聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Nashville singer-songwriters Victoria Banks and Phil Barton treated music lovers to an evening of the stories behind their songs when they returned to Arcola's historic MacMurray Theatre Wednesday, Sept. 6.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The duo have written numerous hits for a roster of artists which includes Johnny Reid, Jessica Simpson, Sara Evans, Chad Brownlee, and more.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The evening at The Mac was a fundraiser for local community projects courtesy of the Arcola Optimist Club, and club member Glen Lawson - who arranged the pair's return to Arcola - says: 鈥淲e're聽 really fortunate to get Victoria and Phil back for a show - especially because our theatre's fully-renovated now. We were lucky enough to catch them on their way to the Canadian Country Music Awards in Saskatoon and they graciously agreed to appear in Arcola again, after their first great concert here back in 2014.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Banks hails from Muskoka, Ont. Now a full-time resident of Music City,聽 the award-winning singer-songwriter told the Arcola audience: 鈥淢y husband is the real star - he's back at home in Nashville caring for our child, so I can be here tonight.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to releasing three albums, Banks has toured with artists which include Reba McEntire to Wynonna Judd. The hits she has written include Jessica Simpson's 'Come On Over' and Johhny Reid's 'Dance with Me.'
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 was asked - along with my songwriting partner - to co-write with Jessica Simpson,鈥� says Banks. 鈥淯sually Music Row is a Monday to Friday place and we were sort of disappointed that people couldn't see that we were writing with Jessica Simpson, because they were flying her in on a private jet to write with us on Saturday.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ut strangely,鈥� she adds, smiling: 鈥淎ll of the men we work with just happened to be in the office that Saturday. They were popping in, making sure we had water, asking if we needed anything...鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淛essica's love interest at the time was the inspiration for the song 'Come On Over' and it was a great song,鈥� says Banks. 鈥� Jessica was great. She's a real smart cookie. She's a lot smarter than she seems. She's kind of聽 got that Marilyn Monroe thing down.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥�'Come On Over' was her first and last country hit, but it was a great song.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd it was really cool working with Johnny Reid. Mostly I just listened to his accent and made him sing different lines in his accent, 鈥� smiles Banks.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Barton - who hails from rural Australia - received his coveted U.S. green card when he co- wrote country singer Lee Brice's 鈥淎 Woman Like You.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hat song changed all of our lives,鈥� Barton told the audience. 鈥淚t was Lee's first number-one and my first number-one. It sold almost three million copies and all of a sudden, this little guy from Australia was getting awrds presented to him by Garth Brooks and stuff like that.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 have a real love affair with Canadian country music,鈥� adds Barton. 鈥淚've had 10 top ten hits for Canadian artists and they're great people.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Barton also charmed the children in the audience, explaining that prior to moving to Nashville, he wrote some songs for 鈥渁 builder named Bob and 鈥渁 train called Thomas.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Near the end of the show, the duo delighted the crowd with a Canadianized rendition of their song, 'Winnebego', substituting Saskatchewan references such as 'Estevan', 'bunny hugs' and 'the Riders game' for lines featuring U.S. lingo and landmarks.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have the most fun job in the world,鈥� says Banks. 鈥淓very day we get to write songs and go out and sing them for people like you. Thank you for being such a great audience.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Added Barton: 鈥淎nd thank you for this beautiful theatre.鈥�
