmonica and you’ve got a sound that folk love to sit back and listen to.  The Swiftwater musical style, well, it’s just beyond classification!  The group plays and sings whatever its members like best, including Gospel, country, blues, folk, and bluegrass.

Swiftwater is proud of its latest CD project, “Patchwork Memories”.  The album is made up of a country, folk and Gospel music mix that includes three originals written by band member Al Webb, one by Al’s father, the late W.T. Webb.  The album has a style uniquely Swiftwater and already it is making waves for the group!  For more on this exciting new group, visit  www.Swiftwater.us on the world wide web!

Joining Southbound for the first hour of the popular show is ‘Tallahassee’s Sweetheart’ Of country and Gospel Music, Suzie Elkins!  Suzie is a special favorite of Opry fans and always delivers great vocals in a style all her own!  An accomplished guitarist and vocalist, Suzie was the lead singer for Southern Spice, one of the area’s most popular and enduring dance bands.  Suzie sings mostly Gospel these days and has recently finished an album using sound tracks of her good friend Lynda Randle of the Gaither Homecoming Tour.  “This is something I’ve wanted to do all my life”, Suzie exclaims.  “My beautiful Mom turned 81 this year and it was my gift to her.  I titled the album Giving Back because the Lord has been so good to me all my life.  I wanted to do something to honor HIM with my music.  I plan to close the show on the 28th with one of the songs from the CD.”  Suzie says she made the album for her family and friends and is not marketing it to the general public.  However, she will have a few copies available for her Opry friends at the June 28th show.

Native son, singer/songwriter Trafton Harvey is back from his Opry hiatus and will perform on the show as well!  Selections from Trafton’s latest album, By The Side of the Road such as Breathless, She Loves Me and others can be heard regularly on WGWD 93.3 FM Classic Country Radio as his popularity among country fans continues to grow!  Trafton has been on the Opry many times over the years and is a fan favorite.  A prolific songwriter, Trafton will do a variety of his own music , backed by the ‘best band in the land’, Southbound!

Don’t miss this show!  This combination of talent is sure to produce one of the year’s best shows!  Call today for your tickets!

Opry fans, did you know that you can now buy a professionally engineered DVD or CD of every Opry performance?  Yes, you can!  Newly installed recording equipment and robotic cameras record every show to perfection!  Get your copies today for just a $10 donation!

Come early on show date and enjoy the Opry Concessions before the show!  There’s world class desserts, BBQ Sandwiches, Hotdogs and this month’s entree’ Chicken Pilieu!  The prices are reasonable and you can dine in air-conditioned comfort right at the Opry!  Concession and box office open at 5:30 pm!

To order tickets, call 962-3711.  All tickets are $8 at the door.  Blocks of tickets (10 or more) are available but must be requested on or before June 20!  Call Today!

Story byJesse Quigg,Opry Publicist (volunteer)
With copy contributions by Swiftwater & Suzie Elkins
Photos:  Swiftwater Press Package
              Suzie Eikins - Suzie Elkins
              Traftton Harve - Wakulla.Com archives

This article originally published on June 9, 2008.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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