Monticello Live

Captain, a full length movie, produced and directed by Warren’s Rob Reep, premiered Saturday at the Warren Cultural Center. A full house of around 750 were in attendace to see the event, based on the life and history of Hugn Bradley, whom Bradley County is named after.

The film showed Bradley’s life as grew from being “the family’s little brother,’ to a close, personal friend of future president, Andrew Jackson (also from Tenneessee).

The war of 1812, and the Battle of New Orleans, were also well portrayed by 150 actors, from southest Arkasas, including over 20 from Monticello.

DVDs of Captain are available here.

After 21 years with Statler Brothers, Jimmy Fortune will be in concert in Monticello.

Tickets and more information for Monticello event are at ticketriver.com

Drew Central graduate Jessica Faith (Wishard) has just released a video to her song “without a fight”.

It has been a year since Jessica became a “GRAMMY Amplifier 2014 Winner”.

Since that time, the Grammy’s sent her to South by Southwest in Austin, TX to open for superstar Aloe Blacc, and filming a professional music video in Nashville.

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Written by Jeff Noble, formerly of Monticello, and founder of MLive.
Performed by Ben Coulter.

Drew Central graduate and recoroding artis Ward Davis was a member of the DCHS Choir.

When he heard that former DC choir director Bennie Carol Wade Dunavan was the choir director for Mayflower Schools, and how much the devastating tornado had effected her current students, Davis organized a benefit concert at Nashville’s Douglas Corner Cafe, TONIGHT at 7:30, to help the Mayflower Choir .

Local folks can also be a part, by watching the fundraiser concert online at stageit.com.  The cost is only $10.

Davis’ band, The Beagles, will also perform.

Around 40 area residents took part in an informational discussion, Sunday afternoon,, after watching a video presentation by Rob Reep, of Warren, on the history of the Saline river.
“The Saline” is 204 miles long and has many stories to tell about indians, farming, fishing, bootlegging, and riverboats.
“The Saline” is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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Jessica Wishard, as she’s know to her Drew Central classmates recently was selected as a winner in the Grammy’s Amplified Awards. Out of over 5,000 entrants, she was one of only 3 shosen for the honor.

Amplifier Center Stage’s online platform allows emerging musicians to share their songs for a chance to have their music vetted by a panel of some of the biggest names in music today.

Her lated CD EP is available on ITunew, as well.

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Jessica Wishard, a 2013 graduate of Drew Central High School, is pursuing her musical ambitions at the Delta Music Institute (DMI) of Delta State University in Cleveland, MS.

She recorded her first EP, “Wallflower” at the DMI this past spring under the stage name of Jessica Faith and, since beginning her freshman year at Delta State, has already received quite a bit of attention and recognition. As a Music Industry Studies major, she is an active member of GRAMMY U, an organization created by The Recording Academy for college students across the nation who are interested in a music industry career. Through her membership in GRAMMY U, Faith learned about and entered one of her original songs in “GRAMMY Amplifier,” a contest hosted by The Recording Academy as a way to help undiscovered musicians by giving their entry more exposure.

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Brison Reed recently released a six-song album on iTunes, Amazon and Reverbnation.

Brison is a life-long resident of Drew & Desha Counties, living most of his life in Monticello.

Brison records for Tripp Jct. Records & Marty d Publishing. The songs on this album were written by Marty Denton, Ronny & Brison Reed.

Brison and his wife Magen are pipeliners, but they still find time for their children and time for Brison to be able to record.

Brison will be headed back to the studio very soon to record more. He is working on some gospel songs also.

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1st Friday Singing on the Square from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

CashboX has been invited to headline at BB King’s Blues Club in downtown Nashville during the CMA Festival on Friday, June 8th!

Downtown 1st Friday Jam Session from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

In 2011, a few Monticello residents were exposed to national audiences, in their specific fields of talent.

The featured performers included Kellie Moore, Cashbox, and Taylor Eubanks.

Luna Bro’s Circus will put on an exciting performance for children of all ages, Friday at 7 p.m. in front of the Marketplace, at the intersection of HWY 425 and HWY 278.

Clown, animals, jugglers, vendors, and all types of circus entertainment will be presented.

Luna Bros. Circus thrilled the crowd in Monticello back  in 2008, and again in 2010.  The show has grown since that time, so come on out and see the many new attractions, and their new “Big Top”.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

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Several Monticello area musicians have been making “Music News” lately.

CashboX, recently featured on the cover of Cashbox Magazine, were featured KATV Channel 7’s “Good Morning Arkansas” program, Friday.

Also, “Roots Country” True County Music Chart, based on internet radio airplay, includes Monticello’s Brison Reed at #10, and Shay Hood at both #14 and #20, with her 2 latest releases.

Local rock band, CashboX  has reached two significant milestones in the music industry.

Their song, “Iron Mountain Train (acoustic)” has moved to #1! 

Also, CashboX is on the cover of Cashbox Magazine (no relation to the band) this week!

Congratulations to Monticello’s own, Cashbox.

After four years with KTHV, Charles Crowson is leaving Arkansas for a new position as morning anchor/multi-media journalist with WMAR in Baltimore, Maryland.

“It was an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up,” Crowson said while signing off during his final broadcast on Today’s THV This Morning Oct. 29. “Arkansas is my home. It always has been and always will be, regardless of where my career takes me.” (more…)

Tom Martin, Chipper Jones, Michael Murphy, Adam LaRoche, Jeremy Payne, Mitchell Murphy, Ryan Langerhans, Andrew Brannon, Willie Robertson, Matt Duff, and Tyler Chambers

CashboX, a local southern rock band, recently got the opportunity to perform for some “big time” stars. CashboX is made up of singer Andrew Brannon, from Monticello, guitarist Tyler Chambers, from Monticello, drummer Michael Murphy from Dermott, and Bassist Jeremy Payne from Lake Village. The band recently recorded the theme songs for the Duckmen 13: Fear the Beard, already out on DVD, and the Buck Commander 3: “The Bigs,” due out next year. The Duck Commander, a reality show about the Robertson family, airs weekly on The Outdoor Channel.

Michael Murphy, Tyler Chambers, Jason Aldean, Jeremy Payne, and Andrew Brannon.

 Because of CashboX’s success with the theme songs, Willie Robertson, star of the Buck Commander DVD series and Duck Commander DVD series and Duck Commander reality show series, sent the band and their families to the ranch of Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche in Fort Scott, Kansas, where they played a concert for the Buck Commanders themselves. The Buck Commanders present were: Chipper Jones,3rd base for the Atlanta Braves; Adam LaRoche, 1st base for the Atlanta Braves; Matt Duff, a former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher; Tom Martin, a former New York Mets pitcher; Ryan Langerhans, outfielder for Seattle Mariners; and Willie Robertson. (more…)

Repair crews are seen working Saturday on the damaged underground phone, cable TV, and natural gas supply lines

Saturday morning, around 11 o’clock, normal activities of cooking lunch, while watching TV, and talking on the telephone to friends came to a quick stop for many Monticello residents.

That is approximately the time that a Robin Hood Drive resident had a backhoe operator reportedly working on replacing a sewer line, in the residence’s back yard. (more…)