Rebecca Newton
“Me” aka Rebecca Newton, has been labelled “The Triangle’s Impresario” by NC-based journalist Jack Bernhardt. She cut her musical teeth on show tunes and vaudeville as a young child in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Her first LP was a 78, which her Grandmother bought for her after a birthday dinner in Seattle, WA. At the fresh age of 4, she witnessed Barber Shop Quartet of banjo- and ukulele-playing, pinstriped suit-wearing men with straw hats singing impeccable harmonies. The record was a 78rpm live recording of Sophie Tucker, which Rebecca still owns. Rebecca’s adult music career began in 1975 with the band, “Mother Country” – a bluegrass, country band based in North Carolina. In 1978 she played in a 4-piece swing band (un-creatively) named “Rebecca & Friends.” Mid 1981 she and co-writer Keith Guile put together “Rebecca & the Hi-Tones,” a North Carolina institution for 30+ years. Rebecca also performs as half the famous duo ‘Pinky Wyoming and Duke LaCrosse’, with Jim Watson, founding member of the ‘Red Clay Ramblers.’ Jim toured with Sugar Hill Recording Artists Robin and Linda Williams for over 30 years. Rebecca is a member of the Piedmont area Americana band “the bennys.” Rebecca wrote music for plays during the 90s and early 00s and was mentored by Jim Wann. In her spare time, she’s the CEO and President of Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc.
David Burney
David Burney grew up in Leland, NC, where he cropped tobacco, played baseball and listened to his parents album collection. While his father preferred the classic country songs of Buck Owens, Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, and Roger Miller, his mother leaned towards the R&B greats – Sam Cooke, Fats Domino and Chubby Checker. To David, it was all simply great music. Today, David makes his home in Wendell, NC. In addition to belting out Johnny Cash hits, he is a designer and a leadership coach. He has three children and is happiest when he’s boring them with his corny jokes and bad advice, or when he’s sharing ice cream with his 2-year-old grandson whose name, by the way, is ‘Cash.’ Favorite Johnny Cash song: Big River Musical Influences: Johnny Cash, the Kinks, David Ruffin, Curtis Mayfield, Talking Heads, Doc Watson Happy Places: A baseball field or a sandy beach