[piano intro] - [Announcer] "Southern Songbirds" is a production of PBS North Carolina in partnership with Come Hear NC, a program of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. - Welcome back to the "Southern Songbirds Concert Series" presented by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the North Carolina Museum of History. We have a fantastic show for you tonight with Rissi Palmer and her unique blend of country, R&B, and soul. Rissi, we can't wait to hear about the women who've inspired your incredible body of work. Could you tell us a little bit about what to expect tonight and who some of these women were? - Well, first of all, thank you for saying "incredible." I appreciate that. I'm inspired by so many of the women that are in this exhibit. People like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Wynonna, the Judds. And I'm actually gonna be paying homage to two women in particular during the show tonight, and that's going to be Bonnie Raitt and Linda Martell. So I'm very excited. - [Jim] We are too. Ladies and gentlemen, here's Rissi Palmer. [powerful rock music] [rhythmic upbeat music] ♪ Ha, ho, ho, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Ha, ho, ho, oh yeah ♪ ♪ It's the way I think not how I talk, oh no ♪ ♪ It's a pride you feel that makes you walk the walk, uh-huh ♪ ♪ Come Sunday morning palms up in praise ♪ ♪ It's all about my momma 'n'em ♪ ♪ And how I was raised, uh-huh ♪ ♪ It's a state of mind no matter where you're from, yeah ♪ ♪ Living like your grandma done, uh-huh ♪ ♪ 'Cause good home training ain't a common thing, no ♪ ♪ If this is who you are, let me hear you say ♪ ♪ Hey, hey ♪ ♪ You don't have to be a Georgia peach ♪ ♪ From Savannah Beach to say it ♪ ♪ From Arkansas to appreciate a Southern drawl ♪ ♪ Don't need no kin from West Virginia to have it in ya ♪ ♪ Show the world you're a country girl ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm the kind of girl says it with a smile, oh no ♪ ♪ That sweet-as-molasses down-home style, uh-huh ♪ ♪ Saying what you might call real corn-fed ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, I'm a country girl born and bred ♪ ♪ Uh-huh ♪ ♪ It's a state of mind no matter where you're from, yeah ♪ ♪ Living like your grandma done, oh ho ♪ ♪ 'Cause good home training ain't a common thing, oh no ♪ ♪ If this is who you are, let me hear you say ♪ ♪ Hey, hey ♪ ♪ You don't have to be a Georgia peach ♪ ♪ From Savannah Beach to say it ♪ ♪ From Arkansas to appreciate a Southern drawl ♪ ♪ Don't need no kin from West Virginia to have it in ya ♪ ♪ Show the world ♪ ♪ You're a country girl, yeah ♪ [upbeat music continues] - Whoo! ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ All right ladies, y'all ready? Here we go. ♪ Ladies if you understand ♪ ♪ Let me hear y'all clap your hands ♪ ♪ If you hear me and you know you're bad ♪ ♪ Let me hear you all clap your hands ♪ ♪ Ladies if you understand ♪ ♪ Let me hear you all clap your hands ♪ ♪ If you hear me and you know you're bad ♪ ♪ All you country girls clap your hands, hey ♪ ♪ You don't have to be a Georgia peach ♪ ♪ From Savannah Beach to say it ♪ ♪ From Arkansas to appreciate a Southern drawl ♪ ♪ Don't need no kin from West Virginia to have it in ya ♪ ♪ Show the world ♪ ♪ You're a country girl ♪ ♪ Well, if you wanna be a Georgia peach ♪ ♪ From Savannah Beach to say it ♪ ♪ From Arkansas then sing it with a Southern drawl ♪ ♪ Don't need no kin from West Virginia to have it in ya ♪ ♪ Show the world ♪ ♪ You're a country girl ♪ [Rissi laughs] [audience clapping] So what you're gonna hear tonight is just a lot of my own original material. Some things from my first album, that song that we just played for y'all is the remix of "Country Girl." That was my very first single, came out in 2007, made me the first Black woman on the Billboard charts in 20 years. [audience cheering] And so that song will always have a very special place in my heart. And yeah, we're just gonna play songs from all the albums, and we're also gonna pay a homage to, you know, since there's a fabulous Power of Women exhibit up there, I wanted to pay homage to two extremely powerful women in my life who have inspired me and who I aspire to be. And I'll tell you when we get to the songs, but we're gonna have a good time, so we can talk and we can laugh and we can dance if you want to. And you can clap and there'll be times when y'all can sing with me. It'll be good. All right? - All right! [audience cheering] ♪ Have I killed enough time ♪ [audience laughs] [Rissi laughs] - And also, they're filming this. [audience cheers] So, you know, have fun, but, you know, act like you got home training 'cause it's gonna be on TV, so here we go. [relaxed upbeat music] ♪ Mm, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ I said, na na na-na, na na na-na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ One more time ♪ ♪ I said, na na na-na, na na na-na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ I get my bacon from the butcher ♪ ♪ Get my eggs from a farm ♪ ♪ Get my strength from my daddy ♪ ♪ Smart mouth from my momma ♪ ♪ Get my Word from the preacher ♪ ♪ My money from the bank ♪ ♪ For all of my good home training ♪ ♪ Got my Granny to thank ♪ ♪ When I need kissing and hugging ♪ ♪ Get my sweet, sweet lovin' from you ♪ ♪ Ah, yes I do ♪ ♪ I get my sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' from you ♪ ♪ Ah, yeah ♪ ♪ I like the touch of your hand on the small of my back ♪ ♪ Feel your lips on my neck I don't know how to act ♪ ♪ You make me wanna be faithful, stay honest and true ♪ ♪ No one else can do me quite the way that you do ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you call I come running ♪ ♪ Get my sweet, sweet lovin' from you ♪ ♪ Yes, I do, yeah ♪ ♪ I get my sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' from you ♪ ♪ Ah, yeah ♪ ♪ Everything I want, yeah ♪ ♪ You give it to me, babe, yeah ♪ ♪ Most precious thing to me, ah yeah ♪ ♪ With satisfaction guaranteed ♪ ♪ I find peace in your arms, yeah it feels like home ♪ ♪ Wherever you are is where I belong ♪ ♪ Come give me kissing and hugging ♪ ♪ Get my sweet, sweet lovin' from you ♪ ♪ Yes, I do, oh, my, my ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin', y'all ♪ ♪ From you, yes, I do ♪ ♪ I get my sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' from you, I do ♪ ♪ Get my sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' from you ♪ ♪ Oh, I get my sweet, I get my sweet ♪ ♪ I get my sweet, I get my sweet, yeah ♪ ♪ Lovin' from you, yeah ♪ ♪ I get my sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ Sweet, sweet lovin' ♪ ♪ From you, yeah ♪ [music concludes] [audience cheering] - [Audience Member] That's from her new album. - So this next song that we're gonna do for y'all, [laughs] I wrote this for my first album. This was actually the very last song that we wrote. [coughs] I grew up in a family that was Catholic and Baptist. [audience laughs] - Whoo! - Yes, lots of church, guilty and judgmental. And my grandmother, when I played the album for her, she's since passed on, but she was very important to me, helped raise me, very, very important, we called her Poo Boo. And so Poo, I played it for her and I was like, "What do you think?" And she says, "Well baby, it's nice but there's no songs about Jesus on it." [audience laughs softly] And so we had to write a song about Jesus for it. And so this song is called, "I'm Not of This World." [warm slow music] ♪ Mm, hey, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ Well, nobody's perfect ♪ ♪ I struggle everyday ♪ ♪ In this fight to change my wicked ways ♪ ♪ And it ain't easy ♪ ♪ I'm still payin' dues ♪ ♪ Sometimes life leaves me shakin' in my boots ♪ ♪ And it's a hard, heavy load ♪ ♪ But I will rise above ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not of this world ♪ ♪ No, I'm not who I was ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not of this world ♪ ♪ A slave to my cravings ♪ ♪ Is what I used to be ♪ ♪ Playing with fire didn't mean a thing to me ♪ ♪ No, no, no ♪ ♪ And then I discovered ♪ ♪ My soul is not my own ♪ ♪ Glory be the day ♪ ♪ When I come home ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not alone ♪ ♪ Oh, and I will rise above ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not of this world ♪ ♪ No, I'm not who I was ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not of this world ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah ♪ [music intensifies] Mr. Charles Newkirk on guitar, y'all. ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Well, I'm here livin' in it ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be dyin' in it ♪ ♪ But before I go ♪ ♪ I want you to know, mm-hmm ♪ ♪ When it's my time for leavin' ♪ ♪ How sweet it's gonna be ♪ ♪ You can come along ♪ ♪ If you believe ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ But you gotta believe ♪ ♪ Oh, and I will rise above ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not of this world ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm not who I was ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not of this world ♪ ♪ No, I'm not of ♪ ♪ This world ♪ ♪ Whoa, this world ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ [music concludes] [audience clapping] - Whoo! Whoo! [rhythmic upbeat music] - This next song that I'm gonna do for y'all, I wrote in 2014. So I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. And in 2014 there was a story that made the national news, but before it made national news, it affected friends and people that I went to school with and people that I grew up with in Ferguson, Missouri, and that was the murder of Michael Brown. And I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what to say because I was angry and I was frustrated and I was hurt because I knew, you see, there's a lot of politics in St. Louis, a lot of racial politics, a lot of social-economic politics. And so I understood why people were angry. I understood why people wanted to burn something, why people wanted to be in the streets because they were tired of being tired. And so, in struggling to find something positive to say, I saw a quote and they said, "They tried to cut us down. They didn't know that we were seeds." And so, trying to find something positive in all this, I believe that each and every one of us, y'all, are seeds. And we can decide the type of seed that we wanna be. If we wanna be seeds of justice, if we wanna be seeds of empathy, if we wanna be seeds of community, seeds of harmony, or if we wanna be seeds of chaos, it's up to each and every one of us. And you get to choose every day what you're gonna be. And so I hope y'all choose wisely. And so that's what this song is called, and that's what this song is about. This is called "Seeds." [audience clapping] [rhythmic upbeat music continues] ♪ Brothers and sisters, don't believe what you've been sold ♪ ♪ They can bury your body ♪ ♪ But never touch your soul ♪ ♪ They built you a prison ♪ ♪ Locked up your mind ♪ ♪ Made you think you're nothing ♪ ♪ And filled your head with lies ♪ ♪ Can't act too free, act too proud ♪ ♪ Shine too bright, speak too loud ♪ ♪ But when they come to cut you down ♪ ♪ That's when you've gotta stand your ground ♪ ♪ When they bury our dreams ♪ ♪ We push 'em up through concrete ♪ ♪ We're growin' where they can't see ♪ ♪ These roots run deep 'cause we are seeds ♪ ♪ When we rise up ♪ ♪ No weapon can stop us ♪ ♪ No wall can block us ♪ ♪ No, hate can't stop love ♪ ♪ We are seeds ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, I said we are seeds ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, listen ♪ ♪ Mothers and fathers ♪ ♪ Ancestors of this earth ♪ ♪ Bring your strength and wisdom ♪ ♪ Teach your children what they're worth ♪ ♪ 'Cause, armed with truth and mercy ♪ ♪ They won't fall to anyone ♪ ♪ They're standin' on our shoulders ♪ ♪ Reachin' for the sun ♪ ♪ When they bury our dreams ♪ ♪ We push 'em up through concrete ♪ ♪ We're growin' where they can't see ♪ ♪ These roots run deep 'cause we are seeds ♪ ♪ When we rise up ♪ ♪ No weapon can stop us ♪ ♪ No wall can block us ♪ ♪ No, hate can't stop love ♪ ♪ I said we are seeds ♪ ♪ Hey, I said we are seeds ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ I said the battle is now ♪ ♪ And we are the army ♪ Y'all hear me? ♪ I said the battle is now ♪ ♪ We are the army ♪ ♪ Said the battle is now ♪ ♪ We are the army ♪ ♪ I said the battle is now ♪ ♪ It's now, it's now, right now, hey ♪ ♪ When they bury our dreams ♪ ♪ We push them up through concrete ♪ ♪ We're growin' where they can't see ♪ ♪ These roots run deep 'cause we are seeds ♪ ♪ When we rise up ♪ ♪ No weapon can stop us ♪ ♪ No wall can block us ♪ ♪ No, hate can't stop love ♪ ♪ I said we are seeds, hey ♪ ♪ I said we are seeds ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ And when we rise up ♪ ♪ No weapon can stop us ♪ ♪ No wall can block us ♪ ♪ No, hate can't stop love ♪ ♪ We are seeds ♪ [audience cheering] Thank you. [audience clapping] - Whoo! [gentle music] Thank you so much. So I mentioned I grew up in St. Louis but my mom and my dad are both from Georgia. And so, like all children in my family, [chuckles] when summer came, we didn't go to summer camp, we went to Grandma's house. And as soon as school was over, I swear my mama already had my backpack [laughs] and I was in the car and we were driving to Georgia. So my grandmother lived in Atlanta, both grandmothers lived in Atlanta. But my great-grandmother lived in a small town called Summerville. Has anybody ever heard of Summerville? - Whoo-hoo. - Summerville, Georgia. Yes. And it's a very small town and we have a Walmart [audience chuckles] and it's very impressive. And I used to love, like, my favorite thing to do was to go down to the Big Red. That was the grocery store. And some people are nodding their head, you know Big Red, all right. And so I used to like to go to the Big Red and look at the cakes because they had like little, I don't know, I was a weird kid. Anyway, and I loved, I just loved spending time with my great-grandmother. And it wasn't the biggest house. It was probably about the size of this stage. And it had a tin roof and no air conditioning, good lord. But we loved it and we had such a good time. And I don't think I wore shoes except to go to church on Sunday. And her flowers were always the prettiest. Her sheets were always the whitest and she hung 'em outside. And it was just amazing, it was magical. And when she passed, it broke my heart because we didn't get to go back to that house. And my grandmother has since passed on, my mother has since passed on. And so I wanted to write something to pay homage to them because Summerville is where I started singing. They used to have me stand on the porch [laughs] and sing into a push broom. And they would give me quarters to sing my songs. And, you know, I was very shy child, much like I am now. [audience chuckles] And so I would just like, they'd just, "Rissi," hand me money and I'd just, ♪ The greatest love ♪ [audience titters] And it was because of them that I'm here now. And so this song is for them, and it's for y'all. And any place that you had that was special like that, any place that made you feel loved, made you feel important and made you feel seen. That's what Summerville was for me. And so Charles Newkirk, over here on guitar, is gonna accompany me, and here we go. [fan whistles softly] [gentle upbeat music] ♪ Running bare-footed through the summertime ♪ ♪ White sheet drying on that old clothesline ♪ ♪ You'd say, "Child wash your feet ♪ ♪ Before you come inside to eat" ♪ ♪ I'd show up at the start of June ♪ ♪ August always came too soon ♪ ♪ As we'd pull away in our four-door ♪ ♪ You'd stand crying on your front porch ♪ ♪ Oh, ah-ah, oh-oh ♪ ♪ Highland Avenue, ooh ♪ ♪ I left too soon ♪ ♪ It'd take 20 years, a few left turns ♪ ♪ To get me back to where you were ♪ ♪ When love was still in Summerville ♪ ♪ I shed a tear and crack a smile ♪ ♪ When I let my mind wander down that country mile ♪ ♪ Where love is real ♪ ♪ In Summerville ♪ ♪ You'd take a ham bone and flat green beans ♪ ♪ Turn a bare cupboard into a feast ♪ ♪ If we didn't have nothing, you couldn't tell me ♪ ♪ You always had my cherry ice cream ♪ ♪ You raised us all on kisses and honey ♪ ♪ Jesus and switches, stretching money ♪ ♪ You knew God, and you gave him to us ♪ ♪ We had you, so we knew love ♪ ♪ Oh, ah-ah, oh-oh ♪ ♪ Highland Avenue, ooh ♪ ♪ I left too soon ♪ ♪ It'd take 20 years, a few left turns ♪ ♪ To get me back to where you were ♪ ♪ When love was still in Summerville ♪ ♪ I shed a tear, crack a smile ♪ ♪ When I let my mind wander down that country mile ♪ ♪ Where love is real ♪ ♪ In Summerville ♪ ♪ There's an overgrown field where your flowers grew ♪ ♪ There's a house, but there's no you ♪ ♪ You, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Highland Avenue ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ I'm missing you ♪ ♪ It took 20 years, a few left turns ♪ ♪ To get me back to where you ♪ ♪ When love was still ♪ ♪ Oh, in Summerville ♪ ♪ I shed a tear, crack a smile ♪ ♪ When I let my mind wander down that country mile ♪ ♪ My heart is still ♪ ♪ In I love you yeah ♪ ♪ Na na na, na na na, na na na-na ♪ ♪ Na na na, na na na, my heart is still ♪ ♪ Oh, in Summerville, yeah ♪ ♪ One day I'm coming home ♪ ♪ I love you, I love you ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah, oh ♪ ♪ No matter where I go, oh ♪ ♪ My heart is still ♪ ♪ Oh, in Summerville ♪ ♪ Na-na na-na na-na na-na na ♪ ♪ Na-na na-na na-na ♪ ♪ Oh, my heart is ♪ ♪ In Summerville ♪ ♪ Na-na na-na na-na na-na na ♪ ♪ Na-na na-na na-na ♪ ♪ Oh, my heart is still ♪ ♪ In Summerville ♪ [audience cheering and clapping] Thank you. So, as I mentioned before, I want to honor a couple women that have inspired me in my music. Like I say, I call my music Southern soul. It's a mixture of country, R&B, some gospel, and it's a hodgepodge of the things that I listened to growing up. My mom was a Patsy Cline fan and a Chaka Khan fan [audience titters] with equal fervor. [audience clapping softly] And, you know, Dolly, and Whitney Houston singing Dolly, made sense to me. And so one of my favorite singers growing up was Bonnie Raitt. [audience cheering] And I just think Bonnie Raitt is all of the things. And mind you, she's not country, but she's like Americana, she's blues, she's pretty much the best of what music is. And I love this song so much, especially now that I am a lady of a certain age. I'm a vintage woman. [audience chuckles] - [Audience Member] Whoo-hoo. - And [laughs], and that's all right. I love that because the alternative is not good. And so, [laughs] [audience laughs] so I understand this song with more, with my babies growing up, and life, lifin', and I love this song. And so if you know this song, please sing along. And my band really likes this song, so there's gonna be a part where they just gonna go off and we just gonna let 'em do it. All right, so this is "Nick of Time." - All right. - Whoo! [audience clapping] [upbeat music] [melody line added] ♪ Ah, yeah ♪ ♪ Hoo, hoo, ooh, ooh, yeah ♪ [music mellows] ♪ A friend of mine, she cries at night ♪ ♪ And she calls me on the phone ♪ ♪ Sees babies everywhere she goes ♪ ♪ And she wants one of her own ♪ ♪ She's waited long enough, she says ♪ ♪ And still he can't decide ♪ ♪ Pretty soon she'll have to choose ♪ ♪ And it tears her up inside ♪ ♪ She is scared ♪ ♪ Scared to run out of time ♪ ♪ I see my folks are getting old ♪ ♪ And I watch their bodies change ♪ ♪ I know they see the same in me ♪ ♪ And it makes us both feel strange ♪ ♪ No matter how you tell yourself ♪ ♪ It's what we all go through, hm ♪ ♪ Those lines are pretty hard to take ♪ ♪ When they're staring back at you ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Scared to run out of time ♪ ♪ When did the choices get so hard ♪ ♪ With so much more at stake ♪ ♪ Life gets mighty precious ♪ ♪ When there's less of it to waste ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Scared to run out of time ♪ ♪ Scared to run out of time ♪ ♪ Scared to run out of time ♪ - My favorite: ♪ Just when I thought I'd had enough ♪ ♪ And all my tears were shed ♪ ♪ No promise left unbroken ♪ ♪ There were no painful words unsaid ♪ ♪ You came along and showed me ♪ ♪ I could leave it all behind ♪ ♪ You opened up my heart again ♪ ♪ And then much to my surprise ♪ ♪ I found love, hey ♪ ♪ Love in the nick of time, love in ♪ ♪ I found love darlin', love in the nick of time ♪ ♪ I found love baby, love in the nick of time ♪ ♪ Ooh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Ooh, hoo, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Thought I'd given up ♪ ♪ Given up baby ♪ ♪ Oh, ho, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Given up on love ♪ ♪ Found love in the nick of time ♪ [audience cheering] Thank you. Thank you for indulging me in my Bonnie Raitt fantasy. I appreciate that. - Whoo! - The guys, when we do that in rehearsal, literally 30 minutes. [audience chuckles] 30 minutes, they figure out all different ways to not finish the song. It's amazing. I wanna take a second 'cause they don't like me to do this at the end of the show. So I wanna take a second and introduce you to my band. Because, as fun as I am, [laughs] it wouldn't sound as good just me by myself. So I kind of need them. And I like them, they're fun. So over here on guitar we have Mr. Charles Newkirk. [audience cheering and clapping] And on bass we have Mr. Darion Alexander. [audience cheering and clapping] [Rissi giggles] And over here on keys, depending on how he makes me feel, he's either Brian or Brandon, but he's really Brandon, this is Mr. Brandon Williams. [audience cheering and clapping] And last but certainly not least, back here on drums we have Mr. Mike Johnson. [audience cheering and clapping] And these are my brothers. We've been playing together for eight years now. And this is in North Carolina, all North Carolina-based band. [audience cheering and clapping] And yeah, so this next song that I'm gonna do for y'all, I wrote about my husband with my ex-boyfriend. [audience chuckles] Okay, but like, context. So [laughs] [audience laughs] he was still my ex-boyfriend but I hadn't met my husband yet. And so I was writing it about the man that I'd hoped to marry and that kind of thing. So it makes sense now. I'm not toxic, I'm just ... [audience laughs] All right, here we go. Here we go. [laughs] - Three, four, five. [warm slow music] [music intensifies] ♪ I don't need to justify ♪ ♪ I don't need a reason why ♪ ♪ Baby let me simplify ♪ ♪ I'll break your fall ♪ ♪ I see you've got a vacancy ♪ ♪ And I can fill the room with ease ♪ ♪ And give you the best of me ♪ ♪ I want it all ♪ ♪ Let me chase the day away ♪ ♪ Right all the wrongs ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can be all you need ♪ ♪ If you let me ♪ ♪ I'm here to love ♪ ♪ Love on you baby ♪ ♪ Let me take my time, yeah ♪ ♪ And all that you'll find here is love ♪ ♪ Love for you darlin' ♪ ♪ Let me be the truth ♪ ♪ I'm gon' work for you ♪ ♪ Boy let me love on you ♪ ♪ I said, boy let me love on you ♪ ♪ Now, everybody has a need ♪ ♪ To be loved and to be complete ♪ ♪ You can have all of that with me ♪ ♪ I promise you now ♪ ♪ That I'll always have your heart in mind ♪ ♪ Two is better in a fight ♪ ♪ You got your pride and that's alright ♪ ♪ I'll stand my ground ♪ ♪ 'Cause I just wanna be the one ♪ ♪ At the end of the day ♪ ♪ It's a simple thing, just you and me ♪ ♪ Baby can't you see that I'm here to love ♪ ♪ Love on you baby ♪ ♪ Oh, let me take my time ♪ ♪ And all that you'll find here is love ♪ ♪ Love for you darlin' ♪ ♪ Let me be the truth, I'm gon' work for you ♪ ♪ Boy let me love on you ♪ ♪ 'Cause that's what I'll do ♪ ♪ I'm here to be your escape, your getaway ♪ ♪ I'm here to love on you, you, you ♪ [warm slow music continues] ♪ 'Cause I'm here to love ♪ ♪ Love on you baby ♪ ♪ Let me take my time ♪ ♪ And all that you'll find here is love ♪ ♪ Love for you darlin' ♪ ♪ Oh, let me be the truth, I'm gon' work for you ♪ ♪ Boy let me love on you ♪ ♪ I said, boy let me love ♪ ♪ I can't get enough ♪ ♪ Boy let me love on ♪ ♪ You, you, you ♪ [music slows and fades] [audience applauding] - Whoo. All right. So remember how I mentioned that there was gonna be an opportunity for y'all to sing? - Mm-hmm. [audience chuckles] - The time is now. [audience laughs] We've come to that portion of the show. So I'm gonna teach it to you when we get there. But basically, okay, so [laughs] ... No, this song I wrote, I got married 13 years ago? That's terrible. I got married 13 years ago, and when my husband and I got married, I had never lived with a man that wasn't like, my dad or my brother. And so I had a very different idea of what marriage was going to be like. I thought it was like adult sleepover. Like, you know, you get to be with your best friend and you're always together and like, you make out all the time, and like, you never argue. It's totally like, and like sometimes there's kids there. It's great, I thought. And then I got in it. [laughs] And I remember the very first argument that we had. I was just so offended that he wasn't agreeing with me. I was just like, "What do you mean I'm not right?" And so I remember calling my grandmother 'cause she and my grandfather had been married for like 50-plus years. And so I was like, "Poo, you didn't tell me he was gonna be like this. Like, he's always talking and he's always here and like, I'm just like, I don't like him right now. And I was like, how did you do this for like, 50 years?" And she says, "Well, baby, in a marriage, there's gonna be good times and there's gonna be bad times. But the best part about the bad times is the making up. [audience laughs] And like, her voice went up like that. And then I was grossed out because then I was thinking about her and my grandfather. But she was right. And so that is the best part of fighting, is the making up. And so that's what this song is about. This is called "Soul Message." And like I said, in the middle, there'll be a part for y'all to sing and I will teach it to you and you'll sing and it'll be awesome. All right, so here we go. [gentle music] ♪ Ooh, baby, baby, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, now ♪ ♪ Hmm-mm mm hmm-mm ♪ ♪ Put down your coat baby ♪ ♪ Set aside your pride ♪ ♪ I'm not up against you, I'm still on your side ♪ ♪ See I don't wanna fight you, I wanna work it out ♪ ♪ But you can't feel my intentions when it's so loud ♪ ♪ There's no need for talking ♪ ♪ Don't need words to say ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can surely reach you this way ♪ ♪ By sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Just between you and me ♪ ♪ We don't have to speak ♪ ♪ Sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Hey, so you can hear me ♪ ♪ So soft and clearly ♪ ♪ Yeah, we need a breakthrough of the heart ♪ ♪ And the very best way to start ♪ ♪ Is sending you a soul ♪ ♪ A soul message, yeah, hey ♪ ♪ Let's just get quiet ♪ ♪ Come and hold my hand ♪ ♪ It's time we remember something we both understand ♪ ♪ Can you feel my body sinking into yours ♪ ♪ That's the kinda signal that you can't ignore ♪ ♪ There's no need for talking ♪ ♪ Don't need words to say ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can surely reach you ♪ ♪ This way, yeah ♪ ♪ By sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Just between you and me ♪ ♪ We don't have to speak ♪ ♪ Sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Hey, so you can hear me ♪ ♪ So soft and clearly ♪ ♪ Yeah, we need a breakthrough of the heart ♪ ♪ And the very best way to start ♪ ♪ Is sending you a soul ♪ ♪ A soul message, yeah, hey ♪ ♪ I'm going further and deeper than skin ♪ ♪ Let's make a real connection ♪ ♪ I'm on a mission to get your heart's attention ♪ ♪ Baby, just listen ♪ ♪ To what I'm givin' you ♪ ♪ I'm sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Just between you and me ♪ ♪ We don't have to speak ♪ ♪ Sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Hey, so you can hear me ♪ ♪ So soft and clearly ♪ ♪ Yeah, we need a breakthrough of the heart ♪ ♪ And the very best way to start ♪ ♪ Is sending you a soul ♪ ♪ A soul message, yeah, hey ♪ ♪ Bring it down, bring it down, bring it down ♪ Alright, so here's the part: ♪ It's real easy to do ♪ ♪ You're gonna sing like this ♪ Here we go, you're gonna sing: ♪ I'm sending you, I'm sending you ♪ ♪ I'm sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ Now y'all try ♪ ♪ I'm sending you ♪ - Hey! ♪ I'm sending you ♪ ♪ I'm sending you a soul ♪ ♪ You sound so good ♪ ♪ I'm sending you ♪ ♪ I'm sending you ♪ ♪ Did they pay you before ♪ ♪ I'm sending you ♪ ♪ 'Cause you sound so good, hey, come on ♪ ♪ I'm sending you, I'm sending you ♪ ♪ I'm sending you a soul message, baby ♪ ♪ I'm sending you, I'm sending you ♪ ♪ I'm sending you a soul message ♪ ♪ From my heart, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, oh, ho ♪ [audience applauding] - Okay? Okay? Now, like, I know Shawna's here and she's a singer but like, let me find