Bill Mize and Cruz Contreras

Grammy-winning guitarist Bill Mize is a son of Tennessee, and a fitting representative of his state’s rich musical heritage. His critically lauded fingerstyle compositions are fluid and intricate and their delivery masterful. One suspects an influential teacher; “I received most of my musical education from a cheap Zenith radio,” says Mize, who as a child
drifted off to sleep to the decidedly non-sleepy lullabyes emanating from Nashville’s WLAC and WSM and Knoxville’s WNOX.
Bill is a past winner of the Winfield National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and received a GRAMMY Award for his collaboration with musician and storyteller David Holt on the recording Stellaluna. Popular acoustic guitar compilations “Windham Hill
Guitar Sampler” by Windham Hill Records and “Masters of the Acoustic Guitar” by
Narada Records have included his works. Bill’s music has been featured in a number of films and documentaries, notably in Emmy-award winning Ken Burns productions “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” and “Country Music.” ” Mel Bay Productions transcribed Mize’s second CD, “Tender Explorations,” into a songbook. Bill will be playing some tunes off his new cd “The Southwind” and will be joined by special guests, Beth Bramhall and Beth Youngblood.
Cruz Contreras, raised between the rugged lines of Tennessee and the long shadows of Michigan, has spent nearly thirty years forging his path through the Americana musical landscape. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, bandleader, producer, and storyteller whose voice cuts through noise like a well-honed blade.