Knight family brings music from front porch to The Renaissance Center June 3

‘Today Show’ to feature family Tuesday, May 18

Release Date: 5/13/2004. Expired: 6/3/2004

The music that John Christopher Knight and his family made on the front porch of their rural Kentucky home has struck a chord across the country and placed them in some heady company on national music charts.

The Knights’ CD, Way Down Inside, last year hit the Americana Airplay charts with a higher ranking than Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Tracy Chapman. In March it climbed to 44, just two spots below The Dixie Chicks, and seventh on the Roots music Folk chart.

It’s turned into more than a family that lives without electricity and farms with horses could ever have imagined. Knight is now being featured in newspapers across the country and appearing on television shows. His performances at family friendly venues and concert halls are drawing some record attendance.

Knight and his family bring their Cool Bus tour to The Renaissance Center in Dickson for a 7 p.m. June 3 show. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for children under 13.

“The Knight family is one of those stories that seems to be the stuff of Hollywood, except that it’s true,” said Elaine Sherrill, senior director of Music at The Renaissance Center. “His music is straight-forward and honest and can reach into your heart and soul. This is truly a show for the entire family, no matter what kind of music you listen to.”

The Knights have been featured in newspapers across the country, on local television shows and even CNN. NBC’s Today Show recently spent several days following the family on its farm and at a concert and is scheduled to air a segment about them during the Tuesday, May 18 broadcast.

Knight and his family of nine children live the “simple life” in rural Kentucky, farming with horses, training Border collies, producing handmade furniture and surrounded by a variety of animals, all without the benefits of modern machinery and electricity.

The family sang and played for its own entertainment on the front porch of their home, never dreaming of a music career. Their talents were discovered by accident when they were overheard playing while camping at a Border collie event. That led to an offer to record some of their music.

“We have never pursued a musical career in any way whatsoever,” Knight says on a documentary video about the family. “Then, almost seemingly out of nowhere, I got this CD and video of my own original music.”

Knight said he had never even touched a CD, let alone listened to one, until one of his own music arrived in the mail. He had to borrow a battery-operated boom box from a neighbor to listen to it.

Way Down Inside hit number 44 on the Americana charts and seven on the Folk charts. Newspapers began writing stories about the musicians from the hills of Kentucky and when the wire service picked one up, the entire country began to discover the Knight family.

“Why then before you knew it, here we are instead of playing on the porch, we’re sitting right down in front of a whole pile of people in these big fancy performing arts theatres with spotlights and everything else,” Knight says.

Three of Knight’s children -- Joel, Madison and Justin -- play a variety of instruments as part of the show, from guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass to recorder, fiddle and djembe, while Knight plays guitar and harmonica with his unique vocals. Knight mixes in stories about his family and their lifestyle, most of which he promises are true.

“John Christopher Knight and his family present much more than just a concert,” Sherrill said. “Their show is a cultural experience unlike any other. The music and stories come from life and capture your heart, drawing you into a simpler time and place.”

For more information on the Knight family performance or other shows at The Renaissance Center, call (615)740-5600. To purchase tickets, call (615)740-5570.

The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit www.johnchristopherknight.com.

Visit the Events - Concerts and Recitals page for more about musical performances.

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