out. Okay, well you know, like they say in the music business, the checks in the mail [audience laughs] so it'll be fine. This next song is another song from a woman that I owe a huge debt of gratitude to, for the opportunities that have been afforded to me in this business. Her name is Linda Martell. And do y'all know who Linda Martell is? [audience members cheering] Okay, some of you do, some of you don't. So I'm gonna give a short history lesson. I mean, it is PBS. So Linda Martell, in 1968, became the first Black woman to ever play the Grand Ole Opry. And, to date, she is still the highest charting Black woman on the Billboard Country charts, and number 22 with this song. And her album, "Color Me Country," came out 53 years ago and I named my radio show after "Color Me Country." And my mission has been to uplift people of color in the genres of Americana and country music because of Linda. Because Linda was incredible. And if you've never seen her, I want you to go home tonight and I want you to Google Linda Martell on "Hee Haw." [audience chuckles] And [laughs] she was beautiful. She was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And she was an effortless singer. And she lives in South Carolina, actually. And I've had the opportunity to meet her and she's an amazing woman. But because of her, I was only the third Black woman ever to play the Grand Ole Opry. [audience applauds] So I am indebted to Linda, and I absolutely love this song. And so I'm gonna yodel for y'all tonight. So this is, [laughs] [audience laughs] so this is called "Bad Case of the Blues." [smooth upbeat music] ♪ Livin' and workin' in the city ♪ ♪ I thought I was a big girl ♪ ♪ Oh, I felt so smart ♪ ♪ And my own life I could choose ♪ ♪ Well, Miss Smarty found herself a city guy ♪ ♪ Who one night said he loved her ♪ ♪ Then the next night he leaves her ♪ ♪ Sittin' with a bad case of the blues ♪ ♪ Yo-de-lay-ee-hee-hee-hee-hee ♪ ♪ Oh, ho, oh ♪ ♪ Little country girl done got hooked ♪ ♪ On barbed-wire love, oh ♪ ♪ Yo-de-lay-ee-hee-hee-hee-hee ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah ♪ ♪ Instead of sittin' and cryin' with a bad case of the blues ♪ [smooth upbeat music continues] ♪ I took myself out to the country to see my mother ♪ ♪ She said, "What no-good man ♪ ♪ Has got my little lovin' girl's heart stole" ♪ ♪ I said, "Momma, he tells me that he loves me ♪ ♪ Then he's out with another ♪ ♪ And he's got me right down to the last square ♪ ♪ On the checkerboard" ♪ ♪ Yo-de-lay-ee-hee-hee-hee-hee ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah ♪ ♪ If I really was a smart girl, I could turn him loose ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yo-de-lay-ee-hee-hee-hee-hee ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah ♪ ♪ Instead of sittin' and cryin' with a bad case of the blues ♪ ♪ I said, yo-de-lay-ee-hee-hee-hee-hee ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah ♪ ♪ Little country girl done got hooked ♪ ♪ On barbed-wire love, oh, ho ♪ ♪ Yo-de-lay-ee-hee-hee-hee-hee ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah ♪ ♪ Instead of sittin' and cryin' ♪ ♪ With a bad case of the blues ♪ ♪ Oh, no, she can't get loose ♪ ♪ From this bad case of the blues ♪ [audience cheering and clapping] Thank you. [audience clapping continues] I wish we could have like, a graphic of a donkey [laughs] like on "Hee Haw," and the thing, okay. [laughs] I used to like, they used to, they were reruns but I used to watch it when I was a kid, on TNN. Y'all remember TNN? [audience member speaks faintly] - Yes, I used to sneak and watch "Hee Haw." Weird Kid. So this is a new song. I'm gonna play y'all a new song tonight. I'm working on a new album right now and, [audience clapping] thank you. And this song is actually a duet with Miko Marks. And Miko Marks is my sister, she's a fellow singer, she's an amazing singer. And we're going on tour together in May, actually. So I'm very excited to do all new material 'cause she's working on a new album, excuse me, too. And Miko and I have been in this business for a long time. We both first learned about each other, this is how long, we both first learned about each other when our records were in Tower Records. [audience chuckles] And for the little people in here, hi, sweetheart, for the little people that are in the audience, [laughs] a record store is where you go to buy the things that you now stream. And they have pictures and they're round, shiny discs. [laughs] So she is my sister in a lot of ways, and we have both been through a lot of things in this business, a lot of ups and downs. And neither one of us, we're too stubborn to quit. And so we wrote this song together about our journey, and it's called, "I'm Still Here." And it's for anybody that life has been lifing on you lately. I know life has been lifing on me, but if life has been lifing on you, this is a song for you. And I have a documentary that's coming out. [audience clapping] I can talk about it now. It'll be on PBS nationally. You're gonna be seeing a lot of me on PBS. It's crazy. [Rissi laughs] [audience clapping] But this documentary is called "Rissi Palmer: Still Here." And so yeah, so it's just fitting. So this is called "Still Here." [smooth upbeat music] ♪ Like a tree standing in a hurricane ♪ ♪ You can't knock me over with a little rain, no ♪ ♪ In a roll of thunder you can hear my name ♪ ♪ Like a natural wonder, I'm built to stay ♪ ♪ I'll never fall on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Too strong and tall to cut me down ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm still here ♪ ♪ Made it through the mud and tears ♪ ♪ Tried to make disappear ♪ ♪ Counted me out for all these years ♪ ♪ But whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ ♪ Rooted in the truth I speak ♪ ♪ Like the spirits that carry