Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Blanton to perform at festival

Harry Blanton, formerly of Gurdon, is scheduled to perform at the Gurdon Forest Festival this year.

Harry has played for years and is a well known musician. He has played with many famous artist and written much of his own music.

Harry fronted for Don Gibson and traveled all over the United States. Harry has also performed at the Nashville Palace.

Harry's Band, "Old Friends", consists of truly that. Many of the guys in the band have been with Harry through it all.

One of Harry's biggest "Old Friends" is Ken Williams. Williams has been playing with Harry since the early 1970's booking with Buddy Lee Attractions out of Nashville, Tenn. He has performed in many package shows with such artists as the late Tammy Wynette, Don Gibson, Tanya Tucker and Ronnie Milsap.

Williams has also performed regularly on the "Louisiana Hayride".

He and his wife, Janice, are from Norphlet, and enjoy singing together.

Chuck Hughes is the banjo and guitar picker for the band and is the high school band director at Mt. Veiw High School.

Hughes is originally from Arkadelphia. He enjoys spending his summers in Europe were he plays with bluegrass and country music groups.

Randy Brannon and Gregg Towell are both from Cabot.

Brannon is the bass guitar player and Towell plays the drums. They have both opened shows for Vern Gosdin, Steve Warner and other well known artists.

Brannon also spends time writing songs and enjoys singing.

Stuart Williamson plays the fiddle when performing with Harry and the gang, but is talented enough to also play the guitar, banjo and mandolin.

He was the leader of the well known Union Pacific Railroad Band and has performed all over the United States.

Skeeter Brocious, the comedian of the group, brings a little comic relief to the show along with a wonderful singing voice and the ability to play the rhythm guitar.

Brocious live close to Harry in Benton.

Ernie Corrello is another of the band's guitar players who has a rather impressive musical background.

Corrello has played with such artists as Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Rait, Don Henley (The Eagles) and many other artists.

He also lives in Benton, but is originally from New York.

Blanton is excited to be coming home to Gurdon and playing with his friends for his friends.

He will be joined on stage by his daughter Holly and his other daughter Ashley. Ashley enjoys performing and playing the guitar. She also writes some of her own songs.

Kathy Anderson, of Mt. Ida, will also be joining them on stage.

Harry Blanton and "Old Friends" will be performing on the main stage at 7:30-10 p.m. during the Gurdon Forest Festival.