Thomas Gabriel
The folks at Hippie Hill Productions are anxiously awaiting its Kin of Legends party scheduled for Sunday, June 9. The event, to be held just outside of Murfreesboro, features an astounding lineup of descendants of legendary country music stars, such as Johnny Cash’s grandson, Thomas Gabriel. Waylon Jennings’ grandson, Whey Jennings, also has a slot on the lineup.
Hillfolk Entertainment will provide a platform for legendary country names to celebrate family legacies and recognize each artist’s successes in country music.
Kin of Legends is centered around the careers of renowned family names who made a permanent mark on the face of country music in their respective eras. Together, they share a role in the timeline of music industry history. Thomas Gabriel, for instance, carries Cash’s talent for songwriting on his shoulders while an acoustic guitar drapes his back. He picked up songwriting and performance straight from the hands of Cash.
“Those songs have been passed down to me,” says Gabriel. Some of his earliest memories of his grandfather took place in the suites of Caesars Palace, as well as shooting guns and traversing the outdoors with the legendary American musician. The Kin of Legends party is just one stop on Gabriel’s Paradigm of Time U.S. tour. His latest album, Long Way Home, paints a warm image of his grandfather’s style with respect to his own personal story. Though a lot has changed since his childhood, Gabriel said the impact his grandfather made on him will never change.
Whey Jennings
Whey Jennings, grandson of Waylon Jennings, will also perform with his band, The Unwanted. Music has also been in his veins his entire life. He comes from a royal country music bloodline. Waylon dominated the top of the country charts throughout the late ’70s with tunes like “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” “Luckenbach, Texas,” “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys),” “Amanda” and others. Whey’s grandmother, Jessi Colter, carries a lot of weight in the industry as well. Whey rose from a family cradle of two musicians who wrote successive charting songs.
“I love playing with Whey,” Gabriel says.
Gabriel and Jennings aren’t the only artists with a rich family history coming out. The lineup also lists Cagney Frizzell, nephew of Grammy nominated David Frizzell and Hall of Famer Lefty Frizzell.
Colin Axxxwell, a returning Hippie Hill Productions guest, is the opening act. Axxxwell moved to Nashville early 2017 and currently books shows all over the country.
Thomas Gabriel with Mama Jeanie
Last, but not least, Hillfolk Entertainment, the local music company run by “Hippie” Tom and “Mama” Jeanie Maddox, invited a special guest on the lineup—Billy Don Burns. Burns has an interesting past that is often overlooked to country fans outside of the industry. Few are aware of his role as a producer for big names including Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck. Burns was incarcerated for possession of a controlled substance in 2014, but since the end of his two-year sentence, he continued his performing career, one that is well-respected in the country music industry.
The Kin of Legends event will begin at noon on Sunday, June 9 and will last into the evening. Hillfolk Entertainment suggests an optional $20 donation, which will allow guests special VIP status. To request more information, email hippiehilltn@gmail.com or call 615-427-3228.
