Cheryl Wheeler Brings Wit, Wisdom and Great Music to Marblehead

Press release by Linda Werbner

On Friday, September 25, the me and thee coffeehouse is pleased to welcome back one of our favorite performers, Cheryl Wheeler. She not only writes award-winning, emotionally-intense songs and has a rich, soulful voice but tells sidesplitting jokes and stories between songs. Truly a triple threat. Honor Finnegan opens the show. Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show at the me&thee coffeehouse which is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street for what promises to be a memorable evening of music.

This nationally-known singer-songwriter tours extensively and has a large and devoted fanbase. But it all began with a plastic ukulele with three strings from a neighbor’s attic when Cherylwas a child growing up in tiny Timonium, Maryland. Young Cheryl quickly graduated to guitar, debuted at a hootenanny when she was 12 and hasn’t slowed down since, happily acknowledging that she has never had a ‘day job’ that wasn’t music.

A signature Wheeler concert includes a roster of powerful, thought-provoking songs delivered in her silky alto voice interspersed with some of the best comic routines on the circuit. Cherylengages her audience and through her wit and music, explores the difficult and painful issues and topics of the day. Not surprising when you consider that she lists Art Linkletter and Richard Thompson as favorites on her Facebook page.

After playing steadily at venues around Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Wheeler moved to New England when she was 25, where she became a protégé of legendary folk singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards, playing bass in his band when his bass player was unavailable. Edwards later produced her first full-length album which was released in 1986. One of the songs on the album, “Addicted,” was covered by Dan Seals and became a Number 1 country hit in 1988. She went on to produce additional albums including one that went on to become another big country hit. Suzy Bogguss’ cover of “Aces” from Cheryl’s album, Circles and Arrows, was a Top 10 Country hit in 1992. Cheryl’s discography includes thirteen albums including one called No Previous Record which was a two-disc album of songs that were never released on a commercial label. The album consists of audience, radio and soundboard recordings and is restricted to members of her email list. Her latest album, Pointing at the Sun is on her very own record label, Dias Music.

While she is famous for her live concerts, Wheeler is equally respected by her peers as a songwriter. Penning her first tune at 17, according to her website, Wheeler’s personal and introspective and funny songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Garth Brooks, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bette Midler and Kenny Loggins. Fame magazine summarizes this talented performer like this: “Cheryl Wheeler is an anomaly on the acoustic music scene. She has a rare gift for writing songs with lush melodies and lyrics of incredible beauty. On the other hand, she is a master of quick wit. Her observational humor has brought us a number of songs describing the utter ridiculousness of the world around us.”

Honor Finnegan is opening the show. Audience members will be delighted with her wit, charm, and incredible voice.Her songs are humorous then heartbreaking with melodies that soar. Based in New York City, she has been making a splash in the northeastern regional folk scene with her original songs and ukulele playing. Combining elements of musical theatre, comedy, traditional folk, and poetry, Honor is cooler than the other side of the pillow.

Honor Finnegan was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and learned to appreciate a variety of people and music living in a mostly African American neighborhood and sitting in the back seat of her single mothers car listening to the radio for long periods of time. When Honor was 11 her dream of being an actress came true when she was cast in the 1st National Tour of “Annie”.

Honor eventually outgrew the Annie thing and went back to Chicago, spending her early adult life studying Improv with Del Close who created “Honor Finnegan vs. the Brain of the Galaxy” to try and help the poor waif get somewhere in life.

In 1991 Honor moved to Ireland. While living in Ireland, Honor sang with jazz bands, blues bands, big bands and traditional Irish bands including DeDannan for about a day. She released a cassette, “Learning to Fly”, in 1996 and was a finalist in the Paddy Music Expo in Limerick. Her song “Better Love Water” was sung on the Gay Byrne Radio Hour twice with the all-female a Capella group, “The Cappuccinos”. Honor moved to New York in 1998.

Honor is a regular attendee at the late great Jack Hardy’s songwriter’s exchange, which has nurtured the talents of Suzanne Vega, and Shawn Colvin to name but a few. She is also a proud member of Tribes Hill, a folk music collective based in the Hudson Valley. She was a finalist in the 2011 Connecticut Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, and she has shared the stage with Buskin & Batteau, Sloan Wainwright, and David Massengill.

Tickets for the performance by Cheryl Wheeler are $25 in advance and $28 at the door. Tickets are available online at www.meanthee.org and can be purchased in Marblehead at both the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore and Arnould Gallery As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments are available, including homemade pastries, coffee, and teas. The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and a brand new accessible bathroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus. The me & thee is the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouse in New England, and probably the country. The me & thee has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. For information and directions, call 781-631-8987 or check the website www.meandthee.org.