Loretta Lynn — the most awarded lady in country music history with more than 60 years of recording and touring is celebrated in “Always Loretta,” featuring the original members of The Coalminers Band (Loretta’s long time backup group) and Emily Portman, a close friend of the legendary singer-songwriter. Together, with approval of the Lynn family, Portman and the band present an intimate evening of song and stories about the “shoot from the hip” Kentucky native and her road to fame and fortune.
The Coalminers, led by Dave Thornhill (lead guitarist for Country Playboys), performed with Lynn in 1967 at Frontier Ranch in Columbus, Ohio. The Country Playboys were the house band that played for countless nationally touring groups as they passed through.
Lynn praised the band saying, “I’ve played all over the world, and this is the only band that did all my stuff just like the record. If I could ever afford a band, this is the only band I’d like to have.”
Two years later she hired all five of the musicians, and her band, The Coalminers, was formed. Thornhill served as guitarist and bandleader for Lynn for 55 years, playing over 10,000 shows. Now in his 80s, Thornhill is thrilled to renew his role as bandleader and lead guitarist.
Steel Guitarist Robert “Bob” Hempker, also an original from The Coalminers band, served as Lynn’s steel guitarist for 17 years before taking a sabbatical to focus on his family, rejoining the group six years later.
Dennis Digby, bass guitarist, joined The Coalminers in 1982, performing with Lynn for over 17 years. Digby played bass for Mel Tillis while still in high school and would play with an impressive list of legendary performers throughout his career.
Monty Parkey, piano and keyboard player, has a resumé that reads like a Who’s Who of Country Music, including a 15-year stint with Alan Jackson, and Lynn for three years in the 80s. Eric Kaberle’s musical journey began at age 7, joining his grandfather’s country band as a drummer and sharing the stage with his father.
Once he graduated from University of Iowa, with his degree in music performance and education, he wasted no time moving to Nashville, playing at iconic venues including Opryland, the General Jackson, the Grand Ole Opry, and Lower Broadway, becoming a fixture in numerous recording studios. In 2002, the offer of a lifetime presented itself when he received a call to join The Coalminers where he spent 15 years performing.
A native of Kentucky herself, Emily Portman began her musical career singing in church and learning to read music while in high school band. Her music influences were a mixture of Merle Haggard, Jim Croce, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, with a little 80s mixed in.
Portman learned the guitar and began performing, covering Lynn’s music when people took notice of how she sounded like Lynn and emulated her onstage mannerisms.
After a YouTube video surfaced of her performing a Loretta Lynn song, Michael Twitty (son of Conway Twitty) cast her to portray Loretta in the nationally touring musical “It’s Only Make Believe.” The musical was instrumental in establishing Portman’s career.
Over the next two decades, her portrayal of the Coal Miner’s Daughter carried to the most prestigious stages (including the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry), where she would rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business, including George Jones, Archie Campbell, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Chris Cagle and even Loretta Lynn, herself, with whom she formed a close friendship.
Through this friendship, Emily connected with Loretta’s longtime backup band, The Coalminers, after Loretta’s passing where they agreed to join talents and collaborate to honor the memory of the “First Lady of Country Music,” in “Always Loretta.”
All backed with the talents of vocalist Jean Anne Tarleton, a consummate triple threat — singer, dancer and songwriter with enormous success in all three areas.
“Always Loretta,” is sponsored by Bill and Kaye Kirkland.
The show is Friday at 7:30 p.m. At press time, there are still better seats available. Ticket prices range from $35-$50 and are available through the Grand Theatre Ticket Office by calling 502-352-7469 or online at thegrandky.com.
The historic Grand Theatre reopened as a performance venue in the fall of 2009 after a $5 million restoration spearheaded by the non-profit organization Save the Grand Theatre Inc. The Grand opened in 1911 as a vaudeville house and later became a movie theater before it closed in 1966. With its resurrection, the Grand is a 428-seat performing and visual arts theater featuring state-of-the-art facilities. The Grand also hosts social, educational, and civic events.