JOHN THOMAS FOWLER
John Fowler is from the rolling hills of upstate South Carolina with family ties to the western North Carolina Mountains. These Appalachian family ties run deep which in turn creates his friendly energetic personality. His storytelling is a blast of old-time energy of yesteryear introducing traditional yarns and folktales from the Carolina region. He also is an old-time mountain banjo and harmonica master, and plays several other traditional instruments occasionally blending them into his programs.
Storytelling is his passion, a passion to share his knowledge of tradition, family and lore. Many of his tales have been handed down from generation to generation. His folksy personality and energetic theatrics and musical talents bring his story characters alive on the performance stage. He has been called a Carolina treasure of folklore, mixing fact, legend and truth. John simply captivates his listeners with fine storytelling and old-time music.
John is a member of the renowned SC Community Scholars Institution, founder of the Carolina Old Time Music Network (COTMN) and member of the SC Storytelling Network. He has conducted a number of field studies, and produced several documentaries for SC-ETV. A number of his field recordings projects have been released to the national public and several recordings are archived at museums and folklore websites. John also host an old-time music radio show on Sunday's on WNCW 88.7 FM which web-cast world wide.
His past performances are a list of endless stepping stones. Some are: Live Oak Storytelling Festival in Charleston SC; Mountain Dance Folk Festival in Asheville, NC ;Fiddler's Grove Old-Time Music Convention, Union Grove, N.C. ;A Bakers Dozen, Columbia, SC ;Legends Festival, Lancaster, SC ;Johnson's Farm, Mills Springs, N.C. ;North Carolina Storytelling Festival, Raleigh, NC ;Jack Tale Festival, Blowing Rock, NC. In the coming months he will be conducting a week long workshop at the John C. Campbell Folk School in western North Carolina and another one at the Mars Hill College Old Time Week at Mars Hill College, N.C. In May John will be a featured teller at the new Stone Soup Storytelling Festival in Greenville, SC. He also hosts an annual festival, the Hagood Mill Storytelling Festival in October, in Pickens, S.C.
John is a Southern Artistry Artist approved on the SC Arts Commission Roster. He is an excellent teacher and workshop leader, sharing his talents from coast-to coast. John has produced several works which feature's his multi-talents, and is featured in several publications.
As a storyteller, teacher, writer and musician John strives to preserve his English-Scott-Irish heritage by sharing his knowledge of tradition. His Appalachian background comes alive with his fine presentations of old-time story and song.
John Fowler will be presenting the program, Stories I Don't Share Much Anymore accompanied by the old time string band Kathy and the Leftovers, at 8:00 pm on Friday evening, May 22nd. at Cypress Gardens, 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, SC. Tickets: $10 adults, $9 Seniors, $5 Children 6-12 (includes park admission).
To learn more about John Fowler, see his website www.hairytoeproductions.com
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MINERVA "MIN" T. KING
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, “Min”erva was educated in the public schools there. She received the B. S. Degree in sociology from Lincoln University in Missouri and continued her education at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama and Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. She received the Master of Science Degree in Library Science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and went on to achieve the Master’s plus thirty hours certificate from the Citadel in Charleston. In 2007 she received national board certification in the area of library media.
After careers in counseling and social work, Min embarked upon a career as a librarian, working in public, school, academic, and special libraries for over twenty years. Since 2000 she has served as the librarian at St. John’s High School on Johns Island, SC. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at the Citadel, the College of Charleston, and Trident Technical College.
Since 1992, Min has been performing as a multicultural storyteller, largely through the SC Arts Commission, and is included on the Commission’s Arts in Education Roster. Specializing in African, African-American, West Indian, Native American, and Jewish folklore, she delights in engaging her audiences in her programs which are often augmented with songs and musical instruments. She includes stories based on local history, including the story of her involvement in the civil rights movement. Although she entertains with her stories she considers herself as much an educator as an entertainer. She performs in schools, libraries, museums, day care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizens’ centers, festivals, and any other venues where at least “two or three are gathered together.”
Minerva King will be presenting a program of stories that originated in Africa and found their way to the Southern United Staes. Some of these stories stopped along their journey in the West Indies. Come, join her as she spins these multicultural connected stories from the 'Motherland' in words and songs.
Tales from Africa to Carolina with Minerva King, Shiela Keasie, and Hawk Hurst. Saturday, May 23rd, 7:00 pm. Unity Church of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston. FREE.
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SHIELA MARTINA KEAISE
Shiela Martina Keaise, a native of Walterboro, South Carolina, is the Children's Librarian at the Colleton County Memorial Library. Shiela Martina is the pen name for her 2008 children's book, Hannah and Dexter: The First Meeting, illustrated by Najah Clemmons. This character based picture book shows the effects of working together, respect of individual differences, and acceptance of anoather culture and race. Ms. Shiela's goal as a storyteller is to encourage children and adults, alike, to think, read, listen, create and imagine.
Tales from Africa to Carolina with Minerva King, Shiela Keasie, and Hawk Hurst. Saturday, May 23rd, 7:00 pm. Unity Church of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Avenue, North Charleston. FREE.
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HAWK HURST
An animated storyteller, naturalist, and cultural arts educator, Hawk draws from a vast storehouse of knowledge and firsthand experiences in dynamically bringing the wonders of ancient cultures to life. Playing a host of primitive musical instruments from around the world, his performances are inspiring, fun, and highly educational. Uniquely designed to fit the age group and the occasion, audience participation is a spontaneous and integral part of each performance or residency offered. Hawk is a five time recording artist, and his first children's book, The Story of the First Flute: An Ancient Cherokee Legend, was released in 2002 by Parkway Publishers.
Hawk will be playing African drums to accompany the program, 'Tales from Africa to Carolina' on Saturday, May 23rd, 7:00 pm. Unity Church, 2535 Leeds Avenue, Charleston. Admission: FREE
Learn more about Hawk at his website: www.HawkHurstFlutes.com
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