Guitars are heart strings set to music, and you could fill the stimulation of Apollo and Athena at the Motley Arts Poetry and Music Mingle at Topz Frozen Yogurt Cafe in McMinnville on Tuesday, September 22, 2015. Opening up the stage for musical acts to follow was Poet of the Angels, Tisha Emberton, host and founder of the Motley Arts Movement. 17-year-old Tyler Morton strapped on his guitar and strutted to the stage delivering Country strong filled ballads, “Your Smile”, a song about that special person when you can’t help by smiling when they’re near, “Fishing In Heaven”, the ballad about the passing of a friend and “Turn It Around”, a song regarding loss and the strength to turning it all around and moving forward. Morton won over the crowd and the judges.  Morton says his musical influences are Conway Twitty, George Jones and Elvis Presley. His dream is to go to the University of Chattanooga earning a degree as a Music Producer.

“I’ve been writing music since the age of 5 and bought my first guitar while working on my Grandpa’s farm when I was in the seventh grade.”

Verona Valley Studios, a recording studio owned and operated by Tony Grissom, offered a Singer/Songwriter competition rewarding the winner with a free recording session. Tyler Morton, who has a strong vocal resemblance to Nashville Star winner Chris Young, was completely in awe when judges Jacob Roper and Craig Hollis announced the winner(s). Morton smiled as he walked onto the stage to accept his prize.

Sweet “T” Trinidad Ramirez also received a free session from Verona Valley Studios to record his original song, “McMinnville”, a song about our hometown. Trinidad Ramirez is a gift in the town of McMinnville as he offers a lot of his time and volunteers for things he believes in like the arts and musical events. Ramirez is one of the muses behind the event at Topz while offering his assistance and sound equipment to make the night possible for entertainers to flock to the stage and strike their heart strings and spark a candle to the Motley Arts Movement. He is an example of what poetry and music looks like in the palms of Apollo, the Greek God of Music and Athena, the Greek Goddess of poetry, music and wisdom.To hear Trinidad Ramirez’s original song, “McMinnville”, visit Youtube. 

The stage welcomed an outlet to the beginners to the elite. The offering held up its bargain when singer/songwriters enchanted the muse with three original songs. Sleep Nation vocalist Bran Merritt fed the audience with heart felt melodies that created a hunger for the following acts, Tanner Hillis of Spencer, TN, Kevin Myers, Trinidad Ramirez and Bruce Atnip of McMinnville, TN. Poet of the Angels, Tisha Emberton kept the crowd entertained between each act with a poem or two all while the crowd enjoyed a tasty treat at Topz Frozen Yogurt Cafe, 104 West Main Street, McMinnville, TN. 

Verona Valley Studios is open for business located in McMinnville, TN. If you would like to book a session or for more info, please visit Verona Valley Studios on Facebook.