"When I'm writing music, I never
really know what's going to come out.
I guess I write like I sing - all different types of music.
I just let it happen."
- Karon Kate Blackwell
[Photo by Stephen Thorburn]
Karon Kate Blackwell was born and raised
near Ellisville, Mississippi, and, as might be expected, can sing a country
song as well as, if not better than, any other Daughter of The South. It
would be a mistake, however, to think there are any regional boundaries to
this lady's vast musical talent. As a vocalist, she can glide effortlessly
from country to rhythm and blues and gospel to a ballad by Irving Berlin or
the Gershwins.
As a musician, she can pound out a rock 'n' roll song on the piano Jerry
Lee Lewis-style or take an old-fashioned ragtime tune and really make it
swing. Many of the songs she sings are her own compositions. They also run
the gamut from country to traditional to contemporary. "when I compose,
I don't stop and write down notes. I just let it come out and memorize it as
I go, or try to tape it if a recorder is handy. That's the system that works
for me," she explained.
Karon Kate was taught how to play the piano at age six by her father. By
the time she was nine, she was playing on a local radio show. At 18, she
travelled to Chicago, sat down at the piano for an audition, and played and
sang the only three songs she knew. That was the begining of Karon Kate's
professional career.
It wasn't long before she was appearing in
nightclubs and showrooms throughout the country, opening for the likes of
Wayne Newton in Las Vegas and Burl Ives in Reno. She also appeared on cruise
ships and at corporate convention shows. Karon Kate's TV credits include "The
Tonight Show", "The Regis Philbin Show", "Hour Magazine",
"Kindly Keep It Country" hosted by Hank Thompson, and her own
special.
When Karon Kate is on stage, there is never a dull moment. As New Orleans
music critic Rhodes Spedale, Jr,. said after attending one of her concerts,
"If all of the energy that Karon Kate Blackwell pours into her
performance could be harnessed, the lights of Las Vegas and Atlantic City
could run on that energy for a million years. Karon Kate is an energetic
performer, to say the least."
In Atlantic City, show reviewer Marcia
Steiner was equally impressed: "If her country singing was good, her
boogie-woogie at the piano brought down the house. Karon Kate then cooled
things down with a dreamy Irving Berlin 'Always'. Her voice clearly revealed
versatility lending itself to a higher range and deeper emotion".
Although she sings a lot of old favorites,
Karon Kate also includes a few of her own compositions in each show. The
most popular of her songs is "Wedding Vows". It became so popular,
she recorded an album and included the song. That wasn't enough, however,
for her fans. "They started telling me about friends and relatives who
were getting married and wanted to play the song at their wedding, so now,
in addition to the album, the sheet music is on sale in the lobby after
every show", she reported.
Her first album, titled simply, "Karon
Kate Blackwell", included "Wedding Vows" and several familiar
songs such as "ode To Billie Joe" and "God Bless The U.S.A."
One single, "I can't Laugh", was a Cashbox "pick-of-the-week"
selection in August, 1994. In 1995 Karon Kate recorded in the main showroom
at the Vegas World Hotel & Casino and includes many memorable moments
from her exciting nightclub show.
The second album re-introduces "Wedding Vows" and includes many
more classic wedding-themed love songs such as "The Hawaiian Wedding
Song", "Have I Told You Lately?" and "Wind Beneath My
wings".
This versatile entertainer headlines her own show, but sometimes teams up
with comedian Marty Allen in a production that features Karon Kate's music
and Marty's classic comedy characters.
Karon Kate lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and
believes in sharing her success with the community. Proceeds from the sale
of her tapes, CDs and sheet music are donated to two local charaties. One is
Childhaven, a home for battered and unwanted children. The other is St.
Vincent Rescue Mission, a shelter for the homeless.
"Show business people can lose
themselves, if they are not careful. I try to stay in touch with people this
way". she explained. "Musical talent is a blessing and it should
be shared with the audience, but the benefits that come from the talent
should also be shared".
One of the greatest joys of performimg, she feels, is knowing that her
music is having an effect on the audience. "When someone comes up to me
after a show and tells me they were moved by my lyrics or by my melodies, I
know I'm doing my job well. That is what makes me happy within".
TRACKS:
1. THE TWELTH OF NEVER / TILL
2. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE -
WAV - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
3. YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE -
WAV - YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE
4. WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN / FOR ALL WE KNOW
5. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
6. HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY?
7. TRULY
8. THE HAWAIIN WEDDING SONG
9. WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
10. ALWAYS
11. AND I LOVE HER SO / IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
12. WEDDING VOWS - WAV -
WEDDING VOWS
"Out of Stock"
TRACKS:
1. I CAN'T LAUGH
2. FROM YOUR LIPS - WAV -
FROM YOUR LIPS
3. DANCIN' TO THE LIES
4. NO BARS ON MY WINDOWS
5. WHAT AM I BID FOR THE HERO
6. WEDDING VOWS
7. BLUE SKIES & ROSES -
WAV - BLUE SKIES &
ROSES
8. MAKE BELIEVIN'
9. SING AWAY YOUR SORROW
10. GOD BLESS THE USA -
WAV - GOD BLESS THE USA
11. ODE TO BILLIE JOE
12. BOOGIE & BEETHOVEN
TRACKS:
1. HOT TICKET
2. STAND BY YOUR MAN
3. BLUE SUEDE SHOES
4. I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU
5. ALWAYS
6. ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND
7. SEVEN UP
8. SON OF A PREACHER MAN
9. GOD BLESS THE USA -
WAV - GOD BLESS THE USA
10. WEDDING VOWS - WAV
- WEDDING VOWS
11. 9 TO 5
12. BOOGIE & BEETHOVEN
13. SEASONS
TRACKS:
1. HAS A CAT
2. ALL OF THE ABOVE
3. MAIN SQUEEZE
4. I PRAY BEFORE
5. I DON'T MIND (GET OUTTA MY LIFE!)
6. HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY
7. HOT, HOT TICKET
8. I'LL BE THERE (WEDDING VOWS)
9. I CAN'T LAUGH
10. WORDS
11. FROM YOUR LIPS (TO GOD'S EARS)
12. A DREAM IN THE MAKING
Click Here To Order MISSISSIPPI
STARDUST
