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A
Mississippi native, Lowry Hamner writes
and performs original and traditional music
in the "Americana" genre, the crossroads
where the southern musical forms of blues,
country, rock, and folk meet.
Hamner's musical journey is deeply
rooted in the Mississippi music scene past and
present, in a career of powerful promise and
recognition. He recorded sessions for Sam Phillips,
of Elvis Presley fame, and Ray Harris, of Hi
Records in Memphis. Phillips once told Hamner,
"You don't sing like Elvis, but you're
the best songwriter I've heard in ten years."
It was in the vibrant Meridian,
Mississippi music scene, among such compatriots
as Steve Forbert, Chris Ethridge and Paul Davis
that Hamner founded the band, The Cryers. After
completing demos with Kyle Lehning, who later
produced Randy Travis, opportunities as a solo
artist opened up for Hamner, but his commitment
to The Cryers instead motivated a move to New
York City's East Village. |
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Playing such legendary
New York clubs as CBGB's and Max's Kansas City
led to Hamner and The Cryers being signed to
Mercury Records by Steve Katz of Blood, Sweat
and Tears, and The Blues Project fame, where
they recorded two highly praised albums.
Hamner recently returned to professional
performing with appearances at the Towne Crier
Cafe; in Pawling, New York, and the Schoolhouse
in Croton Falls, New York. This comeback was
underscored by Columbia recording artist Willie
Nile who included one of Hamner's songs on his
record "Places
I Have Never Been." Hamner's 1979
song "Shake It
Up" was re-released as the title
track on a 1993 Rhino compilation.
On "Secrets
of the Heart," Hamner works with
a dynamic group of New York area musicians including
Jon Sholle, formerly a member of the David Grisman
Quartet, and Carey Brown, who played with The
Skatellites and currently plays with the Sloan
Wainwright band. With the release of this first
solo work on his own label, Alien Chants Records,
Hamner is establishing a body of work that encompasses
some of his most powerful and mature compositions
to date. |
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