Ritz benefit show a big hit

SHEFFIELD – Excellent Bluegrass and Country music wafted through the auditorium of The Ritz Theater Tuesday evening, as some of the best of Muscle Shoals’ singers, songwriters and musicians took the stage.

Jake Landers

The show was a benefit for bluegrass legend, Jake Landers, who was all smiles as he and his wife, Joanne, listened to all the tributes to his contribution to Bluegrass.

The Show began with “Doctors, Lawyers and Such”.

Earl “Peanut” Montgomery

Next on stage was music legend Peanut Montgomery, with Rusty Moody.

Tosha Brooke Hill

Then 19-year-old, Tosha Brooke Hill from the community of Rhodesville, Alabama charmed the audience with her fresh face and her coveralls. If any reader is wondering, Rhodesville is, according to Tosha, about 5 or 6 miles outside of Waterloo.

Iron Horse

Iron Horse, award winning Bluegrass band, was next up. Iron Horse features Vance Henry on guitar; Ricky Rogers on bass fiddle, Anthony Richardson, guitar, and Tony Robertson on mandolin. Iron Horse plays at venues all over The South and features innovative, hard driving licks and strong, precise harmonies.

(L to R) Gary Nichols, Chris Tompkins, Walt Aldridge

Next up was music by songwriters and performers Walt Aldridge and Chris Tompkins. Aldridge is a top Nashville songwriter with hits by Artists such as Heartland, Ricky Van Shelton, Barbara Mandrell, Tim McGraw and Conway Twitty. Chris, even though relatively new on the Nashville scene, is a songwriting sensation. His first hit was platinum selling, “Before He Cheats”, co-written with Josh Kear, and sung by Carrie Underwood. “Before He Cheats” won a Grammy Award in 2008. Songwriter/Performer/ Recording Artist, Gary Nichols sat in with Walt and Chris on guitar.

The SteelDrivers

The show was closed out by Gary Nichols’ new Bluegrass band, “The SteelDrivers”. Based out of Nashville, but with its roots squarely in Muscle Shoals, The SteelDrivers features a special brand of Bluegrass. They call it, “Intense, dark, poetic, and inescapably human.”

Terry Pace

The show’s Master of Ceremonies was music historian and storyteller, Terry Pace, who did a superb job, as usual.

Photos by Sheri Wiggins and Steve Wiggins. The photos are 4×6 in size and are suitable for printing on any good photo printer, or they may be downloaded and taken to a photo kiosk. Please remember that they are for NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY.