The cliche “Mother knows best” comes to mind as I write about the first performers for the 2015/2016 Deborah Rawson Memorial Library concert series. My mom, Lyn Burnstine, has been coordinating concerts in the Hudson Valley for over 40 years and introduced me to the wonderful music of so many talented artists. Kim and Reggie Harris are definitely top on her list of favorite artists and I have taken her advice to invite them to our music series. Consummate musicians and storytellers, Kim and Reggie combine a strong folk and gospel legacy with a solid background in classical, rock, jazz, and pop music. Their diversity of musical styles and genres was nurtured in the schools and churches of their youth and then enriched by their creative curiosity, years of road and stage experience; interactions with performers such as Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Harry Belafonte, and others has led them to produce music that entertains and inspires. Audiences at venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Smithsonian Institute, as well as a myriad of theatre arts centers, festivals, universities, and schools have given this inspiring duo standing ovations for their vibrant performances. Please join us at 2:00 PM on October 5 as we start another exciting series of concerts!
~ Laurel Shelmandine