The first Night Under the Stars concert sponsored by the Carmi League of Arts will be Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the gazebo on Main street in Carmi. “Harmony Road” will be performing. This well-known group from across the Wabash has a unique history and sound.
The beginnings of Harmony Road band occurred in the Spring of 2009 when Jan Morris was driving her golf cart past Randy Pease’s house, where he was sitting on his front porch playing his six-string acoustic guitar. She listened for a few minutes and then drove on. The next day she called him and said, “Can you come over and play?” He said “sure” and they’ve been playing guitar together once a week pretty much ever since.
An accomplished guitar player, Jan played and sang professionally in Florida and North Carolina before settling in New Harmony, Indiana, several years ago. Randy played regularly in Oklahoma clubs before he moved back to his native Indiana in the late ’90s.
After a couple of years, New Harmony native Elizabeth Mumford came on board, and the duet became a trio. They picked Harmony Road for the group’s name – partly because of the group’s New Harmony ties but mostly because of the lush three-part harmonies they deliver in concert. They do a broad mix of music – jazz, pop, folk, gospel, country, bluegrass, blues and Celtic – with Randy and Jan handling guitars and vocals and Liz adding vocals, flute, and percussion. Liz, Randy and Jan also write songs, many of which have found their way into the Harmony Road repertoire.
Two years ago, Liz’s husband Bishop joined the band as it’s bass player, and the trio grew into it’s present four-piece configuration. For the past two years, Harmony Road has played clubs, festivals, and special events throughout southern Indiana and Illinois. “We all just love making music for folks.”, said Pease.
The concert is free. In case of rain, the concert will be in the fellowship hall of the First Christian Church. Free lemonade and ice water will be served. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy this talented group. June 28 will be the second concert with Mark Rogers and his students. The third concert on July 12 will be Zandrea Hafenrichter, CWCHS Band Director’s, Community Band.
