Two young Texas vocalists will perform in concert at the Badu Park Pavilion at 7 p.m. May 16 in a benefit for the Llano Alliance for Drug Intervention, Inc. (LADI) and their combined musical range has something to offer fans of almost every kind of music.
Young singer/songwriter Lainey Wright of Llano High School will open for Crockett native Brent Wilson, a road-seasoned performer with a country flair, soon to graduate from Texas A&M University.
Wright, a high school junior, is a fledgling artist but already travels a coffeehouse circuit and has a CD, “Count It Joy,” to her credit. Her inspirational music blends the influence of alternative indie music, pop, rock and folk.
Family and friends collaborated, bringing in their own unique styles. Those other musical talents include Keenan Fletcher, John Gammill, Stephen Brownlee, Stephen Robertson, Jake Wright, Bryan Jernigan and George Gurganus.
The result, music that won’t fit into one “box,” or genre, but strikes a chord with listeners of all kinds of music. She says her interest in music was influenced mostly by her family and their music-filled home and her personal faith.
“I figure if I just keep singing what God gives me, whatever happens, happens. There is no way it gets better than that,” she says.
Performing in his home town of Crockett since the age of six and singing since he was just three, Wilson is now a Texas A&M senior performing across the whole State of Texas and beyond to stops like Salt Lake City, Utah and Branson, Mo.
Since beginning wide-ranging performance in January of 2004, he developed a balancing act of college, a music career and church. He serves as a worship leader at Fellowship Church in College Station.
Wilson has two albums out -- “Brent Wilson. . . So Real” and “A Picture Perfect Christmas,” with Susan Hickman. He studies with Jayne Lybrand Wesson, who has trained major recording artists from LeAnn Rimes to Steve Holy. She describes his voice as “rich, dynamic, and naturally soulful.”
“There is an excitement to his performance and recording that command your attention and applause,” she said. “People tell him that they traveled over two hours just to see him perform.”
“People have always told me to have a backup plan, but I find my greatest peace in the unknown, in totally relying on God,” said Wilson.
In the summer of 2007, he joined a six-week, coast-to-coast tour with the Continental Singers and he is in the pre-production stage of recording his original debut Christian album. In all, he has travelled more than 12,000 miles to perform in more than 200 shows.
The Friday night concert is BOYC (Bring Your Own Chair) but food and sodas will be available.
LADI got its start in January 2006 and it funds C. Cooper Counseling at 103 East Main in Llano, where Cleo Cooper provides affordable drug and alcohol counseling. The goals of the local non-profit organization are four-fold: assistance for the justice system in the elimination of illegal drugs, prevention of drug use through community education and awareness, and recovery assistance.
LADI Chair Don Graham notes that donations to the organization are tax deductible and may be made at the concert or in care of P.O. Box 51, Llano, TX 78643. Appointments to see Cooper may be made by call her at (325) 423-5254.