Luann
is a has been a local favorite in the traditional
country music scene in Missouri for over 20 years. Ever
since she was a little girl, Luann has been in love with
that old country sound, cutting her teeth on the music
of Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and Connie
Smith, among others. She taught herself to play guitar
and bass, and did a whole lot of "singin’ in the
kitchen" (because the accoustics were great!) In a
few years, she began her music career playing in a
family band at local dances, 
fairs, and country music
shows. After a few years on the circuit, Luann caught a
huge break when she was given the last minute
opportunity to play bass and sing for lead guitar legend
Speedy Haworth (of the famed Ozark Jubilee, the first
nationally televised country music show broadcasted
across the United States between 1955-60, hosted by
country music hall of fame member Red Foley).
Speedy
was guitarist & singer not only for Foley but also
for TV cowboy Rex Allen, Porter Wagoner, LeRoy Van Dyke,
Patsy Cline, The Tall Timber Trio, and The Goodwill
Family, to name a few. After that stint, Speedy
was so impressed that he hired Luann to play bass &
sing lead and 3-part harmony with his current group, The
Tall Timber Band. She has toured with him for over 13
years now, including a reunion show of The Ozark Jubilee
cast at the historic Vandivort Theater in Springfield
several years ago. She has also worked with Ron Hoot
Productions doing stage shows at the Oasis Theater and
The Juanita K. Hammons Hall for Performing Arts, both
located in Springfield, MO, and other venues in the
midwestern United States. She also worked regularly as
bass player / feature & harmony singer at the Truman
Lake Opry in Tightwad, MO. She has opened shows for
"Farewell Party" singer Gene Watson,
heartthrob Ronnie McDowell, "The Auctioneer"
LeRoy Van Dyke, "Stand Up" Mel McDaniel, and
"Rose Colored Glasses" crooner John Conlee.
Even more so than her lead singing abilities,
Luann has
been touted as the best female back-up vocalist in the
area. With her uncanny ability to hear all harmonies and
an ear for balance, she provides a crystal clear,
hauntingly beautiful, and positively chilling musical
backdrop behind any musician she sings with on the stage
or in the studio. Although her harmony talents were not
put to use on her debut cd because of time limitations,
you can plan on hearing it on future records.
Each
of the songs on this cd were written or co-written by
veteran songwriter Gary Atkinson from Conway, Arkansas,
a much-beloved country singer in his own right.
Atkinson, a hardcore Ray Price fan, wrote each of the
songs on this cd in that tradition, with that famous
tic-tac, traditional country, honky-tonking 4/4 shuffle
that Price made so popular. This cd was produced by
Keith Hilton of Hilton Electronics, inventor and maker
of the famous Hilton Digital Sustain Pedal for the pedal
steel guitar.
