Paul & Win Grace

Leela & Ellie Grace
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      Leela
      Ellie

(Columbia, Missouri) Midwest folk musicians Paul & Win Grace are pleased to announce the release of their sixth album, "Love's Lasting Light." The album includes 17 songs, primarily focused on the husband-and-wife duet sound, both instrumentally and vocally. Win plays play 3 different autoharps, lots of accordion, and piano on one old time dance tune. Paul plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar and harmonica. Stellar musical support is provided by daughters Leela Grace (banjo, harmonies) and Ellie Grace (mandolin, harmonies), Cathy Barton and Dave Para (harmonies) and Win's brother David Horner on drums (to go along with Win's fake bagpipes on the Corries' Scottish song The Roses of Prince Charlie).

The title of the album, Love's Lasting Light, comes from a line in Bill Staines' gorgeous song, "Child Of Mine." The duo manages to showcase just about every different sound or style that they play, including songs that range from the contemporary sound of Steve Gillette's romantic "Ways of the World" to the wild old time string band sound of "Shady Grove," with stops in between at old favorites such as "Wait for the Wagon" and Patsy Montana's yodeling hit "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart." The Graces have paired Robin and Linda Williams' song "High Atmosphere" with longtime Carter Family favorite "Wildwood Flower." Continuing in their ongoing poultry theme (Yes, friends! Paul & Win now know enough poultry songs to make an entire album of poultry music!) they have included "The Chicken Song," a.k.a "I Ain't Gonna Take It Sittin' Down." The album ends with daughter Ellie's sweet goodbye song, "Farewell My Friends," complete with anthemic chorus.

The Graces have released this album in CD format on their own label, Wellspring Music, and it can be ordered by phone (573-443-2819), fax (573-817-2781), or through their web site (www.folkfire.org/graces). It is also available for purchase at all Paul & Win Grace performances.

Paul & Win Grace are based near Columbia, Missouri and can be found performing in a variety of settings all over the United States and Canada--wherever there are ears to hear, toes to tap and fun to be had! 2001 marks their 26th year of playing music together, and, coincidentally, their 25th year of marriage! These versatile vocalists and multi-instrumentalists delight audiences of all ages with their close harmonies, warm stage presence and skill on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, autoharp and accordion. They play primarily contemporary folk and American old time fiddle music.

"Their energy, versatility and mastery of so many forms of traditional and contemporary folk music. . .have earned them a reputation as one of the finest folk acts in America."

--Elizabeth Williams, Artistic Director, Rockford Folk Festival, IL

"Paul & Win mixed nearly 2½ hours of poultry songs, food songs, gospel, yodeling, jokes and sing-a-longs into an evening's entertainment that sometimes was corny but always was redeemed by their respect for fine songs and their ability to do them justice."

--Sam Blackwell, Southeast Missourian, concert review.

Past performances have included the Roots of American Music Festival which was held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City; The Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering in Battleground, IN; the peerless Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada; The Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS; the Great River Festival in LaCrosse, WI; "CBS Sunday Morning;" "River City Folk," a syndicated NPR show from Omaha, NB; The String Band Jubilee at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR; Bethlehem Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA; and The Ozark Folk Festival in Eureka Springs, AR.

"Paul is a sterling instrumentalist on all stringed instruments and has a Dick Smothers- ish tenor. Win's alto complements his voice nicely, and she fills in the gaps on autoharp and accordion and supplies enough personal charm to light up the stage."

--Sam Blackwell, Southeast Missourian

"Long on charm and longer on talent, the Graces bring us together as if we were indeed part of the family. When they start picking, they make me wish I lived next door and make me feel as if I almost do. Whatever they're selling, I'm buying!"

--Roger Deitz, Columnist, Sing Out!

The Graces are delighted to announce that Cathy Barton and Dave Para's marvelous album of river songs, Livin' On The River, is now out. All four Graces helped out on this album and had a great time doing it!

"Paul and Win perform a wide variety of traditional American songs and tunes with style and grace. Their vocal harmonies are as strong and finely crafted as Paul [Grace's] baking- powder biscuits."

--Paul Stamler, Sound Engineer and Musician

Color or black and white photos, biographies, catalogue of recordings, further information available. Call 573-443-2819 or e-mail pgrace@coin.org.