William Hamel
I love music, all kinds. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at songwriting and this last year I’ve finally found the time to do it. Hope you enjoy my song. Song is about the beauty of the river’s natural features and wildlife.
Song Title: The River Santa Fe
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Billy “Sweet William” Ennis
“Sweet William” Ennis is a singer/song writer who hails from Palatka Florida with deep roots in the Gainesville area. His personally original songs written over the span of fifty years covers multi genres and subjects including love and war with a heavy dose of Blues. His newest, “Pirate of the Rain” is a powerful reflection of his empathy for Florida’s ecology. His acoustic finger pick style weaves through stories of his life with the simple feel of storytelling Blues. From his 1988 “Heavy Traffic” through the 2015 “Dying Man Blues” his deep resonant voice grabs the essence of his “Storytelling Blues”. I wrote this song to challenge and inform folks that the Santa Fe River is a living aquifer and needs our love and care and vigilance.
Song Title: Pirates of the Rain
Hollianne Page
Hollianne is a Florida native living in Gainesville. I’m a songwriter and storyteller trying to shake some bones and warm some hearts. Keeping our waters, and everything else we treasure, in our hearts and minds through the telling of stories is a tradition as old as time. This song is a funny take on a story I dug up about the allegedly true Ida and Albert Moore. They lived on the Florida waters until Mossman came and stole Albert- he was never seen again. Mossman is one of Florida legends talking about a mysterious swamp man, covered in moss. I made him more of an “innocent” bystander in this goofy love triangle between him, Albert, and Ida.
Song Title: Oh Miss Ida
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Stephanie Leguichard
I am an anthropologist who loves to write songs, especially political songs about the environment! I’m also really into environmental activism and love to use music as a means of creating solidarity for a good cause. It’s about how we need to prioritize people and all life over profit if we want any chance of preserving this planet and the river. We need to have a symbiotic relationship with nature rather than an exploitative, profit-driven one. Additionally, if I’m selected as a contestant, I plan to play the song with a dulcimer rather than with the keyboard that you hear in the recording. I only found out about this contest today, and I’m currently at a relative’s house in California (so it’s still March 5th here), so I only had access to her keyboard today rather than my own instruments . Since I’m not good at playing the keyboard, but I am good at playing the dulcimer, I hope I can use the dulcimer if I get to participate.
Song Title: Santa Fe
Bear & Robert
Duo – Bear and Robert (pronounced row-bear) are Cindy Bear and Franc Robert, an award winning singer-songwriter duo from Jacksonville, FL. Their acoustic sound has been described as a deep well of Folk, Blues, and Americana with a high energy je ne sais quoi! Cindy’s passion is writing Florida songs, especially songs about Florida Folk life and the environment. Cindy’s song, “Our Santa Fe River” is reminiscent of her days as a FWC Reserve Officer, when she would launch her boat before sunrise, and stay until nightfall to protect and preserve the beauty of nature in our waterways. Water is life.
Song Title: Our Santa Fe River
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Karen Mullins
I was born in Melbourne and grew up in Titusville. We fell in love with the springs and purchased property up here to be close to the rivers. We finally made the move in 2003.
Song Title: Our Sweet Old Santa Fe
Jim Hearn
Jim Hearn has lived in Florida all of his life. As a nature lover, he enjoys the river at his homestead in Fort White. For the past 33 years, Jim has made a living delivering mail. As a campfire musician he loves writing songs and singing for his family around a nice warm fire. He also served for years in the Army at the end of the Vietnam era.
Song Title: Going to the River ( letting it all hang out)
Ricky Kendall
Ricky Kendall has been songwriting and playing shows in Gainesville since he moved here in 2000. He works with patients at the UF Health Arts In Medicine program as an artist in residence. He likes to play. He is hopefully getting better with age. It’s a waiting game at this point. -Ricky Kendall (in the third person)
Song Title: Prairie Wind
I enjoyed the venue much!!