NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Webster PR) -
Wynonna will appear with the popular Nashville band The WannaBeatles, former Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield, and Phil Keaggy to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album on June 9 (Tuesday) with an evening of live music and storytelling at the W.O. Smith Nashville Community
Music School.
"Growing up I learned the ins and outs of musicianship and the music industry by observing the artists I looked up to," Wynonna said. "Supporting the school has helped me give back to the community and will help students hone the skills that will benefit them in the future."
The With a Little Help From My Friends benefit will occur from 7-9 p.m. in the school's concert hall. The event will feature career reflections and readings from Mansfield; live performances by The WannaBeatles, country star Wynonna, contemporary Christian artist Phil Keaggy, country star David Ball, and other celebrity guests; and the presentation of a proclamation by Metro Councilman Parker Toler naming Jan. 30 as Nashville Beatles Music Day.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help W.O. Smith continue to provide instruments and music instruction to hundreds of children from low-income families. The school is located at 1125 Eighth Ave. S. in Nashville. Admission to With A Little Help From My Friends is $20 per person. Seating is limited. To order tickets, call (615) 255-8355.
Mansfield will use his appearance to share reflections from his "glamorous" life as the former U.S. manager of Apple Records and Grammy Award-winning producer of the groundbreaking Outlaw album. He revisits the landscapes of success and excess in his new book, Between Wyomings: My God and an iPod on the Open Road. Published by Thomas Nelson, the book recalls the musical icons, pop stars, wild men, and troubled souls he encountered, including The Beatles and Waylon Jennings. In his third book, he sees with the eyes of a Christian, searching the geography of his life for insights into grace and redemption.
The event is sponsored by Thomas Nelson, Orangethread Media, Seale Keyworks, Soundcheck, Sam Ash, WSIX�FM, IPT, The Red House, and Whiting Publicity & Promotions.
"W.O. Smith is excited to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper album by hosting a concert with The WannaBeatles and special guest Ken Mansfield," said Jonah Rabinowitz, the school's executive director. "We are thrilled to be part of this special event that pays tribute to a band that continues to influence and amaze those of us who grew up as Beatles fans and an entire new generation of students who are exploring and being profoundly affected 40 years later."
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the British rock band The Beatles. Recorded over a 129-day period beginning on Dec. 6, 1966, the album was released on June 1, 1967 in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States. Sgt. Pepper is often described as The Beatles' magnum opus and recognized as one of the most influential albums of all time by prominent critics and publications. It was ranked the greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2003.
"Everything changed with The Beatles," said two-time Grammy winner Dennis Scott, who sings and plays guitar for The WannaBeatles. "Then in '67 they recorded Sergeant Pepper, and everything changed again. The WannaBeatles and I are humbled and honored to be part of Nashville's celebration of their music."
The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County recently voted to approve Councilman Parker Toler's proclamation to name Jan. 30 as Nashville Beatles Music Day. Toler introduced the bill after The WannaBeatles performed on the roof of Rippy's nightclub on Broadway to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' legendary rooftop performance in London. The proclamation cites The WannaBeatles and the MENC: National Association for Music Education for helping to raise public awareness about The Beatles' contributions to music education.
The WannaBeatles: Members of The WannaBeatles are Dennis Scott, vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Jim Hayden, vocalist/guitarist/saxophonist Bryan Cumming, and vocalist/drummer/percussionist David Toledo. Playing to standing ovations in Middle Tennessee, the group is creating a bit of Beatlesmania of its own. The band consists of Grammy Award-winning and nationally acclaimed music producers, arrangers, studio players, and singers who have "Come Together" to play the music they grew up with. Their first "all Beatles" gig together was "love at the first note". Since then, The WannaBeatles have developed a following of regulars who look forward to the band's own special version of the "British Invasion". The band has appeared at a host of Middle Tennessee venues, including Sambuca Restaurant, Puckett's Grocery, the Music City Bowl, Riverfront Park (for Nashville's July 4th celebration), the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and Red Caboose Park. A 2008 performance in Crockett Park as part of the Brentwood Summer Concert Series drew approximately 6,000 people. For more information, visit https://www.TheWannaBeatles.com
Ken Mansfield: Mansfield has worked with artists as diverse as The Beatles, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Stan Kenton, Judy Garland, Merle Haggard, Lou Rawls, Andy Williams, David Cassidy, Dolly Parton, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. A highly sought-after public speaker, he is the author of two other books: The Beatles, the Bible, and Bodega Bay, and The White Book. For more information, visit https://www.thomasnelson.com
The W.O. Smith Community Music School: Founded in 1984, W.O. Smith Community Music School is a non-profit educational institution created for the purpose of making quality music instruction available to talented, interested, deserving children from low-income families at the nominal fee of 50 cents per lesson. The school offers instruction in all band and orchestra instruments, piano, guitar, and voice taught by a volunteer music faculty representing many facets of the Nashville music community. W.O. Smith also seeks to encourage student participation in the cultural life of the community through concert attendance and performance. For more information, visit https://www.wosmith.org
