Holtsclaw, Davidson, Bennetts to perform at Sound of Music
Country and gospel music will be featured Sept. 25 when Bennie Holtsclaw and Ray Davidson combine their talents during Peabody's "Sound of Music" musical walk.
The two will perform in front of Mayesville Mercantile.
Holtsclaw started his music career in 1972 at his church in Wonsevu. He expanded his performance and started traveling. He and his wife, Marie, decided in 1982 to lease out the farm and sell off their livestock and equipment which would allow him the freedom to travel and perform.
Holtsclaw traveled extensively for the next four years performing on radio and TV. He also is a songwriter and has recorded three singles and four albums which contain many of his own songs.
Health problems caused him to curtail traveling but by 1998 he retired from his job and started performing again with the "Tallgrass Pickers," an organization of local musicians which play every Friday night in Cottonwood Falls.
Ray Davidson has played the harmonica for many years and has played with the Flint Hills Overland Wagon Train since 1985. Davidson "mostly uses two harmonicas." Sometimes he teams up with his son, Jeff, who is the county agent in Eureka. Another son lives in Oregon. The Davidsons have four grandchildren. Ray's wife, Eleanor Grimwood Davidson, is the sister of Ed Grimwood of Burns. Grimwood & Sons Hardware was a well-known area business in past years.
The Bennetts
Dr. Ruth Sherman-Bennett and her husband, Mark Bennett, will sing train songs and bluegrass music at Peabody's Santa Fe Park.
"Dr. Ruth" was a Peabody physician for many years and still has many loyal patients and friends in the area even though she is now employed at Via Christi Reflection Ridge clinic in Wichita.
Ruth grew up singing in the church choir and currently is concentrating on taking "fiddle" lessons.
Mark Bennett is a freelance graphic artist and professional musician. One of the songs the couple will perform is "Mr. Peabody's Coal Train."
Tickets for Peabody's "Sound of Music" will be available Sept. 25 at Peabody Carnegie Library with tours starting at 5:30 p.m. Small groups will be guided around downtown Peabody where music will fill the air.
For more information contact Janet Hamous at (620) 983-2438 or Marilyn Jones at (620) 983-2815. Proceeds go for projects at Peabody Historical Society.
