Americana Night feat. Marty Wendell, The Insolent Willies & The Bluebillies

Join us on Saturday, June 20th for Americana Night with local musicians Marty Wendell, The Insolent Willies & The Bluebillies. Doors at 7 PM; show at 8 PM.

Musically weaned on an old Philco radio, singer-songwriter Marty Wendell grew up whetting an appetite for rockabilly, folk, country and pop to blues and gospel. With Marty Wendell you get the real deal.

Influenced by Sun Records artists, Marty entered a church talent show where he sang in front of a live audience for the first time. Almost half a century later, Marty Wendell continues to enjoy performing for enthusiastic audiences. He has shared the stage with artists across rock, country, R&B and folk, including T. Graham Brown, Carl Perkins, John Anderson, The Hager Twins, Maskman and the Agents’ Harmon Bethea, Arlo Guthrie, The Platters and Shirley Alston Reeves, among others — and Johnny Cash.

Marty met Cash in the early 1960s by way of an introduction by agent Jerry Teifer. In a backstage dressing room in Newburgh (NY), Mr. Cash pulled a Gibson 12-string out of the case and handed it to Marty, saying, “Why don’t you play me one of your songs?” Marty recalls, “I had never played a 12-string before, and I can’t even remember what song I tried to play for him ... I was nervous as I could be. I mean, here I was with this guy that I’d been listening to since I was about 10 years old! But he was so gracious. He sat and listened and then he played me a bunch of songs that he hadn’t released yet.” Four years later, on the strength of Wendell’s song “Hey Hey Mama”—his first record and one that exceeded 10,000 in sales—Marty was booked as an opening act for Johnny Cash and his troupe on the tour that followed the release of Cash’s Folsom Prison album.

After the Folsom Prison tour engagements, Marty began recording for Kee Records and released singles including “An Ode to Burtis Dean,” “Bring The Circus Back To Town” (which received exposure through Armed Services Radio), and a version of Carl Perkins’ “Daddy Sang Bass.” His career gained momentum into the ’70s with extensive radio appearances, TV Teen Dance shows, and touring throughout the northeastern states.

In 1977 he began hosting an annual Country Music Festival in the Round Lake Auditorium, curating lineups that featured regional country musicians and notable Nashville artists. Much of Marty’s recording activity has focused on original material. After two albums with Kee Records, he recorded four albums with Hickory Hill Records and later worked with Orrensong Recordings, recording four albums including Over The Edge. Over The Edge was recorded at Sun Studios and included the rockabilly stroll “Bad Attitude,” featuring Planet Swan.

Since 1998 Marty has collaborated with his son Sean as co-writer and producer. Their first recording project together was Labor of Love for Orrensong. Marty has recorded with Boston-based Simply 21 Records since 2007, beginning with Rockabilly Heart (which includes “57 Chevy”), and in 2010 released Live and Rockin’, a live recording of Marty’s opening performance for The Platters. His current project with Simply 21, The Good Old Days, features pre–rock-and-roll standards and a couple of Marty’s new songs.

Performing live and engaging with an audience is Marty’s passion. His shows are engaging and just plain fun for audiences of all ages ... and Marty hopes you’ll join him for one. Marty Wendell’s performance schedule and photos are available at MartyWendell.com. His music is available through his website and online merchants such as iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon.com.

• Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
• All ages
• In person
• Free parking
• Doors at 7 PM

Refund policy: No refunds