The Mount Gilead Community Concerts Association (MGCCA) is a non-profit organization striving to present a program of diverse arts and cultural opportunities to the Mount Gilead, North Carolina, area.
Musical fund-raising production scheduled
"Music Makes the Year Go 'Round" set for Apr. 27, 28
Singers, actors and dancers from the community at large are rehearsing for an original program entitled, "Music Makes the Year Go 'Round". The show is conceived and directed by Liz LaRosa, and proceeds will benefit all the work of MGCCA and Community Radio WMTG.
The production will be staged Sat., Apr. 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Apr. 28, at 3:00 p.m. at the Leah Richter Levin Memorial Auditorium in Mount Gilead. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for students.
We hope you'll also consider an additional contribution to assist our mission to bring a program of diverse arts and cultural opportunities to the community. Donations also help provide "arts encounters" to local students. A contribution of any size will be appreciated.
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2012-13 Concert Series concludes
Jimi Ray ends season with Apr. 20 performance
MGCCA's 2012-13 Concert Series concluded Sat., Apr. 20, with Jimi Ray. The show took place in the Haywood Event Center, 104 S. Main St., Mount Gilead.
At the age of 10, growing up in nearby Troy, N.C., Jimi's dad brought home two things that would change his life. First was a very cheap acoustic guitar. That "Stella" would help Jimi fall in love with music. The second item was a recording of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High". Jimi would listen to that record beginning to end, over and over again.
"I loved that record," Jimi says. "The way he wrote, the way his melodies were written, and his song structure would stay with me that day on. I took that little guitar, took one lesson and then decided just to teach myself. So growing up, my life was mostly consumed with music and sports. Eventually I realized that I could sing and started playing and singing in public, but mostly at church. That began what would be my life career choice."
As a solo artist, Jimi Ray is most often compared to artists such as Jackson Browne, James Taylor and Jeffrey Gaines — not bad company! And the craft of writing songs is one that he constantly strives to get better at.
"First and foremost I am now a songwriter and then a performer," he says. "I love writing stuff that people relate to everyday. Songs have a way of changing people's lives and it's such an honor to write something that absolutely touches another person. I try to co-write with other great writers in order to not only learn from them but also to allow more than one mind to work on an idea. I have learned so much from other writers. I consider myself a good writer but with tons and tons to learn."
Jimi found some success as a co-writer with Brian White (Trace Adkins, Neal McCoy, and the 2007 mega CMA hit "Watching You" from Rodney Atkins) on the #1 internet and independent radio hit "See If I Care" from country artist Charlie Allen
"I write songs to touch people. My songs are all written from deep inside and based upon my faith. I believe God uses everything in life to touch people. That is enough for me to continue to write."
It's been many years since that first John Denver record was introduced in his life but those influences still remain strong.
"I simply love being known as a singer-songwriter. That label allows me to share whatever is on my mind and heart. I've been touched by songs so much in my life and I want to do that for other people."
