BELOVED PARTNER

SPECIAL THANKS

“Beloved Partner,” composed by my late husband, Tim Haden, is the only instrumental on this album. Tim dedicated this song to our dear friends, Margaret and Bill Cromer, upon Bill’s death. He played this song on the Ovation guitar for Margaret and their beautiful family at Bill’s “Celebration of Life” service.

Mark McDaniels was one of Tim’s students in the early years of private study, but he rapidly became a guitarist that Tim admired greatly. Mark and my son, Shane, were two of Tim’s favorite skiing buddies, during our annual trips to Colorado throughout the eighties and nineties, always with guitars in tow. Mark is an unbelievable jazz guitarist, bassist, and pianist. He has been a lifelong friend to both of us and performs “Beloved Partner” on Tim’s Ovation guitar.

Rick Praytor, also a close friend to Tim, was a great support during Tim’s illness. He and his wife, Karen, have been a constant in my life. Rick was a young private student of Tim’s who became an exceptional jazz guitarist in his own right. He plays with passion and love for the art and the instrument. Rick performs with me on “My Funny Valentine” and is playing Tim’s Ibanez LR10 guitar.

Monty Craig is an amazing person and an incredible guitarist. He studied privately with Tim during his early years, as he was preparing for a career in music. They remained close even after his formal education at the University of South Carolina. Monty also initiated the Tim Haden Memorial Concert at Clemson University, where he performed along with other renowned jazz guitarists. Thank you, my friend, for your beautiful guitar solos and encouragement on this album.

Duane Malphrus, drums and percussion, studied at the University of South Carolina and Miami University. In addition to performances with various orchestras, Duane toured with the Drifters and The Platters and is the drummer in the motion picture “Dirty Dancing.”

Duane and Tim opened various jazz concerts for Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Winton Marsalis, and Dianne Schurr, as well as Fall for Greenville, Freedom Weekend Aloft, Jazz Charlotte and the SCETV special “Arts The Thing.” Duane is also a multi-talented musician, who was our partner and cohort in “Touch of Class.” Duane, you are the best, my dear friend!

Richard Shulman is a remarkably talented musician/pianist. Tim and I played with him in Asheville, NC, and he simply blows you away with his sensitivity and skill. Richard has recorded 26 of his own albums, as well as more than two dozen other recordings for which he has provided compositions, performances and/or musical production. Thank you for your lovely work on this album.

Ian Bracchitta was and is a dear friend. He is the assistant principal bassist of the Greenville SC Symphony Orchestra and the principal bassist of the Spartanburg Philharmonic. As a jazz bassist he has performed with Dianne Schuur, Kevin Mahogany, Chris Vadala, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, among many others. He plays his beautiful double bass on “Just in Time.” Enjoy! He is an amazing musician and person.

Dr. John Valerio is a jazz pianist extraordinaire, composer, author, and professor at University of South Carolina. He has performed with several outstanding jazz artists, including: Stanley Clarke, Chris Vadala, Gerald Veasley, John Swana, and Jan Metzger, as well as other great musicians. John was one of our favorite pianists to work with over the years.

Rick Dilling is a graduate of Appalachian State University’s Music Industry Program and has been an adjunct faculty member there for 30 years. He is an exceptional percussionist and a member of the Asheville Jazz Orchestra, Todd Wright Quartet, and Richard Shulman Group, among many other groups.

Charlie Parker is one of the most talented and skilled musicians and educators anywhere on the planet. You can depend on him to perform with the “all stars” and never let up for a second. From the moment he raises the flugelhorn to play, he is in another world and so are you. You can believe any musician appreciates how he supports them, completely.

Mike Parker and Charlie Parker are brothers, each with extreme talents and skills. Mike worked with Tim and me often and was initially responsible for my introduction to the Commerce Club. Mike plays straight from the heart and supports a singer with complete dedication, as he does all musicians. I am so grateful for your musicianship on that beautiful double bass, Michael.

John Brookshire is a dear friend who played with Tim and me through the years. I simply loved his warm style on “Rio De Janeiro Blue,” and “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” on the electric upright bass. John’s sound always adds warmth and soulfulness to any song. I am so grateful for his work on this album.

My deepest gratitude to my brother, Gene Linville, for being a part of “Beloved Partner.” His pure tenor voice has always given me comfort and joy whether in happiness or sorrow. He sang the “Lord’s Prayer” at our wedding, while our parents, Rev. Ray and Lucy Linville, and the small group of guests stood in awe at Dr. Bill and Syble Evins’s country estate. Gene was also the first person to sing “Days of Wine and Roses,” at the Miss South Carolina Pageant in Greenville, SC, immediately after its initial release in New York, NY. Unfortunately, my younger brother, John Robert Linville, and sister, Connie Rhea Vaughan, were unavailable to perform on this album. They were both otherwise engaged with our Heavenly family in celestial concerts.

Heartfelt thanks to Hugh Hamilton for offering his beautiful baritone voice on this album. Hugh’s voice has a natural quality that is reminiscent of the early 1940s and 1950s recordings. He was often a featured guest when in Savannah, GA, with the late Emma Kelly, who was designated “The Lady of 6,000 Songs” by Johnny Mercer. And, he often sang with me at the Commerce Club, in Greenville, SC. Hugh is a mechanical engineer from Georgia Tech and builds the finest all-new industrial locomotives in the world as president of Republic Locomotive in Greenville, SC.

Every musician on this album performed with Tim or me during our musical careers as a couple or had met Tim as a performer or educator. They are all exceptional players/artists and have credits, albums, and accolades that far exceed mine. Almost all have taken solos for my pleasure and I hope for yours as well! Enjoy their extraordinary talents. It has been an honor to have them contribute to this album.

My sincere appreciation to Don Dixon, who recorded this album live, with 16 musicians performing in selected duos, trios, quartets, and quintets. And, to Wayne Jernigan, owner of the former Reflection Sound Studios in Charlotte, NC, and a dear friend, thank you for recommending Don for this project. He may never forgive you or me, but we loved watching him work his magic.

Don Dixon is a stellar musician/engineer/producer, who has been a long- time touring member of the Mary Chapin Carpenter band. As a solo artist, he has released 14 albums and toured North America and Europe. He has written songs recorded by Joe Cocker, Hootie & the Blowfish, the Counting Crows, and Ronnie Spector, among others. He also tours with his lovely wife, acclaimed singer, Marti Jones.

My dear friends, Art Bain and Otis Forrest, who spent countless hours and months mixing this album, are masters of their craft, recording artists, and producers. Thank you for your patience, friendship, workmanship, and God-given talents that made this album mix a jewel for me.

This album is dedicated to my late husband, Tim Haden, and my family: Shane, Sherri, Bennett Cole, and Erin Olivia Aycoth – the people who make me smile, laugh, and love, anytime I am in or out of their presence. Shane Aycoth is and always will be the Art Director and Graphic Designer on our albums. Thank you from my heart, son! Sherri Jones Aycoth, my beautiful daughter-in-love, is a master of the written word. Thank you, my dear, for your unwavering expertise on this project as editor – and for all you mean to me as a friend, mother to my grandchildren, and the sweetheart and wife to Shane.

This album is in honor of my Creator who gave this voice with which I sing!

BELOVED PARTNER

SPECIAL THANKS

PERSONAL THANKS

BELOVED PARTNER CREDITS