Don & Mel
A Traditional Country Duo
They have hooked up musically to reach a new level of recording
works from various artists in the traditional country music world
Melanie was born in St. Martins, Missouri and as young girl
would sing and dance to records with two of her sisters,
they would pretend like they were singing to an audience.
Melanie wanted to sing back up with my older sister,
who was recording in Nashville but was too young at the time.
By the time she was old enough to sing with her sister,
she passed away from cancer.
Melanie has all that music she composed
and would like to record some of her songs someday.
Don and Melanie have also recorded a tribute album to another REM member
Wade Jackson, whom we all love dearly.
Don and Melanie have also performed at various venues and are pursing thier dreams with vigor.
Don Joy sent this for me to share with our audience.
My first recollection of meeting Wade Jackson was at the Ernest Tubb Theater. I was back stage talking with Stella Pardon when Wade walked in. He was joking with someone and for those of you who don't know Wade, he has a voice that echo's throughout the room when he talks. After talking to Stella, I walked over to listen to his story he was telling, which held the interest of several people. After that he and I talked for a long while, I don't recall whether we parted with each others phone numbers but we stayed in contact after that night.
We met again at the Nashville Song Writer Festival, went to dinner that night. Wade told me I could record any of his songs if I wanted to, I said if I did, it would be a tribute album to him.
He not only is a prolific songwriter, a great musician and a world class entertainer, entertaining folks all over world, but he is genuine and as real as anyone you'd ever want to meet. There’s not a phony bone in this mans body, he is the salt of the earth and I am proud to call him my dear friend.
That's why I did the tribute CD to him. Before I could finalize this CD, I teamed up with Melanie Lynn, my singing partner, at which time she and I decided to do this tribute CD together and turn some of Wade's songs into duets. This CD will be out shortly, and we are hoping it will bring the attention to a man that is so deserving, our friend, Wade Jackson.
- Don Joy
Don and Mel just got back from Nashville after completing a Tribute Album to Wade Jackson, the writer of "Don't Be Angry", and many other songs made famous by his brother Stonewall Jackson.
We stopped at Lorreta Lynn's Ranch and then on to Wade's home in Gallatin, TN. We spent four days with Wade and his
wife Carolyn.
Wade and Carolyn are very pleased and excited about the Tribute Album we just completed, and are so appreciative of all the work we put into re-recording his songs with our styling
and modern arrangements.
Wade Jackson on the left, Melanie Lynn in the middle and Don Joy on the right.
News
Check out Don & Mel's new video "Don't Be Angry" written by the legendary Wade Jackson
CD Review
It's always a little bit of a 'tremor' when I listen to country music today, never sure what I'm going to hear, but I never fail to be impressed by the 'originality' I hear sometimes. Don Joy has a farm down in Missouri, and is probably the last person you might expect to write 'love' songs, but indeed, that is exactly what he does. As the CD progresses, after starting out with some nice western swing on the first song, the backing musicians also recognize these originals as exactly that, and they too, hear the 'love' song in them. Not sure how long Don and Melanie have been singing, my only 'suggestion' in this fine work is for Melanie to 'soften' her voice just a little, and listen closely to what Don is singing so that she stays right next to him vocally. This whole CD is chock full of terrific classic and traditional country music, very unlike what is happening in Nashville these days. The musicians are A-one, super good, and feel the music just as they should. Recorded at Electric Arts Recording Studio in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Don found some music makers that really 'understand' his music. We don't know who the music makers are, but they are good throughout, and cheers to the engineer who did the final mix, right on where it should be. Don's music, I believe, is from his heart, and he writes from experience as well. It's amazing how Don can write about love, winning love, losing love, and searching for love, and finding it as well. Super neat listening experience here. Five of the twelve songs on this CD were written by Don and Melanie. Add to that some excellent other originals by other writers I've not had the opportunity to hear, makes for a very nice listening experience. This delightful couple are heading for their debut performance on "Midwest Country" an RFD-TV television show emanating from Sandstone, Minnesota, that still maintains the excellence of 'real' classic and traditional country music. It will be fun to see them performing together on this show which is quite well produced. My favorite spot on this recording is in "Timeless and True Love" where the steel player turns to the Dobro to add that very special down-home authentic 'realness' to what country music is all about. The fiddle too makes this song special. My favorite on this CD without a doubt. Off this fine selection of traditional and classic country tunes goes to the Rural Roots Music Commission. Who knows what they will do, but I'm sure they will do something.
REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART - www.ntcma.net
