Top country instrumental musicians to perform at Newbury Park church

By Alicia Doyle, Correspondent
September 15, 2006

Musicians who have performed with country legends Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Conway Twitty and Willie Nelson and other artists will perform a free country gospel concert at Newbury Park First Christian Church on Sept. 23.

Collectively, the performers have earned more than 25 Academy of Country Music awards, including Guitar Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year and Steel Guitar Player of the Year. The lineup was instrumental in defining the Bakersfield sound, a major West Coast country music genre made famous by Haggard and Owens, according to Tom Atwater of Thousand Oaks, church member and concert spokesperson.

"Many of the artists appearing at the concert have worked with the biggest names in country music," Atwater said. "When you listen to Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson, George Jones and other country music legends, you are frequently hearing these musicians."

The event was inspired by Atwater and his wife, Joan, who are also award-winning artists. "We were initially inspired by the fact that even in an area as nice as the Conejo Valley, there are people who are hurting," Tom Atwater said. "They need to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There are people who genuinely care about them enough to actually do something."

The caring connection is the church.

"We would like the community at large to view it as a place to go and have fun and fellowship, a place where they can feel they belong, meet new friends and share their joys and sorrows, and feel needed and useful — really make a difference in someone's life and in the community," he said.

Country gospel was the theme of choice because of its roots in Americana and the message it sends.

"Some of the songs we will be performing have been sung by generations of Americans through depressions, wars, and natural disasters," said Atwater, adding that country gospel music is basically country music with a Christian message that "just makes you feel good."

He explained that the piano is the core instrument in country gospel. Most small churches in the 19th and 20th centuries had a piano, and those that didn't used acoustic guitars and other unamplified instruments such as fiddle, mandolin or harmonica. As modern recordings were developed, other instruments were added such as electric guitar, electric bass guitar, steel guitar and eventually, drums.

The country gospel concert will feature seven players and six vocalists.

A fiddle player who was named the Country Gospel Music Association's 2004 Western Region Musician of the Year, Tom Atwater has played with Ray Price, Hank Thompson and Cliffie Stone, all members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Lead vocalist Joan Harris Atwater was chosen as the Country Gospel Music Association's 2004 Western Region Top Female Vocalist of the Year.

She hosted and starred on her own television show in Kentucky and has a number of recordings to her credit, some of which have charted.

Among the other artists to perform is Mark Yeary of Bakersfield, who played piano as a member of Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers. Bass guitar player Don Felts of West Hills has participated in the Southern California country music scene for more than 30 years, with credits including performing at Carnegie Hall. Drummer Jerry Wiggins of Bakersfield played drums as a member of Buck Owens' Buckaroos and has appeared on the television show "Hee Haw."

Steel guitar player J.D. Maness of North Hills, who also played with Buck Owens, has won numerous Academy of Country Music awards for Steel Player of the Year and has played for Ray Stevens, Anne Murray and Vince Gill, among others.

Electric guitar player Al Bruno of Las Vegas, the featured guitarist in Conway Twitty's original recording and touring band, has won numerous Academy of Country Music awards for Best Guitar Player of the Year.

Other artists scheduled to perform are Newbury Park residents Lorna Maxwell, Idolia Barbee, Cheryl Van Gelder and Andrew Buckley; Simi Valley resident Rand Smedley; and Rick Ferguson of Sylmar.

Though not required for attendance, nonperishable donations for the local food pantry, Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, will be accepted at the door.

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