"Boom" time for "Twang" Man

Online, April 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ELLISVILLE, Ms., April 7, 2010-In keeping with the recent upsurge in the popularity of Traditional music, Mississippi's "Hear that Banjo!" show is brimming with pride at the rare milestone achieved by upcoming musician/humorist Bobby Hathorn and his agent-wife, Bonnie: a mere few months ago, Bobby & Bonnie triumphantly played their 750th show-date to a packed room of well-wishers, consisting of three generations of enthusiastic fans.

"The heartwarming support of all the fabulous friends, fans and promoters has made all this possible, for which we're truly grateful", an obviously choked-up Hathorn declared.

Bobby has been playing both Banjo & Guitar for over 35 years, having fun every step of this historical milestone, first winning numerous contests, including the Southeastern United States Banjo championship at 13, the youngest-ever to claim that coveted prize.
Because Bobby was too young to drive, his mother drove the family to many of the earlier contests.

After "paying his dues" in several bands, Bobby met and married his wife, Bonnie, in 1993. After insistent prompting from Bonnie, he decided to take another plunge: he went solo in 1994, after a deal was struck: Bobby would play, only if Bonnie succeeded as his agent.
Seven-hundred and-fifty show-dates later, the results are in: "Yes!"

What Bonnie lacked in experience, she more than made up for in pluck; soon Bobby was in demand, so much so that people began asking for him to record. With that, Bobby, with little funds, took a used recorder mounted on a Gatorade display stand,
went to work making a tape, then upgraded months later to CD, due to yet more requests.
And, the calls haven't stopped since.

"By that time (1997-9) we were doing 40, 50, and 75 shows progressively each year",
Bobby recalls. Due to the recent explosion in Traditional music's popularity, the "Hear that Banjo!" show has in the last four years been heard well over 150 times a year, by fun-loving people across 20 States.

Those who love the underdog, who would've like to seen Ernest T. Bass wind up with Helen Crump, or Festus beat Doc at checkers, will readily identify with Bobby's story; for, believe it or not, in 1991, Bobby had been made redundant by his last bandleader.
That's like Elvis getting a "C" in music..(look it up; it really happened, folks).

Inspired by stories of famous people who refused to let a put-down keep them down, Bobby now looks back and laughs: "I just kept on until I ran out of failure."

Those who share in the excitement about the recent successes of the "Hear that Banjo!" program and keen about booking and/or arranging an interview are welcome to contact
the "Hear that Banjo!" show:

"Hear that Banjo!"
Bobby & Bonnie Hathorn, co-hosts
1067 Tower Rd.
Ellisville, MS 39437
601-342-1223 International Callers add "00 + 1"
[email protected]

# # #