Community Notes:

McMurtry has earned his place in music history as an award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist. Along the way he has clearly defined his own unique style with passionate lyrics, powerful vocals and searing instrumentals that sometimes come in the form of ballads and at other times, as hard-driving rock tunes. For years, critics and music fans alike have praised the multi-talented Austin-based artist as one of the strongest songwriters of his time.

The awards just keep rolling in for McMurtry whose most recent achievement is Esquire’s 2007 Esky Award for "Biggest Agitator.. McMurtry earned the Esky for his politically controversial lyrics featured in "We Can’t Make It Here" and "God Bless America." McMurtry was also recently inducted into the Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame at the Austin Music Awards. In 2006, McMurtry garnered two awards at the 5th Annual Americana Music Association Awards-Best Song for "We Can’t Make It Here" (called the protest song of the decade) and Best Album for his 2005 best-selling album, Childish Things which remained No. 1 for six amazing weeks on R&R’s Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006.

McMurtry is the son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry ("Lonesome Dove," "Terms of Endearment") and has been described by famed author Stephen King as "the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation" (Entertainment Weekly).

Performing artist John Mellencamp produced McMurtry’s first album in 1989.

Tickets for this concert are on sale now for $10 in advance or $15 the day of the concert (plus applicable service fees)by calling Tickets Unlimited outlets at 865-656-4444; www.knoxvilletickets.com) and online at www.smh-d.com. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Concert begins at 7 p.m. For more information about the May 5 concert or upcoming concerts in the Party on the Patio Summer Concert Series at The Shed, call 865-977-1669, email: info@smh-d.com or visit online at www.smh-d.com.

Three handbells choirs concerts to be at the library
Asagao, Evensong and Wesley Belles Handbells Choirs to Perform at Library
Representing a diverse group of music and cultures, three handbells choirs will perform at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 10, at the Blount County Public Library.

Asagao Handbells, a choir of ladies from Japan, will perform two pieces, Arise and Amen.

Evensong Handbells will perform God’s Beautiful World, There Is a Fountain, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart, and The God of Abraham Praise.

Wesley Belles Handbells Choir will present Thine Is the Glory, O God, Our Help in Ages Past, The River, Rondo Jubilee, and America, the Brave, the Free.

Directed by Terry D. Wilson, director of music, and Susan Daves, assistant director of music, all of these adult handbells choirs are from First United Methodist Church of Maryville.

This program is free and open to the public. The Blount County Public Library is located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville.
For further information about other library programs or services, call the library at 865-982-0981 or visit the Web site at www.blountlibrary.org.

Logan’s Chapel UMC hosts dinner for Relay for Life
Logan’s Chapel United Methodist Church, located in Rockford, will host a fund raiser dinner starting at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 12. The dinner is free, with donations requested.

All money raised will go towards Blount County’s Relay For Life. The full dinner will include lasagna, salad, bread, drink and dessert.

For information, contact Mary Nice at 865-237.3265 or Vicky Renninger at 865-806-6699.

Women Build Luncheon features Joan Cronan
A luncheon and silent auction to benefit 2007 Women Build, a Blount County Habitat for Humanity project, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, at the Airport Hilton. Tickets are $25 per person, or a table sponsor (10 tickets) donation of $500.

Joan Cronan, University of Tennesse Women’s Athletic Director, is the guest speaker.

Among the many items included in the silent auction are gift certificates to area restaurants, services and original painting by RaRa Schlitts.

For tickets, contact Amanda Stone (865-388-4417) or Tish Hickman (865-388-1869).