me ♪ ♪ Burned by the struggle, sharp as a spear ♪ ♪ Whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ ♪ I'm still here, yeah ♪ ♪ God, forgive me, couldn't see my strength ♪ ♪ I didn't know the power I was working with ♪ ♪ I walked through hell to reclaim my crown, yeah ♪ ♪ Ha, they ain't made nothing that could burn me down ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm still here ♪ ♪ Made it through the mud and tears ♪ ♪ Tried to make me disappear ♪ ♪ Counted me out after all these years ♪ ♪ But whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ ♪ Rooted in the truth I speak ♪ ♪ Like the spirits that carry me ♪ ♪ Burned by the struggle, sharp as a spear ♪ ♪ Whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ ♪ I walked through the fire to reclaim my crown ♪ ♪ Oh, they ain't made nothing that could burn me down ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ Made it through the mud and tears ♪ ♪ Tried to make me disappear ♪ ♪ Counted me out after all these years ♪ ♪ But whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ ♪ Rooted in the truth I speak ♪ ♪ Like the spirits that carry me ♪ ♪ Burned by the struggle, sharp as a spear ♪ ♪ Whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I made it through the mud ♪ ♪ And I'm still standing, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm still here ♪ ♪ Rooted in the truth I speak ♪ ♪ Like the spirits that carry me ♪ ♪ Burned by the struggle, sharp as a spear ♪ ♪ Whom shall I fear, I'm still here ♪ [music slows] [music warbles and concludes] Alright. [music livens] Alright, you can keep your hands together. We gonna go to church for a second. Y'all wanna go to church? [lively upbeat music] Hey! Hey! I said, 1, 2, 3, 4! ♪ Storm has come, the sky is gray ♪ ♪ I can feel it down in my bones ♪ ♪ Thank the Lord, didn't go in the storm ♪ ♪ Oh, I can feel it down in my bone ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ Hey! ♪ Well, it rain on me, Lord, I don't mind, hey ♪ ♪ Wash my soul of the Devil's way ♪ ♪ And three times, praise the Lord, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Wash my soul of the Devil's way, hey ♪ ♪ I'm gonna wash my soul, yeah ♪ [lively upbeat music continues] ♪ Don't mention, I got nothin' to say ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Time and tide to my work away, yeah, yeah, hey ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Oh, clay is red and the Earth is round ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Ah, oh, wear me down, yeah ♪ [lively upbeat music continues] ♪ Ooh, hoo, yeah, hey ♪ Charles Newkirk, y'all. ♪ Whoo, ooh, hoo ♪ [lively upbeat music continues] [music stops] [drum solo begins] Come on, Mike. Mr. Mike Johnson, y'all. - [Audience Member] Whoo! [bass solo begins] Hey! Mr. Darion Alexander! [lively rhythmic music continues] Whoo! ♪ Texas heat, Mississippi mud, yeah ♪ ♪ Lose my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ It's just wild and thick as thieves ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, wear me down, yeah ♪ Whoo! ♪ Sun's so hot, no cloud in sight ♪ ♪ Lord, that heat took my words away ♪ ♪ Led me down to the Devil's stream ♪ ♪ Lord, that heat took my words away ♪ ♪ Ah, oh, wear me down, yeah ♪ ♪ They can find all the muddy water ♪ ♪ Lord, that heat took my words away ♪ ♪ Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Led me down to the water, blew my tears away ♪ ♪ Whoa, clay is red and the Earth is round ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Oh, clay is red and the Earth is round ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Use my soul, Lord, wear me down ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah, hey ♪ [music slows] ♪ Ooh, ooh, hoo, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, wear me down, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, hey ♪ ♪ Said, no-no, no, no-no ♪ [music slows] We got one more. Thank you so much. I hope y'all had a good time. Did you have a good time? Thank you. We had a ball. So we're gonna do one more for you and then you're gonna go to the lobby and you're gonna go to the gift store and you're gonna buy "Color Me Country" merchandise and help feed my children and buy me shoes. [audience member cheering] And I'm gonna come over there and I'm gonna hug you. And I'm gonna shake your hand. And I'm gonna take pictures. Okay, start the song. [disparate music] [upbeat music] ♪ Trapped in darkness ♪ ♪ Waiting for the light ♪ ♪ Mm, I said cold and hot there ♪ ♪ Mm, I said something ain't right ♪ ♪ No more empathy, yeah ♪ ♪ For our fellow man ♪ ♪ Mm, I said, people they look at me, yeah ♪ ♪ Like they don't give a damn ♪ ♪ We should fall ♪ ♪ On our knees ♪ ♪ I said, I'm your vessel ♪ ♪ Go on, fill me full ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ Yes, and Lord you said just what you're gonna do ♪ ♪ But we need a revival ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, how did we get so confused ♪ ♪ God, we're lost without you ♪ ♪ Whole wide world is starving for the truth, oh ♪ ♪ No hope left, yeah, it's life or death ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ Let the cymbals ring ♪ ♪ Lift your voice and sing ♪ ♪ Oh, let them shine, yeah ♪ ♪ Lay your burden down ♪ ♪ Raise your hand, yeah ♪ ♪ To the sky, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ I said I'm God's vessel ♪ ♪ Go on, pour me full ♪ ♪ But we need a revival ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord you said just what you're gonna do ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ How did we get so confused ♪ ♪ We're all lost without you ♪ ♪ Whole wide world is starving for the truth, oh ♪ ♪ No hope left, yeah, it's life or death ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah ♪ [lively upbeat music continues] ♪ Raise your