The Life of Billy Ray Hearn

THERE WAS A WEDDING IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD

 

NANCY SANDERS PETERSON AND I WERE MARRIED AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE INCARNATION IN NASHVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT JANUARY 2ND AT 6:00 WITH THE TWO FAMILIES ATTENDING. SHE HAS 6 CHILDREN WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND 17 GRANDCHILDREN, ALL IN ATTENDANCE (see picture above). SO, WITH MY 3 CHILDREN WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND 2 GRANDCHLDREN (see picture below) WE MAKE A GOOD CROWD. MY GRANDAUGHTER ASHLEY HORNE COULD NOT ATTEND BECAUSE OF A PRIOR COMMITTMENT.

OFFICIATING THE CEREMONY WERE THE PRIEST OF THE CATHEDRAL, FATHER KIBBY AND AND MY PASTOR OF BRENTWOODD BAPTIST CHURCH, DR.MIKE GLENN. JOHN MICHAEL TALB0T FLEW IN FROM TEXAS AND DID ALL THE MUSIC. IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE YET ELEGANT SERVICE.

AFTERWARD WE ALL WENT TO F.SCOTT'S RESTAURANT'S PRIVATE ROOM FOR A FABULOUS AND BEAUTIFUL DINNER.

Community Hymn Sing with Nashville Symphony

Beginning with the 2007 Nashville Symphony special events programs I have produced what we call "Community Hymn Sing with the Nashville Symphony". We print a small, words only, hymn book for the audience to use to sing along with the symphony on favorite old hymns. We also invite several "celebrity" artists or ensembles to walk on and sing one of their favorite hymns with the symphony and then invite the audience to sing along with them on another hymn. We do two programs on a Sunday -- 2:30 matinee and 7:30 evening. The first two years have been sellouts and the audience loves singing along with the symphony and really do so enthusiastically. David Hamilton is the conductor. He has toured with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith on their tours. He also does a lot of the arrangements. Some of the arrangements come from recording sessions of hymn CDs I have produced. The 140 voice Nashville Choir founded and directed by John Coates helps lead the audience and performs two numbers. We also let the symphony perform two or three pieces alone. Many in the audience have never heard the symphony or been in the magnificant Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I hope it makes them want to come back for more symphony concerts.

Artists that have participated in the programs are: Alison Krauss, Steven Curtis Chapman, Steve Green, David Phelps, CeCe Winans, Fisk Jubilee Singers (2007) and Amy Grant, Bill Gaither, Travis Cottrell, Melinda Doolittle, Belmont Chamber Singers, Out for Souls Gospel Choir and a gospel children's choir (2008).