Calendar of Events

February 11th at 2:30 pm at the Natalie Haslam Music Center
Tickets are $25 at the door

YOUNG FARRAGUT PIANIST GAINING INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE
Seventeen-year-old Haruki Takeuchi is gaining international prominence through his international concerts and competitions. Haruki, who began his piano studies at the age of six with Stephanie Northington, is a senior at Farragut High School. He has studied with Dr. David Northington for the past six years. Haruki is the son of Yoshi and Naomi Takeuchi.

In the past few years, Haruki has distinguished himself by winning many national and international competitions. Most recently, he won third prize in the Yamaha International Piano Competition and second prize in the Nashville International Piano Competition. In 2022 Haruki won the first prize in the International BTHVN Vienna Music Competition in Austria, first prize in the Tiziano Rossetti International Music Competition in Italy, second prize in the Krystian Tkaczewski International Piano Competition in Poland, and second prize in the Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Ct.

In 2021 Haruki was the winner of the Pacific International Piano Competition, the Music Teachers National Association’s Southern Division Competition, and the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition. He also garnered second prizes in the Medici International Piano Competition and the Memphis International Piano Competition, and was a finalist in the Nordic International Piano Competition. In 2022 Haruki gave concerts with orchestra in Poland, and this past summer participated in a major international festival in Japan.

After completing high school , Haruki will be attending a major music school to pursue his dream of performing internationally as a concert pianist.

Sunday, February 11, 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Host Taber Gable takes our Music on the Mezzanine series in a new direction with this exploration of Knoxville's diverse music scene. We're taking this year's series out with a bang as Taber interviews Knoxville guitar sensation, Cameron Moore. Born in Memphis where he soaked up the ethos of the city's blues, jazz, and delta culture, Cameron is a co-founder of Three Star Revival, a multi-genre band that has gained acclaim throughout the region. Since moving to Knoxville, he has become an impressive force on the local music scene. He will perform with friends from the various bands he leads or in which he plays.

Lawson McGhee Library
500 W. Church Ave
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 215-8750

https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/event/music-mezzanine-taber-gable-cameron-moore-friends-20918

They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler is the first retrospective exhibition of Carl and Pearl Butler, the iconic country music duo whose timeless lyrics and harmonious melodies left an indelible mark on country music. With a career spanning over four decades, Carl and Pearl Butler became celebrated figures in the world of country music. “Carl made scores of major-label records during the 1950s,” says Bradley E. Reeves, the exhibition’s guest curator and author of the new book Honky Tonkitis: On the Road with Carl Butler and Pearl. “These are some of the best bluegrass, gospel, and hard country records ever made, although none could be called a massive hit.” That honor would come in 1962, when Carl and Pearl recorded “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” The song remains among the fastest ever to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Singles. Carl and Pearl’s unique “Knoxville sound,” along with heartfelt lyrics, earned them a dedicated fan base who supported them at performances across the United States and Canada through the 1970s. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends.

Key highlights of the exhibition include:
1. Rare Family Archives: Museum guests will have the opportunity to view the Allen “Junior” Butler Family Collection, which has been made publicly available for the first time and includes never-before-seen photographs, home movies, original instruments, and stage costumes that belonged to Carl and Pearl Butler. “I’m grateful to Allen Butler and his family for opening their home and archives to share with us,” says Reeves.
2. Musical Journey: Explore the duo's musical journey through a feature film, which transports visitors through various periods of their career and traces their unfiltered, raw singing style, one that derived from and advanced the “Knoxville sound.”
3. Behind-the-Scenes: Gain insight into the lives of Carl and Pearl Butler through never-before-seen family photographs and recently uncovered anecdotes from the family and fellow musicians, including Dolly Parton who viewed the Butlers as her “second parents.” “Despite their successes,” says Adam Alfrey, Assistant Director for Historical Services at Knox County Public Library, “Carl and Pearl faced personal and professional struggles, which are intimately documented through the family’s photographs.”
4. Interpretive Experience: Engage with the exhibition to understand how both Knoxville and Nashville played a role in the development of country music. Also, learn how chart-topping artists can quickly become all but forgotten, even in their hometown. “The Butlers somehow fell through the cracks,” reflects Reeves. “It’s my hope that this book and exhibition will contribute to a reappreciation of their great body of work.”
They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler promises to be a heartfelt educational experience for country music enthusiasts and fans of all ages. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Carl and Pearl Butler on the world of music.

At 5:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2023, there will be an opening reception for They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler. The event will include a meet and greet with Carl and Pearl Butler’s family, a book signing by guest curator Bradley E. Reeves, and an exhibition of Appalachian musical pioneer paintings by artist Amy Campbell. At 7:00 pm, there will be a “Tribute to Carl and Pearl,” opened by a performance of the Paul Brewster and Friends Band, comprised of 14-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and Grand Ole Opry performers Daniel Grindstaff, Kent Blanton, Stephen Burwell, and John Meador. A screening of 8mm home movies shot by the Butlers (watch for an appearance by 10-year-old Dolly Parton), as well as some of the Butlers’ rarest television appearances, will conclude the evening.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.eastTNhistory.org/lights-camera