hands, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, said I'm God's vessel ♪ ♪ Go on, pour me full ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord you said just what you're gonna do ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ How did we get so confused ♪ ♪ Lord, we're lost without you ♪ ♪ Whole wide world is starving for the truth, so ♪ ♪ No hope's left, yeah it's life or death ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ We need a revival ♪ ♪ Oh, we need a revival ♪ ♪ We need a revival ♪ ♪ We need a revival ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Bring it down, bring it down ♪ I wanna say thank you so much to the North Carolina Museum of History for having me. Thank you, Kara. Thank you, everybody here. Thank you everybody at WNC PBS. Thank you to everyone that came out tonight. Thank you so much. Y'all are amazing. We had so much fun. I hope you had fun. And, I don't know, I'll see y'all out in the lobby. Hey! [bouncy upbeat music] ♪ Revival ♪ ♪ I say we need a revival, yeah, hey ♪ ♪ We need a revival ♪ ♪ Hey, we need a revival ♪ [bouncy upbeat music continues] [music winds down] [audience cheering and clapping] [Rissi laughs] Do you guys wanna hear one more? - Yeah! [audience cheering] - [Audience Member] Whoo! - Somebody in the band just goes, "Really?" [fans cheering] All right, we'll do one more. You pulled my leg. It's fine. - [Audience Member] Whoo! - Okay. I feel like Sophia from "Golden Girls." Picture it, [audience laughs] it was Nashville, 2004. Rissi was dating yet another inappropriate person. [audience laughs] For, you see, that was my specialty in my 20s and my 30s. [laughs] And we'll see. But, [laughs] [audience chuckling] I don't like the way the band is laughing. And this particular person that I was dating was an athlete. And he was, he was a pretty good athlete. We'll just say that. He got paid for it. And we hung out and I really, really liked this guy. Like, really, really liked this guy and thought that maybe he might be like, the one. And so we used to spend a lot of time, I'd fly to see him, he'd come see me. And he finally, after like, a year of us doing this, he sits down with me and I'm like, totally thinking that like, I'm about to get proposed to. And he looks at me and he says, "Rissi, I really like you. I really care about you, but, but, if you're gonna be with me and you're gonna be my wife, and you're gonna be my woman," actually, he didn't say wife, I heard wife, he said woman. And so, "If you're gonna be my woman, then you're gonna have to give up this music thing." [audience chattering] - Uh-huh. [audience laughs] And so, [chuckles] fighting the urge to throw a glass of wine in his face, I just was like, "Okay, you've given me a lot to think about today." And we never kicked it again. And so I went home, I was heartbroken and I wrote this song and it's really funny. So shortly after I got married, I get a Inbox from this person, a DM, as the children call it. [audience laughs] And, [laughs] he slid into the DMs, and it feels weird just coming out of my mouth, it's so strange. Alright, anyway, he did that and he was like, "I saw that you're married, but are you happy?" [audience groans] - Oh! - Mm-hmm. So anyway, this song is about him. [laughing] And so this song is called, I'm not gonna tell y'all what you said 'cause there's children present, and we're on PBS, and so we have to act like we got sense. So this is called "Hurt Don't Know When to Quit." [percussion tapping] [gentle upbeat music] ♪ I knew when to pack it in ♪ ♪ Admit it's over ♪ ♪ And I knew when to stop callin' him at all ♪ ♪ And I knew when to stop cryin' ♪ ♪ On my momma's shoulders ♪ ♪ And when to spend away my blues ♪ ♪ On new shoes at the mall ♪ ♪ Oh, I did my part ♪ ♪ Held down my end of the bargain ♪ ♪ Stopped all my whinin' ♪ ♪ Stopped throwin' fits, yeah ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losin' my patience ♪ ♪ And I'm so tired of waitin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause hurt don't know when to quit ♪ ♪ It's got a mind of its own ♪ ♪ It won't listen ♪ ♪ No matter if I beg and plead ♪ ♪ Or if I scream and shout ♪ ♪ Mm, now, sometimes I think ♪ ♪ It's all some cruel-hearted mission ♪ ♪ To lock me up inside these tears ♪ ♪ And never let me out ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, I did my part ♪ ♪ Held up my end of the bargain ♪ ♪ Stopped all my whinin' ♪ ♪ Stopped throwin' fits, yeah ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losin' my patience ♪ ♪ And I'm so tired of waitin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause hurt don't know when to quit ♪ ♪ No it don't, no it don't ♪ [upbeat music continues] ♪ Oh, I did my part ♪ ♪ Held up my end of the bargain ♪ ♪ Stopped all my whinin' ♪ ♪ Stopped throwin' fits, yeah ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losin' my patience ♪ ♪ And I'm so tired of waitin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause hurt don't know when to quit ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Stopped all my whinin' ♪ ♪ Stopped throwin' fits, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losin' my patience ♪ ♪ And I'm so tired of waitin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause hurt don't know when to quit ♪ - Whoo! [audience cheering] [Rissi laughs] - Thank you so much. You are now released. [laughs] Thank you so much. I see y'all out in the hallway. [audience cheering and clapping] - [Emcee] All right, everybody, let's hear it again for Rissi Palmer. [audience applauding and cheering] Thank you so much, that was fantastic and you guys were awesome. Thanks so much for coming out. - [Announcer] "Southern Songbirds" is a production of PBS North Carolina in partnership with Come Hear NC, a program of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.