Previously Appearing at Wickham was...
Gretchen Peters
Over the last three decades, Peters has proven to posses one of the most indelible voices in country and roots music in addition to wielding one the genresβ most enduring pens. But in 1996, as she crossed the invisible Music City barrier between writer and performer, few could have predicted what lay ahead. On βThe Essential Gretchen Peters,β she combines career-defining tracks with rare outtakes, demos, and B-sides to provide a two-disc snapshot of her remarkable journey as a singularly fearless and creative talent.
Peters first arrived in Nashville in 1987 and quickly established herself as a songwriting force to be reckoned with, with tracks recorded by some of the biggest names in country music. She landed her first #1 with George Straitβs rendition of her βChill Of An Early Fall,β garnered her first GRAMMY Nomination and CMA Song of the Year win with Martina McBrideβs recording of βIndependence Day,β and penned hits for Patty Loveless, Shania Twain, Bryan Adams, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy LaFave, and Etta James among others. βIf Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as βOn A Bus To St. Cloud,’β People Magazine wrote, βshe has already earned herself a spot among countryβs upper echelon of contemporary composers.β
All the while, though, she had bigger plans for herself.
Gretchen Peters is a songwriter and an artist. Both sides are essential to her identity, and one listen to this collection makes it clear that her extraordinary body of work is indeed essential listening for the rest of us.
Gretchen Peters appeared in 2016
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Mary Harris Jones, known as Mother Jones, was an Irish-born American schoolteacher and dressmaker who became a prominent union organizer, and activist. She helped coordinate major strikes and co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World.β
She lost her husband and four children to yellow fever, and shortly after, lost her worldly possessions in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. She could easily have given up. Instead she became an organizer for the Knights of Labor and the United Mine Workers union. In 1902, she was called "the most dangerous woman in America" for her success in organizing mine workers and their families against the mine owners. In 1903, to protest the lax enforcement of the child labor laws in the Pennsylvania mines and silk mills, she organized a children's march from Philadelphia to the home of President Theodore Roosevelt in New York. She spent many nights in jail, including one stint at age 80.β
β
She lived to be 100, and is buried in the Union Miners Cemetery in Mount Olive, Illinois, alongside miners who died in the 1898 Battle of Virden, whom she called βher boysβ. They called her βThe Minerβs Angelβ. β
I was proud to be asked to contribute a song to a commemorative tribute to Mother Jones at the rededication of her grave site in Mt. Olive. To say she is an inspiration doesnβt begin to cover it. β
Happy Labor Day. To hear the song βMotherβ, click on the link.β
soundcloud.com/gretchenpeters/mother-for-mother-jones-master-2008
Comment on Facebook Mary Harris Jones, ...
I heard her name mentioned for the first time during a Chris Hedges interview. Thank you for sharing her some of her personal history as a wife and mother and later as a woman of leadership and courage. The song is beautiful
Amazing story about an amazing woman. Thank you Gretchen for sharing her story. Your song is a wonderful tribute to Mother Jones. π
Beautifuly written song worthy of the honor. Thank you for using your gifts to educate and inspire as well as entertain.
I am a coal miner’s granddaughter. My granddad died as a result of a mining accident. Mother Jones was a force to be reckoned with. Thnx for a beautiful song for an amazing woman. β€οΈπ΅πΆ
Enough said. Thank you for the words and the music. Best wishes and kind thoughts to you both . xxx for Oliver. Take care, out there. xβοΈππ
I grew up if Mt Olive, IL where Mother Jones is buried. We had a day off school on October 12 (the anniversary of the Virden Riot) not for Colunbus Day but for Mother Jones Day.
'Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living' - a good motto, theres a Spirit of Mother Jones Festival Cork in Ireland too.
David- thank you for thinking of me and sharing. She is still one of my heroes- love the lyrics to the song! When was the concert at Creek House? I had never heard of Gretchen Peters, but really enjoyed her voice.
I absolutely love this song. You are such an inspirational songwriter with a God-given voice. Thank you for sharing this. β€οΈ
Amazing. Brilliant work and thanks for bringing her to everyone's notice. -x-
Gorgeous song. It's a good day to learn about Mother Jones. β€οΈ
Thanks for sharing her story, a mighty woman indeed.
I saw you perform for the first time in Mt Olive. Tom Russell shared the bill that night. Needless to say it wasn’t the last time. Thanks for sharing this one.
And a fine Irish woman she was !
Thank you so much for sharing π We need more like Mary in the world today
Irish tenacity!
Beautiful tribute!
What a strong lady! An inspiration.
err...Jones is a Welsh surname!
She was a badass!
Thank you for sharing
What an amazing woman. What would our world be without people like her? A beautiful song, beautifully sung. Thank you π π
Terri Hudson
I love her πππ
John Coate
Just a reminder that to support musicians during Covid-19, BandCamp is once again waiving their revenue share on all sales this Friday, September 4, 2020, from midnight to midnight Pacific Time. You can get the new album (or any of the older ones) there - or download all 14 albums for under $60.
gretchenpeters.bandcamp.com/releases
Comment on Facebook Just a reminder that...
Once again, one more beautiful album! As I wrote on its review on my last Country Music Mag (France), THE only french bimonthly printed magazine dedicated to Country Music and Americana from USA (since 12 years and 72 printed issues) : "They are rare artists that i can only count on my two hands that will never disappoint you. That mysterious alchemy between the artist and you is never easy to explain. In the case of Gretchen Peters does it come from the humanity and soul you can feel in any note she sing? From the melancholy and saddest of most of his words? Mystery! Anyway this album and songs goes, as usual, straight to your heart and soul. Thank you Gretchen just to be as you are: a precious artist we cherish to have the opportunity to put in our pantheon. Jacques Mouchet, manager and editor of Country Music Mag - www.countrymusicmag.fr
Only one more day of this stupid donut
#oliveroftheday
Comment on Facebook Only one more day of...
I know that feeling. I'm helping my friend with their dog who had to have an ACL repair. I call it the donut of silliness.
It would be the cone of shame here & I think the donut is way cool. Put some stripes on it and you could make it look like an Elizabethen ruff :-)
Lucky dogs get donuts...cats get capes.π
Donut gotta be better than the cone of shame of old. π
I’m going to be honest: that looks like it would be fantastic for my neck.
but at least it's a STYLISH donut!!!
He looks happy enough In Scotland its those horrible cones Party time tomorrow Oliver πΎπ
So is he free now?
My poor cat had to wear this for a week.
My cat had a cone for over two years. π¬
Why is he having to wear a donut?
Aw.
That’s gotta be annoying for him.
He makes it look good, though! π
He looks handsome no matter what he's wearing.
Hey Mom... I didn't order a doughnut with my morning coffee... what gives?"
Looks like he's in the stocks waiting for the rotten tomatoes
Not as embarrassed as a shaved poodle!
Looks he doesn't seem to be bothered by itβ£οΈπΎ
Poor baby! But what a good boy he is! β€οΈ
Awww. Though I do have something suspiciously similar for long flights. ππ
Hang in there, Oliver. πΎ
I think it’s his halo.
The cone of shame.
Looks like an Elizabethan......
