Talent from Towns under 2000 - April 15,2000

Contestants: Bon Temps Roulez, The Camptown Ladies, Leilani Clark, The Local Girls, Lonesome Brothers, Molasses Creek.

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It’s our Talent Contest - CLICK LINK TO LISTEN - APRIL 15, 2000

Long before American Idol or The Voice, A Prairie Home Companion hosted its own national music contest, delivered in several different ways and pairings. With this week’s classic show, participants had to live in towns with fewer than 2,000 residents, much like Lake Wobegon itself. This special, like the almost-annual Joke Show, was popular among viewers and member stations. It was performed on April 15, 2000, from The Town Hall in New York City and featured acts from across the country and the previous year’s winner, Jason Moody.

In addition to all the wonderful music from the six participating groups or musicians, highlights included the Lives of the Cowboys, Catchup, and the latest News from Lake Wobegon. Tune in Saturday via the Facebook page (or simply click here to listen now).

Leilani Clark appeared on this broadcast at the age of 12 and took first place singing a song called “Nitey Nite,” written by a family friend at the end of World War II and given to the Clarks decades later. As the winner, Garrison invited Leilani to return the following year to share her angelic voice. Her performance on the show gave her many opportunities to share her gift and love of singing with the world.

In the 23 years since Molasses Creek appeared on the show, they have recorded over 15 albums and have continued to share their beautiful harmonies, stellar songwriting, spirited performances, and their love of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina . For more information and tour schedule, visit their website: https://www.molassescreek.com/

Jason Moody was a 17-year-old violinist hailing from Dover, Idaho (approx. pop. 500) when he won the 1999 Talent from Towns from Under 2,000 contest. As the previous winner, he appeared on this show to share an update as well as a song or two. When he was still a very young child, he attended a symphony orchestra concert at the Festival at Sandpoint (Idaho), where he pointed to the concertmaster and told his parents he wanted to do that. So he started violin lessons and gave his first solo performance at age five. Today, he continues his musical career playing with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra as well as sitting in with the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera and teaching violin, viola, and chamber music.

A FEW QUESTIONS WITH LEILANI CLARK (the 2000 Water Tower Trophy Winner)

Question: It’s been 23 years since you won the APHC Talent from Towns Under 2000 Contest. What have you been up to during that time?

So much has happened since that day, some that I planned for and some unplanned!

The show was wonderful exposure for the album I had just completed before competing in the Talent Contest, as well as exposure for our Clark Family ministry. We had so many more requests to come sing at various churches around Florida and nearby states. The album I had recently completed was only sold personally during our concerts, not in stores. And, of course, we came back the following year to the show in Minnesota to pass on the APHC Talent Contest trophy to the next winner!

I finished out Catholic middle school and then attended public high school in the small country town of Branford, Florida, not too far from my small town of Wellborn, which has expanded somewhat since I described it to Garrison Keillor as having “more cows than people,” or something along the lines of being populated with cows, if I remember correctly! I taught piano and voice as a private home instructor and then later as a hired instructor at a music store in a town close by my home, attended community college while I continued to teach, and worked on a second album of original songs.

At the end of my first week of community college in the fall of 2006, my dad passed away unexpectedly from a boating accident. He, of course, played the piano as I sang “Nitey Nite” on the show, and it was one of his favorite memories! To be a part of such a classic show, have the opportunity to be surrounded by and make music with such talented musicians, (he always remembered Rich Dworsky very fondly!) and to play on that gorgeous Steinway in Town Hall … it was an incredible dream come true for him! My family and I miss him greatly, but with each passing year the ache becomes easier to bear. I only hope to have made him proud all these years since he went to his heavenly home!

Life was sad after dad passed. My brother, Tim, and I, with heavy hearts, carried on our singing ministry without him, singing in local churches and some out-of-state conferences, and we also picked up the pieces and finally finished the second album shortly after. You can hear my dad play on many of the songs he was able to arrange before he died, which is so precious to have as a way to remember him.

I attended the community college and then college for Music Ministry. Life continued fairly happily with the family singing ministry, I was still teaching music and doing various singing gigs (weddings, parties, and the like), Tim got married to his longtime best friend from high school, our mom retired from the VA — lots of changes happening.

Then in 2017, I made the biggest, hardest, and bravest change of my life — moving out of Florida to be on my own. I felt the time was right to leave. It was bittersweet, leaving my family, friends, and the music ministry Tim and I had built, but I trusted that the Lord would give me a new life to enjoy and minister in, albeit in my own. And He certainly has!! Since 2017, Michael and I dated, got engaged, married in 2018, and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 2019, where we currently live. For the past four years I have been working as the Music Coordinator and Worship Leader for F.E. Warren Air Force Base here in Cheyenne, handling their Catholic Masses and Protestant services, and teaching piano/voice for the kids and adults on base. I get to play/do music and lead worship for a living, which is what I prayed for always!

Question: Do you still sing and perform?

Yes, I do! Every Sunday you can hear me in the Catholic Mass and Protestant service at F.E. Warren, if you ever happen to visit! I still do the occasional wedding and social event that happens on and off base, as well.

Note: Leilani stated that you could email her at laniclarkmusic@gmail.com with any questions or comments

A FEW ITEMS FROM OUR STORE:

Music discovery is a favorite part of the program for many fans since the A Prairie Home Companion stage welcomed over 10,000 musical guests to the stage over its 43 years. The show featured artists many folks may never have heard of had it not been for PHC broadcasting their work to 5 or 6 million listeners each week. This week, we will explore a few musical releases from the archives.

Old Sweet Songs from A Prairie Home Companion: 1974–1976. Click here to purchase.

Lovingly selected from the earliest archives of A Prairie Home Companion, this heirloom collection represents the music from earliest years of the now legendary show: 1974–1976. With songs and tunes from jazz pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull, and the first house band, The Powdermilk Biscuit Band (Adam Granger, Bob Douglas, and Mary DuShane). 2 hrs. Click here to purchase.

Here are Butch Thompson and Dakota Dave Hull picking away on “Beaumont Rag” from the collection Old Sweet Songs.

40th Anniversary Collection from A Prairie Home Companion. Click to purchase.

Since A Prairie Home Companion first went on the air, July 6, 1974, a steady stream of great musicians has crossed its stage: Chet Atkins, Greg Brown, Emmylou Harris, The Every Brothers, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Peter Ostroushko, The Wailin’ Jennys, Robin and Linda Williams, Iris DeMent, Willie Nelson, Odetta, Doc Watson, Jean Redpath — plus the radio detective Guy Noir, sound-effects artists Tom Keith and Fred Newman, and the good people of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. An all-star roster of favorite performers joined thousands of fans to celebrate the 40th anniversary on the lawn of Macalester College in St. Paul, a stone's throw from the hall where the first broadcast was made. In this, the most comprehensive collection ever of highlights from America’s favorite live radio show, we are pleased to present 85 tracks (five hours!) of the finest performances from the vast archives of A Prairie Home Companion, including highlights from that 40th anniversary celebration. Click here to purchase.

The Wailin’ Jennys and Heather Masse remain favorites of PHC listeners and Garrison himself. They have astounded audiences across the country on the PHC stage with originals and covers. Here is one that is featured on the 40th Anniversary Collection and was recorded at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the old show.

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