Dolly Parton to perform Saturday in Ashdown
Country music legend Dolly Parton will sing the praises of musician Kent Wells Saturday night during the 11th annual Alumni Banquet sponsored by the Ashdown High School Alumni Association.
The banquet, which raises money for scholarships, is sold out.
Collections will be taken during the banquet, and a show after the banquet, to benefit the Ashdown High School alumni fund.
Wells was selected by the alumni association for his work as a musician, songwriter, performer and producer, said Susan Setliff Simmons, president of the alumni association. He is a 1981 Ashdown High School graduate.
He is the son of Coylene Wells Cates and the late Billy Jack Wells.
Dolly is scheduled to attend the banquet and praise Wells for his work, Simmons said.
He has toured and recorded with major artists in the music industry, including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt, Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Greenwood and Keith Whitley.
Wells has produced projects for artists including Michael Peterson, Neal McCoy and 4 Runner. He has produced vocal performances by Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Allison Krause, Keith Urban and George Jones.
In addition to two Grammy nominations, he has been nominated for an Oscar for his work on the original soundtrack for the major motion picture “Travelin’ Through.”
“As a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Wells has performed on numerous Billboard chart certified number one and top 10 hits for various artists and performed on recordings across nearly every genre of commercial music. He has also toured the world as lead guitarist and musical director with several of the biggest names in country music, including record-breaking tours with Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire,” Simmons said.
He has performed in concert venues and festivals worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall, Texas Stadium, Glastonberry Festival, Radio City Music Hall, Houston Rodeo, Woodstock, CMA Fest, and The Grand Ole Opry.
Wells’ list of television and radio performances includes Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Today Show on NBC, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, Grand Ole Opry Live, Hee Haw, A&E Live by Request, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, BBC Radio Live, Austin City Limits, A Capitol Fourth and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
His songs have been recorded by artists and performed on American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. He has also written and produced major advertising spots, including spots for Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Goodyear and Southeast Grocers.
After the banquet a concert is scheduled featuring Wells with Lynyrd Skynyrd joining Dolly for the “Wells Family and Friends Ashdown High School Reunion Jam.” The jam session will be at 9 p.m. Saturday at Garrison’s Air Strip between Ashdown and Wilton, Ark.
The reunion jam will feature the Wells family with, award-winning musicians and music legends from Nashville, Tenn.
“The show will also feature local artists from Ashdown and the region. Join us for a night of diverse music, fun and fellowship with old friends and new friends,” Wells said.
Admission to attend the reunion jam is free. However, a $10 per car parking fee will be required.
Garrison’s Air Strip is at 482 U.S. Highway 71 North between Ashdown and Wilton. The show will be in the large aircraft hangar starting at 9 p.m. and will continue until late in the night. Bring lawn chairs. Wells lives in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife, Donna, and four sons, Jack, Alex, Derek and Austin. He is the owner of Kent Wells Productions studios in nearby Franklin, Tenn.